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CNN Live Today

Who Is Dean Barkley?

Aired November 12, 2002 - 10:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Why don't we ask our Bill Schneider about that. He is waiting in the wings to check in right now. We are going to talk about Dean Barkley, and some other issues.
Is he the only former car wash owner, former car wash owner, rather to be in Congress?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: As far as we know, he is, and he is not only a car wash owner, but his car wash was rated the best in Minneapolis by a local paper, so he is a championship car wash owner.

HARRIS: So that explains why Jesse Ventura picked him. Now, we know.

SCHNEIDER: Well, that may be part of it.

HARRIS: Well now, let's talk about that, because there have been so many different, you know, lighthearted looks at the fact that he's only going be there for a few days. Actually, he is going to be there until next year, in January. Fifty-six days I think is the tally right now. But of that time, the Senate will only be in session for about a week or so. So really, seriously speaking, are there any long-term implications right now, about him being there only one week?

SCHNEIDER: Not unless they pass some incredibly important legislation in which he casts the deciding vote, and it doesn't look like that going to happen. You know, 10 years from now he'll be a wonderful political trivia question. At the moment, he is not trivial because he holds the balance of power. There are 49 Democratic senators, 49 Republican senators and two independents. One Jim Jeffords and the other, the new intern senator from Minnesota, Dean Barkley. He says he will not caucus with either the Democrats or the Republicans. He issued the statement saying he will remain independent, that's the best way to represent the people of Minnesota. He was appointed by an independent governor, so he holds the balance of power. So on an important vote where it's a one vote margin he could make a difference, but that's unlikely.

HARRIS: All right, then you read the tea leaves for us this morning. Since know him better then we do, what do we know about his background that may indicate that he may go with some of these votes that he may actually have to take in the next week or so?

SCHNEIDER: Well, he is conservative on economic issues, tends to be fairly liberal on social issues. He was a founder of Ventura's Independence Party, as we see here. He's run for Senate as a third party candidate in the past. Did well enough to qualify his party for public financing, which helped Jesse Ventura get elected. Jesse Ventura owes Dean Barkley. That's one of the reason why he appointed him. He is in fact an attorney, was once the director of Minnesota Planning Office, and of course operated a car wash. But his views tend to be with Republicans on some issues, mostly economic, with Democrats on other issues, mostly social issues.

HARRIS: How much pressure was put on him to side with either party? He went in to replace a Democrat, but the Republicans actually won the election.

SCHNEIDER: Well, that's right. And he was appointed by an independent, so go figure. Well, he was courted by both parties. He met with Trent Lott, the Republican leader. Met with the Democrats. Both of them tried to get him to support their side. In the end, he did say that he really couldn't go with either side.

This is only for a couple of weeks, I remind you. Because once Jim Talent, the newly-elected senator from Minnesota, is certified, Talent will replace a Democrat, Jean Carnahan, whom he defeated. Talent uniquely takes office early because that is a special election. It's not a regular election. So Talent will take office probably by the end of the month. Once Jim Talent takes office, the balance of power will shift, and the Republicans will firmly be in control or at least by one vote -- that's as firm as it gets these days. And Dean Barkley's balancing power will no longer exist.

HARRIS: All right, finally, I have to ask you this one, because this has been one that has been driving me nuts. Does he still get all the perks that every other senator will get once they become retired senator? For instance, a senate pension, does he get to still use senate barber shop whenever he wants to, that sort of stuff?

SCHNEIDER: Well, he may get some of barber shop perks because he was once a senator. I believe they can go in and get a haircut. Did you know that? Anyone can do that. It's a public barber shop. You and I go can go and use the barber shop. So it's not only for senators. But as far as pension, that's based on the number of years of service. In his case the number of days of service are more relevant. I don't think it will amount to very much.

HARRIS: Well, it might be enough to get his car washed.

SCHNEIDER: And he always call himself Senator Barkley and he may rename his car wash. It's now called the Mermaid Car Wash; it could be called the Senator's Car Wash.

HARRIS: It could be. I'll have to watch that one.

Bill Schneider good to see you again, buddy. Take care.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 12, 2002 - 10:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Why don't we ask our Bill Schneider about that. He is waiting in the wings to check in right now. We are going to talk about Dean Barkley, and some other issues.
Is he the only former car wash owner, former car wash owner, rather to be in Congress?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: As far as we know, he is, and he is not only a car wash owner, but his car wash was rated the best in Minneapolis by a local paper, so he is a championship car wash owner.

HARRIS: So that explains why Jesse Ventura picked him. Now, we know.

SCHNEIDER: Well, that may be part of it.

HARRIS: Well now, let's talk about that, because there have been so many different, you know, lighthearted looks at the fact that he's only going be there for a few days. Actually, he is going to be there until next year, in January. Fifty-six days I think is the tally right now. But of that time, the Senate will only be in session for about a week or so. So really, seriously speaking, are there any long-term implications right now, about him being there only one week?

SCHNEIDER: Not unless they pass some incredibly important legislation in which he casts the deciding vote, and it doesn't look like that going to happen. You know, 10 years from now he'll be a wonderful political trivia question. At the moment, he is not trivial because he holds the balance of power. There are 49 Democratic senators, 49 Republican senators and two independents. One Jim Jeffords and the other, the new intern senator from Minnesota, Dean Barkley. He says he will not caucus with either the Democrats or the Republicans. He issued the statement saying he will remain independent, that's the best way to represent the people of Minnesota. He was appointed by an independent governor, so he holds the balance of power. So on an important vote where it's a one vote margin he could make a difference, but that's unlikely.

HARRIS: All right, then you read the tea leaves for us this morning. Since know him better then we do, what do we know about his background that may indicate that he may go with some of these votes that he may actually have to take in the next week or so?

SCHNEIDER: Well, he is conservative on economic issues, tends to be fairly liberal on social issues. He was a founder of Ventura's Independence Party, as we see here. He's run for Senate as a third party candidate in the past. Did well enough to qualify his party for public financing, which helped Jesse Ventura get elected. Jesse Ventura owes Dean Barkley. That's one of the reason why he appointed him. He is in fact an attorney, was once the director of Minnesota Planning Office, and of course operated a car wash. But his views tend to be with Republicans on some issues, mostly economic, with Democrats on other issues, mostly social issues.

HARRIS: How much pressure was put on him to side with either party? He went in to replace a Democrat, but the Republicans actually won the election.

SCHNEIDER: Well, that's right. And he was appointed by an independent, so go figure. Well, he was courted by both parties. He met with Trent Lott, the Republican leader. Met with the Democrats. Both of them tried to get him to support their side. In the end, he did say that he really couldn't go with either side.

This is only for a couple of weeks, I remind you. Because once Jim Talent, the newly-elected senator from Minnesota, is certified, Talent will replace a Democrat, Jean Carnahan, whom he defeated. Talent uniquely takes office early because that is a special election. It's not a regular election. So Talent will take office probably by the end of the month. Once Jim Talent takes office, the balance of power will shift, and the Republicans will firmly be in control or at least by one vote -- that's as firm as it gets these days. And Dean Barkley's balancing power will no longer exist.

HARRIS: All right, finally, I have to ask you this one, because this has been one that has been driving me nuts. Does he still get all the perks that every other senator will get once they become retired senator? For instance, a senate pension, does he get to still use senate barber shop whenever he wants to, that sort of stuff?

SCHNEIDER: Well, he may get some of barber shop perks because he was once a senator. I believe they can go in and get a haircut. Did you know that? Anyone can do that. It's a public barber shop. You and I go can go and use the barber shop. So it's not only for senators. But as far as pension, that's based on the number of years of service. In his case the number of days of service are more relevant. I don't think it will amount to very much.

HARRIS: Well, it might be enough to get his car washed.

SCHNEIDER: And he always call himself Senator Barkley and he may rename his car wash. It's now called the Mermaid Car Wash; it could be called the Senator's Car Wash.

HARRIS: It could be. I'll have to watch that one.

Bill Schneider good to see you again, buddy. Take care.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com