Blog
The Voter’s Speakeasy featuring unbiased reporting and insight into life at Project Vote Smart from our staff, interns, and volunteers.
April Common Ground E-Newsletter
Bipartisanship – Topped with Cheese and Baked at 350, for About 45 Minutes
We here at Project Vote Smart often lament the lack of civility in Congress and in state legislatures across this nation. These days, it seems like nothing can get Democrats and Republicans in the same room. At least nothing that isn't cheesy and baked.
No, we're not referring to cheesy platitudes or half baked policy proposals, we're talking about the annual Minnesota delegation “Hot Dish Off”. Rep. Keith Ellison, co-chair of the Progressive caucus, and Rep. Michelle Bachmann, chairman of the Tea Party caucus, might not agree on a whole lot. But they're willing to set aside those differences once a year in the name of a time honored (three years old) tradition that highlights an important part of Minnesota culture and cuisine.
For those of you east of the Mississippi, or west of, say, the Rockies, or really just not from Minnesota – a hotdish is a casserole. Wikipedia makes the important distinction that these special casseroles “typically [contain] a starch, a meat or other protein, and a canned and/or frozen vegetable, mixed with canned soup.” You know, to differentiate them from all the other casseroles out there. These dishes are a big deal in Minnesota, with different specialties by region, and fiercely guarded recipes . Rep. Tim Walz, who won this years competition with his “Herman the German” recipe underlined the importance of hot dish in Minnesota society. As he explained to the Star Tribune, “This is bragging ...
Tags
- 0
- 2012
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Ballot Measures
- blog
- Blog
- California
- Colorado
- congress
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Election
- elections
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- internship
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Marlyand
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New-Hampshire
- New-Jersey
- New-Mexico
- New-York
- North-Carolina
- North-Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- press-release
- Press Release
- Rhode-Island
- senate
- sequester
- South-Carolina
- South-Dakota
- Super Tuesday
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- volunteer
- Washington
- West-Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
More Posts
Hotdish #1: The Bachmann Recipe
What comes to mind when you think of Minnesota? Hockey? Lakes? Maybe the movie “Grumpy Old Men”? How about Hotdishes?
Sen. Max Baucus will not be seeking reelection in 2014
As of this morning, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.,has joined an increasingly long list of senators that will not seek reelection in 2014.
Bipartisanship – Topped with Cheese and Baked at 350, for About 45 Minutes
We here at Project Vote Smart often lament the lack of civility in Congress and in state legislatures across this nation.
Why Harry Reid Voted No - And Other Interesting Things from Wednesday's Vote
After Wednesday's vote in the Senate on President Obama's proposed gun bill, the Internet was rife with mixed emotions.
A Vote Smart Guide to the Keystone XL Pipeline
The Keystone XL Pipeline: it's been dominating headlines for what seems like forever...
March Common Ground E-Newsletter
Click here to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter...
Developing Instantly Gratifying Data-base Visualizations
For over a decade Vote Smart worked at various methods of building the Voter’s Self-Defense System.
Project Vote Smart: Experience and Lessons Learned
Vote Smart exists to help citizens and organizations trying to provide citizens with easy access to abundant, accurate, relevant information about those who govern or those who wish to replace those who do.
"Sequestration"
The “Fiscal Cliff” and how it relates to our most recent financial conundrum, “The Sequester.”
A Vote Smart Guide to the "Gang of Eight"
Immigration: it's an issue that's been on the minds of a lot of prominent people involved in politics lately.
February Common Ground E-Newsletter
Read this month's Common Ground E-Newsletter...
Primary in Illinois' 2nd District Special Election
Six days after Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to the misuse of campaign funds, voters in his long-held district go the polls to begin the process of finding a replacement.
Johanns Wont Seek Re-election
Mike Johanns, the republican senior senator from Nebraska, won't seek reelection in 2014.
Lautenberg Won't Seek Reelection
New Jersey's senior senator, Frank R. Lautenberg decided today that he will not seek reelection.
State of the Union Fun!
Article II, section 3 of the United States constitution lays is out clearly: “Every year the president shall give a really big speech the whole country will watch, half of them eagerly, half of them angrily.” Well, not exactly.
A Vote Smart Guide to the Assault Weapons Ban
Recently, something called an “assault weapons ban” has been making major news.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Massachusetts
The 187th General Court of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has passed a total of 329 laws this session.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Fracking
With new technology comes new debates and in 2012 many state legislatures attempted to regulate a relatively new industry they did not know much about.
January Common Ground E-Newsletter
Click here to sign up for our monthly Common Ground E-Newsletter...
