Powerline's Mark Dayton Destruction Campaign Powerline blog, which features the writings of Joel Hinderaker, a Minneapolis corporate lawyer who goes by the unintentionally homoerotic nome de plume Hindrocket, is engaged in a systematic campaign to take down Senator Mark Dayton. Their most recent posting, entitled "Profiles in Disgrace" criticizes the senator for voting against the Condoleeza Rice nomination, and for closing his Washington office due to a homeland security warning. In the process of discrediting Dayton, they cast aspersions on Sen. Byrd, Hubert Humphrey, and even tiny social justice church St. Joan of Arc...Why write something focused and coherent when you can attack 40 years of liberalism in one fell swoop? They write: HINDROCKET adds: Reader Tom Mckeown makes a good point: Was any other Minnesotan struck by the contrast in courage between the Iraqi women waiting in line to vote today with the retreat from Washington by Senator Mark Dayton on the hint of some threat, which was ignored by every other elected official in DC...Such courage by our sentaor would not merit a chapter in "Profiles in Courage" and deserves his early retirement. UPDATE: Reader Mary Ledbetter writes to point out that St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is not "Catholic" in the sense that it is in union with the Church of Rome. Rather, it appears to be a Christian "new age" church (my interpretation of its mission statement at the linked site). Reader Mitch Gossman describes the church as the local epicenter of so-called "liberation theology." Powerline would like to portray Mark Dayton as a coward running from imminent danger. The writers of Powerline know full well that Congress wasn't in session when Dayton closed his office, but they neglect to mention it. Congress was in recess, and these clowns know it. Of course, they leave it to a reader to make the case, thereby providing them with a scapegoat lest they be caught in their mendacity. Here is what Dayton had to say about the incident, by the way. Judge for yourself: I do so out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise visit my office in the next few weeks. I feel compelled to do so, because I will not be here in Washington to share in what I consider to be an unacceptably greater risk to their safety. To Powerline, apparently being concerned for the safety of others is cowardice. Perhaps that's why they supported a president who sent our troops into battle without sufficient armour. As far calling Rice a liar, their defense of Rice is pathetic. The only response necessary is "I believe the title of the memo was "Bin Laden determined to attack within the United States", and "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud". She's a liar, and Dayton was the only one with the courage to tell her so to her face. You might as well be bold, Senator Dayton. Even if the Hindrocket is shooting blanks, they're coming after you anyway.