Clinton Screws Up Fla., Mich. Compromise

Outside the meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Hillary had her own Brooks Bros. Rioters . In the meeting, Hillary's rioters frequently disrupted the proceedings and in the end, her representative rejected the hard won compromise worked out by the Florida and Michigan Democratic Party's.

Now Hillary is using this as an excuse to continue on to the Convention even though she has no chance of winning enough delegate to become the nominee.

Some of the Hillary supporters outside the meeting told reporters they would leave the Democratic Party and vote for McCain if there was a compromise that didn't seat 100% of the delegates from Fla. & Mich..

The only thing I can think to say to anyone with that sort of 'my way or the hiway' attitude is; don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.

May 31, 7:26 PM EDT
Officials say Fla., Mich. delegates will get half-votes

By NEDRA PICKLER and BETH FOUHY Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Party officials agreed Saturday to seat Michigan and Florida delegates with half-votes, ruling on a long-running dispute that has threatened the party's chances in November and maintaining Barack Obama's front-runner status as he moves closer to the nomination.

The decision was a blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton as she was on the verge of watching Obama make history as the first black Democratic presidential nominee. It prompted an irate reaction from boisterous Clinton supporters in the audience and her chief delegate counter, Harold Ickes.

Ickes angrily informed the party's Rules Committee that Clinton had instructed him to reserve her right to appeal the matter to the Democrats' credentials committee, which could potentially drag the matter to the party's convention in August. ...(full
article)

Four Whatcom Democrats Going To National Convention

"Democrats from all across America will come together in Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008 for the 45th Democratic National Convention." And four of them will be from Whatcom County.

Now when you hear those news reports about Clinton Delegates and Obama Delegates, you'll know they are real people from real places.

Whatcom County Democrats
P.O. Box 3095, Bellingham, WA 98227-3095 .
Phone: (360) 647-7661 . Fax: (360) 647-0397Office
Location: 215 W. Holly Street, Suite B-27, Bellingham, WA 98225

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Four Democratic National Convention Delegates from Whatcom County

Four of the seven Democratic National Convention delegates and alternate selected from the 2nd Congressional District are from Whatcom County. The2nd CD includes Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties.

The six delegates and one alternate were elected May 17th in Mt. Vernon,in the third step in the delegate selection process that began with theprecinct caucuses on February 9th.

National delegates will represent Democratic voters at the DemocraticNational Convention in Denver in late August.

National delegates from the 2nd Congressional are:
Deb M. Cummings of Ferndale -- Clinton Delegate
James M. Trefry of Everett -- Clinton Delegate
Nicholas J. Petrish III of Anacortes -- Obama Delegate
Larry J. Estrada of Bellingham -- Obama Delegate
Haeryung Shin of Pt. Roberts -- Obama Delegate
Lona A. Wilbur of La Conner -- Obama Delegate
Richard F. May of Blaine -- Obama Alternate

###

Rick Larsen's kick-off in Bellingham

we had a really nice time kicking off Rick's campaign.


Harriet Spanel did a wonderful introduction and pledged her support.



3 candidates for Harriet's State Senate seat, open as she steps down, were present: Ken Henderson, Kevin Ranker and Stephanie Kountouros


Rick on Veterans issues
....on food and toy safety and our first new wilderness area in over 20 years..thanks Rick!!
...on the economy, education, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, energy policy, farm bill, food security(my label)
....conclusion and how the Bellingham Herald got ALL his votes wrong in "How they voted."

Mark Flanders (D) runs for State Rep.

Mark Flanders is running for the State Legislature, 42nd Legislative District position 1. That's the seat currently held by Doug Ericksen.

The 42nd LD Democrats held their nominating convention on Saturday, May 10th. Incumbent Kelli Linville was confirmed as the candidate for State Representative Position 2 and Mark Flanders was selected as candidate for State Representative Position 1. Both candidates won nomination by acclamation.

[ Washington State Democrats are using nominating conventions this year to select candidates because a majority of Washington voters didn't want to be part of the Party's nominating process and voted to replace the primary with a winnowing election. ]

May, 29, 2008
- ELECTIONS -

Flanders to run for state House

SAM TAYLOR

State Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, has a challenger.

Mark Flanders, who helps organize local grassroots efforts for Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, will run as a Democrat for the 42nd Legislative District Position 1 seat.

“Basically I’m kind of a working-class intellectual,” Flanders said, adding that he believes he’s a good communicator and listens well.

Flanders, a Bellingham native, moved away for a while but came back in 1999 with his wife, Audrey Tsui.

He is a digital press operator for Premier Graphics. Among his other activities, Flanders said he also worked for Democrat John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004 and served on the Bellingham Independent Music Association board for two years.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/424757.html

Rossi Sez: "I’m not a scientist."

Even though it's not rocket science, Dino Rossi doesn't seem to be able to wrap his head around the idea that the climate is changing. As a matter of fact, he seems to have slept all the way through science class. He keeps sounding like he doesn't understand the concept of scientific consensus. Or perhaps he keeps saying there's still "debate" about Climate Change because he doesn't want to lose the Right-Wing Nut vote.

During an interview Rossi just kept falling back on the excuse that "I’m not a scientist" instead of answering simple straight forward questions about his views on Global Warming. You can read more about it at Postman on Politics.

Republican Dino Rossi: Global Warming Denier

Monday

Conservatives Spend Memorial Day Weekend Explaining Their Opposition To GI Bill

Libertarian Candidate Bob Barr - Hardy Har Har Har

The Libertarians just selected Bob Barr as their Presidential candidate which should draw lots of unhappy Republican voters and really screw with McCain's chances of being elected.

May 25, 5:47 PM EDT
Libertarian Party picks Barr as presidential candidate

DENVER (AP) -- The Libertarian Party has picked former Republican Rep. Bob Barr to be its presidential candidate after six rounds of balloting.

The party is meeting in Denver.

Barr beat research scientist Mary Ruwart, who was the party's presidential nominee in 1983 and vice presidential candidate in 1992. Barr left the GOP in 2006 over what he called bloated spending and civil liberties intrusions by the Bush administration.

The Libertarian Party's selection of Bob Barr comes with the blessing of arch-conservative Richard Viguerie.

Richard Viguerie Tells Libertarian Party Convention: McCain 'Trying to Get Conservative Support on the Cheap;' Conservatives May be Open to Libertarians in 2008 Vote

DENVER, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In his keynote speech on May 23 to the Libertarian Party National Convention, Richard A. Viguerie, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement, declared today that John McCain is "trying to get conservative support on the cheap."

"Senator McCain has had the Republican presidential nomination sewn up for over three months and has done nothing to convince conservatives to come off the sidelines and enthusiastically support him," Viguerie said.

In his speech, "Conservatives are off the GOP Reservation: Will they find a home in the Libertarian Party?" Viguerie said that Democrats and Republicans have both failed America.

"Republican leaders have treated conservatives with utter disrespect and, in turn, conservatives have lost all respect for Republican leaders. Millions of grassroots conservative activists and donors have left the Republican Party and taken with them their volunteer time, their checkbooks, and their votes," he said.

Viguerie said, "Today, the Libertarian Party has a historic opportunity to provide leadership for America."

A complete text of the speech is posted on ConservativeHQ.com

But McCain and his lobbyist campaign staff should look on the bright side, this might mean that those ardent Ron Paul supporters will move to the Libertarian Party instead of rioting at the Republican convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Ferndale Farmers Market Open Saturdays

The Ferndale Farmers Market had it's grand opening yesterday. Located on the new Ferndale Riverwalk, it will be open every Saturday through October. Check out the Ferndale Farmers Market blog for pictures and video of the opening ceremony, the market stalls and the happy shoppers.

The market offers locally grown produce, buffalo meat, smoked salmon, cheese's, coffee's, tea's, arts & crafts and more. It's a fun & friendly place to take the family and enjoy rubbing elbows with neighbors.

McCain's Friday Afternoon News Dump

Here's another McCain slippery move. First they say they won't release tax returns at all and then they hand over a snippet of information... on a long-weekend Friday afternoon. Obviously this is part of a plan to hide where the McCain's money comes from. The idea being that the timing of the release will guarantee minimum news coverage, but will allow them to later say "Oh, that's old news... we already released our tax returns... now where are those donuts with sprinkles?"

Cindy McCain had income of $6 million in 2006

Cindy McCain had income of just over $6 million in 2006, largely from her control over the Arizona beer distributorship she inherited from her father. She paid over $1.7 million in taxes.

Per AP, she got an extension on her 2007 returns and will release those when they're finished.

The vast majority of McCain's 2006 income — over $4.5 million — comes from the line: "Rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, etc, Attach Schedule E"

The McCain campaign released just two pages from her 1040, but the money is almost certainly from her role as Chair of Hensley & Co, the family business. (full article)

Propaganda Pundits

I don't know about you, but I get pretty ticked off when my government lies to me. And I get especially pissed when I find out that my government has carefully orchestrated a campaign to deceive us into supporting a war of aggression.

For the first time in our history, the American military has turned its operational apparatus upon the American public. And it's high time that it stop.

On April 21, the New York Times ran a shocking expose on a Pentagon program to generate favorable news coverage of the Iraq war. Starting with the run up to the war, the program fed talking points and information to a set of retired military officials who appeared on TV thousands of times parading as objective pundits.

We're teaming up with some other groups like Freepress to send a letter to the five members of Congress - Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Armed Service Committee Chair Ike Skelton, Senate Armed Service Committee Chair Carl Levin and House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs Chair John Tierney - who can start up Congressional hearings on this despicable program.

Add your name to the letter:
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/propagandapundit

Psychological operations like this may not leave shell craters, but they are strategic military operations with a specific military purpose - in this case altering American public opinion. That's why it's against the law to use programs like this against Americans.

It's up to Congress to step in and do something to end this program and hold those responsible for it accountable. Please take a moment to send a powerful message to our Congressional leaders that we will not stand idly by to be manipulated by our own government.

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/propagandapundit

Thank you for taking action,
Jane Hamsher and the Firedoglake Action Team

Bush/Cheney, A Pain In The Gas

Regular Gas has topped $4.00 a gallon! All of us are paying a “Bush premium” at the pump—we are the victims of bad policy, misplaced priorities and a misbegotten war:

1. For seven years, Bush's policies have utterly failed to protect our nation's energy security. The primary reason for our current high gas prices is that the Bush administration and its allies made no serious effort to end America's dependence on foreign oil. They blocked efforts to encourage conservation, improve fuel efficiency, and mandate the use of renewable energy sources.

2. The Bush-McCain war in Iraq caused most of the "global unrest" and unleashed the speculators that have driven up world oil prices. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz found that the Iraq war substantially increased crude oil prices, which in turn pushed up prices at the pump. Bush-McCain saber-rattling and threats of war against Iran and others raises additional fears of supply disruptions, prompting speculators to jack up prices.

3. Skyrocketing fuel prices shouldn't surprise anyone because big oil companies wrote the Bush energy policy. The same big oil companies that recently reported windfall profits participated in Vice President Cheney's 2001 task force that wrote the Bush Administration's energy plan. Despite a lawsuit, the proceedings of this task force have remained secret to this day. But it would be hugely nave to think that the oil companies didn't get exactly what they wanted.

Immigration Fearmongers Exposed

By way of Firedoglake.com :

The Stupid It Burns: Media Fan Flames Of Immigration Irrationality
By: David Neiwert Wednesday May 21, 2008 12:03 pm

Immigration Myths and Cable News

Read the Media Matters Report:
Fear & Loathing in Prime Time: Immigration Myths and Cable News.

Fascism Is Not Liberal

David Neiwert, award winning journalist, author and expert on the American far right, was kind enough to come up to Ferndale last night and give a talk to a gathering of interested citizens. He critiqued Jonah Goldberg's book "Liberal Fascism" and discussed our area's real experience with fascist and proto-fascist groups.

Mr. Neiwert's conclusion, Goldberg's book is nearly 500 page worth of school yard taunting in which Goldberg says to the people who have called him a fascist "I know you are, but what am I".

Goldberg claims to define fascism but instead describes much broader elements of totalitarianism and authoritarianism which only serves to muddy the waters. Goldberg picks what suits his purposes from the rhetoric of fascist movements and calls that evidence of a resemblance to liberalism. Of course Goldberg ignores the consistent patterns of fascist actions that are always right wing and virulently anti-liberal.

Mr. Neiwert was interviewed by local radio station KGMI. You can listen to the interview HERE (part 1) and HERE (part 2) .

David Neiwert blogs at Orcinus and Firedoglake.

The Real McCain 2

McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare

http://TheRealMcCain.com/ There's no question John McCain is getting a free ride from the mainstream press. But withthe power of YouTube and the blogosphere, we can provide an accurate portrayal of the so-called Maverick. We can put the brakes on his free ride!

Since we first released The Real McCain a year ago, our REAL McCain series has garnered close to 2 million views, with over 13,000 comments and tens of thousands more in petition signatures! Clearly, John McCain's record is something the public wants to discuss, and yet the corporate media is doing NOTHING to present the truth. We feel obliged to continue countering the mainstream media's love of McCain. And so we thought it was high time for a sequel: The Real McCain 2.

Negotiating Isn't Appeasement

Conservatism is all about simplistic thinking, reducing everything to soundbites and slogans. They try to force a complex world into the mold of Good vs. Evil, Us vs. Them.

For conservatives it might be comforting to be relieved of the burden of thinking seriously about complex issues, but their 'one size fits all' approach doesn't produce workable answers to the problems that confront us (U.S.).

David Sirota points out an important op-ed in the LA Times.

Negotiating isn't appeasement
Bush, McCain and other conservatives are on the wrong side of history when they dismiss Obama's foreign policy.

By J. Peter Scoblic May 17, 2008

In a speech to the Israeli parliament Thursday, President Bush took a swipe at Barack Obama for his willingness to negotiate with evil regimes. ...

... But if there is anything that has been discredited by history, it is the argument that every enemy is Hitler, that negotiations constitute appeasement, and that talking will automatically lead to a slaughter of Holocaust-like proportions. It is an argument that conservatives made throughout the Cold War, and, if the charge seemed overblown at the time, it seems positively ludicrous with the clarity of hindsight. ...

... Containment, negotiation, nuclear stability -- each of these things helped protect the United States and end the Cold War. And yet, at the time, conservatives thought each was synonymous with appeasement.

The Bush administration has been little different, refusing for years to talk to North Korea or Iran about their nuclear programs because it wanted to defeat evil, not talk to it. The result was that Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon and Iran's uranium program continued unfettered. (By contrast, when the administration negotiated with Libya -- an act that its chief arms controller, John Bolton, had previously derided as, yes, "appeasement" -- it succeeded in eliminating Tripoli's nuclear program.)

Alas, John McCain accused President Clinton of "appeasement" for engaging North Korea, instead calling for "rogue state rollback," and now he dismisses the idea of negotiations with Iran. Given conservatism's historical record, Obama's inclination to negotiate seems only sensible. When will conservatives learn that it is 2008, not 1938? (full article)

It's a complex world where foreign policy can't be reduced to simplistic slogans. Senator Obama understands that:

Obama Responds to Bush and McCain Foreign Policy Attacks

Democratic Party Fun Facts

RASMUSSEN REPORTS has some new poll results that bode well for Democrats in this falls election.

Washington: Obama 51% McCain 40%

Washington: Governor: Gregoire (D) 52% Rossi (R) 41%

Democrats Trusted More on All Ten Electoral Issues Tracked by Rasmussen Reports

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 46% Republicans 41%

Election 2008 Creating Record Number of Democrats

Olbermann To Bush: "This War Is Not About You

Keith Olbermann tears Bush a new one... Watch Olbermann's excellent commentary but first, sit down and buckle up.

May 14: Countdown’s Keith Olbermann gives a Special Comment on President Bush’s recent Politico interview. Pres. Bush suggested that electing a Democrat as president means “another attack on the United States.” He also shows his empathy for the death of U.S. soldiers… by giving up golf.

closing the food gap...recommended reading

had a chance to hear Mark Winne as he spoke about his new book

i haven't had a chance to read the book yet but have looked thru and look forward to reading....i read all the intro quotes and i include the one from chapter 10 Income Disparities, Poverty, and the Food Gap

An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.

Plutarch

video of Mark reading from book....

community links....

Community to Community Development

Small Potatoes Gleaning Project

Ferndale Community Garden

Ferndale Farmer's Market and here

post on World Food Day

my first salad this year (i'm new at this)

Conservative Movement Abandons Republican Party

Conservative movement leader Richard Viguerie has called for a mass resignation of Republican Party leaders, or else. It's hard to tell if Viguerie is genuinely unhappy with the GOP leadership or is just covering his ass, since it's already clear that the Republicans "will crash in flames in November" with or without Viguerie's support.

Richard Viguerie: Republican Leaders Must Resign
Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; after 6 PM Eastern, Vi Shields or Bob Sturm, 703-906-6542, 703-307-8176

MANASSAS, Va., May 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Republican Party must have new leadership, or conservatives will continue to withhold support, and the Party will crash in flames in November, Richard A. Viguerie, publisher of ConservativeHQ.com, said. "Accordingly, Republican Party leaders must resign."

"Leaders in the White House, the Congress, and the Republican National Committee and its affiliates, along with most Republican leaders at the state level, have failed – or outright betrayed – the conservative voters who put them in their positions," Viguerie said.

"The result is that the Republican Party's brand has become a negative to an extent greater than in the Watergate era, perhaps even worse than in the days of Herbert Hoover." (link)

Rossi Sticks by Washington Job Slayer

Dino Rossi is sticking by John McCain while McCain trashes Boeing and brags about killing jobs in Washington state

The McCain Mutiny?

While Radio-Talker Rush Limbaugh is trying to stay in the limelight for another minute or two by touting the hypothetical effects of his "Operation Chaos" shtick, the Democratic Party Presidential nomination process goes on without any disruption.

The same can not be said for the Republican Party nominating process:

CARSON CITY, Nev.—State Republican Party leaders are still hunting for a date to complete a convention abruptly shut down prior to final votes on what was shaping up as a Nevada delegation to the national GOP convention with more supporters for Ron Paul than John McCain... (full article)

It looks like the 'trouble' at the Nevada GOP convention is just the beginning. The LA Times reports:

...quietly, largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paulhave been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in Minnesota at the beginning of September. ...(full article)

And the 'Ron Paul Revolt' inside the Republican Party is just a small part of McCain's problems. Vaughn Ververs writes on his CBS-News blog:

Former Rep. Bob Barr announced today that he will seek the Libertarian presidential nomination, a move that could raise concern among Republicans nervous about anything that might siphon voters from John McCain this fall.

Barr, who became nationally known as one of the lead House members in President Clinton’s impeachment, is enough of a name to potentially attract disgruntled conservatives. “I've heard from Americans from all walks of life,” Barr said in announcing his run. “They want a choice. They believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current political situation is serving up to us."

While, son & grandson of Admirals, John McCain isn't yet being made to walk the GOP plank, he could be in for a keel hauling, or two, between now and November.

Recommended Reading

Some things to read and think about. Recognizing a problem is the first step toward solving it.

Outright Barbarism vs. The Civil Society

By Sara Robinson
May 6th, 2008

Call it holocaust, lynching, or apartheid -- whatever the atrocity, it always begins with language that privileges us, dehumanizes them, and somehow justifies their removal from our midst. The right has scored some very specific and tangible (and otherwise politically untenable) benefits by the simple act of grinding our discourse down the point where it's now mostly conduced in the coarsest of us-versus-them terms. Somehow, we need to find our way back to each other. full article »

and

The Gospel of Consumption
And the better future we left behind
by Jeffrey Kaplan

...By the late 1920s, America’s business and political elite had found a way to defuse the dual threat of stagnating economic growth and a radicalized working class in what one industrial consultant called “the gospel of consumption”—the notion that people could be convinced that however much they have, it isn’t enough. President Herbert Hoover’s 1929 Committee on Recent Economic Changes observed in glowing terms the results: “By advertising and other promotional devices . . . a measurable pull on production has been created which releases capital otherwise tied up.” They celebrated the conceptual breakthrough: “Economically we have a boundless field before us; that there are new wants which will make way endlessly for newer wants, as fast as they are satisfied.” ... (full article)

Is Rick Bart Against Motherhood, Too?

Republican candidate Rick Bart has criticizing Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02)... for endorsing Obama or for being in Congress or something?

Barts press-release takes a bizarre stance, saying; "The reality is that Americans no longer trust Congress. The best hope we have for a better future is to change Congress".

It's bizarre because he's making a great argument for sending more Democrats to Congress.

Congress has low rating because of Republicans.

The years of a Republican majority were years of harmful policies, corruption and failure to carry out the duty of oversight. The 2006 elections were a judgement against Republicans.

Now that Republicans are in the minority, they have made obstruction a full time endeavor. Their dedication to bringing Congressional business to a standstill is insidious. Last Wednesday, in an effort to slow legislative procedures, 178 House Republicans voted against Motherhood!

When Republicans choose to vote against H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day" as a way to gum up the works, we need to question their collective sanity as well as their morality and integrity.

When Republicans are against Motherhood, can voting against apple pie be far behind?

If Bart did make it to Congress, he'd change nothing, he'd just fall into line with the Republican leadership and obstruct the business of the People.

al-Qaeda Endorses McCain

Republican's love to strut and posture, proclaiming themselves tough guys. But instead of being frightened, it turns out the terrorists love Republican theatrics and al-Zawahiri is one of McCain's biggest fans.

From Juan Cole's Informed Comment blog:

...Senator John McCain, who seeks endorsements from haters of Roman Catholics, is alleging that Hamas has "endorsed" Barack Obama. He darkly suggests that this means something.

It is a despicable, dirty campaign trick. Who do you think the Ku Klux Klan will be endorsing? And if the Grand Dragons plump for McCain, does that tell us anything about McCain except that he is pasty faced? You can't logically read off anything at all from an unsolicited endorsement.

Actually it occurred to me to ask who is endorsing McCain in the Muslim world.

Well, it turns out that al-Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri has declared that he is actually on McCain's side in wanting to destroy Iran. Al-Zawahiri is hurt that McCain keeps confusing hyper-Sunni al-Qaeda with radical Shiism: "Ayman al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda wants to see the destruction of Iran - a Shiite nation battling the terrorists . . . "The dispute between America and Iran is a genuine struggle, and the possibility of the US striking Iran is real," al-Zawahiri said. . ." Al-Zawahiri hopes that the US struggle with Iran will destroy the latter and weaken the former, putting al-Qaeda in a position to administer the coup de grace.

In essence, al-Zawahiri is endorsing McCain's plan to "bomb, bomb, bomb/ bomb, bomb Iran." ...(complete post)

Larsen (WA-02) Endorses Obama

From Politics Reporter Sam Taylor at the Bellingham Herald:

Breaking! Rep. Rick Larsen endorses Obama

... Larsen said during a surprise 2 p.m. conference call that he is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president.

“This week Sen. Obama has proven that he’s tough and resilient. He’s shown that he can take a pounding but come back and communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change and I think that’s a critical characteristic,” Larsen said, speaking from D.C. ... (More)

Congressman Rick Larsen's Press Statement

Larsen Pledges Super Delegate Vote to Obama

Everett, WA – Today U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), who will serve as a super delegate to the Democratic National Convention, endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. Larsen released the following statement:

“Today I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama for President. I believe Senator Obama is the best candidate to turn our country’s hopes for a better future into reality.

“This week, Senator Obama has proven that he is tough and resilient. He has shown that he can take a pounding, come back and continue to communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change.

“In my district, Senator Obama has strong grassroots support. He has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate.

“I believe that Senator Obama will be the best President for our country. I have been particularly impressed by Senator Obama’s truth-telling on a proposed gas tax policy – a proposal which would make little or no difference for Americans paying too much at the pump.

“Our country faces great challenges. As President, I believe that Barack Obama can unite our country to overcome obstacles and deliver real change.”
###

FoxNews Has Got No Class

FOX News Struggles Feebly to Understand Class in America

After some muddled rambling about "downscale voters", Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard makes the Conservative view clear; if you work for an hourly wage, you're part of the lower class...

Truth vs. Jonah Goldberg - A Local Event

Fascism Is Not Liberal

David Neiwert, award-winning journalist, author, and noted expert on the American far right, will present a critique & debunking of Jonah Goldberg's book Liberal Fascism. May 19th, 7-9 PM in the WECU conference hall, 5659 Barrett Rd. Ferndale.

Lively political debate is a bedrock principle laid down by the Founding Fathers and enshrined in our Constitution. In American politics, we have agreed to disagree and looked for compromises that the majority can live with. Goldberg's book is an attempt to sabotage the give and take of political debate by turning history on its head and casting liberals as secret villains linked to the diametrically opposed ideas of fascism by connections that exist only in Goldberg's fevered imagination.

The NW Business Club has invited Jonah Goldberg (right-wing pundit) and author of Liberal Fascism, (a work of historical revisionism), to be a guest on May 19th. The NW Business Clubs press release says "Jonah Goldberg has given us the words in his book to combat the arrogance of modern liberalism ? now let us question him!".

We won't be paying the Biz Clubs $20 admission fee for the privilege, but we certainly will be questioning Goldberg's book.

When extremists come to Whatcom County to spread their propaganda, Whatcom County's progressives respond by bringing truth.

David Neiwert, managing editor of firedoglake.com, awarding winning journalist & author, who has extensively researched extremist groups and domestic terrorism, will be the speaker; May 19th, 7-9 PM in the WECU conference hall, (I-5 exit 262) 5659 Barrett Rd. Ferndale. Admission is free but seating is limited to 100, so please RSVP (washouts@gmail.com) to assure a spot.

David Neiwert has already reviewed Goldberg's book for "The American Prospect" magazine and elsewhere.

Jonah Goldberg's Bizarro History
... Goldberg, who has no credentials beyond the right-wing nepotism that has enabled his career as a pundit, has drawn a kind of history in absurdly broad and comically wrongheaded strokes. It is not just history done badly, or mere revisionism. It?s a caricature of reality, like something from a comic-book alternative universe: Bizarro history.

The title alone is enough to indicate its thoroughgoing incoherence: Of all the things we know about fascism and the traits that comprise it, one of the few things that historians will readily agree upon is its overwhelming anti-liberalism. One might as well write about anti-Semitic neoconservatism, or Ptolemaic quantum theory, or strength in ignorance. Goldberg isn't content to simply create an oxymoron; this entire enterprise, in fact, is classic Newspeak. ...

David Neiwert January 8, 2008
[ weblink: http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=jonah_goldbergs_bizarro_history ]

[ David Neiwert's blog: http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/ ]

===

For more information contact:

Steve Lydolph
Washington Outsiders Blog
Ferndale, WA
email: washouts@gmail.com

# # #

Al Qaeda Podcast

Iraq, Iran... the leaders of al Qaeda aren't in either of those places but that's where the Bush Administration and their Right-wing allies keep directing our attention. Meanwhile, al Qaeda is gaining strength, operating from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

April 29, 2008
The hits just keep on coming from America's two most wanted - Bin Laden & Al-Zawahiri.

Remember Bush's "Wanted Dead or Alive" speech right after 9/11? The Bush Administrations incompetence is monumental; Terrorism Deaths Rose in 2007, Including a Big Jump in Pakistan

Blood For Oil! - 'Told Ya So

Keith reports on John McCain's comments on why we've got troops in the Middle East and whether saying we'll never again send troops there for oil means we've sent them now for oil with Rachel Maddow.

Countdown: War for Oil?

Immigrant Solidarity March - Marcha en Solidaridad con los Inmigrantes 2008

We Are One- Somos Uno

Community to Community Development

it was a beautiful day and a great march with many wonderful people and lot's of support along the way.......
and good food at the end of the march!!!



more video here........