Around MN: NOW defends Bachmann against Newsweek cover

The National Organization for Women defends Bachmann against Newsweek

"It's sexist," NOW president Terry O'Neill told The Daily Caller. "Casting her in that expression and then adding 'The Queen of Rage' I think [it is]. Gloria Steinem has a very simple test: If this were done to a man or would it ever be done to a man - has it ever been done to a man? Surely this has never been done to a man" (Daily Caller)

Newsweek exploits Bachmann, female politicians

The news magazine that recently featured Sarah Palin in a Hooters waitress-like outfit is at it again. This time, the female presidential contender with the this-candidate-can't-be-taken-seriously cover shot is Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (Star Tribune).

Pawlenty fights to gain ground ahead of Ames Straw Poll

His decline in Iowa has less to do with any policy stance than merely a hardening perception among detractors -- and a worry among supporters -- that he is not as charismatic or rhetorically tough as some of his rivals, particularly Bachmann (Washington Post).

Michele Bachmann's love affair with revisionist history

Bachmann's media savvy and strong debate performance show she's not nuts--and the plurality of Iowa Republicans agree, making her the current top choice for the 2012 nomination (The Atlantic).

Tonight on Fresh Air, Ryan Lizza who profiled Bachmann in the New Yorker will discuss his article. You can hear it at 8:00p.m. on MPR's live stream.

Also on MN Today

Navy SEAL known as 'quiet leader'

Nicholas Spehar was a "quiet leader" -- a three-sport and academic star who "focused on getting things done," his high school principal said Monday of the U.S. Navy SEAL from Chisago City (Star Tribune).

St. Cloud seeks to decrease levy $1.5M

The city of St. Cloud is proposing a decrease in its levy and budget for 2012 as it continues to face a shrinking tax base and lagging economy (St. Cloud Times).

Market uncertainty pushes mortgage, interests rates in buyer's favor

In an already struggling housing market, Minnesota mortgage industry watchers are looking for how interest rates will be affected following last week's downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating (MPR).

Local experts weigh in on downgrade's potential impact

"Right now, there's no impact because interest rates aren't rising," said Louis Johnston, associate professor and chair of the economics department at St. John's University. But higher rates are likely soon (St. Cloud Times).

Minnesotan builds boat-free wakeboarding method

There was 27-year-old Kyle Mehrkens of Red Wing on the Mississippi River Sunday morning, a mop of curly blond hair getting soaked at the fringes of his red helmet as he carved s-curves, passed the handle behind his back, and jumped waves on a wakeboard hundreds of feet from shore. The line that made him zip, it turned out, was spooled inside a metal box strapped to his Jeep parked on dry land (Rochester Post Bulletin).

'Field' day for Grand Forks: Singer-songwriter Whitmore in town

Critics are having a field day with "Field Songs," the new release by singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore, who will be in Grand Forks tonight, throwing around words like "genius" and calling him "a musical heir to the likes of Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen" (Grand Forks Herald).

MN Scenes

Grass growing between the rails by J Moore via our Flickr pool.

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