Then presidential candidate Representative Michele Bachmann (R-MN) famously flapped her titanium jaw bone about having a “titanium spine” that would never bend under pressure from those she labels “anti-America.”

Well, Governor Mark Dayton proved he had a strong spine when he stood up to Republicans pushing draconian spending cuts on the most vulnerable Minnesotans in their all-cuts budget.

He proved he had a bipartisan backbone when he built a bipartisan coalition to get the Vikings stadium deal done where other Governors had failed for a decade.

He proved he had stout spinal column when he reversed Governor Pawlenty and added health coverage for tens of thousands of Medicaid-eligible Minnesotans.

He’s proving he has a tough vertebrae by sticking to his campaign pledge to make the wealthiest Minnesotans pay their fair share of taxes.

But look out, Minnesota, because Mayo Clinic is about to give Dayton a new and improved spine.  The Governor apparently has a pain in his back, beyond the one’s named Krinkie and Parry.  So the Mayo Clinic is preparing to give him a new and improved fused spine.

Let’s hope Mayo doctors with a gripe against Obamacare/Daytonacare don’t sabotage Dayton’s backbone bionics, because progressives are going to need him to have an even stronger spine in coming years.  Get well soon, Governor.

– Loveland