Nevertheless, because of this sad story, said Bob, Common Cause believes the time has arrived where people are ready to tackle money in politics in a serious way. Bob described the great state-level clean election/public financing initiatives in Maine, Connecticut, and Arizona, and how the number of candidates now using public financing is growing fast- with community organizers, teachers, and postal workers now getting elected. Bob also described the work at the local level, such as in Albuquerque, where public financing is getting new faces on the City Council. This movement is spreading state by state, city to city, community to community. And at the federal level, the Durbin-Specter bill mandating voluntary public financing for both House and Senate races awaits a new Congress.

The new Common Cause report on a campaign finance agenda for the new administration served as the backdrop for the Bob and Guy discussion on how to fix the presidential election system. Members of the audience also discussed why campaign finance reform has not been a larger issue thus far in the presidential election, and the high probability either Obama or McCain will support reform- but only if a people's movement pushes them to do it. What we need, said Bob, are courageous, conscientious people to do what they've always done: demand our leaders do the right thing. We just need more of them- something everyone agreed is now happening all across the country.

It may not be 1974, said Bob, but history is repeating itself in so many ways, which gives great hope for change and the promise of people demanding our leaders act. Wringing money out of politics, discussed in the shadow of huge amounts of special money at play during the RNC, seems closer now than ever.

Progressive Republicans in Minnesota: A Grand Old Tradition

While Minnesota has voted Democratic in the presidential elections every year since 1952, it has a long tradition of bipartisanship at the state level. Minnesota has long enjoyed a strong reputation for being a good government, reform-minded state. Minnesota has been called the "The State that Works," investing in the education and future of its citizens and building opportunity through government. This tradition has deep roots, including through leadership from both political parties. Is it possible to return to that tradition, especially given today's tough partisan battles?

A full house at the St. Paul College Club on Wednesday brought together hundreds of Minnesotans and curious RNC delegates for a symposium on this tradition, and how to get it back. Sponsored by "Growth and Justice," a well-regarded local think tank supported by business and civic leaders (and whose president Dane Smith graciously publicly thanked Common Cause for its help in supporting the forum), the speakers were former Governors Al Quie and Arne Carlson, and soon-to-be former U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad. These are Republicans who championed good and effective government, and who refused to do "litmus test" politics, being open to what was in the people's interest- including raising taxes when necessary to pay for public institutions that work.

A significant number of Common Cause members, and several of Common Cause Minnesota's new advisory board (including former Congressman Tim Penny), were in attendance. The forum had the air of a rump political convention coming together to talk about a political platform built on common ground and political possibilities. It was agreed that leaders supported by people demanding their government get back to solving real problems for the common good, is what it will take to get it done.