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Even as Green Party folks rightfully chew out Mark Dayton for his acquiescing to the Vikings’ stadium blackmail — you know, the old “If you don’t give us money we’ll leave and then you’ll be a Cold Omaha bwahahahahahaha!” routine? — at least one prominent Green Party member, former Minneapolis councilmember Dean Zimmermann, has long been in bed with Republican congresscritter Michele Bachmann on a plan that would make the stadium outlay look like chump change.
I speak, of course, of their shared love for PRT — Personal Rapid Transit, or “pods”. This is a love that has endured despite Zimmermann’s conviction in 2006 for soliciting and accepting bribes from Gary A. Carlson, a local property developer.
Read this excerpt from the new book The Madness of Michele Bachmann to find out the story of their shared love for a concept that would suck billions from legitimate transit options and whose main appeal to suburban and exurbanites is based on not having to sit next to people whose skin tones aren’t the same as theirs.
UPDATE: Meanwhile, the very well done Hiawatha Line — a legitimate mass-transit system that the Pod People did their worst to kill — is doing land-office business eight years since its inauguration, saving money compared to buses and increasing the property values of real estate along its path.
24 Comments
Sigh
Poor Pheonix.
Dean Zimmermann, former Green Party member of the Minneapolis City Council. Ran against Councilman Robert Lilligren in a blatant gerrymandered race. Councilman Robert Lilligren is Native American. Dean is not. When Dean lost by 44 votes (a week after the much hyped FBI raids that the Minneapolis Star Trib covered and refused- flat out refused to allow Deans campaign manager Loren Maker article to refute, point by point their smears) he had some company.
Dean was flanked by an AIM (American Indian Movement) Honor Guard.
Pheonix, this is not some world where people believe the lies of the corporate media. This is firedoglake. Oh and for the record Pheonix, if this is some attempt to “tie me to a corrupt Councilman” in an attempt to smear our US Senate campaign, got news for you. It will fail.
I am and have been publicly saying, as a US Senate candidate that the corporate media lie. That they (the media) are an enemy of an informed public. That makes them an enemy of this democratic Republic. Which means that those people who hear about our merry campaign will understand that
THE CORPORATE MEDIA LIE
This makes them much less effective as a propaganda tool for when they promote Senator Amy Klobuchar (your candidate I am sure) and attempt to smear myself and our merry little campaign.
Oh and as an aside
Recc’ed
Openness, honesty and transparency is a beautiful thing.
The sunlight shines itself and makes all apparent.
I believe the term is checkmate.
I know just how rotten, nasty, mean and underhanded some- repeat some Democrats are. They themselves do not get it that their rottenness is apparent.
Michael. Thanks for your comments. Perhaps you can help me out with my research.
As you know, I have been documenting Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) for some time now. I am always finding new historical pieces to a puzzle that adds up to a decades-old flim-flam. The historical artifact I dug up recently was a bizarre PRT project called “Uniflo”. The Uniflo concept was a pneumatic pod on a elevated guideway. Uniflo PRT was based in Edina, Minnesota and sucked down a million dollars before it whooshed into oblivion.
More recently, I’ve been researching why so many Green Party members, roughly 2003-2006 supported such a ridiculous and thoroughly discredited concept. I have since picked up info that suggests some Green Party members were paid to promote PRT. One prominent Green Party candidate worked on a video about PRT, When I asked her about how that came about, she would not answer.
Mike, are aware of anyone in the Green Party receiving payment to work on informational projects or other projects about PRT?
Here’s an account from 2005 of how Councilman Zimmermann neglected the very issues most Greens such as myself cared about at that time and instead shilled for PRT:
—
http://www.mail-archive.com/mpls@mnforum.org/msg41711.html
“On January 14, 2004, I attended the Sustainability Fair at Augsburg. Dean Zimmermann was there openly shilling for Taxi 2000′s PRT system. My objection to PRT at that point was two fold and hasn’t really changed, (1) that PRT is an unproven technology that doesn’t deserve public investment and (2) that Dean Zimmermann, as a public official, should not be at public events pushing a product from a private corporation requesting government dollars, particularly a for product with no track record. Actually, it was (2) that concerned me the most; I didn’t like seeing that corporate drift in the local Green Party.”
As you know full well, and as I have repeatedly stated to you, the FBI tapes of Gary and Dean together are damning — if they weren’t, then why hasn’t Dean Zimmermann authorized their airing? They haven’t been played in public since they were played at Zimmermann’s trial in 2006, and nor will they be, since Zimmermann won’t allow it.
The inability of the public to hear his FBI-taped conversations with Gary A. Carlson — where he both solicited bribes from and accepted bribes from Carlson — are what allows his defenders (like you) to claim he is innocent. But when Carlson himself states that Zimmermann is guilty, it makes you look foolish.
Right you are Phoenix Woman. And contrary to Mister Cavlan’s account, Dean Zimmermann received VERY sympathetic coverage from the mainstream media. Dean was portrayed by Strib columnist Doug Grow before the trial as a lovable, bike-riding hippie.
In contrast, the government’s chief witness Gary Carlson received a thorough sliming by the Strib – something Mr. Carlson remembered with bitterness when I interviewed him in 2008 (I was the only person to interview Carlson after Zimmermann lost his appeal):
http://minneapolisconfidential.blogspot.com/2008/01/interview-with-gary-carlson-on-uptake.html
I saw the FBI tapes in court and I was as shocked as anyone in that courtroom to watch a different Dean Zimmermann that the image Doug Grow and Mike Cavlan tried to have us believe. The cynical and cavalier manner in which Zimmermann pocketed the envelope with the five grand in cash – the easy camaraderie with a Hummer-driving Republican developer – the disappointment Zimmermann expressed when Carlson told Dean he did not invite the crooked councilman to a fundraiser for Norm Coleman. Dean told Carlson; “Liberals, Greens, Democrats, Republicans…it’s all money.”
If Mr. Cavlan really believes Mr. Zimmermann is innocent, he will persuade his friend Dean to release the tapes.
As Pheonix and her Democratic Party friend Ken Avidor both fully well know.
Deann Zimmermann is a very well known and respected progressive in Minneapolis. It explains why he lost the gerrymandered race by only 44 votes. In an election that was held two weeks after the FBI raids.
Dean Zimmermann was a well known activist who had been a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights era. In the Wounded Knee stand off Deann would sneak past the FBI lines and bring supplies to Native Americans inside. Dean Zimmermann was well known as the most honest and uncorruptable City Councilman in Minneapolis. This is very well knownn and recognized by PROGRESSIVES in Minnesota and Minneapolis.
To my fellow firebaggers, let me clue you all in. In Minnesota the DFL is in a real panic. In the recent caucuses here, only 3,400 showed up in the entire state. Of which 97% supported Obama.
Worse yet, just two days ago the Minneapolis DFL Chair of Senate District 59 came out and publicly condemned the leadership of his own party. Because of the Viking Stadium Issue. He has talked PUBLICLY of his complete disgust at the actions of his own party and it’s leadership. Including Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak and Governor Dayton.
I meet people everywhere, even here on FDL of people who are tired of the long list of betrayals. They are no longer falling for the “Republicanns, look at the evil Republicans” bait and switch. They are looking for a new political home. Which is being provided by the new Minnesota Open Progressives.
The Minnesota DFL are desperate. They will do anything to try and change this. They will fail.
Mike, do you remember a meeting in St Louis Park 3/23/2004 in which Zimmermann rehearsed the PRT PowerPoint presentation he would give at a closed-to-the-public “study session” at City Hall on the 25th with Rep. Mark Olson and the officers of the Taxi 2000 Corporation? I seem to remember you were there operating a video camera – am I correct? That was you with the camera – maybe it was someone else. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Oh Mr Avidor. That was me.
I seem to remember a very strange little bearded man. He interviewed a certain candidate on the issue of PRT, inside a north Minneapolis pub called the 313 Club. Was that you?
Oooh, Taxi2000? Cavlan’s hooked in with that boondoggle, too?
So in other words you have nothing concrete to argue, just more frothy invective without substance. And by refusing to give a straight answer to either Avidor or me on the question of the FBI tapes, it seems to me that you’ve tacitly admitted that you know the FBI tapes show Zimmermann to be guilty as sin — a guilt that the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld when Zimmermann tried to appeal his conviction. (I’ve noticed that whenever you’re losing an argument to a Minnesotan who has facts on his or her side, you start shrieking wild suppositions in order to try and distract from the fact that you’re losing the argument.)
Sigh
Pheonix. You an blather away all you want. It does not matter. You and Mr Avidor are Democratic Party apologists, of the very worst kind.
What your party and its connections did to Dean Zimmermann is unforgivable. Progressives in Minneapolis and Minnesota know that. In fact right here in the last special election the DFL ran a woman called Susan Allen for the special election for 41B. A fine young man called Nate Blumenshine ran against her, as an Independent Progressive. I talked to Nate’s mother. The issue of our common knowledge of Dean Zimmermann came up. She also commented on what happened to Dean. She knew that Dean Zimmerman was set up. Progressives in Minnesota knew he was set up. The young man, Nate got 45% of the vote. The Democratic Party are loosing people, specifically progressives.
Oh and by the way dear, I am quite calm. Because I know that I am right. Like I said, this is firedoglake. Not MSNBC, Air America or Faux Nooze.
And you, are a Democrat.
How dos that old saying go?
Oh yeah. If you are pointing a finger at someone, then you have three pointing back at yourself.
Mike, when I interviewed you at the 331 Club, you were just as evasive as you are now.
It’s really klassy that you dragged Nate Blumenshine (and his mother?) into a discussion about Zimmermann. Did either of them see the tapes or have direct knowledge of what transpired regarding the charges?
Phoenix Woman, at that rehearsal in St. Louis Park where Cavlan operated the video camera, Dean Zimmermann specifically promoted the Taxi 2000 Corporation. At that time, the Taxi 2000 Corporation was telling investors PRT was going to be a billion dollar industry.
Where is the Taxi 2000 Corporation now?
In a recent article, a shareholder described it as “moribund”:
http://fridley.patch.com/articles/is-fridley-business-the-future-of-transit-or-moribund
So, Mike when I was at that rehearsal, I saw a stack of PRT flyers from Rep. Mark Olson – was Olson a Green or Republican? What were Olson’s views on marriage equality? War? the environment? reproductive rights? Of course, you know Zimmermann made joint appearances promoting PRT with Olson at the Capitol and the Mpls City Hall.
So Mike, who was putting all that Taxi 2000 promotional material at the disposal of the Councilman? Was anyone getting paid to do that PRT promotion?
Folks
You just do not get this.
Thank you. You both get to show people here at the Lake what mean bastards you folks with the Minnesota Democratic Party are.
Now, on to things like facts. Dean Zimmermann, as a member of the Green Party is an environmentalist. He talked all the time about getting to post petroleum world. He thought that PRT was a way to get gas guzzling cars off the streets.
So Dean would work with anyone who would advance that agenda. I agreed with him.
I also know that Democratic Party hacks such as yourselves (plural) would do and say anything to smear Dean. What you had not and still do not realize is that you in the Minnesota DFL have done nothing but damaged yourselves.
Dean Zimmermann still goes to the Powderhorn Park May Day Parade, is still loved and respected.
Avidor, as for the Taxi 200 material and the thinly disguised attempt and some sort of insinuation about people getting paid. I have no freaking idea what you are blathering about. OK? No, I have no idea about who or what was getting paid. This is a kind of “when did you stop beating your wife?” question. Avidor, you people have no moral base, at all.
Thanks again for keeping this whole conversation going. It shows just how mean spirited you people are. It also highlights how some people the Minnesota Democratic Party operate.
In Carl Rove manners and style. You would not know integrity if it bit you in the keester. That is why You hate Dean.
He has integrity. A value and property you both lack.
Dean Zimmermann an environmentalist? Hardly.
Zimmermann was always lending a helping hand to developers in need, often at the expense of the community and the environment. Why did he support the 35W Access Project? Why did support the building of luxury condo that did not conform to the Shoreline Overlay District of Lake Calhoun (way outside his ward). And did his opposition to the Phase 3 of the Cedar Lake Bike Trail have anything to do with the parking lot it passed near on which was built the Twins Stadium? Remember the homes demolished for a parking lot (on Earth Day!)?
There’s more, but you get the picture. Zimmermann was an ordinary, crooked politician who got his hand caught in the cookie jar. If you want to prove me wrong, ask Zimmermann to sign the waiver to release the tapes – it’s all there.
So nobody in that room that had a financial stake in helping Zimmermann perfect his PRT PowerPoint pitch?
Why exactly was there so much support for Taxi 2000 and PRT among the that small group of Green Party members devoted to Zimmermann?
If Mr. Cavlan cannot explain that mystery, maybe someone else will – people can send me tips about that. Contact info on my blog:
http://prtboondoggle.blogspot.com/
Mr Avidor
Again. No idea. But….
Oh Oh Oh
Pheonix Woman and Ken Avidor
Thank you again. For keeping this article going. Now I forget things sometimes. I forget to see the forest because of the trees. You keep on getting to show, make public just how rotten, vindictive and mean spirited SOME Democrats can be.
On the famous money ($5,000) that was handed to Dean by Mr Carlson at the behest of the FBI (who hated Dean because of his political work)
WHY did Dean feel the need to take the money? I already know neither of you would answer that, or indeed like to make that info public.
In Minnesota the Green Party were becoming a formidable political force. Minneapolis was a one party town. The Democrats. Then the Green Party had two Council members, Dean Zimmerman and Natalie Johnson-Lee.
Then in the election of 2002 the redistricting board, with Democrats and Repukelicans on it decided to change the political map.
Voila. For some weird wacky reason, the only two city council people affected were (gasp) the two Greens. Why some could make the claim that the Dems and Repukes decided to gerrymander these fine two people.
Deann Zimmermann decided to challenge the gerrymandering dressed up as redistricting in court. Now I disagreed with that as others did but it was Dean’s decision.
That was why Dean was having the fundraiser at the Black Forest Inn, in Minneapolis. Where Developer Carlson then gave Dean a bag, filled with cash. Because Dean was getting money to challenge the gerrymandering.
Dean even did “show me the money” (pun intended) and we talked about it. He did not know what to do. The actions of a felonious criminal taking bribes if ever I saw one. Telling others about his evil deeds.
I was not allowed to testify to that fact, in the court.
So bottom line. Democrats believe their own political leadership. They trust the FBI. They trust their police. They trust the courts and legal system.
Progressives on the other hand know differently. This, the same FBI that sent Dr Martin Luther King letters of blackmail about Dr Kings affair, asking Dr King to commit suicide. The same FBI that framed Leonard Peltier who is in prison to this day. The same FBI that even now, as we speak is setting up political peace activists in Minneapolis for a Grand Jury Investigation.
So who do we think that progressives believe in this case.
Pheonix Woman, Ken Avidor, the Democratic Party leadership, the FBI or Dean Zimmerman, a decades long activist for justice, ecological sanity, peace.
Progressives in Minnesota already have. The Democratic Party have created the conditions for their own demise in Minnesota. People are leaving, in droves.
This is the real reason that Pheonix Woman and her buddy Kenn Avidor try this Carl Rovian smear tactic, in my honest opinion.
Because their party is desperate and cornered. We all know how mean a cornered rat can be. They just do not get it that this exposes further just how rotten and corrupted that party is.
Thank you Pheonix Woman and Ken Avidor for helping to expose it further. The cleansing sunlight of the Spirit of the Truth is a beautiful thing.
Oh and
I’m Michael Cavlan
Candidate for US Senate 2012
and I approve this message.
Mike. there was no political persecution. I suggest you read Scott Horton’s “When is a Prosecution Political?”:
“http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/02/hbc-90002323
Zimmermann had an opportunity to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court and he didn’t.
Read the open letter Zimmermann wrote to supporters from “Camp Fluffy” – it does not remotely resemble a letter from a political prisoner:
http://minneapolisconfidential.blogspot.com/2008/04/is-dean-zimmermann-political-prisoner.html”
Clearly, if Zimmermann was innocent of the charges, he would have no problems signing a waiver to release the tapes.
That’s a good question. Would the answer to this help explain why, in defiance of all the evidence (and the judgment of the 8th circuit appeals court) Zimmermann’s Green Party friends keep insisting he’s innocent?
Good idea!
Thanks Phoenix Woman – your post inspired this post about counter-narratives on my Vennes Info blog:
http://vennesinfo.blogspot.com/2012/03/will-there-be-counter-narrative.html
Coincidentally, Assistant US Attorney John Docherty who successfully prosecuted Dean Zimmermann is also on the team prosecuting Frank Vennes. John Docherty also was on the team that prosecuted Tom Petters and the team that prosecuted Milosevic at The Hague.
Sounds like a high-powered guy and also an honorable one, as well as one not prone to grave errors. Thanks for the heads-up!