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Alan on KSAX–TV  Congressional Candidates Gear Up For Primary Day

Alan on WDAY TV: US Congress candidate speaks out against current farming policies (from WDAY TV)
 
My candidacy is about the return of leadership!  Electing Leaders with proven policy making skills and problem solving abilities.  To end the failed era of elected officals who lacked person knowledge or experience and became powerful instead by convening special interest to set costly policies to empower themselves, there friends but not the people!  Prime example Collin Peterson and the author of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FYwqsktLIQ
 
Listen to my Radio Program on KNUJ 860 or KNUJ.net 8:30 Sunday Mornings or Here after it airs on KNUJ: See Home Page
 
Released July 1st: To all 7th CD of Minn. News outlets, Minnesota Public Radio, Pioneer Public TV and the League of Women Voters.  This was my request for a debate or forum for 7th CD voters in the Aug 10th primary to view Lee Byberg and me but I was turned down.  Yet the League of women votes is having a forum/debate for voters in the city of Austin Mn.  See story below but the largest Congressional District in America that’s not a state will not have one.  For I Challenged the League about absentee votings history and outcome in 2008 in GFH & other newspapers.  Bureaucary’s like the 3 asked fear a leader like me and don’t want me to possess infulence on them or their Friends.  Read the Austin story then my request that was turned down.
 
The Austin Area League of Women Voters is hosting a forum tonight featuring candidates vying for the mayoral, Ward 3 City Council and District 3 county commissioner seats.

 
 

Alan Roebke (REB-Key) Candidate in the August 10th Republican Primary is Calling on “The league of Women Voters of Minnesota”, “Pioneer Public Television of Appleton Minnesota” and “Minnesota Public Radio” for a debate!  So please convene a 7th CD live broadcast debate and discussion of the Issues in the Republican Primary Election in the 7th CD of Minnesota.
I request an hour event to be broadcast live, by both public TV and public Radio and posted on both news outlets web sites for later review or download for all residents and members to see and hear before voting. A time for both Lee Byberg of Willmar Minnesota and Alan Roebke (REB-Key) Alexandria Minnesota to give their views on the issues facing the District and Nation.
For Lee Byberg’s own poll (See below) shows that the 7th CD electorate is calling for a sound, experienced replacement for their Perennial incumbent Collin Peterson. Yet the numbers also show the Republican Bosses own Lee Byberg is not their pick, so they need more info on either Lee Byberg or Challenger Alan Roebke (REB-key), the Republican Candidate who received over 48% of the vote in the 2008 Republican Primary, before they vote on August 10th!
Which history shows is best achieved by the three organizations asked, to publicly present the two Candidates in an independent “Venue and Format” before August 10th! Signed Alan Roebke Alexandria Mn.
 
 

 

Poll info: Byberg for Congress recently acquired the services of Public Opinion Strategies, Alexandria, VA for a poll. A summary of the results are below:
Public Opinion Strategies, Glen Bolger
MN CD 7 Polling Memo
June 11, 2010

Key Findings
1. Voters in Minnesota’s Seventh District are very pessimistic about the direction of the country. Just 28% of voters say the country is headed in the right direction, while 60% believe the country is off on the wrong track. Republicans (5% right direction/85% wrong track) and Independents (20% right direction/69% wrong track) are especially concerned with the direction of the country.
2. Collin Peterson’s re-elect numbers are very soft. Just 39% of voters say that Collin Peterson deserves to be re-elected, while 36% of voters say it is time for a new person, and 23% are unsure. Intensity is especially soft, with only 18% of voters saying Peterson definitely should be re-elected. Peterson’s re-elect numbers are weak with both GOPers (34% total re-elect) and Independents (33%
total re-elect), but it is his re-elect score among DFLers that should have the
Congressman especially worried. Just 47% of Peterson’s fellow Democrats say he
deserve to be re-elected, and intensity is very soft, with only 22% saying the
Congressman definitely deserves re-election.
3. Collin Peterson leads on the ballot, but Lee Byberg has plenty of room to grow.
Collin Peterson is just over 50% on the ballot and currently leads Lee Byberg by double digits.
 

One more reason to Debate—Crookston Times
 
 
 
 

Editorial, Sept. 16, 2008: Peterson will likely cruise again, but a face-off against Roebke would have at least been interesting.
You can’t help but get the feeling that Collin Peterson will leave the U.S. Congress when he feels like it, not when he’s defeated by a Republican challenger.
That’s because it’s just real hard for the Republicans in Minnesota to find a candidate worthy of unseating Peterson, whose home base is Detroit Lakes. Why? Well, Peterson is one of the most conservative Democrats in Washington, D.C., and, unless he’s talking about farm policy, one would almost think he’s a Republican. So how does the GOP find a candidate who sets himself or herself apart from the longtime incumbent? They don’t, and that’s why Peterson continues to cruise to re-election every two years, even in the most conservative district in Minnesota.
Alan Roebke tried to set himself apart, on farm policy at least. The 1970 University of Minnesota, Crookston graduate and longtime farmer who seems to know more about the ag industry and ag policy than 99.9 percent of the population, based about 99.9 percent of his campaign to become the Republican Party’s challenger to Peterson on his differences of opinion with Peterson on agriculture and energy issues. Roebke said to the few people who would listen that farmers who grow things like peanuts, cotton and rice in other regions of the country are getting hugely fat off government checks, farmers who don’t need the help. He compared the dollars to what farmers around these parts get, hoping to get some people riled up, but not enough did.
But, wow, what a scare Roebke put into the Republican Party establishment in the primary on Sept. 9. The endorsed Republican challenger to Peterson, Glen Menze, garnered less than 52 percent of the vote to Roebke’s fraction over 48 percent. In Polk County, Roebke actually defeated Menze.
Considering how many emails and phone calls Roebke directed at the Times newsroom over the past year or so leading up to last Tuesday, it’s a safe bet that, had he somehow emerged as the GOP victor on Sept. 9, Peterson would have had to work hard to match Roebke’s tenacity on the ag industry and energy policy. Simply put, Peterson would have had a fight on his hands.

Roebke’s passion in ag hasn’t always been 100 percent positive. He’s a convicted felon who served time in federal prison, but he says even the crime he committed – selling grain that belonged to the government – was a protest of federal farm policy . Trying to have a say at the Republican district convention, he was essentially escorted from the building by security.

Add it all up, and it would have been an intriguing race, to say the least, between Roebke and Peterson. But Menze prevailed on Sept. 9. Nothing against him, but the thinking here is that Peterson’s camp would rather deal with him over Roebke.
             Mike Christopherson Editor 

 Requested by Alan Roebke Box 333 Alexandria Minnesota 56308 

 AHR

 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
News on Alan Roebke vs. Collin Peterson & Lee Byberg!
The People’s Right to Know? You can help by supporting: Roebke For Congress Box 333 Alexandria Mn. 56308
See my reply to two 7th CD of Mn. Regional trade center Newspaper Editors, refusing to Publish my Letter to the Editor on Rep. Collin Peterson’s Role in the Derivatives Mess and Market Meltdown, other than as a paid Ad!
Then see the front page spin, commonly printed by major news outlet like McClathy Newspapers, failing to point out the Derivatives “Market Monster” came on Collin Watch. He’s no Hero but the Problem!

Mr Roebke,

Changed to: “Our Newspaper” does not publish letters from declared candidates of office.

The only exception is if a candidate wishes to reply to an article or letter which directly criticize the candidate writing.

If a candidate wishes to publish something, they may purchase advertising in our newspaper.

Editor

Second reply: Alan,
This is a political advertisement, not a letter to the editor. If you wish to run this as a ad please let us know.

I post these Media replies with privacy, for as a leader in Public Policy for Decades and as your next Congressmen. I believe that America must readdress the broad liberal power and windfall profit structure of today’s Celebrity Journalist’s and their Corporate empires. Regularly empowered by protecting false or misleading views from previous reports or stories and the financial wises of power advertizers. Yet I won’t protect the Washington Post who used me for 18 months for free and no bi-line! In their “Harvesting Cash” Farm subsidy series that would have addressed unneeded farm subsidies if they had just included their main source for information and background, Alan Roebke!

Which I hope helps reveal how modern media jointly dominate the public domain and discussion of the issues affecting all citizens, yet empowering only Journalists, Money and not the general public. As in talk Radio’s Drips, Jerks and Rushes, MSNBC attact dog’s, Puff Ball, Rachol Madoff, keith Doberman, Fox’s Mr. Hate, etc. etc.! Best grouped in the 21st century as push button, eternal, perpetual, self consent, slanted, peripheral talking heads!

Which is not the “Press” or reporting that our forefathers envisioned with the term or fraise “Freedom of the Press” intended.

Which was a directive, not a heroic remark, which simply gave freedom to ask, enter and report with reasonable protection and yes profits, to be reviewed and protected by Congress as a vechicle to empower the people not Media or their Celebrities. All to assure reporting of the views of leaders and individuals of substance, who actually deal daily with the financial and phycial reality of the market place and the real world we all live in! Simply put, to report on individuals and topics, which the dollar or personal power is not the first or last reply. But to see that facts are reported to protect individual rights, with opportuniy for all! See my Letter which released a few day’s ahead of the enclosed McClatchy story and my reply to Editors below:

Editor and Your editorial board:
As a Candidate with limited resources, yet broad knowledge of the issues, I’m sadden to hear your newspapers view not to post my letter to the Editor with all the problems your readers face today!

So what would be the cost to post it like the Alexandria Echo did, $20 bucks? For the Echo I think, believed strongly in the right of both the financially strong Candidate and financially limited Candidate to share views with the electorate in our troubled times.

Yet for the record, see the Fergus Falls Daily Journal posted it as a letter to the Editor, (as will others who confirmed at no cost) in yesterdays paper a day ahead of the traditional McClatchy story of praising incumbents, also enclosed ! For the Daily Journal editor I think knew Collin and his Ag Committee introdueced the “Derivatives Markets Transparency & Accountability Act of 2009 or HR977″ after the meltdown of Wall Street and thought the issue should become before their readers as did the Echo!

So give me a rate so I can see if I can inform your readers like Fergus and Alec did! Their is a Candidate one step ahead of the issues and not two decades behind! Thanks for the reply and rate as I look for a openning to inform the Electorate in the 7th CD of Minnesota of the Facts in Election 2010! Sincerely Alan Roebke

The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Peterson’s record not good for the economy
Alan Roebke, Alexandria
Published Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Aug. 10 primary debate must start now. It’s the only way for you to see how your Congressman, Collin Peterson, is up to his eyeballs in the 2008 financial meltdown of our economy — including the housing mess, poor savings returns and the massive loss of retirement funds.
Collin’s ag committee had jurisdiction over the derivative market that caused this historic crash, massive uncertainty and debt.
So it’s Collin Peterson’s tenure on the House Ag Committee that failed America in its Congressional oversight obligation, to regulate and prevent derivatives, swaps, options and futures from devouring real markets.
It turned our renowned U.S. marketplace from a safe haven of wealth and investment into a gambling casino.
A derivatives market, which did not even exist as a market factor when Collin was sent to D.C. 20 years ago, became a “market monster” on Collin Peterson’s watch.
Yet, Alan Roebke is the only candidate on the 2010 ballot who understands and has experienced first hand, the good, the bad and the ugly of how these artificial markets operate.
So the issues are derivatives, jobs, subsidies and health insurance to a foreign-politician-corporate farmer vs. local statesman-family farmer.
The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Collin Peterson is improbable player in Wall Street bill
McClatchy Tribune
Published Thursday, June 24, 2010
WASHINGTON — Rep. Collin Peterson has never walked on Wall Street, but it hasn’t prevented him from trying to reform it.
While the rural Minnesota Democrat is playing a key role in the biggest piece of Wall Street legislation in decades, Peterson has never seen a reason to visit the 7,000-pound bronze Wall Street bull in Lower Manhattan. “What would you do, look at the computers sitting on the desk?” he said. “I don’t see that that’s any magic.”
Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has become an improbable broker deciding the fate of the most contentious aspects of the financial overhaul bill.
In an election year when he may be attacked for selling farmers short, Peterson is the point person in the House on provisions in the bill important to Minnesota farmers and agriculture companies.
Those provisions deal with derivatives, financial instruments that can reduce risk in trading crops and conducting business from Wall Street to Hollywood.
A House-Senate conference committee will take up the derivative provisions Thursday.
An amendment by Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., which would force banks to spin off some lucrative derivative business, has become the biggest source of disagreement between the House and Senate.
But for Peterson, the proposed legislation’s impact on farming is more important than how it rewrites the rules for Wall Street bankers. He wants to exempt farmers and businesses such as Minnetonka-based food commodity broker Cargill Inc. from any stringent regulations imposed on Wall Street. Farmers and farm-related companies could then continue using derivatives as a hedge against swings in crop prices.
If Peterson is successful, it will give him a trophy for the agriculture community in his northwestern Minnesota district. Winning strong farming provisions in a high-profile bill can also help him atone for ultimately supporting the climate change bill last year that agriculture strongly opposed.
Too close to Pelosi
With anti-incumbent sentiment high this year, Peterson is vulnerable to charges that he’s too close to Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic establishment, said Michael Brodkorb, deputy chair of the Minnesota Republican Party.
While Peterson voted against the health care bill that Republicans opposed, he voted for the House climate change bill that was unpopular in rural districts.
Peterson held out his support on the climate bill until the 11th hour, winning an amendment that the farming community wanted. But the agriculture community still regarded the bill as a huge new tax, said Kelli Ludlum, director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau.
But Ludlum said her organization was grateful for Peterson for at least getting his amendment passed, and said that the work he has done on behalf of the agriculture counterbalances the negative climate change vote.
“He’s no friend of Wall Street, but he takes care of his agriculture folks,” said Barbara Headrick, a professor of political science at Minnesota State University Moorhead. “He will vote against the Democratic leadership whenever he chooses, so that means if they want his vote, they have to listen to what he needs.”
Lobbyists hope to weaken
Banking lobbyists have furiously tried to strip the tough derivatives language from the final bill, and hope provisions regulating their use of derivatives will be weakened.
Peterson said he has been lobbied plenty by Wall Street since financial reform started, but that doesn’t mean he plans on seeing the New York Stock Exchange trading floor anytime soon. He turned down an offer for a campaign fundraiser there.
“These Wall Street guys,” he said, “they don’t know what to do with me. … They know I’m going to do what I’m going to do, and I’m going to do what I think is right.”
AHR

In keeping with League of Women Voters tradition, the forum will feature questions from the audience, presented to candidates through a designated mediator.

Candidates within each race will have the opportunity to answer six of the same questions. Each person will then be given a time limit for each question, which will range from one to three minutes, depending on candidate and public turnout, said Kristine Allas, voter service chair for the Austin Area League of Women Voters.

Every candidate will have one opportunity to answer the question presented — no rebuttals will be allowed.

The forum is designed to encourage community members to get to know candidates on a face-to-face basis and learn where each candidate stands on issues facing Austin and Mower County.

“That’s what we’re all about as an organization — educating the public,” Allas said. “We want to get the ideas of the candidate out there.”

Though questions are gathered from the audience, Allas said the mediator and others within the organization do screen questions to ensure that basic issues are covered.

“We usually ask about their experience, the reason why they’re running and what they think they could do,” she said.

Allas expects budgets cuts to be the area of prime concern Thursday evening, as it’s an issue currently affecting all areas of city and county government.

In addition to the forum, the organization will also be hosting voter registration booths Thursday, Aug. 12 near the Historical Center stand at the Mower County Fair.

The Austin area League of Women Voters regularly hosts forums in the lead-up to all elections, including primary and school board elections.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5 at the Austin City Council Chambers.