If you're like most everyone else I know, gas prices are taking a noticeable bite out of your wallet. Have you found yourself altering your old habits? I sure have!

No filling up the tank - just serious calculations on just how much to get to last til the next paycheck.

Is anyone else thoroughly fed up with the sheer amount of, well, crap that the 'opposition' spews?  I know, silly question. It's really hit home for me over the last couple of weeks. And I brought it on myself. Dammit.

It all started off as a joke and, for the most part, it still is. The thing is, is that I'm much less prepared for rebuttals to NeoCon Nonsense©  than I thought I was.  It's amazing the way they can string so many distortions, lies and insults together in such a small space!  Makes my head spin.

Which I suppose, is the intent.

Follow me over the fold for the details...

Cross-posted at South Shore Progressive

"Mental recession."
 
"Nation of whiners."

Sen. Phil Gramm uttered those contemptible sentiments this week.

Ahhh, the smell of irony during election season.....

It's especially ironic from where I sit, since most of my working life has been centered around the mortgage industry. I'm in the unenviable position of watching the housing market implode, watching my property value drop virtually every day, and earning my living by helping other folks finance a home!

So, to hear those words from the mouth of the very person who was instrumental in engineering this mess (among others) to feather his own nest is beyond belief.

Slinkerwink's first live-blog is getting a bit long, so please feel free to continue the conversation here.

[Cross-posted at South Shore Progressive and Blue Indiana]

During my time here, I've seen a plethora of diaries railing against the traditional media.  Most of them, I'll concede, are right on target. I've done my own share of bemoaning their shortcomings. Happily, this diary focuses on an opportunity to open a productive dialog with one of their more open minded contributors, Jerry Davich.

I've been writing regularly on this Post-Tribune blog site for a few months now, but I'm still unclear on its promise, potential, and practicality.

Since I'm still a relative newcomer to blogging myself, I'm turning to the seasoned veterans here to help me clarify the power of the NetNation in response to this sincere disclosure.

Short and sweet...

The Northwest Indiana Times is basically live-blogging updates on their website.

[Cross-posted at South Shore Progressive and Blue Indiana]

Last week, foxsucks81 brought to our attention the hissy fit  a Northwest Indiana Mayor was having over a school field trip.

The mayor of Hammond, Indiana, has complained to the Northwest Indiana Times about the local practice of bussing students [Ed: of Gary Public Schools] to polling places.  Field trips have been organized to encourage civic participation, but the Mayor believes the practice benefits Obama.

Believe me, the comments section in the online version of the local papers have been buzzing over this 'controversy'. Well, imagine my surprise when I ran across a little fact that seems to show Mayor McDermott has perhaps embraced the value of 'political education'.  Or not.  

[Cross-posted at South Shore Progressive]

I think I'm experiencing information overload.

Considering the intensity of the primary races this year – be they local, state, or national – I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.  I've been racking my brain for the last week trying to come up with a topic covering a perspective someone else hasn't covered yet.  That's when I noticed the 'overload'.  My mind kept skipping from one subject to another and on to yet another with frustrating speed. Granted, I've had other things on my mind (see below) and was hoping that writing a diary might serve as a good distraction.

So, how to choose? And off I'd go again....

[Crossposted at South Shore Progressive]

"I can't afford it. I'm broke."

"I don't know where to start/who to call."

Excuses. Every single one of these statements.

And I've heard them from folks who've just finished kvetching about the state of (take your pick) the war in Iraq, the economy, taxes, the job market, or political corruption. Their comments are in response to my questioning what actions they've taken to fix the things they're complaining about. And lest you think I've climbed atop my high horse, let me assure you, I've used all of these very excuses - repeatedly.

So what got me off my fanny and onto my feet?  Follow me over the fold...

I had the chance to meet some of my neighbors tonight.  Face to face.  

Shaking hands. Listening to everyone's story. Telling your own. Learning to accept compliments gracefully. Seeing courtesy amid disagreement. Spontaneous generosity. And most of all, a tremendous outpouring of gratitude for the opportunity to be heard.

Every single one of them.

So what what was the lodestone?  Follow me over the fold...

Ahhhh, the stumbling first steps of a new volunteer (that would be me) can be embarrassing.  

In my efforts to make a bigger contribution to this historic Presidential Election, I decided to check out an open conference call with the Obama campaign last Wednesday night. Well, between work, home, and volunteering to help with an Election Results Watch Party, I managed to be a bit pressed for time.  In my haste, I managed to make my faux pas public.  

For all the ditzy details, jump the fold.

A little information first, to set the scene.

The Northwest corner of Indiana, once a booming steel-making hub, is now an economically depressed region with no immediate prospects of decent renewal. The neighborhood in which I work, is a racially mixed area. It's located at the nexus of working poor black, white, and hispanic communities. This is a prime location for the payday loan store where I'm employed. (And, yes, I do bemoan the fact that it's a growing industry and the apparent necessity of their services mostly due to our economy. But, that's another diary...) The reason I point this out is to highlight the broad cross-section of folks I get to interact with on a daily basis and, more specifically, how I came in contact with 'Mr. Casey'. [ed - name changed for confidentiality purposes]

Details over the fold.

Florida Congressman Robert Wexler has been tirelessly working for the start of impeachment hearings on V.P. Dick Cheney's activities since mid-December.  His petition at Wexler Wants Hearings has become a massive outcry from the American People for these hearings to begin immediately.  As of the publication of this diary, he has collected 225,716 signatures and is 90% of the way to the Quarter Million Person goal!  

Go over the fold for video of what a real Representative looks like.

I just finished reading ikrisarus' diary titled Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi: IMPEACH!  It's one of the best I've seen so far.  I know many of you are sick of hearing about it and don't think it will do any good, it's too late, etc.  I beg to differ.

With all the primary talk about change, the piefights over who's candidate is better, the worry over our worthless healthcare system, and rescuing our flailing economy, we've forgotten that all of those things are insignificant in the face of the destruction of the very framework of our Nation.  

As most here are aware, Florida Representative Robert Wexler (D) has been passionately advocating the immediate start of impeachment hearings in regards to VP Richard Cheney.  Last Tuesday evening he lived up to his title as Representative - not only of his constituents in Florida, but also for the now over 206,000 American citizens who realize that these hearings are vital to our survival as a Nation.  

With the Iowa caucuses behind us and the New Hampshire primaries occuring today, we're finally getting into the meat of the 2008 Presidential race.  You can find multiple diaries on all the candidates.  For and against.  Democratic and Republican.  And all the pie-fights you could ever conjure up in your wildest imagination.  

All that energy, passion, time, and treasure directed at whomever is thought to be, for all intents & purposes, the person who will rescue us from the nightmare of the last seven years.  Is that fair to the nominee?  Is that what it will take to get us 'back on track'?  

Perhaps. In part. But, I propose, it's not enough. Not by a long shot.

It has been two weeks and two days since Rep. Robert Wexler, Rep. Juan Guttierez, and Rep. Tammy Guttierez kicked off their WexlerWantsHearings website.  At the time of this diary, they have garnered 166,000 supporters in their effort to drive home the message that VP Richard Cheney's words and actions obligate the House Judicial Committee to investigate. That averages out to 10,375 people per day stating they want hearings to begin immediately!  

Initially, the media refused to print the Op-Ed article prepared by the three Representatives. Thankfully, in the last few days, even the media is beginning to realize this movement will not be silenced.  There's a buzz in the blogosphere and it's spilling over into the main news sources.  

Many of you have seen the recent flurry of diaries regarding WexlerWantsHearings.com.  The outpouring of support for Representatives Wexler, Gutierrez, and Baldwin call for impeachment hearings into VP Richard Cheney, has been nothing short of outstanding!  The original goal was 50,000 signatures.  As of this diary, we are quickly approaching the 160,000 milestone.  

I am, by turns, humbled, inspired and excited to finally hear the American people speaking out. Out of that mix, I am motivated to appeal to others who are looking for additional ways to bring this effort to a wider audience, who wish to share their successful strategies, who wish to contribute their letter writing/graphic abilities, and who are sick to death of watching Cheney run roughshod all over our Constitution.  

The day of accountability is swiftly approaching. Take the jump to see what you can do to contribute to it's rapid arrival.