Lightning Round -- 022015

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while....

• Rahm Emanuel is getting a tougher challenge than he expected in the Chicago mayoral race. His main opposition comes from Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who is attacking him from his left calling Emanuel "Mayor 1%." This is straight out of the Elizabeth Warren playbook and it's worth watching. If Emanuel goes down, it will be a sign that the establishment Democrats are in more trouble than they appear.
• Kevin Garnett is coming back to town. He doesn't have a lot to offer any more as a player, but as a leader and a butt-kicker, he's a great choice. I've long thought that things were too comfortable on 1st Avenue North and it will be a good thing to get someone who can raise the expectations a little.
• There are many reasons to respect James Nobles, the legislative auditor for the State of Minnesota. His recent audit of MNsure revealed how much of a cluster the whole thing has been, but one of the more interesting tidbits is that the first executive director, April Todd-Malmlov, who resigned under pressure, expected the state to pick up her attorneys' fees if she cooperated with the investigation. We haven't heard much about Todd-Malmlov lately, but it's still worth recalling that one of the things that caused her downfall was that she took a Caribbean vacation with James Golden, who is the state's Medicaid director. In a state that isn't as amazing as Better Minnesota, this sort of thing would have raised a few more eyebrows.
• So you like that economy these days? How do you feel about subprime loans? They're back and in a big way. I'm sure it will all be very different this time.
• Remember Debbie Wasserman-Schultz? Me neither, but still I found this little bit amusing: apparently she was willing to change her position on medical marijuana if only a top donor would stop being so mean to her, or something. 
• Rand Paul wants to be President. Ron Paul is wondering what will be left after a secession movement starts rolling. Getcha popcorn.