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!

GOP: Cover ups, Lies, Distorting the Record

The GOP is using cover ups, lies and distortions to get your vote. Here is a round up of some of the stuff that is being said:

A man approached Republican Sen. George Allen and asked, "Why did you spit on your first wife?" Full story at NBC29. The question itself is one that has long been a rumor about Allen's relationship with his first wife. Allen is quoting certain excerpts of Webb's books. However, Allen's alleged spitting on his first wife, shows his lack of respect for women and his wife. By the way, when will Allen release his arrest records? November 8th?

According to Media Matters, apparently a group of companies decided to blacklist Air America and refused to advertise on the liberal radio network. Wow! Do these companies want people to stop shopping/using their companies? Look at the list and decide who you'd like to avoid.

When will Republican candidate for Senate for Tennessee, Bob Corker, release his financial statements? What is he hiding?

Why isn't the administration talking about all the missing weapons in Iraq? Is this an example of how Rumsfeld is conducting the war?

NY Times:
...if anyone should apologize, Mr. Kerry said, it is President Bush and his administration officials who started the ill-conceived war. He said his remarks, which he conceded were part of a “botched joke,” had been distorted and called the criticism directed at him the work of “assorted right-wing nut jobs and right-wing talk show hosts.”

“If anyone thinks a veteran would criticize the more than 140,000 heroes serving in Iraq and not the president who got us stuck there, they’re crazy,” Mr. Kerry said in a statement. “I’m sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did.”

“I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed-suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq,” Mr. Kerry went on. “It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.”

At a televised news conference today in Seattle, Mr. Kerry said he was “disgusted” by the Republican attacks, which he noted were coming at the end of a bloody month in Iraq. “Sadly, this is the best this administration can do,” he said....

Huffington Post: Comedy Central's The Daily Show with host Jon Stewart is in Ohio this week, anticipating the midterm elections. Monday was the first Ohio show, and Stewart explained that while "obviously we wanted to get some Ohio politicians...apparently, many of them are preparing to leave office...or, go to prison," a reference to scandal-ridden Ohio politics and elections of recent years. See the video.

Republican Greg Hartman---Not so good!

Republican Greg Hartman doesn't know election law and is NOT qualified to be Ohio Secretary of State. When Hartman was clerk of courts, he exposed thousands of citizens to identity theft by posting their social security numbers on the clerk's website. Despite complaints, he kept the numbers posted and over $500,000 of fraud was committed using those s.s. numbers. For a full rundown about Hartman, check out ePluribus Media Community.

Democrat Jennifer Brunner is a better choice for Secretary of State. She can be trusted.

Liberal Talker Gets Death Threat

Liberal radio host, Stephanie Miller, received a death threat after her appearance on Hannity and Colmes. Today on her radio show, Stephanie called the death threat letter writer because he had included his name, address, and telephone number in his letter. I hope that some law enforcement agency or the FBI investigate the man, who described himself as a retired insurance agent. Besides Stephanie Miller, he also threatened Cindy Sheehan in his letter. The letter writer, identified as "Sock" Sokolowski of Centerville, Ohio.

Stephanie Miller is the daughter of the late William Miller, a Republican vice presidential candidate in 1964.

UPDATE: Brad Blog has the audio and now the text of the letter (minus the profanity) is posted at Stephanie Miller's website.

Ohio's Republicans Are Rich!

The Cincinnati Enquirer has listed the net worth of some of Ohio's Republicans.

...Sen. Mike DeWine of Cedarville is the richest, worth between $11.5 million and $47.5 million, followed by Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and George Voinovich of Ohio....
...A new database from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics lets users search for Bush administration officials and members of Congress to get details of their financial holdings. The net worth of each lawmaker is given in a range, reflecting the forms they must fill out...
...White House Budget Director Rob Portman sure knows how to manage his own finances. The former congressman is among the area's richest, worth between $6.1 million and $14.1 million.

Of the four U.S. House members from Ohio who are millionaires, two are from Greater Cincinnati: House Majority Leader John Boehner of West Chester is worth between $2.1 million and $7.7 million, while freshman Rep. Jean Schmidt of Miami Township is worth between $1.7 million and $6.7 million.

The area's three other House lawmakers lag in the wealth category, with Rep. Geoff Davis of Hebron, Ky., the poorest. His assets were valued at between $32,000 and $53,000.

To look up more information visit www.opensecrets.org...

Wow! Do you wonder if they pump their own gas, shop for groceries, and pay their own electric bills like the rest of us? If these guys are so rich, why is the rest of Ohio doing so poorly?

What I Learned Today

Today I learned that

1. Michael Steele is a Republican and he has no plan to get out of Iraq.
2. Michael Steele was the state Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.
3. Mike Lupica and other sportswriters need to give more respect to Troy Smith and the Buckeyes.
4. When the wind roars around Ohio Stadium at 40 mph, tailgate tents blow away, my toes get cold, and the Buckeyes are still hot.
5. David Letterman knows how to level a smackdown to "bonehead" Bill O'Reilly.
6. Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio's 2nd congressional district, would allow nuclear waste to be stored/dumped in her district.
7. Pat Tillman's brother, Kevin, is appealing to Americans to remember his brother on election day.
8. The administration tries to help Deborah Pryce by giving a well-timed transportation grant. Pryce still trails Dem Kilroy in the polls.
9. Republican John Boehner hearts Rumsfeld.
10. Republican Sen. George Allen had multiple arrest warrants were issued for him in 1974.
11. To change the direction of this country, you've got to throw the Republican bums out of the House and the Senate.

Tell Republicans to Talk About the Issues!

With all the Republicans pull out their smear campaigns, citizens should demand that candidates return to talking about the issues. Why would Republican George Allen rather talk about Jim Webb's writings instead of his own "stay the course" (or whatever phrase the GOP is using at this moment)? Why won't Allen talk about his divorce and how he treated his ex-wife???? Huh?

Why don't Republicans want to talk about Iraq? Republican Sen. Bill Frist told GOP candidates that if someone brings up Iraq in a discussion, that they should change the subject. Really? Here are some questions that may make the Republican candidates wet their pants:

1. How many tours of duty should a member of the service expect to serve in Iraq? 4? 5? 6? 10?
2. How many men and women from your district/state have died in Iraq?
3. How many times have you visited Iraq? What is your opinion of what you saw? Did you leave the "Green Zone" (safe area) when you visited?
4. What mistakes were made by Rumsfeld in Iraq?
5. How many more Americans will need to die in Iraq?
6. Have you attended any military funerals for service members from your state/district?
7. At what age should a person not be sent to Iraq (people in their 50's and 60's are on active duty in Iraq)?
8. What are your views on the large number of veterans who are suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome?
9. Have you supported the troops with your votes? (Check House and Senate votes to see how the GOP did NOT vote for the troops.)
10. How many times have you visited our wounded in military hospitals?
11. Who do you think knows more about how to fight a war, generals or Rumsfeld?
12. (This one's for George Allen.) How many confederate flags, confederate pins, and other confederate memorbilia do you own?

If you are going to a political forum, some of these questions would be appropriate to ask.


GO BUCKEYES!

Don't Believe It!

Have you seen this politically placed news release?

....Ohio RetireSafe announced today that Congresswoman Deborah Pryce has received its 2006 Senior Life Saver Award.....

Do you know who these people are? Does it surprise you that only Republicans got the awards? If you read the release, why are there only 16,000 members of the organization??? I'm just asking.

My Checklist for Election Day

Here is a checklist of things to do in Ohio on election day:

1. Vote a straight Democratic ticket.

2. Vote NO on 4. (Issue 4 is sponsored by tobacco companies. Enough said!)

3. Vote YES on 5.

4. Call everyone and remind them to vote......Democratic!

5. Chill a large bottle of water to celebrate all Democratic victories!

Rothenberg: Democratic Wave????

With only 12 days to go, don't let anything stop you from voting for Democrats:
Rothenberg Report:
With only a couple of weeks until Election Day, we know there will be a Democratic wave on Nov. 7. And we can be fairly certain that by historical standards it will be high - possibly very high. But we still don’t know how many Republicans once considered safe will be swept out of office.

The national political environment currently is worse than it was in 1994, when the Democrats lost 52 House seats, eight Senate seats and 10 governorships, and when Republicans won GOP control of the House for the first time in decades.....

...With the national environment being as it is - and given the last round of redistricting, which limits possible Democratic gains - Republicans probably are at risk to lose as few as 45 seats and as many as 60 seats, based on historical results....

Please!!! Please!!! Please!!!

Scary Republicans

Looks like there are more incidents that show Republican George Allen's racial insensitivity. Raw Story found it.

Oh, no, another Republican under investigation!!!! Republican Rep. Rick Renzi is the target of a federal investigation, according to UPI.

The man known as the "naked photographer" has lost his law license for at least two years. The man once worked in the office of Republican Ohio House Speaker, Larry Householder, lost his appeal before the Ohio Supreme Court (Dispatch).

The trial of Republican fundraiser, Tom Noe, has tarnished the reputation of current State Auditor, Betty Montgomery. Zwire:
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation investment scandal has transformed the race for state auditor into a quest for restoring public confidence in the office.
Tom Noe is facing state charges in the $50 million Coingate scandal. This has tarnished Republicans, including current state Auditor Betty Montgomery.
Coingate involved the loss of $50 million in rare coins, which brought a criminal investigation and became a subject for auditors. But the BWC investment scandal also included the loss of nearly $300 million through hedge fund investments....

Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH-2) is now in a tight race with Democrat Victoria Wulsin. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Schmidt is upset that her scandalous speech about Rep. John Murtha (Democrat and Decorated Marine) is now part of a political ad. Crooks and Liars has thankfully saved a video of Schmidt.

Before You Vote

Here are some things you should know about before you get in the voting booth:

Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons of Nevada has employed an illegal immigrant and forced her to stay in the basement. (KLAS-TV)

Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, has stopped a bill that would give research money for autism. (Fort Wayne)

Republican Sen. George Allen has only supported disabled American Vets 56% of the time. Virginia is the home to thousands of retired military. How do you think they'd feel about Allen's lack of support for them?

The announcer said that Lynn Cheney was going to appear on the Today Show. I had to change the channel.

Seen on Lane Avenue last Saturday: woman wearing a wire hanger with a sign that read "Kenneth Blackwell's healthcare for women." Blackwell is the Republican candidate for Ohio governor.

Donald Rumsfeld is very, very, very unpopular among our military in Iraq.

Which Republican is next?

Since former lobbyist and Republican friend, Jack Abramoff, is singing for the FBI, people are wondering which Republican will be indicted next? Could it be Republican Rep. John Doolittle? USA Today has some info about Doolittle:
...Doolittle, over five years, has accepted $140,000 from Abramoff, associates and clients, according to Federal Election Commission records. Grand-jury-subpoenaed records show that Abramoff's law firm paid Doolittle's wife, Julie, $66,700 for working for a personal charity of Abramoff's. A Senate committee concluded she was blameless in any bribery scheme because she didn't know the money came from a California Indian tribe....

The new release from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services shows the unemployment rate for Ohio was 5.3% for September 2006.

Who voted for this clown? Not me! From the Wall Street Journal, Bush said the following: “Occasionally. One of the things I’ve used on the Google is to pull up maps. It’s very interesting to see that. I forgot the name of the program, but you get the satellite and you can — like, I kind of like to look at the ranch on Google, reminds me of where I want to be sometimes. Yeah, I do it some.”

I'm going to visit 'the Google' on the 'internets.'

New Ratings

The Rothenberg Political Report has the following House ratings for the coming midterm election:

...Current Rothenberg Political Report projection: Democratic gain of 18-25 seats, though we think that a significantly larger Democratic gain, in excess of 30 seats, is quite possible. (Democrats need to net 15 seats for a majority.)...

TOSS-UP/TILT DEMOCRATIC (8 R, 4 D)

• OH 15 (Pryce, R)
• OH 18 (Open; Ney, R)
  

Jon Stewart

Next week, Jon Stewart and the crew of The Daily Show will be doing their show here in Columbus, Ohio. They will be broadcasting from the campus of The Ohio State University.

I wonder which guests will appear--- Gov. Bob Taft (too unpopular), Bob Ney (too disgraceful), Tom Noe (busy with his felony trial), John Boehner (probably golfing or in his tanning bed), Deborah Pryce (too busy spending the 8 pay raises she gave herself), Kenneth Blackwell (working on ways keep corruption in Ohio if he wins). Hopefully, Jon Stewart will have some real heroes on his show. In Ohio, the real heroes are regular Ohioans who have had to endure the culture of corruption that the Republicans have given us.

Foley Scandal Involves More Pages

It appears that Republican Rep. Mark Foley's sexual appetite for congressional pages was very widespread. More pages are involved. (Yahoo News)
Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley made friends with a wide circle of teenaged House of Representatives pages, then singled out "hot" boys to write to, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

The newspaper said it had identified four more former pages who said they were sexually solicited by Foley, who has resigned since the scandal broke last month.

One former page, who was not identified, said Foley sent him e-mails when he was 16 asking about "my roommates, if I ever saw them naked." Later, the former page said Foley hinted about a job opportunity "because I was a hot boy," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Two years later, the page, now 22, said, he wrote Foley to ask about hotels in Washington. "You could always stay at my place. I'm always here, I'm always lonely, and I'm always up for oral sex," he quoted the disgraced former member of Congress as saying....

Are the Republicans still saying they knew nothing??? That is just pathetic! While these pages had to fight off the attacks of a perverted member of the GOP, they looked the other way.

Saturday's Stories

Republicans need to keep their hands to themselves. Raw Story has the latest scandal:
A Republican Congressman's office is being sued for sexual harassment, according to Roll Call.

"Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), already enmeshed in the ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) page scandal, now faces a new controversy as a former staffer has sued his office for sexual harassment," John Bresnahan reports....

Missouri is being visited by Vote Vets. Republican Sen. Talent should be ashamed of himself:
Iraq veterans today are launching a television ad campaign in Missouri, saying in no uncertain terms that Jim Talent voted against them. Now they are calling on Missourians to vote against him. The ad, titled “Body Armor,” can be viewed by clicking here....

Actor, Michael J. Fox, is appearing in an ad to support the campaign of Claire McCaskill. Raw Story has the video.

GO BUCKEYES!!!

More Republican Scandals Developing

It appears as though Republican Rep. Curt Weldon has gotten himself in trouble ---- again.

CREW blog:

E-mails received by CREW have prompted us to ask the Department of Justice to investigate whether Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) violated the law by intimidating government personnel "in the national security field" who support his opponent, Joe Sestak.

The first e-mail describes a "hit list" compiled of Weldon opponent's supporters. In addition, that e-mail notes the Weldon said something to the effect of "If they don't think there will be retribution before or after the election, they're kidding themselves." The second e-mail states that Weldon had his staff contact Navy personnel to get information on Sestak.

CREW has asked the Department of Justice to investigate this very serious matter. The e-mails, which are provided below, detail a disturbing, and potentially unlawful, abuse of power. 18 U.S.C. §600 and 18 U.S.C. §610 are implicated with this kind of behavior.

Melanie Sloan stated that, "Not only has Rep. Weldon abused his position to financially benefit his daughter, he has threatened to misuse his position to punish those who support his political opponent. Rep. Weldon needs to learn that no one, not even a powerful member of Congress is above the law."

You can read the actual e-mails at CREW.

*Republican Jim Gibbon of Nevada had some problems, according to The Review Journal.

*Republicans are fighting against Republicans, according to The New York Times.

Ohio Right Wing Republicans Start the Smears

The Republicans are bringing out their smear machine in Ohio. With Blackwell almost 20 points behind in the polls, Blackwell and his extreme right wing Republican supporters have enlisted the help of a racist, hatemonger radio host in Cincinnati to lie and smear Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland. Apparently, the Republicans are so afraid of losing their cash cow in Ohio.

The people in Ohio have had enough!!!!! Taft, Ney, Noe, Schmidt, Blackwell, Boehner, DeWine, Johnson, Padgett, Pryce, Tiberi, etc., have been in power and brought scandal and corruption to new heights. Ohio needs to clean out the corruption in the various departments and bring in fresh leadership, a new agenda, and clean government. Why are Republicans afraid of a clean government?

Rolling Stone Has 10 Worst Congressmen

The newest edition of Rolling Stone Magazine has their list of the 10 Worst Congressmen. Here is an excerpt from the article about the Worst Congress:

There is very little that sums up the record of the U.S. Congress in the Bush years better than a half-mad boy-addict put in charge of a federal commission on child exploitation. After all, if a hairy-necked, raincoat-clad freak like Rep. Mark Foley can get himself named co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, one can only wonder: What the hell else is going on in the corridors of Capitol Hill these days?

These past six years were more than just the most shameful, corrupt and incompetent period in the history of the American legislative branch. These were the years when the U.S. parliament became a historical punch line, a political obscenity on par with the court of Nero or Caligula -- a stable of thieves and perverts who committed crimes rolling out of bed in the morning and did their very best to turn the mighty American empire into a debt-laden, despotic backwater, a Burkina Faso with cable.....

That is only the first 2 paragraphs of the article!!!!!

The 10 Worst Congressmen, according to Rolling Stone, are: Marilyn Musgrave, Hal Rogers, Curt Weldon, Dick Pombo, Tom Tancredo, 5, 4, 3, 2, and.......

..................the number 1 worst congressman HERE.

Are you surprised?????????? These clowns are the leaders in the House of Representatives! It is time to clean out the House.

Things Are Not Good In Iraq

The Huffington Post linked to this Think Progress piece:

Cheney: ‘General Overall Situation’ In Iraq Is Going ‘Remarkably Well’

Really? Things are going remarkably well?

Iraq Coalition Casualties:

Military Fatalities: By Month

Period	US	UK	Other*	Total	Avg	Days
10-2006	69	1	1	71	3.94	18
9-2006	71	3	2	76	2.53	30
8-2006	65	1	0	66	2.13	31

and.....
Yahoo News: 10 Americans were killed in Iraq on Tuesday.

Americans can choose to believe the tall tale that the Republican administration is telling us or we can seek the truth. Truth is better.

Republican't

Here in Ohio we have had our share of Republican scandals. I'll do you a favor. I won't list them all---just some - Gov. Bob Taft, Abramoff's friend Bob Ney, Republican fundraiser Tom "Coingate" Noe, the Ohio Bureau of Workers'Compensation's Missing Millions, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's BFF-(best friend forever) Mark Foley, the loss of 200,000 jobs, etc. How can I sum up all the corruption? The lovely people at Republican't have used their abilities to make a visual statement:

















A new poll by SurveyUSA has President Bush's job approval rating in Ohio at 37%. Wow! Do you think that Ohioans have had enough of the Ohio Republican corruption, the war, the job losses, the lies, the Katrina aftermath, etc.?

Tammy Duckworth

*Did you happen to catch the TODAY Show story about Democratic candidate, Tammy Duckworth? Duckworth is an Iraq war vet who is also a double amputee. Despite the fact that the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was hit, and despite the fact that both her legs had been blown off, she successfully landed the helicopter to save the crew. Duckworth is a real American hero! She would definitely be an asset to the House of Representatives because her insight and experience could help bring an end to the Iraq War fiasco.

*We saw MAN OF THE YEAR, starring Robin Williams. It is a must see!

*I heard a political pundit refer to Republican Sen. Mike DeWine as Mike DeWHINE. Ha!

*The trial of Republican fundraiser, Tom "Coingate" Noe, continues today. Here is an excerpt from The Toledo Blade:

Tom Noe was deep in debt when he convinced the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in 1998 to invest $25 million in rare coins, “setting the stage for one of the biggest swindles” ever committed against the state of Ohio, a Lucas County prosecutor said yesterday....

...Noe, 52, faces 44 felony counts related to charges that he took more than $2.2 million from the coin funds he managed for the bureau. He sat attentively yesterday, taking notes just in front of his wife, Bernadette, who sat in the gallery with her attorney, Charles Ticknor III....

Ohio Republicans have ruined our state and given away public money to their friends.

>>>>OHIO VOTERS:
Vote NO on Issue 4
Vote YES on Issue 5

Republicans Throwing in the Towel

No matter what you read or hear, it is important to go out and vote.

Raw Story is quoting a story in the New York Times:
...Senior Republican leaders have concluded that Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio, a pivotal state in this year's fierce midterm election battles, is likely to be heading for defeat and are moving to reduce financial support for his race and divert party money to other embattled Republican senators, party officials said.....

Here is the latest Survey USA poll on Brown vs DeWine. Brown 54% to DeWine 40%.

ABC NEWS: Ohio Republican fundraiser, Tom Noe, goes to trial this week on his 43 felony counts.

Kentucky.com: Republican Sen. McConnell of Kentucky has been described as "thuggish" in getting his campaign contributions. Tsk! Tsk!

No matter what you read or hear, it is important to go out and vote.

Ohio voters: VOTE NO #4 VOTE YES #5

Another Republican Scandal???

The recent behavior of the members of the Republican party make Democrats look like members of the church choir. Just when you thought you've heard about every single GOP scandal (I'll list some---Bob Ney, Tom Noe, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley, Brian J. Doyle, Susan Ralston, Scooter Libby, Don Sherwood, Tom DeLay, David H. Safavian, Claude Allen, Karl Rove, Jean Schmidt, etc. -- sorry if I forgot someone).....

Now the FBI is investigating Republican Rep. Curt Weldon.


GO BUCKEYES!!!!!

News from Here and There and Everywhere

UPDATE: ABC NEWS
Rep. Bob Ney pleaded guilty Friday in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation, the first lawmaker to confess to crimes in an election-year scandal that has stained the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush administration.

Standing before Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, Ney pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements. He acknowledged taking money, gifts and favors in return for official actions on behalf of Abramoff and his clients.

Ney did not immediately resign from Congress, and within minutes, Republican and Democratic leaders vowed to expel him unless he steps down. The White House also called for Ney's resignation....

Republicans are trying to hide their party identification. Local politician, David Goodman, does not say he is a Republican in his campaign ads. By hiding their party affiliation, Goodman and other GOPers are not giving voters complete information. I think it is wrong and dishonest.

Raw Story found a Business Week article that describes how the President's brother, Neil Bush, is making a bundle on the No Child Left Behind program.

The British Army Chief wants to pull out troops from Iraq.

Yahoo News: Non Profits Laundered Cash for Abramoff--

...The five groups named in the report are Americans for Tax Reform, headed by influential conservative activist Grover Norquist; the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, which was founded by Gale Norton before she became Secretary of the Interior; Citizens Against Government Waste, which fights "pork barrel" spending; the National Center for Public Policy Research, a think tank; and Toward Tradition, a religious group.

According to the report, some of the groups laundered money from Abramoff's lobbying clients and took payments to write newspaper opinion pieces. Some took payments from Abramoff's lobbying clients in return for introducing them to prominent Bush administration officials, while others underwrote trips for members of Congress that were actually paid for with money from Abramoff lobbying clients....

Have you visited the Sandbox?

Pryce's Antics Not Winning LGBT Voters

The battle for the control of Ohio's 15th district is continuing. Many view Republican Deborah Pryce's recent behavior and language as desperate. The Chronicle has this:

Charges of gaybaiting are being tossed around a hotly contested central Ohio congressional race as one candidate tries to connect the other to former Rep. Mark Foley and his page scandal.

Incumbent Deborah Pryce, R-15, accused her Democratic opponent, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, of trying to “gaybait her way to Congress.”

The charge, made in an October 6 news conference, is over a Kilroy radio ad.

The spot starts out saying that House Republicans sent troops into battle without body armor and gave themselves a $30,000 raise “while running up the largest deficit in American history.”

The indignant female announcer then takes most of the ad to discuss “Deborah Pryce’s friend Mark Foley” and his “predatory behavior” with underage pages, criticizing House Speaker Dennis Hastert for “ignoring the Foley problem” and Pryce for “protecting” Hastert.

The one-minute ad accuses Pryce, the fourth highest-ranking Republican in the House, of being “part of the problem in Congress.”

But there is no mention of anything gay......

....LGBT Democrats charge that Pryce, who is trailing Kilroy, is tossing the term “gaybaiting” around in order to get traction on a matter that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Pryce’s campaign did not respond by press time to numerous calls to answer how the ad is gaybaiting.

Kilroy spokesperson Amanda Wurst said the charge was surprising.

“The reason why we put it out is that it shows a failure of leadership in Washington,” said Wurst.

Lynn Greer, a lesbian Democratic Party activist, called Pryce’s characterization “outrageous.” Greer lives in Pryce’s district, which includes much of Columbus with rural Union and Madison counties.

“Deborah Pryce is showing no responsibility for how the Foley incident was handled,” said Greer. “This is her desperate attempt to drive a wedge into the public in order to distract from that.”

“Had [Pryce] not used the word ‘gaybaiting’ no one would have paid any attention to her press conference or written anything about the ad,” said Greer, “not the Dispatch, and not the Gay People’s Chronicle.”

Greer said Pryce is trying to create controversy among LGBT voters that otherwise would not be there.

“It’s a close election,” said Greer.

Kilroy has a long relationship with the Columbus area LGBT community, including her distinction as Stonewall Columbus’ first non-LGBT ally....

With less than thirty days to go, Pryce and her Republican Party will only get more desperate and more despicable.

Army Plans to Keep the Same Troop Levels Until 2010

Mercury News: The Army is making plans to keep its current troop levels in Iraq through 2010 if they're needed, the Army's chief of staff said Wednesday....

How did military families feel when they read that bit of news?
How did our service members feel when they read that staying through 2010 is the plan?
How do our service members plan their lives knowing that there is no escape from the war and the consequences for the next four years?

Republican Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio wants us to stay in Iraq until the job is done. How do we know when the job is done? How many more of our loved ones have to die until the job is done?

According to the Columbus Dispatch, here is what the Ohio Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Sherrod Brown, had to say: Brown...wants to see the military produce an exit strategy in the next 18 to 24 months, arguing that staying the course will dig the U.S. into a deeper hole.

Brown, who talked with the editorial board Tuesday, also wants to see competent Iraqi security forces in place, but he doesn’t think that can happen until the U.S. lets them know that American soldiers won’t stick around indefinitely.

"If the Iraqis think we’re not going to leave, there’s no incentive for them to do what they’re not doing now with security forces and political settlement," he said.

For those who predict chaos if we set a time to leave, Brown said, chaos already is happening.

"I’m not saying it’s going to be a peaceful country if we leave after two years, but we’re now refereeing a civil war," he said. "We’re not making Iraq safer, and we’re not making ourselves safer."

Here are the latest statistics from Iraq Coalition Casualties:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD:	2742
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation:	13
Total	2755

If you want change in Washington, DC, you must elect new senators and members of Congress. Without a change in elected officials, it all becomes the same old routine --- scandals, ethics violations, lobbyists writing laws, war, lack of oversight, tax cuts for the rich, growing profits for oil companies and war profiteers, etc.

It is time for change.

Just Asking

If you watched the Daily Show last night, you know that Jon Stewart raised an interesting point---- Why did Republican Rep. Denny Hastert hold a press conference outside a graveyard? Was Hastert trying to show the prospects for the scandal-plagued Republican party for this year's midterm elections? Just asking.

If the Republicans call themselves the party of responsibility, why won't they take responsibility for the covering up the page scandal, the failure of the Medicare Plan D program, the fiasco in Iraq, their scandals with lobbyists, etc., etc.? Just asking.

Why do the Republicans always have to say that all bad news is politically motivated? Just asking.

Why are the Republicans trying to hide the deaths of 655,000 Iraqis since 2003? Just asking!

When Republicans talk about moral values, why do they always forget about their adulters Giuliani, Gingrich, Sherwood, Barr, etc.? I'm just asking!

Americans have to ask themselves if we are willing to continue to put up with the failures and lies of the Republicans in the Senate and the House. I think we've had enough.

Bush Administration At Fault

The Republicans cannot blame the Clinton administration for everything. The Bush people have been in office for six years.
Americablog quotes Madeleine Albright as she appears on ABC NEWS:

During the Clinton administration "...there were no nuclear weapons tests by North Korea, no new plutonium production, and no new nuclear weapons developed in Pyongyang."

This administration has ignored North Korea because they were more interested in invading Iraq. We know what a fiasco Iraq has been. The Bushes have done a poor job of keeping their eye on North Korea. Was it ignored on purpose, laziness, or was it out of ignorance? Whatever the reasons, the Bush administration has once again failed to protect the American people.

Passing Efficiency

Buckeye stuff today:

Here is a little something about Buckeye QB Troy Smith from this morning's Dispatch:

Troy Smith has become a downright picky passer of historical significance.

Buoyed by his performance in the past two games, which included throwing seven touchdown passes with no interceptions, the Ohio State senior quarterback is at the top of the Big Ten career passing efficiency list.

His career rating of 158.1 is well ahead of No. 2 Joe Germaine (151.0), who played for OSU from 1996-98....

AND....also in the Dispatch---

North Korea's Nuclear Test

It seems as though the Bush administration has wasted time and energy concentrating on starting a war in Iraq, when they should have been keeping an eye on North Korea:
KBS Global:
North Korea says it has conducted its first-ever nuclear test.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that the underground test was successful without any radioactive leakage from the site.

Presidential office spokesman Yoon Tae-young said the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources detected a seismic tremor of about three-point-five-seven magnitude following Pyongyang’s announcement.

Yoon went on to say that President Roh Moo-hyun called a meeting of security-related ministers to discuss the matter.....