Minnesota Democrat in Minnesota cuts and runs.

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BTW, Minnesota's Senator, a Democrat, ran off scared about a terrorist attack without a single explaination.

He just left his office and left it to his Secretaries.

He said he didn't have to explain himself.

This guy literally ran off his job. A US Senator ran off like a chicken little.

Now if he is privy to something, he should be talking to the President, or if he is just being a coward, he should be flogged.

Good God. I am a coward, but Jesus Christ, I am a civilian. You carry that when you accept the responsibility of Office. It is mind boggling. This guy is the most chicken shiat person I have ever heard of. He didn't bolt to Washington. He just went to parts unknown. It's literally incredible.

Civilian or not, I would kick his panty waist so hard he would be pushing Pepto out of both holes. This is outrageous.

[watermock]

Senator leaves Capitol Hill
Minn. Democrat cites secret briefing and acts "to protect the lives and safety" of his staff, but no other Congress member has similar plan


Kerry Espouses Multitasking in a President
BY TOM BRUNE
WASHINGTON BUREAU; Staff writers Timothy M. Phelps, Colby Itkowitz and Paola Singer contributed to this story.

October 13, 2004

WASHINGTON - The Democratic senator from Minnesota yesterday said he was closing his office and shifting his staff off of Capitol Hill until after the election because of a top-secret national security briefing the Senate received two weeks ago.

But Sen. Mark Dayton is apparently the only member of Congress to react with such alacrity to the report, and law enforcement and intelligence sources yesterday said they had no new specific threats to the Capitol or Washington.

Neither of New York's senators, Democrats Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, nor any of its House members planned to abandon their Washington offices.

"To me either he's paranoid or he just wants his people back home working the election," Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) said.

In a statement, Dayton, who was elected in 2000, acknowledged he would be second-guessed, saying if he is wrong, "I will accept the inevitable judgments made with perfect hindsight."

But he said, "I take this step out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise be visiting my Senate office."

Dayton said he made his decision after a briefing two weeks ago by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), but he added he could not divulge any details of the top-secret report.

Amy Call, a spokeswoman for Frist, said, "Since August, there have been a number of intelligence briefings to continue to update senators on the threat levels."

Capitol Police spokesman Michael Lauer yesterday said, "We have received no specific threats to the Capitol complex."

Senate Sergeant of Arms William Pickle said, "Every senator has received the same intelligence briefing that Senator Dayton has."

Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), said he had been in classified briefings but "never have they said you should be closing your Washington office."

To do so without a specific recommendation, he said, was inappropriate.

Staff writers Timothy M. Phelps, Colby Itkowitz and Paola Singer contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.