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As the proud son of a Veteran this day is a bittersweet reminder of my Dad. My Dad was my hero. I always marveled at his strength, wisdom and courage. He enlisted in the Army at the start of WW2, lying about his age because he was too young to enlist! He landed on the beaches […]

If you believe that China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and a host of other nations are hellbent on our nation’s destruction, then do something to thwart them:  Vote. That’s right. If you want to demonstrate the strength, vigor and resilience of American democracy in a world of tyrants and oppressors who are dedicated to depriving […]

The furious debate that erupts every time the President declares that he wants a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible strikes me as dangerous to our nation’s public health. As someone who continues his fight every day against the Beast that is cancer in my body I am grateful for the access I have […]

The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is, like many things in American life, the end of an era. A tireless and avowed liberal justice, Ginsburg was fierce in her advocacy for women, for minorities and for justice for all. While she and I may have had differing ideology, neither of us have […]

It has been said that time heals all wounds. But the wounds inflicted by the terror attack 19 years ago should always hurt- so that we never forget. That dreadful day on 9/11/2001 demands we give it it’s full measure of respect and dignity. It was one of America’s worst days. Yet, in the midst […]

“MPD did not kill him, but people assuming they did is rooted in a steep distrust,” Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison tweeted Wednesday night. “Seeing windows broken and items stolen can be beyond frustrating, especially when all that rage was sparked (this time) by misinformation. But so often our policing institutions have themselves been […]

Over the years I have had my fair share of ups and downs. I lost two children to a genetic disease early in their life. I’ve lost close friends and family members far too soon in their life. I’ve lost an election, a recount and a host of political fights and battles along the way. […]

In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, like many Governors around the country – Democrat and Republican – rose to the challenge and prescribed detailed steps that were intended to “flatten the curve” and buy time for our health care systems to absorb the predicted tsunami of COVID-19 cases. But […]

On May 21, 2003 as Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations I convened a hearing on the SARS titled, “SARS:  How Effective Is The State And Local Response?” On July 30, 2003 I held a follow-up hearing title “SARS:  Best Practices for Identifying And Caring for New Cases.” SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory […]