Daily Round-up

• Maybe I'd be interested in the Minneapolis mayoral race if it wasn't so ridiculous. You've got two political insiders campaigning as if their political outsiders and disagreeing over how much they agree on. They both want the same things! They're practically the same candidate! Ach. Thankfully, they're going to have "multiple debates" to figure it all out. Those should be fascinating.
• The image is emotional and stark: Fearless mayor Randy Kelly bracing the mild summer temperatures to trudge across the Wabasha Street Bridge and file for reelection. Point of symbolism...on the way, he says he can build bridges between political parties, the races, and the classes. His sentiment is so beautiful; he's definitely not an opportunistic cad who's in the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce's pocket. No, definitely not. In related news: DFL-endorsed Chris Coleman is Strib columnist Nick Coleman's brother! We're living in the biggest small town in America, folks.
• Teflon Tim attended a support group for the budgetarily challenged this past weekend (aka the National Governor's Association get-together in Iowa), and found out about this crazy new idea all the kids are talking about called a "continuing resolution." Apparently, it allows state government to continue to function at existing levels for a set period of time after the budget cycle in order to avoid a government shutdown. Hmmm, does this sound familiar to anyone? Well, it should. The DFL proposed it and the GOP shot it down the night before the lights went out.
• The Northwest Airlines mechanics union voted to authorize a strike, which could occur sometime after the 30-day cooling-off period. If a union worker pickets in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does he really exist?
• Another miracle of the Information Superhighway...it makes it easier for hookers to find johns.
• Dude, the Aquatennial Block Party got totally busted. 500 bones, man. That's way harsh.

UPDATE: Teflon Tim announced he won't re-up his no-new-taxes pledge, and hell has now moved from the nether regions of the earth's core to Embarrass, Minn., the coldest town in the state. I salute his decision; I only wish it had come a few years earlier. Advice to Tim: Perhaps your next move should be to pass a resolution banning the ownership of a gun by anyone named David Strom. (By the way, this is going to make the governor's race next year incredibly interesting.)