Romney in the Shower...

I don't think it really comes as a surprise to anyone living in this state, but Governor Romney is an official one-termer. He claims to be keeping his "options open" at this time, but one comment strikes me funny...

"John McCain said he thinks about being president every day in the shower," Mr. Romney said. "I guess I will turn to the words of 'Star Wars': it's in a galaxy far, far away."

Asked what he thinks about in the shower, Mr. Romney, who was joined for the announcement by his cabinet, staff members, his wife, two of his five sons and a daughter-in-law, laughingly demurred.

WTF Mitt?

Cumulative Rant

Just a reminder in case the current news has glossed over the effects of the hurricane season, refugees from the New Orleans area are now returning, only to find that much of the housing promised them, in the form of trailers have not been set up. The different relief organizations can't decide who's fault it is, so no one has payed the bill yet. No one wants to engage in the "Blame-Game" yet that is precisley what they are doing.

The White House is also squaring off against Sen. John McCain becasue of his anti-torture legslation. I think we can all agree that torture is bad, why not make it US policy not to torture. This baffles me.

It is clear that there is no exit strategy yet for Iraq, that's bad. whether the war is moral or just is unimportant at this point. I think we'd all like to know if that the White House has a plan. Hopefully the plan is not to dump this problem on the next president. Whether the troops come home in 2 or 20 years, we should at least know what the goals are.

Just thought I'd give a brief review of what a great year 2005 has been.

Speaking of poverty...

So I just gave a shout-out to John Kerry for speaking about poverty, and then I immediately read this about my home state:

In this week’s Economist article titled “The poorest part of America. Not here, surely? JUDITH BASIN, MONTANA” I found out just how poor. The article listed the bottom 20 US counties in terms of average wages and salaries reported from federal tax returns filed in 2003. Out of the twenty counties, eight are in Montana.

WOW... it's so crazy to realize that poverty is all around us, and in a large part of the rural United States. We have to fight poverty, whether it is in dense urban centers or spread out agrarian territory. Poverty breeds crime, alcoholism, rampant methamphetamine abuse, and a whole host of other social problems. Let's do something about it!

Happy Birthday Senator Kerry

"When Teresa said she got me a birthday present, I thought she was going to deliver Ohio!"
- John Kerry

Yesterday, a few members of the BUCD e-board got to attend Sen. John Kerry's 62nd birthday party. For whatever it's worth, he spoke about some real issues that have been lost in the political spectrum for quite sometime:

1. Environment - an issue that the right mocks, the environment isn't about huggin' trees... it's about safety, health, welfare, responsibility, national security, and jobs!
2. Electoral Reform - how can be spend hundreds of billions of dollars on exporting democracy to the Middle East when we don't even have it right here?
3. Poverty - Hurricane Katrina revealed a deeper problem that already existed in America: extreme poverty.

Rock solid issues that people should be talking about! Hell, nobody's really talked about solving poverty since Clinton. If Kerry keeps this up through the primaries, I will be extremely impressed!!!!

What do you think is in store for '08?

On Days and Politics

So the official blog of the Santos for President campaign has noted:

Well, it's been two days since the debate (affectionately named The Best Day Ever), and support for the Santos campaign has gone through the roof. The debate gave us a four-point bump in the polls, but that's just the beginning.

While I am pumped to see Santos on the road to victory, I want to point out that Mr. Gee has used a similar phrase, calling election day the "happiest day of the year." Note to all: debates will now be referred to as "the best day ever."

Help Mike Festa!

Here's a message from the Festa Campaign. Check it out if interested...

The DA race is heating up, and Mike Festa needs your help to show people the support he has throughout Middlesex County. This Monday, December 5th, Mike is speaking at the Cambridge Democratic City Committee meeting at 7pm. This is a huge event because it is in the heart of his opponent's district, and a strong presence here would help us keep showing people how Mike has support in every city and town in the County.

We will be doing a standout before the event from 6:30pm-7:30pm outside the meeting which is at the Senior Center, directly across from Cambridge City Hall right next to Central Square on the Red Line. Just walk up from the station and walk northwest on Mass Ave and you'll see the Festa supporters in full force. Its going to be a great time, and its a great way to get involved in truly grassroots politics. Bring your friends and fellow democrats members, the more the merrier!!

Ripple of Hope

Words of wisdom from Robert F. Kennedy:

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Campus Progress on Alito...

Here's a message from Campus Progress on Bush's SCOTUS Nominee, Sam Alito:

Sandra Day O’Connor’s crucial swing seat on the Supreme Court is vacant. Justice O’Connor was a mainstream judge and she should be replaced with a mainstream judge. But President Bush caved to the extreme right and nominated Samuel Alito, a judge with a long record of right-wing extremism, to fill her seat.

If Judge Alito is confirmed, he’ll side with big business against workers. He’ll side with government invasions of privacy rights against individual liberties. And he’ll side with polluters against our environment.

If he sits on the court, Judge Alito’s extreme right-wing ideology will endanger some of our basic freedoms.

In response, CampusProgress.org, the youth outreach arm of the Center for American Progress, is launching a new student-oriented campaign to educate the public about the dangers that the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court poses to the future of all Americans. We are excited about this campaign, but we need your help.

If you are interested in submitting photos, or organizing a campus-wide Photo Petition drive, please let us know as soon possible. We will be providing organizers with all the materials they need, notifying local media and posting your Photo Petition submissions online. If you can’t host a formal Photo Petition drive, you can still participate by going to AlitosAmerica.org and sending photos to photos@campusprogress.org, where you can sign-on to a virtual petition and submit photos of yourselves holding signs explaining why you do not want your America to become Alito’s America.

Time is short, especially considering that the confirmation hearings begin January 9^th, but the consequences of inaction could last for decades. Together we can beat back the radical right’s judicial nominee.

December!

Happy December to everyone... this blog looks exceptional!

Think BLUE in 2008!

Democratic Unity Day - Who's excited!

I hope everyone's ready for this thrilling event... it should be fantastic. Here's how the event is going to break down:

6:30 pm
Professor Palmer of the Political Science department will be speaking on a range of U.S. foreign policy topics, including:
1. Iraq and Democracy
2. Israel and Palestine
3. East Asian issues
4. Latin America (specifically Chavez).

He will also be open to questions

Professor Palmer is incredibly knowledgeable on US foreign policy and international politics, and this is a great opportunity to gain an understanding of where we are at, and where we are going.

7:30 pm Call-ins with Howard Dean

Policy Breakout sessions: Education, Energy and the Environment, Foreign Policy

8:30 pm Special guest speaker

Approval ratings

Bush’s approval rating is hovering in the high thirties, as of the most recent polls. A majority of Americans are dissatisfied with how the Iraq war is going and they have been steadily dropping over the past few weeks. Americans are not very happy with this president. This is of course good for the Democrats who will be running for office in the coming years because many people have become frustrated with the current GOP positions, but in the grand scheme, we still have a couple years left with this guy and a country that is not behind its leader is going to have severe problems.
About 46% of the Americans who were polled recently think that the Congress would be better run by Democrats while the Republicans scored in the mid thirties. The President has lost ground when it comes to how he is viewed on terrorism and the war. This country is facing a leadership crisis not seen in decades.
On the whole experts quoted on CNN.com seem to believe that the Iraq war is making progress. We are capturing insurgent leaders, but the attacks have not been reduced in their frequency. The 2006 and 2008 elections will be a critical point for the country. It is important that we do our best to get Democrats into office, but given the current situation, we need to make sure they are good leaders as well. Empty suits are not what we need now.
Just some thoughts,

Chris

National Legislative Update

House

H.R. 1606, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude communications over the Internet from the definition of public communication
(Failed) 11/02/2005

The House passed H.R. 3893, to expedite the construction of new refining capacity in the United States, to provide reliable and affordable energy for the American people
(Passed) 10/07/2005

The House passed H.R. 3824, to amend and reauthorize the Endangered Species Act D992 of 1973 to provide greater results conserving and recovering listed species
(Passed) 09/29/2005


The House disagreed to H.J. Res. 65, to disapprove the recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
(Failed)

-This bill would have eliminated the recommendations made by the Base Realignment And Closure Commission; which involved the closure of many Army, Navy, and Air Force bases across the country. Critics of the commission say that it used misleading data as justification and unfairly targeted the North Eastern states. Many communities will be severely affected by these closures.

The House passed H. Res. 437, to establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.

-Hopefully people will get fired over this, preferably in the Bush admin.

The House passed H.R. 4128, to protect private property rights, by a yea-and-nay vote of 376 yeas to 38 nays, Roll No. 568.

- This maybe pointless and unneeded but I decided to post it anyway.

Senate

By 47 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 225), Senate rejected S.J. Res. 20, disapproving a rule promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to delist coal and oil-direct utility units from the source category list under the Clean Air Act.

-Failed, this kind of defeats the purpose of the clean air act. It was designed to combat coal and oil use. This failed thankfully.


By 78 yeas 22 nays (Vote No. EX. 245), John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States. 9/29/05

-Old news, but the margin of his confirmation is disconcerting

By a unanimous vote of 97 yeas (Vote No. 254), Senate passed H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, as amended.

- Pretty much everyone voted for this, once we are involved in this war it is unfortunate that the only real option now is to stay in Iraq and spend more money.

Oh the irony

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist,but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution,which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's cocaine conviction is none of our business. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness, and you need our prayers for your recovery. You support states' rights, which means Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez can tell states what local voter initiatives they have the right to adopt. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant. Plan B is against God's will, but Cialis, Viagra, and Lavitra are perfectly natural. Feel free to pass this on. If you don't send it to at least 10 other people, we're likely to be stuck with "Bushit" forever (especially now that Jeb is considering being pressured to run . . . . )

We must win 2005

Unfortunatly, I was unable to attend the trip to Virginia this weekend. However, I did have some things I wanted to write about the election.

There is a reason that this election is so important besides the fact that it is always important for Democrats to beat Republicans. It is the things this election can mean in the national landscape that make it worth driving 8 hours to work on.

There have been two major elections since November 2004. One was the Ohio congressional where Democrat Paul Hackett almost won in one of the most Republican districts in the state. Virginia is a state that went for President Bush in 2004. While the outgoing Governor is a Democrat, and a hugely popular one, this is still a major battlegound for Democrats. If Kaine wins, you can bet you will start seeing more and more stories about the growing Democratic trend. And the repeated poll numbers that people think Democrats would do a better job running the country than Republicans.

Those are my thoughts for now. If any of the people down there read this during their trip, know that I wish I was there.

Josh

Alito vs. Roberts

A quick look at the initial New Democratic response (centrist Dems, embodied in the Democratic Leadership Council and the Progressive Policy Institute) shed light on the potential outlook that Dems might take.
Using the arguments of someone (John Rosen) assumed to be rather level-headed, the post points out that John Roberts should have been confirmed as a "principled conservative," but Alito is much more a crazy conservative activist. Roberts okay, Alito bad... see what you think about it: http://www.newdonkey.com/2005/10/judging-alito.html.

Closed Door Senate

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid truly did give 'em hell today when he forced the Senate into a meeting behind closed doors after some inspiring oratory about our country. More on this bold action here: http://leftinthewest.com/?p=1946, and read the entire speech here: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Reid_takes_Senate_into_closed_session_1101.html

First, Reid laid into the Republicans in Congress:

"What has been the response of this Republican-controlled Congress to the Administration’s manipulation of intelligence that led to this protracted war in Iraq? Basically nothing. Did the Republican-controlled Congress carry out its constitutional obligations to conduct oversight? No. Did it support our troops and their families by providing them the answers to many important questions? No. Did it even attempt to force this Administration to answer the most basic questions about its behavior? No.

Cory

Unfortunately the unwillingness of the Republican-controlled Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities is not limited to just Iraq. We see it with respect to the prisoner abuse scandal. We see it with respect to Katrina. And we see it with respect to the cronyism and corruption that permeates this Administration."

Ultimately, Reid pressured the GOP into taking action -- naming a commission to investigate the President on these crucial matters of national concern. Our nation needs answers, but beyond that, our nation needs representation in Washington. Reid is finally providing these two things after years of Republican-led depravity.

Who is Samuel Alito?

New Court Nominee—Brief Bio (biased slightly)
Samuel Alito, is a native of the State of New Jersey. For a number of years he was the United States Attorney for New Jersey during the Reagan presidency. He attended Yale law school and after a number of years as the U.S. attorney, George H. W. Bush appointed him to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. There he went on to rule in a conservative manner. He dissented in Planned Parenthood v. Case, stating that a woman who chooses to have an abortion must inform the father of her intentions. This is clearly a very conservative judge and he has been called by his colleagues “a judge’s judge.” Alito does not make sweeping rulings about the constitution. He was known as a conservative dissenter on historically liberal courts. In terms of criminal cases he again takes on strong conservatism. This judge is tough on crime as well as narrowly interprets the rights of the accused and criminals. He seems to be exactly what the current President Bush promised he would deliver. Bush has delivered a conservative judge who will shy away from activism (US News). Though, activism in the conservative realm is better defined as liberal activism.
Alito may be an activist, but a conservative one at best. His decisions in cases get much, much worse; “[I]n Doe v. Groody, Alito argued that police officers had not violated constitutional rights when they strip-searched a mother and her ten-year-old daughter while carrying out a search warrant that authorized only the search of a man and his home.” “A majority opinion in Saxe v. State, declared unconstitutional a public school district policy that prohibited harassment against students because of their sexual orientation or other characteristics. Alito reasoned that the policy was unconstitutional because it could cover what he called "simple acts of teasing and name-calling (Wikipedia)." These cases give a basic illustration of this guy. If you thought that Miers was potentially bad, this guy is a full fledged conservative nightmare. Alito, nicknamed “Scalito” because of his similarities in opinions to Justice Scalia will not be a friendly person on the bench to any type of liberally controlled government. Hopefully there will be enough votes to prevent this guy from getting confirmed, but any filibuster will just be a temporary pause in hope of yet another person.
As stated above, this guy is 55, which means he is still young and could easily have a 25+ year term on the court, which also means that he will be around for a while. On a positive note, he is very intelligent and scholarly; it is just everything else that is troubling. His appointment along with that of Chief Justice Roberts, could substantially affect previous court rulings. Only time will tell.

Celia

Montana Miracle

I know that most of you don't wake up in the morning with Montana politics on your minds. However, there is a movement going on right now referred to as the "Montana Miracle" -- it's turning into a blue state, and I love it.

Anyway, some good things to check out:
1. Blog: http://leftinthewest.com/
2. Jon Tester: http://www.testerforsenate.org/
3. Tester Time: http://www.testertime.com/

Tell me you don't love MT politics, honestly...

Women's Senate 2006 Event

Had an amazing time at women senate 2006 fundraising event last Friday. The speakers were really inspirational and the event was well organized. Each Senator covered an important topic that relates to not only their personal constituency, but also the American people as a whole. I know that the talk has been about Hilary in 2006, but I think Senator Blanche L. Lincoln of Arkansas was a truly gifted speaker. I really look forward to seeing what role she plays in the future of the Democratic Party. Lincoln VP 08...maybe?

Peter