the.antiMandate...

Thank you Molly!

2007-02-01T15:28:00.000-08:00

In Loving Memory of Molly Ivins, 1944-2007 - The Texas Observer

You will be missed...

Protect the vote...

2006-11-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

National Hotlines:

1-866-OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683) (website here)

1-888-DEMVOTE (1-888-336-8683) (DNC hotline)

1-888-SAV-VOTE (1-888-728-8683)(voting machine problems)
Election incident sites:
ProtectOurVotes.org

Election Protection 365

Video The Vote

VeektheVote (cellphone video reports)
Find your polling place.

Why it Matters...

2006-11-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Happy election eve...

I realize that I have been away for quite some time. I have not sent anything nor updated my web blog in a while. For that I apologize, as I have been attending to personal matters and molding my son to become a great Democratic leader (this part is a joke.) You know why I am here emailing you today. It should not be a surprise. This week will be extraordinary in terms of politics - politics that has taken a rather personal turn these last six years. Those who believe that there is no connection between national politics and their local lives need to take a ride to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans or to a little place in Ohio called Brook Park. Then come and tell me that it does not matter. There comes a time in our lives when making a change matters, no matter how small or painful. What matters is that at this moment we have the opportunity to be that change - to alter the direction that our country is going - to take a breath and consider a different way. It may not be the perfect way, but Democracy was never meant to be perfect. The founders knew it was to evolve. It had to in order to survive. And, right now that abstract notion could not be more important.

The BushCo Republicans have given us nothing but war, scandal, ineptitude and arrogance. They have shown us fear, deception, hypocrisy, and humiliation. They choose not to understand and all but silenced any dissenting or moderate voice in their own party. It is pathetic, disgraceful, and criminal. Why so harsh? Because many people have died and suffered on their watch. No conspiracy theories, debates, material witnesses are needed... None. The few remaining Moderates and Pragmatics left on the Right are burned, confused, and starting to run away. The evidence is plain. Look at the Republican candidates in your district, especially the incumbents. They are breaking ranks from the devastation BushCo has laid on the American landscape. They are trying to salvage what is left, what institution they swore to protect. But, it is too late. Americans are visibly upset and demand that we try a different path. Tomorrow, we make that demand a reality. Not the BushCo "reality" we have been living for six years. Reality is a on the front lines in Iraq, on the ground in New Orleans, on the border in San Diego, factory towns in Ohio... These are where the "values" are, not some Karl Rovian talking points memo - some numbers game or hanky-panky in vote-counting.

Tomorrow is the most important day of my future - my family's future. I will be damned to let this corrupt Congress and Administration rob my son's future of security, economy, values, faith, you name it. I am sick of it. This is not a Red State-Blue State issue any more. This is our issue. The debacle in Iraq has cost us almost 3000 American lives and 100,000s of thousands of Iraqi lives. They are in the middle of a civil war there - slaughtering each in a conflict that has lasted since well before our lifetimes. All the while, Iran and North Korea go unchecked, Israel carpet bombs the Lebanese, and Sudanese are dying everyday. And this is just our foreign policy. Which brings me back to the things that matter to us right now... Domestically, we are a train wreck. Any fiscal conservative will tell you that. Any environmentalist, climatologist, or weatherman will tell you we have a problem with global warming. Al Gore just presented it to you in a passionate, non-partisan- why should I worry about my political career way. Any day laborer, truck-driver, returning-or-between tours of duty troop will tell you why low unemployment numbers mean nothing to them. Wal-Mart doesn't pay the bills. The Dixie Chicks will tell why free-speech has its consequences. And Jack Abramoff will tell you where to put your money. Does America want to be this way? Are we better off now than we were then? It is not a relative question anymore. Period.

Do the Democrats have all the answers? No and we should not expect them to have these answers. But we have to start somewhere. Why should the Dems take back the Congress? One word - oversight. Two more - checks & balances. We Americans know when the powerful get too powerful - greedy and aloof. Are our memories too short? Or do we forget as a comfortable convenience? The Dems in power represents a first step in a direction away from our current path. It is a path Americans no longer can afford - in lives. The Dems don't always agree on everything, but rest assured, at least they will bring back debate and thought. Not tactics, party-over-people shenanigans, middle of the night bills, one-sided talks, closed-door "constitutional" sessions, 1000s of earmarks on one bill, rule-changes as they go along, signing statements, golf-junkets in Scotland using donations from Native American tribes...need I say more?

It is time for us to take a breath. To reflect. Pause. Understand where we are and say stop - this is not who we are! We are America. We do not condone torture, indefinite detention, eavesdropping, loss of habeas-corpus. We are not "them." We do not do what "they" do. We are above that. We don't "fight them over there so they don't fight us here." What does that even mean? Why do I live in America? My co-worker blurts out a Coming To America line every once in a while (in Zumundan accent) - "God Bless America, what a beautiful country." Oh, it seems so trivial, not to mention rather funny even now after all these years. But, it gets me to thinking - it is a beautiful country, a free country - one of choice, hopes, aspirations, and second chances. Why have so many risked their lives to come here - to escape their repressive regimes? To have one chance, unobstructed by control from the "state." We do not torture. We choose to accept that all people or innocent until proven guilty. We are allowed to worship our Gods freely. We live our way. We are kind and giving. We help other less fortunate. Be believe in fairness and equality. We deplore violence. Education is a right. Heath and safety are priorities. We do not live in fear. We can change.

And that's what I am talking about. Change. Now is the time. So vote and tell your friends to vote. And their friends. And their friends. Talk to you neighbors. The postal worker. The cashiers. Understand their worries and values. Commiserate. Don't tell who to vote for. Show them what makes sense. Sincerity, understanding, drive to make things right for the most people. That is what politics is about. Send the message to all politicians that it is time to go to work or take a hike. Then go to the polls, help those who need assistance. Observe. Be alert. Assure those that their votes will count. The more of us who go to the polls, the greater the margin, the less likely the steal. Then stand your ground. The fight will only begin on Election Day. What will follow will determine who "gets" the votes. It is sad to think that we must be this vigilant in this day and age. But, disenfranchisement happens in a more subtle way today. It will be difficult. It could get ugly. Don't back down. Not now. Some simple rules of engagement (some of you may already know):

When voting (if you have not voted absentee):

1. Bring photo ID. If you or anybody does not have this, please note or tell them that they CANNOT be denied to vote. Request a "provisional" ballot. This ballot may or may not be counted. You must return with ID in order for it to go in the rolls. Make sure that you are told by a supervising poll-worker how much time you have to produce this ID. If a supervisor is not available, have the poll-worker that is assisting you to contact the Board of Elections. This sounds like a lot, but it matters.

2. Vote on a paper ballot wherever possible. Ask what is available and what the rules are. Some states allow voting on paper or electronically. It is more complicated and longer, but paper is better. All electronic voting machine companies are owned by Republican or heavy Republican donors - Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia, and others (see www.blackboxvoting.com for details). Some optical scanners, which tally paper ballots are owned by Diebold, but are much harder to rig. They can throw out votes for markings not recognized, so please read the ballot carefully and mark your choice accordingly. Some local races will have more than one to choose. Pay attention. Please tell those folks who you are assisting the same thing. Races for Congress only have ONE choice.

3. Be prepared to contest your vote or somebody else's vote. Know your rights. Take a stand. If you see something not right - report it. There will be several people to one half dozen people in your precinct that are representatives from the major parties. Other districts may have Green or Libertarian members assisting Democratic poll workers. Please be advised - ask for credentials. Make sure these people are not misleading other voters. In 2004, Republican operatives used scare tactics, told people in line that the voting was finished or moved to another location. Some operatives lashed out, started yelling, only to cause a distraction or delay. Don't move. Stay in line - you have the right to vote and you cannot be turned away if you are in line.

4. Be patient. Voting machines will break down. There will be delays. You may experience "vote changes" on the screen. Please tell somebody. Ask questions. Demand a receipt. Tell others. It is already happening in early voting in places like Texas and Arizona.

The people in power want as few people to vote as possible. It is easier for them to ensure the results they desire. Do not be discouraged. Do not give up. We must overwhelm them. This is it. My words are done. Our work is not. Pass this to as many people as you can and show up on Tuesday.

...be the change...

jc

"Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold." Bob Marley

You can bomb them into pieces, but you can’t bomb into peace...

2006-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

The comments following pieces in America newspapers regarding the Israeli war on Lebanon and Palestine Occupied Territories are flowing and the sentiment is to be expected - Lebanon deserves it, Israel has the right to defend itself, etc. Yes Israel has the right to defend itself, but from whom and when is the response cross the line. One comment in the San Francisco Chronicle explains American naivetÃ© . First the comment after a piece titled "Bombe surprise" under the The Ross Report blog:

Lebanon gets what da deserve.

Check out the videos released by the IDF that clearly show 1) that missles were being fired from near the building that got leveled, then 2) where a drone plane tracked the rocket launcher vehicle as it pulled into an underground garage where the building that got struck. Bye, bye, rocket launcher!!!

Where's the outrage by the arabs and muslims about all of the innocent Isreali civilians getting their homes rocketed (muslims, christians, and jews)??? It is interesting how both muslims, christians, and jews within Isreal all support the retaliation in Lebanon.

Where is the outrage by the arabs and muslims around the world that Hezbollah Islamic Fascists are using their own civilians as human shields.

Only Hezbollah's Islamic Fascists are responsible for the carnage taking place in Lebanon. It should only stop when the Lebanize people rise up and disarm all of the private militas in Lebanon. You can't have a private militia speaking for a country.

Take off your blinders and turn off Al Jazera and stop becoming a sinking ship of fools.

I just needed to respond to this one (using the name peacetrain). We need to understand the whole picture before we rush tojudgmentt. (Excuse my correcting of some of this person's typos - I do realize he/she is hot about the topic):

The name explains in all, I guess. The ignorant statement that "Lebanon gets what da deserve" (it deserves?) in fact sums up everything here for you. You miss the point entirely. Lebanon has no control over the Hizbollah guerrillas. Its government is weak and is pleading for help. This is the real news. The US sits idly by while innocent people are obliterated, displaced and humiliated. So stop criticizing those with "blinders" and take a look at yourself and which propaganda you subscribe to. Your assumptions that everyone who disagrees with what they "see" on Israeli or American TV falls in line with Aljazeera is foolish and dangerous. Hezbollah has no right to kill innocent Israelis and in turn, Israel's disproportioned response is unconscionable. There are many claims that they have the best military and intelligence 2nd only to the US - why do they have to level whole apartment complexes to kill one guerilla fighter who "supposed" have a missile "stored" there? Why not go in with this highly skilled unit and take them out, minimizing the death of innocents? Israel's hard-line government's response is unfounded. Why not let the innocents leave without bombing them?

The Lebanese people do not want this and are unfortunate and tragic pawns in this Mid-East mess. To call them "Islamic fascists" again shows that you do not understand the complexities of the history of this region. These people are not fascists - this term belongs to European and American governments. Arabs and Israelis have had conflict for much, much longer than we can fathom in our naïve minds. The US is the baby on the block and if we are to think that we can solve this conflict and keep the peace makes us the "sinking ship of fools."

When will Israel be held up to follow the rules like every other state? When will the United States stop playing tribute to a state that never compromises and wants to "win the peace?" Is it really possible that Arabs will live in peace with their Israeli neighbors, if we give them a chance? These are questions that need to be addressed.

You can bomb them into pieces, but you can't bomb into peace... Michael Franti

Smokin' Hot - How long will it take to convince you?

2006-06-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Temperature of Earth is at a 2000-year high, at least according to the National Academy of Sciences...

In summary, large-scale surface temperature reconstructions are proving to be important tools in our understanding of global climate change. They contribute evidence that allows us to say, with a high level of confi dence, that global mean surface temperature was higher during the last few decades of the 20th century than during any comparable period during the preceding four centuries.

On hiatus...

2006-04-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

No, not BushCo. Me. Due to personal reasons, I have been and will be on hiatus for a couple months. Sorry. I should be back in time for the state primaries.

jc

"Bush is the syphilis president."

2006-03-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Kurt Vonnegut expresses a little candor in a recent speech at a Ohio college.

And it would seem appropriate now given that everyhing that BushCo touches turns to shit. With failure after failure, it makes you wonder how long America can hold onto this reject. It would have to be time to find someone who can fulfill his or her duties as President - security, lawful, democratic...

Video killed the Homeland Security Star...

2006-03-01T15:26:00.000-08:00

Apparently, video footage shows that Bush and Chertoff were warned before Katrina hit.

Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

The footage - along with seven days of transcripts of briefings obtained by The Associated Press - show in excruciating detail that while federal officials anticipated the tragedy that unfolded in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, they were fatally slow to realize they had not mustered enough resources to deal with the unprecedented disaster.

Fatally slow is an appropriate use of wording here. Brownee has complained about the "fog of bureaucracy," and is unwilling to take the fall for this tragedy. It seems to me that the fog is in all their heads. Looking worried doesn't minimize the colossal error BushCo made. And this is supposed to instill confidence that they are protecting us from terrorists?

CA Secretary of State certifies flawed voting machines...

2006-02-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the primary, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson grants conditional certification of Diebold voting machines in California. GuvWurld takes an in depth look at this announcement and points out the flaws of McPherson's addressing the flaws...

WMD?

2006-02-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

There has been many a word written about the VP Cheney's recent shooting a man in the face 'incident'. Cartoonist Charlie Padow 'shows' it best in his So It Goes series.

Ohio GOP Wasteland - Update: Coin dealer and GOP fundraiser indicted...

2006-02-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

Life is just getting worse for Ohio Republicans as Tom Noe is charged with stealing at least $1 million from a $50 million coin investment. This does not look good for the Ohio Republican Party in this an election year.

In recent years, Noe became one of the state's top fundraisers and personally contributed more than $105,000 to Republicans including Bush and Taft during the last campaign.

Republicans ranging from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the two GOP Ohio officeholders who are seeking the governor's job this year have given back Noe's donations or contributed the money to charity.

The landscape is grim... Gov. Bob Taft and two former aides plead to ethics charges. Congressman Bob Ney steps down from a leadership position because of his connection to LobbyGate master Jack Abramoff, Freshman Congresswoman Jean Schmidt narrowly wins against Democratic challenger, Paul Hackett in a heavy GOP district, only to be censured on the House floor for unpatriotic comments against Dem. Congressman, Murtha, a 3-decade, decorated Vet. And, of course, lingering questions and inaccuracies about the 2004 Presidential election results, all with a partisan GOP Secretary of State in charge. Ohioans must be reeling from these scandals, one after another.

McCain vs. Obama...

2006-02-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

The corporate Media is making something out of nothing. It light of it being an election year, McCain's "disagreement" with Obama of campaign finance reform and lobbying ethics is a little nod and a wink to the GOP radical right. Josh Marshall at TPM alludes to this quite clearly. It is important for McCain to do his part for the GOP smear machine...

To recap, McCain's letter in response to Obama thanking him for including him in bipartisan discussions on lobbying reform but still expressing reservations on the GOP approach, noted:

"I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable... "Thank you for disabusing me of such notions."

Well, well? Difference of opinion? I assume that this is the process of "bipartisan" talks...

The great T-shirt threat

2006-02-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

I loved this title from the San Francisco Chronicle regarding Cindy Sheehan's arrest at the SOTU Tuesday night for wearing a T-shirt. I retrospect, we should expect this type of stifling of free speech by BushCo. To be fair, they even kicked out the outspoken wife of a GOP Florida congressman for wearing a 'Support our Troops' T-shirt. But they did not arrest her.

"We will fight for democracy over there, so we don't have to fight for it here... "

Coretta Scott King Dies at 78

2006-01-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

Rest in Peace...

"It's a bleak morning for me and for many people and yet it's a great morning because we have a chance to look at her and see what she did and who she was."

poet Maya Angelou

Alito squeaks by...

2006-01-31T10:11:00.000-08:00

... in one of the "most partisan victories in modern history..."

58-42 (and not enough even to override a filibuster)

Republicans cannot debate on Alito any longer - get vote for cloture

2006-01-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

Final Vote Count on Cloture of Alito Nomination Debate listed here. firedoglake has done a great job getting information out to stop Alito's confirmation. BUT THERE IS STILL TIME. Scroll down for contact information on your Senators.

GOP Senators just want to hand BushCo one success for his State of the DisUnion speech tomorrow night. Who cares that this a lifetime appointment...

BushCo: Fuzzy reality...

2006-01-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Bush can't recall taking photos with "Pioneer" Jack Abramoff and calls them 'not relevant.' It is hard to say whether BushCo is willing to accept the consequences of his link to good ole Jack. Surely, you can't not know who has contributed some $100,000 as becoming a Pioneer requires? His deflection, however, does not bode well for the GOP in general this election year. The fact that the rule of law was broken here - with the lobbying scandal and the NSA secret domestic wiretapping, as well as the ineptitude of Hurricane Katrina response and mismanagement of the Iraqi war, sets up his Party for a big fall. Let's face it, the Administration and the GOP, in their extreme zeal for power, stomped all over the weak Democrats, and assumed a powerful position. Now it is time to assume the responsibility for the corruption and mistakes.

What, me worry?

2006-01-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

It seems some of press in the Midwest is fed up with BushCo's abuse of power. Some powerful commentary from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

If the first five years of the Bush administration have proved anything, it's that when an administration official says we don't need to worry, we need to worry.

California GOP Wasteland: Pombo gets a rival from his own Party...

2006-01-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

It seems that former Republican congressman Pete McCloskey finds fellow GOP representative Richard Pombo 'an embarrassment' and has decided to take him on. Wow, it seems that the fallout of the GOP/Ambramoff lobbyist scandal (Pombo being one of the main beneficiaries) and Pombo's general assault on the Endangered Species Act pushed McCloskey over the edge.

"The party has shifted way away from the Republican values I knew,'' said McCloskey, known for his opposition to the Vietnam War while representing the South Bay a generation ago. "This man Pombo is an embarrassment," he said Monday as he opened his longshot election effort at a downtown Lodi restaurant.

It will be a tough race for McCloskey, but Pombo deserves the pressure. He is not doing his job as head of the House Resources Committee. He is mired in corruption connections and pays homage to oil interests. Pete decided enough was enough...

McCloskey argued that he's the true Republican in the race, because he supports "the four values Republicans have historically treasured: honesty and fiscal responsibility, limited government and environmental protection."

There is a thought. Even conservatives know the BushCo's path is the wrong path.

Google warrantless...

2006-01-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

It seems that BushCo is one some fascist warpath. The latest target is Google as the Administration issues a subpoena for Americans' search data. Google says no. Good for them.

What the hell is this nonsense? It could be their follow up to what Think Progress calls the DOJ defense of the President's illegal warrantless domestic spying 42 Pages of Silly. The problem is that BushCo is deadly serious. And that is deadly dangerous.

Chris Matthews panders to the Right

2006-01-20T09:23:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Chris Matthews is trying to score points with the Radical Right comparing Michael Moore to Osama Bin Laden. Wasn't this analogy already expended YEARS AGO? (via Daou Report)

Crooks and Liars has a clip of it.

Alito - recipe for defeat

2006-01-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

Midwest editorials look into the real effect of Alito's confirmation. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette says it best: Americans will regret his confirmation. Why?

Judge Alito comes as advertised. Last week, he did little to confirm or deny what everybody knows about him. He kept his mask firmly in place as the posturing and hypocrisy swirled about him. Once on the court, freed of the need to parry questions, he will revert to type -- and that type will vex the American people, whether they know it or not, for years.

Oh yes, true indeed. For all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the veiled attempt to understand who Alito really is - the Dems constant pontification, the Repubs trifling soft-ball angelic glorification - one thing is for sure - he will take the Supreme Court right - way right in some cases and that will make many Americans (when it sinks in and they see the light) very uneasy about their Democracy. This is who he is and his record shows how consistent he has been. He cannot change on a dime after decades of ruling once way. These are his beliefs. The Post-Gazette sums it up:

An Associate Justice Alito will be meticulous, but he will read the law narrowly to favor authority -- presidential, police or otherwise -- and he will line up with those who wish to deprive women of the right to have an abortion. He will do it because it is his nature to do it -- as his most fervent supporters well understand -- and that is why he should be opposed.

Connecting the Dots: Abramoff and Rove

2006-01-13T12:52:00.000-08:00

Rolling Stone digs up a little tidbit about the connection between Abramoff and Rove: their assistant.

Via firedoglake

Dems on fire at Alito hearings

2006-01-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Aside from some the obvious bias in this San Francisco Chronicle article concerning Alito's affiliation to a racist organization at Princeton, it hits at the heart of what is troubling about Samuel Alito. It just seems odd that he is acting like a moderate right now, given his rather consistent far-right approach over the last 2 decades. Yes, one can change their minds over time, but to rule on one side so often, then decide that 'it was the past and I would never do that now' does not feel right.

The Dems, as the beginning of this article suggests otherwise, have proved plenty able to 'land blows' on Alito's record. Alito has dissented many, many times on issues that shed light on him as an ultra- conservative jurist who is opposed to privacy and civil rights, checks and balances, and well, minority rights. His factual and stated membership to the racist Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) shows us this reactionary ego. In response to Kennedy's line of questioning, Alito gives us this...

'I have racked my memory, and I can't recall anything,' Alito told Kennedy again. 'And if I had been involved actively in any way in the group, I'm sure that I would remember it.'

Hmmmm???

Kennedy expressed disbelief that Alito could recount details of each of his 67 dissents as a Third Circuit appellate court judge, but not his membership in Concerned Alumni of Princeton.

Why Is Alito So Ashamed Of Himself?

2006-01-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Michael Giltz at AMERICAblog analyzes Alito and the fleecing of the Right-Wing. His questions could not be more close to the truth.
Via Daily Kos...