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On Presidents and Bayonets: A Historical Review

By Eric Ostermeier on October 24, 2012
Ronald Reagan talked about bayonets more than twice as frequently as any other president; most presidential rhetoric casts the weapon as a symbol for tyranny and unjust force.

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Did Obama Mislead Americans on Trends in U.S. Troop Fatalities?

By Eric Ostermeier on June 23, 2011
U.S. troop fatalities in Iraq are on pace for a 16 percent increase from 2010; American deaths in Afghanistan over the last three months are up 7 percent from the same period in 2010.

How Many U.S. Secretaries of Defense Have Served in the Military?

By Eric Ostermeier on April 28, 2011
3 in 10 defense secretaries never served in the nation's Armed Forces

Minnesota's GOP U.S. House Delegation Acknowledges Military and Veterans at 17:1 Ratio over DFLers

By Eric Ostermeier on March 28, 2011
Minnesota's Republican U.S. Representatives have acknowledged holidays and days of observance recognizing the military at a 17 to 1 ratio in press releases and social media compared to DFLers over the last 12 months

Cravaack Bolsters Military Record of Minnesota's U.S. House Delegation

By Eric Ostermeier on December 1, 2010
With Chip Cravaack's election to Congress, half of Minnesota's 2011 U.S. House delegation has a military background, compared to 36 percent of the 134 U.S. Representatives elected since statehood

Is Military Experience No Longer Valued in Minnesota Gubernatorial Elections?

By Eric Ostermeier on June 1, 2010
Prior to Tim Pawlenty, 10 of the previous 14 Minnesota governors had military service; Minnesotans elected veterans in 16 of 19 gubernatorial elections from 1944-1998

Veterans in U.S. House Voted 55-37 Against Repeal of Ban on Gays in Military

By Eric Ostermeier on May 31, 2010
1 out of 5 Democratic veterans voted against the repeal, including 2 out of 5 Blue Dog veterans; 19 out of 20 GOP veterans opposed amendment

U.S. Military Service in the U.S. House of Representatives

By Eric Ostermeier on May 31, 2010
GOP caucus has 60 percent higher rate of service than Democratic caucus; 17 state delegations have no members with military background

Projected Rate of U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan Down 24 Percent in 2010

By Eric Ostermeier on March 30, 2010
Despite record setting pace for U.S. military fatalities in Afghanistan in 2010, the rate of fatalities per troops on the ground is on pace for a 6-year low and a 24 percent decrease from 2009

Inside the War in Afghanistan

By Eric Ostermeier on December 2, 2009
Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin rank among the Bottom 10 states in per capita fatalities; non-hostile deaths account for more than 25 percent of U.S. death toll

How Common Is Military Service in the Biographies of Minnesota's U.S. Representatives?

By Eric Ostermeier on November 18, 2009
More than twice as many Republican U.S. House members from Minnesota have had military service than DFLers since merger in 1944

Midwest Has Highest Per Capita Rate of Iraq War Fatalities and Casualties

By Eric Ostermeier on October 8, 2009
Minnesota has 5th highest number of fatalities in the nation in 2009

U.S. Military Fatalities Continue at Record High Pace in Afghanistan, Record Low Pace in Iraq

By Eric Ostermeier on June 14, 2009
As President Barack Obama approaches the 5-month mark of his administration, his political supporters, especially those on the liberal end of the ideological spectrum, are faced with reconciling the President's campaign promises on the military, national security, and the country's conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the policies he has...

U.S. Military Fatalities in Afghanistan on Record Pace in 2009

By Eric Ostermeier on March 16, 2009
Although Barack Obama only devoted 2 of the 280 sentences in his late February Address before a Joint Session of Congress on the War in Afghanistan, the U.S. attempt to bring greater stability to a historically unstable region of the world is starting to once again take center stage in...

Tired of War: Minnesotans Not Shy About Changing Presidential Party During Wartime

By Eric Ostermeier on January 21, 2009
Now that Barack Obama has been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States, the question on the minds of many Minnesotans is: "How long do we wait for 'change?'" Obama's campaign for 'change' during the presidential primaries and general election took many forms, from the vague and intangible...



Political Crumbs

Seasoned Senators in Wisconsin

May 2, 2013

Of the 15 men and women that have served in the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin since popular vote elections were introduced a century ago, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin rank among the oldest upon first entering the chamber. Johnson began his tenure at the age of 55 years, 8 months, and 26 days in January 2011, which is the oldest of any elected Wisconsin Senator during this popular vote era. The next oldest, Alexander Wiley, was more than one year younger when he took his seat in 1939 (54 years, 7 months, 8 days). Tammy Baldwin comes in at #6 being 50 years, 10 months, and 23 days when she took office in January of this year. The youngest elected Senator from the Badger State was Robert La Follette, Jr. at 30 years, 7 months, and 24 days (1925) when he took the seat of his legendary deceased father.


Party Like It's 1986?

March 27, 2013

Tim Johnson's retirement opens up an opportunity for Republicans to gain control of both U.S. Senate seats in South Dakota for the first time since the convening of the 100th Congress in January 1987 (Tom Daschle ousted incumbent GOPer James Abdnor in the 1986 election). South Dakota is currently tied with Nevada and Washington for the 22nd longest streak in the nation since Republicans held both Senate seats at 26+ years. Neighboring North Dakota has the 13th longest streak (August 1960) with three states last seeing a GOP hold on both seats in the 1800s: Louisiana (November 1872), Florida (March 1875), and Arkansas (March 1885).


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