RE: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
[Posted by Jenny Heiser on behalf of the Friends for Dean Zimmermann campaign: www.votedeanzimmermann.org[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] "This is Lauren Maker, one of the co-coordinators of Dean Zimmermann's campaign. As Barb's posting is partly directed at me personally, Jenny has agreed to allow me this opportunity to respond through her presence on the list. "This investigation directed at Dean Zimmermann is political. If Dean was corrupt, as you imply, why would the FBI take voter registration lists, GOTV mailing labels and all our campaign data bases to help prove alleged bribery? The FBI doesn't investigate state campaign disclosure laws, the county attorney does. Council Member Lisa Goodman said not long ago that the US Attorney's Offices across the country were targeting elected Democrats for any kind of corruption charges. Is it so far fetched to think they may have extended that witch-hunt to other political parties, particularly populist ones? Discrediting its leadership is certainly one way to derail a growing political party. Just last week, the Feds "investigated" Greens in Maine; and the Louisiana Greens are currently under governmental assault. "The affidavit for the search warrant fails to mention a lot of things-like the June 6th fundraiser at the Black Forrest that was attended by about 100 other people besides Gary Carlson, and that money is usually the topic of conversation at fundraisers. Of course, the FBI raid couldn't have been related to rumors some people have been running for months that Dean couldn't have afforded his new house in the Whittier neighborhood unless he'd taken money from someone, such as Basim Sabri. (He actually used his excellent credit record and existing equity to purchase the new one.) If Bob Lilligren is a "high road" kind of guy, why doesn't he give us a written statement-like posting it here-on what he's discussed with the FBI on this matter? "Perhaps you're too young to remember Nixon's hit list, or our own MPD raiding anti-war fundraisers for "illegal liquor sales" i.e. cash bars. Use of police power can and has been used in this town to chill free speech rights and to stifle political dissent. And that is exactly what this is about." Jenny Heiser Campaign Co-coordinator/Team Member Dean Zimmermann for City Council www.votedeanzimmermann.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] NE Whittier neighborhood "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win." -Mohandas Gandhi -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Barbara Lickness Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 2:45 PM To: Tamir Nolley; mpls@mnforum.org Subject: Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation I am not going to comment on Tamirs conspiracy theories. I will say unequivocally that Robert Lilligren nor any of his campaign members had nothing whatsoever to do with the dilemma that Dean Zimmermann is in. The notion that any of us are somehow involved in this scandal is utterly ridiculous and completely false. Dean Zimmermann's campaign manager asserted that the situation Dean is in was politically motivated. By who? and why? Of course she made that assertion BEFORE the search warrant affidavit was released. I haven't heard her say anything since that time. I believe the timing of the "raid" on Dean's house was predicated on the fact that the FBI had to wait until Dean filed his campaign report before they could determine if some of his contributions were in fact received in an illegal way. The omission of the "fake" contributors referred to in the search affidavit on Dean's campaign report was the evidence they needed to act on these charges. The campaign finance reports were not due to the city until early last week. The raid happened only two days later. Robert Lilligren's campaign has been structured from the beginning to deliver a message to the voters about why Robert is the most qualified candidate to represent the people of the sixth ward, not about why his opponents are not. Robert is a "high road" kind of guy and that is why people like him and resonate to him. The Zimmermann scandal hit Robert very hard. Robert and Dean both like and respect each other. It's not easy being the opposing candidate of someone in the midst of an FBI investigation. Having been thrown in the fray of the Herron scandal I can tell you first hand that being interviewed by the FBI is not something you aspire to. Even if you have done nothing wrong and are not accused of anything, it is not a situation any candidate wants to contend with. For the record, I feel badly for both Dean and Jenny. They are both very nice people. To think a nice guy like Dean got caught in this web is disheartening. I can't imagine ho
Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
As to the CP Zimmerman FBI Investigation: Does anyone but me remember the guy hired to do an independent investigation of the council after Brian Herron was indicted? The guy who came from out of town and left with a fat check. He gave the city council a clean bill of health, and soon after that announcement the FBI indicted CP Biernet. I, for one, do not believe any of these council people should be there long term. The temptation is too great for SOME of them. I do not know whether CP Zimmerman is innocent or guilty, I will reserve judgment in all fairness. Will someone please tell me why so many council people are shredding documents? It should be mandatory that they keep document for review, since they represent the publics interest. On a sad note: I attended the funeral today of a great actitivist/advocate of education, name Evelyn Eubanks. She was the council Aide of Natalie Johnson-Lee. What saddened me was that CP Johnson-Lee was the only person from the council in attendance. I would think that the council, as a whole, would be present to mourn the loss of someone working for the city council. Let's be real, without Aides nothing would ever get done in the city council. Most of the emails and phone calls are answered by the council aides. So I would like to send my respect out to all of the Minneapolis city council aides. Evelyn Eubanks was instrumental in getting legislation past pertaining to the education of our children. She was a single parent to 6 children, all of whom she home schooled. Three of which went on to college. The younger three, two in highschool and one in elementary school, now have to attend public school or private schools. In her memory, a fund is being set up at TCF Bank under Evelyn Eubanks Scholarship Fund. The account should be up in approximately 1 week. There was a large amount of donations after the funeral. One thing we all love are our children and their education. All of my prayers go out to the Eubanks family. Michelle Hill Cleveland REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
Has someone actually said to you we needed to go back to the Jackie Cherryhome's days??! I know Peter told some Dean supporters that Cherryhomes was great for the city...who would have thunk? But special interest never dies, developers are still giving money to those City Council members with land to be developedWard 12 is an example if I read the figures and names on a 2005 fundraiser correctly. What is the difference in accepting campaign donations and voting to give developers the zoning and building they want or taking money in the shade and not voting to give them what they want...jail time? Dorie Gallagher/Nokomis So the next politician who comes up to me and says that crime is sooo bad that we need to go back to the way Jackie Cherryhomes ran Minneapolis, when police could shoot and kill people who were mentally ill Tamir Nolley - Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
On Saturday, September 10, 2005, at 01:17 PM, Barbara Lickness wrote: I would say what is good for the goose is good for the gander. He believed four years ago that some responsibility for the Brian Herron scandal should lay at the feet of Sharon Sayles Belton. I believe four years later that some responsibility for the Zimmermann scandal should also lay at R.T.'s feet. On Saturday, September 10, 2005, at 02:45 PM, Barbara Lickness wrote: I will say unequivocally that Robert Lilligren nor any of his campaign members had nothing whatsoever to do with the dilemma that Dean Zimmermann is in. The notion that any of us are somehow involved in this scandal is utterly ridiculous and completely false. It is probably best to assume (1) the Zimmermann allegations are yet to be proven and (2) implying others are involved or culpable in some way is groundless speculation. Let's wait until the jury comes in. Laura Waterman Wittstock Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees DFL and Labor endorsed AFSCME Mn Council 5 AFL-CIO COPE Minneapolis Building and Trades Stonewall DFL Minnesota Women's Political Caucus www.laurawatermanwittstock.com http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/ Wittstock for Library Committee 913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414 Minneapolis, MN 612-387-4915 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
I am not going to comment on Tamirs conspiracy theories. I will say unequivocally that Robert Lilligren nor any of his campaign members had nothing whatsoever to do with the dilemma that Dean Zimmermann is in. The notion that any of us are somehow involved in this scandal is utterly ridiculous and completely false. Dean Zimmermann's campaign manager asserted that the situation Dean is in was politically motivated. By who? and why? Of course she made that assertion BEFORE the search warrant affidavit was released. I haven't heard her say anything since that time. I believe the timing of the "raid" on Dean's house was predicated on the fact that the FBI had to wait until Dean filed his campaign report before they could determine if some of his contributions were in fact received in an illegal way. The omission of the "fake" contributors referred to in the search affidavit on Dean's campaign report was the evidence they needed to act on these charges. The campaign finance reports were not due to the city until early last week. The raid happened only two days later. Robert Lilligren's campaign has been structured from the beginning to deliver a message to the voters about why Robert is the most qualified candidate to represent the people of the sixth ward, not about why his opponents are not. Robert is a "high road" kind of guy and that is why people like him and resonate to him. The Zimmermann scandal hit Robert very hard. Robert and Dean both like and respect each other. It's not easy being the opposing candidate of someone in the midst of an FBI investigation. Having been thrown in the fray of the Herron scandal I can tell you first hand that being interviewed by the FBI is not something you aspire to. Even if you have done nothing wrong and are not accused of anything, it is not a situation any candidate wants to contend with. For the record, I feel badly for both Dean and Jenny. They are both very nice people. To think a nice guy like Dean got caught in this web is disheartening. I can't imagine how horrible it must feel to have the FBI search your house and take all your stuff out. It is sad that Dean's legacy for all his political activism may end with a trip to prison if these charges prove true. Barb Lickness Whittier "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
Well, you all knew I'd chime in sooner or later so I'll be as brief as I can. To be honest, I never bought in to the charges of corruption against Brian Herron or Joe Biernat either, and being a staunch opponent of Minneapolis Police behavior towards anyone who is black or counter cultural in anyway, no one wanted to see Joe Biernat defeated more than me. But it didn't happen during the course of an election, it happened, ironically, as a result of abuse of power by law enforcement and as a result of what I still believe was an attempt by the Bush administration to erode confidence in their natural political opponents. The much publicized FBI wiretapping of Philadelphia Mayor John Street's office, just before his own election confirmed this in my mind. This sort of thing has also happened in Detroit and San Francisco. I may have been the only one rooting for Joe to beat them and serve out his term. Yet, interestingly Bernard Kerrick was no longer police chief when he finally faced corruption allegations. I'm very suspicious of all of this and here's why: I challenged Dean Zimmermann as a candidate, both within the Green Party and later in the general election. There are many legitimate criticisms, but he's just too damn stubborn to be influenced. According to the Star Tribune article, he voted against the position he was allegedly bribed to take. Dean HAS been the lone vote on many issues, he's not afraid of looking ridiculous because no one agrees with him...I think he sort of enjoys it. To me this doesn't really add up. Robert Lilligren generally agrees with police federation positions on law enforcement issues, Dean Zimermann almost never agrees with them. The Federation Has been more pro-Republican lately. In both FBI investigations that occurred before a primary, Robert Lilligren was the main opponent, and he did become Vice President very shortly after being elected. Corruption or not, If I lived in the 6th ward, I would be supporting Dean Zimmermann for ideological reasons. I don't buy in to the crime demagoguery and I do not want the MPD to have more power in this city. Speaking of political corruption, it may be Zimmermann who's accused of being a crook, but it's Lilligren and Peter McLaughlin who are using Richard Nixon's political rhetoric. So the next politician who comes up to me and says that crime is sooo bad that we need to go back to the way Jackie Cherryhomes ran Minneapolis, when police could shoot and kill people who were mentally ill, and close down the Hard Times Cafe because some idiot sold a dime bag to a cop in his apartment and happened to also work at the cafe,the next politician who talks about the silent majority and generally says other code words for "we need to keep Black folks, hippies, punks and bums in line" this person will be handed my autographed Richard Nixon campaign button, and be told, "there. That looks more like you!" Tamir Nolley Now in Longfellow (i think) - Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] A different take on Dean Z FBI investigation
I'm sad about the news of the FBI investigating Dean Zimmerman as well. Dean and I have much in common. We are both dreamers as well as doers. Dean has not been afraid to make changes in his own lifestyle -- riding a bike to work, for example -- to make our city a better place. Most people his age would come up with a thousand excuses about why riding a bike to work would not be possible or practical in "the real world." Dean has not been afraid to talk about the need for real changes in urban infrastructure in preparation for the postcarbon world. Above all, it makes me sad to know that most of our politicians who make it to the City Council or to the office of Mayor are already bought by legal bribes. They are already entangled in the sticky web of relationships of a culture which refuses to acknowledge any need to for meaningful change. Those politicians not loyal to a culture which is absolutely resistant to change are hobbled by those who are loyal. Most politicians sense that American voters are overwhelmed and yet spoiled at the same time. The "political base" of this country and of our city are mobilized to maintain the status quo. Our political conversation is designed to stay on-topic: we told that the only option we have is to shape our city to attract huge global corporations upon which we become ever more dependant, even as the positive returns upon such investment diminish and the waves of the negative consequences are crashing in -- more global and local violence, more disparity between the "haves" and the "have-nots" and less local strength and self-reliance. Dean Zimmerman has been for me a bright spot in our local political scene. I don't see anyone else on the scene who compares. I am saddened because if he is removed from the scene, we are mostly left with political careerists who are engaged in the process of carving up Minneapolis and selling it chunk-by-chunk to the highest bidder. Of course the real crimes are always, always legal, just as the real criminals are able to hire public relations firms to garner applause instead of outrage. "Poor men rob the passers by for a little cash to spend Some men rob whole countries dry and still get called their friend and under the feeding frenzy there's a wound that will not mend..." B. Cockburn, "The Mines of Mozambique" from "Night Train" -- pedaling a bit sadly today-- from Lynnhurst for now -- Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
