I'm stunned beyond words right now. Georgia had passed a new law to allow people to carry concealed weapons into restaurants, state parks and on public transportation. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Tim Bearden, a republican of course.
The City of Atlanta declared Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport a gun-free zone. Naturally, Rep. Bearden and his merry band of gun toting republicans have decided to fight this restriction in court arguing that the airport qualifies as public transportation and there public restraurants within the airport. The only bit of sanity displayed is that they agree no guns should be allowed in restraurants beyond the security check point. This has been reported in the Huffingpost. Lawsuit filed to carry guns at Atlanta Airport
Wait until you read what Rep Bearden plans to do beside just a law suit! Read more below!
I believe in Barack Obama so much that I would love to write a check for $2,300. However, my bank account does not allow that so I'm doing the next best thing, I'm donating my house and my time. I know a lot of people are upset about FISA, but I'm supporting Obama for 174 other reasons and will continue to support him.
I am lucky to live in an area with several historic districts. Every couple of years, various organizations have very successful house tours of the home in my area. Generally, they sell about 450 to 600 tickets for the house tours. As I thought about that, I decided why not ask the neighbors if they would be willing to show their houses and gardens to raise money for Obama. So far, the response has been very positive.
This tuesday, I'm hosting a group of people that have volunteered to help organize this with me. In this diary, I'm going to discuss the fundraiser and solicit your advice for ideas on how we can improve it. Anyone is welcome to copy and recreate for your own fundraiser!
Over the past several weeks, I've read diary after diary worried that Clinton had fatally ruined the Obama Campaign for the fall. I disagree and would argue that Obama has emerged stronger and better prepared for victory in the fall.
We began over a year ago with an embarrasment of riches. Clinton, Richardson, Dodd, Biden, Edwards, Obama, the little guy from cleveland and the crazy one from Alaska. All would be better presidents than the current one. They debated issues in a record number of debates with increasing numbers of viewers. They highlighted issues like the economy, iraq, gay rights, womans rights, civil rights, environment, health care, trade practices, immigration, proverty. In that group, we have potential cabinent members, supreme court members and a future President. Together they made me proud to be a democrat.
I thank Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Christopher Dodd, Joe Biden, Richardson, and Dennis K and all their supporters for making Obama a better candidate. Obama has emerged from this process stronger, better and fired up to win in November.
After much delay, John McCain is finally releasing his medical records tomorrow (sort of).
On Friday, the campaign will allow a small pool of reporters access to the records from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Pacific time in a conference room at the Copper Wind Resort in Phoenix, near the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. The reporters will be allowed to take notes but not remove or photocopy the records. Campaign officials said they were imposing the restrictions to prevent the actual records from wide dissemination
I hate to break it to you, your honeymoon is over. The democrats will be coming together despite a long, long primary season. The Democratic roadshow has resulted in record voter turnout, record fundraising and record early grassroots involvement. And despite everyone, both Obama and Clinton have maintained amazing favorable polling numbers.
You will not be running against just Obama, you will be running against Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis K, Elizabeth Edwards, Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton. You will be running against 1.5 million Obama donors and millions of democratic primary voters. And worse, you will be running against the readers of the Daily Kos. We can conduct research and spread the truth when the MSM doesn't. We won't fall for your BS.
Lets face it, your record ain't pretty. I remember what Romney said about you on his website when he was running against you. Lets review the top ten reasons Romney thought you were not fit to be President. (and this was before the news that you called your wife the C word).
I just read the funniest thing on Huffinton Post. The McCain website posted "McCain" family recipes under Cindy's profile to show that Cindy is down with the common people. Now believe it or not . . . .many of the recipes are shockingly plagerized from the Food Network website, word for word - ingredients and instructions. I did not see this was posted on DKos and felt it was a fun bit of McCain fluff to share.
On the grand scale of things, this is really no big deal. But it makes me laugh because it was so stupid to do and well, the recipes they choose don't even relate to the "common man". I mean really. . . Ahi Tuna Napa Cabbage Slaw - Which common man makes that for dinner???
I believe we can all agree that John McCain is not fit to be president.
Over the next 8 months, we need to get the message out to all voters that the Straight talk express is fueled by hot air and hype. During this time we will discuss John McCain's issues and past positions. I absolutely loved the ability of DKos members to dig in deep and conduct opposition research in the 2006 election. The research conducted on DKos would make a professional weep with envy! I can't wait to read those diaries in the future.
I'm not that good. However, Mitt Romney could afford some pretty good opposition research with his 40 million dollars and he found some great examples of why John McCain does not have the temperment or knowledge to be President of the United states. So, hat tip to Mitt "Barbie Doll" Romney for what follows below!
New Hampshire Republican Senator John Sununu is probably watching the news and polling stations and seeing the incredible Democratic turnout. Right now, a cold sweat is probably balling up on his brow as he realizes that 2006 was not a fluke year and the days of Bush enablers like him are limited.
This fall, the supporters of Obama, Edwards and Hillary will unite to support the Democratic nominee for President as well as supporting the senate campaign of former NH Democratic Governor, Jeanne Shaheen.
Our message to John Sununu - start packing beotch, your days are numbered. Your dirty tricks are not going to work this year! The polling is not in your favor already. Also, that polling does not anticipate the type of democratic turnout we are seeing today!!! Not only are the democrats pumped and excited to end the Bush years, we have a great candidate in Jeanne Shaheen running against Bush enablers like you.
I'm still figuratively drunk from excitement from last night. My girl Hillary lost in Iowa, but i'm going to be OK. The party is out of control - all these party crashers (young, old and independant) made the party too exciting to ignore!
The reason i'm drunk . . . Imagine this type of turnout nationally and the implications for the house and the senate, state elections, and local elections. (and redistricting in 2010) We could roll back everything both Bushes have done very quickly and save our planet and country!
Also, look at our candidates. We have a very deep team of well known national leaders who can assist our eventual nominee and all our congressional candidates, who can drum up funds and support for the party. If we work together when the eventual nominee is chosen . . . imagine!
I'm very proud to be a democrat. Sometimes our candidates piss me off (ALOT). I get annoyed with personal attacks on other democrats, when they miss the big picture and dwell on a single issue/event/statement. I dislike the practical re-election concerns they face. Sometimes I want the tent smaller (pro-life, against gay marriage, etc), but I still try to welcome them anyway when they are not the deciding vote.
I believe in the ACLU, our constitution, helping others, making this planet a better place, drinking clean water, treating those with less education and less money than me with respect, understanding that people are not bad, but have bad choices or were raised with poor values. I believe that everyone should be given the opportunities and education to take advantage of their skills and talents. It is those beliefs that have caused me to be a Democrat.
I think 2008 is going to be a very important year if we are going to reclaim our government, restore pride in our country, improve our long term economy and save our planet. I've been trying to figure out how can I help elect good democrats and discuss some grass root options below
Mike Huckabee has been involved in his own Willie Horton controversy related to the parole of convicted rapist Wayne DuMond and the reason Huckabee pushed for the parole is a doozy!!!! Mr. DuMond was convicted of rape while Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas. After Huckabee became governor he persuaded the parole board in an illegal off the record meeting to parole Wayne DuMond. Shortly after Mr. DuMond was released he went on to murder another woman.
Why did this happen? The victim of original rape was a distant relative of Governor Bill Clinton. The conservatives in Arkansas hated Bill Clinton so much that they decided that the trial must have been fixed and Mr. DuMont because a conservative cause.
Mr. Huckabee is now claiming
Huckabee now says that he does not recall what he said to the parole board, but that he had changed his mind about DuMond and was attempting to deny clemency at the time the parole was granted. Raw story Article
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again! - Les Mis
The new Barak Obama ad pisses me off in that he recycles an old Republican criticism of Bill Clinton concerning responding to public opinion polls. In the ad Obama states
"I don’t want to just put my finger out to the wind and see what the polls say. I want to bring the country together to solve a problem."
I really hated that Republican argument about Bill Clinton listening to opinion polls too much in the '90's and I hate it now. After 7 years of George W. Bush putting a seashell to his ear to listen to the voice of "God" to tell him what to do, I want a president to listen to the people and to do our bidding for a change!!!!
New Jersey lost a proud progressive, liberal voice last night with the passing of Byron Baer, retired NJ State Senator for district 37. Legislative giant for four decades dies at 77 Byron spent 34 years in the New Jersey legislature; 21 years as an Assemblyman and 11 years as a state Senator.
Byron orginally pursued a career in movies special effects, but moved to politics after the call of social justice led him to became a Freedom Rider in the 1960's. His efforts to expose inequality and promote voting rights resulted him serving time in the Mississippi state Penitentiary along with Martin Luther King.
During his time in the legislature, Byron wrote and/or sponsored NJ's Truth in Pricing, Right to know Act, Open Public Meetings Act (Sunshine Law), Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act, Ethnic Terrorism Act, Open Public Records Act, and many more devoted to good government, civil rights and Consumer protection. Byron's legislation served as a model for many other states and for national legislation. Biography
I was reading my local central NJ newspaper, The Courier News, and became very angry. A local republican Assemblyman, Peter J. Biondi, emailed two allegedly racist and sexist jokes to a group that he regularly emails. However, the paper did not publish the "jokes" and has not since the story broke several days ago. They stated in article
The Courier News has declined to publish the jokes because of their nature.
Today, The Courier News published an editorial "Biondi was foolish, not a racist" The editorial argues that Biondi made a mistake, he apologized and they urge his constituents "to accept his apology and move on". At the same time, their readers have been unable to form their own opinion since the paper has not published the "jokes" and hence my anger.
I believe that the activities of a spouse are not relevant to a campaign or to the character and/or judgment of the candidate, unless the activity or action is so heinous or so negative as to cast doubt on character of the candidate.
I think we have that situation today. The cover article of the New York Post had me so disgusted and angry that I wonder about the character, compassion and ethics of both Guiliani's. The cover states "Judi's Dog Days, Animals killed in sales demos" New York Post Article
The MSM has accorded McCain front runner status even though Guiliani is currently leading the Real Clear Politics polling average 36.9 to Mccain's 21.3 and has been leading in most polling for the past 3 months.
Clearly, Guiliani is currently the one to beat for the Rupublicans. However, other than hearing that Guiliani is pro-choice, pro gay rights, been married 3 times and his kids don't like the current wife, I have no idea where Guiliani stands on most issues.
It seems that Mr. Guiliani has adopted his own version of a Rose Garden strategy since I only see him in controlled environments, the MSM has not or cannot ask him tough questions. I've attempted to go in search of Rudy below the fold.
