Thinking About the News

>>The News Observer has this---
The robber was holding a gun to 5-year-old Mary Long's head when a 3-foot-tall Mighty Morphin Power Ranger leapt into the room.

"Get away from my family," 4-year-old Stevie Long shouted, punctuating his screams with swipes of his plastic sword and hearty "yah, yahs."

The robber and his accomplice, who was waiting outside the apartment Friday night, fled with credit cards, jewelry, cash and other items that Stevie's mother, Jennifer Long, dumped from her purse.

"I scared the bad guys away," Stevie said Tuesday evening at the apartment at 901 Chalk Level Road in north Durham....

He certainly is a brave little boy!

>>Senator Barack Obama met with musician/actor, Ludacris. The Chicago Sun-Times has the story:
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, contemplating a run for president, met privately Wednesday with rapper Ludacris to talk about young people.

''We talked about empowering the youth,'' said the artist, whose real name is Chris Bridges.

Bridges was in town to launch the YouthAIDS ''Kick Me'' campaign to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during a stop at Northwestern University in the Chicago suburb of Evanston.

The gathering at Obama's downtown Chicago office was a meeting of two star powers: Obama, who enjoys rock star-like status on the political scene, and Ludacris, who has garnered acclaim for his music and acting.

Obama declined to comment after their meeting but walked with Bridges to the elevator as he left.

Bridges said meeting Obama, known for his warm personal style, was like meeting with a relative....

I think that many people would like to see Senator Obama consider a run for the White House.

>>Republican Sen. Bill Frist has announced that he will not run for the presidency. Good! (CNN)

>>We subscribe to People Magazine. I could not bring myself to open it because Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were on the cover.

>>>Can you believe anything Condaleeza Rice or anyone in the White House says? The so called "summits" in the Middle East and Europe were nothing more than photo ops for Bush's future $500 million presidential library.

>>Bill O'Reilly is saving Christmas again! Can someone save us from Bill O'Reilly????????

>>Visit Wakeup Walmart to see the truth about how the megastores treat their employees.

>>This administration can't solve any problems. How was it that former Sec. of State Albright was able to sit down and discuss things with North Korea, and this administration doesn't have the ability to come even close????

Someone Else's Family Making the Sacrifice

A recent report, as described by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, showed how President Bush regards those fighting in Iraq. Here is an excerpt from that article:
Democratic Sen.-elect Jim Webb avoided the receiving line during a recent White House reception for new members of Congress and had a chilly exchange with President Bush over the Iraq war and his Marine son.

"How's your boy?" Webb, in an interview Wednesday, recalled Bush asking during the reception two weeks ago.

"I told him I'd like to get them out of Iraq," Webb said.

"That's not what I asked. How's your boy?" the president replied, according to Webb.

At that point, Webb said, Bush got a response similar to what reporters and others who had asked Webb about Lance Cpl. Jimmy Webb, 24, have received since the young man left for Iraq around Labor Day: "I told him that was between my boy and me."

Webb, a leading critic of the Iraq war, said that he had avoided the receiving line and photo op with Bush, but that the president found him....

While our service members sacrifice their lives and limbs in Iraq, the Bush twins are partying around the world at taxpayers' expense. Instead of using their time to volunteer in schools, shelters, or hospitals, they disrespect their secret service protectors and give all Americans a black eye.

The Bush family wants someone else's kid to go to war, lose a limb, make a sacrifice, and volunteer. Just like their father, the Bush twins are unwilling to make any effort to help anyone but themselves. It is time for the Bush parents to have a serious talk with their daughters and talk about responsibility. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen.

U.S. Fatalities Continue in Iraq

Despite President Bush's glorious assessment of the war in Iraq, our fatalities and injuries continue. A brief look at Iraq Coalition Casualties shows the war goes on and so does the hardship for our servicemen and servicewomen.

The leaked memo, as described in today's New York Times, shows that the Bush administration has no confidence in the Iraqi Prime Minister. Great timing! Just before Bush meets Maliki, word comes out that they don't trust him. This administration even fails at diplomacy!

Noe Owes $16.7 MILLION to the State

>Republican fundraiser, and best friend to every Ohio GOPer, convicted felon and coin collector, Tom Noe owes big money. According to the Dispatch:

Besides being sent to prison for nearly two decades, Thomas W. Noe must pay back $13.7 million he stole from a state coin fund he managed, a judge ruled yesterday.

Judge Thomas J. Osowik, of Lucas County Common Pleas Court, also determined that Noe must pay the nearly $3 million cost of the investigation and prosecution.

Authorities said it’s unclear how much Noe will be able to pay — but they intend to collect as much as they can....

>Why is Ohio Republican and House Speaker Jon Husted so interested in passing Gov. Bob Taft's core curriculum plan now? I question Husted's attempt to ram through legislation just before Governor-elect and Democrat, Ted Strickland, takes office.

Bush Twins Refuse to Leave Argentina?

Remember when Rush Limpbaugh made fun of little Chelsea Clinton? Then it was a big fat man picking on a child. However, the Bush twins have been in real trouble in Argentina and they are adults.

According to The Blotter, the U.S. Embassy in Argentina asked Barbara and Jenna Bush to leave the country because of security issues. Here is the posting from The Blotter:

Amid a growing barrage of front-page headlines, U.S. embassy officials "strongly suggested" President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, cut short their trip to Buenos Aires because of security issues, U.S. diplomatic and security sources tell ABC News.

But the girls have stayed on, celebrating their 25th birthday over the weekend and producing even more headlines about their activities.

Officials say the media coverage upstaged publicity plans for the new U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne, who had only recently arrived in the country...

...The Argentinean press blitz followed a report on "The Blotter" last week that Barbara Bush's purse and cell phone were stolen last weekend while dining at the popular San Telmo outdoor marketplace despite being guarded by the Secret Service.

Stories of the twins' visit took on wild proportions in the Argentinean press. One tabloid headline had the young women running nude in the hallway of their hotel, a report the hotel staff denied to ABC News.

According to sources, the U.S. embassy encouraged the two girls to cut their stay short because the added attention was making their security very difficult.

But to the dismay and anger of some U.S. embassy and security staff, the girls stayed on....

If these were your daughters, would you have allowed them to be disrespectful to their security group and the embassy? If these were your daughters, would you have made them return home?

It looks like the Bush family just doesn't know how to behave.

Road Trip!

With declining popularity at home and evidence of his incompetence showing more each day, President Bush has another road trip planned. This time, he plans to go to Jordan to discuss Iraq. Although he has refused to re-deploy troops, Bush appears to want to discuss the same old strategies that haven't worked. Instead of staying home and working on plans to end the war, Bush will do the same song and dance in front of the same people and accomplish nothing.

This administration needs to face facts ---- Rep. John Murtha was right from the beginning. Bush will not admit he was wrong or that he has made mistakes. It is a shame. While this administration continues this unpopular war, our troops die in a war that has outlasted World War II. It is time to bring our troops home.

While Iraq Burns and People Die, Bush Rides His Bikes

The violence in Iraq is getting worse. While the shootings and bombings have increased in Iraq, President Bush has been riding his bicycles. According to Yahoo News, Bush has been using his mountain bikes to keep himself busy. Bush has received bikes as gifts from manufacturers and some have the Presidential seal on them.

Every single time I read about Bush and his bikes, I am reminded of a bit that Jim Ward does on the Stephanie Miller Show. Ward imitates Bush's voice and an old fashioned bike bell is heard in the background.

Has President Bush just given up on Iraq? Is he waiting for his father and Jim Baker to rescue him from the mess in Iraq? There just seems to be too much playtime in this president's schedule.

Don't Bother Me

Don't bother me with stories about O.J. Simpson. He is a disgusting human being.
Don't bother me with another report about Tom and Katie's wedding. Who cares? Cruise is just trying to gain more followers to his cult.
Don't bother me with a K-Fed tale. The guy is an idiot.
I don't care if a turkey was pardoned by the President.

I do care that there is a war going on in Iraq and three Marines were killed.
I do care that this administration can't figure out how to get us out of Iraq. I'm worried that they've screwed up other things and we just haven't heard about it yet.

Time for Bush Administration to Use Diplomacy

A majority of the American people want us to get our military out of Iraq. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has not gotten the message. They continue to go about the war as if they had all the time and money in the world. Earlier this year, President Bush said the removal of our military from Iraq would be left up to the new President. By that time, more of our service members will be dead and wounded. It is time for the Bush administration to stop being so damn stubborn and use diplomacy to get us out.

According to Wikipedia, diplomacy is defined as the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or nations. It usually refers to international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, culture, economics, trade, and war.

Diplomacy has been used by leaders throughout history. However, it does take a lot of research, negotiation, and hard work, and these are the three things that this administration doesn't seem to like. Hopefully, the new Democratic House and Senate will force the administration to use diplomacy to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home soon.

Abstinence Programs Making a Bundle

Last evening I caught a small portion of the Rachel Maddow Show. Dr. Maddow said that abstinence programs have received millions and millions of dollars from the federal government in the form of grants. By law, the abstinence programs must set aside 15% of their funding to assess and report the results of their programs. Unfortunately, these church-based programs are not doing it, and they know that the Bush administration will not force them to report their results.

What do these abstinence programs teach? Maddow pointed out that they DON'T teach about birth control or how to prevent STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). However, they do teach one thing----- don't have sex.

Seriously, these programs are doing nothing to prevent teenage pregnancies. They are, however, providing money and training to right wing conservatives and their religious organizations. As Maddow pointed out, by giving them federal grants, the Bush administration is providing training on how to get those grants and how to keep them.

While people like Ted Haggard and others line their pockets with federal money, other programs have lost funding. It is time that we start to ask questions about these programs. Write to your Democratic Senator and Congress Member and express your concerns.

Monday, Monday

1. The number one story here in Ohio was the OSU game. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat that team from up north on Saturday 42-39!!! GO Buckeyes! Apparently, the game was a big ratings hit. According to the Hollywood Reporter:
Saturday afternoon's Michigan-Ohio State thriller drew the largest audience for a regular-season college football game since 1993, ABC said Sunday.

The battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams -- both undefeated until Saturday -- averaged 21.8 million viewers on ABC, according to preliminary estimates released Sunday afternoon by Nielsen Media Research. Ohio State was leading most of the game but held on against a late-game charge by Michigan to win 42-39 at home....

2. President Bush has been met by huge anti-Bush demonstrations in Indonesia. MSNBC has the story.

3. The U.S. has lost 47 service members in Iraq for the first 20 days of November, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty site.

4. Think Progress: Bill O'Reilly says iPods are Endangering America. What? What is the real problem? Doesn't Bill know how to buy and download music? Does he condemn everything he doesn't understand? Note to all iPod users: O'Reilly thinks you are dangerous!!!

What game?

There is only one thing on the minds of the citizens here in Columbus, Ohio, and that is The Ohio State Buckeyes. The Dispatch has full coverage.

GO BUCKEYES!

News for Friday

>>>You may have seen this video, but I will post the link. A student in the library at UCLA was tasered several times because he did not have his student ID. Do you think the police handled it properly? Watch the video at Crooks and Liars.

>>>The state of Florida has started a new investigation of disgraced Republican Rep. Mark Foley. Here is an excerpt from
The Gainesville Sun:

Florida authorities have opened a criminal investigation into whether former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley broke any laws with sexually explicit computer messages he sent to male teenage pages who worked on Capitol Hill.
"It was a preliminary inquiry before, but we found the basis to open up a criminal investigation," Kristen Perezluha, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said Thursday. She would not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. The FBI is also investigating whether Foley broke any federal laws....

>>>Why have Latinos abandoned the Republican Party? One word: Immigration. An article at AlterNet explains it all.

>>>Democratic Rep. John Murtha has blogged over at Huffington Post. Here are some excerpts:

...I ran for Majority Leader to put the issue of Iraq front and center and to push as hard as I could to change our war strategy. Like you, many of my colleagues understood that this race was about delivering on our promise we made to the American people a little over a week ago.

I am especially grateful for the support of our next House Speaker, and the first woman to hold the position, Nancy Pelosi. I just can't say enough nice things about her. And I congratulate Steny Hoyer and will work closely with him. While we didn't win, nothing has changed my commitment one bit.

Don't get me wrong, other things matter too, such as ethics reforms and the Democrats' agenda, and I'm going to keep my promise to work hard with Speaker Pelosi and the Leadership to pass those as well.

But Iraq is the key. Democrats won the election because we spoke up, and the real test of our leadership lies ahead. Thank you for your support, and now let's get to work.

>President Bush finally makes it to Viet Nam---thirty years after the war.

>Can someone explain why Glenn Beck still has a job at CNN? Shouldn't he be fired for his behavior, as reported by Media Matters.

Adam Putnam and Trent Lott= The Faces of the Republican Party

It is not hard to see why the Republican Party is made up of mostly white men. The Republicans just can't bring in minorities, women, and various groups into their party. Why? Here are some examples:

Hotline On Call:

“White rednecks” who “didn’t show up to vote for us” partly cost GOPers their cong. majorities, Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) told fellow Republicans today. And Putnam, seeking the post of GOP conference chair, chided ex-Chair J.C. Watts (R-OK) for ruining the conference’s ability to serve its members...

...Examining the 2006 midterms, Putnam blamed the GOP defeat on “the independent vote, the women vote, the suburban vote.” He said that “heck, even the white rednecks who go to church on Sunday didn't come out to vote for us.”

Putnam used Watts’ tenure as chair to contrast his own vision for the conference, saying the GOP needed a “bolder” vision than the type of strategy preferred by Watts. According to one Republican’s notes, Putnam said that “JC Watts ruined the Conference by removing the member services functions that it offered until 1998” by turning it into only a communications and press vehicle. According to two Republicans, Putnam took the same swat at Watts during a Republican Study Conference session yesterday...

Putnam would probably like to go back to the days when only white men could vote. Putnam is doing a great job convincing us that he is a racist and a sexist. Nice job, Putnam!

Washington Post (12/7/2002):

Senate Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi has provoked criticism by saying the United States would have been better off if then-segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948.

Speaking Thursday at a 100th birthday party and retirement celebration for Sen. Thurmond (R-S.C.) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Lott said, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

Thurmond, then governor of South Carolina, was the presidential nominee of the breakaway Dixiecrat Party in 1948. He carried Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and his home state. He declared during his campaign against Democrat Harry S. Truman, who supported civil rights legislation, and Republican Thomas Dewey: "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."

And now from the New York Times (11/15/2006):

Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who was driven from the Republican leadership four years ago after he made a racially insensitive comment at a birthday party for Senator Strom Thurmond, returned to the Senate’s top ranks today, winning election as minority whip in the next session by a single vote....

How can Trent Lott, racist Republican, be back in a leadership position in his party? Republicans should be ashamed to have such a man as a leader.

Putnam and Lott are examples of what makes up the Republican Party and that is why I'd never join it.

Chris Matthews

If Chris Matthews had been a student in my classroom, he would have had permanent detention. The man asks a question, and then rudely talks over the person responding. Could Dan Abrams tell Chris Matthews to be a polite listener? When Matthews starts going into one of his rude tantrums, I just turn the channel.

The other night I put on MSNBC just before Countdown with Keith Olbermann started. Matthews had about one minute left in his program and he predicted that the GOP would have John McCain and Haley Barbour as their ticket in 2008. Haley Barbour? Didn't he have some ethics problems with his lobbying group? In my opinion, McCain and Barbour sound like a good losing ticket for the Republicans. However, just a few nights ago, Chris Matthews was having his love festival talking about Rudy Giuliani. McCain, Barbour, Giuliani, or whatever, I think it will take a lot for Americans to trust the "stay the course" Republicans again.

Thank you, Dr. Howard Dean!

As Democrats, we need to honor the '50 State Strategy' that Dr. Howard Dean designed when he became the leader of the Democratic Party. Dean's plan to organize each precinct in every state was a successful endeavor and allowed Democrats to win majorities in the House and the Senate.

However, now there are some in the Democratic Party who want to abandon the Dean strategy. To James Carville and others: Don't mess with success!

Would Gov. Taft Pardon Tom Noe?

Convicted of 29 felonies, Republican fundraiser, Tom Noe will be sentenced soon. However, under Ohio law, it is possible that Ohio's Republican Governor, Bob Taft, could give Noe a pardon. The Toledo Blade has an article that discusses the possibility:

Gov. Bob Taft said yesterday he hopes Judge Thomas Osowik gives a stiff sentence to the man who derailed his legacy by triggering a corruption investigation that led to his own conviction.

“Tom Noe obviously had his day in court, the jury looked at all the evidence, and the jury spoke, and the jury determined that he was guilty,” Mr. Taft said. “Now justice should be served and should be done, and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

And conspiracy theorists can relax.

Mr. Taft said he has no intention of giving Mr. Noe a pardon.

When asked if he would exercise his right to grant pardons to Noe or anyone involved in the scandal, the governor said, “No. No.”

The issue of a pardon has been raised by many — in the Lucas County courthouse and beyond — who wondered if Mr. Taft would let one of his former political patrons and best fund-raisers off the hook for the 10 or more years he faces in prison.

In Ohio, the sitting governor can grant pardons to individuals who are convicted of crimes in state courts.

Noe was convicted Monday of 29 felony counts related to charges that he stole more than $2 million from the rare-coin funds he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation....

We can only hope that Taft keeps his word and doesn't give Noe a pardon.

I Almost Fell Off My Chair When I Read This...

Raw Story is quoting The Blue State on the latest Rudy Giuliani quip:

Yesterday, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani set up an exploratory committee for a possible run at the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Arizona Senator John McCain made a similar announcement over the weekend. It is likely that Bill Frist, Mitt Romney, George Pataki and Mike Huckabee will do the same in the coming weeks.

As of now, if he does indeed run, Giuliani will try to gain Republican support by cuddling up to President Bush. The former New York Mayor defended George W. Bush yesterday, even comparing the recent anti-Bush sentiment to the kind that the late Winston Churchill received years ago:
"It doesn't matter what the media does to ridicule him or misinterpret him or defeat him. They ridiculed Winston Churchill. They belittled Ronald Reagan. But like President Bush, they were optimists. Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present, and it's set on a future of real peace and security," Giuliani said....

Wow! George Bush, who has an approval rating of 31%, is like Churchill????? Churchill? Give me a break!

Why is Chris Matthews working as a cheerleader for Giuliani? Matthews should get out of his office once in awhile a read some stories about Giuliani and how he created so many problems in NY. What about those divorces and that big public scandal surrounding his wife and his mistress? Are these people serious?

Tom Noe Headed to Prison

Tom Noe, Republican fundraiser and friend to the Ohio GOP, is headed to a new destination ----- prison. Noe was found guilty of 29 of 40 felony counts, according to the Dispatch.

>According to Iraq Coalition Casualties, the U.S. has lost 35 service members in the first 14 days of November.

>Joe Lieberman is threatening to join the Republicans, according to Courant. The people of Connecticut should give him a call at his office.

>From the Huffington Post on why Jack Murtha should become Majority Leader: ...Here's the best summation of why Dems should vote for Jack Murtha, courtesy of Rep. Jim McDermott: "The president's worst nightmare is to have to sit at breakfast with Jack Murtha...Jack will be a real leader."

What family values????

I've heard that Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani are both setting up presidential exploratory committees. Do you know how Newtie and Rudy are the same? Both men have been married 3 times and divorced twice. This must be part of the new Republican family values: dishonor your marriage vows, disrespect your wife, and be involved in adulterous and public affairs.

I would not vote for either of them.

Democrats Getting to Work

With new majorities in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and even the office of the Governor in Ohio, Democrats are excited and ready to get to work.

Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi has her agenda ready, according to the Seattle PI: "Jobs, health care, education, energy independence, a safer America, a dignified retirement -- that's what the Democrats are all about and we're going to do that in the first 100 hours," Pelosi said on the campaign trail.

Senator Carl Levin said the following, according to Reuters: "We need to begin a phased redeployment of forces from Iraq in four to six months," Levin said on ABC's "This Week."

In Ohio, Governor-elect, and Democrat, Ted Strickland, is preparing his agenda for his term. He will most definitely try to fix the school funding problem in Ohio. The Dispatch has some background on it.

The most refreshing part of the new Democratic majority is that Republican Rep. Sensenbrenner won't be able to leave a congressional hearing room with the gavel and shut off the microphones.

We have priorities in central Ohio!!!!!

This is the big week----Ohio State will play against UM in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Fans across Ohio will be preparing for the 'big game.' However, the absentee and provisional ballots from the recent election will not be counted until the day AFTER THE GAME. We have to have priorities!!!!!

Even though she is from Ohio, Katie Holmes must not be a Buckeye fan. News reports have stated that Miss Holmes will marry Tom Cruise on Saturday. No real Buckeye fan would schedule their wedding on the day of the 'big game.' Tsk. Tsk.

The game this year will be at 3:30pm. The tradition was that it was always a noon game. However, television changes everything. I heard that the sport executives wanted to have The Game at 8pm, but Ohio State said NO.

Did you know that you can vote for Troy Smith for the Heisman?

More politics tomorrow.

What happened to the Republicans?

Go Bucks!

With the staggering loss that the Republicans suffered in the midterm elections, is it right to ask if the Republican party is dead?

The Republicans hurt themselves continuously over the months before the election. Americans tend not to like a political party with leaders who are adulterers, pedophiles, racists, mistress chokers, wife slappers, 'macaca' callers, bribe takers, liars, and cheaters.

We will wait and see if the Republicans can clean up their behavior.

When Ted Comes Marching In

When Ted Strickland becomes Governor of the state of Ohio certain things will change:

1. Bob Bennett of the Ohio GOP won't run the governor's office.
2. Republican and Speaker of the House, Jon Husted, won't be able to dictate what projects get done in his district.
3. The Republican cash machine, the Ohio Department of Transportation, won't be taking payoffs from contractors for highway projects.
4. All Ohio contractors will be welcomed to place bids for work, not just GOP contributors.
5. The Republican appointees in various state offices who get paychecks but sell cosmetics, newspapers, work on crossword puzzles, and play video poker all day, will be out on their backsides. (You know who you are!)
6. A new set of priorities will emerge: educate our children, bring jobs to Ohio.
7. Government ethics will be discussed and practiced.
8. The people of Ohio will be proud of their state again.
9. Bright, qualified people will fill jobs in the state government instead of the relatives of major GOP contributors.
10. The state legislature, still controlled by the Republicans, will deliver to Ohioans, or we'll throw those bums out of office next time.

You can count on it!

Veterans' Day

In honor of Veterans' Day, I'm posting In Flanders Fields:

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

*Today is the 231th anniversary for the U.S. Marine Corps. There will a dedication for the National Museum for the Marine Corp today.

*By the way, this White House and the Republicans have not done enough to protect our military and help our vets. All you need to do is read about the death of Pat Tillman.

*A lot was written about the meeting between Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi and President Bush. Mr. Bush will find that it will be more difficult to push through his agenda. Let me rephrase that---it will be impossible. Pelosi and the Democrats will get to work to help the middle class, end the war, and move legislation that helps real people, not corporations.

Majority in the House AND the SENATE!!!!!

>It is clear that the Democrats are ready to get to work. Here is an excerpt from an article from MSNBC:

“This new Democratic majority has heard the voices of the American people,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat all but certain to become the nation’s first female speaker, adding that Americans placed their trust in Democrats. “We will honor that trust. We will not disappoint.”

Thank you, future Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi!!!! Why were Republicans so afraid of a woman who is also a wife, mother, and grandmother?

Hey, Nancy, time to take out the tape measure and measure for the new drapes!!!!!!!!

Ohio Issues

Dispatch: Ohioans voted to increase the minimum wage. Issue 2 passed with a comfortable margin. Voters turned down Issue 3, the Learn and Earn gambling proposal. Finally, Ohio voters have decided to ban smoking in public places with the passing of Issue 5.

Whoopity-doo!

Rush Limbaugh did a great job helping the stem cell issue pass in Missouri. I'm sure Republicans will continue to go to the pompous jerk for more advice in the future.

Ohio: Voting Problems, Again

I just heard a report from a caller on The Stephanie Miller Show. The caller indicated that all four Diebold voting machines in a predominately African-American precinct in Alliance, Ohio, were not functioning. Also, a woman called in from Columbus to say that an African-American man was denied the right to vote.

They'll be a special place in hell for those people who deny Americans the right to vote. Shame on the Republicans and their voter suppression.

Our Fatalities Continue in Iraq

Since the beginning of November, the U.S. has lost 19 service members. The Iraq Coalition Casualties site shows that while the White House continues their "stay the course" or "meet the benchmarks" or whatever the hell they call it, our young people continue to die in Iraq. Bush's policies in Iraq is a failure. Need to see a reason to bring our men and women home? Visit the Washington Post page that shows the faces of some of our service members.

We need to put Democrats in the House and the Senate. It is the only way to stop the policies of the Bush administration. Do your part on election day: VOTE FOR CHANGE.

Make Those Calls

Even if you must work tomorrow, make some telephone calls to family and friends. Remind them of the importance of voting. Offer a ride to a neighbor to your local polling location. Ask a neighbor with kids if you can babysit for a half hour while they vote.

Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day. I can already feel the energy.

We have a chance to make a dramatic change in the course of our country. Get out and vote Democratic.

Be Prepared

>Some citizens are getting Republican "robo calls" which attempt to discourage and harass voters. The Republicans have done this before and they are doing it again. If you need further information about the calls, check out Talking Points Memo.

ABC News has a post on making sure your vote counts.

If you live in Ohio, bring your identification in order to vote.

>>I still wonder.....
Did the people of Virginia know that George Allen was such a racist before this campaign?
Would Jim Talent of Missouri still support Bush's war in Iraq if his own kids were on their third or fourth tour of Iraq?
Did Deborah Pryce notice anything odd about her best friend Mark Foley and his relationships with pages?
How much food did Conrad Burns and his staff consume at Jack Abramoff's restaurant?
Will Bob Ney, the newly resigned and disgraced former Republican congressman, pay for his own sushi?
Would Jean Schmidt like to have a nuclear waste dump in her own backyard?
How long will Steve Chabot continue to support the war in Iraq?
If the Democrats sweep the state of Ohio, how many of Republican Jon Husted's pet highway projects be stopped because they are improper?

Just asking.....

Things People Say

The best sign I've seen in a long time (and it is in Ohio's 15th congressional district):

REPUBLICANS SUCK

Republican candidate for State Senator in Ohio, David Goodman, said the following at Otterbein College, October 4, 2006:

"I DON'T NEED THIS JOB."

Obviously, we don't need to vote for him and should vote for Emily Kreider, Democrat.

In his letter to Hastert, Ney made no mention of his wrongdoing. He wrote: "It has been an honor to serve the people of the 18th congressional district of Ohio for the past 12 years."
"Having completed all outstanding work in my congressional office, I now hereby resign," added Ney, 52. (Link )

Missouri candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Talent is against stem cell research. What if scientists were on the brink of a cure for cancer, Parkinson's Disease, MS, and/or Alzheimers, and they said they needed just a little more time with stem cells to create a cure? How many people would die because Talent is against scientific stem cell research? Could stem cell research save our relatives who are sick? Talent doesn't want us to find out.

Tammy Duckworth

Why did the VFW PAC endorse Tammy Duckworth's opponent and also Dennis Hastert? How is it that a real vet like Duckworth doesn't get an endorsement? I smell something stinky and I hope that those VFW members call their leadership and complain.


GO BUCKEYES!!!!!

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Those Republicans are just plain hypocrites. Republicans believe that Americans should 'do as they say, not as they do.' They say they have 'family values.' Are these Republican scandals examples of good family values?

>Republican Rep. Don Sherwood (PA-10): allegedly choked his mistress and paid her off. (LINK)
>Republican adviser to President Bush, anti-gay minister Rev. Ted Haggard: allegedly bought drugs and sex from a male prostitute. (LINK)
>Republican Senate candidate TN, Bob Corker: His blind trust wasn't so blind, when he was mayor.(LINK)
>Republican Sen. Conrad Burns (MT) and his staff used Jack Abramoff's Signatures Restaurant as a cafeteria. (LINK)

>Ohio Republican fundraiser, Tom Noe, the coin dealer and prominent Republican contributor whose $50 million state coin investment sparked one of the biggest scandals in Ohio state government history, was indicted today on 53 felonies, including theft of more than $1 million.(LINK)

>Republican Sen. John Kyl (AZ), says he supports the troops, but he has a 50% grade from the Disabled American Vets. He voted against giving troops body armor. (LINK)

>Republican candidate for Senate, Tom Kean Jr., dodges 23 questions about Iraq.(Video) Democrat Bob Menendez has voted to support the troops. (LINK)


Vote for change on November 7th.

THIS JUST IN!!!!! FROM AMERICABLOG:
Some statements are starting to roll in, and both reporters and elected officials seem to understand what a debacle this is. Sherrod Brown has the best statement thus far, saying, in part, "The news that [Senator DeWine, who is on Senate Intel] did nothing to prevent the publication of information that could help terrorists create a nuclear weapon makes me question his judgment. There's nothing intelligent about posting materials on the Internet that could aid terrorists . . ." Kudos to the Brown campaign for understanding and addressing the issue so adroitly.....

Thank God, Election Day is Next Week

>If you missed last night's Daily Show with Jon Stewart you can still see it online HERE. Stewart had some great things to say about the people of Columbus and The Ohio State University.

>Here in Ohio, we are being bombarded with political ads on the radio and TV. Also, we are getting visits from all types of national politicians to try to influence votes.

However, the biggest influence on votes in Ohio will be the Republican scandals (Taft, Ney, Noe, Bureau of Workers Compensation, Padgett, Schmidt, job losses, factory closings, etc.). The people of Ohio have had it with the dirty Republicans and want and need change.

>Here is a word of caution---- If your voting precinct is located in a church, watch out for pamphlets that may have been placed there to influence voting. If you see anything like it, throw them in the trash, because it is illegal to have them in a voting location.

Poll: Bush Does Not Have Plan To End the War

New York Times:

A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday, and say Republicans would maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold on to power on Capitol Hill, according to the final New York Times/CBS News poll before the midterm election.

The poll found that just 29 percent of Americans approve of the way President Bush is managing the war in Iraq, matching the lowest mark of his presidency. Nearly 70 percent of Americans said Mr. Bush did not have a plan to end the war, and an overwhelming 80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy....

President Bush has no plan to end the war....
...no matter how many speeches Bush gives in front of pre-approved supporters.....
...no matter how many times the administration attacks opponents to their policies....
...no matter how many press conferences are given at the White House....
...no matter how many times he attacks John Kerry....
...no matter how many times members of the administration stand in front of troops.....

This administration HAS NO PLAN TO END THE WAR.

The only way to bring our troops home is to get Democrats in the House and the Senate. The Dems will force the administration to face reality and end the war.

John Boehner Blames Generals for Mess In Iraq

Iraq is a mess because Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has berated, insulted, and questioned the knowledge and experience of the generals. Rumsfeld tried to wage war on the cheap at the beginning of the Iraq War by not providing adequate body and vehicle armor for our troops. He has continued to overstep the generals in the conduct of the war. There was no plan on how to leave Iraq because Rumsfeld would not take the advice of the generals.

However, Republican Rep. John Boehner, best friend of the tobacco lobby and sun-tanned golfer, said the following on CNN today (Raw Story):
(Warning: the following displays Boehner's ignorance.)

On today's edition of CNN's The Situation Room, Boehner and host Wolf Blitzer had the following exchange:

Boehner: ...[L]et's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld.

Blitzer: But he's in charge of the military.

Boehner: But the fact is the generals on the ground are in charge and he works closely with them and the president.


*Contact John Boehner here and let him know who you blame for the mess in Iraq.

The 7 Letter Word that Reminds Us of Republican Failure: Katrina

As we approach election day, we are reminded continuously about the accomplishments and failures of candidates. Sometimes people overlook the obvious. Nothing says failure more than the administration's war in Iraq: poor planning, a reluctance to listen to military generals, ignorance about the religious background of Iraqis, Rumsfeld's attempt of waging war with too few service members, and sending troops to war without proper body armor and armored vehicles.

However, the perfect example of the administration's and Republican Party's incompetence on the domestic side is their failure before, during, and after Katrina (yes, that 7 letter word). While the president remained on vacation, got a birthday cake from John McCain, and stayed on his ranch to hide from Cindy Sheehan, the people of the Gulf Coast suffered and continue to deal with hardship. The Republicans celebrated Bush's appearances in New Orleans, but the speeches did not provide homes, food, and rebuilding. The once beautiful Gulf Coast now resembles a vast wasteland. While this administration and its Republican supporters pushed for legislation to reward war profiteers and oil companies, the people of the Gulf Coast still wait.

The president and the GOP might not actually read your letter or e-mail. However, you can send them a message on election day:

Vote Democratic!