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LOUISVILLE /JEFFERSON COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER
Week
of July 29, 2007
The link to this electronic
newsletter is being e-mailed to 4,000+
Jefferson County Democrats
We hope you will forward the
link to your own e-mail list.
***********************************
CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT LIST OF EVENTS
Updated
on a regular basis
The Louisville/Jefferson County Democratic
Executive Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at
5:00 pm at 901 Barret
Avenue .
Notice to our Readers & 2007 General Election Candidates:
This
newsletter will carry in this space any Democratic candidates' notice of events
or communications (250 words or less) to our readers that the candidate provides
to the editor at rcrider@louisvilledem.com
Kentucky Democratic
Party
Jonathan Miller,
Chairman
190 Democrat Drive -
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone - 502.695.4828
www.kydemocrat.com
|
Dear Friends:
I am excited to report that we have begun to put in place an
outstanding and diverse team of officers, advisors, and staff at the
Kentucky Democratic Party headquarters in Frankfort. I would like to
take this opportunity to introduce them to you below.
We are also in the process of assembling an additional coordinated
campaign team that will help us engineer a state-of-the-art 21st century
grassroots field operation on behalf of the entire Democratic ticket.
While some individuals are already on board, we will send you the
complete listing of that team when it is fully assembled in August.
VOLUNTEER, PART-TIME OFFICERS AND ADVISORS
Jonathan Miller, Chair is serving his second term as Kentucky
State Treasurer. A Lexington native, Mr. Miller is a graduate of Harvard
College and Harvard Law School. In addition to his public service, Mr.
Miller is the author of the book, The Compassionate Community; Ten
Values to Unite America.
Jennifer Moore, Vice-Chair is a Paducah native and an attorney
with the Louisville firm of Grossman & Moore, PLLC. A graduate of
Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky College of Law,
Ms. Moore has been active with the Democratic Party for many years,
including as a member of the State Central Executive Committee since
2004 and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1996 and
2004.
David Tandy, Treasurer is serving in his second term as District
Four Councilman on the Louisville Metro Council, and he is an attorney
with the law firm Stoll, Keenon & Ogden. Mr. Tandy, who is an Owensboro
native, received degrees from Vanderbilt University and University of
Kentucky College of Law.
Kerry Morgan, General Counsel served from 2004-2005 as Vice Chair
and then acting Chair of the KDP. She was raised in Henderson and now
lives in Bowling Green. She received her BA from Eastern Kentucky
University and her JD from Northern Kentucky University and now
practices law with the firm of Breen & Morgan.
Jennie Barker-Arnold, Secretary, State Central Executive Committee
is a Murray native who formerly served as Deputy Judge/Executive to
Calloway County Judge/Executive Larry Elkins, and is also a member of
the 2000 class of Leadership Murray, the 2005 class of Leadership
Frankfort, and a delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Ms. Arnold will also serve as KDP’s coordinator in the 1st Congressional
District in the upcoming campaign.
Bill Cox, Senior Advisor is an insurance executive for the
Kentucky Association of Counties. Mr. Cox was the youngest person ever
elected to the Kentucky General Assembly, representing Hopkins County.
Mr. Cox’s public service also includes serving as Mayor of Madisonville,
Special Assistant to Governor Julian Carroll, Vice Chairman of the
Kentucky Public Service Commission, and as a federal highway official
from 1977-78. In 1979, Mr. Cox was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor
of Kentucky. He lives in Louisville.
Amy Cubbage, Special Counsel is an attorney with Frost Brown
Todd, LLC in Louisville. Ms. Cubbage has served as Vice Chair of the
Greater Louisville, Inc. Environmental Affairs Committee, and is a
founding member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Young
Professionals’ Board.
FULL-TIME, PAID STAFF
Jeremy Horton, Chief of Staff is originally from Lexington and
served 22 years at the Lexington Public Library, with 18 years as a
Marketing & Technology Administrator. Since 2004, Jeremy has served on
the Kentucky Democratic Party State Central Executive Committee, and
from 2004-2007 he was the co-founder and director of Change for
Kentucky.
Vince Gabbert, Political Director is in his second stint at
Democratic Headquarters, having served as State Senate Caucus Director
from 1999-2002. He also managed Jonathan Miller's re-election campaign
in 2003, and has spent the last several years working with cities and
counties throughout the Commonwealth as Financial Advisor for Ross,
Sinclaire & Associates, based in Frankfort. A graduate of the University
of Louisville and the Brandeis School of Law, this Williamstown native
currently resides in Louisville.
Dianne Andrews, Development Director is a native of Pike County.
Ms. Andrews spent 25 years as a state employee, primarily in the field
of human services in the Big Sandy Service Region, before moving to
Central Kentucky in 2002. Following her retirement in 2004, she returned
to school to finish a degree in public administration and started
working at Democratic Party Headquarters as a volunteer. Ms. Andrews has
been an employee of the KDP for the past 18 months, where she has worked
with county leaders and local party organizations. She now lives in
Anderson County.
Allison Haley, Press Secretary is an Ashland native who now lives
in Anderson County. Ms. Haley is formerly a journalist who worked for
newspapers in Eastern Kentucky, Dayton, OH, and Miami, FL, and as a
statewide political reporter, based in Frankfort. She has been head of
communications for the KDP since July 2006. Ms. Haley attended Ashland
Community College and Eastern Kentucky University before moving to
Miami, where she graduated with a degree in journalism.
Diane Haskamp, Finance Director is from Villa Hills in Northern
Kentucky and has served as Deputy Finance Director for the Miller-Maze
campaign for Governor. Ms. Haskamp graduated from Western Kentucky
University with a double major in political science and broadcast
journalism.
Colmon Elridge, Outreach Director is the president of the Fayette
County Young Democrats. Mr. Elridge is a native of Cynthiana and a
graduate of Transylvania University, where he was a member of the
Student Government Association for four years. He is a student at
Eastern Kentucky University, enrolled in the Masters Program for Public
Administration.
Samantha Stenger, Executive Assistant is originally from
Greensburg, Kentucky and currently lives in Lexington. Having recently
graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in
political science, Samantha focused on women’s issues in Kentucky
politics as well as policy reform for America’s youth. She has been
actively involved with the Washington Center and Emily’s List, and also
volunteers for the Extended School Program and the Carnegie Center for
Literacy & Learning in Lexington.
|
|
Yours truly,
Jonathan Miller
Chair,
Kentucky Democratic Party |
****************************
McConnell has more in the bank than NRSC
The seven members of Kentucky's congressional delegation who are up for
re-election next year hauled in more than $2 million over the last three
months, according to reports filed last week with the Federal Election
Commission.
The
most prolific fund-raiser in the bunch was
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader.
He took in $1.25 million between April 1 and June 30 and has $5.7 million in
the bank heading into next year's election.
To put that in perspective, McConnell has more
cash on hand than the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- the
organization aimed at helping all Republican Senate candidates. That group
shows less than $4.3 million in its account.
As for the others, Republican
Rep. Geoff Davis of Northern
Kentucky, has raised $656,788 since April 1 and has $424,560 on hand.
Democratic
Rep. John Yarmuth of
Louisville kept a similar pace with $603,189 raised in three months and
$455,979 in the bank.
Yarmuth, so far, is the only incumbent to draw a
challenger. Erwin Roberts,
a Republican and former state personnel cabinet secretary, raised more than
$43,000 in his first month as a candidate.
Among the prominent donors to Roberts' campaign
were Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, former Commerce Cabinet Secretary
Jim Host and former
GOP state Rep. Gerry Lynn
of Brandenburg.
Here's how the rest of Kentucky representatives
stack up:
-
Fourteen-term U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers,
a Republican who represents Eastern and Southern Kentucky, has more than
$1 million in the bank.
-
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler
of Versailles has more than $830,000 on hand.
-
Republican U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield
of Hopkinsville is close behind with $825,000.
-
Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis
of Cecilia, who survived his first serious challenge in a decade last
year, has just shy of $250,000.
Ryan Alessi Lexington Herald
Leader
*****************************************************
The latest Survey USA polling shows U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's job
approval ratings dipping below where they were in February and March of
this year.
The July poll shows Kentuckians think McConnell is doing a good job by
a narrow 48%-44% margin. That's a drop from last month and
one percent
lower than the lowest approval ratings McConnell had earlier this year.
The real bad news for McConnell is his status with Kentuckians age 55
and older, folks who vote more often than their younger counterparts.
McConnell has his lowest rating ever from the over 55 folks with his job
approval at 49%-46%. McConnell also gets his lowest marks ever from
Eastern Kentuckians 42%-53%. In most other categories, McConnell's
numbers are fairly steady. He still does well in W. Ky. (53-37) and
poorly in the Louisville area (44-49). His numbers are down slightly
among republicans (67-25) but would many of them really vote for Greg
Stumbo or Charlie Owen?
What's unclear is whether McConnell's struggling job approval ratings
are a reflection of Kentuckians' dissatisfaction with McConnell
personally, or just a part of American voters dissatisfaction with the
job Congress is doing in general.
If it makes the senior senator from Kentucky feel any better, his
republican colleague, Jim Bunning has lower ratings. Bunning's job
approval rating this month is just 41% with 47% disapproval.
***************************************************
Polls
buoy potential McConnell challenges
BY PATRICK CROWLEY |
PCROWLEY@NKY.COM
Two days after a prominent
Kentucky Democrat announced a potential challenge to U.S. Sen. Mitch
McConnell, new polling is encouraging McConnell detractors.
The polls show that
McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, is out of touch with the nation by
continuing to support President Bush and the war in Iraq, his opponents say.
A SurveyUSA poll shows that
McConnell's approval rating is at 48 percent while 44 percent of voters
disapprove. The poll of 600 Kentucky adults has a margin of error of plus or
minus 4.1 percent. It was conducted July 17.
"At a time when Kentuckians
are crying out for change, Mitch McConnell is leading one of the most
obstructionist parties in the history of the Senate," Matthew Miller,
spokesman for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
"This poll shows that as long as Mitch McConnell is carrying out George
Bush's agenda and blocking important legislation supported by his
constituents, he will find his standing at home in jeopardy."
Meanwhile, a Washington
Post-ABC News poll shows 78 percent of Americans think President Bush is not
showing enough flexibility to change course in Iraq. The poll also found
Bush faces growing opposition on Iraq within his own party, with 55 percent
of Republicans saying the president is inflexible.
"Everyone but Sen. McConnell
has turned against the Bush policy of endless war," said Americans Against
Escalation in Iraq spokeswoman Moira Mack. The Washington-area group opposes
the war and has been rallying opposition to McConnell.
"Sen. McConnell is out of
touch with Kentucky and the nation on Iraq," Mack said in a statement.
"Kentuckians oppose the war. A majority of those within the Republican Party
oppose the war. Yet McConnell refuses to allow a vote to bring the war to a
safe and responsible end."
McConnell's office refused to
comment on the polls.
The polls come as Democrats
hope they have found a candidate to run next year against the four-term
Republican.
Kentucky Attorney General
Greg Stumbo, an Eastern Kentucky Democrat, announced Tuesday he has formed
an exploratory committee to determine whether he will challenge McConnell.
Stumbo said he will make a
decision after the November governor's election.
"Mitch McConnell is out of
touch," Stumbo said. "People in Kentucky want a change. They are tired of
Mitch McConnell representing George Bush and not their interests."
SOURCE
*********************************************
America Got a Raise Today,
by
Mike Hall,
Jul 24, 2007
It’s a big and busy day up here on Capitol Hill
and an even bigger day for the millions of
minimum wage
workers who are set to receive their first raise in more than 10 years.
Their hourly pay jumps from $5.15 an hour to $5.85, the first of three
raises Congress approved that will bring the rate to $7.25 an hour in 2009.
But it hasn’t been easy.
This morning in the Capitol building itself, a
number of U.S. House members are taking a few victory laps around a radio
row and blogger alley where our progressive allies are chronicling the end
of the 10-year-plus roadblock the former Republican congressional majority
had thrown in the way of Democrats’ attempts to raise the minimum wage. As a
result of Republican roadblocking, the minimum wage now is at its lowest
buying power in more than half a century.
Later today, House and Senate leaders, community
groups, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and hundreds of workers and allies
will hold a celebratory rally on the Senate side of the Hill. We’ll bring
you more on that later today.
Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), who spent 13 years
cutting linings for men’s suits at a Rock Island clothing factory where he
was a union activist and served as president of what is now UNITE HERE Local
617, just dropped by and had this to say:
This will be a huge impact in 20 states. It’s long
overdue. It’s too bad we had to wait for 10 years. It speaks volumes about
the difference between this Congress and the previous ones. It was great to
see the green light go on by my name and I said, “Yeah, we finally passed
it.”
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) says the wage hike
will be particularly helpful in her district where there are a large number
of working women and single mothers in minimum wage jobs.
This will help in my district. The cost of
gasoline is over $3.20, the cost of groceries and all food stuffs is going
up, the electric bill.
One of the first acts of the new Democratic House
majority this year was passing the wage hike Jan. 10, straight with no
chaser—in other words, the bill simply boosted the wage by $2.10 an hour, no
sweetening tax breaks for business or changes in labor law. Just a simple
and long overdue raise for men and women who work real hard for low wages.
That kicked off what some observers—actually, it
was us—called a hostage crisis. For 134 days Republican senators held the
pay hike hostage. There were
filibusters.
There were
schemes
to give big
corporate tax breaks
to businesses. And, we’re not making this up, there was even an attempt to
repeal
the minimum wage. (Bunning & McConnell
voted to repeal the minimum wage)
The Senate finally passed the bill May 24, with a
trimmed down package of tax breaks, part of a supplemental spending bill for
the Iraq war. The 134-day hostage drama by Republican senators was costly.
Because the raise was held up by 134 days, a bit of simple math shows the
delay tactics cost minimum wage workers $750. (The raise comes in three
steps—the first is a 70-cent-an-hour increase, or $5.60 a day, for an
eight-hour day, comes to $750.40 for 134 days.)
Although Republicans, with the backing of the Bush
White House managed to keep a cap on the minimum wage for years, state
legislators and voters went to work. Today
31 states
and the District of Columbia have higher minimum wages than the federal
level.
Working with ACORN and other community groups, AFL-CIO’s America Needs a
Raise campaign led the fight that won ballot initiatives to raise the
minimum wage in six
states. On top of that, the minimum wage mobilization won
raises via legislation in 13 states since 2006, including
New Mexico,
Iowa
and
Kentucky
this year.
************************************
FLETCHER'S
SPECIAL SESSION
WHAT HAPPENED?????
HELP US MITCH!!!!
Seating available on bus
trip to Fancy Farm
Climb aboard the bus as Young Democrats from across the Commonwealth journey
to Fancy Farm, Ky. for the annual political picnic!
Bus transportation and a night's stay at the Executive Inn Paducah is
included at no cost to Young Democrats.
The bus leaves Louisville at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3 from Louisville
Democratic Party HQ, 640 Barret Ave.
Seating is limited, and
reservations are required.
The itinerary includes:
Friday
1. A visit to state Rep. Mike Cherry's Garden Party, a Kentucky Democratic
Party fund raiser. A small donation would be
appreciated
2. The Marshall County Democratic Party Bean Supper --
Cost $15
3. A visit to Eddie Jacobs' Party
Saturday
1. The Graves County Democratic Party Breakfast --
Cost $10
2. Attend the picnic -- lunch is on your own
3. Depart for Louisville after the picnic
Don't forget to dress in style. The Young Democrats will have special
t-shirts on sale for $5 each.
For more information, please contact
Lisa Tanner. To reserve your seat, click on the
events page of the Louisville Young Democrats Web site.
*******************************************
Iraq Summer
Iraq Summer is an advocacy campaign whose mission is to
end the reckless Iraq War policies and safely bring our
troops home. The name, Iraq Summer, was inspired by the Freedom Summer of
1964 to convey the importance of this particular moment in time and the
power that we collectively have to achieve our goal. Several nationally
renowned organizations (The National Security Network, SIEU, USSA, Center
for American Progress Action Fund, MoveOn.org and numerous others) have
come together to focus their resources on this effort. These organizations
bring powerful resources that will help us mobilize our fellow Americans
to end the Iraq war and are operating through a coalition group, a
nonprofit organization called Campaign to Defend America / Americans
Against Escalation in Iraq.
We are a national advocacy campaign, not an electoral campaign. The only
win or loss that we care about is that of the American people! Our sole
concern is to come to the aid of our forces and protect ourselves from
future vulnerability. We are not concerned with
party affiliation or divisive politics. We are embarking upon a historic
opportunity to actually bring all Americans together behind one common
need. This summer we will represent the people of America... people of all
faiths and demographics, regardless of political stances. We are a
bipartisan campaign that is building a diverse Kentucky coalition
that will draw people together from across the social and political
spectra.
Our view is that the Bush administration is waging a reckless,
endless war and that Mitch McConnell and other members of
Congress who continue to support the President's Iraq War policies are
out of touch with the American people. By focusing our
efforts on forcing key members of Congress to listen to the
bipartisan vast majority that supports ending the war and
bringing our troops home, WE will indeed end this war, get our troops out
of harms way and make America more secure!
I cannot emphasize enough how dynamic this campaign is about to (on a
national scale), and Kentucky is going to be at the very center of it!
Each of us has an incredible opportunity to make a difference. This is a
phrase that we often here in America, but it has never been more true than
it will be this (Iraq) summer!
Following the August recess, Congress will have to reevaluate its support
for this reckless, endless war. Our mission is to
coordinate and facilitate true bipartisan democratic dissent
so that Mitch McConnell is forced to abandon his out of touch
views that promote the Bush Administration's reckless
Iraq War policy. From coast to coast, Americans are ready to end this war!
Our mission is to empower people from across the social and political
spectra to make our voices, our prayers and our demands heard by our
elected officials.
President Bush is continuing down the path of endless
war, and our mission in Kentucky is to build tremendous pressure on Sen.
McConnell through the summer to force him to split with President Bush on
the Iraq war. Like the President, Sen. McConnell is out of touch
with the majority of Kentuckians who recognize the need to responsibly
end the war in Iraq. By focusing our efforts on Congress, we will indeed
end this war before Bush leaves office. We can't wait a day longer, and
neither can our military service members and their families who bear the
full brunt of this President's reckless policies every day!
The Kentucky coalition that we are currently building will include
organizations, communities and individuals in each region of the state.
This campaign is about to be very far-reaching and NO ONE will be able to
avoid it! Our campaign will focus our hearts, minds and voices on Senator
Mitch McConnell so that he recognizes how out of touch he
is with his constituents -- forcing him to understand the necessity to
break with the White House on President Bush's reckless
Iraq War policies.
Your leadership in this endeavor is crucial
to the lives of our soldiers, Marines, Airmen and sailors as well as to
the present and future security of these United States.
Daniel Ritchie
Veteran, U.S. Navy
Kentucky Deputy Field Director
Iraq Summer
kentucky2@iraqsummer.org
202-423-9795
*****************************************
DAILY GRILL
Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of
U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States
will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in
Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia."
-- Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman,
7/16/07
VERSUS
"I believe that the debate here on the Hill and the issues that have been
raised have been helpful in bringing pressure to bear on the Maliki
government and on the Iraqis in knowing that there is a very real limit to
American patience in this entire enterprise." -- Defense Secretary Robert
Gates,
3/30/07
*********************
There is something
terribly wrong with people seeking to demean and weaken the president in war
time, thereby strengthening our country's enemies." -- Former New York City
mayor Ed Koch,
8/31/06
VERSUS
"I'm bailing out. I will no longer defend the policy of keeping U.S. troops
in Iraq to assist the Iraqi central government in the ongoing civil war." --
Koch,
7/20/07
*********************
"Our enemies aren't
threatened by talk-a-thons, and our troops deserve better than publicity
stunts."
-- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY),
7/17/07, commenting on the Senate's recent all-night session on Iraq
VERSUS
"They will use
every excuse, every slogan, every political trick to not let us end this
war, so I would call that the stunt, and that's the stunt that's killing
Americans." -- Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI),
7/23/07
*********************************
“It was not about the terrorist surveillance program
that the president announced to the American people."
-- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales,
7/24/07, referring to the program to which Deputy Attorney General James
Comey
objected in 2004
VERSUS
"Mr. Comey's testimony related to a highly classified program which the
president confirmed to the American people sometime ago." -- Gonzales,
6/5/07
******************************
"I'm going to remind the people in the audience today that troop levels
will be decided by our commanders on the ground, not by political figures in
Washington, D.C." -- President Bush,
7/10/07
VERSUS
"When it comes to the troop surge in Iraq, a bunch of arm chair generals in
Washington are influencing the Bush Administration as much as the Joint
Chiefs or theater commanders. A group of military experts at the American
Enterprise Institute, concerned that the U.S. was on the verge of a
calamitous failure in Iraq, almost single handedly convinced the White House
to change its strategy." -- D.C. Examiner,
7/25/07
****************************************************
Quotes of the Day
"At my age, any scream is a good scream."
--Former President Bill Clinton, on an Iowa woman mistaking him for Bob
Barker
"Well, I guess I don't know what you mean by
'equal justice under the law.'" --White House spokesman Scott Stanzel, after
being asked if Scooter Libby was getting
equal justice under the law
"And believe me, no one suffers more than
their president and I do when we watch this, and certainly the commander in
chief, who has asked our military to go into harm's way." --First Lady Laura
Bush, on Iraq
TOP
Recent Senate Votes
-
Troop Withdrawal Amendment - Vote Rejected (52-47, 1
Not Voting)
During the Defense Authorization bill debate, the Senate failed to
invoke cloture on this amendment that would have set a timetable for
withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Sen. Mitch McConnell voted
NO
- Sen. Jim Bunning voted
NO
-
-
College Cost Reduction Act - Vote Passed (78-18, 4 Not
Voting)
The Senate approved this bill to increase the amount of aid to college
students.
Sen. Mitch McConnell voted
NO
- Sen. Jim Bunning voted
NO
Recent House Votes
-
Energy/Water Development Appropriations, FY2008 - Vote
Passed (312-112, 7 Not Voting)
This $31.6 billion bill would fund the Department of Energy, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department's Bureau of
Reclamation for the upcoming fiscal year.
Rep. Ron Lewis voted
YES
- Rep. John Yarmuth voted
YES
-
-
Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations, FY2008 - Vote Passed
(276-140, 15 Not Voting)
The House passed this $153.7 billion bill that would fund the
departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education for the
2008 fiscal year.
Rep. Ron Lewis voted
NO
- Rep. John Yarmuth voted
YES
TOP
HUMOR
Over the weekend, President Bush had his annual
physical and he had one of those colonoscopies. Now he knows what it feels
like to be invaded. ... He's okay, although he was slightly injured trying
to say the word 'colonoscopy.' ... It was long, but a successful procedure.
They removed five polyps and ten Al Gore ballots" --David Letterman
"On Saturday, President Bush underwent a colonoscopy. It was performed by
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. ... White House spokesman Scott Stanzel
said that during the procedure, President Bush was 'asleep, but responsive.'
So, how is that different from any other day?" --Jay Leno
"Doctors said that during the colonoscopy, they did find something -- five
polyps and two reporters from Fox News." --Jay Leno
"President Bush had that colonoscopy over the weekend. ... The doctors found
five polyps. And I was thinking, 'Hell, maybe we should send these guys out
to look for bin Laden.'" --David Letterman
"John Edwards has a new TV commercial touting him as a tough guy.
His wife says he has unbelievable toughness. And he is tough. Like in the
ad, sometimes it says he shampoos his hair and then skips conditioner
completely." --Jay Leno
"Rudy Giuliani is probably going to be the next president of the United
States ... because it's all about image. He's got the big anti-terrorist
image. On January 20, 2009, you may very well be welcoming to the White
House Rudy Giuliani and his lovely wife ... whoever that may be at the time.
... Giuliani's first wife was his cousin. I'm not making that up. I think
that's a very cheap way to go after the Southern vote." –Bill Maher
"On the Democratic side, the only two candidates who could not actually run
together on a ticket are Hillary [Clinton] and Barack Obama, because that's
too much non-male whiteness for America. ... And the Republicans would have
a field day if they ran together. First, Bush would call like twelve fake
terror alerts. And then the Republicans would run a series of ads about how
terrorism is happening now again ... and this is no time to trust the
country to a woman and a black teenager" --Bill Maher
"But everything's fine. The procedure went well. After the operation on
Bush's colon, the doctors put his head back up his ass." --David Letterman
"At least for once in our lifetimes, we saw the words 'Bush,' 'operation,'
and 'success' in the same sentence." --Bill Maher, on Bush's colonoscopy
"The president had five polyps removed from his lower intestines. And here's
the interesting part: they were removed for political reasons. Apparently,
these polyps were not loyal Bushies and had to be replaced by more
appropriate, die hard Republican polyps. Apparently, the polyps who were
removed began asking questions as to why they were removed, but it was too
late." --Jon Stewart
"Tomorrow, President Bush is undergoing a colonoscopy, so he's going to
temporarily transfer his presidential power to Vice President Dick Cheney.
That's right, on the day that millions will be reading the new Harry Potter
book, Voldemort will be running the country." --Conan O'Brien
"You know who got married last weekend? Al Gore's daughter. ... Al Gore is
no fun at wedding receptions. He keeps pointing out how fast the ice
sculpture is melting." --David Letterman
"Today is the 38th anniversary of the first man on the moon. ... That's
remarkable. And just as remarkable, we're still waiting for the first man on
Condoleezza Rice." –David Letterman
TOP
The Frontier Of Corruption
Alaska may be the second youngest state in the country, but it's also one
of the most corrupt. The state's entire congressional delegation -- Sens.
Ted Stevens (R) and Lisa Murkowski (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) -- is now
embroiled in a series of scandals and criminal investigations that threaten
to topple Alaska's oil industry-friendly political leadership. Much of the
corruption involves Alaska's "largest
oil-field engineering firm," Veco Corp., which is "entwined
in a broad federal investigation that has led to the indictment of four
current and former Alaska politicians and
ensnared former Alaska Senate President Ben Stevens, son of Ted
Stevens."
STEVENS'S CORRUPT HOME MAKEOVER: Ted
Stevens is "the most senior Republican in the U.S. Senate and
Alaska's most famous political figure." He's also the subject of
investigations by the FBI and a federal grand jury over an "extensive
remodeling project" done to his home in 2000. The contractors for this
major project, which added a new floor to Stevens's house, happened to be
hired by longtime Veco Corp. CEO Bill Allen. Allen and another company
executive
pleaded guilty in May to
federal conspiracy, bribery and tax charges, and they are now
cooperating with authorities. "The company has been
awarded a series of federal contracts since 2000, including contracts to
provide logistics support for arctic research, among other projects." FBI
officials "recently
questioned former Stevens aides about Bill Allen," and the investigation
appears to be expanding to include the commercial fishing industry,
"including Ben Stevens' consulting clients and associates. Federal subpoenas
served on fishing companies in Seattle last year
sought records concerning both Ben and Ted Stevens." Now Stevens's
popularity is near an "all-time
low" -- plans to erect a nine-foot-tall "statuary tribute" to Stevens at
the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
were even scrapped -- and the senator isn't taking any legal chances.
Last month, he "quietly
hired Washington’s most powerful and expensive lawyer, Brendan Sullivan
Jr., to deal with the feds."
YOUNG'S DIRTY PIG ROAST: The Wall Street Journal revealed this week
that 18-term Alaska congressman Don Young is also
under criminal investigation in the widening probe into "alleged
influence-peddling and self-dealing in Congress," and Allen again plays a
prominent role. For a decade, "Allen has
held fund-raisers for Mr. Young in Anchorage every August, known as 'The Pig
Roast.'" Veco employees and its PAC have contributed at least $157,000
to Young between 1996 and 2006, the last year the event was held. Young has
often skated ethics rules closely. The self-proclaimed "little
oinker" has arranged several
highly-suspect pork projects, including the infamous "Bridge to
Nowhere," and his former staffer was
convicted as part of the Jack Abramoff corruption probe. Young has now "hired
a criminal-defense team and has said his campaign committee has paid
$262,000 in legal fees in the past three months."
MURKOWSKI'S FISHY LAND DEAL: Alaska's
other senator, Lisa Murkowski, has
come under fire in recent weeks for buying a prime riverfront lot on
Alaska's Kenai River lot "at
a cut-rate price from a major campaign contributor." Wealthy Alaskan
real estate developer and political supporter Bob Penney
sold a 1.27-acre waterfront lot for $179,000 to Murkowski's husband,
Verne Martell. "Three days after the borough recorded the Murkowskis'
purchase, the assessed value went up to $214,900. So right off the bat, it
looks like she got a discount of 20 percent." But the discount was "probably
far bigger. The online real estate listing service for Alaska has one Kenai
riverfront lot. The parcel is only one acre -- a quarter of an acre less
than Sen. Murkowski's -- but the asking price is $399,000. Per acre, that's
almost three times what the senator paid for hers." Last month, the
National Legal and Policy Center
filed a 25-page ethics complaint against Murkowski with the Senate
committee. Murkowski's deal factors into the other scandals -- Bob Penney,
who sold her husband the lot, also testified last year before a grand jury "about
his cozy relationship" with Stevens.
TOP
NEED
COMPUTER ASSISTANCE??
Democrat Activist Mike
Bailey is now providing “Professional Computer Support.” He can be
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mikebailey2000@usa.net.
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Think Fast
As part of the debate over the farm bill, "House Democrats
proposed legislation that would make it harder for overseas companies to
use tax havens to avoid taxes on U.S. profits, drawing
immediate opposition from the Bush administration."
"The commanding general at Fort Lewis, Wash., the third-largest Army base
in the nation, on Wednesday
rescinded a plan calling for a once-a-month collective memorial
service rather than individual ones for soldiers killed in action."
"One of the largest American contractors working in Iraq,
Bechtel National, met its original objectives on
fewer than half of the projects it received as part of a $1.8 billion
reconstruction contract, while most of the rest were canceled, reduced in
scope or never completed as designed, federal investigators have found in a
report released yesterday."
Sen. Arlen Specter
(R-PA), who championed the confirmation John Roberts and Samuel Alito, plans
to review the Supreme Court
justices' Senate testimony to "determine if their reversal
of several long-standing opinions
conflicts with promises they made to senators to win confirmation."
"The Agriculture
Department sent $1.1 billion in farm
payments to more than 170,000 dead people over a seven-year
period," according to a new Government Accountability Office Report. Forty
percent of those payments "went to those who
had been dead more than three years."
"More than a quarter of
the computer equipment at the
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington
could not be found by investigators, government auditors reported. Three
other agency facilities -- in San Diego, Indianapolis and the agency's
headquarters -- could not find up to 11 percent of their equipment."
"Days after the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's chief spokesman said concerns about
formaldehyde would not stop it from selling or donating
surplus disaster trailers,
the agency said Tuesday that
it is reviewing the policy."
Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales will appear before the Senate
Judiciary Committee today. "Armed with the president's support, Gonzales has
made clear that he does not intend to leave office before Bush does." "This
attorney general
has a severe credibility problem," said Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
adding that there is an "acute crisis of leadership that has gripped the
department under his watch."
"While Washington is mired in political debate over the
future of Iraq," Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker
have "prepared
a detailed plan that foresees a
significant American role" through 2009.
"Under
a bill the House approved Monday, members of Congress would no longer be
able to put their spouses on their
campaign payrolls, a practice criticized as a way for
lawmakers to profit from political donations." The act would also
require the disclosure of all other immediate family members who are
employed by the candidate's campaign.
"The campaign
of the late congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA) treated his
supporters to
a $63,000 thank-you weekend at a golf resort two months after he died --
the same day that the candidate endorsed by Norwood's family held a
fundraiser at the same resort, reports and interviews
show."
Steve Thomma of McClatchy writes, "When pressing a
tough sale, Bush is a
lousy salesman." "He's never really sold the country or
Congress something it didn't already want. And when he's tried to sell
something the people or the politicians didn't want,
he's fallen flat." Thomma cites Bush's sales pitches on reforming
immigration, privatizing Social Security, and staying in Iraq.
The Washington Post reports on an
executive order issued by President Bush last week entitled, "Blocking
Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq."
In the extreme, it could be interpreted as
targeting the financial assets of any American who undermines the
administration's Iraq policy.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), a member of the House
Homeland Security Committee, was denied access to the
White House plan for operating the government after a
terrorist attack. "I just can't believe they're going to
deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to
conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist
attack," he said.
A few months ago, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
decided to write an opinion piece about Lebanon, but
no one would publish it.
Price Floyd, the State Department's director of media affairs, said, "I kept
hearing the same thing: 'There's no news in this.'" The piece, he said, was
littered with glowing references to President Bush's wise leadership. "It
read like a campaign document."
"Major military offensives and a changed focus on
increasing security have
slowed efforts to train Iraqi
forces to take control of Iraq, the top U.S. training
official said." Brig. Gen. Dana Pittard told USA Today, "Transitioning [to
Iraqi control] is
not a main priority, but it's still a priority."
"Under a Senate bill to be introduced today, computer
programmers, call-center staffers and other service-sector workers who make
up the vast majority of the nation's workforce would for the first time be
eligible for a
generous package of income, health and retraining benefits
currently reserved for manufacturing workers
who lose their jobs to international trade."
What's the difference between
Jessica Lynch and
Jessica Simpson? "When Cheney threw out the first pitch before a 2003
game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, Cheney was first informed
that pop singer Nick Lachey "would sing the national anthem before the game
and would be accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson.
Cheney thought Simpson's name
sounded familiar. He asked his staff: 'Is
that the soldier who was captured in Iraq?'"
A House Judiciary subcommittee rejected President
Bush's contention that "his claim of
executive privilege shields the top aide,
Joshua Bolten, from having to turn over subpoenaed documents." The vote
subjected Bolten to
possible contempt charges.
70:
Number of House members who wrote a letter to Bush stating that they "will
only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in
Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and
safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave
office."
"An appeals court chastised the Department of Veterans
Affairs on Thursday and ordered the agency to
pay retroactive benefits to Vietnam War
veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange
and contracted a form of leukemia."
In a 78-18 vote, the Senate voted to "cut
federal subsidies to college student loan firms, such as
Sallie Mae, by $18.3 billion, redirect savings to student grants and ease
some student loan repayment terms." The annual maximum level for Pell grants
would
go up from $4,310 to more than $5,000.
"U.S. troops in Iraq should receive
2,500 to 3,000 special armored vehicles
by year’s end if Congress approves $1.2 billion in 2007 defense spending, a
top Pentagon official said on Thursday,
down from 3,400 vehicles announced just a day earlier."
TOP
INTERESTING
Remember
when President Bush tried to privatize Social Security?
We were able to stop him.
But in 2003, President Bush
also tried to privatize Medicare by giving private insurance companies big
subsidies to provide benefits that Medicare usually provides at a much lower
cost. Today, these subsidies are out of control, putting the entire Medicare
program at risk. They’ve already resulted in higher premiums—and they may
force Congress to cut benefits.
Within the next few weeks,
Congress will vote on a law to cut overpayments to private insurance
companies.
Call Congress today. Tell
your lawmaker to stop the privatization of Medicare and cut the overpayments
to private insurance companies:
1-800-828-0498
In 2003, Congress passed the
Medicare Modernization Act, which created a new Part D prescription drug
benefit and included provisions designed to increase the role of private
plans—now known as “Medicare Advantage” plans—in providing hospital,
physician and other health care services.
These private managed care
plans were originally allowed to offer Medicare benefits because they were
supposed to save money.
Now, the non-partisan MedPAC
and Congressional Budget Office have found that private plans are paid, on
average, 12 percent more than traditional Medicare pays to treat the same
retirees.
That amounts to $150 billion
over the next decade of our tax dollars going to private insurance
companies.
Call Congress today. Tell your representative to
support the elimination of the subsidies and pay Medicare Advantage plans no
more than traditional Medicare.
****************
Chickenhawk Bill Kristol Says Antiwar People (Even Bereaved Moms) Are
Against the Troops,
By
M.J. Rosenberg |
bio
This is an interesting piece from the Weekly Standard in which Bill
Kristol points out that people like Cindy Sheehan don't care about the
troops in Iraq, even if they have family members serving. The people who do
care are people like Kristol who come from families where no one serves.
This
is standard neocon stuff. For the ideological architects of the war, the
3700 dead Americans are collateral damage in pursuit of a grand idea. It
helps that they don't know people who actually have family members serving.
(The Manhattan and DC neighborhoods where neocons live are not hotbeds of
service volunteers).
The other interesting thing in this
piece is that Kristol argues pretty persuasively that the New Republic is
again publishing fake stories. Of course, Kristol only cares about this
because the story in question questions the war. But it is sweet seeing the
New Republic caught plagiarizing again.
The Weekly Standard, New Republic and
the now forgotten Commentary are the three neocon rags. All of them lie but
I get particular pleasure in seeing the magazine that Marty Peretz destroyed
brought down again.
Franklin Foer, TNR's editor, is very
good. But so long as Peretz remains associated with the magazine, it will
continue its descent.
Kristol himself is now a joke.
Last week's op-ed in the WP arguing that Bush will go down in history as
a great President because of the successful Iraq war demonstrated that
senescence has set in. Big surprise! We only know who he is because he was
the brains behind....Dan Quayle.
VIDEOS
None this week.
TOP
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TOP
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