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June 30, 2006

McCain's Secret Plan to Fix Iraq

So apparently Senator McCain has a plan - a secret plan - to fix Iraq.

But he's not telling. Not until he's named chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

McCain said that when he rises to chairman of the Senate Armed services Committee he will try to move things along towards a better direction in Iraq. From the Financial Times:

"I think we will obviously have hearings, and we will try to analyze the problems that exist and the remedies are for it."

Seriously? If he has an idea, why doesn't he just speak up, be a leader, all those things our Senators are supposed to do. Instead he's sitting on his hands until he gets a better title. I'm sure our troops, and the American people, will understand.

I guess the Senator figures that it worked for Nixon...

Listen Up: Voting Rights

This week, the DNC's Podcast hosts Donna Brazile, Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute. Donna Brazile discusses the Republican assault on Americans' voting rights including the Republican controlled Congress stalling action on the Voting Rights Act, one of the most significant civil rights statutes ever enacted.

Listen here.

Student Loans 101 - GOP Gets a "F"

Today is:

The deadline for current and former college students to consolidate their federally guaranteed loans and lock in new fixed interest rates that, starting Saturday, will rise as high as 7 percent.

Under the mandated change, Stafford loans, the loans most commonly used by students, will no longer come with an adjustable rate, which means a farewell to the long era of low interest rates.

As college costs outpace family incomes and the availability of nonloan financial aid grows more slowly than tuition, more and more students have turned to loans to finance their educations.

So I thought it'd be a good time to compare the Syllabi of the Republicans and Democrats when it comes to helping America's students.

The Republican Syllabus:

• Do nothing as the cost tuition for 4 year colleges rises by an average of 40% (just since President Bush took office)
• Slash $12 billion from student aid programs, not for deficit reduction, but to finance additional tax cuts for special interests and the wealthy
• Leave trillions of dollars of debt for future generations to pay off

The Democrat Syllabus:

• Increase the maximum Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,800 this year, double the HOPE Scholarship tax credit from $1,500 per student to $3,000 per student, and make the HOPE tax credit refundable.
• Enhance funding for minority-serving institutions.
• Increase support for GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program)
• Forgive the student loans of highly qualified public service teachers who commit to five years in high-poverty schools and of excellent professionals in other public-service careers with personnel shortages.

Which course would you enroll in?

50-State Strategy: Texas has COURAGE

John Courage is running for Congress is the 21th Congressional District of Texas. I had the opportunity to meet him before I came to the DNC, while I was working in Texas and a few things were apparently evident: he is a favorite of his District's activists, he is working hard, he's got the right stuff and he's got momentum.

Today MyDD profiles him as their latest addition to the netroots list.

This week, John took the time to answer a few questions.

What made you decide to run for Congress?

I’m running to restore honesty and integrity to Congress and to go to Washington to make government work for the people.

What is it like for Dems in Texas right now?

The atmosphere and attitudes of Texas Democrats is really great right now. More and more ‘new’ Democrats are stepping up to take back Texas and take back our country. The Democratic establishment in Texas is getting reinvigorated by this wave of determined, energetic Democratic Activists!

What about your opponent? What do we need to know?

Consistently over nearly 20 years my opponent has voted:

• against supporting public education by not fully funding federally mandated educational programs like IDEA and NCLB
• against healthcare by voting to cut Medicare funding and promoting private health plans and supporting this disastrous Medicare Plan D program that is too complex and too expensive
• against our veterans by allowing medical facilities in his district to deteriorate, by raising their cost of services, by not being responsive to veterans groups that have asked for his help
• against the environment by supporting Big Oil and the coal mining industry with tax breaks and relief from meeting pollution standards that has allowed a dangerous increase in global warming, by not voting to really fund alternative energy development
• against protecting Social Security and earned retirement programs by voting to privatize Social Security and by voting to deregulate the protections for worker retirement programs

I could go on and on, suffice it to say he is on the opposite side of most of the people who live and work in the 21st Congressional District.

What are you hearing from people on the ground?

They are ready for a change. They are tired of the culture of corruption in Washington and the cost of corruption in Congress, the no bid contracts, the tax breaks for companies making huge profits, the earmarks, the lack of meaningful legislation on education, healthcare, the economy, the rising deficit, a war with no end in sight etc. etc. etc. They want a government that works! In a recent poll we conducted only 31% of the voters in my district would vote to reelect Smith if the election were held tomorrow. 69% would vote for a new representative who will serve the public interest, not the private and special interests. I am that representative.

What has the campaign been like so far?

We launched our field program on Memorial Day. We have hundreds of volunteers committed to walking calling and mailing. We are energizing our base and identifying committed Democratic voters and likely ones as well and we are planning on informing independent and disaffected Republican voters (of which there are many, with the numbers growing daily) about what I stand for as a person and what I will do in Congress on their behalf. We also are preparing our media campaign which will kickoff this summer and we will be using all forms of media, mail, newspapers, radio, television and the internet. We have a comprehensive media program going. We are also holding a series of Town Hall style meetings in every county in the district to communicate with voters on a personal basis.

Working in Texas was quite the surprise. I didn't expect to find a thriving community of committed activists deep in the heart of Texas, but I did. Just another reason why we need The 50-State Strategy, and and why it is going to work.

[UPDATE]: The Courage Campaign just let me know that they will be hosting events for The Democratic Reunion. RSVP for Austin or San Antonio!

TGIF Open Thread

Woo-hoo! It's Friday!

Checking the Decider:

Finally.

It seemed almost too much to hope for, but the Supreme Court finally called George W. Bush onto the carpet yesterday and asked him the obvious question: What part of "rule of law" do you not understand?

June 29, 2006

Not without a fight...

Republicans seem to have a new favorite tactic, called not lettinig things come up for a vote. They passed their ridiculous excuse for a resolution reguarding the The New York Times coverage of the already-known SWIFT program, but refused to let Rep. Frank's substitute even be considered.

House Dems didn't let it happen without a fight. Here are some highlights:

Leader Pelosi:

"Let's take this resolution for what it is: it is a campaign document...There's never been any oversight of the program. The fact is that because there has never been any oversight of the program, there isn't one person in this body, who will vote on this resolution, who can attest to this statement. They're asking us to vote on something that we absolutely cannot attest to. Not any one of you can attest to this as a fact."

Rep. Maloney (D-NY):

"The Republican party has become masters of cut and run, cutting from the issues so that they can run for re-election in November. This resolution is a diversion. If it was really about condemning leaks of classified information, it would also mention Valerie Plame, Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby. As the Member of Congress representing the district that suffered the greatest loss of life on 9/11, I believe that combating terrorism is a serious bipartisan issue, not a one-sided, last-minute, take it or leave it, Republican-only, political campaign stunt."

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY):

"They've called the disclosure of the swift anti-terrorist program a disgrace, they've accused a newspaper that first wrote it, the the New York Times, of forcing its "arrogant elitist left-wing agenda" on the rest of the country. If all of this is true, I have no choice but to conclude that our President, President Bush himself, is a disgraceful, arrogant left-wing elitist, because it was Mr. Bush who leaked the story."

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):

"Let's be honest. We are here today because there hasn't been enough red meat thrown at the Republican base before the Fourth of July recess. That's why we are here. So just in the nick of time we have H.Res. 895."

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA):

"Others have said yes, it's true that the terrorists learned from Bush Administration statements that we were tracking their financial activities. But apparently they didn't know that that involved banks. Did they think we were going through their pockets? I mean, how can you acknowledge that people knew that they were being tracked financially but no, it didn't involve bank records."

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

"Maybe it's the devil who makes them do this. We have flag burning, proposal for constitutional amendments, we have gay marriage, proposals for constitutional amendment, yet, when it comes to the basic freedom and liberty of this country, the press, we are presented with a resolution that condemns them, that's all it does, it doesn't sanction, it condemns them, it's our opportunity to vent and say little things about The New York Times."

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI):

"Well, there may be some motive that is political about the selective crying out about information. The swift story bears no resemblence to security breaches, disclosure of troop locations or anything that would compromise the security of individuals."

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI):

"They tell us that they're protecting our civil liberties while they're tapping our phones and spying in our libraries and looking into our bank accounts. They tell us to trust us on everything. They tell us to trust us on -- trust them on everything because they're protecting their civil liberties. Well, I don't think I can trust this administration to protect my civil liberties and those of the people that I serve."

Abandoning Ship

Snark from Jesse Lee:

About 20 minutes ago the liberal House Clerk reported on the liberal House floor that the liberal President Bush's Justice Department has subpoenaed Bob Ney's district director.

And now the liberal media is hurling false liberal attacks by reporting these liberal facts. It also turns out that Ney's staffers are a bunch of cowardly liberals...

Three Top Ney Aides Departing; District Aide Subpoenaed
[Roll Call]

The top three aides for Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) are leaving, or already have left, the Ohio Republican's office, the latest sign that Ney's legal and ethical troubles stemming from the Jack Abramoff scandal are growing worse with each passing day.

Will Heaton, Ney's chief of staff, and Brian Walsh, the communications director, are planning to leave Ney's staff soon, according to sources close to the office. Walsh will accept a job as communications director for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), while Heaton's destination is unknown. Heaton recently was married and was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Chris Otillio, Ney's legislative director, left the office last Friday, the sources said.

In addition, Matt Parker, district director in Ney's office in St. Clairsville, Ohio, was subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury conducting the Abramoff probe. Additional subpoenas of Ney's staffers are expected soon, said a source familiar with situation.

Walsh confirmed his departure from Ney's office, although he declined to comment on Heaton or Otillio. "This was not a decision I took lightly," said Walsh, who has found himself under fire for the past 17 months as Ney's spokesman. "I am looking forward to this new opportunity to advance Sen. Cornyn's agenda." Walsh will start in Cornyn's office in two weeks.

Walsh thanked Ney "for the chance to work for him, which was great," and said Katie Harbath, his deputy, will be taking over for his position.

It was fun. But don't worry, there are other corruptions in the sea...

Walsh, who has found himself in a media firestorm since the Abramoff-Ney connection was first exposed by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) 17 months ago, earned solid grades over his handling of the scandal.

"Picking up Brian Walsh is a great move for Senate Republicans. He's battle-tested ready and will be an asset to Senator Cornyn, who is rapidly becoming a rising star," said a top House GOP leadership aide.

I wonder if Bob Ney can surpass Katherine Harris with the number of staffers to walk out?

More reasons we love Zack Space!

Bush Smacked Down by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled today that the Bush Administration's treatment of prisoners and handling of military courts at Guantanamo Bay is illegal. The ruling settled for good a matter that had dogged the Bush Administration for months.

From the Washington Post:

In a 5-3 decision, the court said the trials were not authorized by any act of Congress and that their structure and procedures violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the four Geneva Conventions signed in 1949.

...The ruling, which overturned a federal appeals court decision in which Roberts had participated, represented a defeat for President Bush, who had ordered trials before special military tribunals for detainees at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

Very interesting.

UPDATE: "The Supreme Court sent a clear message today to the Bush Administration that it is not above the law, period. This is an Administration that has consistently and wantonly defied the Constitution, and has claimed the ability to put itself above the law, whether in leaking the name of a covert CIA agent for political purposes or undertaking illegal spying on American citizens and then lying about it.

"With their repeated attempts to act above the law, the Bush Administration makes the Nixon gang look like a bunch of amateurs. This stunning rebuke to the Bush Administration is a reminder that no one, not even the President, is above the law."

-- DNC Communications Director Karen Finney

www.VoteFromAbroad.org Now in Spanish!

Americans living overseas can now use www.VoteFromAbroad.org to register to vote and request absentee ballots.

The Spanish version was launched last week so that 1.1 million Americans living in Mexico, and the hundreds of thousands living in other Spanish speaking countries can exercise their right to vote.

The Democratic Reunion: Our Next Big Step

Mark your calendars: July 29th we all take a huge leap forward.

Last year we took the first step. On November 15th we held The National Organizing Kick-off. Across the country Democrats gathered together and starting putting the pieces together to organize in every state, district and precinct.

Then in April we held The Neighbor-to-Neighbor National Organizing Day. It was an unprecedented effort. Six months before an election, holding a 50-State Canvass, and together we talked to over a million voters.

July 29th is going to be bigger and better. July 29th Democrats across the country will once again gather together for The Democratic Reunion.

Governor Dean described The Democratic Reunion in an e-mail he sent today:

The Democratic Reunion will be a series of events across the country, in every single state, that will bring people back into the political process and remind everyone who wants change that we're all in this fight together for the last 100 days.

Your local Democratic Reunion can be a social event like a picnic, a voter contact event like a canvass, or a campaign event with local candidates. The only requirement is that you come together with your neighbors on July 29th and kick off 100 days of work to build your local network and win this November.

It's that simple. We get together and make a commitment to ourselves, to each other and to our Party. With 100 Days left until the election, we will each contact 100 voters. We will take 100 actions to move our country forward. That's what the 50-State Strategy looks like in action.

You can host an event yourself, or you can hook into one already being planned by your state party.

You can invite your friends and family, your neighbors or your co-workers. You can tailor it to sync into your local candidates campaign plan or you can strike out on your own and be the representative for change in your community.

It's up to you.

We've done some of the work to get you started. We have a resource center available and we will be updating and adding to it as we get closer to July 29th.

But the real work is yet to be done and the power to do it lies in precincts across the nation, where ordinary Americans like you and me take on the extraordinary task of building up our Party, leveraging our power to win in November and changing the direction of our country.

Find an Event | Host an Event | Resource Center

Voting Rights Act: Bi-Lingual Ballots Upheld

Although the GOP continues to block the Voting Rights Act from being reauthorized, they did allow an amendment that would eliminate funding for language provisions to be considered. It failed:

The House of Representatives agreed to affirm the right of voters in areas with large populations of non-English-speaking citizens to cast ballots in their native language.

The 254-167 roll call Wednesday in support of bilingual balloting came just a week after Republican divisions over the issue contributed to the postponement of a House vote to renew the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Leader Pelosi on the Amendment:

Any diminishing of language assistance is a diminishment of our American democracy. The right to vote must never, ever be compromised. Every vote counts – every vote must be counted.

Thursday Morning Open Thread

What I'm Reading:

• Redistricting
• Harry Reid Gives 'Em Hell
• Middle East Conflict Intensifies

June 28, 2006

Wednesday Night Open Thread

Why do I feel like there is never enough time to read through all the things I want to read?

This is an open thread...

GOP Halts Extension of Historic Voting Rights Act

Greg Moore, Director of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute penned this update on the GOP efforts to place the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

In an unexpected development late last week, House Republicans balked at extending the historic Voting Rights Act because of disagreements over provisions of the law that require approval of voting changes in certain states and that mandate language assistance in the form of bilingual ballots. Republicans have pushed the Voting Rights Act renewal to the Back of the Bus while at the same time elevating a draconian measure that would require a restrictive national Photo ID bill (HR 4484) that will strip away the voting rights of millions of Americans this fall.

Widely viewed as one of the nation's most important and most successful civil rights laws, certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act are due to expire next year. Only last month, reauthorization of the legislation received wide bipartisan support, but last week in a meeting of Congressional Republicans, GOP leaders agreed to pull the bill from the floor.

Reauthorization opponents want to end preclearance, even though racial and ethnic minority voters still encounter major obstacles to voting in preclearance states. According to recent reports by RenewtheVRA.org , a coalition of civil rights and civil liberties organizations supporting extension of the landmark law , since the VRA was last renewed in 1982, the Department of Justice has issued 91 objections to voting changes in Georgia, 107 objections to changes in Texas, and 120 objections to changes in Mississippi. And only recently, a federal court barred Georgia from implementing its Photo ID law passed in 2005, which imposes stringent new requirements that undermine voting protections for many Georgia voters. Other VRA reauthorization opponents say that instead of requiring bilingual ballots in voting districts where at least 5 percent of the population are non-English speakers, all voters should simply be required to learn and speak English.

Congressman Arthur Davis (D-Ala.), who represents the landmark Selma and Birmingham districts, said of the latest Republican shenanigans:

"Apparently, the leadership of the Republican Party cannot bring its own rank-and-file members into line to support the Voting Rights Act...That ought to be a significant embarrassment as they fan around the country trying to skim off a few black votes in the next four months."

As the 109th Congress convened last year, Republican leaders vowed that they would only bring up to the floor bills that were approved by the "Majority of the (Republican) majority", a move that ensured that the far right-wing forces would control the legislative agenda. It's clear that the "majority of the Majority" has taken control of the legislative process in Congress when it comes to voting rights and are highjacking this landmark civil rights legislation. The Democratic National Committee will continue to work through our Voting Rights Institute, the House Democratic Leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus and the civil rights leadership to reverse this far right, anti-civil rights cabal that has taken control of the Republican legislative process.

Democrats remain committed to passage of the Voting Rights Act in this congress. As Americans, we believe that both parties should work together to make it easier, not harder, for all Americans to register to vote, cast their vote and have that vote counted. If the Republican leadership fails to pass this landmark legislation intact, we will redouble our efforts to elect a Democratic Majority who will pass a strong Voting Rights Act bill when the new Congress convenes in January, 2007.

GOP "Values" Agenda Fails Out of the Gate

Maybe they wouldn't be such big losers if they tried to pass legislation that would, you know, make the country better? Instead they try and make it worse by taking away our rights, scape-goating entire groups of people, and focusing on issues that divide Americans instead of the issues that bring us together.

As they read the tea leaves that say Americans want a change, Americans want real leadership, Americans want actual governing to happen in the Capital instead of pork-barrel give aways and political pandering, they try this kind of thing, but they fail:

House Republicans failed Wednesday to advance a bill protecting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Only a day earlier, the GOP had placed the measure on its "American Values Agenda" in hopes of bolster the party's prospects in the fall election.

But Republicans could not muster a simple majority on the issue in a committee where they outnumber Democrats by six.

Contrast their values with ours and you see that Democrats continue to fight for those who need it the most. For instance, fighting for an increase in the minimum wage. Yesterday Governor Dean said:

"This is a moral nation, so the first thing we must do is convince people that poverty is a moral problem," Dean told the crowd. "It is a moral principle to raise the minimum wage. It is nothing but economist mumbo jumbo to say raising it will hurt jobs."

and Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid, vowed to:

...block a congressional pay hike unless some of the lowest-paid hourly workers get their first raise in nearly a decade.

"Congress is going to have earn its raise by putting American workers first: A raise for workers before a raise for Congress,"

That is what real governing looks like.

50-State Strategy: Washington - Meet Darcy Burner

I talked with Darcy Burner early this morning. Darcy is running for Congress in Washington's 8th Congressional District. She called me before the sun rose in her part of the country, so I knew right off the bat that she is running to win. We immediately started chatting about the blogosphere and the netroots, as she has been chosen as one of a handful of netroots candidates this cycle. Darcy had nothing but praise for the bloggers and blogosphere saying:

I am very very fortunate to have such an active and on top of things local blogosphere that are working to do what they can to help us win. We might just have the best local netroots community in the country. There are a huge number of people doing blogging on a regular basis. The quality of information is exceptional. They interact with each other so it is a community, and they have built all of it themselves. It's pretty amazing.

I didn’t know much about Darcy before we started chatting. I knew three things: that she used to work for Microsoft, that she was a new Mom and that she was running for Congress. So I asked her what made her decide to run.

Well after my son was born, I did what a lot of new parents do; I took a step back and said how do I give this helpless little creature the best possible world? I asked the normal questions everyone asks, ‘What do I feed him?’, ‘What school should he go to’? ‘Does he need a nap?’. I was responsible for giving him a better life and the more I looked at it there was no way to give him the kind of life I wanted him to have by just my individual decisions.

Our country was headed so much in the wrong direction that I decided we had to chance the direction of the country. So then the question becomes, ‘How do we change the direction of the country?’ and I came to the conclusion that I had to give 100 percent of myself to make it happen. I knew we had to take back the House and that we needed 15 seats to do it and I believe it is going to take Washington State to make that happen. This is a critical junction and something I can do to make a difference.

It should be noted that by this time in the conversation she’s won me over. Now of course, I’m biased towards her already – she’s a young female Democrat running for office. (What’s not to admire?!?) I asked her what is was like being a first-time candidate and how she started off her campaign.

This is the 1st time I've run for office. I've done local things of course, I was the President of my local Homeowners Association and I was involved in community organizations. I ran the women’s organization at Microsoft, but this is the first time I’ve ran for political office I started laying the groundwork after the 2004 elections. I had left Microsoft in Fall of 2004 knowing I was going to do whatever I could to change the direction of this country.

In January of 2005 I started talking to people about the feasibility of running for office. Six months later in June of 2005 I filed to run for Congress and I have been campaigning full time ever since.
I have been fortunate to have been given terrific advice at every state of the game. Early on a former Seattle Council Woman, Sue Donaldson, told me that the learning curve for this was huge, that I needed to hire a professional who knows what they are doing very early. I did that and it was a profoundly good piece of advice. A year later we have assembled a terrific team. I think we have the best campaign team in the entire country, but I may be biased.

Most of the interviews I’ve done with candidates have been with candidates running in places that most would consider “red” states or districts. I didn’t think of Washington that way, maybe because they birth the progressive meeting haven Starbucks, who knows. But I wanted to know more about the district she wanted to represent and the people, specifically the Democrats, who live there.

The 8th is a District that went for Clinton, Gore and Kerry. At this point more than half the state legislators are Democrats. It's a district that is particularly willing to elect Dems. For a longtime there a Republican incumbent in office, but she retired before 2004. Last time around the race was pretty close.

The Democrats locally are very engaged in doing what they can to try and take back the Congress this year. That means mostly two things - one of those things means electing me. The other is helping make sure Maria Cantwell returns to the Senate. There is also increasing interest in 2 other districts in Washington State, both Republican incumbents are being challenged by Democrats, but those are tougher Districts, but if we have a big enough wave it is entirely possible we will send more than one Democrat to the House from Washington State.

I asked Darcy to share 3 things that we wouldn’t know from reading her lit pieces or her website. You may not know that:

She is a complete “book-o-holic”:

My husband laughs at me and thinks I should seek treatment. In every house we have lived in we built in floor-to-ceiling bookcases and filled them up. I love reading but don't have time to do it these days.

She knows how to rock:

I am an amateur musician. I play piano, guitar, bass, and the drums. I don't have time for that these days either. When my husband and I were first dating we played together in a rock band. I'm not saying it was a great rock band, but it was fun.

She also knows how to find a bargain online:

In my campaign office we have tons of phone lines coming into the office. Most campaigns can’t afford fancy and expensive phone system, so they make due with what they can find. I knew we should install PBX system, so I went to eBay and got a system for a few hundred dollars. After the end of last quarter I installed it myself. I'm a fan of eBay for campaign purchases. We purchased our really nice copier off eBay for a fraction of the price. It's the geek approach to life.

Darcy Burner is turning heads and picking up major steam. A week ago EMILY'S List endorsed her. Her Rubberstamp Republican opponent has been lagging behind so badly he needed President Bush to make an emergency visit to help him fundraise before the end of the quarter. Darcy Burner is the real deal, she's on her way to Congress and Washington is lucky to have her.

50-State Strategy: Kansas - Hope in the Heartland

Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates sent us this update.

Last week, hundreds of Democrats from across Kansas filed to join Governor Kathleen Sebelius on the ballot for 2006. Democrats have stepped forward to give Kansans real choices for offices at every level, from county commission to Congress. We've got Democrats running in 100 races for the Kansas House - the first time we've reached that threshold in a decade!

In 2004, Kansas Democrats contested 39 Republican-held legislative seats. This year, Democratic candidates are running for 58 seats currently held by Republicans and our Democratic incumbents will be helping new candidates, working with them to craft winning campaigns so they can join them in the Statehouse.

In addition, the Kansas Democratic Party is growing, bringing Kansans together who will change the direction of our state. Through the leadership of Governor Sebelius and other Democrats like state legislative leaders Sen. Anthony Hensley and Rep. Dennis McKinney, nine of our Democratic candidates were Republicans at this time last year.

New Democratic leaders include Lieutenant Governor candidate Mark Parkinson, a former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party and Republican state legislator, and District Attorney Paul Morrison, our candidate for Attorney General against the radical Phill Kline.

Local newspapers have picked up on the trend, and this week The Guardian looks at what is happening:

One of the key reasons Kansas Democrats are in fighting mood is their governor, Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius's vote represents an island of Democratic blue in a sea of Republican red on the political map, and she has impressed by reaching the middle-ground voters in a startlingly successful first term. Shunning the hot-button social issues, she has focused on education, jobs and health. This has earned her approval ratings touching 68 per cent in a state that was overwhelmingly pro-Bush in 2004.

Sebelius has cracked the political holy grail: persuading heartland Republicans to vote Democrat. 'Her style works here, and then bringing over Parkinson to the Democrats has been the coup of all coups,' said Professor Bob Beatty, a political scientist at Washburn University near Topeka.

As the Democrats enjoy a resurgence, the Republicans are in disarray. Parkinson's defection encouraged other moderates to abandon a party controlled by right-wing religious zealots.

These former Republicans are joining the Democratic Party because they recognize that Governor Sebelius and Kansas Democrats are committed to finding commonsense solutions to the issues faced by all Kansans.

As I told the Guardian, Governor Sebelius and Democrats are bringing Kansans together to move our state forward while the Kansas Republican Party is dividing Kansans with the same old partisan bickering. Kansans know our candidates are dedicated to putting progress ahead of partisanship, and the best interests of the people of Kansas ahead of anything else.

Caregivers for the Disabled Get Jacked

The Washington Post features a story today on TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families that is basically the new welfare. The Bush Administration will be putting out explicit guidelines about what does and does not count as work for welfare recipients. They are trying to eliminate what they believe is abuse of the system.

There was one eliminated category of work that caught my eye. Thanks to these new guidelines, taking care of a disabled relative no longer counts as work.

The Government Accountability Office said last year that states defined work in too many ways. For instance, of 10 states reviewed, five said caring for a disabled relative would meet work-participation requirements. Six states counted substance-abuse treatment as work.

I've taken care of a disabled relative. It was time consuming and a lot of work. I cared for him part time after high school. That was many years ago. Today, that disabled relative has a full time caregiver. He cannot be left alone for more than a couple hours at a time. I don't think this is uncommon.

It is absolutely egregious that the Bush Administration would place families who receive TANF in a situation where they could be forced to leave a disabled person without a caregiver. That's dangerous. My disabled relative often says he feels like a second class citizen because of his challenges. This TANF change by the Bush Administration will only worsen that feeling.

Supreme Court Rules on Texas Redistricting

News is just being released about this long-awaited opinion:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld most of the Texas congressional map engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay but threw out part, saying some of the new boundaries failed to protect minority voting rights.

The fractured decision was a small victory for Democratic and minority groups who accused Republicans of an unconstitutional power grab in drawing boundaries that booted four Democratic incumbents out of office.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority, said Hispanics do not have a chance to elect a candidate of their choosing under the plan.

There was also a question of timing of redistricting and the legality of it being done more often than every 10 years and for political purposes. The Court ruled that was acceptable:

On a different issue, the court ruled that state legislators may draw new maps as often as they like - not just once a decade as Texas Democrats claimed. That means Democratic and Republican state lawmakers can push through new maps anytime there is a power shift at a state capital.

The Constitution says states must adjust their congressional district lines every 10 years to account for population shifts. In Texas the boundaries were redrawn twice after the 2000 census, first by a court, then by state lawmakers in a second round promoted by DeLay after Republicans took control.

That was acceptable, justices said.

USA Today has this bit:

"We reject the statewide challenge to Texas redistricting as an unconstitutional political gerrymander," Kennedy wrote.

However, he said the state's redrawing of District 23 violated the Voting Rights Act.

Wednesday Open Thread

The New York Times has a fantastic editorial today on Patriotism and the Press. The whole thing is worth a read, but here is an excerpt:

Ever since Sept. 11, the Bush administration has taken the necessity of heightened vigilance against terrorism and turned it into a rationale for an extraordinarily powerful executive branch, exempt from the normal checks and balances of our system of government. It has created powerful new tools of surveillance and refused, almost as a matter of principle, to use normal procedures that would acknowledge that either Congress or the courts have an oversight role.

The Swift program, like the wiretapping program, has been under way for years with no restrictions except those that the executive branch chooses to impose on itself — or, in the case of Swift, that the banks themselves are able to demand. This seems to us very much the sort of thing the other branches of government, and the public, should be nervously aware of. We would have been very happy if Congressman Peter King, the Long Island Republican who has been so vocal in citing the Espionage Act, had been as aggressive in encouraging his colleagues to do the oversight job they were elected to do.

The United States will soon be marking the fifth anniversary of the war on terror. The country is in this for the long haul, and the fight has to be coupled with a commitment to individual liberties that define America's side in the battle. A half-century ago, the country endured a long period of amorphous, global vigilance against an enemy who was suspected of boring from within, and history suggests that under those conditions, it is easy to err on the side of security and secrecy. The free press has a central place in the Constitution because it can provide information the public needs to make things right again. Even if it runs the risk of being labeled unpatriotic in the process.

June 27, 2006

Bush and Co. Attack NYT for "Leaking" Well-Known Program

Yesterday the President, Vice President and various GOP Administration officials slammed The New York Times for reporting on the US monitoring of SWIFT transactions.

They attacked the paper for "leaking" the details of the program. But apparently that program has already been reported on and it's existance isn't exactly news:

Reports on US monitoring of SWIFT transactions have been out there for some time. The information was fairly well known by terrorism financing experts back in 2002. The UN Al Qaeda and Taliban Monitoring Group , on which I served as the terrorism financing expert, learned of the practice during the course of our monitoring inquiries. The information was incorporated in our report to the UN Security Council in December 2002. That report is still available on the UN Website. Paragraph 31 of the report states:

“The settlement of international transactions is usually handled through correspondent banking relationships or large-value message and payment systems, such as the SWIFT, Fedwire or CHIPS systems in the United States of America. Such international clearance centres are critical to processing international banking transactions and are rich with payment information. The United States has begun to apply new monitoring techniques to spot and verify suspicious transactions. The Group recommends the adoption of similar mechanisms by other countries.”

So just a memo to the President and his pals: It's not a leak if people already know about it. And that goes double if it's the UN that has already told people.

Color me NOT Surprised...

Yesterday in the Dirksen Building, before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, intelligence assessments on postwar Iraq were discussed before Congress for the first time. The testimony before Senate Democrats once again illustrates the way in which the Administration ignored the facts and recklessly pursued their own agenda.

Via WaPo:

Days after the United States invaded Iraq, senior U.S. officials were warned that Iraqi Sunnis would strongly resist American troops' occupation efforts, according to testimony given yesterday before Senate Democrats.

Wayne White, a former deputy director in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, told senators that when British soldiers were forced to repeatedly take the port city of Umm Qasr from Iraqi guerrillas, "I knew then and there that we would have a serious problem on our hands."

(snip)

Witnesses who came before the senators included Paul R. Pillar, a longtime CIA analyst and a former national intelligence officer covering Iraq, and Lawrence B. Wilkerson, chief of staff to then-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

White and Pillar both discussed the lack of Middle East experience by White House officials, including President Bush and Vice President Cheney, who pushed for the Iraq invasion. White said that "lack was a major impediment to sound policymaking if one already does not have an open mind and is driven by a particular agenda."

Pillar said "little if any" of the warnings such as White's, on the problems that would be faced in post-Hussein Iraq, "influenced the decision-making on going to war."

Assessments by the intelligence community, Pillar said, showed that the "political culture" of Iraq "would not provide fertile ground for democracy," and analysts foresaw "a significant chance that the sectarian and ethnic groups would engage in violent conflict unless an occupying power prevented it."

They also predicted that the occupying forces would become targets and that "war and occupation would boost political Islam, increase sympathy for terrorist objectives and make Iraq a magnet for extremists from elsewhere in the Middle East," Pillar said.

Republican Senators were invited to attend the hearing but declined.

What a shocker.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Governor Dean is on deck to throw out the first pitch at tonight's Baltimore Orioles game. They are playing the Philadelphia Phillies at Camden Yards. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Rep. Waxman Issues F.D.A. Report

In case you missed it, the New York Times has an article today about Rep. Henry Waxman's (D-CA) report on the enormous decline in enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.).

A 15-month inquiry by a top House Democrat has found that enforcement of the nation's food and drug laws declined sharply during the first five years of the Bush administration.

For instance, the investigation found, the number of warning letters that the Food and Drug Administration issued to drug companies, medical device makers and others dropped 54 percent, to 535 in 2005 from 1,154 in 2000.

The seizure of mislabeled, defective or dangerous products dipped 44 percent, according to the inquiry, pursued by Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, the senior Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee.

The research found no evidence that such declines could be attributed to increased compliance with regulations. Investigators at the F.D.A. continued to uncover about the same number of problems at drug and device companies as before, Mr. Waxman's inquiry found, but top officials of the agency increasingly overruled the investigators' enforcement recommendations.

Many of you know that Rep. Waxman frequently plays the role of government watchdog. Just last year he released a report on the state of "sex ed" in public schools, arguing that misleading and incorrect information was being taught in abstinence-only classes.

This report is equally troubling. Kudos to Rep. Waxman for shedding light on this serious problem.

Utah Primary Day: Go Vote!

Utah voters head to the polls today for primary elections.

To find out where to vote contact your local board of elections office.

Tuesday Morning Open Thread

What's up?

(The NCAA is considering expanding the post season college basketball tournament to 128 teams, up from the current 65 teams.)

June 26, 2006

Monday "Night" Open Thread

We've been rained out. Luckily the Internet Team can work from anywhere!

This is an open thread.

Idaho is Not for Sale

Over the weekend, the Idaho Democratic Party held their convention in Idaho Falls, ID. Larry Grant, a candidate for the U.S. House in Idaho's first district, gave a speech by the Snake River.

Idaho-Democrats.org has the official word on the convention, but my favorite take on the convention comes from a Red State Rebel blog: Idaho is ready to rumble!

If you could boil it down to five words, it'd be: Idaho is not for sale. That's Jerry Brady's slogan, but we'll all run with it. From preserving access to public lands to keeping our air and water clean to building strong local economies that lift every boat (not just the yachts), Democrats are standing up for working Idahoans. We're fired up, we're not distracted by wedge issues, and we're one helll of a lot more unified than the GOP seemed to be following their contentious convention last week.

Now, Idaho Falls is a Republican stronghold, but even here, the tide may be turning. Check out d2's entry at 43rd State Blues about a conversation with the clerk at a local motel, who said:

"I think you're gonna have a good election this year. My mom's always voted Republican, and she's had enough. The last straw was when she found out that everything at the Republican convention last week seemed to focus on how to keep non-Republicans from voting. I mean, that's just wrong. Everyone's supposed to vote."

The 50-state strategy is surprising some folks. The Idaho State Party put out a press release thanking the National Party for paying attention to Idaho this year. We're all in this together, Idaho. That's what the 50-state strategy is all about...

Happy early Birthday to my favorite Idaho man (you know who you are).

Alabama's Salt of the Earth

In seven days of intensive research performed by the Democrats.org team, we have determined Lucy Baxley is neither a farmer, nor a thief.

The Democratic candidate for Governor in the state of Alabama, Baxley appears to have a keen interest in helping rural and poor Alabamians seek a better standard of living.

She's experienced in state government, having served as the state's first female Lieutenant Governor. That must have been some glass ceiling to break through.

Other "We Love Lucy" facts: she's a former single parent, and businesswoman. She grew up in rural southeast Alabama, and has an abiding faith in God.

When I signed up for her email updates, I got a nice note from her via email that said:

Thanks again for letting me know you want to be part of my campaign. It truly means so much to me.

She's a total sweetheart.

Voting Rights Act, Southern Style

Alabama's Huntsville Times features a story today about the Voting Rights Act. The author makes the point that the South became a major focus of the VRA because discrimination in the South was so widespread.

Of course the bill focuses on the South. That's where discrimination was most rampant. And in some places still is, in more subtle forms. Karen Narasaki of the Asian American Justice Center writes of the 2004 election in Bayou La Batre where a Vietnamese American ran for office and the only challenges that were filed were against voters with Asian names.

USA Today wrote an article back in February about this same runoff election where outside observers had to be sent in from the Justice Department.

After being urged by several candidates to vote in the municipal election, many of the Southeast Asian-Americans in the town of about 3,000 had their ballots challenged. Nearly 50 of them were forced to fill out paper ballots and have another registered voter vouch for them.

Despite these hurdles, Phuong Tan Huynh - the first Asian-American to run for City Council there - defeated Jackie Ladnier in the October runoff, but only after the Justice Department intervened.

Tuesday, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a non-partisan group, released a 187-page report that argues the need for reauthorizing the sections of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire next year. One of them empowered the Justice Department to send observers to monitor Bayou La Batre's runoff election.

Last week the renewal of the Voting Rights Act was put on hold when some Republican members balked at the VRA provisions which required alternate language ballots and special procedures for some Southern states. Their argument was that these protections were no longer needed. I beg to differ.

Abramoff Used Non-Profits to Funnel Money

Sunday's Washington Post details Jack Abramoff's clandestine shuffling of money through willing tax-exempt organizations. Grover Norquist and his group, Americans for Tax Reform, get called out, as do Ralph Reed, former Christian Coalition executive director, and Amy Moritz Ridenour, president of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

"Call Ralph re Grover doing pass through," Abramoff wrote in a stark e-mail reminder to himself in 1999, a year in which Norquist moved more than $1 million in Abramoff client money to Reed and Christian anti-gambling groups. Reed was working to defeat lotteries and casinos that would have competed with Abramoff's tribal and Internet gambling clients.

The whole article is worth a read.

Monday Morning Open Thread

Watch out for that rain!

On the Hill

An article by the Associated Press details an extensive Republican pay-to-play scheme whereby convicted former GOP super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff had a former client give a hundred thousand dollars to one of Abramoff's Republican cronies to secure for them a meeting with President Bush.

The Washington Post notes that the top U.S. commander in Iraq presented a plan to reduce American troops in Iraq.

Senate Democrats reacted angrily yesterday to a report that the U.S. commander in Iraq had privately presented a plan for significant troop reductions in the same week they came under attack by Republicans for trying to set a timetable for withdrawal.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said that the plan attributed to Gen. George W. Casey resembles the thinking of many Democrats who voted for a nonbinding resolution to begin a troop drawdown in December. That resolution was defeated Thursday on a largely party-line vote in the Senate.

It's unfortunate that Republican politics have prevailed over reason.

June 25, 2006

Sunday Night Open Thread

Governor Dean on the Radio

The weekend is almost over...enjoy it while it lasts....

June 23, 2006

Set Your TiVo!

Governor Dean will field sports-related questions on ESPN2's "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith" tonight at 11:00 PM.

This is an open thread...

Twisted GOP Priorities

Today The New York Times calls out the GOP for their ridiculousness with back to back editorials:

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed an estate-tax cut that is a repeal in everything but name. The so-called compromise would exempt more than 99.5 percent of estates from tax, slash the tax rates on the rest and cost at least $760 billion during its first full decade. Of that, $600 billion is the amount the government would have to borrow to make up for lost revenue from the cuts, which would benefit the heirs of America's wealthiest families, like the Marses of Mars bar and the Waltons of Wal-Mart Stores. The remaining $160 billion is the interest on that borrowing, which would be paid by all Americans.

No lawmaker who voted for the compromise gets any points for moderation. Like the earlier full repeal bill, this one is unfair and grounded in intellectual dishonesty. The goal is not to pass good legislation, but to get this top priority for big-shot constituents nailed into law before the November elections produce a legislature that's more responsible on fiscal matters.

In addition to giving Paris Hilton the leg up she desperately needed, House leaders tacked on a provision that would benefit timber companies.

So what has timber got to do with Paris Hilton and her pals? Think special interest give away in order to convince the Senate to pass the bill, since they rejected it, recognizing it's this charade for for what it is.

All this effort for a bill that would put $760 billion in new debt on the backs of Americans in the name of making a handful of extremely rich people even richer. Congressional leaders may know how to count votes, but otherwise their math is pathetic.

Senate Republicans don't fare any better in the other piece "A Look At Republican Priorities: Afflicting the Afflicted":

At the same time that Republicans are fighting to exempt the richest estates from taxes, they are blocking a raise for the nation's poorest workers.

Senate Democrats tried unsuccessfully this week to raise the federal minimum wage, which stands at just $5.15 an hour. It has not been increased in nearly a decade, and at its current stingy level, the rate flies in the face of Americans' belief that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded. A minimum-wage worker earns just $10,700 a year, nearly $6,000 below the poverty line for a family of three.

(snip)

The restaurant industry and other low-wage employers that make heavy campaign contributions have thrown their weight around with great success. A bill sponsored by Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, to increase the minimum wage by $2.10 over two years drew the support this week of 52 senators, including eight Republicans, but Republican leaders threw up procedural barriers.

But the most outragous aspect of this, with the exception to the fact that the poverty line for a family of three is $16,600:

In the House, Republican leaders are not letting a minimum-wage increase come to a vote, apparently because it would pass.

Add refusing to let the Voting Rights Act reauthorization come to a vote and you have a trifecta of twisted priorities.

How Not to Buy Online Ad Space

From the Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia, Ohio...

Zack Space is the Democrat running against Ney in Ohio's 18th district (my home district). Pretty sure he's never been to Scotland with Jack Abramoff.

50-State Strategy: California - Talking with Jerry McNerney

This week I sat down to chat with Jerry McNerney, the Democratic nominee for Congress from California's 11th District.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then went to a Catholic military boarding school, and later earned a PhD in mathematics in college. From there I started working in the wind and renewable energy field. I worked in that field for 25 years.

How did you get the into wind energy field?

Well actually, I got into it by going to an interview in Port Arthur, Texas for an oil company, but when I got off the airplane you could feel the oil in the air. It seemed to me that they were exploiting the earth for profit, and so I headed back home. When I got home I got a call about working in labs to develop wind energy and that sounded liked a perfect fit.

What made you decide to run for Congress?

After September 11, 2001 my son joined the Air Force to defend our country. He is now a commissioned officer, and in 2004 he called me and said there was no one running in the Democratic primary in 11th Congressional District, and said 'I want you to do your duty like I did and run for Congress'. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to run for Congress because I felt a duty to my son and a duty to my country.

What do you see happening in the CA-11th?

I have a positive vision for the District; I want to create thousands of jobs by transforming our District into the "Silicon Valley" of renewable energy - by fostering bio-fuel, solar and wind energy opportunities. This has really resonated with people I have talked to. They are interested in these technologies, on ending our nation's dependency on foreign oil, as well as concerned about pollution and asthma rates which are on the rise and some of the highest in the nation.

What kind of concerns are you hearing about on the ground?

A large part of the district is very depressed economically and so there is a political and economic divide. Yet healthcare issues are important across the board. Last week I was at a meeting at SEIU with a number of retired seniors who have pensions of $200 and $300 a month, yet they have to pay over a thousand dollars each month in prescription drug costs. We have 45 million uninsured Americans in this country, and even those who are insured have to pay a high price for health care. Healthcare costs are hurting our families and our businesses and we need to address this. Another issue of concern is our education system. Education is the key to our prosperity, but California is one of the lowest states for per capita spending per student. Education is part of what made California so prosperous and we need to devote resources necessary so our children can compete and be successful in the future.

Do you think the voters are ready for a change?

Yes, Mr. Pombo's corruption is being recognized and understood for what it is by the people of the District. We have some of the worst roads in the state and the worst air quality. We have twice the state's unemployment rate. Mr. Pombo is the Chairman of the Resources Committee, yet he's brought home very little for his own constituents. People are starting to get that.

Moving into the General Election, what is your strategy for success?

Last Thursday I joined the two other Democratic Primary candidates for a unity breakfast and we will be working together in the future. We won the primary with a great campaign team, a good ground game, and outreach into the District, and we'll win in November the same way. The grassroots have been a very big help and an inspiration. I feel humbled by how dedicated my supporters are. If this is what it takes to move our country forward, this is what we are going to do. We are going to appeal to our grassroots and netroots supporters and make a change.

TGIF Open Thread

Making Headlines this morning:

• Bank Data


• Baghdad Lock-Down


• Building Plot?

June 22, 2006

50-State Strategy: Oklahoma Online

The Oklahoma Democratic Party recently launched a new blog: OK Blue Notes. It's great to see more state parties taking an interest in online communications. It really is bringing new people to the Party, not just at the national level, but locally, where feet on the street make a difference and where the party building is really happening.

While poking around on the Oklahoma Dems site, I also came across this:

ODP Chair Lisa Pryor said she is joining Oklahoma Yellow Dog Democrat Club members on June 23 for an 8:10 p.m. screening of the new Al Gore documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth.” The movie will be shown in Oklahoma City at the AMC Quail Springs Theater.

You can also find info about the event here through our Events Tool

Now that's cool, for a number of reasons:

1. Movies nights are fun, and this is a great pick.

2. Social events are a great way to keep Dems active - "Dems who play together, stay together" that's what I always say!

3. The OK Dems are making the connection between the national party and the state party, using the events tool to cast a wider net for their event.

We've talked a lot about our National Organizing Days, but the Event Tool is available 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It's a repository of Democratic events across the country, from National Organizing Days to campaign canvasses to County Party meetings to social events, like the Oklahoma Dems Movie Night.

If you know of an event in your area, step up and add it in today!

$10,700

Yesterday the Senate rejected a bill designed to raise the minimum raise, which has been stuck at $5.15/hour.

The 52-46 vote was eight short of the 60 needed for approval and came one day after House Republican leaders made clear they do not intend to allow a vote on the issue, fearing it might pass.

The Senate vote marked the ninth time since 1997 that Democrats there have proposed _ and Republicans have blocked _ a stand-alone increase in the minimum wage. The debate fell along predictable lines.

Americans believe that no one who works hard for a living should have to live in poverty. A job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. He said a worker paid $5.15 an hour would earn $10,700 a year, "almost $6,000 below the poverty line for a family of three."(emphasis mine)

$10,700 a year - and the Republican-led Senate can't find the will to do something about it. Yet, Senator Frist and his pals will take up the fight for the estate tax to give the Paris Hilton's of America a boost - because they need it.

[UPDATE]: Today the House takes up the fight, no not for minimum wage, but for the estate tax and you must see this video from Rep. Slaughter as she calls the Republican-led House leaders on their ridiculous priorities and trys to help the people who need it the most.

Thursday Open Thread

Just because: Laptops Give Hope to the Homeless

Chat away...

June 21, 2006

A Checklist for Change

Today the Women Democratic Senators unveiled their 'Checklist for Change' agenda. Tonight all nine women Democratic Senators will be featured on CNN's Larry King Live, which will air at 9 ET.

At today's launch at the historic Sewall-Belmont House Senator Milkulski described their motivation for their list:

Day after day, this Republican Congress is failing America. We've been in session for 76 days and Republicans have squandered time, opportunity and taxpayers' money. We challenge Senate Majority Leader Frist to bring real issues to the floor instead of detouring the Senate with bills that focus on re-electing Republicans. We need to get Senate back on track. There are only 33 legislative days left in session to shift the focus to get something done.

The Checklist for Change includes:

* Safeguard America's Pensions
* Keep Good Jobs in America
* Make College Affordable for All
* Protect America and Our Military Families
* Prepare for Future Disasters
* Make America Energy Independent
* Make Small Business Health Care Affordable
* Invest in Life-Saving Science
* Protect Our Air, Land and Water

Call in with your questions and comments for the Senators or submit your questions here.

50-State Strategy: West Virginia is Byrd Country

I received this update from Talley, one of your West Virginia Democratic Party Field Organizers.

Yesterday was a wonderful day for Mountain State Democrats! In our state there are two days that ring more patriotic than others: Independence Day and June 20th, West Virginia Day.

Tucked among the hills in North Central West Virginia, Democrats held a number of house parties to celebrate our two favorite things: West Virginia and Senator Robert C. Byrd. Senator Byrd – a patriot himself – joined via phone from the nation’s Capitol to share in fellowship with his constituents while continuing to serve the best interests of the great people of West Virginia.

Senator Byrd’s re-election campaign is on the forefront of the Democratic Party’s 50-State Strategy. Precinct by precinct, neighborhood by neighborhood, and even hill by hill, Democrats throughout the state are working to organize on his behalf so that hollow remarks from a challenger, not only don’t ring true, but don’t ring at all.

West Virginia is poised to re-elect Senator Byrd this election year. And it will be because he knows the people – his fellow West Virginians – and strives daily to shape policy to fit their needs. Byrd’s patriotism, his values, and his common sense approach to finding solutions to our state’s and nation’s problems mean so much to so many in this state.

On West Virginia Day, we pause to remember our state’s rich history. Yet, we also focus on our future – a future that includes another term to the U.S. Senate for Robert C. Byrd.

Voting Rights Act Yanked from House Calendar

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was up for renewal and scheduled to be debated today in the House. Yet news comes now that it has been taken off the House Calendar by the House leaders:

House Republican leaders on Wednesday postponed a vote on renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act after GOP lawmakers complained it unfairly singles out nine Southern states for federal oversight, a leadership aide said.

At a private meeting, several Republicans also balked at extending provisions in the law that require ballots to be printed in more than one language in neighborhoods where there are large numbers of immigrants, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been made public.

The four-decade-old law enfranchised millions of black voters by ending poll taxes and literacy tests during the height of the civil rights struggle. A vote on renewing it for another 25 years had been scheduled for Wednesday, with both Republican and Democratic leaders behind it.

But in a private caucus meeting early in the day, enough Republicans raised objections to the legislation and the way it would be debated to persuade Republican leaders to postpone the vote.

"The speaker's had a standing rule that nothing would be voted on unless there's a majority of the majority," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., who led the objections. "It was pretty clear at the meeting that the majority of the majority wasn't there."

(snip)

Several Republicans, led by Westmoreland, had worked to allow an amendment that would ease a requirement that nine states win permission from the Justice Department or a federal judge to change their voting rules.

The amendment's backers say the requirement unfairly singles out and holds accountable nine states that practiced racist voting policies decades ago, based on 1964 voter turnout data: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Westmoreland says the formula for deciding which states are subject to such "pre-clearance" should be updated every four years and be based on voter turnout in the most recent three elections.

"The pre-clearance portions of the Voting Rights Act should apply to all states, or no states," Westmoreland said. "Singling out certain states for special scrutiny no longer makes sense."

The amendment has powerful opponents. From Republican and Democratic leaders on down the House hierarchy, they argue that states with documented histories of discrimination may still practice it and have earned the extra scrutiny.

"This carefully crafted legislation should remain clean and unamended," Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who worked on the original bill, which he called "the keystone of our national civil rights statutes."

On the Hill

We expect the Senate to vote on the Iraq resolution today.

From the Washington Post, the Republicans are planning hearings on immigration.

House GOP leaders yesterday announced a series of field hearings during the August recess, pushing off final negotiations on a bill until fall at the earliest.

The announcement was the clearest sign yet that House Republicans have largely given up on passing a broad rewrite of the nation's immigration laws this year. They believe that their get-tough approach -- including building a wall along the border with Mexico and deporting millions of illegal immigrants -- is far more popular with voters than the approach backed by Bush and the Senate, which would create a guest-worker program and allow many illegal immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Republicans are trying to kill the minimum wage bill now being debated. From the Boston Globe:

Democrats are proposing to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, but Senate Republicans are using a legislative tactic that will force the measure to get 60 votes to pass. In its place, Republicans are offering an increase to $6.25, but say they will pair it with reductions in overtime pay and tax cuts for businesses-- a move that appears likely to arouse enough Democratic opposition to kill all attempts to raise the minimum wage this year.

The parliamentary plays are the latest in the partisan game of tit for tat that has long stymied efforts to raise the federal minimum wage. Senate Republican leaders initially sought to sink the minimum-wage increase by linking it to an unrelated measure that would make it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to get an abortion -- a move designed to rob the bill of crucial Democratic support.

The House will likely vote today or tomorrow on first reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act since it was signed into law in 1965.

UPDATE: The vote will not take place as planned. From the Associated Press:

The four-decade-old law enfranchised millions of black voters by ending poll taxes and literacy tests during the height of the civil rights struggle. A vote on renewing it for another 25 years had been scheduled for Wednesday, with both Republican and Democratic leaders behind it.

The dramatic shift came after a private caucus meeting earlier Wednesday in which several Republicans also balked at extending provisions in the law that require ballots to be printed in more than one language in neighborhoods where there are large numbers of immigrants, said several participants.

It is unclear whether the historic Voting Rights Act will come up for a vote this year.

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning! This is an open thread...

June 20, 2006

Governor Dean at the Voting Rights Summit

Governor Dean spoke this afternoon at the Voting Rights Summit. He opened by talking about the Democratic Party’s efforts, here in Washington, and in the states, to fight legislation that would require voters to produce photo IDs in order to vote, specifically mentioning the Indiana Democratic Party’s challenge to their state’s new photo identification law. He said the laws are aimed at “voter suppression” and are not about protecting Democracy or preventing fraud.

The Governor then went on to talk about voting machines saying, “We are also going to talk about the machines. I don’t think these machines work. If they do work, the public has no way to verify that they work, and I don’t understand why people in Washington aren’t more concerned. I believe that these things can not be relied on and we do need to spend time and energy on this.”

Governor Dean also praised the efforts of the National Democratic Lawyers Council and the work that they have done. The Lawyers Council is a national organization which is working to recruit local attorneys who can assist in election protection efforts – one example the Governor gave, “During the Virginia elections in 2005 we had an irregularity [with a voting machine] and we were able to get to the clerks who were running the election and fix the problem on the spot. We have that capability and it matters.”

Yet he cautioned that it isn’t just technical problems that Democrats have to be wary of, but old hat tactics that hope to intimidate voters at the polls, or challenge an individual's right to vote. He gave the example of Dartmouth College students in New Hampshire who were denied their right to vote by a single town clerk who decided registering with their college addresses was unacceptable and who were then challenged by poll watchers on Election Day, infringing on the voting process. “Often it is race based,” he said, “but we know there are two groups that are challenged more often than others – African Americans and people under 45 – all people under 45.”

Governor Dean closed his remarks by saying, “This is a really huge issue, because it’s not about the future of the Democratic Party, but the future of a Democracy that has been the greatest Democracy for 200 years. When you begin to believe winning is more important than America, you have hurt your country, and we can’t have that – we want to make sure that America is always first.”

Inside the Voting Rights Summit

I'm sitting next to Christine Pelosi in the Voting Rights Summit. We are both furiously taking notes (hers are better, which I attribute to going through law school...) as we listen to Commissioner Gracia Hillman of the Election Assistance Commission talk about the process of election administration and how to make the process more effective.

In addition to Commissioner Hillman we also heard from DNC lead counsel Joe Sandler about the steps the DNC is taking to put in place a 50-State Strategy for Election Protection, as well as Professor Spencer Overton who spoke at length about the effect that Voter ID laws requiring voters to produce photo identification in order to vote. There was also a lot of discussion over Ohio HB-3 (which Tim wrote about last year here)

One thing is clear, all of the individuals who have gathered here are taking steps now to implement plans for 2006 and beyond.

One concern we heard from the co-chair of the NY Democratic Lawyers Council, John Nonna, is that voters know that their votes count, but don't know if they will be counted, and that is why these groups are organizing now to make sure every vote is counted and all voting systems are open and reliable.

We're moving on to a discussion on specific election protection strategies and Governor Dean will be speaking soon. I'll have more on his speech later in the day.

Utah? Yes, Utah.

(Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean sent an e-mail to folks asking them to support the 50 state strategy.)

Dear Fellow Democrat,

We're in the middle of our campaign to explain the 50-state strategy and answer its questions about its purpose. So far you've heard from me, but this week you're going to hear straight from the people on the ground about the work we're doing to build a truly national party.

We are at a crucial moment in our party's history, and it's up to us to show that the 50-state strategy has the financial backing of ordinary Democrats across the country. We're doing that in a new way, too: we're counting the number of people donating on our web site, and we'll reveal the amount at the end. Less than halfway through this drive we hit the goal of 5,000 people.

As a result, we've set a new one and we're going to keep going, because this is about getting the word out: the 50-state strategy is right for our party, and the people who support it will stand up and be counted. Make your donation to support the 50-state strategy now:

http://www.democrats.org/peoplecount

Today I'm passing along a note from the state party chair in Utah -- not a place many would expect the national party to be focusing its resources. But as you will see our work is already paying off.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

---

Dear Fellow Democrat,

I want to let you know what the 50-state strategy has meant in my state.

When we leave the Republicans unopposed in places like Utah, it frees them up to concentrate on making inroads in marginal districts. Members of Congress in tough places deserve support, too. Representative Jim Matheson here in Utah, Representative Stephanie Herseth in South Dakota and even a potential pick-up like Congressional candidate Gary Trauner in Wyoming need a healthy, functioning Democratic Party in their states in order to survive. The 50-state strategy is making that happen.

"Win for today" is not a long-term strategy by itself, and it has left millions of Americans and vast areas of the country without a healthy political dialogue. When we don't show up for tough fights, they only get tougher the next time around.

We're changing that now. The April 29th canvass put a clear Democratic message and a call to volunteer on the doorsteps of 15,000 registered Democrats here.

That has never happened before.

A whole generation of Utahns have never seen a representative from the Democratic Party except on TV. Democrats had become outsiders who do things to us, not insiders who do things for us. The 50-state strategy has turned that around.

"Even in Utah" there are thoughtful Democrats elected to office like Congressman Matheson, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The DNC's investment here will make sure that they retain their seats. I expect the 50-state strategy efforts will help Mayor Corroon get a majority of Democrats to support his policies on the Salt Lake County Council. That will show Utahns for the first time in a decade that we have the ability to govern effectively.

The national party has starved places like Utah for a long time. Consequently, Utahns are starving for new leadership. But we are already on our way. Not only is the 50-state strategy laying the groundwork for long-term change in Utah, we have already seen the results.

Already, 2006 marks our best candidate recruitment in over 15 years. We have recruited candidates for every single State Senate race, and we have challengers running in ten State House races that went unopposed in 2004. The recruitment efforts, led by new staff deployed as part of the 50-state strategy, include not only life-long Democrats but also six Republicans who have switched parties.

The 50-state strategy is the future of our party here in Utah. With your support it can be the future of our party everywhere.

Thank you.

Wayne Holland, Jr.
Chairman
Utah Democratic Party

Game to Watch: DNC Takes on RNC in Softball League

Washington insiders are talking about tomorrow's Congressional League Softball match up between the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee. Will the DNC's brawn beat the RNC's dirty tricks? We asked team member Katherine Dvorak this morning.

Q: Katherine, what is your plan for tomorrow's game?
Dvorak: We're going to go out there and give 110%. In last week's game we broke the league record for homeruns during a game. We're going to be playing on that level tomorrow night. Our defense is solid, we've really gelled in the last few games. It's going to be a tough game, but I think we can pull out a win.

Q: What about rumors that the RNC will be bringing in some outside help for the game?
Dvorak: I've heard the rumors, but I'm not scared. Unless they bring in actual Major League Baseball players, there's no way they can beat our power hitters.

Q: How much of a part do the fans play in the game?
Dvorak: The fans are everything. I know that DNC supporters will line the stands and scream for our side on every play. When I'm running down a pop fly, it's the fans that make it worth diving into a mud puddle to catch that ball. I know they'll cheer me on and appreciate my effort.

Katherine Dvorak and the DNC's softball team meet the RNC softball team tomorrow night at 6:45 P.M. at the Catholic University, Dufour Center.

UPDATE BY JOSH: It's important to note that certain Republicans have tried to stack softball teams before. Let's just hope that Roger Clemens still thinks he's a chicken.

North Korea Tests World

While much of the focus of late has been on halting Iran's nuclear program, North Korea is planning to test a long-range missile. Word is the missile would be able to reach the continental United States. North Korea may do the test as early as tomorrow. More from the New York Times.

In the Building: Election Protection Summit

Today the DNC's Voting Rights Institute and National Lawyers Council are holding an Election Protection Summit. This day-long event has brought together voting rights activists, litigators, scholars, Democratic Party leaders and election administrators to dicuss comprehensive stategies to advance fair election practices.

On today's agenda a dicussion of the following topics:

• The proliferation of Photo ID legislation at the state and national levels
• The purging of millions of voters through new HAVA statewide database requirements
• Voting machines and voter verification challenges

Openly gay student becomes Student Body President of Ohio State University

Ryan Fournier of OSU was elected by the mass majority of the University’s students to represent them. The openly gay student admits that he will have to balance the importance of issues concerning the students he represents. Fournier was profiled in the June 6th edition of the Advocate, a magazine aimed at LGBT issues. The magazine calls it a great accomplishment. Fournier, the son of a retired Army veteran, was first thinking about joining the Air Force until, after coming out at the age of 16, changed his mind. His father supported his decision and supports him fully, saying of his son that he was always a leader. Fournier caught the attention of the DNC and is flying to New York on Friday to meet with the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council.

Tuesday Morning Open Thread

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the Clean Water Act with Justice Kennedy as the deciding vote. Kennedy isn't much of a moderate. He's a conservative who now holds the swing vote. However, according to a New York Times editorial this morning, the vote of Justice Kennedy is the only thing that stands in the way of the Supreme Court gutting environmental protections.

This is an open thread...

June 19, 2006

DNC's Women's Caucus: Conference Call with Governor Dean

Governor Dean spent spoke with members of the DNC's Women's Caucus Members and Federation of Democratic Women during a nation-wide conference call this afternoon.

Before opening up the call to questions, Governor Dean spoke about the importance of keeping women involved in the political process, especially during midterm elections when stemming the tide of drop-off voters, or registered voters who skip midterm elections and only vote during presidential races, becomes critical.

Governor Dean spoke about some of the slew of critical races where women are running for election including congressional candidates Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Darcy Burner (WA), Patricia Madrid (NM),Phyllis Busansky (FL), and Senate candidates Claire McCaskill (MO), Barbara Radnofsky (TX), and Amy Klobuchar (MN) - just to name a few.

Governor Dean also mentioned that 2006 will be an important year to defend our incumbent women in office, "we have to keep an eye on those races and push really hard to defend them," he said.

So how are we going to do it? That is the $64,000 question. The Governor encouraged the members of the Caucus to get active in their communities, to talk with other woman about the importance of the election, what is at stake and why their vote is critical. One member from Jackson County, Arkansas commented that "if we get out and look them eye-to-eye we get so much more of a response," which Governor Dean enthusiastically agreed with, and expanded on, discussing how personal contact is critical to a Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) effort and how women activists talking with women voters is an integral part of a successful strategy.

The women also talked with Governor Dean about the different tactics for engaging young women and regional issues of concern before wrapping up the call.

For more information about the Women's Caucus and Women's Vote Center, click here.

Convention Aims to Register Voters

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, NALEO, is putting on its annual convention later this week in Dallas. In a city where 42 percent of the resident population is Hispanic, the convention will focus on voter registration among Hispanic citizens and applications for citizenship among non-citizen Latinos. Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) will be speaking at the convention.

Governor Dean on TV Today

Just a reminder: Governor Dean will appear on CNN's Situation Room at 4:00 PM and MSNBC's Hardball at 5:00 PM today.

50-State Strategy: North Dakota Dems Make Gains

Good news from North Dakota Democrats:

In comparing the 2006 Primary Election results from the three previous elections, the Democratic-NPL Party made significant gains. In state-wide races, Democratic-NPL candidates averaged around 10 percent better than their Republican opponents.

Looking at the numbers from the Secretary of State's office, it would seem Republicans in North Dakota making marginal gains over their 2004 turnout numbers, while Democrats increased their primary support by over 50% in some cases - with most state-wide races seeing an increase of at least 10,000 votes.

North Dakota State Party Executive Director Jim Fuglie released a statement following Tuesday's elections:

“It’s pretty obvious that there’s much more enthusiasm among Democrats this year. We have been saying all along that 2006 will be a good year for the Democratic-NPL Party in North Dakota. This is promising news as the election season moves forward. I think North Dakotans are disappointed in the leadership they’ve received from Republicans on both the federal and state level. It’s pretty obvious to me that more voters chose the Democratic-NPL column this year."

Sounds a lot like what Kristin Hedger was saying when we talked last month. The 50-State Stategy means fighting in every district, in every state, and when we do that - when we recognize that Democrats live everywhere, work everywhere and can run anywhere, we can and will win electins everywhere.

It's not easy work, but it's work that is worth doing. Taking our country back one day at a time, precinct by precinct, showing up and getting the job done - that is what we are seeing across the country. Democrats from New York to California and EVERYWHERE inbetween are participating in local elections, state politics and national organizing events, winning elections they weren't "supposed" to win and making a difference.

Another First

Thirty years after the Episcopal church first allowed women to become priests, the church has elected a female presiding bishop. Congratulations go to Katharine Jefferts Schori, who will become the first woman to head any Anglican denomination worldwide.

Jefferts Schori holds degrees in divinity, oceanography, and biology. She will begin her term in November.

Just Another Manic Monday...

John Murtha tells it like it is when asked about Karl Rove:

"He's sitting in his air-conditioned office on his big, fat backside saying, 'Stay the course.' That's not a plan."

Here is the video here. (h/t to commentator A Progressive Conservative)

This is an open thread...

June 18, 2006

Sunday Night Open Thread

Chat away...

June 17, 2006

Weekend Open Thread

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered the Democratic Radio Address this morning.

Listen here.

This is an open thread...

June 16, 2006

Inept, Reckless and Politically Motivated

Today the GOP-led Congress passed a politically motivated, non-binding resolution "promising to "complete the mission" in Iraq, prevail in the global fight against terrorism and oppose any "arbitrary date for withdrawal" of American troops," as described by The New York Times.

By rejecting a timetable for withdrawal and failing to offer a plan for success, this debate and this resolution are simply another opportunity to distract from the reckless and inept way in which the Administration has handled the war in Iraq and avoided answering the American people openly and honestly.

Yesterday the Pentagon announced the loss of 2,500 service men and women in Iraq. A sad milestone for our nation. The faces of the fallen are many - each a brother, sister, mother, father, son or daughter to someone. Each death a sad sacrifice, each loss keenly felt, each life cut tragically short.

Governor Dean responded to the House resolution today:

"Today’s vote on the misguided Republican Iraq War resolution was yet another example of the GOP-led Congress playing partisan political games instead of demanding real accountability. The Bush Administration’s ineptitude and reckless policies have gone unchecked for three years. Our troops, their families and the American people deserve a real plan for success in Iraq from the Bush Administration, not a permanent, open-ended commitment to a failed strategy. It is irresponsible for President Bush to say this is a problem that is going to be left to the next President. Democrats believe that 2006 must be a year of significant transition. The Iraqis need to take over so that our troops can begin to come home and eventually be redeployed to other parts of the world to fight terrorism. Democrats remain committed to hunting down and killing terrorists who seek to do America harm and ultimately winning the war on terror. The GOP’s strategy of divide and distract does not provide benchmarks for success in Iraq nor does it help us come closer to winning the war on terror."

This weekend, take the time to share your thoughts. The Letter to the Editor tool will easily and simply walk you through the process of contacting your local papers so you can share your thoughts.

50-State Strategy: In Your Own Words

Here is some of what folks are saying about the 50-State Strategy...

"Grass-roots politics defines the democratic process and I am proud to be part of a movement to take government out of the hands of big corporations and place it back in the hands of the people. I commend the Democratic Party for taking this action."
-- Nathan from Alameda, California

"The 50-state strategy makes sense, because every win, anywhere, is a win for the Democratic Party!"
-- Stephen from Barnstable, West Virginia

"Back in the 1960s, like so many other young Americans, John Kennedy inspired me. When I returned to my home state after college, I became active in state politics and remained so through the 1970s and early 1980s. Family priorities and business, however, caused me to sit on the sidelines during the late 1980s and all through the 1990s. So there I sat until I was again inspired by Howard Dean and his effort to return to the grassroots and to reach out to all people."

"We cannot continue to be controlled by wedge issues and the labels of "red" or "blue" states. Our local Democratic City Committee has been energized, and our local County Committee is again playing a major role. We are canvassing and building our street and telephone lists for November."

"I feel like I did in the 1960s - well, almost, except my step is a little slower. Keep up the good work and keep the 50-state strategy moving forward."
-- Dan from Cumberland, Kentucky

"There's only one way to win back a congressional majority and the presidency: we do it together! Rally here and win!"
-- Annette from Chester, New York

"I support this effort because Democrats need to become active participants in the political process to stop the radical conservative agenda that is hurting our country economically, socially, and environmentally. The Republicans use rhetoric to demoralize and demonize people who strive for economic, social, and environmental justice and we as individuals must stand strong and let our voices and stories be heard."
-- Kelly from Marion, Indiana

"I'm a young organizer and activist that has lived and worked in Both Red and Blue America. I'm also a voter that responds to a message when I know it isn't just for me and my neighbors, but for everyone in the country.

"I want to be part of a party that is planning for the future, and that means our message need to reach people in every corner of this country"
-- Gregory from Alameda, California

"I support the 50 State strategy because many of us have felt left out of the party and the democratic process for far too long. I have seen real change and a re-energizing within the party in my State since the DNC has engaged."
-- Cathy from Anoka, Minnesota

"We need a united country. We need to end the division of Red state vs. Blue states. We can't leave our Democratic brothers and sisters in "Red" states abandoned to the Big Red Machine! I believe our own democracy is at stake."
-- Catherine from Sumter, South Carolina

"I believe in the 50 state strategy because I firmly believe that no district, no matter how "red," should be written off. Many people are socialized into voting Republican just because everyone around them does and always has. They could be very receptive to the fairness and common sense approach that characterizes the Democratic party, though, if they are only given a fair chance to hear the Democratic message through sources other than biased friends and family and right-wing television and radio. The foundation of United States Democracy is that every vote counts, so there is no reason why Democrats shouldn't try to appeal to everyone!"
-- Alex from Middlesex, NJ

A Sobering Look at the State of Iraq

From today's New York Times, a sobering look at the state of Iraq:

This chart is key...

After his surprise trip to Baghdad this week, President Bush struck a hopeful tone. "I do think we'll be able to measure progress," he declared at a news conference on Wednesday. "You can measure progress in capacity of Iraqi units ... in megawatts of electricity delivered ... in oil sold on the market .... There's ways to determine whether or not this government's plans are succeeding.

We agree. Unfortunately, according to our latest tally of metrics (compiled from a variety of government and news media sources), Iraq has a long way to go. To be successful, the new Iraqi government will have to do things that its predecessors and the United States have generally failed to accomplish.

Violence on the whole is as bad as ever. Sectarian strife is worse than ever. The economy has slowly come back to prewar levels for the most part, but is now treading water. As a result, optimism has waned. According to an International Republican Institute poll conducted in late March, more than 75 percent of Iraqis consider the security environment to be poor and the economy poor or mediocre.

Those looking for signs of promise in Iraq can still find footholds beyond the killing of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The security forces, particularly the Iraqi Army, continue to improve in technical proficiency — even if their interethnic cohesiveness remains suspect. Reductions in consumer subsidies have strengthened the financial standing of the government, and high oil prices compensate for Iraq's anemic production levels. But overall, it is increasingly hard to describe Iraq as a glass half-full.

TGIF Open Thread

Almost...

June 15, 2006

Thursday Night Open Thread

Our rights are slowly slipping away:

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that police armed with a warrant can barge into homes and seize evidence even if they don't knock, a huge government victory that was decided by President Bush's new justices.

The 5-4 ruling signals the court's conservative shift following the departure of moderate Sandra Day O'Connor.

This is not a good sign.

"Real Patriotism Cannot Be Coerced..."

Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey on the Flag Burning Amendment in today's Washington Post:

If our First Amendment is altered to permit laws to be passed prohibiting flag desecration, would we like to see our police powers used to arrest an angry mother who burns a flag? Or a brother in arms whose disillusionment leads him to defile this symbol of the nation? I hope the answer is no. I hope we are strong enough to tolerate such rare and wrenching moments. I hope our desire for calm and quiet does not make it a crime for any to demonstrate in such a fashion. In truth, if I know anything about the spirit of our compatriots, some Americans might even choose to burn their flag in protest of such a law.

No doubt the sponsors and advocates of this amendment mean well. They believe it is a reasonable and small sacrifice of our freedoms. They believe no serious consequence will come of this change.

No doubt, too, some of the increasing interest in limiting free speech is a response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

(snip)

Millions of Americans, then and now, proudly flew their flags because they wanted to, not because any law told them to.

All the more reason, then, for patriotism to turn aside the understandable impulse to protect our flag by degrading the constitutional freedoms for which it stands. Real patriotism cannot be coerced. Our freedom to speak was attacked -- not our flag. The former, not the latter, needs the protection of our Constitution and our laws.

In Case You Missed It

Governor Dean on the Ed Shultz Show

Thursday Morning Open Thread

Less than 24 hours later...

June 14, 2006

50-State Strategy: South Dakota - Meet Jack Billion

This morning I sat down with Jack Billion, who is running for Governor of South Dakota, to get to know him a bit better, find out why he is running and talk about his experiences on the campaign trail.

Tell me a little bit about yourself…

I am a native South Dakotan, an Air Force veteran and an Orthopedic Surgeon. I’ve been active in South Dakota politics and community activities for 30 years and married for 26 of them. My wife and I have 7 children and 12 grandchildren.

Why are you running for Governor of South Dakota?

My family is from South Dakota, it’s our native state, where we have lived, and where we have worked, and it’s the state we love. I'm running because I think that South Dakota needs to reestablish the vision the South Dakota pioneers shared years ago when people came out here and could do anything. People could build towns together, break sod together – together they had a vision and could accomplish anything. After years of Republican control, South Dakota has perhaps lost some of that vision as we have been forced to settle for less – we have one party dominating our state, a single discussion taking place, and we need to have a bigger discussion.

What kind of discussion would you like to see happen?

I’d like to see us talk about a return to real family values. The ultra conservative wing of the Republican Party has taken a dominant role in South Dakota and we’ve moved away from that. Real family values mean promoting good wages and good jobs. Real family values mean solid educational opportunities for our children, starting with preschool education – we are one of 12 states without a preschool program, and moving into a well-funded K-12 program. To me, access to health care and health insurance for the 90,000 South Dakotans who are uninsured is something I look at as a family value, and we need talk about these things.

What would you like to see change in South Dakota?

Five of the ten poorest counties in America are within our borders. 15 percent of the South Dakota population is Native American and it is the fastest growing segment of our population and they deserve to participate more fully in our economy. Republicans sold the people of South Dakota to out-of-state businesses as low-wage workers and we need to turn that around and grow the South Dakota economy by promoting small businesses within our state. This goes hand-in-hand with our higher education system. We need to have a state where any graduate can leave if they want to, but they don’t leave because they have to. That is the kind of state we envision – one where healthcare, education, any our economy are the priorities of an open and accountable government.

What is it like being a Democrat in South Dakota?

It’s a good day for Democrats in South Dakota. We are energized and the party is finally starting to grow in numbers, enthusiasm and focus. We really feel that we want to bring together our neighbors. It's a small state and we need to all work together, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, on the issues that unite us, instead of focusing on the issues that divide us. Our present Governor has had three and a half years to present a comprehensive plan for South Dakota jobs and wages, education and health care needs. It just hasn't been there and that is one of the reasons why I am running.

What has the campaign been like so far?

We've traveled around South Dakota and visited with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. We've tried to talk about the issues they deal with on a day-to-day basis and deal with them with honesty, openness and a sense of humor. We've been to Fish Days at Lake Andes, the Rhubarb Festival in Vermillion, Salon #10 in Deadwood, and the Spring Festival in Hot Springs . Every where we go reaffirms what I already knew - South Dakotans are great people, South Dakotans are ready for change, and together we are working on a new vision for our state.

Yesterday's Primary Results

There were a bunch of primary contests yesterday. Below are your newest Democratic nominees.

Maine

John Baldacci is the Democratic nominee for Governor of Maine. Jean Hay Bright is the Senate nominee.

ME 01 TOM ALLEN
ME 02 MICHAEL MICHAUD

North Dakota

ND AL EARL POMEROY

South Carolina

SC 02 Michael Ellisor
SC 03 Lee Ballenger
SC 04 William Griffith
SC 05 JOHN SPRATT
SC 06 JAMES CLYBURN

Virginia

James Webb will challenge GOP Senator George Allen.

VA 01 Shawn O'Donnell
VA 02 Phil Kellam
VA 03 BOBBY SCOTT
VA 05 Al Weed
VA 07 James Nachman
VA 08 JIM MORAN
VA 09 RICK BOUCHER
VA 10 Judy Feder
VA 11 Andrew Hurst

50-State Strategy: More Controversial Than You Think

Governor Dean sent the following e-mail to Democrats across the country today:

Dear Fellow Democrat,

I want to write to you today about a problem. I talk a lot about the successes of our 50-state strategy and ways you can get involved. But today I want to talk very frankly about the obstacles we still face.

We have seen so much rapid progress in so many places (sweeping four special elections in Mississippi, flipping three state legislature seats in New Hampshire that had been Republican-held for nearly 100 years) that it's easy to forget that the 50-state strategy is a controversial plan.

It boils down to this: participation politics. We're building an entirely new kind of political party -- one where every single person matters as much as the next, where each one of us has the power to take our future into our own hands. It's a new way of operating, but we know it will work because we believe in the extraordinary potential of millions of Americans united in common cause to make our country better.

We are at a crucial moment in our party's history, and it's up to us to show that the 50-state strategy has the financial backing of ordinary Democrats across the country. But we're going to do it in a new way -- we're going to count the number of people donating on our web site, and reveal the amount at the end.

Will you stand up and be counted? We're aiming for 5,000 donations for a 50-state strategy. Make a donation to support a 50-state strategy now, and watch the number grow as Democrats across the country join you:

http://www.democrats.org/peoplecount

For most of us the 50-state strategy seems pretty obvious: a truly national party must build the infrastructure to fight everywhere for every level of office, period. The Republicans realized this over 30 years ago and have a monopoly on our government because of it.

We have a moral obligation to build a party infrastructure that can compete with what they have created. The bad news is that they have a 30-year head start on us. But the good news is that our movement will grow faster and stronger. We've made history leveraging the Internet to turn online action into offline results -- whether though your record-breaking small-dollar donations last year or the national organizing events like the 50-state canvass.

We are transforming the political landscape by building a party that focuses on people. People are deciding to take back our political process, and they are discovering that when many of us act together we can organize more people and raise more money than our party ever has before.

The only way we can change the Democratic Party is to keep proving again and again that we will not be silent, and that we are going to change the way we do business. Make your donation to support the 50-state strategy now:

http://www.democrats.org/peoplecount

Some critics say that our early investments in a permanent ground operation will hurt our chances to win this year.

That's a false choice. The fact is that our 50-state strategy has already laid a nationwide foundation for victory this year, in 2008 and beyond. Unprecedented organizing at the local level has already fielded more candidates for office and more competitive races up and down the ballot than anyone could have imagined.

Our work now will have a huge impact in November -- the difference is that unlike spending everything on TV ads that literally evaporate after Election Day, our operation will keep growing.

After this November, and for many Novembers to come, people will look back on this time as the moment when Democrats decided to get up and fight -- and started winning.

With a donation now, during this drive for the 50-state strategy, you can say that you knew the 50-state strategy would work, and that you made it happen:

http://www.democrats.org/peoplecount

For the next two weeks you're going to be hearing a lot from us -- facts about the 50-state strategy and testimonials from the ground across the country about how it's already working.

Please take the time to forward this message. Now is the time to get the word out: we have a choice to build a new Democratic Party and a new way of doing business, and it's up to ordinary Democrats to stand up and be counted to make it happen.

Thank you for your leadership.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

You can follow our progress here. In the time it's taken me to post this, 32 people have decided to invest in the 50-State Strategy, will you be next?

Mehlman: "I think, greed ... caused us to do it."

Mehlman answers the question at about the two minute mark.

Yesterday, Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, in response to a question about why GOP leaders are no longer "the straight talkers, the adults," said, "I think, greed, cynicism, all of those things caused us to do it." [The Daily Show, 6/14/06]

Discuss.

Democracy Bonds: DC

Last night I left the office a bit earlier than usual to attend an event for Washington, D.C. area Democracy Bond holders. Held just a few blocks from the White House, this wasn't your typical D.C. fundraising event with someone collecting thousand dollar checks at the door.

This was an event for the grandfather who contributes $20 a month, the student who decided to skip a few trips to Starbucks and donate $15 dollars each month, or the mom who donates $30 every month because she wants a better future for her children . Each person has a different reason for purchasing their Democracy Bond, - but we also all have something in common - a committment to change America.

Governor Dean spoke to the crowd for about 15 minutes about the 50-State Strategy and the Democracy Bonds program. He closed his remarks by saying:

It isn't the Democratic party you're supporting when you buy Democracy Bonds, it's America, and our vision of America. The Democratic Party is important, but I didn't take this job because I love the Democratic Party, I took this job because I love America and I want it back.

We Will Rock You

The New York Times features an article today about Ava Lowery, a 15-year-old from Alabama. A video she created was shown at Yearly Kos.

The article itself is a good read. It discusses the rising influence of the "netroots" in politics, especially in terms of the Democratic Party.

Wednesday Open Thread

Read:
Democrats Rebuild on the Prarie

Listen:
Governor Dean on the Ed Shultz Show this afternoon, around 3:30 p.m.

Watch:
Robert Redford addresses the Take Back America Conference

June 13, 2006

On the Road to a Blue Ohio

Some nice numbers today:

For Ohio Governor:

Strickland (D) 53%
Blackwell (R) 37%

For Ohio Senate

Brown (D) 48%
DeWine (R) 39%

Woo-hoo!

Lunch with Governor Dean

A day after he spoke at the “Summer of Change” speaker series to over 200 Democratic interns, hosted by the College Democrats of America, Governor Dean sat down for a brown bag lunch with 30 DNC interns and answered tough questions on a variety of topics, including the Iraq war, how to run a campaign, and even if he would throw out the first pitch for the DNC softball team.

“We’re creating a revolution here,” the Governor said, referring to the sweeping change that my generation (18-30 year olds) will bring to America, “and we need to be in every state. We need to appeal to hope and empathy.”

Chairman Dean stressed how he hopes the Democratic Party can be a vehicle for change in America, and he urged us to aspire for more than the bare minimum in the political process, hoping that one day we’ll become campaign operatives or run for office ourselves.

To actually run for office myself one day seems like such a crazy idea, but Governor Dean is right; to make the world a better place, we have to do more than just show up to the polls. We have to be a part of the change.

(Zack Karram is a Summer Intern in the DNC Internet Department and submitted this post.)

Tuesday Morning Technical Difficulties

So we've spent the morning dealing with a variety of housekeeping issues.

Seth has been working on some technical issues that are far beyond my understanding and Jess has been doing the design thing - working out some kinks she was having with a difficult graphic.

We have a new addition to the internet team this week - Sean - who along with Seth will be working on the technical side of things that I don't really understand and helping our new editor, Christy, make sure things get done.

Governor Dean sat down for lunch with the DNC interns today and Zach, the internet department intern, will have a post about that soon.

June 12, 2006

Monday Night Open Thread

There is TONS of great stuff out there on YearlyKos including some awesome video at PoliticsTV and loads of photos on Flickr.

This is an open thread...

200 Interns

When I read that DC was packed full of interns during the summer months I didn't quite believe the hype.

I was wrong.

Governor Dean spoke during the College Democrats of America "Summer of Change" Speakers Series today. The event was held at the DNC and when I popped down to cover the event, I could barely make my way into the room.

I would say it was "standing room only" but I was barely able to get inside the doorway.

Governor Dean's main message to the interns: Make a difference, run for office:

I think you can do it, but you can't do it unless you run for Congress, you can't do it unless you run for Mayor, you can't do it unless you from for City Council or for School Board office.

He went on to answer questions about the 50-State Strategy, winning in 2006, energy policy and the Bush Administration (...incompetent and inept in every thing they do...") and then closed by once again, encouraging the interns to consider running for office, and if not running themselves, than to consider working on a campaign and reminded them, "not to underestimate the power someone your age has over my generation."

New Hampshire Phone Jam

An update on the intentional jamming of union phone banks by an operative of the New Hampshire Republican Party in 2002. It turns out that the guy who served time for his part in the phone jam, Allen Raymond, has fingered a larger GOP political culture as the true culprit.

Raymond called the criminal conspiracy to disenfranchise voters "part of a Republican political culture that emphasizes hardball tactics and polarizing voters" in a Boston Globe profile.

"Republicans have treated campaigns and politics as a business, and now are treating public policy as a business, looking for the types of returns that you get in business, passing legislation that has huge ramifications for business," Raymond said. "It is very much being monetized, and the federal government is being monetized under Republican majorities."

Raymond cited other examples of those tactics, including "recent efforts to use border-security concerns to foster anger toward immigrants to his own role arranging phone calls designed to polarize primary voters over abortion in a 2002 New Jersey Senate race."

Unbelievable.

Apparently, the legal fees from this case have virtually bankrupted the New Hampshire Republican Party -- the Washington Post reported last month that their bank account balance was $733.60.

YearlyKos: Thursday and The Caucus Meetings

First stop on the YearlyKos trip - the Caucuses.

One of my favorite parts of my job at the DNC is that is that I get to work with the directors of The American Majority Partnership, a program that takes an issue-based approach to building ties with core constituencies that have traditionally supported Democrats.

As a result I was excited to be able to sit down with some of these constituency groups at YearlyKos and listen to what they had to say. Sadly we missed the first two early morning Caucus meetings because we had to deal with the logistics of arrival and make sure everything was set up for our booth in the exhibition hall, and for Governor Dean's arrival the next day. However, I did seek out some folks who attended the earlier panels to find out how they went and what was discussed. Still, it's not exactly the same.

The first panel I was able to make it to was the Hispanic Caucus. My immediate impression was that this was a group interested in actually discussing the issues. The chairs were arranged in a circle and there was a free exchange taking place, moderated by Kety Esquivel, of Latinos for America, and founder of CrossLeft.

The interesting thing about this caucus was that while there was the unifying theme – that of being Hispanic - the Hispanic culture is itself very diverse. As a result, so were the ideas about politics being passed around. At the end of the panel the attendees agreed to focus on a set of three items to work on, among them, to develop a stronger community for Hispanic activists online, in order to continue the discussion and to broaden it.

Immediately following the Hispanic Caucus was the Student Caucus - which actually ender up being a broader discussion on young Democrats in general. The room was packed, and the discussion was fast and intense - alternating back and forth between young voters in general and college democrats in particular. I couldn't tell you the actual number of students who were there, some were undergrads, some were grad students, some were with organizations that worked with young people - but we all agreed there is a vast difference between the two sects and the ways in which they get, and use, their politics.

It was a spirited discussion, where I was often compelled to chime in, based on my personal experience with chapters of YDA and CDA and based on being a young person and a student. It was definitely the caucus I felt most able to contribute to, and most at home in.

After the constituency caucuses there were the regional caucus panels - which presented quite the challenge since there was no way I could attend each and every one. Instead I tried to pop into each meeting and listen for a while and then catch up with regional bloggers afterwards, like Soapblox Colorado

My last caucus of the day was with the MyDD group. I went in search of the Asian American Caucus, but couldn't find the right room (where were you guys?!?!), and ended up with the MyDD community instead. As a huge fan of Chris Bowers, who I believe has some of the best original content in the blogosphere, and of Matt Stoller, who accepts nothing and questions everything, thereby forcing me to be more critical and see new perspectives, I joined other community members for a discussion on the blog, net neutrality, the idea of the netroots and some good old-fashioned mingling. I was surprised to look around the room and spot Maureen Dowd in the corner, quietly taking notes. It was then I realized that the standing room only crowd was peppered with traditional journalists, all eager to understand the blogosphere crowd and its leading opinion makers.

After the MyDD panel there was a YearlyKos evening reception with Laughing Liberally comedian Baratunde Thurston, cartoonist Tom Tomorrow, and DailyKos founder and YearlyKos namesake, Markos Moulitas. After the reception, we made our way to the Hard Rock Hotel to drop in on General Wesley Clark's reception. It was a packed room and the General was on-hand throughout the two hour reception. He spent about an hour just chatting with folks before making a brief speech.

After the reception I headed back to the hotel. Others headed out to enjoy the offerings of Las Vegas.

Help the New Orleans Public Library

Do you have a few good books gathering dust?

The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover and paperback books to restock the shelves after Katrina.

The books can be sent to:

Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112-2007

I've also heard that the post office will offer a discounted rate to ship items to this address.

(Thanks to fellow DNC staffer, Terri, for reminding us of this great project.)

YearlyKos

Josh and I arrived in Las Vegas on Thursday in the early AM for YearlyKos, not really knowing what to expect. What I soon found myself drawn into was a flurry of panels, speakers, meetings and discussions. In short, it was amazing.

I have to apologize for not bringing you updates throughout the conference. Oddly enough, I think most of us found ourselves "unplugged" throughout the weekend, preferring to chase someone down a hallway rather than shoot them an e-mail. On top of that, I found myself rushing from panels to the DNC booth in the exhibition hall to the main room to hear keynote speeches each day. It was a non-stop whirlwind of activity and I am completely exhausted, yet exhilarated at the same time.

I think you will hear over and over again that YearlyKos surpassed everyone's expectations. I'm going to spend sometime gathering my thoughts on the various panels and caucus meetings I attended, in the meantime, here are two video clips from the conventions.

Governor Dean's keynote speech, courtsey of LinkTV and an interview Governor Dean did with PoliticsTV later that morning.

Gov Dean Drops By Asian American Action Fund Dinner

Chairman Howard Dean paid a surprise visit to the Asian American Action Fund annual dinner at China Garden Restaurant in Rosslyn, VA on June 7. The Asian American Action Fund is one of the few federally-registered political action committees devoted to assisting Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic candidates at the local, state and national levels. In addition to Governor Dean, this year's dinner featured Congressman Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair and Honorary Chair of the AAA Fund, Congressman Bobby Scott, member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Indian-Japanese American comedian Dan Nainan. The dinner attracted over 300 attendees, including Democratic candidates from California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland and Ohio.

The week before the event, the AAA Fund released a report on the dramatic increase in AAPI political participation in recent years. For example the report found that in the past ten years, the number of AAPI elected officials has nearly doubled, from 300 in 1996 to 555 in 2005.

Organizations like the AAA Fund are helping to fulfill the Democratic Party vision of moving the AAPI community from the table to the ticket.

Monday Morning Open Thread

Josh and Tracy are back today.

Update: Video of Dean speaking at Yearly Kos.

June 9, 2006

Weekend Open Thread

This weekend is Gay Pride in DC.

On another note, I'm fascinated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's alleged insider trading. Martha Stewart got skewered for less than this, but I don't hear much about Frist's potential stay in the big house.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER BILL FRIST (TN) Frist Subpoenaed By SEC On Suspicion That He Violated "Insider Trading Laws." "Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist... has been subpoenaed to turn over personal records and documents as federal authorities step up a probe of his July sales of HCA Inc. stock, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the subpoena within the past two weeks, after initial reports that Frist, the Senate's top Republican official, was under scrutiny by the agency and the Justice Department for possible violations of insider trading laws." [Washington Post, 10/13/05]

I'm just sayin...

Friday Open Thread

The SF Chronicle has an article on YearlyKos.

Specter v. Cheney continues.

Delay says: "Given the chance to do it all again, there's only one thing I'd change. I'd fight even harder."

We say: DeLay leaves a swirl of investigations, and the convictions and indictments of a number of his former aides.

June 8, 2006

Together, Oregon IS Doing Better

The Democratic Party of Oregon held its state convention in last weekend, June 2-4 in Eugene, Oregon. The theme was, "Together, Oregon Can Do Better" and it was clear with over 600 Democrats participating, that Oregon Dems are doing better. We boldly defined the party's platform but we also gave the field troops the skills they need to effect change in their communities.

Delegates also got healthy doses of inspiration, starting with Governor Dean's rousing remarks Friday night. Here's an unsolicited review from a conventioneer.

Special thanks go to DNC Staff Parag Mehta and Brad Martin who reinforced Dean's commitment to state parties with their attendance. Each offered exceptional trainings on leadership development, volunteer management and voter contact. Another highlight included a training by Mara Vanderslice and Eric Sapp of Common Good Strategies. They provided resources for electeds, legislative candidates, and all Party members on best practices for faith engagement. State Partnership staff, Justin Thiltgen, Jesse Bontecou, Autumn Wilburn and Cyreena Boston unveiled a "Neighbor to Neighbor" program for precinct organizing to increase mid-term voting and constituency outreach. And the rest of the DPO staff: Neel, Sarah, Kristine, Cindy, John, Tom, and Erin showed again why this is one of the best, most innovative state parties in America!

(Cyreena Boston is the Constituency Director for the Oregon Democratic Party and a staffer from the DNC State Partnership Project)

The YearlyKos Diaries: We Made It

Josh and I arrived in Las Vegas for the YearlyKos Convention safe and sound.

We are checked in and ready to go. I know I am very excited for the next three days - there are some fantastic speakers lined up, great workshops and a bunch of amazing people coming together because they care about the direction of our country and want to take it back.

I look forward to bringing you updates on our time here - hopefully some fun photos and maybe even some video.

You can follow the events remotely by checking out AirAmerica's site , where they are covering the convention live.

Thursday Morning Open Thread

Great op/ed in the NYT: Block the Vote, Ohio Remix.

June 7, 2006

Gore-bashing

(Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean sent an e-mail to folks asking them to tell Vice President Gore to keep figting.)

Hurricane season has arrived -- and two fresh studies point to a link between global warming and an increase in the number and power of storms like Hurricane Katrina.

What are Republicans doing about it? They're smearing former Vice President Al Gore.

One right-wing pundit compared Gore to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist. Another right-winger, who's been on the payroll of corporate special interests, likened Gore's pursuit of solutions to global warming to Adolf Hitler's pursuit of genocide.

I'm sending Al a note this week telling him to keep fighting, to keep standing up for the truth no matter how vicious the attacks. I thought he might like to hear from you, too. Sign on to this note of thanks, and add your own note of encouragement here:

http://www.democrats.org/keepfighting

Facts are facts. Global warming is happening, and it threatens our very existence. But it also presents a historical opportunity to rise above politics and act boldly. Despite right-wing efforts to silence him, Al Gore has articulated one of the great moral challenges of our time and tried to move people to act.

This should not be a political issue. We need a conversation about climate change and its consequences. But special interests in Washington have a tight grip on the Republican leadership, and an entire network of corporate-funded front groups has emerged to deny reality and attack the messenger.

They hope that scorched-earth political tactics will cover up the reality that the scientific debate is one they've already lost.

Vice President Al Gore deserves our thanks for his courage and leadership. Let him know you appreciate his stand by signing on to this letter of thanks before this week is over:

http://www.democrats.org/keepfighting

Did you know the National Academy of Sciences joined academies in the other G8 countries last year by concluding that global warming requires "prompt action"? Or that insurance companies are fleeing coastlines and charging huge premiums to avoid taking more losses from massive hurricanes? How about the fact that climate researchers have a new worry: that we could cross a tipping point that sends sea levels rising by 20 feet by the end of the century?

If you didn't know, that's by design. Corporate special interests are deeply invested in keeping us hooked to the status quo -- high gas prices, inefficiency, and dependence on foreign oil.

That's why last year, in the middle of a record-breaking hurricane season, Republicans in Congress and the White House gave oil companies $6 billion -- even as those companies ran away with the largest corporate profits in American history. And that's why we still have yet to see the Bush administration stand up and do anything to stop global warming.

Enough is enough, and people know it. Al Gore is demonstrating exactly the kind of courage and moral clarity that Democrats will bring when we take back Congress and win elections up and down the ballot this year.

The inconvenient truth is that global warming exists -- and thanks to Al Gore, it's now more likely that America will come together and do something about it.

Sincerely,
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. -- To get more information about the crisis of global warming and what you can do to help solve the problem, visit: http://www.climatecrisis.net

Citations

"You don't go see Joseph Goebbels' films to see the truth about Nazi Germany. You don't go see Al Gore's films to see the truth about global warming."
--Sterling Burnett, DaySide, Fox News, May 23, 2006.

"Gore believed in global warming almost as much as Hitler believed there was something wrong with the Jews."
--Bill Gray, as quoted in The Washington Post Magazine, May 28, 2006.

Tuesday Primary Results

On Tuesday, Democrats in eight states voted in Democratic primaries. We now have Democratic nominees in Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. We haven't talked much about these races because it is DNC policy to stay strictly neutral in the primaries. But now we can, and we look forward to covering the races on Democrats.org.

Here are some highlights:

In Alabama, Lucy Baxley is our Democratic nominee for Governor.

In California, Phil Angelides won the right to take on the Governator.

In Iowa, Chet Culver won the nomination to succeed Democratic Gov. Tom Vislack.

In Mississippi, Erik Fleming and Bill Bowlin will compete in a June 27th run-off for the Democratic nomination to U.S. Senate.

In Montana, State Senate Majority Leader and farmer from Big Sandy Montana, Jon Tester won the nod to take on Abramoff-ally Senator Conrad Burns.

In New Jersey, Senator Menendez won the Democratic nomination for a full term in the Senate.

In New Mexico, incumbent Senator Jeff Bingaman and Governor Bill Richardson won nominations for another term.

In South Dakota, Jack Billion won the opportunity to take on Republican Gov. Mike Rounds.

Congratulations to the all the winners of last night's primaries.

Federal Marriage Amendment Defeated in the Senate

The Senate voted today to reject an amendment that would have written discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. Republicans had been using this wedge issue in hopes of distracting from their failures and dividing Americans to win elections.

Republicans tried to end debate in order to force a vote on the bill. They failed to get 60 votes needed to end debate. Had this amendment to the U.S. Constitution come up for vote, Republicans would have needed 67 votes for it to move to the next phase, votes they clearly did not have.

Sierra Club Latest to Endorse Assemblywoman Linda Stender

Up in New Jersey, environmentally-minded constituents of the seventh district in central NJ have reason to cheer - Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender is running against current Representative Mike Ferguson (R). Rep. Ferguson's ratings from the Sierra Club, a leading environmental group, have declined to the point that the group recently decided to pull their endorsement of his candidacy.

The Sierra Club has not only endorsed his opponent, Assemblywoman Stender, but have also vowed to mobilize to ensure Rep. Ferguson is defeated.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has more information on pro-environment Stender.

Wednesday Open Thread

Josh and I head to Las Vegas today, so it's crazy here.

Chat away...

The Intern Files: FMA Hearings

Yesterday our new summer intern, Zach, attended the FMA debate in the Senate, this is what he had to report...

As a DNC intern, I have been afforded the incredible opportunities that Washington, D.C. provides, and today, I got to take full advantage of them.

My fellow interns and I attended the Senate hearing on the Federal Marriage Amendment - an enthralling and controversial debate.

In our time in time in the Senate chamber, yesterday afternoon, we were surprised by the political star power on both sides of the aisle. Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) rattled on about "family values" and expressed his support to abridge the rights of GLBT families in America.

Senators Feingold and Kennedy let the way on the Democratic side. By simply stating the obvious: Republican discussion of the Federal Marriage Amendment is motivated by a poor showing in the polls and the need to use a "wedge" issue to distract the American public from our more pressing concerns, at home and abroad.

Watching both Senator Feingold and Senator Kennedy continue to fight for equality among all Americans, and remind the Senate of the important issues of our day, reaffirmed my faith in the Democratic Party and our ability to thrive in 2006 and in the future.

Montana Primary Results

Meet your newest Democratic nominee for Senate from the great state of Montana, John Tester.

Congrats!

Montana is shaping up to be one of the hottest races in the nation.

They already have an amazing Democratic Governor - let's add a Senator now.

A great introduction to John Tester - check out this fantastic ad.

June 6, 2006

Midnight Primary Open Thread

Some of you may be crazy enough to stay up late to watch returns. I won't be live blogging them here - Kos, Swing State, MyDD - plus all the candidate blogs - have that covered.

But I'm watching them ('cause I'm crazy too!)

Congrats to Jack Billion in South Dakota, who will be facing GOP incumbent Governor Mike Rounds in November.

Other "key" races that have been called on the Dem side:

MS-02: Bennie Thompson
NJ-13: Albio Sires

Who Hotline says have "essentially been re-elected".

Yeah!

Sen. Harry Reid Makes Us Proud

There's a lot going on today. Just read an excerpt of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) floor speech today during the Federal Marriage Amendment debate on AMERICAblog.

It is this Administration's way of avoiding the tough, real problems that American citizens are confronted with each and every day:

High Gas Prices.

The War in Iraq.

The National Debt.

...

Each issue begging the President's attention, each issue being ignored -- valuable time in the Senate spent on an issue that today is without hope of passing.

Keep in mind conventional wisdom says this measure has no hope of passing. It is all about pandering.

Quote of the Day

"The secret to this game is you always want to be thinking politically, but you don't want to look political. This looks like desperation politics."

-- GOP strategist Ed Rollins, on CNN, discussing President Bush's proposal to ban gay marriage with a constitutional amendment.

(Hat tip: Political Wire)

GOP to Bush - Stay Away!

Today, an article by Bloomberg News describes the numerous Republican incumbents up for re-election in November who are looking to have President Bush raise money for their campaigns but are unwilling to appear with the unpopular Commander-in-Chief.

Some key excerpts:

"Republican congressional candidates throughout the U.S. love President George W. Bush's fund-raising prowess. They just don't want to be seen in public with him....

"At the same time, some lawmakers have failed to show up by his side as he raises money in states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland. Polls show that voters are unhappy with Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, energy prices and budget issues, and Democrats are looking to link Republican candidates to his record....

"'The president's poll numbers aren't good right now,' Chafee, 53, said. And Rhode Island, which backed Democratic presidential candidates Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004 is 'unfriendly territory' for Bush. 'I'm looking elsewhere,' Chafee said.... Senator Mike DeWine, a vulnerable Ohio Republican, didn't attend a speech Bush gave in his home state on the Iraq war in March and missed a health-care speech by the president in February. He did attend a private fundraiser in Ohio with Bush in February. Another is planned, DeWine said.... 'I've run for 30 years, and I've always run on my own,' DeWine said."

Click here to read the full article

Senate Heats Up With Republican Self-Interest

The Washington Post said it best this morning - this week's Senate agenda is all for Republican voters. The Senate is considering both the Federal Marriage Amendment and the Estate Tax this week.

The Federal Marriage Amendment has been discussed ad nauseum (here, here).

It's the Estate Tax that is getting me riled up this morning. The Washington Post article mentions:

In a letter to senators, a group of former advisers to President Bill Clinton notes that 997 out of 1,000 estates are not subject to the tax under current law.

So, it's the ultra wealthy that would benefit from a repeal of the Estate Tax. Not working families who need a break.

Who is the Senate looking out for this week? For Republican senators, the answer appears to be for the Republicans up for re-election in November. Tough luck for the constituents who are worried about jobs and the economy.

Primary Day Open Thread

In addition to the much talked about special election in CA-50, eight different states are holding primaries today:

Alabama
California
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
New Jersey
New Mexico
South Dakota

If you are an election night enthusiast, tonight is going to be one long evening.

I'm especially looking forward to results from the CA-50, Montana Senate race, California and South Dakota Governor's races.

This is an open thread...

June 5, 2006

Indiana Democrats Hanging Tough

The Indiana Republican party has hired a communications director after being pummeled by a "near-daily barrage of online attacks" from Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Jennifer Wagner.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and other state Republicans have taken a beating in recent months from the Indiana Democratic Party -- particularly from party spokeswoman Jennifer Wagner.

UPDATE: (Tracy)

That's your Democracy Bonds in action, folks. In addition to the much talked about field organizers, the DNC's 50-State Strategy has also provided funding for communication and research directors, depending on the needs of the state Party, in order to build a strong on-the-ground operation across the nation.

Strong state Parties then develop winning coordinated campaigns - well-organized and well-executed teams, working to win races up and down the ballot, in 2006 and beyond.

Monday Open Thread

Talk amongst yourselves....

June 4, 2006

Sunday Open Thread

Sunday nights without The West Wing aren't the same!

Just a reminder: Francine Busby is looking for a few good men and women to volunteer for Tuesday's special election day!

June 3, 2006

Saturday Open Thread

You have the power!

June 2, 2006

TGIF Open Thread

Chris Bowers makes me laugh!

Online Privacy in Jeopardy

Why does the DOJ want my online records? Today's LA Times investigates the Bush Administration's ploy to require online service providers to keep a record of every customer's online activity for two years. What is the justification for violating our right to privacy this time? Thwarting terrorists and child pornography distributors.

Big Internet and telephone companies are girding to fight an unprecedented call by the Bush administration for them to keep detailed records of customers' online activities for two years.

The request by Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III would dramatically expand the government's ability to track what people do online and with whom they communicate.

I'm glad to see the Department of Justice trying to apprehend child pornography distributors. In fact, I whole-heartedly support that - but like the domestic wiretaps - these things can go too far - invading and infringing upon the privacy of innocent Americans.

"This is not simply limited to kiddie porn or terrorism. It's a real break with precedent," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Data retention is open-ended. The government is saying, 'Keep everything about everyone and we'll sort it out later.'"

The Bush Administration seems intent on making it unpatriotic to question these tactics.

It used to be you could be called a terrorist for questioning the war. Then it was that you could be called a terrorist for questioning the government's collection of phone records. Now it seems they are hoping only pedophiles and child pornography peddlers would question why the government would need to spy on our online activities.

I'm neither a terrorist nor child pornographer, but I have to wonder why the government needs to know about my AMERICAblog and BruinsNation habit.

Don't Trample on LGBT Americans for Partisan Gain

(GLLC Executive Director Brian Bond sent an e-mail to folks asking them to support our efforts to tell President Bush and Senator Frist to not use discrimination for partisan gain.)

Imagine for a moment that you're Republican Bill Frist, the Senate's Majority Leader, and you have the power and awesome responsibility to control what issues the Senate considers and when it considers them. Knowing everything you do about the crises facing our nation and the things that most concern Americans, would your top priority be to:

A) Force the administration to change its failed strategy in Iraq

B) Help consumers walloped by $3.00 a gallon gas and take steps to reduce our oil addiction

C) Pass the first minimum wage increase in 10 years and develop plans to create good jobs in America

D) Expand educational opportunities for college by providing relief from skyrocketing college tuition

E) Ensure access to health care for every American

F) Amend the Constitution to deprive gay people of equal rights under the law

As someone who cares deeply about this nation, its problems and its future, you probably said A, B, C, D, or E. But Republican Majority Leader Frist chose F.

Why? Because it's an election year, and Republicans are in deep trouble. So they've decided that instead of addressing the things Americans really care about, they're trying to change the subject and using wedge issues in hopes of distracting from their failures and dividing Americans to win elections.

This time, LGBT families are the pawns in their political game. And this time, the American Constitution is their political playing field.

Majority Leader Bill Frist plans to bring up the "Federal Marriage Amendment" as the first order of business when Senators return on Monday. And to drive the message home, President Bush will host a Rose Garden event that same day, to reiterate his support for this divisive, unnecessary and diversionary attack on LGBT Americans and on our Constitution--even though his own Vice President opposes the amendment and his own wife says it's wrong to use this issue as a campaign tool.

This is a sad moment in American history. Over two hundred years ago, our nation's founders and framers thought guaranteeing rights and protections was so important that the first ten Constitutional amendments they proposed, which the states soon ratified, were an explicit Bill of Rights for individuals and for states.

Now, in an unprecedented move, Bill Frist and George Bush hope to convert this bedrock document that confers liberties and freedom into one that erases them. They want to deny equal rights under the law because of individuals' sexual orientation--and they want to deny to states avenues that would allow them to recognize and extend equal rights and protections to the LGBT community and their families.

This is shameful and wrong. It hurts LGBT Americans and their families, and it is inconsistent with the constitutional values that set us apart as a nation-and with how we do things in America.

Democrats are committed to equal rights for every American; we oppose discrimination in all their forms. We think it's wrong for the federal government to bar states from extending rights and protections to all their residents. We believe no church, synagogue or mosque should be told by the government whom they may or may not marry. And when it comes to government services and benefits, every citizen and taxpayer should receive equal treatment.

You can show Bill Frist just how wrong he is by signing this petition to stop this divisive amendment and tell him to put the Senate to work on the things that really matter to America and to Americans. Sign on here, and your message will be delivered the day the Senate begins debating the issue:

http://www.democrats.org/lgbtdiscrimination

Republicans have intentionally put divisive, anti-gay initiatives on the ballot in many states as well, and no doubt many nervous GOP Congressmen hope they can get reelected by scapegoating LGBT Americans instead of dealing with the challenges confronting our nation.

But for the first time in our party's history, we are fighting them everywhere. Through our 50-state strategy, we are providing state Democratic parties with needed resources, training and message assistance to fight these measures. At the national level, we are working closely with the leadership of key groups to magnify our capacities. And, around the nation, we are aggressively recruiting volunteers to take a message of equality, tolerance and results on issues that matter into every community.

Sending a powerful message to Bill Frist and George Bush that legislating discrimination defames good people and defiles our Constitution is an important first step in turning our nation around and in beating back efforts at both the federal and state level to scapegoat Americans for partisan gain. But our success depends on you -- so please take part in this action, and learn about what more you can do in the weeks and months ahead:

http://www.democrats.org/lgbtdiscrimination

With hard work and the participation of every American who has had enough, next year we could have a Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate whose answer to our opening quiz looks a lot more like yours.

Thank you,

Brian

Brian Bond
Executive Director, GLLC
Democratic National Committee

Worst President Since WWII Gets Desperate

USA Today details Bush's pandering to extreme conservatives. This is news to no one, but an interesting read.

Job Report Highlights Bush Economy Woes

More evidence of President Bush's failed economic record - economists expectations were not met yet again when nearly 100,000 new jobs expected in May failed to materialize. Worse, auto and retail sales in May show the growing economic divide in America.

[Updated] Read more.

Republicans Should Prepare to Get Burned

It's comforting to know, that future generations of Republicans show no sign of improving. At least we know what we're dealing with.

College Republicans' latest brilliant idea? Global Warming Beach Parties:

Freeze out environmentalist scare tactics with a little humor. The Oklahoma University College Republicans gave out free snow cones to students for an event they called "Global Cooling Day."

Stage an event like this one to grab the attention of your campus and raise awareness on the falsities of the global warming phenomenon. Engage with students and debunk some of the myths and cool the hyperbole surrounding the issue.

Prior to your "Global Cooling Day" event, arm your College Republican chapter with solid talking points on the issue, and then kick-back and enjoy the sun. The facts are on your side.

Consider staging a similar event on your campus--but make it a beach party instead. Kiddie pools, sand, bikinis--you get the idea.

In contrast, here is what one group of College Demorats have done:

The FSU College Democrats, along with the Big Bend Sierra Club, the FSU Environmental Services Program, and the Student Life Program Council at FSU, came together to host the "Turning up the Heat: Perspectives on Global Warming" discussion on Earth Day, Wednesday, March 23.

"We thought it was fitting to have this event on Earth Day," said David White, development vice president of FSU College Democrats. "Global warming is a topic that's often overlooked by the community as a whole. We are having the speakers tonight to talk not only about student activism pertaining to global warming, but the global issue as well."

College Democrats of America President Grant Woodard:

Beach parties mocking global warming are just another example of the misplaced priorities and short-sightedness of the Republican Party. The College Republicans' ignorance toward the seriousness of global warming and climate change shows a Party more focused on partying than talking seriously about the issues facing young people across America.

While College Republicans party on this summer, College Democrats will be knocking on doors, working to get Democrats elected nationwide. With young leadership like this, Republicans should prepare to get burned in the upcoming elections.

After Guilty Plea, What Else is Bush Waiting To See?

The DNC put out a press release this morning on the Tom Noe situation. If you missed it, Noe illegally funneled money to the Bush-Cheney campaign back in 2004, and the campaign will not return $39,000 of this money. More interesting is what this money may have bought him - an invitation to a White House ceremony honoring the Ohio State football team, and later the Chair spot on the Citizens Coinage Committee. Noe is a coin dealer. While this may seem dorky, it's also really sleazy. The Republican culture of corruption continues.

I'll post excerpts from the Press Release below, and post a link later today.

"The Democratic National Committee today, renewed its call for President Bush to return all the money that criminal fundraiser Tom Noe directed to his 2004 campaign. Earlier this week, Tom Noe plead guilty to federal criminal charges that he illegally funneled more than $45,000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004. According to media reports, the Republican National Committee responded to Democratic calls for President Bush to return all the money Noe directed to the Bush-Cheney campaign by saying they would wait and see what for the courts to tell them what to do. [Toledo Blade, 6/1/06]

“According to emails released by Ohio Governor Bob Taft's office, Thomas Noe used his influence to obtain an invitation to a White House ceremony honoring the Ohio State University football team.

“Leading Republicans in Washington and Ohio pushed to get Noe, a coin dealer, onto key commissions.”

Very Early Morning TGIF Open Thread

Just because...

June 1, 2006

Republicans Slash New Orleans Security and Disaster Preparedness Grants

As a present on the first day of Hurricane Season, Republicans have cut in half grants for security and disaster preparedness in the city of New Orleans. This comes as residents of New York City and Washington DC (myself included) heard news this morning that our disaster budgets were cut 40%.

True homeland security is not about slogans and speeches. It includes port and container security, international alliances, and, oh yeah, protecting cities attacked on 9/11 and helping Katrina survivors rebuild (and vote). Read more.

Second Day at DNC

Back in the 70's, my mom was one of the few female computer programmers -- at half the pay of her male counterparts. That's the answer to your question of how in the world a woman (yeah, I know you just called me girl) got into computers and politics. It's my second day on the DNC Internet Team, and Tracy Joan Russo insisted I introduce myself to the group. I am the editor of Democrats.org.

I started in politics back in 1998, interning with a state party for a Victory 98 campaign. I got into the Internet much earlier -- in 1994, in high school, on lynx -- with a text only (no graphics on lynx) web page for a class project. The Internet was just a baby, but I was already nearly 6' tall.

I have no idea how much I will be posting on the blog, but I look forward to torturing readers with my love for the greatest college basketball program of all time -- the UCLA Bruins. Go Bruins. And let's take back Congress, Dems.

Democrats Abroad: Thailand

Democrats Abroad Executive Director Ali Chalupa forwarded me the following letter from the chair of the Thailand Democrats Abroad, Phil Robertson.

Greetings from Bangkok!

Last week, Democrats Abroad Thailand (DAT) was particularly pleased to hold an event in Bangkok that was attended by more than 50 DAT members, and featured as our guest speaker Ms. Melanne Verveer, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Hilary Clinton. Melanne gave a half-hour briefing on the current political situation in the U.S., with a strong focus on issues & policies and their likely impacts on the 2006 election, and then took questions from the audience for another 45 minutes (until all the questions were finished!). There was really very good give and take, and open discussion about issues and concerns that Democrats feel, in an easy-going atmosphere at a local Thai food restaurant.

Thailand Democrats Abroad

Melanne indicated that she really greatly enjoyed the evening, and was impressed with the commitment of Democrats living abroad to stay up with issues, organize their fellow Americans, and work to make a difference in elections back home. A number of members remarked to officers of the DAT Executive Committee that this was the best event that they had attended since joining DAT. Phil Robertson, as DAT Chair, served as moderator for the evening and pitched people to join DAT, and pull in their friends.

Melanie Verveer, Former Chief of Staff to First Lady
Hillary Clinton and Democrats Abroad Thailand
Chair Phil Robertson

Approximately a dozen new Democrats Abroad members were found during the evening. Gary Suwannarat, the Asia-Pacific Vice-Chair, was also present and encouraged people to register to vote, and get their absentee ballots through the new DA website, www.VoteFromAbroad.org

Dems Abroad International Regional Vice Chair of
Asia Pacific, Gary Suwannarat

Thursday Open Thread

Good Morning...

Things you should check out:

• Chris Bowers has a piece on some recent analysis of the midterms
• NY and DC to receive less anti-terror funds
• The Dixie Chicks were on Larry King Live last night, talking about President Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and freedom of speech. Here's a video. I'm obsessed with the new CD.
• Swing State Project takes a look at CA-50 in a concise Cliff's Notes kind of way