Just one man's opinion - crossposted at Arkansas Politics

I am a political activist in my state. I’ve chaired, managed or consulted many local, state and federal campaigns. I’ve organized walks, visibility, phone banks, GOTV, knocked on doors and most importantly do large fundraisers. I’m one of the many D’s that do the living and dying of politics at the county and state level all over this country.

I live in a state that is blue wrapped in a red ribbon, where the Democrats have all six state Constitutional offices, where the D's have damn near super majority status in both state houses, and where both U.S. Senators and 3 of our 4 Congressmen are Democrats, yet in ’00 and ’04 Arkansas went for Bush. Like most southern states Arkansas has no problem voting against its own interests and emotion trumps common sense when electing a President. That being said, I had an interesting weekend and I’ve got story to tell.

Turn the page

Stepping away for a moment from the Democratic war waging this morning.

Just one mans opinion – cross-posted at Arkansas Politics

It’s pretty clear to me that since Scott McLellen’s confirmation that indeed the Iraqi war was a wag the dog affair and that lies, innuendoes and half-truths were the vehicle in which a scarred shitless Congress and Press were complicit in the run up to the Iraqi invasion, they got some splaining to do and some penance.

Now, I’ve seen a few of the "mainstream puppets" trying to justify what clearly happened. David Gregory’s self-congratulatory statement that the MSM did a good job eerily invoked Bush’s hecka of job Brownie moment. Pathetic. So, the splaining isn’t giving me a reason to forgive them now or when the up coming "mistakes were made" explanation rears its ugly head.

Just one man’s opinion

Maybe I’m dumber than Arkansas dirt.

Maybe Con-de-lezza’s State Department has lost its way or is way, way, way over it’s head.

Maybe common sense is a commodity that no longer exists. Whatever, I’m just not getting this debate about Iran and Israel.

Just one man’s observations and opinion...

Last night over dinner, our guest was our beloved 12 year-old grandchild, whom proudly we have instilled our core Democratic values.

I’m relating an article I read about ‘bus loads" of investor’s given the grand tour of those properties in larger metro areas that are facing foreclosure, in foreclosure or foreclosed. I went on that with a little Googling, I discovered that this practice has been going on for some time, and it appears ’08 will be a good shopping opportunity for the haves.

Sand Rant – Cross posted at Arkansas Politics

I’ve been chewing on this for some time, but when I heard tweety (Chris Matthews) today say that history shows us that "men of war...who ascend to power tend to become men of peace" like Eisenhower.  I was compelled...no.... driven to put my thoughts down on why John McCain may be the worst thing that could happen to our country.

turn the page

One man's opinion.

Cross posted at Arkansas Politics

There have been some very kind words for the Republican man from Hope this week. For example, today Michael Gerson from the WAPO wraps up his piece this way;

"The Huckabee Difference"

during our conversation, Huckabee's most compelling response concerned his background as a pastor. "There isn't a social pathology that I wouldn't be able to put a face to. I've talked with a pregnant 14-year-old who hasn't been able to tell her parents, with a 17-year-old high school student who believes he is gay and doesn't know how to break the news, with parents who have a son on life support after a motorcycle accident. . . . It makes me a different kind of public official, not as rigid, not blind to problems."

And that is not a bad thing --- in a Republican, in a candidate or in a president."

I am going to make this short – but I thought ya’ll would like to hear this. I travel a lot, more specifically I travel within an industry that is dominated by the Big R – machine. Here’s what I’m hearing; the economy stupid – these corporations and managers are scared shitless about the debt and what it may do to THEIR bottom line and they are speaking out loud that they can no longer support the R ticket or the R ticket as it stands today.

One man's opinion

I am forced to pull the CRAYONS out and talk to our morons on the right about healthcare and its costs and why SCHIP will eventually save us money.

To start, I am an employer and I have experienced double-digit increases in our groups health plan for the last five consecutive years. And these increases are tied into "whose insuring the uninsured"?

So, my two Senators, Blanche Lincoln, and Mark Pryor cast their votes against MoveOn yesterday. I hang my head in shame. They burn my money and their time, which I am paying for to debate and vote on what truly was an ad that spoke truth to power. Whether I agreed with it or not, it showed courage, and that I get to see little of these days.

First, I feel Mike Wallace's pain. We've got a Republican son, although he's not a sock puppet for the thugs...he's just a little confused and is slowly coming around - so Mike, there may be hope, but probably not. To Chris Wallace - you sir couldn't shine your old man's boots.

Ten years ago, right before NAFTA (North American Fair Trade Agreement) was passed, the complexion of my workforce comprised of 85% White, 13% Hispanic and 1% Black.

Today, my industry is 85% Hispanic and 15% White...the Black man has virtually disappeared. I cannot change the complexion of my industry, but I would sure like to help change the chumming of the waters when it comes to immigration and the necessary reforms.

When NAFTA passed it promised 120,000 new jobs, instead it has cost our country 2.3 million jobs and counting. It has also cost 10’s of 1000’s of small business closings and may be THE major contributing factor of our immigration problems.

Rarely in the last 6 years have I heard anything that has passed through George W. Bush’s lips that has rung with such truth; everybody has health care, they just need to go to the Emergency Room.

He is absolutely right.

Red, yellow, brown, black or white, if you are sick you can walk into an Emergency Room and get treatment, this is our President’s solution and explanation of HIS Universal Health Care Plan.

A few weeks ago I related a Saturday afternoon I shared with a sea or young Republicans titled: Rep Ladies...Fred's Toast. The Republican Ladies did not think much of Fred and the new wife, his pro-choice lobbying and having small children at his age. The diary was well received, so I thought I would share with you another conversation I've had with a Republican and Administrator at one of Atlanta's largest hospitals.

I am a high profile Democratic operative in my beloved state of Arkansas. I work and live squarely in the heart of the Republican stronghold of the state. I have watched with admiration the local Republican Party over the past 10 years woe the youth from the "better neighborhoods", which have now become the young Republican professionals. To my chagrin, our 34-year-old son was one until...yesterday.

No links, no video just one man’s opinion on the Clinton/Obama dust up.

With all due respect...Hillary is right! I negotiate contracts in a highly competitive business everyday...each party is there to serve their own needs and wants. It's a diplomatic process and any businessman will tell you that. I never, and I mean never walk into a negotiation without having an agenda. That agenda is adhered to so that the meeting doesn't digress to a screaming or dig your heels in meeting...which could have the potential of damaging that meeting and meetings in the future. The agenda is agreed upon before we meet - we hash out the issues before...we do our homework...we know what each is looking for and our talking points -  we have a general idea of how we are going to negotiate (give and take) to get what we want, and they the same. The meeting begins and both sides work on the issue set upon in the agenda. The last 15 minutes is "new business"...and that's where grievances, misconceptions or misunderstandings on issues not on the agenda are voiced. We then take down those new issues and schedule another sit down to hash those out.

Sand Rant - crossposted at Arkansaspolitics.com

Before I get started, I want to give my Senator, Mark Pryor a shout out for the guy that was the first to open the door and smell a rat at the DOJ.  I also want to thank Karl Rove and Harriet Miers, whose gratitude and fervent need to reward Tim Griffin for his good "caging" work brought them to the decision that Tim should get to go home and serve as the USA in the Eastern District of Arkansas. A decision they no doubt regret today.

Bound to happen, Bud Cummins is not happy with former Rove aide Sara Taylor's assertion that he was "lazy".

Former Arkansas federal prosecutor Bud Cummins demanded an apology from the Bush administration on Wednesday over a former White House aide's assertion he was fired last summer for being "lazy."

Well, dah, do these maroons up at the White House not know that the reason we've got Gonzo by the short hairs, is that the reputations of these USA's were being spat upon. This just adds fuel to the fire.

Who the hell is doing the spin for the Democrats?

This is what Boehner said concerning today's breakdown in the "Iraq" talks.

Meanwhile, GOP House leader John Boehner just blasted Dems for still wanting to include a "surrender date"

And how do we frame this?

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just said on CNN, the difference between Democrats and the President is stark: Dems want accountability, the President wants none. "He will not accept any accountability or responsibility," Pelosi said.