KSTP Reports on Crazy Mark Olson: "State Rep: Death! Death! Death!"

KSTP:

Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, got a lot of attention last year when he was accused of assaulting his wife, now he's gaining notoriety for his rant on mental health. 

Rep. Olson's diatribe came out of a debate on the house floor over K-12 funding when lawmakers discussed a provision regarding behavioral issues and the use of medication.
"Death, death, death, completed suicide, completed suicide, completed suicide, suicide, suicide, suicide death death, death," Rep. Olson said.

Watch the video at KSTP.com

MN Publius has a new You Tube of Olson ranting.





Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Rep Mark Olson Knows Doctors Who can Cure Diabetes

...and you can take a Personal Rapid Transit pod right to their offices.... but watch out for the black helicopters... and flying monkeys!!!


Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Rep. Mark Olson's Death & Suicide Rap

Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Video of Rep. Mark Olson Going Berzerk at Yesterday's Minnesota House Session

Only a day after a Judge postponed Rep. Mark Olson's trial for beating his wife, Olson went nuts on the House floor, ranting about suicide and death... watch:



H/T MN Publius.

UPDATE: Good post about Olson's other crazy performances yesterday at the Capitol Brew-ha-ha Blog.

Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Breaking: Crazy Rep. Mark Olson Politicizes the Shootings at Virginia Tech

From MN Publius:

I was just watching the live feed from the State House floor (because I’m just that cool) and I can’t even explain what I just saw. They’re debating the omnibus education bill right now (actually interesting otherwise) and everything was going just fine until Rep. Mark Olson (R-Big Lake) got up for a 3-5 minute speech. First of all, yes, that Mark Olson, but he’s managed to up the ante.

So, Mark Olson gets up to talk about a provision to allow voluntary mental health screening in public schools. Now, it seems pretty obvious that this might draw some references to Virginia Tech considering that Cho is said to have been mentally ill. So, I don’t really fault Olson for going down that path but, that being said, he had a very tight rope to walk. It starts getting nasty when Olson started politicizing the massacre and citing it as a reason for not passing the measure; yes, he’s trying to make the case that VA Tech shows that we shouldn’t allow voluntary mental health screening. How does Mark Olson string together these two supposedly conflicting realities? Well, of course Virginia Tech was caused by “psychiatric drugs,” or so Mark Olson says…

In fact, the whole speech was totally crazy. At one point in the speech Olson is literally yelling “Suicide! Suicide! Suicide! Death! Death! Death!” on the floor of the Minnesota State House. If this weren’t so outrageously offensive in light of the weight of the current events it would almost be funny, but it was outrageously offensive, and it wasn’t funny.

The MN Publius post also has an audio clip of Rep. Mark Olson ranting about death and suicide.

I will try to get video of this.



Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Saint Cloud Times: Judge postpones Rep. Olson’s trial until June

SC Times:

Elk River — The trial for state Rep. Mark Olson on charges that he assaulted his wife has been postponed from May 7 until June 4.

Olson’s attorney, at a hearing today in Sherburne County District Court, argued successfully that a state law prohibits a sitting member of the Legislature to stand trial in a civil or criminal case during the legislative session.

Judge Alan Pendleton rejected requests from Olson at a February hearing to schedule the trial to begin after the legislative session, which is scheduled to end May 21. Olson didn’t cite the state law at the February hearing but did at today’s hearing, and Pendleton this time agreed to reschedule the trial. A prosecutor both times opposed the motion, said Chief Deputy Sherburne County Attorney Sam Wertheimer.

Olson is charged with two misdemeanor counts after he was accused of assaulting his wife in November at their Big Lake Township home. Olson has pleaded not guilty to the charges that stem from an incident Nov. 12 at the Olsons’ home. Olson’s wife told deputies she and Mark Olson had argued and that he had pushed her to the ground three times.

There's still time for Rep. Mark Olson to introduce another Personal Rapid Transit bill.... GO FOR IT, MARK!!!


Ken Avidor
Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Rep. Mark Olson's Trial Postponed?

From an anonymous tipster:

Mark Olson's trial has been rescheduled to begin June 4th after a hearing this morning in Sherburne County. Apparently, in spite of desiring to hurry this along, his lawyer found a law that prevents requiring a legislator from being in court while they are in session.

The CPRT Not in the Living Green Expo This Year?

They were in 2005 and 2006... don't see them on the Transportation exhibitor's list this year.

Maybe someone complained?

...or maybe it's because PRT isn't popular in Minnesota anymore as the shortage of posts to this PRT Yahoo forum shows:



... or maybe it's because Gary Dean Zimmermann's conviction and incarceration for bribery or Rep. Mark Olson's May 7th trial for beating his wife or Michele Bachmann's lunatic impersonation of a congresswoman?



Ken Avidor
Ken Avidor writes about the "Personal Rapid Transit" scam.

Taxi 2000 Corporation Lawsuit Defendant's Weird List of Campaign Contributions

About a month ago, I received an anonymous tip that Taxi 2000 CEO Morrie Anderson was talking about suing former T2 CEO , founder and PRT guru J. Edward Anderson again. I dropped by the Hennepin County Government Center today and checked... nope, no new lawsuit... but....the documents from the old lawsuit are still there. It was interesting to re-read J. Edward Anderson's private e-mails to his co-defendants Chuck Michael of SEH and Ion Corporation President and CEO, Wendell Maddox.

I did a little Googling on Wendell Maddox and found his interesting list of campaign contributions:

Maddox, Wendell
Ion Electronics/President and CEO
MINNETONKA, MN
55345

08/14/2006--$1,100
GUTKNECHT FOR U.S. CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican

$2,000--08/09/2006
GUTKNECHT FOR U.S. CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican

08/06/2006--$1,000
ERLANDSON FOR U S REPRESENTATIVE - Democrat Farm Labor

06/30/2006--$1,000
ERLANDSON FOR U S REPRESENTATIVE - Democrat Farm Labor

06/07/2006--$400
KLINE FOR CONGRESS - Republican

03/31/2006--$300
BACHMANN FOR CONGRESS - Republican

12/19/2005--$1,000
KLINE FOR CONGRESS - Republican

12/07/2005--$4,600
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA - Republican

09/28/2005--$500
KLINE FOR CONGRESS - Republican

09/23/2005--$1,000
MARK KENNEDY 06 - Republican

09/07/2005--$1,000
MARTIN OLAV SABO FOR CONGRESS VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE - Democrat Farm Labor

08/17/2005--$500
CANTOR FOR CONGRESS - Republican

08/08/2005--$1,000
GUTKNECHT FOR U.S. CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican

07/22/2005--$1,000
MARK KENNEDY 06 - Republican

02/16/2005--$500
KLINE FOR CONGRESS - Republican

Maddox also gave money to Teresa Daly who ran against Kline in 2004.

Rep. Mark Olson Sends Out Crazy Questionnaire

Go over to Democratic Underground to see a copy of one of the wacky questionaires Rep. Mark Olson is sent out to constituents.

Looks a lot like the wacky questionnaire Olson's pal Rep. Michele Bachmann sent out recently.

New Mayor of Kansas City Rejects PRT

The Charleston Daily Mail:

Mark Funkhouser used to ride West Virginia University's Personal Rapid Transit system, which he recalled "was broken down half the time."

Now he'll help develop a light rail system for Kansas City, Mo., population 450,000.

...He says the PRT "wasn't really mass transit...

Recently a snowstorm shut down the PRT and buses has to shuttle the students around.

Of course, ATRA is planning a seminar to celebrate the so-called PRT system that breaks down half the time.

More about the WVU PRT at the PRT is a Joke website.

Did Dutch Company Anonymously Edit Wikipedia Personal Rapid Transit Page?

Looks like somebody from the Frog Company has anonymously edited the Wikipedia PRT page.

A look-up of the DNS # 193.173.31.50 reveals this info:

Ron Hiensch
Frog Navigation Systens B.V.
Cartesiusweg 120
3534BD Utrecht
The Netherlands

Frog has a new PRT page on its website that gives us some specs on its version of Personal Rapid Transit. This caught my eye:

Maximum speed: 40 km/h [25m/ph]

... and that's supposed to be "rapid"?

More about the history of Frog and PRT here.

J. Edward Anderson Says "LRT Lobby" Killed "Personal Rapid Transit" (PRT)

The wacky professor has a paper posted on Professor Schneider's wacky gadgetbahn site called:

Questions and Answers following a presentation on High-Capacity Personal Rapid Transit to an audience of about 60 persons at a meeting sponsored by The Institute of Theological and Interdisciplinary Studies held at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 23, 2007.

J. Edward Anderson sounds way tired and way old. He makes a lot of unsupported claims and accusations. He whines and complains that the "LRT lobby":

It has become clear to me that the LRT lobby has Minnesota quite locked out of considering anything but LRT. How they do it I can only guess, but I am aware that they have many paid lobbyists working the Legislature using public money to lobby for private interests. On March 26, 1974 the Minnesota Senate passed an Act (S. F. No. 2703, Chapter No. 573) “directing the metropolitan transit commission to plan an automated small vehicle fixed guideway system, . . .” This unfortunately put the fox in charge of the chicken coop. The MTC, which no longer exists, had strongly lobbied against this Act and contracted with a firm also opposed to new systems. Notwithstanding strong objections they used the large guideway and large cost of the Morgantown people mover as representative of PRT, which resulted in costs and visual impact far too high, which resulted in abandoning interest in PRT. Since the vast majority of people have no interest in transit issues, light-rail proponents became dominant on the Metropolitan Council. They were able to continue to use this bogus data to misrepresent PRT, which enabled them to keep PRT out of the picture. Over two decades ago the circumstantial evidence was strong that two staff members were fired for trying to compare light rail with the PRT system we were developing at the University of Minnesota. No staff member aware of that will dare to venture a favorable opinion about PRT.

No Ed. It's not the "LRT lobby"... here's a clue:

Question: How do we deal with squirrels, birds, raccoons, etc.?

Answer: Small creatures could nest in the bottom corners of my covered guideway without bothering anything. But, the plan is to build a maintenance vehicle equipped with a light, a television camera, and a high-pressure hose. It will be operated from time to time late at night to inspect the guideway interior to remove debris.

Right, lots of cities are going to want a transportation system that rains soggy critters and their crap on pedestrians, buildings and vehicles.

Swedish Government Minister Goes California Gadgetbahning

Andreas Carlgren, an ethically-challenged Swedish Minister for Sustainable Development was in California a couple months ago promoting Personal Rapid Transit to Lt Governor John Garamendi, Energy Commissioner Jim Boyd, Mayor and Council members of Santa Cruz.

Here's a report on the trip (PDF) available on the Pod Car site:

Preliminarily results:

•Initiate city friendship relation between the City of Santa Cruz and the municipality of Värmdö, Sweden. Both cities have in autumn 2006 completed feasibility studies for podcars. Both cities see the benefits of joining forces in their implementation
strategies.

•Initiate West Orange County Group for Podcars. Ten cities, from Anaheim to Huntington Beach, with Fountain Valley as the driving force, are setting up for a large regional feasibility study of podcars. OCTA are positive to fund the work through
their “Go Local” program.

•Irvine sees podcars so interesting that they may defer their decision on which public transport system they will choose for Great Park. The plans of Great Park are to convert a closed airport (the former marine airbase El Toro, e.g. where Nixon landed his Airforce One) into a business and recreation park with strong sustainable profiles. Mr Agran (board of Great Park & council member of Irvine) agreed to come to Uppsala in September to test ride Vectus PRT.

•Cooperation on standardization issues of podcars, “General Transport System”, were further formalized with the University of Irvine.

•The top political officials at the summit meeting, Lt Governor John Garamendi and the Swedish Minister of Environment Andreas Carlgren, were positive to give political support to podcar initiatives.

The Vectus test track looks a lot like the doomed Raytheon PRT track.

Here's a picture of Andreas Carlgren with Lt Governor John Garamendi:

Bachmann, Kiffmeyer and Rep. Mark Olson meet in Sherburne County

Someone from Saint Cloud called the Jason Lewis Show, during the 5 o'clock hour yesterday and mentioned that there was going to be a "Republican convention" at the Salida Depot at 8:30 in the morning.

Bachmann, Olson and Kiffmeyer were invited.

Apparently this "convention" took place. I'll try to get more information about this meeting later.

Seattle PRT Promoter is Behind Phony Al Franken Blog

Mr_Grant is David Gow, the Seattle contact for the CPRT and web guy for several PRT websites has a blog that's supposed to be about Al Franken, but it's really about attacking... well, look at Gow's profile:

"PRT Proponents are Either Crackpots or Con Artists"

That's what I wrote on the Seattle PI forum ...and it was deleted.

Soul not sold to Road Warriors:

"PRT Proponents are Either Crackpots or Con Artists"

PRTSkeptic: your are correct, sir. Once a nut-job, always a nut-job. Same goes for road warriors like Niles who have determined we will have to "pry his car out of his cold, dead hands." Given the incredible amount of injury accidents our region experiences every week, that may very well be the case for many of these CARnage apologists.

Niles and Bundy have always shifted back and forth between losing "alternative" technologies.

Look at their 10 year love affair with an amusement ride called "monorail".

Niles' own co-editor, Jerry "Moonbeam" Schneider, shifts between "emerging" technologies so often, it makes your head spin. 

Of course, the only thing these anti-rail activists can settle on is...you guessed it: a bus. Now, THAT will peak the public's curiousity!



In Alameda, a cybertranny has an opinion piece... likely a response to this article:

Another Rep. Mark Olson Crazy Movie Friday

More weird stuff...

Intelligent Transportation - The Discovery Institute's Other Wedge Issue

Wedge Issue: (noun) A political issue that divides a candidate's supporters or the members of a party.

The Discovery Institute is well-known as a promoter of "Intelligent Design". What is less known is that The Discovery Institute promotes another divisive wedge issue called "Intelligent Transportation".

First, anything that calls itself "intelligent" should raise red flags.

"Intelligent Transportation" is vague and confusing because its purpose is to confuse and bamboozle the public so that some pretty awful stuff like highway boondoggles that wouldn't pass public scrutiny slips in through the back door while people are scratching their heads trying to figure out the "intelligent" stuff.

Most of the "Intelligent Transportation" concepts are far from being new or innovative. They range from telecommuting to monorails to Bus Rapid Transit to "smart roads".

John Niles is a "Fellow" with Cascadia, the Discovery Institute's transportation division. Niles is one of Puget Sound's leading opponents of rail transit. He works with gadgetbahn professor Jerry Schneider at the Public Interest Transportation Forum.

Niles also works with Emory Bundy of Coalition for Effective Transportation Alternatives (CETA) to oppose LRT. Emory Bundy, the former head of a now defunct PRT company called "Pathfinder Systems" claims to be an "environmental activist" and likes to tell people how much he rides a bicycle. Here's Bundy on a local Televison show, railing against rail for the Downtown Seattle Republican Club:

J. Edward Anderson Promotes PRT Plan of Convicted Felon

From a recent J. Edward Anderson paper on the ATRA website. Direct link to PDF HERE.

Figure 8 shows an application of PRT in Minneapolis, which was laid out and has been promoted by a Minneapolis City Councilman.

That councilman is convicted felon Gary Dean Zimmermann.

Here's the professor with another jailbird:

Republican Caucus Approved of Rep. Mark Olson's Gadgetbahning

The Minnesota Republican House Caucus that kicked Olson out recently was once very supportive of his anti-rail transit, pro-PRT campaign as this House GOP press releasefrom 2001 shows:

NEWS RELEASE

District 19 Legislators to Host Transportation Town Hall Meeting

(ST. PAUL) Representative Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo Township), Representative Mark Olson (R-Big Lake) and Senator Mark Ourada (R-Buffalo) will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 20 to discuss transportation issues for Wright and Sherburne counties. The meeting will be held in the Big Lake High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Informal questions will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Among those attending the meeting will be Dr. Lynn Woodward and Dr. J. Edward Anderson, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota from 1963 to 1986. Dr. Anderson will address the transportation option known as Personal Rapid Transit (PRT).

"We want to keep area residents informed as to the technological developments of transportation systems," said Rep. Olson. "The public should be made aware so that all options are considered. I hope many citizens will turn out for this important informational meeting."

That's just one year after the Raytheon boondoggle went bust:

Raytheon pulls out of rapid transit plan

By Ross Kerber, Globe Staff, 3/29/2000

It may take a bit longer to catch Taxi 2000.

Some transit planners still swoon over the design, an ambitious monorail-like system that would send three-seat cars zipping around urban areas at up to 80 miles an hour on elevated tracks. In 1993, Raytheon Co. said it would invest $20 million to build a test track in Marlborough, in a partnership with the Taxi 2000 engineering firm. At the time, defense contractor Raytheon touted the deal as part of its effort to diversify. But the firm has renewed its military focus since then, and yesterday said it has exited what it calls the ''personal rapid transit'' business.

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Raytheon also said it has taken a $6 million charge to ''dispose of'' the test track, a one-third-mile outdoor loop built near a company parking lot. A spokeswoman couldn't be more specific about the track's fate, though she said it was part of a number of cost-cutting steps Raytheon took after a series of financial warnings and slowing sales. Executives were not immediately available to discuss the move, she said.

The end of Raytheon's support might be seen as a setback to Taxi 2000 president J. Edward Anderson, a retired mechanical engineering professor who taught at Boston University and the University of Minnesota.

But Anderson, reached at home near Minneapolis, says he's glad for the 
chance to seek new partners and is in discussions with another company, which he declined to name.

... because it probably didn't exist ...

The electric-powered, computer-controlled system Anderson proposes would be cheaper than light rail and environmentally cleaner than building more freeways and automobiles, he said.

Anderson estimates Raytheon spent nearly $45 million developing and 
marketing the project since 1993.

 

... 45 million freekin' dollars!!! ...

He said the three test cars it built, at 5,000 pounds apiece, were far too heavy. ''We lost eight years'' working with Raytheon, he said. ''But we're going to recover.''

One supporter is Ed Porter, a member of the Santa Cruz, Calif., planning commission who says he will urge that a personal rapid-transit system such as Taxi 2000 be included in a mass-transit study the city is now preparing.

Some oppose the idea because it would involve building elevated tracks 
down city streets, but Porter is unfazed: ''As much as you could improve bus or rail service, it doesn't look like they're going to get the job done alone,'' he said.

Now Porter worries Raytheon's move could harm his case.

''I was hoping to come visit,'' he said.

Raytheon's PRT still exists in this online cornucopia of Gadgetbahn concepts... and on Google maps:



I expect more Gadgetbahn scams in response to growing public concern over Global Warming and Peak Oil.

Here's a good article on a gadgetbahn project in Alameda.

Rep. Mark Olson and Michele Bachmann Owe Minnesota Taxpayers an Explanation

Laurie Blake in the Star Tribune:

Four years ago, leaders in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka resisted a planned light-rail line as an intrusion into suburbia. Now they think it's long overdue.

Why? Because reporters like Laurie Blake and Britt Robson listened to the PRTistas and reported their lies about PRT being better than LRT.

But, now things are different because...

...the popularity of the Hiawatha Line, which opened between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America in 2004, changed attitudes, said county planner Katie Walker.

...now, Laurie Blake who helped the PRTistas delay planning for LRT for years by spreading their anti-LRT message concedes that every tick of the clock means increasing costs for new LRT lines...

If the Southwest Corridor and the other lines are put off until after 2020, inflation will "eat you alive," said Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, chairman of a metro counties transit alliance. "We need to do more, faster. Otherwise it's going to cost more and we are going to leave people sitting in congestion for more and more years."

PRTistas like Bachmann, Olson and Phil Krinkie call themselves fiscal conservatives, but they are responsible for a delay in LRT planning and construction that will cost Minnesota taxpayers millions, perhaps billions more dollars because of inflation.

Here's an edited audio clip of Bachmann friend and Taxi 2000 lobbyist, Ed Cain testifying for Rep. Mark Olson's PRT bills back in 2005:

Another Wacky Mark Olson Movie

Here he is again, repeating the nonsense the voices in his head keep telling him to say:

Rep. Mark Olson Gave Homeschoolers Personal Rapid Transit "Workshop" in 2005

A homeschooled student gave this account of a Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators-sponsored "Legislative Training Day Workshop" in 2005:

"After lunch we spent a good portion of the afternoon participating in a mock committee hearing at which Representative Mark Olson introduced the Personal Rapid Transit Bill as the author. Former Representative John Tuma played the role of committee chairman, and we students had the opportunity to question the author and debate the bill in our roles as "representatives." This really gave us the feeling of what it would be like to be a legislator."

Personal Rapid Transit Proponents Muddy Peak Oil and Global Warming Debate.

When the Saint Cloud Times endorsed Jim Huhtala, they criticized Rep. Mark Olson for muddying the debate over the Northstar commuter rail with PRT.

"...Olson, who in 14 years of legislative service has cast more than his share of truly confusing votes and taken some bizarre stands on issue. Tops on the list: He opposes Northstar but supports personal rapid transit, a yet-unproven transit system involving individual cars on yet-to-be-built tracks."

The rapid depletion of petroleum supplies and global warming are serious issues that share one common solution; a decrease in our dependence on fossil fuels.

One part of that solution is a greater public investment in rail transit. Although trains use power derived from fossil fuels, trains are far more efficient. Transit-oriented development is more pedestrian-friendly, allowing people to be less dependent on automobiles.

There are so many websites promoting PRT and other phony "gadgetbahn" transportation concepts. Here's a new one, that brazenly presents itself as a solution to global warming and Peak Oil.... Smart Skyways:

SmartSkyways is seeking a $15 Million joint venture partner to assist us in engineering and building a sales model fn Colorado for our Automated Guideway Transport (AGT).  We will then market our technology for a $5 billion Franchise in the State of Colorado as shown under the routes button. Someday we want to compete for various routes world wide.

Smart Skyways is linked to other websites such as Beyond Oil USA and a grandiose real estate venture called Airpark Village in Fort Collins, Colorado which has gotten the usual puffy media treatment from the news media:

A futuristic 50-block green-research hub is planned for the city. The $1 billion campus would be “a community for the new creative class.”

The promoter of Airpark Village is a wacky real estate developer named Lloyd Goff.

There will always be guys like Goff and Olson around to confuse and bamboozle the public about real transportation choices. It's time the major news media stop publishing gee-whiz puff pieces about PRT. If Global warming and the depleting supply of petroleum are not seriously addressed soon, there will be dire consequences for future generations.

Mark Olson couldn't care less about future generations. He has no children of his own. Olson exploited his step-children in his campaign literature. He beat up the mother of those 2 children (and lied about defending himself against her). After he beat up the mother of those kids, Olson ran away and hid in a church school. At his araignment, Olson cried and clutched a Bible. When confronted by the media, Olson cowardly refused to answer questions. He abused the justice system by delaying his court date so he can keep collecting a check from the Minnesota taxpayers for as long as he can.

That's the sort of person who promotes PRT.

Heidi Olson's Sister Says Rep, Mark Olson's Attorney Told "False Story"

Rep. Mark Olsons sister-in-law has an LTE in today's West Sherburne Tribune::

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Reader: Standards needed

TO THE EDITOR:

I am proud of my sister, Heidi Olson, and her decision not to try to influence the public by making statements about the incidents which landed Mark Olson in jail. However, after attending the latest hearing on Feb. 9, I heard Olson's lawyer tell a reporter the false story that Heidi "came after Olson and he was trying to control the situation". Perhaps a weak case has led him to apply this tactic. It is misperceptions like that which hopefully will be brought out in court, when persons testifying are under oath.

It is my hope that the people of Sherburne County will agree that physical violence is never warranted or justified. In my 32 plus years of marriage, my husband has never been physically aggressive with me. I don't think I could do anything that would cause him to act that way. Unless there is a common agreement and a standard about domestic violence, there is not much more that can be said.

Holli Rebney

Minnetonka, MN

Rep, Mark Olson needs open the Bible he clutches in front of the news media and read the 9th Commandment-- "Thou shalt not bear false witness.... "

Senator Ken Jacobsen is Another Idiotic PRT-Promoting Nutcase

The Seattle Times:

OLYMPIA -- Sen. Ken Jacobsen doesn't own a dog, but wants everyone else to be able to take theirs into a bar.

He also wants companies to pay for roomier airline seats when they fly employees long distances, and the state to designate Oct. 9 as Leif Erikson Day and name the Garry oak the state oak tree. Then there's his idea of a state poet laureate. Washington should have one and give the bard a firkin of beer.

For the most part, he's serious. All 99 bills he's introduced since the session opened in January -- more than any other lawmaker in the state Legislature -- serve a purpose, the Seattle Democrat said, even if most of them die.

"I'm into the theory of chaos. And in the theory of chaos, if this particle exists and this one comes into existence and this one doesn't know that one exists? It still affects the behavior of that one," he said, moving his hands around as if they were giant particles.

Of course, one of Senator Ken Jacobsen's 99 bills is for Personal Rapid Transit.

Friday is Crazy Rep. Mark Olson Video Day

Every Friday... another wacky video starring jailbird legislator Mark Olson. Today's feature flick shows Mark Olson trying to explain why he opposes Northstar:

Two Letters to the Editor from Crazy Rep. Mark Olson

Olson's first letter LTE to the West Sherburne Tribune is a bunch of lame excuses about why he chose the last date offered by the judge for his trial... not too interesting, but the next letter is classic Mark Olson.

Mark Olson compares himself to... get this... John Quincy Adams !!!:

...It should be highlighted that Mr. Beckfeld not only missed the mark by his lack of supporting facts, but also by his definition of effectiveness. Please consider this historical example.

John Quincy Adams, after being president of the United States, served for 18 years in Congress. Then Congressman Adams served in a pro-slavery Congress as an ardent opponent of slavery and became known as the "Hellhound of Slavery". During those 18 years he served 14 years under a gag order from his colleagues that kept him from introducing more petitions against slavery.

In 1839 Congressman Adams had introduced a plan to gradually eliminate slavery in six years, which at the time was over 20 years before the Civil War. This measure too failed and by today's standards for success Congressman Adams was a failure.

However, Congressman Adam's great success was his persistence in doing what is right in the right spirit. In response to his detractors who also raised concerns about his efforts, he is known for having said: "Duty is ours; results are God's." If Congress had been successful to see the truth behind Congressman Adam's Anti-Slavery proposal; America's bloodiest war ever could have been avoided with 600,000 lives saved, and freedom established for all.

For the future I'd like to welcome people to continue writing with their challenges and concerns. Public dialogue is vitally important and healthy for our free society. Especially when the challenges are principle and fact based without rhetorical statements of disparagement. Either of which I purpose to be grateful for with hope that the people are patient and considerate of the truth in the end of each public discourse. Thank you and May God bless America again!

Rep. Mark Olson

Big Lake, MN

Yep, when you think of the sixth president of the United States of America, doesn't Rep. Mark Olson immediately come to mind? Doesn't John Quincy Adam's opposition to slavery remind you of Rep. Mark Olson's "placing" of his wife on the ground 3 times?

Tom Beckfeld has another letter. Tom makes this excellent point about the wife-"placing" legislator from Big Lake:

If I made a statement about Rep. Olson that is not true I would be obliged to apologize and do everything I can to correct my error. I don't believe I've done so. I'm sure that this paper has not done so. However, if what has been said and written is true and makes Rep. Olson appear on the fringe, then maybe he is.

Bizarre Letter to the Editor From Rep. Mark Olson

Rep. Mark Olson wrote a weird, rambling LTE in the West Sherburne Tribune last week:

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Reader: Letter ridicules me

TO THE EDITOR:

Good letters to the Editor provide important public dialogue that can help keep our government following "the consent of the governed." I strive to remain grateful for the citizens who participated in the 2006 campaign debates, as well as Mr. Tom Beckfeld's most recent attempt to promote good public discourse.

Good public discourse should be based on clear, substantive, fact based and respectful statements; without innuendos, ridicule, or false statements. The latter of which creates perceptions that do not at all reflect the realities and are very difficult to respond to.

Mr. Beckfeld's Feb. 10 letter explained his offenses from press releases submitted by my office. He states that I wrote these press releases like I am being interviewed by someone else and quoted myself; he then suggests that everything should be a quote from me and that quotation marks are only needed when someone else is being quoted.

In response, after many years of Mr. Gary Meyer, the editor accepting press releases in this exact same format from my office, Sen. Betsy Wergin's office and others, the editor responded to Mr. Beckfeld by changing the next press release from my office to be a written statement from me without any quotes. While in the very same newspaper the editor published another good press release, submitted in the same format from the area's Foster Grandparent Program unedited.

Yes, editors can certainly print whatever pleases them. However, the fact is, press releases have long been written by media support personnel and submitted to the district papers. In this case, Mr. Beckfeld's letter ridiculed me for a long established practice previously known and accepted by Mr. Meyer whose response gives credibility to that ill-founded ridicule. I certainly hope Mr. Beckfeld does not consider sending a letter of ridicule against such a wonderful program like Foster Grandparents as he has me.

In addition, in my opinion two of the recent articles about my family crisis published by this paper contain falsehoods or misperceptions at best. It should at least be noted that everyone needs to learn about today's common artful practice of marginalizing people to make them appear on the fringe and unaccepted. While it is effective, it is also very destructive and should not be used or permitted in any respectful paper.

Mr. Beckfeld does it, many before him in the last campaign did it. When this paper publishes articles about the serious nature of my family crisis without even asking the person they are writing about a single question, I submit this paper may also be practicing today's destructive strategy of marginalization. It's today's plague of journalism and public discourse which must be refuted. I appreciate the editor's commitment to public discourse, and hope that in the future this medium will be used with respect and facts.

Mark Olson

Big Lake, MN

Another LTE about Olson's arraignment:

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Reader: Olson gets benefit

TO THE EDITOR:

Last November Rep. Mark Olson was arrested for two counts of fifth degree assault. Many letters to the editor by both Olson's supporters and detractors encouraged us to not judge too quickly and to respect the Olson's privacy.

I can support that view, but Olson's statements at his pre-trail hearing last Friday and those of his attorney are disturbing. Olson's lawyer all but accused his wife of creating this incident saying "she was coming after him and he was trying to control the situation."

Olson said he hired his new lawyer to move the process along in a swifter fashion, but his actions showed no such desire. First he asked for a new arraignment to start the process all over again. When that was denied he asked for a trial date in June after the session was over.

The Judge offered him three trial dates, one in March, April and May. Olson took the last one. Later Olson told reporters he hoped to get the trial moved up.

So why not take the March date? Could the reason be that Olson does not want to have the House in session should he be found guilty of the charges against him? His efforts seem to be aimed at delaying the inevitable ethics investigation and his possible expulsion until the next session in January 08 rather than bringing this matter to a close and moving on.

Olson has gone from asking forgiveness to blaming his wife. Trying to "control the situation" is not an acceptable excuse for family violence. Olson ran on the issues of personal integrity and responsibility for one's actions. It's past the time for him to apply this slogan to himself.

Jeff Strand

Princeton, MN

Sherburne County DFL Website Commentary on Rep. Mark Olson

Commentary by Tom Beckfeld on the Sherburne County DFL website:

The Mark Olson Update!

When we last left Mark he was flush from victory having been elected to his 8th term. But less than a week later he was being released from the Sherburne County Jail, Charged with 2 counts of 5th degree assault after an alleged altercation with his wife.  After a weekend in the drunk tank a tearful Olson seemed subdued and contrite. (A weekend in the drunk tank will do that to you). He begged forgiveness from his constituents, God and his wife in that order. God may have forgiven him but his wife had no objection to the six-month restraining order placed on Olson. His constituents have yet to be asked their opinion. Now three months later the subdued and contrite Olson is a thing of the past. Olson is now saying (through his lawyer - the 3rd since this began) that Heidi is to blame. “She was coming after him,” his lawyer said. “He was trying to control the situation.” While we can only speculate on Heidi’s motives, After viewing Olson’s long winded speeches on the House floor many a Representative understood Heidi’s need to throttle him, anything to get him to stop speaking.  Olson said he hired his new lawyer to speed the process along. Mark is the first person I know of who hires a lawyer to increase the speed of anything.  This speedy lawyer’s first action of Olson’s 4th court appearance was to ask for a new arraignment to start the process all over again.  “Denied!” the judge said. Speedy lawyer then asked to delay the trial until after the legislative session in late May. Denied again, the Judge then offered three dates for Olson’s trial, March, April and May. Wanting to move the process ahead as quickly as possible Olson Jumped on May 9th.   When questioned by reporters after the hearing Olson said he would try to get the date moved up. Yea sure.  Clearly Olson is trying to delay this as much as possible to avoid the ethics hearing that’s sure to follow.  Many of his former Republican colleagues have already called for his resignation should he be found guilty.  The longer he delays the longer he receives that government check and the health insurance that goes with it. If he can get the House to delay until next session Olson will receive these benefits until next January and by then the whole matter will all have blown over.

How bad is he?

After Olson’s personal problems arose the House Republican caucus voted to kick Olson out of the Republican caucus.  There wasn’t a single vote in his favor. In Olson’s 14 previous years of lackluster service he has offered few bills or amendments of any substance. This year without even Republican backing Olson may be at his most ineffective point ever. One can be reasonably sure that if Olson wants it, it won’t get done. That’s good news for those of us who like schools, transit, separation of church and state, lower property taxes and the like. It’s bad news for those of us who had hoped for someone to represent this district.

Rep. Mark Olson in "Toxic 13" List

Christopher Truscott:

There is cause for concern, however. While 186 GOP and DFL representatives and senators came together and helped move Minnesota forward, more than a dozen Republicans opted to side with their special interest masters rather than listening to the advice of the best scientists and voting for the greater good of the people they're supposed to represent.

Was the ULTra Personal Rapid Transit Test Track Bulldozed?

Last October, Rep. Mark Olson sent this letter to the Sherburne County Citizen:

Mr. Avidor called PRT an “imaginary transportation concept”. This is puzzling because PRT has been developed entirely from existing technologies. There is also one being built at the Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom; website info: www.atsltd.co.uk...

If you take a look at www.atsltd.co.uk, you find pictures of a test track for ULTra like this one:



If you use Google Maps, you'll find no trace of the ULTra test track at that site:



UPDATE: The bulldozing has been postponed.

I received the following today:

I can confirm that the ULTra PRT test track in Cardiff is still in place, and is still used from for testing, development and demonstration.

-Chris Vinestock
Operational Manager/Rheolwr Gweithredol
Transport, Infrastructure & Waste Service/Gwasanaeth Trafnidiaeth, Seilwaith a Gwastraff

... and where is the Raytheon test track?

Another PRT Lawsuit?

That's the rumor. No filing yet.

Stay tuned...

Rep. Mark Olson's Attorney Blames Victim

From the Star News:

Paul D. Baertschi, a pinch-hit attorney for Olson, told the Star News Friday after the court appearance Olson did not assualt his wife and he had no intent to hurt or place his wife in fear. He went on to say "she was coming after him, and he was trying to control the situation."

...Nice guy, huh? Olson beats up his wife and then says through his lawyer that she attacked him first. Not unusual behavior for men who batter women according to experts:

Batterers often minimize or deny the abuse, or they blame their partners for provoking it. He may minimize the severity of her injuries, or outright deny that he caused them. Unfortunately, "victim-blaming" is prevalent in our society. Sometimes abusers play mind games with their victims trying to make them feel crazy. Often violent behavior towards women is justified by saying things like "she asked for it" or "she needed to be put back in her place." In so doing, the blame and accountability shifts from the abusive behavior of the batterer to the "weakness" of the victim.

Getting back to the article... Olson explained why he brought in yet another lawyer:

He said that's why he had brought in a substitute attorney to see if it could be pushed along in a swifter fashion to work out scheduling difficulties.

However, his lawyer, Paul D. Baertschi tried to get the trial postponed:

[Judge] Pendleton denied a request by Baertschi to withdraw the not guilty plean in hopes for scheduling another arraignment.

...and Olson chooses the last trial date offered :



The Elk River judge offered Olson one date in March, one date in April and one date in May. Olson chose 9 a.m. on may 7.

...then Olson contradicted himself again:

Olson told the Star News afterward it was still his hope to get the trial moved up.

Perhaps instead, Olson should plead insanity... there's no shortage of witnesses who would testify to that.

Just look at this picture of Olson when he was released from jail:

May 7 trial set for Rep. Mark Olson

The SC Times:

ELK RIVER — State Rep. Mark Olson will stand trial May 7 on two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault.

The trial date was set during a pretrial hearing today in Sherburne County District Court.

Olson had asked that the trial take place in June, after the legislative session closes, but that request was denied.

Olson has pleaded not guilty to the charges that stem from an incident Nov. 12 at the Olsons’ home in Big Lake Township.

Olson’s wife told deputies she and Mark Olson had argued and that he had pushed her to the ground three times.

Rep. Mark Olson in MPR Interview: "I Am Privileged to Serve"

MPR reporter Tom Scheck interviewed Rep. Mark Olson about how happy he is to be a "lone wolf".

Like Brandt William's MPR coverage of Gary Dean Zimmermann's investigation and trial, Tom Scheck's report paints a positive, almost heroic picture of Olson... failing to mention the one thing Olson spent much of his time doing in office... promoting personal rapid transit. On at least two occasions, at the Capitol and Minneapolis City Hall, the two jailbirds promoted PRT... together!!!

Tom Scheck doesn't have to look far for information on Olson and PRT... MPR's Don Olson reported on PRT in 2003 and Laura McCallum reported on Mark Olson, Dean Zimmermann and Michele Bachmann's efforts to pass PRT legislation in 2004.

Rep. Mark Olson's pre-trial hearing is in Sherburne County Court on Friday.

Rep. Mark Olson Reports on Rep Mark Olson

Article by Represenentative (sic) Mark Olson about Rep. Mark Olson in the West Sherburne Tribune.

Olson can't claim he's being persecuted by the local media. Pretrial hearing this Friday.

Rep. Mark Olson Unleashed

I am free to do what I want to do.”

- Rep. Mark Olson (1/27/07 Sherburne County Citizen)

Today, it looked like Rep. Mark Olson got to do what he wants to do.... he tried to block a bill because he was afraid it will permit the World Court to "inspect wells" and other scary things the voices inside his head tell him would happen.

From Lawrence Schumacher's blog:

On the House floor Thursday, debating HF 110/ SF 38, which would ratify the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact:

Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, is arguing against the bill, saying he agrees with its goals -- preserving, conserving, restoring, improving and managing the waters of the Great Lakes -- but doesn't think it's legal.

The governors of every U.S. state and Canadian province bordering the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River signed the compact and their Legislatures are being asked to ratify them now.

"This bill is so serious. We are yielding jurisdiction of this state over to international courts," Olson said. "I've got so many red flags, I don't know what to do."

Olson cited Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, on powers prohibited of states. It says "No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation;"

The bill's author, Rep. Thomas Huntley, DFL-Duluth, pointed out that the bill is not a treaty because it has to go to Congress for approval.

The debate was only expected to last a few minutes, but it now appears that it could go on for several hours, prompted largely by amendments Olson is introducing.

All 2 hours or so of crazy Rep. Mark Olson grandstanding at the legislature at the House Television Archives web page.

Here is just a short You Tube of Rep. Ehrhardt responding to Olson:

J. Edward Anderson Signs Statement In Support of Convicted Felon Gary Dean Zimmermann

As former Minneapolis Councilman Gary Dean Zimmermann begins his sentence in a Colorado Correctional Facility for his conviction on 3 counts of soliciting and accepting bribes, Green Party candidate Dave Bicking has posted a statement in support of Zimmermann around the internet.

Topping the list of signatories is J. Edward Anderson, the PRT guru. The Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit's Director and head of public relations Margaret Beegle has also added her name to the list (Zimmermann's PRT plan for Minneapolis is still on the CPRT website).

The statement makes the following claims:

We are convinced that Dean is innocent of the crime of bribery - a crime that requires intent.

... (sheesh)...

We stand in support of all political prisoners including Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the Cuban Five. Dean Zimmermann is a political prisoner and we appeal to other groups, national and international, to recognize him as such.

...So, J. Edward Anderson believes Zimmermann is innocent and a "political prisoner"... yeah, right. Does the wacky professor and the CPRT also believe Rep. Mark Olson is innocent? Is Rep. Mark Olson a "political prisoner" too?

Rep. Mark Olson, Gary Dean Zimmermann, Michele Bachmann - Pod Squad News Updates and Videos

Gary Dean Zimmermann checks into a Federal Correctional Facility in Colorado today. His Green Party buddies still claim he is innocent, but they're going to eat their words when the Feds release the FBI video and audio tapes of Zimmermann asking for and receiving wads of hundred dollar bills from a Hummer-driving Republican. Until those tapes are released, here's a video of the convicted felon talking about PRT and his old pod partner, Mark Olson:



Mark Olson, according to the Sherburne County Citizen is scheduled for a hearing for his trial on domestic abuse February 9th. Here's a video showing Mark Olson going for a joyride in a PRT pod:



Michele Bachmann, who once said this about Personal Rapid Transit...

"People on the right, people on the left, we have the common goal of moving people with transit, but doing it in the most cost-effective manner, in fact, in a manner that may end up costing no government subsidy, it may end up paying for itself"

... created a sensation last week when she glommed onto President Bush, kissing him on the lips. Here is a video of that:



Although Bachmann made the Secret Service nervous, no charges were filed... a close call for Bachmann who must be wondering if she has been cursed for being a member of the Pod Squad.

Rep. Mark Olson Won't Take a Hint

Last week, the Sherburne County Citizen published a profile of Mary Kiffmeyer that included a mention of Rep. Mark Olson's "legal problems":

Politics or business are definitely not off of the table, and Kiffmeyer noted she has already discussed a variety of options with friends in both areas. When asked if she would consider running for the legislature should Rep. Mark Olson’s seat be vacated due to his legal problems involving domestic abuse charges, Kiffmeyer cited her friendship with the family and noted that people can “come out stronger as a family” after these kinds of troubles. The ending to that story “is still to be written,” she said.

This week's Sherburne County Citizen has an article about Mark Olson's trial. The article restates the facts:

Rep. Mark Olson’s pretrial hearing on two misdemeanor domestic assault charges scheduled for last Friday has been postponed until Friday, Feb. 9.

The hearing was postponed after Olson hired a new attorney to represent him. That attorney was unavailable Friday.

Charges that Olson assaulted his wife were filed in November, five days after he was re-elected to office for the eighth time.

Olson and his wife, Heidi, were arguing, she told Sherburne County Deputies. Mark pushed her to the ground three times, hard enough to leave a bruise. Olson told investigators he grabbed his wife and “placed her” on the ground.

Olson appeared at his first hearing, after spending two nights in jail, without legal representation. Judge Alan Pendleton appointed a public attorney to help him. Olson refused to enter a plea at the time and later asked for forgiveness from God, his wife, his family and the public.

At his second court appearance, Olson appeared with Attorney Jim Fleming and entered a plea of “not guilty” to two charges of fifth degree domestic assault at a brief hearing in Sherburne County Court in December.

...Rep. Steve Sviggum, who once referred to Rep. Mark Olson as "conscience of the Legislature" seems in this article a bit... impatient:

If Olson is found guilty of either of the two charges, he should resign, Sviggum said. If he refuses to resign, the legislature does sit in judgement on its own members.

“The court has to work out the process,” said Sviggum. “We are all presumed to be innocent until we are found guilty, but statements Mark made after his first court appearance lead you to believe something not appropriate took place.”

...But, Olson won't go quietly:

Olson says he has no intent of resigning his position at the legislature and will press on. Only a felony charge would result in his being automatically removed from office.

“I have a lot of support and I don’t see why this would keep me from being able to represent people,” he said. “Really, all this does is elimnate the closed door meetings that I often have objection to. It is less stressful in some respects. I am free to do what I want to do.”

Olson wants to be free to do what he wants... what could that be?

Olson Court Hearing Postponed

Saint Cloud Times

ELK RIVER — A court hearing scheduled for today for state Rep. Mark Olson on charges that he assaulted his wife in November has been postponed until February.

The delay came after Olson hired a new attorney.
Olson, a Republican lawmaker from Big Lake, had been scheduled to appear today in Sherburne County District Court on two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault. The new lawyer he hired was unavailable for today’s hearing. His next court date has been set for Feb. 9.

Santa Cruz Sentinel Story About Personal Rapid Transit

The Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"This is an incredible opportunity for us," said City Councilman Ed Porter, who has championed a the personal rapid transit for the past year.

Yeah, an incredible opportunity to waste citizens and public officials' time. As usual, the professionals respectfully point out a few of PRT's many shortfalls.

The report raised concerns with reliability, cost overruns, susceptibility to earthquake damage and spacing between trains to prevent accidents.

"The fact that no personal rapid transit is running anywhere troubles me," Burr said. "The seismic shortfall is a big one. They could engineer around it, but show me"

"The promises made in the report are a stretch"

Other critics say personal rapid transit wouldn't be necessary if more attention and resources were put into bus and rail transportation.

That last point is the key to understanding how the PRT scam works. PRT confuses the real transportation issues facing citizens and public officials.

While Ed Porter is wasting Santa Cruzans' time and money with his PRT pod fantasy...

Santa Cruz Indymedia:

Despite a large public outcry against the move, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission voted to pursue funding for three local Highway 1 expansion projects. The three projects were brought to the new SCCRTC on their first meeting, January 11th, 2007.

What a coincidence! Whenever highway expansion faces opposition, you'll find the PRTistas. In Minneapolis it was Dean Zimmermann (with help from Mark Olson and Michele Bachmann), In Santa Cruz, it's Ed Porter.

I shared the Minnesota experience with PRT in this opinion piece published by the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Pre-Trial Hearing for Rep. Mark Olson Tomorrow

Former state senator and candidate for the 5th Congressional District in 2006, Ember Reichgott Junge lectures the MN House Republican leadership to "tread carefuly" on the eve of Rep. Mark Olson's trial (pretrial hearing Friday).

From the TPT Brain Trust Blog



The court proceeding is not yet resolved, and there is no ethics complaint filed against Mark Olson. Olson has had no forum to be heard. Yet, House Minority Leader Marty Seifert took strong action against his fellow Republican caucus member by removing his staff and committee status. Due process was left in the dust, seemingly to make a political point. 

What happens if Mark Olson is convicted of a felony in court? He must resign his office. There’s no legal question about that. But what about a misdemeanor? His political future could be up to his colleagues. Rep. Olson may make the decision himself, and tender his resignation. If he chooses to serve, he will likely face an ethics complaint against him. 

If that happens, Olson deserves to be heard. He has a right to state his case, or his apology, or even his intentions to seek treatment. The Ethics committee takes that into account in recommending consequences from apology to expulsion. 

The Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct faced similar situations in 1996, where members pled guilty to misdemeanor crimes involving domestic assault, phone misuse, and other transgressions. We had full hearings, offering an open record for the public. We recommended a range of consequences upheld by the full bipartisan senate. Some of these senators chose not to run again or were defeated. Other senators admitted their transgressions in heartfelt apologies and were re-elected with bigger margins than ever.

....important point; Olson is charged with a gross misdemeanor... 



Remember: there are many different kinds of misdemeanors. Whatever happens in this case will set a strong precedent for future cases involving future members. In cases of personal misconduct, after fair public record and consequence, is a member’s future in elected office a matter for the House to decide, or a matter for the voters of the district to decide? 

As a member of the Senate, I've been a passionate advocate against domestic violence. But the issues here go far beyond any individual case. To the House leadership I say err on the side of due process. Make the public record. Bring in outside judges to help, if necessary. The appropriate penalty will become clear. 

The minute this becomes a partisan issue on either side, the House loses credibility as an institution. We’ll see a repeat of what happened with the ethics committee in Congress when House Majority Leader Tom DeLay manipulated it. Ethics became a joke. 

We often say “do the right thing.” Thoughtful due process is the path to finding the right thing to do.


And to Republican Leader Marty Seifert: become a leader, not a grandstander. In the end, you’ll be more effective.

By refusing to resign, Rep. Mark Olson has put the Republican leadership in a tough spot.

Another Personal Rapid Transit Booster Throws Rep. Mark Olson Under the Bus (Pod)

"A Transportation Enthusiast" or "Atren" as he calls himself when he's causing trouble on Wikipedia, says the following about Zimmermann and Olson on his Weinerwatch blog:

This is the Avidor scale of justice: hundreds of respected authorities in Europe and elsewhere have endorsed PRT, but that means nothing because two insignificant politicians in Minnesota supported PRT and later got into unrelated legal trouble.

I wonder if Rep. Mark Olson was aware that he was held in such low regard by the PRTistas?

Rep. Mark Olson served 12 long years in the legislature. Much of that time, Olson carried the banner for the PRT cause. He authored legislation and gave countless interviews and speeches. He even appeared at Minneapolis City Hall with the dope-addled Zimmermann. Olson sweat buckets for the PRT cause and now, when the going got rough... when he needs a little moral support, his old pals... the PRTistas throw Olson under the bus (pod).

Nice guys, those PRTistas!

Gow Has Another Cow

Seattle PRTista David Gow (Mr. Grant) is disturbed about my opinion piece in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Gow received two comments from "John":

*snorts* Boy, that one really cracked me up. I had no idea that everything I saw in the news was 100% truthful. Or that the major media outlets NEVER gave space to liars and ALWAYS published stories by honest people! By your logic, everyone who's honest would be in a major media outlet!...

...and this:

Oh, and after reading Avidor's full article, I noticed this little bit:

"My advice to public officials and citizens of Santa Cruz is to pass on PRT and look at other towns and cities that have solved similar transport problems with a more tried-and-true transit mode such as streetcars."

He hints at streetcars, but he offers it as a suggestion. Now let's take a look at how you put it:

"But his biggest deception is that he tries to set up a false choice: you have to pick PRT or LRT, you can't have both."

Gosh, what article were you reading?

John is right. I never say that the choice is between LRT and PRT. That is how the PRTistas prefer to frame it. There's a lot of real options Santa Cruzans could consider including doing nothing at all (no build). I am a great believer in local control over transportation decisions. I believe that if given the facts, citizens are more likely to choose what is best for their community. The key is that their choices must be REAL choices, not unproven concepts like PRT.

Let's take a look at another of Gow's claims:

...One such is Light Rail Now--an allegedly nonprofit organization that nonetheless takes credit for influencing politics in Minnesota for the benefit of the Minneapolis light rail system.

This is misleading.

Light Rail Now is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit, grassroots organization that educates citizens and public officials about Light Rail and other transportation modes. Education about issues in an election is permitted under IRS law. What is not permitted is electioneering; telling people specifically who or what to vote for in an election. As far as I know, LRN has not engaged in electioneering.

The Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit, on the other hand violated this IRS rule against electioneering in 2005 by encouraging CPRT members through its newsletter to volunteer for the campaigns of PRT-promoting candidates including Dean Zimmermann.

Personal Rapid Transit in Santa Cruz?

Like a zombie from a George Romero movie, PRT keeps coming back from the dead.

On the last day of 2006, an opinion piece appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel promoting PRT:

Up-to-date information on options for PRT in Santa Cruz is available from City Council member Ed Porter, who has championed this sensible new solution to our traffic woes for several years.

Ed Porter is yet another gadgetbahning Green councilman like Dean Zimmermann. I figured I could save Santa Cruzans the hassle of taking the PRTistas seriously by telling them the Minnesota story:

Although the Taxi 2000 Corp. lawsuit and the trials of its most prominent promoters, Olson and Zimmermann, likely sealed PRT's fate in Minnesota, a far more important factor in the demise of PRT in Minnesota was the phenomenal success of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line.

My advice to public officials and citizens of Santa Cruz is to pass on PRT and look at other towns and cities that have solved similar transport problems with a more tried-and-true transit mode such as streetcars.

Not too many cities left... maybe the PRTistas should try Baghdad next.

Rep. Mark Olson Versus Rep. Steve Sviggum

I'll bet Rep. Steve Sviggum is kicking himself for writing this:

From The Sherburne County Citizen:

Sunday, November 05, 2006

To The Editor,

I often refer to your state representative, Mark Olson, as the "conscience of the Legislature." Mark is one of the most principled and thoughtful persons I know - certainly one of the most principled legislators I've ever had the opportunity to work with.

Mark makes a positive difference for governing at the State Capitol. He is a person who gets results and that you can work with, but you better have your facts and information correct and supported. For instance, Mark led the repeal of the Profile of Learning before it was the popular thing to do. In the middle 1990's he stood almost alone gathering support every year until in 2003 the repeal passed the Legislature almost unanimously.

Yes, the State Legislature needs a whole lot more people like Mark Olson. At times his standards and expectations are difficult to meet, but Mark's makes me, the Legislature, and the State of Minnesota so much better.

Steve Sviggum

Speaker of the House

St. Paul, MN

Now that Olson has slipped his MGOP moorings, he's rolling around the deck of the legislature like a loose cannon.

Lawrence Schumacher:

The point is that Republicans wanted to put Democrats on record opposing a rebate, which is former Speaker Steve Sviggum's, R-Kenyon, main goal this year.

Added fun: Republican-non-grata Rep. Mark Olson of Big Lake is arguing with Sviggum on the floor, agreeing with the Democrats that the Republican amendment is not germane.

Watch Sviggum's reaction to Olson on this video taken from the House website:

Rep. Mark Olson's Declaration of Independence

From Lawrence Schumacher of the SC Times:

Olson's day

Olson is still looking for a legislative assistant.

The eight-term veteran has been without a caucus to support him since last month. Fellow Republicans decided then to suspend his membership pending the outcome of two misdemeanor domestic assault charges against him. Olson last month pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The caucus suspension means he has no help with research or communications. He is entitled to an assistant and office, paid for by the state.

Olson still voted for caucus leader Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, in a party-line vote Wednesday that saw Minneapolis DFLer Margaret Anderson Kelliher elected Speaker of the House.

He said he'll be interviewing legislative assistant candidates soon and doesn't believe the pending court proceedings will affect his ability to represent his constituents.

"I think I'm going to enjoy being an independent Republican," Olson said.

"The pressures of the caucus caused some strain. You want to do something ... and there'd be pressure for you not to. That's gone now."

Will Mark Olson introduce more Personal Rapid Transit legislation?

Rep. Mark Olson's Future Looks Bright... (if Olson Does the Right Thing).

"When life gives you lemons... make lemonade."

The casual observer would say that few politicians have fallen so hard and so fast as Rep. Mark Olson of Big Lake. Five days after he won re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, he was arrested for domestic assault. He spent a couple days in jail. When he was released, he was mobbed by the media.

In the wake of that fiasco, Mark Olson was kicked out of the House Republican Caucus. It's no secret that Mary Kiffmeyer is getting very impatient for Olson to resign so a special election can be called. Even his old PRT pal, Dean Zimmermann has sneered about Olson's predicament.

It is unlikely Olson will emerge from a trial without a guilty verdict. He practically confessed to the crime. If Olson refuses to resign, he may become the first legislator in Minnesota history to be expelled by his colleagues... and then where would he be? There just isn't a lot of people wanting to build log homes these days.

But, Mark Olson could take another path...the path of honesty and integrity. Olson could seek professional treatment for his anger problem. With over a decade in office, Olson could write a spellbinding account of all the nasty, dishonest things he did with the very people who are throwing him under the bus right now.

For instance, Olson could come clean about the PRT scam. He could give us the inside story on how so-called "fiscal conservatives" like Michele Bachmann could promote Zimmermann's billion dollar boondoggle.

If Mark Olson wrote a tell-all memoir, I predict it will be a bestseller in Minnesota... maybe even a national bestseller!

Heck, Olson would make a fortune blowing the whistle on the folks who are turning their backs on him now. What's he got to lose?... go for it, Mark!!!

Rep. Mark Olson Ranked 3rd Worst Politician in the State.

Olson ranked #3 and Bachmann #1 on Hal Kimball's 10 Worst Political Persons in Minnesota list.

Video of Mark Olson and his PRT Flim-Flam

Was Rep. Mark Olson Aware of Gary Dean Zimmermann's Daily Marijuana Smoking?

From the Minneapolis Issues:

So it appears from the responses I've gotten (MANY back-channel) that Mr. Zimmerman's marijuana habit was in full force not only during his time as a Minneapolis city council person, but for the 20-25 years prior to that (I am not making an accusation, but merely summarizing the responses I have gotten). Nevertheless, if part of Mr. Zimmerman's sentence involves getting help for his addiction to bud, I think we can safely surmise that he had a problem with the smoke.

This is great. We absolutely get what we deserve. We deserve officials that accept bribes and ineffectual city government, if we're electing chronic dope smokers, which in Mr. Zimmerman's case appears to be the worst kept secret in city hall. So, in addition to taking bribes, this guy regularly utilized a substance that is illegal and contributes to crime and violence and the like. He participated in at worst, and tacitly endorsed at the very best, the very criminal element that is shooting each other all over this city. Thanks, Dean. Really great. Time to spend 2-1/2 years with some of the fellas you supported criminally for the last - years.

Mark Olson worked closely with Zimmermann promoting Zimmermann's bizarre PRT Plan for Minneapolis.

If Zimmermann's dope-smoking was "the worst kept secret at City Hall"... how could Rep. Mark Olson not be aware of it?

Mark Olson's PRT Pal Zimmermann sentenced to 2 1/2 Years

Hal Kimball at the Blue man in a Red district blog got the scoop.

More at LloydlettaLloydletta



Personal Rapid Transit is Bogus<

Mark Olson's PRT Pal Zimmermann to be Sentenced Tomorrow

Gary Dean Zimmermann also has loyal supporters who claim he was not guilty....

Read about it at Lloydletta.

Why is "Stretch" Mark Olson Stretching Out the Inevitable?

One answer... from the comments:

It is obvious why MarkO won't resign.

He is just sucking on the public dollar
worse than a "welfare cheat." He must be
unable to make a real living and has
to hang on with his fingernails to the
public paycheck.

It looks like the Legislature will have to remove "Stretch" Mark... what a total waste of time and taxpayers' money... but, "Stretch" Mark has been wasting our time and money for years.

New crop of Sherburne County Citizen LTE's... like this one:

To The Editor,

A letter to the editor last week made a number of false charges. The writer and others issuing similar editorials containing exactly the same phrases in other area newspapers accuse Rep. Olson’s former opponent Jim Huhtala and the DFL of organizing the effort calling for his stepping down. This is a lie.

Mr. Huhtala and the Democratic Party have refused to take any part in calling for Rep. Olson’s resignation until the courts decide on his guilt or innocence. The people who are turning this into a political issue are some supporters of Rep. Olson. The people who are calling for Olson’s resignation are the leaders of the Republican Party. Former speaker Sviggum, minority leader Seifert and even the Governor have called for Olson to step down.

The chairperson of the Sherburne County GOP and former Olson campaign manager said “no comment” when asked if he still supported Rep. Olson. The House Republican caucus unamimously voted to remove Rep. Olson from their caucus. Republican House members have taken away Olson’s staff, a say in their leadership, appointment to committees and any influence he may have had. It is up to the representatives of the Republican Party and Rep. Olson to decide if he should stay in the office. These writers should have aimed their criticism at Republicans, not Jim Huhtala, the DFL or citizens who took the time to express themselves in letters to the editor.

Mark Olson is not the victim here and the writers, the DFL and its candidates are not his prosecutors.

On the issue of privacy. Like everyone else, an elected state representative gives up his right to privacy when he is arrested and charged with two counts of fifth degree assault and spends two nights in jail and is prohibited for visiting his family. Those of us who are asked to vote for him have a right to know and the papers have a duty to tell us.

Tom Beckfeld

Former campaign manager for Jim Huhtala

Big Lake, MN

...another letter...

To The Editor,

I am very troubled since hearing the charges brought against Mark Olson by his wife, Heidi. Spousal abuse is a very serious crime. It often occurs but is seldom reported because of the stigma with it by often tearing the family apart.

From the news reports, Mr. Olson had problems with abuse previously with a staff member in his legislative office and was ordered into treatment by House Speaker Steve Swiggum. Mr. Olson is reported to have started anger management classes but only attended two sessions.

What a shame that no one followed up to see that he completed these classes. In the matter before us now, he claims he is not guilty but by his own admission, he states that he actually did commit what he is charged with.

This time around, Mr. Olson needs to be held accountable for his actions and abide to what the judge will sentence if found guilty in the case. I don’t know if just probation and classes are enough but certainly, no skipping classes this time around.

Mr. Olson needs to resign from his post in the legislature as we cannot allow to have people who abuse, make the laws that protect families. I certainly hope that Heidi and her children can get counseling and will be able to put this behind them. She and her family deserve better and I hope she can rest assured that the community is behind her and will support her in any way we can.

Mavis Holter

Foreston, MN