the myth of clean coal rages on......

the clean coal myth continues to ruin lives from the time the mountain tops are blown off the 2nd most diverse forest on planet earth until the coal is burned and the toxic waste is spread. merry christmas to some unlucky folks in

Firsthand account of the TVA coal ash dam failure

Just before Christmas, the true cost and danger of coal became apparent in the town of Harriman, Tennessee.
On the morning of December 22, the earthen dam at the Kingston Power Plant containing coal fly ash failed catastrophically, unleashing a six-foot wall of toxic water and mud.
By the time the flood subsided, more than a billion gallons of coal sludge had damaged 15 homes -- three beyond repair -- before pouring into the nearby Emory and Clinch rivers.
In comparison, the Exxon Valdez spilled a "mere" 11 million gallons of crude oil. And the coal fly ash spill in Harriman is three times larger than the October, 2000 coal sludge spill in Martin County, Kentucky, which the EPA called "the largest environmental disaster east of the Mississippi."
read more at iLoveMountains.org

will the chipster win?

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it's amazing to see what the chipster, running for chair of the republican national committee, thinks is humorous. i would hate to see what he finds offensive.
guess there are folks out there who think this is fun, but i get the feeling most of us are interested in living together in the world. most people my age have children and grandchildren. my parents even have great-grandchildren.
the people i hang out with care what kind of world we pass on and we are very distressed by much of the history we are making now. President Obama will not do things the way i would like a good part of the time, i suspect. i will talk about it. as i already have. i will communicate with his administration as i do now as he prepares to start his new job on jan. 20th. i am hopeful because he has shown himself to be one of the smartest, most thoughtful, calmest people i have seen in politics.
i hope the politics of hate, division, fear and greed will get sidelined and we will work together, recognize each other and our common humanity and save the planet for those who come after. it's not going to be easy. i still like the definition of a dysfunctional family "it's a family with more than one person in it." pesky humans!!! i know my life would be alot easier at times without the human condition (mine included), but ultimately it is soooooo worth it.

By Amanda Terkel at 9:50 am
RNC Chair Candidate Distributes ‘Barack The Magic Negro’ As His Christmas Greeting
Last year, Rush Limbaugh came under intense criticism for repeatedly airing a parody song called “Barack the Magic Negro” by conservative satirist Paul Shanklin. The song, which dealt with Obama’s popularity amongst white voters, was widely attacked as being racist. Doing an Al Sharpton impersonation, Shanklin sings the song to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Limbaugh, however, tried to defend it as “creative” and “funny.” Listen to the song here:


full post at Think Progress

and stay tuned this just gets better!!!!

Blackwell defends Saltsman
Ken Blackwell, the former Ohio Secretary of State who appears to be leading in the race to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, is defending a rival who distributed a CD containing a song called "Barack the Magic Negro," and dismissing criticism as a sign of media "hypersensitivity" to race.The rival, former Huckabee aide Chip Saltsman, came under fire today from the sitting Republican Party chairman, Mike Duncan, who said he was "shocked and appalled" by the move, Mike Allen reported

full article

Merry Xmas

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Here's to another year of working toward Peace on Earth and Goodwill To All.

Rick Warren Makes The Baby Jesus Cry.

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["Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." - Matthew 7:15 ]

The mainstream media keeps referring to Rick Warren as a moderate evangelical. But, that label of "moderate" just doesn't fit someone who does not allow gay people to be members of "his" church... And now, he says that people who disagree with his views are christophobes (!?).

Here's a news-flash for Pastor Warren: people object to him, not because he calls himself a Christian, but because he's a bigot... and a bold faced liar.

Warren has the right to think & say whatever he wants, but everyone else has the right to disagree with his bigoted views. He can't hide behind the Cross and cry foul when he's called on his bullshit.

Rachel Maddow and her guest Katha Pollitt catch Rick Warren in an out and out lie. On video, Warren tells his congregation that he's never compared gay marriage to incest or pedophilia and that people are lying about him, but he is also on video saying exactly what he's now denying he said.

Does Obama really want a lying hypocrite to give the invocation at his inauguration?

Rachel Maddow: Rick Warren - Wrong Choice

There Ain't No Clean Coal.

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Back when I was a boy, around Xmas time, children were threatened with lumps of coal. Parents used to say that if children weren't well behaved, Santa Claus wouldn't leave them anything but a lump of coal in their Xmas stockings.

COALergy "Smudge" Ad

- http://www.thisisreality.org/

In Reality, there is no such thing as clean coal. Learn more. Join the campaign.

Ending Divisiveness By Gay Bashing?

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So Obama wants to reach out and end the divisiveness? I could see inviting people with all sorts of viewpoints to gather and discuss how we might find common ground, but I don't get giving a gay-bashing preacher a center-stage spot in the inauguration... I just don't get it.

Gay Bashing As Means of Ending Division?
by: David Sirota - Mon Dec 22, 2008

Has anyone bothered to explain how giving a gay basher a national platform is a decision made in the name of ending division? I'm really confused - there are lots of clergypeople in America who haven't gay bashed. And remember - it's not just that Rick Warren is against gay marriage, it's that he's very publicly attacked gay people with the worst kinds of slander.

How are Barack Obama and Joe Biden publicly claiming that their selection of Rick Warren to deliver a prayer at the inauguration is in the interest of ending division?

I mean, if they want to say its in the interest of appeasing right-wing Christians, fine - at least that makes some logical sense (as odious as such a motivation would be). But in the interest of ending division? Say what? Since when did elevating a person who bashes one group of Americans become a move specifically designed to stop division? ...(more)

And a thought on how Obama's gesture may be viewed by those on the Right.

Some other 'bridge-building' invitees to Obama's inauguration
By David Neiwert - Saturday Dec 20, 2008



It seems Barack Obama's decided to invite Pastor Rick Warren, the noted homophobe, to offer the invocation at his Inauguration as a kind of "bridge building" gesture. Maybe he's able to look into his soul or something.

It's understandable, given his background as a community organizer (not to mention someone who pitches "the audacity of hope"), that Obama believes you can reach out a hand to movement conservatives and build such bridges. Indeed, he's made it clear all along that's the kind of guy he is.

I just hope that when he finally gets that hand back after reaching it out and discovers it has been chewed clean down to the bone by a thousand vicious cuts that he has a little awakening about the nature of the nasty little beast the American Right has become in the past couple of decades. Such gestures for them are mere signs of weakness, nothing but opportunities to advance themselves and their agendas and to destroy liberals. ...(more)

UPDATE: This witty little comment from Barney Frank just reinforces the point.

Frank: I'm Suffering From Post-Partisan Depression

rick warren...????

Obama explains his choice in a video in this piece....
Obama's Talking Points On Rick Warren
December 18, 2008 11:13 AM

he talks about having a discourse with those we disagree with....i agree. however featuring this guy in the historic inaugural ceremony is deeply offensive and insulting. it also seems so unnecessary. there are soooooooo many better choices. as an earthiest, i am not coming from a denominational preference, but i certainly have heard religious folks whose words i have admired and appreciated. this just gives me a sick feeling in my stomach, like i imagine it might feel if one was punched.

Sarah says it very well here.....

What's the Matter With Rick Warren?
By Sarah Posner
December 17, 2008
Now it has officially gone too far: Democrats, in their zeal to appear friendly to evangelical voters, have chosen celebrity
preacher and best-selling author Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration.

There was no doubt that Obama, like every president before him, would pick a Christian minister to perform this sacred
duty. But Obama had thousands of clergy to choose from, and the choice of Warren is not only a slap in the face to progressive ministers toiling on the front lines of advocacy and service but a bow to the continuing influence of the religious right in American politics. Warren vocally opposes gay marriage, does
not believe in evolution, has compared abortion to the Holocaust and backed the assassination of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
full article

Vilsack???? oh dear...

well we'll just have to see??? he says some of the right things....preserve resources....increase profitability ....hmmmm are you really talking about real farmers???? so far that's not the direction we have been going...and someone who is butt buddies with montsanato and big agribusiness with their barbaric practices of petroleum/natural gas based commodities and dangerous genetic modified profiteering and flagrant disregard for the soil and water we pass on to future generations....




i am worried.... vilsack smells like more of the same. a criminal, sad, greed driven legacy to pass on to those who come after.....i hope i am wrong..

It's Vilsack: Obama Picks Pro-GMO and Pro-Biofuels Ag Secretary
Posted by Tara Lohan, AlterNet at 4:42 AM on December 17, 2008.

………..So how will we fare with Vilsack in this position? Nichols again:

Vilsack is a capable administrator with the right partisan credentials.
But he was only at the top of the list of Agriculture secretary prospects because he is a prominent Democrat who comes from what Washington insiders know as a "farm state." As governor of Iowa, Vilsack had to engage with farm issues. But that embrace was anything but inspired. Family farm activists, fair-trade campaigners
and advocates for organic foods were regularly disappointed by the stands he took. The Organic Consumers Association was blunt, declaring: "Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a schill for agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto."

full post

Dear change.gov #6 stop the blasting of our planet to ruin!

Dear change.gov #6 stop the blasting of our planet to ruin!

As I was researching the water grab by t boone pickens, I came face to face with the barbaric practice of hydraulic fracture drilling used in the acquisition of natural gas. This is right up there with blowing the tops off of mountains to get the coal. These terrible practices must be stopped. We should immediately add the externalities. Citizens water supplies have been ruined. 92% of the chemicals used for “fracting” pose health hazards and are passed on in the huge amounts of water waste generated by this practice. And what about the huge amounts of our precious water resource used. These legacies will be past on to our children and their children. These greed driven profiteers owe our descendants. They should immediately be responsible for cleaning up their mess. THESE BARBARIC PRACTICES MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY!!!!

t boone pickens alert

So, I hear much t boone picken talk or have in the last year. Many people are very impressed with his current marketing. He loves the windmill. He has great ideas about our transportation. He will ride in on his white horse and rescue us. I have been skeptical. That much greed packed into one dude sends off the flashing red lights and sirens. And that’s pretty interesting because water is involved and lot’s of it. My questions are: does t love our water…????

seems to love it as pointed out in this really nice water article.

Blue Is the New Green
Allison Arieff

A range of alternative energy technologies are available to us today; there is, however, no substitute for water. But there are new ways of thinking about water that can help us make better use of the available supply. (Pickens, by the way, is now actively buying up water rights in Texas.)
full article

Does he hate our water….?????

Poisoned Water: T. Boone Pickens Promotes Practice that Threatens Drinking Water
Carol Forsloff Citizen Journalist

…………And one of the biggest problems, despite the fact that Louisiana is swampy, is that citizens may have unsafe drinking water as a consequence. Look sharply,citizens in other states: this issue may be coming to your backyard as well. Nearly ten years ago the National Audubon Society maintained hat Louisiana and the nation are losing a national treasure, the Atchafalaya Basin, Cypress trees were logged off in the Basin in order for oil and gas companies to exercise their mineral rights. The consequences to the environment are readily seen in the stark ugliness that now is reflected in the swamps of South Louisiana. This issue affects the State of Louisiana as well as the rest of the United States, given pollution problems and reduction of flood control. The rest of the country has had to step in to help the City of New Orleans, still reeling from Hurricane Katrina. It is impossible to drink from public fountains in New Orleans and most of South Louisiana because the water has been polluted by the chemicals from the oil companies that have crept into the soil, according to experts.

Hydraulic fractured drilling is the type of exploration means for extracting natural gas out of the ground, allowing pipelines to be placed horizontally under land surfaces miles from target areas. This means someone can continue life as usual in an ordinary home while the land beneath is being drilled. But here’s the ultimate irony. That life as usual in Louisiana homes won’t be life as usual because the water used for the extraction is polluted with toxic chemicals making it unfit to use for drinking. Already people in California and Colorado, other places where fractured drilling has taken place, have complained about drinking water tainted with chemicals
full article

Or does he want to own our water…???? And what, sell it back to us…??? Will he sell water that has been contaminated by the barbaric practice of hydraulic fracture drilling?????

great video here....

The Pickens Plan and T. Boone Pickens Water Rights Grab, Video Recap
It’s been a few days without any word about T. Boone Pickens and the Pickens Plan, so I was starting to feel a bit uneasy. After all, shouldn’t spending $58 million on a national PR tour bring you into the spotlight just about every day? I’d want it to be all Pickens all the time if I were him. Unfortunately for Boone—as I’ve learned that his friends call him, thanks to the video clip linked above—not all his publicity has been good.
For those people not up to speed on The Pickens Plan, Boone’s plans for water in west Texas, and how those two are linked, ViroPOP has a short video introduction to the topic. It sums up several posts we’ve done here at TreeHugger in a about two and a half minutes of ‘a cut every second won’t distract people will it?’ video goodness.

This article has good graphics and sound describing hydralic fracture drilling practice. Sounds barbaric and we should immediately stop this practice. Huge amounts of water is used in this process and toxic waste is generated. Of a host of “fracing chemicals” used 92% are known to have health effects.

Plan for Hydro-Fracture Drilling for Unconventional Natural Gas in
Upstate New York
........Here's a slideshow of some of the key images. I'll have more on this as information becomes available. Kudos to WNYC and ProPublica for uncovering this in a great example of investigative journalism.
full article

Washington State Electors Vote

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I decided to take advantage of TVW's wonderful embed feature to post video of our Washington State Electors voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Personally, I was delighted by the diversity of the Electors and by their heartfelt enthusiasm.

Bellingham Herald Politics Reporter Sam Taylor has coverage of our (2nd CD) Elector, Maggie Hanson.

42nd LD Dems Membership Mtg

We had our monthly meeting today and it was a celebration, a thank-you, and a lively discussion about our upcoming reorganization meeting coming up January 10,2009, at the Machinists Hall, 2064 Vista Dr. in Ferndale, WA. (10:00am-12:00pm) All the known candidates running for Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary were present. One possible candidate for vice chair was present and one was unable to attend. Both known candidates for State Committeeman and State Committeewoman were there. Thank you Rick for the amazing festive ambiance and meal..WOW! And thanks to everybody for all your hard work this last year and enthusiasm and good ideas going forward. It does my heart good to be associated with such a great group of people.

Randi gets it right again

Randi Rhoades had the best take on the analyses Barack Obama’s possible political motivations after he spoke eloquently about the current situation in Illinois and the current problems of influence, bought and sold, which shapes the policies we pursue.


her comment that had me cracking up was "if Barack Obama had gotten into politics to steal, he sure picked the wrong time, cuz we're broke!"

Randi has had the best analysis of this breaking scandal from day one.

December 11, 2008, 10:57 am — Updated: 2:09 pm -->
The Obama Press Conference
By Katharine Q. Seelye

President-elect Barack Obama introduced former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary-designate on Thursday in Chicago.
Bottom Line 11:59 a.m.
Mr. Obama was certainly more assertive in his condemnation of the Illinois
scandal than he had been a couple of days ago, and he stated flatly that he
had no involvement with the selling of his Senate seat.

Complete transcript




Obama discusses being involved in politics as public service vs viewing
politics as a business at about 12 minutes into this video. (first question)

full article

Holiday Party 2008

the Democrats had alot to celebrate this year and we did!!! our sold-out party was a huge success and we enjoyed great food, drink and friendship. thanks to all who participated and to all who made this election historical in the overwhelming hours of volunteering to make change happen...let's keep up the good work!!




Maggie's choice for favorite song


all videos here

Reality Check - There Is No Clean Coal

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'Reality' Coalition Launches Campaign Debunking 'Clean Coal' Myth

http://www.thisisreality.org/In reality, there is no such thing as clean coal. Join Reality. We're going to challenge the clean coal myth and make sure misleading articles, false statements and other hype don't go unanswered.

dear change.gov #5 bush anti-environment rules

reading this news today was heartbreaking and prompted this communication with change.gov....hopefully they are already looking at this.

dear change.gov #5

I just read the White House is getting ready to push through another final rule that will fast track the destruction of, the world’s 2nd most diverse forest on planet earth, the mountains of Appalachia.

The people in this region are being sacrificed now and ultimately our descendents will be deprived of this beautiful place. I am hoping this can be stopped. Is blowing the tops off of mountains and ruining the water and land of the people who live there the best we can do?? This is a planetary emergency. Please do everything you can to stop this barbaric practice. Allowing more dumping into streams and valleys will just make it easier to continue business as usual. This is one of the saddest, greed-driven legacies we can possibly pass on to those who come after.

War on Xmas Comes To WA State

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That East Coast Elitist Bill O'Reilly has been calling our Governor names and trying to stick his nose into our business, but Goldy 'o' horsesass.org stuck up for our Western ways of liberty & free speech... on Billo's TV show.

In case you're not an obsessive follower of the Christmas time war on freedom of religion and free speech, here's a link to the article about 'the billboard' that Billo was babbling on about

* Did you know that (Mr. sticking up for the little guy) Bill O'Reilly attended Harvard and the University of London!

How Whatcom County Voted

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Local conservatives frequently complain that the "liberal" city of Bellingham (B'ham) dominates Whatcom County politics.

It's a strange claim since 61% of the county's voters live outside of Bellingham.

This years election proved, once again, that Whatcom county is a blue county. Barack Obama received 58% of the vote in Whatcom County. A majority of voters in the unincorporated precincts (what we call; out in the county) cast there ballots for Obama. We rural voters account for 45% of the county's votes.

In the smaller cities, Obama received a majority of the votes in Blaine & Ferndale.

With 65% of the county's votes, Congressman Rick Larsen (D) was even more popular than Barack Obama.

Whatcom County, WA
2008 Election
Registered voters 115314
ballots cast 101399
voter turnout 87.93%

Obama 58%
Larsen 65%

*** ***
county (unincorporated) precincts
ballots cast 46078 (45% of all WC votes cast)
voter turnout 87.10%

Obama 51%
Larsen 61%

*** ***
City of B'ham
ballots cast 39673 (39% of all WC votes cast)
voter turnout 89.05%

Obama 73%
Larsen 78%

*** ***
City of Blaine
ballots cast 2313
voter turnout 85.89%

Obama 55%
Larsen 63%

*** ***
City of Everson
ballots cast 941
voter turnout 85.08%

Obama 38%
Larsen 52%

*** ***
City of Ferndale
ballots cast 4856
voter turnout 85.80%

Obama 51%
Larsen 63%

*** ***
City of Lynden
ballots cast 6564 (6.5% of all WC votes cast)
voter turnout 90.38%

Obama 27%
Larsen 39%

*** ***
City of Nooksack
ballots cast 475
voter turnout 85.43%

Obama 37%
Larsen 46%

*** ***
City of Sumas
ballots cast 499
voter turnout 85.59%

Obama 39%
Larsen 52%

Rep. Larsen Makes Thanksgiving Visit To Afghanistan

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Saturdays Des Moines Register says that Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) has returned from a trip to Afghanistan.

USFOR-A put out a press release that says Congressman Larsen and other members of the Armed Services Committee visited with troops on Thanksgiving Day.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES AFGHANISTAN
Kabul, Afghanistan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 27, 2008
Release Number 20082711-02

House Armed Services Committee delegation visits Camp Eggers

by Petty Officer 1st Class Cliff Williams
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan — Servicemembers at Camp Eggers shared breakfast with several members of the House Armed Services Committee, or HASC, delegation during their visit on Thanksgiving Day to Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, or CSTC-A, headquarters.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., HASC chairman, along with Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas; Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.; Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa.; Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam; and Rep. David Loebsack, D-Iowa, spent time with several servicemembers from their respective states.

Servicemembers had the opportunity to ask questions of their congressmen. They also received letters of encouragement from elementary and high school students from their home states.

The visit was part of the delegation’s trip to American forces commands in various areas in Afghanistan over a two-day period. In Kabul, the delegation was briefed by Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, CSTC-A commanding general.

CSTC-A provides advisors, mentors and trainers to help the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior with organizing, training, equipping and supporting Afghan National Security Forces in order to defeat the insurgency; provide internal security; extend and enforce the rule of law; set conditions for economic development; and gain the trust and confidence of the citizens of Afghanistan.

It's nice to know that, our Representative, Rick Larsen takes his job seriously.

dear change.gov #4 accountability

hold them accountable!!!!!! message sent to change.gov today.....

I’m sure this is hard to contemplate, but if we are going to have any real change it’s time to face up to our past. The example we have provided for years by covert operations, carried out all over the third world, and currently in our illegal wars, secret detentions, extraordinary rendition, and torture does not make us any kind of beacon of hope. It certainly does not make us safer.

I’m ashamed, as I enjoy the luxury of plenty in this country, knowing that many of resources have been taken from countries who had no way to protect their resources and, if they tried, the blood flowed as a warning to step away from what the corporation involved were after.

And that doesn’t even count the profiteering involved in providing arms and procuring lucrative government no-bid contracts.

And now former military brass, who lobby for corporations seeking these contracts, are marketing all this to the American people when they are hired as “talking heads” on our tv machines. If we are really about change, it’s time to face our own past and make some serious restitution and hold those responsible accountable.

This is a defining moment. We either live by the rule of law or we don’t. If we don’t hold the people accountable for these crimes against humanity, it’s just business as usual. This will lead to no future for anyone’s children here on planet Earth.

Will Bush & Co. Get Away With War Crimes?

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As the Bush Administration comes to an end, people who care about democracy and the rule of law are asking if there will be prosecutions for war crimes. The Bush Administration has clearly violated numerous laws governing armed conflict and human rights.

Rachel talks to Jonathan Turley about whether the Democrats are going to let Bush off the hook for torturing prisoners.

more at Crooks and Liars:
Torture and the rule of law: Did Bush just call Democrats' bluff?
By David Neiwert Wednesday Nov 26, 2008 9:00am

The Birds & Bees of Job Creation

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With tough economic times getting tougher, we're hearing an endless droning of conservatives repeating their mantra of tax cuts for the rich.

The supposed logic of their appeal/demand for tax cuts for the wealthy is that rich people 'give' jobs to poor people and the richer the rich people get, the more jobs they 'create' and 'give' to poor people.

This fable of where jobs come from is about as real as the explanation that the stork brings babies.

The facts of economic life are that jobs are created by demands for goods & services and middle-class consumers create those demands.

Hiring workers isn't an act of charity, it's an essential ingredient in making profits. Without workers producing, there are no profits for investors to collect.

Rich people/investors/capitalists invest in the means of producing the good and services that consumers demand. But those means of production (factories and offices) don't produce anything. People must be hired to do the work that produces the goods and services. Those people are paid a wage to do the actual work that meets the demand for goods and services. If those workers are paid decent wages, they are the middle-class consumers who create the demand. If the investors are too greedy and the workers poorly paid, the demand and the profits dry up.

And so kiddies, that's the real story of where jobs come from.

A Reply To Newtspeak

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I hate the phrase "a must read", so I'll say you really really should read the letter written to Newt Gingrich by his sister Candace.

Dear Newt,

I recently had the displeasure of watching you bash the protestors of the Prop 8 marriage ban to Bill O'Reilly on FOX News. I must say, after years of watching you build your career by stirring up the fears and prejudices of the far right, I feel compelled to use the words of your idol, Ronald Reagan, "There you go, again."

However, I realize that you may have been a little preoccupied lately with planning your resurrection as the savior of your party, so I thought I would fill you in on a few important developments you might have overlooked.

The truth is that you're living in a world that no longer exists. I, along with millions of Americans, clearly see the world the way it as -- and we embrace what it can be. You, on the other hand, seem incapable of looking for new ideas or moving beyond what worked in the past.

...(full letter at Huffington Post)

Saturday - More Progress

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Your Weekly Address from the President-elect
President-elect Barack Obama announces he has directed his economic team to assemble an Economic Recovery Plan that will save or create 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011. For more information, visit http://change.gov./

Obama sounds mighty progressive in todays address with an economic recovery plan that will put people to work rebuilding America's infrastructure.

How interesting that just yesterday, the talkingheads were trying to conjure up a battle between Obama and the Netroots. It seems that some anonymous staffer proclaimed that the Netroots have no clout because Joe Lieberman didn't get thrown out of the Democratic caucus in the Senate.

What's worth taking note of is that the Netroots are sufficiently influential that the MSM interviews bloggers and Congress pays attention to what's being said by the Netroots.

Jane Hamsher featured on MSNBC - Passage of Power

Ari Melber on MSNBC

Protest Against Prop 8

In conjunction with nation-wide rallies being held at the same time, in support of marriage equality and in protest of California's Proposition 8, people cames out to the streets of Bellingham. there was a large gathering when i arrived and an hour and a half later when we all marched to the market there was a very large crowd. it was so amazing. i'm told the organization started on wednesday with a couple of people. and the numbers of young people once again gave me hope for the future.


a truly inspirational day!!!! thank you all who suited up and showed up ...
you rock!!!


i have hope our democracy will protect us from the tyranny of the majority.
yes we can!!!!!

Democratic Radio Address On YouTube

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Today President Elect Obama gave the Democratic Radio Address on YouTube as well as the radio. Another first.

dear change.gov #3 Flex Fuel Plug in Hybrids

i have started communication with the president-elect's transition site change.gov. this campaign was about "us" and yes we did!! so in that spirit i will send my ideas as a citizen of this democracy and inhabitant of the planet.

Thom Hartmann’s plan for the auto industry is the best I’ve heard yet. Immediate move to production of flex fuel plug in hybrid vehicle.

The cost of the 10kwh battery used in other countries, produced here would go from $7000 to $2000. Most trips made by people in our country are 10 miles or fewer for a round trip. This change makes every gallon of gas last for 100 miles. When you change to 20% gas, 80% ethanol/methanol that gallon of gas lasts for 500 miles.

This addresses the auto industry bailout, climate change, resource depletion(worldwide peak oil, which has already happened or will in the next 10 minutes) and the destructive strategic value of oil. It seems the oil and auto lobbyists are the drivers of years of shameless, criminal policy because oil is subsidized. Currently there is a tax on resources to make flex fuels and no tax on imported oil. Aid to dependent corporations is what I heard Robert Reich calls it. My question is WHY? This is not the lead in to my conspiracy theory. This is an honest question. We can fight and die and destroy our home, planet earth, or we can work with the other humans on earth to save it. Send oil the way of whale oil, strip it of it's strategic value.

This plan is a real leap forward.....

dear change.gov #1 & 2 here

Blogger Solidarity

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Maddow wears pajamas on air in solidarity with bloggers, says she sees herself as ‘a blogger on TV.’

Yes We Did - And - We're Not Apologizin'

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Chris Matthews has trouble stomaching the stupid Republican hack/strategist claiming Obama doesn't have a mandate to govern as a progressive.

Democratic Mandate vs. Republican "World of Pain"

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Some bits from the Sunday Talking-Heads Shows.



The election produced a progressive mandate. Conservatives can only scramble to shift the blame for the mess they made while in power and throw up roadblocks against repairing the economy they've nearly shattered.

Rank-'n'-file conservatives/Republicans are searching desparately for a way to explain away their support for crooked politicians and disastrous policies. Many of them are looking to "those intent on poisoning the soil before bipartisanship can take root": (Right-wing media feeds its post-election anger)

Peter Goldmark wins!!!!

this is a great win for the State of Washington!!!!! we will have the chance to have our public lands and natural resources protected for those who come after.

Originally published Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Goldmark wins Wash. lands commissioner race
Democrat Peter Goldmark emerged as the winner in the state lands commissioner race Thursday, relying on the support of environmentalists and strong backing in King County to unseat two term incumbent Doug Sutherland.
By GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
SEATTLE —
Democrat Peter Goldmark emerged as the winner in the state lands commissioner race Thursday, relying on the support of environmentalists and strong backing in King County to unseat two-term incumbent Doug Sutherland.
After more than two days of vote counting, the Okanogan rancher and molecular biologist built an insurmountable lead, 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent.
"I am so grateful to the people of Washington for their support in restoring public trust to the management of our public lands," Goldmark said in a written statement from his 8,000-acre wheat and cattle ranch. "My goal is sustainable management of public resources, transparency in management and reliance on science and law in decision making."
full article

Peter in Bellingham in september and last monday

A Truer, Bluer America

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The dust hasn't settled from the election celebrations and already the lowest of rightwing low-lifes are trying to hoodwink the American public with their same tired lies.

Karl Rove and other assorted criminals and co-conspirators Republican operatives are trying to sell the lies that: 1.) this is a center-right nation and 2.) people voted for Barack Obama without knowing his politics.

The truth is that America is a center-left country, where progressive ideas are the norm, and most people who voted for Obama believe he is a liberal. The Pew Research Center found that: "Despite Obama's strong personal appeal, his supporters overwhelmingly say they favored him based on his issue positions (68%), not his leadership and personal qualities (30%). "

"Center-Right Nation" Watch - Brokaw, Hemmer, Rove, Buchanan Edition
By David Sirota

On November 3rd, conservatives told us Barack Obama was running as a socialist. On November 5th, they are telling us he ran as a conservative:

more »

NEWSFLASH: More Than 60% See President-Elect Obama As "Liberal"
By Bill Scher

Here's a little news that probably won't dominate the post-election punditry. More than 60% of voters considered Sen. Barack Obama a "liberal." And he won.

Politico interviewed Sen. John McCain's long-time close aide Mark Salter, who revealed the result from the McCain campaign's own polling.

more »

What must have the rightwings "thinkers" feeling especially desperate is that the next generation is lost to them; "Fully 61% of voters ages 18 to 29 identify or lean Democratic ..." (source: Pew Research)

Ferndale celebrates!!!!!!!

we were on the streets all day and over to Frank n Steins for a righteous celebration.....thanks to all who have worked so hard to make this happen.
let's push Obama to do the right thing and get his back.....

we have a chance to save this planet for those who come after...




more video here....

America Wins

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This morning, The Politico gives these numbers:
"349 Obama electoral votes -- 56(+5) Democratic Senate seats -- 251(+18) Democratic House seats"

America has voted for change. America has voted for the progressive policies put forward by Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. (See Paul Krugman's thoughts on this)

The ultra-right circulated every fear-mongering, filthy lying smear they could dream up and America still voted overwhelmingly for progressive change.

Obama has been elected in what can only be called a landslide... Democratic majorities in the House and Senate have been increased... the number of States with Democratic Governors has gone up to thirty.

But even with this kind of mandate, progressive changes won't just happen. The Lobbyists for selfishness and greed are still there on K street. The rightwing media machine is still churning out its propaganda promoting fear and small mindedness. They'll still be trying with all their might to trick people into believing that Government of, for and by the People is some sort of 'evil collectivism'.

So after a little celebrating and a moment or two to gloat, we progressives have our work cut out for us. Those progressive policies won't be implemented unless we diligently push for them. We must stay involved, stay in contact with our representatives in Washington D.C. and Olympia, pushing for progressive legislation.

it's election day!!!!!!!!

GO DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!!!!


morning on the streets of Ferndale in the pouring rain....















more to come...i'm heading for the streets and the party!!!!!!

we stayed on the street all day....then over to Frank n Steins to PARTY!!!!!! here's a few photos to prove it....


video coming.......

Rally with Gov. Gregoire at WWU

Gov.Gregoire's visit was great!!! thanks to all who participated

a few photos before the rally and a few after.....it turned out to be overflow crowd with the fire marshall limiting entry....!!!


Obama Vikings coordinators....great job!!!! it brings Obama's hope message alive to see amazing young people doing great things.


Mark Flanders-candidate for 42nd legislative district representative


more video here (still uploading)

the streets of Ferndale...

we were very popular with the rush hour crowd this am...thanks everybody!!!!



we had a large turnout for the eve rush hour....

from Alaska

this was from last saturday in Alaska from Mudflats (a great source of info from Alaska) thanks Sherry for calling my attention to it



this is Fun!!! thanks button man extraordinaire for passing this one on......
Hockey Mama for Obama

Halloween McMeanie

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Looks like some Republicans are so bitter they're taking it out on little children. A Detroit area woman was applying a political litmus test to the trick-or-treaters who came to her door.

No Treats for Obama Supporters

the streets of Ferndale

thanks to Rick and Sherry and many others there has been a large Democratic presence at rush hour and saturdays.....

thanks everybody!!!!






today we had the pleasure of Kelli Linville and Mark Flanders sign waving with us.......what a fun day.....and i got there early and got the great locations for the BIG Kelli signs....hee hee...(somebody wasn't happy)





more photos to follow.......

saturday sunrise November 1st......

Fight John McCain's robo calls

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Robots Attack!

It's The Economy...

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We've had nearly three decades of conservative Republican dominance in American politics and it's brought us, not morning in America, but mourning in America.

It's Raining In America

Real Real Americans

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Republicans are busy trying to suppress the vote and we progressives are having our American-ness questioned?

In Real America, Shining a Light on Faux Pas
By Dana Milbank
Thursday, October 23, 2008; Page A03

RICHMOND

Something unreal is happening here in the real America.

Two hours before Barack Obama's appearance at a campaign rally here Wednesday, they played the national anthem -- and people stood and sang. Some even put hands on hearts! In the first row sat a woman -- we'll call her Margaret the Corporate Trainer, in Joe-the-Plumber style -- wearing an actual flag pin on her shirt. "I'm American!" she said proudly. Really.

Then Obama took the stage and gave a stirring speech about those soldiers who "fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America! They haven't served a Blue America! They have served the United States of America!" ...(more)

VIDEO: The Washington Post's Dana Milbank sketches Barack Obama's rally in Richmond, Va.

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Rachel Maddow Show: Steal Back Your Vote Oct. 21, 2008
Rachel talks to Bobby Kennedy Jr. about the systematic purging of voters off of the rolls nationwide, and what you can do to steal back your vote.

Block the Vote
Will the GOP's campaign to deter new voters and discard Democratic ballots determine the next president?
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. & GREG PALAST

McCain's Racist Hoax

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The McCain campaign is going for desperate, despicable tactics. It's classic race baiting! Without a moments hesitation, they jumped on a disgusting racist storyline, 'black man attacks white woman' that was a hoax.

And not only was the story a hoax perpetrated by a McCain campaign worker, McCain's Pennsylvania communications director gave reporters a wildly embellished version of the story before the police had issued a statement about the incident.

McCain Communications Director Gave Reporters Incendiary Version Of "Carved B" Story Before Facts Were Known
By Greg Sargent - October 24, 2008, 5:12PM

John McCain's Pennsylvania communications director told reporters in the state an incendiary version of the hoax story about the attack on a McCain volunteer well before the facts of the case were known or established -- and even told reporters outright that the "B" carved into the victim's cheek stood for "Barack," according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

John Verrilli, the news director for KDKA in Pittsburgh, told TPM Election Central that McCain's Pennsylvania campaign communications director gave one of his reporters a detailed version of the attack that included a claim that the alleged attacker said, "You're with the McCain campaign? I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Verrilli also told TPM that the McCain spokesperson had claimed that the "B" stood for Barack. According to Verrilli, the spokesperson also told KDKA that Sarah Palin had called the victim of the alleged attack, who has since admitted the story was a hoax.

...(full article)

Vote Gregoire

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"It's Time"
"It's time to fight for Chris Gregoire and our values - children's health care, action on global warming, public safety, jobs, and the economy."

Al Qaeda Endorses McCain

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Gosh! What else is there to say when Al Qaeda endorses the "impetuous" Republican candidate for President.

Al Qaeda-linked Web site backs McCain as president
By PAMELA HESS • Associated Press • October 22, 2008

WASHINGTON — Al-Qaeda supporters suggested in a Web site message this week they would welcome a pre-election terror attack on the United States as a way to usher in a McCain presidency.

The message, posted Monday on the password-protected al-Hesbah Web site, said if Al Qaeda wants to exhaust the United States militarily and economically, “impetuous” Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is the better choice because he is more likely to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier,” the message said. “Then, Al Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush.”

...(full AP article)

Well... perhaps there is more to say. Bluff and bluster aren't the same thing as actually being tough and smart. Many voters were fooled four years ago by the Republican strategy of talking tough about National security.

McCain says he's experienced because he was a Navy pilot and a POW. McCain was a pilot, he took orders, he'd didn't determine the strategy or pick the targets. Service in the military is honorable, but it's not automatically qualification to conduct foreign policy.

We are in need of a smart and sophisticated foreign policy, not another swaggering bully as President. Bush has trashed America's standing in the world and McCain has endorsed every one of Bush's policy blunders.

Al Qaeda's endorsement of McCain just goes to show what an abysmal choice he would be.

McCain, Republicans Disrespect The Flag & America

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Republicans like to claim they're the patriotic ones, implying that Democrats aren't patriots. Republicans attempt to stifle debate by claiming that anyone who disagrees with their rightwing lunacy is "unpatriotic".

Earlier in the Presidential campaign, Republicans criticized Barack Obama for not wearing an American flag pin. They spread false rumors that Obama would not resit the Pledge of Allegiance.

In all three Presidential debates, Obama wore a flag pin on his lapel but McCain didn't and very little was said by the media.

Sarah Palin recently said "We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation". Now she's had to make a half-assed apology but her message was clear. She along with McCain and their Republican supporters are trying to paint Democrats as unpatriotic... unpatriotic because they don't agree with their conservative politics.

Just the other day a McCain mouthpiece, Rep. Michele Bachmann called Democratic members of Congress anti-American.

All of the Republicans claims that they love America more, is just theater. When they think no one is watching, the American flag gets tossed in the dirt, just like any other stage prop.

VIDEO: American Flag on the Ground Following Sen. McCain Rally
When it comes to the Republican party, Samuel Johnson (1709–84) was right; "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

Colin Powell's endorsement

my first reaction to the news this was coming down was to remember his shameful action at the UN with scarey tubes and cartoon drawings.

and the image of him with john negroponte and robert mueller sitting behind him, as he lied to the UN and the world, will always be with me.


he is one of many responsible for the horror of an unnecessary, illegal and immoral war. over 1,000,000 human lives have been ended, over 4,000,000 humans have become refugees. millions of humans suffer physical and mental anguish as a result of this horror. their lives have been changed forever. i hold colin powell partially responsible. i've heard he disagreed with the administration. if this was so he should never have shilled for them at the UN. he could have resigned and spoken out. he didn't. he participated in the criminal activity of preemptive war perpetrated in our name.

all that stands in my mind, but the fact he came out to be trashed and thrown under the bus by his buddies on the right and the eloquence he expressed in calling us to end the "us and them" rhetoric that is poisoning our public discourse helps me not feel completely negative about him. i know there are many who still respect him and will be moved by his endorsement.

David Sirota sums it up here for me.....

..............As a journalist, it sickens me that our power-worshiping press corps refuses to report the basic facts of Powell's record (though I give CNN's John Roberts credit - he made this point explicitly this morning). Really - once the Establishment graces a figure with the aura of "credibility," is there anything that figure can do (say, lead us into a war based on lies) to have that "credibility" revoked?

That said, as a progressive, I don't fault Obama for trying to capitalize on those fabricated memes about Powell, and use them in the context of the campaign. He's got 15 days until the election, and any short-term boost is a good thing.

What I worry about is the day after the election. I am concerned about a President Obama internalizing that Establishment fantasy about Colin Powell the Serious and Credible Voice - and ignoring the actual fact-based story about Colin Powell, the Most Discredited Foreign Policy Voice In Contemporary American History. We don't need another president who refuses to live in the "reality-based world" - we need a president who matches his campaign promises on critical issues like the Iraq War with an understanding of which voices will be the most reliable in making those promises a reality. full post

i liked Mary Shaw's characterization ......i would like to be able to feel as positive as she.

Powell's Endorsement: Redemption, Race, or Revenge?
by Mary Shaw

her conclusion......
I maintain hope that many in this country will see Powell's endorsement as I do -- a non-racial, no-agenda attempt to now do the right thing for this nation. And I sincerely hope that Powell will find peace with himself.
full post

McCain Reduced To Name Calling

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An LA Times articles reports that John McCain has been reduced to calling Barack Obama names. It seems McCain can't come up with any real faults in Obama's economic plan, so he's reduced to lying. Apparently tax cuts for the middle class is socialism in John McCain's book.

Meanwhile, the SF Chronicle has a historical run down of how the economy does under Democrats & Republicans:

During the 20th century, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 7.3 percent per year on average under Republican presidents. Under Democrats, it rose 10.3 percent - which means that investors gained a whopping 41 percent more. And the stock market declined further during George Bush's two terms.

Moreover, according to research from Professor Larry Bartels of Princeton, real middle class wage growth is double when a Democrat is president, contrasted to that growth under a Republican president.

Since World War II, Democratic presidents have increased the national debt by an average of 3.7 percent per year, and Republican presidents have increased it an average of 10.1 percent. During the same time period, the unemployment rate was, on average, 4.8 percent under Democratic presidents; it was 6.3 percent under Republicans.

It's still the economy and it's still Democrats who do a better job with the economy.

A Real American Joe

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Joe Biden responds to Sarah Palin's boast that she enjoys campaigning in the "pro-American" part of this country:

Joe's got it right, we all love this country.

When Republicans accuse Democrats of disloyalty to America because they don't agree with conservative policy, it's a sign of the moral decay and intellectual bankruptcy of the conservative movement.

Palin's Treasonous Friends

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Sarah Palin has undeniable connections to rightwing extremists. Doubtless all the smears aimed at Obama are meant to distracted the media, so they don't look into Palin's links to secessionist terrorists.

Sarah Palin and Alaska's fringe
Journalist David Neiwert appears on CNN Newsroom with Rick Sanchez to discuss Sarah Palin's alliances with Wasilla's far-right fringe elements in the 1990s.

Rachel Maddow Show On Palin And The Alaskan Secessionists
Max Blumenthal, guest.

raising the bar.....

i love this....Senator Obama understands his tax plan......i feel the bar being raised.....
and i love that mcsame thinks "joe the plumber" should have the opportunity to spread that wealth around....yo john!!....i don't think joe is into sharing......
it just gets better....Randi Rhodes helped me understand why "joe" just looked so familiar.....Jeff Gannon- hot military studs!!! aka fake journalist.



oh and thanks to the Kevin Ranker campaign and the Blue Horse Gallery for hosting the debate watching last night ....i didn't get any photos but i sure enjoyed the company.

who's the real "joe?".......

Fact-Checking ‘Joe The Plumber’

During a campaign stop in Ohio this week, Ohio plumbing business owner Sam Joe Wurzelbacher questioned Barack Obama about his plan to increase taxes for the top five percent of income earners.
Noting that he was planning to purchase a company that “makes” between $250,000 and $280,000, Wurzelbacher wondered what impact Obama’s tax plan would have on him.
Last night, “Joe the Plumber” was first invoked by John McCain to attack Obama’s tax plan. He was referenced 23 times by the candidates. After the debate, Wurzelbacher applauded McCain: “He’s got it right as far as I go.” But Joe is ill informed.
Jake Tapper reports that it’s not even clear if the figures Wurzelbacher cited take expenses into account. If his net profit is below $250,000, “Joe the Plumber” would be eligible for an Obama tax cut. Dean Baker explains that, under Obama’s plan, the tax on income above $250,000 would increase by 3 percentage points from 33 percent to 36 percent — which means that, if his net profits are above $250,000, Wurzelbacher could expect to see his tax bill rise by between $0-$900.
full post

Rapists For Rossi

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The Republican Governors Association (RGA) is running a TV ad about sex offenders, designed to frighten voters. They've taken a page from our States dirt bags Republican House Caucus and trumped up charges about sex offenders running wild.

The odd thing about the RGA's choice of topic is that their current poster-girl, Sarah Palin, presides over the State that has the highest per capita incidence of rape and has 6 times the national average of reported child sexual assault.

Governor Gregoire is having sex offenders fitted with GPS trackers while Alaska's Governor Palin charged rape victims for the sexual assault kits used to collect evidence. Obviously it's much safer to stick with a Democratic Governor.

McCain's Worst Nightmare, The Republican Base

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John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate to get the Republican base excited about his run for President.

Now, Palin and 'the base' are threatening to destroy the credibility of his campaign. Why? Because they are Rightwing crazies, who believe the wildest, most vicious propaganda about Barack Obama and are working themselves into a dangerous frenzy.

TIME - Swampland
October 10, 2008 6:23

McCain Denounces Pitchfork-Wavers

Posted by Ana Marie Cox

... Of course, this is kind of the best of both world: Crazy base-world gets to bring
up Ayers and whatever else, really, and he gets to say, "Be respectful." But I think he means it.

UPDATE: Indeed, he just snatched the microphone out the hands of a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..."

"No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man with whom I happen to have some disagreements."

McCain Tries to Tame Flames He Earlier Fanned

Bar-auction for Obama #2

I had the pleasure of attending my second Bar-auction and picked up some more cool stuff and mixed it up with Obama supporters at the The Blue Horse Gallery. We enjoyed, wine, coffee donated by Guadalupe's Coffee Roasters, and light refreshments donated by Mount Bakery.


Bar-auction for Obama #1

Palin - "Rape Kit…The Movie"

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I ran across this short film on the blog of Alaskan Shannyn Moore: Rape Kit…The Movie

-Sarah Palin: The rape kit controversy. This is the first of 4 videos to be produced by http://www.wasillaproject.com/ We are a group of independent filmmakers who came together to put this together and get this important information out. We look forward to your comments.

It's also well worth reading Shannyn's post Palin: Pallin’ With Hypocrisy

2nd Presidental debate watch...

it was fun to be on Obama Row and watch Obama looking sooooo presidental. the take away for me was when mcsame referred to Obama as "that one." that was visceral for me. thanks to all the fun folks who attended and shared further evidence that this is a no brainer.......

one candidate is qualified and the other is dangerous.

here is a great site that popped up after the nasty "that one"

we sure got the brightest and best on our team......!!!!!

McCain't Tell The Truth

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McCain supporters are desperate to shift the political discussion away from the economy, so they want to talk about something else, anything else. They can't find any real fact that makes them look better, so they've resorted to lying... about everything.

There's a new website with the long list of lies being told by McCain & Palin. Check it out.