Mischa Beitz

Google "network neutrality" and either of the major Democratic front-runners for Norm Coleman's Paul Wellstone's Senate seat (I mean Mike Ciresi and Al Franken) and see what you get . . . NADA. Zip. A big fat "0". Try "telecommunications" . . . similar result.

How are these candidates supposed to garner my support if they're unwilling to address national tech policy!? I honestly find it shocking. Just look at their respective lists of "issues":

Ciresi's list

1. Higher Education
2. Iraq
3. Healthcare
4. Renewable energy and rural development (gee, I wonder what he thinks about Ethanol or here or here)
5. Veterans
6. Immigration
7. Terrorism

Franken's list

1. Iraq
2. Healthcare
3. Education
4. Renewable energy (at least he doesn't lump this in with "rural development")
5. Immigration
6. Workers
7. Veterans
8. Accountability

Interesting lists. If you unbundle the rural dev and energy in Ciresi's list, that's 8 apiece. But what's most interesting is not what's IN their lists, but what's left OUT. Check out Obama's list:

Obama's list

1. Civil Rights
2. Disabilities
3. Economy
4. Education
5. Energy and Environment (that makes a LOT more sense to me than Ciresi's combo)
6. Ethics
7. Faith
8. Family
9. Fiscal
10. Foreign Policy
11. Healthcare
12. Homeland Security
13. Immigration
14. Iraq
15. Poverty
16. Rural (Hey MN contenders . . . look, Rural gets its own billing - WOW!)
17. Service
18. Seniors and Social Security
19. Technology
20. Veterans

Now . . . THAT'S A LIST!

Do the MN Democratic contenders think Minnesotans don't care about Poverty? about Foreign Policy? about TECHNOLOGY!?! What about Climate Change? Anyone? Anyone? . . . Buhler?

I understand that President and Senator are different offices, but the policy issues are essentially the same. C'mon guys, it doesn't cost any more to add some substantial policy positions on your friggin' websites. Pretend for just a second that people in Minnesota want to vote based on what policies you'll be supporting when and if you actually get to DC. Or - one has to ask - have you thought about these areas AT ALL? Do you even have policy positions? and if so, why aren't they available to your potential constituents on your websites?

Unbelievable.