Sam Yorty's America

Weasel Zippers � Blog Archive � Crooked Dem Rep. Maxine Waters Has Raised $295K for 2010 Elections by Charging up to $45K to “Endorse” a Candidate…

2010-08-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

Weasel Zippers � Blog Archive � Crooked Dem Rep. Maxine Waters Has Raised $295K for 2010 Elections by Charging up to $45K to “Endorse” a Candidate…

Congresswoman Jane Harman’s Egregious Conflicts Of Interest?

2010-06-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

Rep Jane Harman (D-California) has many conflicts of interest with much of her wealth coming from the very same industries she is in charge of regulating reports the Washington Post.

“Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), for instance, served as chairman of a subcommittee responsible for overseeing technology-oriented efforts to improve homeland security, intelligence, information sharing and risk assessment in 2008. At the time, she disclosed more than $1 million in holdings in companies involved in intelligence and homeland security contracting, including Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.”

Obama and the Laws of Physics

2009-06-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

From our inbox...

David Cole is the son of Ed Cole, who was the president of GM for a number of years. He is credited with the '55 Chevy, the small block Chev V8 of '55, the Corvair, and other GM innovations, some which were major flops (Vega).

Mr. Cole, Chairman of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is an engineer by training, told many stories of the difficulty of working with the folks that the Obama administration has sent to save the auto industry. There have been many meetings where a 30+ years of experience automotive expert has to listen to a newcomer to the industry, someone with *zero* manufacturing experience, *zero* auto industry experience,* zero* business experience, *zero* finance experience, and *zero * engineering experience, tell them how to run their business.

His favorite story is as follows:

There was a team of Obama people speaking to Mr Cole (Engineer, automotive experience 40+ years, Chairman of CAR). They were explaining to Mr. Cole that the auto companies needed to make a car that was electric and liquid natural gas (LNG) with enough combined fuel to go 500 miles so we wouldn't "need" so many gas stations (A whole other topic). They were quoting BTU's of LNG and battery life that they had looked up on some website.

Mr. Cole explained that to do this you would need a trunk FULL of batteries and a LNG tank as big as a car to make that happen and that there were problems related to the *laws of physics* that prevented them from...

*The Obama person interrupted and said (and I am quoting here) "These laws of physics? Who's rules are those, we need to change that. (Some of the others wrote down the law name so they could look it up) We have the congress and the administration. We can repeal that law, amend it, or use an **executive order** to get rid of that problem. That's why we are here, to fix these sort of issues".*

Acorn & Huffington Post Organizing Efforts to Infiltrate Tax Day Tea Parties to Shape Media Coverage

2009-04-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sam's American Hotsheet for Monday

2009-03-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

The CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, has apparently resigned at the request of President Obama. NewsBusters asks a good question "What does it mean if a President can force the resignation of a CEO that still answers to shareholders?" As this news hits the markets, you can track GM's stock here.The CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, has apparently resigned at the request of President Obama. NewsBusters asks a good question "What does it mean if a President can force the resignation of a CEO that still answers to shareholders?" As this news hits the markets, you can track GM's stock here.

Saturday I opined about the folly of "Earth Hour" yet another emotional sans reason effort to perpetuate environmental based malarkey. Though the lights were out at my house (as they usually are while I am blogging) it appears that even though the media declared a major success , it was actually a failure across LA (despite Mayor V showing up for a photo op at LA Live) according to both the LA Times and Daily News . Even the lights stayed on at Al Gore's house. Maybe the media will learn this type of propagandizing is why no one buys newspapers any longer.

As the race for California Governor heats up, Republican candidates plan to run away from and not to Governor Schwarzenegger according to the LA Times. Media strategist Don Sipple tells the paper "People think the Schwarzenegger experience didn't work out so well, and they're going to be looking for something very different."

Joe Biden's daughter was allegedly caught doing coke on a recent videotape. Though back during the campaign many in the liberalsphere said that going after Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter for getting herself knocked-up was fair game; apparently the sitting Vice President's daughter's drug use is not .

Richard Riordan is a RINO Republican who endorsed Barack Obama and has been a big booster of the Kennedy Republican. Despite that, the former Mayor is opposing the shady state budget ballot measures going to California voters in May.

This would never happen in LA but in New York a group of hawt women have dressed up in vintage costumes to travel the subways and offer transit information. However, the New York Transit Authority wants to put the kibosh on the girls' service claiming "copyright infringement."

Obama Wants to Scan Your Hard Drive

2009-03-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Any of this sound familiar?

2009-03-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

Keith Olbermann Before and After He Was Annoying

2009-03-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

Before Keith Olbermann became a liberal blowtard on MSNBC, he was just an annoying sportscaster here on Channel 5 in LA.

Sean Hannity Joins Tea Parties

2009-03-29T20:18:00.001-07:00

Sean Hannity will be broadcasting his show "Hannity" live and on-site at the Atlanta, Georgia Tax Day Tea Party. The Tea Party will be held at 9pm EST at the Georgia State Capital. The Tax Day Tea Parties are being held across the country on April 15th to protest the unprecedented wasteful spending by the Obama Administration and certain members in Congress.

National Communications Director Juliana Johnson says, "As we get closer and closer to the Tea Party date we continue to grow stronger. We have over 300 cities planning Tea Parties with that number growing every day. If this doesn't show that Americans are displeased that I don't know what will."

The Tax Day Tea Parties will be occuring in over 300 cities and have an expected turnout of over 150,000 people. The groups sponsoring the Tea Parties are Smart Girl Politics, the DontGo Movement, and Top Conservatives on Twitter. They have the endorsement of Newt Gingrich, Michelle Malkin, Dana Loesch, and numerous other groups.

You can read about the Atlanta Tax Day Tea Party on Sean Hannity's FOXNews blog at: http://hannity.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/03/27/special-announcement/

Sam's American Hotsheet

2009-03-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Former President Jimmy Carter has gone off the deep end and apparently feels that the Civil War as "un-Christian." In a new book about the writings of Abraham Lincoln Carter comments on a comment by the 16th President that he was on a mission from God to end slavery by saying Abe's words were "very troubling" and "that that the leaders of both sides, overwhelmingly Christian, were violating a basic premise of their belief as followers of the Prince of Peace."

Flap the Blogging Sadist I mean Dentist has a Meghan McCain obsession. I don't blame him because she's smart and very sexy but this isn't way you impress a girl, Doc. Even when she's right Flap has to hate on Meghan and point out her age. That might be because Flap is like three times Meghan's age. Flap, I think there's a molar calling you.

Catholics are expressing concern over Notre Dame University's invitation to President Obama to speak at their commencement following his recent decision to fund stem cell research. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt says at this blog, "Imagine the reaction if the National Right to Life Committee were to invite President Obama to receive its leadership award. By contrast, imagine if the ACLU were to invite Secretary Rumsfeld to receive its leadership award."

And finally, apparently it isn't just Senator Larry Craig who allegedly likes bathroom sex. The Daily Telegraph reports that Britney Spears reportedly had a seven to nine minute tryst with one of her dancers in a john following a concert, while burly security guards were posted outside. Uh oh, don't let Daddy Spears know!

Obama Channels George Bush

2009-03-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Nicole Wallace writing at the Daily Beast makes a good point . President Obama's defense of beleagured Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is not unlike President Bush's backslap of failed FEMA Chief Michael Brown right after Katrina.

Though Wallace assesses Geithner's performance so far by saying "The problem for Obama isn’t Geithner’s lack of popularity—it’s his lack of success. So far, he hasn’t done anything that has inspired confidence in the financial markets. So far, he hasn’t made any public appearances that have inspired confidence in the public. And so far, he has failed to form a productive or even functional relationship with Republicans or Democrats in Congress," the President says he wouldn't accepted the Secretary's resignation if he offered it.

Gays and the GOP

2009-03-17T21:50:00.001-07:00

Gay Patriot blogs a good take on Gays and the GOP. "I don’t think the Republican Party need develop a gay-specific outreach plan. I simply believe the party should abandon policies which discriminate against gay people and otherwise leave us alone to live our lives as we please," says the right leaning blogger. He's absolutely right. If folks like Pat Roberston, Rush Blowtard and Ann Coulter could unpoke their noses from the bedroom, the Repugs might pick up a few votes. As a conservative I am far more concerned about tax cuts than anal sex. So should be the wingnuts.

Meghan McCain Hater Flap Can Kiss MY Fat Ass

2009-03-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

"You know the difference between a dentist and a sadist don't you? Newer magazines."

-Jerry Seinfeld

Dr. Flap is at it again. No better than the shrewtastic Laura Ingraham decided the only way she could debate Meghan McCain's views on what the Republican Party needs to do by calling McCain "fat," our favorite blogging dentist can only do as well to call her a "moron."

Here's the rub. Flap must be breathing in too much of the twilight sleep gas. Meghan McCain is an intelligent writer who clearly makes the case why the Republicans must make radical changes to bring in young people, moderates, libertarian leaners and disaffected Democrats. The problem is old farts like Flap and bitter women like Ingraham just don't get it. And they are so at the peril of the party.

Kiss my fat ass Flap! (With all due respect because most of the time you're right but this time you're acting like a Mayor Sam dum dum.)

Republican Dentist Slams Meghan McCain

2009-03-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

My old friend Flap the blogging Republican dentist doesn't get why Meghan McCain is calling on the Republican Party to change its old ways and have a shot at being relevant to anyone under 50.

Meghan has emerged as a thoughtful, elouquent spokesperson for the conservative movement that is based in her Arizona DNA, a state that gave us Barry Goldwater and of course, her dad. Meghan is far more effective at spreading the Republican message to others as opposed to hateful shrews like Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin or past their time blowhards like Rush Limbaugh. There certainly is a place for humor, wry wit and sarcasm of a conservative bent - Tammy Bruce, Dennis Miller, Doug McIntyre and John Phillips do it well. But it can be done without the often racially charged and homophobic rhetoric of the previously mentioned shrews and blowhard.

Dr. Flap says that Meghan appears uneducated (not true, she went to an elite prep school and Columbia University) and that she "expresses a generational angst and frustration but to think she is any future voice of the Republican Party is to fail to consider the source." Hello, McFly? Doc, don't ya think that the best person to ask how to get young people to the Republican party is a young person? Or would you suggest we ask Pat Boone?

The Republicans are not going to get ahead hating on the gays, bitching about the Mexicans and telling the Jews they must be "perfected." It's not going to draw disaffected Democrats, moderates, Libertarians and other to the GOP to have Rush Limbaugh quoting Obama in a voice imitating Amos and Andy. That schtick went out with Nixon. We have to focus on core Republican values of lower taxes, less government, strong national defense, personal responibility and individual freedom. With many Democrats around the country embroiled in scandals and shadiness, the Republicans could become the party of reform. But first we have to rebrand and drop the Phyliss Schafly act. Otherwise the party will continue to lose good conservatives such as this burro who recently dropped his GOP voter reg.

Addendum: Add to the shrew list Ann Coulter wannabe Laura Ingraham. Following the modus operandi of a Mayor Sam reader who can't debate the issues but throw personal insults Ingraham calls Meghan fat. That's great - a middle aged, left at the altar twice harpie calls a 24 year old woman fat. Great work! Way to represent!

Watch the Great Debate!

2009-02-22T01:18:00.001-08:00

Today's the day! Mayor Sam's Great Debate will be held this afternoon featuring candidates David Hernandez, Phil Jennerjahn, Walter Moore, Craig X. Rubin and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg. Panelists include Moderator Ron Kaye, LA Weekly Deputy Editor Jill Stewart and blogger Debbie Lopez. Tune in hear to watch live streaming video of the event.

Online TV Shows by Ustream

McCain Announces Re-Election Campaign

2009-02-10T20:58:00.001-08:00

Being the Republican nominee for President was one of the great honors of my life and an experience I will never forget. Some have wondered, after my hard fought presidential campaign, if I plan to run for re-election to the United States Senate.

I want you to know that I do intend to seek re-election. The magnitude of the financial crisis that many American families are facing makes it clear to me that I want to continue to serve our country in the Senate.

The economic challenges currently confronting our nation are immense and unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress propose addressing these challenges through increased spending that wastes billions of taxpayers dollars and saddles our children and grandchildren with a staggering debt. Their proposals will not stimulate economic growth or create jobs. While the leader of the Democratic Party, President Obama, has pledged to change business as usual in Washington and spoken of bipartisanship, I have been saddened to watch as Congressional Democrats try to use their majority to advocate more of the same failed policies and wasteful spending of the past. With so much at stake, now is not the time to step away from my work in the Senate.

As always, I anticipate a tough re-election challenge. But with your help, we will counter those efforts and put forth an aggressive campaign by registering new voters, reaching out to Democrats, Independents and Republicans, and again earning the support of Hispanic and Native American voters in Arizona.

I am honored to serve the people of Arizona as their United States Senator. I would be most appreciative of your support of my re-election efforts and hope you will click here to join my re-election team. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

John McCain

PS: I hope you will join "Friends of McCain" today by logging on to www.FriendsofMcCain.com and donating $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or more to my re-election campaign.

Please visit this page if you want to remove yourself from the email list.

Paid for by Friends of John McCain

Obama Picks GOP Senator for Commerce Post

2009-02-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) is Obama's top pick for Commerce Secretary. The Wall Street Journal said Saturday "Mr. Gregg's appointment to the post could give Mr. Obama and his Democratic Party a victory in the Senate, clearing the way for them to pass legislation without fear of a Republican filibuster. It also would provide the administration a strong ambassador to the business community in Mr. Gregg, who devised the $700 billion banking bailout package last year."

Is he really the best man for the job, or is Obama trying to undercut the Republican party?

Barack the Magic Negro

2008-12-29T22:00:00.001-08:00

Big furor over a video making the rounds, Barack the Magic Negro, a parody of Puff the Magic Dragon. The tune satirically takes makes the case from the point of view of Reverend Al Sharpton that Barack Obama is an "acceptable Black man" compared to himself.

Though the piece was initially distrubuted as part of what was thought to be a joke by some dinosaur Republicans down South, it's actually based on an essay about Obama in the LA Times almost two years ago.

The story by David Ehrenstein paints the President-Elect and then underdog candidate in the archetype of what's referred to as "the magical negro," which Wikipedia describes as a "mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble." Indeed as Ehrenstein points out Obama as a real life "magical Negro" is "there to assuage white "guilt" (i.e., the minimal discomfort they feel) over the role of slavery and racial segregation in American history, while replacing stereotypes of a dangerous, highly sexualized black man with a benign figure for whom interracial sexual congress holds no interest." Certainly Whites can feel comfortable voting for Obama over previous candidates such as Shartpon or Reverend Jesse Jackson who have darker skin and unlike Obama's cosmpolitan upbringing had a more typical African American upbrining in "the hood" scare Whites, regardless of their degree of simpicato with their politics and can't bring themselves to vote for them.

This is a tough pill to swallow but Barack the Magic Negro - even if it was unintentional on the creator's part - brings up these uncomfortable realities about race relations. That even in a post-racial word many Whites are indeed drawn to the "magic negro" that they can warm to and hope erases any innate bias they may still have.

The good news is that as society becomes even more diverse old stereotypes will fall away and distinctions will blur. And to a degree, the election of Barack Obama helps to that end helping to erase the racism of some whom opposed him and the guilt of some of who supported him.

By the way Ehrenstein isn't thrilled with Barack Obama these days, primarily over his selection of Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration.

Obama is Irish!

2008-11-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

Just like me, President-elect Obama has Irish roots. Who knew?

Big Mouth Emmanuel?

2008-11-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

President-Elect Barack Obama has named Congressman Rohm Emmnauel as his Chief of Staff.

Emmanuel is an Illinois Congressman but he was once part of the Clinton administration.

Former Clinton svengali Dick Morris retells a story to Bill O'Reilly when some sensitive administration information was leaked to the press, an angry Bill Clinton called Morris screaming expletives an and demanding know who Morris told.

Morris replied to Clinton "Only George (Stephanopolous, Clinton Communications Director) and Rohm."

Clinton shot back "George and Rohm? You might as well as put out a fucking press release Dick!"

Karl Rove Hangs With Obama?

2008-11-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

On this evening's O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, Rove admits to "hanging" with Senator Obama at the White House.

Rove says that Obama is smart but needs to be disciplined. Disciplined? Obama is one of the most disciplined, balanced pols out there - that was one of his weapons against free-form McCain.

Why are they going to Rove for what the Republicans need to do? Rove and his butt buddy George Bush are responsible for a reckless destruction of the Republican Party as we know it.

Get these dinosaurs off the air and go to Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal or even Sarah Palin to get the new GOP roadmap.

Deep Thinker: Matt Damon

2008-10-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

What Is Obama Hiding?

2008-10-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sean Hannity probes Barack Obama's college years, a time in Obama's life that the Democratic Presidential nominee won't talk about nor will allow any records to be made public, including his senior thesis. And for the first time a longtime Obama associate confirms Obama's personal ties to radical, racist activist Khalid al Mansour.

Big Mouth Biden Lies Again!

2008-10-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

When Hillary Clinton was less than truthful about getting shot at while on a visit to Bosnia, the mainstream media was all over her for her fib.

Yet Joe Biden is telling stories himself and apparently getting a pass from the drive bys. Obama's running mate talks about the green zone in Bagdhad "where I have been seven times and shot at." However, Fox News reports that the Hill newspaper said Biden when asked to clarify "backpedaled from his claim of being 'shot at' and instead allowed: 'I was near where a shot landed.'"

In the upcoming Vice Presidential Debate with Republican nominee Sarah Palin, Biden plans to hit Palin on her knowledge of "the superhighway of terror between Pakistan and Afghanistan where my helicopter was forced down."

Turns out though the helicopter had to land because of lousy weather, not superhighway terrorists, and Biden was quickly retrieved by a US Military convoy all the while with American fighter jets overhead to protect him.

"Let's start telling the truth," Biden said during a presidential primary debate sponsored by YouTube last year. Yes, Joe, let's. And while you're at it lets explain why you and Barack Obama beat up Hillary for her lies but you get a pass.

Stuart Smalley for Senator?

2008-10-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

We noted yesterday the irony that Democrats are critical of Sarah Palin as a nominee for Vice-President but are ecstaticly supporting foul mouthed, angry, loony former Saturday Night Live cast member and failed talkradio host Al Fraken.

Here's a fun Al Franken reel. If you don't believe this guy is an idiot before you're done, then you're an idiot yourself.

Record Shows Democrats and Obama Responsible For Banking Mess

2008-09-30T21:59:00.001-07:00

New video unearthed today from 2004 showing that Congressional Democrats made the claim that there was nothing to worry about at Fannie Mae, and in fact even went as far to inject the race card because then Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines - a former Clinton Administration official - happened to be African American.

"Mr. Chairman, we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and in particular at Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Frank Raines. Everything in the 1992 act has worked just fine."
-Representative Maxine Waters in 2005

"The responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more with resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was president to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
-President Bill Clinton, this week

"If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole."
-John McCain in 2006

At the same time Republicans including John McCain called for more regulations and more control on Fannie Mae while usual suspect Democrats Maxine Waters (please, please Ted Hayes win and send Maxine packing) and Barney Frank saying this was not necessary.

Amazingly, yet another video shows Obama at an event in 2005 celebrating Fannie Mae, from which he was the second highest recipient of campaign contributions in the US Senate though Obama has been in the Senate less than four years.

Thank God for YouTube because we have video showing that McCain supported regulation of Fannie and Freddie, and along with many others including then Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, express serious concern over what was to come.

Oh and where was Barack Obama on this? Apparently he voted present.

What's the new term these days? Epic Fail? Yea, Senator Obama, you and your Democrats did. What's more, you got PAID to do it.

If You Liked Jimmy Carter, You'll Love Barack Obama

2008-09-30T21:19:00.001-07:00

Remember gas lines? Hostages? Misery? Inflation? The era of limits? America as a laughing stock? Those were the days of James Earl "Jimmah" Carter, the 39th President of the United States who got his ass kicked all the way back to Georgia by Ronald Reagan.

You can lay the creation of Al-Qaeda squarely at the feet of Jimmah who allowed the Russians to invade Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden became a brand. His mishandling of the situation in Iran led to the Islamic republic that is now threatening Israel with nukes.

If you would like to see the second term of Jimmah finally take place, then vote for Barack Obama who is more Carter than Carter. Folks, Barack is no Bill Clinton, a moderate Democrat who did a succesful job of managing the economy and keeping the country out of trouble internationally. Barack is a left wing, socialist nut job of the Carter order.

Why Is Obama Dressed Like A Muslim?

2008-09-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Did Obama go to a Muslim school? Why is he dressed like this? Does it matter if Obama was a Muslim? Maybe, maybe not. But if he lied about it, that's the problem.

Clinton Blames Democrats for Freddie and Fannie Mess

2008-09-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Son of Obama Campaign Leader May Be Palin Hacker

2008-09-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

We noted Wednesday that Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's personal email was hacked and the contents displayed on the left-wing Gawker blog.

The story gets turned up a notch or too considering that a number of reports indicate that the son of a prominent Obama backer may be a person of interest in the Federal investigation of the hacking.

Democratic Tennessee State Represenative Mike Kernell of Memphis has confirmed that his 20 year old son David is "the one in question" but declined further comments. A number of internet reports note that the elder Kernell is the leader of the Obama campaign in the Volunteer state. The head of the FBI's office in Memphis has confirmed they are involved in the investigation.

Blogger Michelle Malkin reports that a poster with the email address of rubico10@yahoo.co posted on a discussion board that he was the person behind the Palin hack (not an internet mischief making group as previously reported) and confirming the break-in. A pro-Palin blog has found evidence from 2003 when David was 15 where he posted under that same email address.

Sounds like it good be a mess. Stay tuned.

Sam's Campaign Hotsheet

2008-09-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Following the Republican National Convention and the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin by Presidential nominee John McCain as his running mate, the GOP campaign has seen a surge in poll numbers and fundraising leaving the Obama campaign a bit nervous. McCain rallies are attracting thousands more attendees, McCain has pulled ahead of Obama in the polls and fundraising is through the roof. In fact, the McCain camp has raised $5 million in Obama's hometown of Chicago in just the last few days. In the meantime, Democratic stragegists are getting nervous that while the McCain-Palin camp gains steam, the Obama campaign has fallen apart and is horribly off it's game.

He has a tingligng feeling in his leg for Barack Obama but along with partner in crime Keith Olbermann, MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews has been removed as an anchor for NBC's coverage of this year's Presidential campaign. NBC has finally owned up to the fact that the liberally biased Matthews and Olbermann are commentators and not journalists and hence will officially fill the latter role. The more seemingly balanced David Gregory will take over helming the network's campaign related broadcasts.

We all knew it would be a matter of time before "Big Mouth" Joe Biden would open up la boca grande and insert his foot, but he did it. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin who is the parent of a children with Down's Syndrome has been on record of being opposed to stem cell research however the specifics of her position are not yet clear. "Big Mouth" Biden, like he always does, stepped in it when he said he couldn't figure out how a special needs parent could oppose stem cell research, once again sinking the Democratic campaign to a new low.

Deep thinker Joy Behar from ABC's The View, who thinks Barack Obama is the second coming of Franklin Roosevelt and that government is the answer to all our problems went on an extended attack on Sarah Palin on Tuesday night's edition of Larry King Live on CNN. Among Goofy Joy's many criticisms of the Vice Presidential candidate is that Sarah doesn't wear contact lenses and that the Governor's glasses are a prop. Joy also repeated a number of the usual untrue rumors about Sarah that even liberal bloggers like David Markland have debunked.

Richard Viguerie: The race is on to define Sarah Palin;

2008-09-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

If Republicans don’t do it, liberal Democrats will

(Manassas, Virginia) – Within the next week, Governor Sarah Palin will be defined forever in the eyes of the public, Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com said.

In a statement, Viguerie said:

“A critical rule in politics is: Define or be defined. Fairly or unfairly, Dan Quayle’s image was set within days of his selection as a candidate for vice president, and, forever after, the media sought out evidence that fit in with that pre-conceived image.

“Liberal Democrats are working quickly to Quayle-ize her. They are downplaying her experience and expertise, and trying to define her as ‘just a little housewife from Alaska.’ And, with the help of their friends in the media, they will get away with it – if the Republicans let them.

“There is no one who presents all pluses and no minuses. Sure, it would be better if she had more foreign policy experience, and if she had won the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes, while flying the space shuttle and curing cancer. But she is someone who represents the values and worldview of the American people.

“And she has the toughness to be president. She has spent her political career standing up to powerful men ranging from the state Republican chairman to the previous governor to the presidents of Exxon-Mobil and British Petroleum. Honestly, who is more likely to be another Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher – Sarah Palin or Joe Biden? Sarah Palin or Barack Obama?

“By many measures, she outshines Barack Obama in terms of experience, especially in fighting political corruption and making us energy independent. And while he has spent the last couple of years running for president, she has spent the last couple of years running a state.

“As for Joe Biden, he has foreign policy experience, all right – the wrong kind of foreign policy experience. He and those who represent the Harvard-Princeton-Yale ‘best and the brightest’ way of thinking have caused untold suffering for the world’s people. They extended the Cold War by decades, did almost nothing as terrorists waged war on America in the ’90s, and stood by as genocide was committed in Rwanda and Darfur.

“In the effort to beat Sarah Palin, liberal Democrats will play to every sexist stereotype that has kept women ‘in their place’ in the past. They consider conservative women ‘uppity,’ and won’t stand for Sarah Palin being vice president and someday president.

“They are terrified at the prospect that the first woman vice president and possibly the first woman president might be a conservative Republican. A few years ago, they were likewise terrified by Clarence Thomas and the prospect that that the country’s most powerful African-American would be a conservative Republican. They trashed Clarence Thomas and continue to trash him in the most racist and hateful ways, and they won’t hesitate to do something similar to Sarah Palin.

“If Republicans think they won’t do it, they don’t know liberal Democrats like I do.”

Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called “one of the creators of the modern conservative movement” (The Nation magazine), one of the “conservatives of the century” (The Washington Times), and one of 2008’s “top 25 influencers” among Republicans (NewsMax magazine). His latest book is Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big-Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.

Moore Takes on McCain War Record

2008-08-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles - In his second appearance on the innovative new online show, Meet the Bloggers, Michael Moore raised some tough issues related to John McCain's use of his war record in the campaign. Asked if he believes Senator Obama should raise questions about McCain's war record, Mr. Moore said: "Anytime McCain uses his POW status or especially the Vietnam War to attack [Obama's] patriotism or his service, or what he's done for this country, then it is fair game." Quoting a section in Mr. McCain's autobiography in which he said 'We were bombing heavily populated areas of North Vietnam,' Mr. Moore argued that "everyone who stood up against that war is a hero, is a brave American."

Richard Viguerie: She’s perfect

2008-08-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

With VP pick, McCain “unites the GOP, gives conservatives a stake in the election, and puts a real reformer on the ticket”

(Minneapolis, MN) The selection of Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain’s vice presidential running mate unites the Republican Party and energizes its conservative base, Richard A. Viguerie said.

“McCain has chosen to balance his ticket with a principled conservative. Governor Palin’s life story is one of sticking to principle. She is living proof that a person can take on the corrupt political establishment – including corrupt leaders in her own party – and achieve great things,” he said.

Viguerie, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, added: “There’s an old expression in politics: Go along to get along. Not this time. The selection of Sarah Palin is one big kick-in-the-pants to the corrupt establishment in both parties.

“Congratulations to John McCain for hearing and responding to conservatives. Conservatives, the base of the party, have been listless. But, now, nearly all will work enthusiastically for the McCain-Palin ticket. In fact, this is the most enthusiastic conservatives have been since the era for Ronald Reagan.”

He concluded: “This is a grand-slam home run. Conservatives’ feet haven’t touched the ground since this announcement.”

Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called “one of the creators of the modern conservative movement” (The Nation magazine), one of the “conservatives of the century” (The Washington Times), and one of 2008’s “top 25 influencers” among Republicans (NewsMax magazine). His latest book is Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big-Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.

Stupid Republicans Decide to Go After the Gays

2008-08-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Local Republicans continue to shoot themselves in the foot. When the bigger threat is Democrats; they're more worried about the gays.

I received an email from local Republican major domo Linda Boyd - who has done more to set the Republican Party back 50 years than any Democrat could ever hope to - urging attendance at a Republican program to "save marriage."

This event is supporting the campaign intended to completely sink the Republican Party, well actually it's the effort to overturn legal same-sex marriage in California, Proposition 8.

With Republicans ranging from Governor Schwarzenegger to Councilman Dennis Zine to Anti-Bilingual Crusader Ward Connerly to Comedian Dennis Miller opposed to the measure, the local party is going against traditional Republican values of personal liberty and limited government to appease an aging, shrinking but still vocal element of the party who is willing to consign the GOP to permanent minority status.

No doubt, and with all due respect to Christians (I am one), Catholics, Mormons, Conservative Jews and others of faith who find homosexuality inconsistent with their religous beliefs, the local GOP is pandering to this special interest group. However these groups are quick to jump up when government infringes on their personal liberty; they are completely inconsistent when it comes to Proposition 8. Activist Lourdes Rivas issues a challenge to religious opponents of same-sex marriage.

The Republican Party is shrinking in California. We can not attempt to grow if we adopt arcane, unfair positions such as this. Even Ronald Reagan in 1978 found it against true conservative principles to prohibit gays and lesbians from serving as teachers and opposed the Briggs initiative, Proposition 6.

As a Republican male who likes girls (a lot!) and wants to marry one, I am not threatened by gays and lesbians who choose to marry. As a libertarian leaning individual I believe its an issue of fundamental rights. Therefore I will vote no on Proposition 8.

Sign Up for Camp Obama!

2008-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you're a big supporter of the presumptive Democratic nominee, you can spend the rest of your summer at Camp Obama. With apologies to Allan Sherman, here's Rita of Sunland with her ode to the retreat.

'Big Mouth' Biden: Is This The Best Obama Could Do?

2008-08-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

Newly minted Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden has been nominated and made his acceptance speech afternoon night. Biden managed to go the entire speech without saying anything stupid but who knows maybe Barack had him on seven second delay.

Following Senator Hillary Clinton's speech Tuesday night and her gracious efforts on the Convention floor Wednesday afternoon, it's become apparent that Obama made the wrong pick. As noted by blogger Darren Duvall, the upside to dissing Hillary is that Obama is not faced with the prospect of former President Bill Clinton hanging around the White House. At the same time, Duvall makes a good funny when he writes "A lot of what he (Biden) has to offer is a legacy of misstatements that make George W. Bush look like Oscar Wilde."

However Duvall also points out Biden's legacy of off-the-cuff and over the top remarks such as "crypto-racist" comments by Biden about Obama and ignorant statements about Indian-Americans in the State of Delaware.

Despite whatever failings Hillary Clinton may have, one can not imagine her making those types of comments. And one can not imagine Barack Obama losing with the New York Senator as his running mate.

But, he will never know now.

A Pick for McCain

2008-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

In as much as Barack Obama has in Joe Biden picked a contemporary of John McCain to serve as his running mate, the presumptive Republican nominee should consider selecting the Republican version of Barack Obama as his vice-presidential nominee.

For sure McCain's "short list" is somewhat long. Former candidate Mitt Romney gets talked about a lot. So do Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Ohio Congressman and Bush Budget Director Rob Portman. Also on the list are former Pennyslvania Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. Lately former Secretary of State Colin Powell, an unlikely pick, has also received buzz.

And of course we advocated here for sometime the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The challenge for McCain is to find someone who will 1) stay out of trouble, 2) shore up his standing with the base, 3) not scare off moderates as well as disaffected Clinton Democrats, 4) Hold their own against Joe Biden in debates and 5) give him a little Google juice going into the Republican National Convention.

I believe that person is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Here's Jindal on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno:

Jindal has an interesting background. He's a first generation immigrant who was born in Baton Rogue while his parents, immigrants from India, were attending Louisiana State University. At 37 years old, he's the youngest Governor in the US. He served in the US House of Representatives, where he was Britney Spears' Congressman. Here young people who are fired up over Jindal talk about the Louisiana Governor:

Could you imagine Jindal debating Biden who has referred to Indian Americans as 7-11 and Dunkin' Donuts workers?

More importantly he's an impassioned, articulate, intelligent, dynamic young man. And he brings a lot to the ticket. He'd be the only Southerner on the ticket. Like Biden, he's a Roman Catholic who converted from Hinduism in high school.

He comes from a solid middle class background and worked his way up to the top at a young age. He has the immigrant experience and if nominated would be the first Asian to be part of a major party ticket. And he even has somewhat of a resemblance to his namesake, Bobby Kennedy. A Rhodes Scholar, Jindal is ten years younger than Obama, was born one year before Biden entered the senate.

Unlike Obama, Biden or even McCain, as a Governor, Jindal is a Washington outsider who has solid Conservative credentials. As the child of immigrants himself, he has credibility when calling for immigration reform.

McCain could really fire up the troops, gets lot of press and find a candidate who could appeal to all the important swing votes - without the baggage of a boring white guy like Romney, Portman, Pawlenty, etc.- if he picked Jindal.

Why It Doesn't Matter How Many Homes John McCain's Family Owns

2008-08-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

John McCai n's wealthy wife may own several homes (though apparently they don't "live" in all of them; some of them are just investment properties) and Joe Biden thinks there is something wrong with that.

However, most folks won't care how many homes the Arizona Senator and presumptive Republican Presidential nominee owns or lives in. Despite the class envy the Obama bin Biden campaign is seeking to stir up, folks will remember that once John McCain had one home - one he lived in for five years - the "Hanoi Hilton" torture prison he was held in as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. A prison he could of got out of early because of his privilege as the son of a ranking US Military officer but which McCain refused so his compatriates could get out before him.

Next: Obama's Shady House Purchase

Camp Obama!

2008-08-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

Learn more about Camp Obama I want to tell you about an exciting program we're launching in California. It's called Camp Obama.

During this two-day session, people like you will be taking their support for this movement to the next level by learning the organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on.

Camp Obama attendees will receive real world organizing experience that will have a direct impact on this election. Graduates of Camp Obama will go on to become Deputy Field Organizers who will lead this campaign to victory in crucial battleground states around the country.

Find out more about this exciting opportunity to take a leadership role in this movement for change.

By participating in Camp Obama, you'll get the kind of experience that Barack got as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he learned that real change happens from the bottom up.

That experience transformed Barack's life and made him who he is today.

Camp Obama is your chance to put those very same principles into action - to win this election and to strengthen democracy in communities around the country.

After completing the program, you'll be required to work as a Deputy Field Organizer in a battleground state where you'll be organizing supporters and helping lead our grassroots Get Out The Vote operation.

Apply for a spot at a Camp Obama near you and become a leader in our movement for change:

http://ca.barackobama.com/CampObamaCA

This campaign relies on the passion and enthusiasm of ordinary supporters, but it needs leaders who can organize those supporters and turn their enthusiasm into votes on Election Day.

Camp Obama is your chance to step up and become a leader in this movement.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

You Can Buy An Obama bin Biden Magnet!

2008-08-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama and Joe Biden just made their first public appearance as running mates at a rally in Springfield, Illinois.

They are the leaders who will bring the change our country needs. But they can't do it alone.

Show your support for the Obama-Biden ticket today. Make a donation of $15 or more and you will receive a first edition Obama-Biden Car Magnet.

We've got our team. But we've also got our work cut out for us.

Your gift will be crucial to preparing this campaign for the general election.

Make a donation of $15 or more and be one of the first to show your support with an Obama-Biden Car Magnet:

https://donate.barackobama.com/obamaandbiden

Thank you for everything you're doing to build this movement for change,

A Letter From Joe Biden

2008-08-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Friend --

I'd like to thank you for the warm welcome I've received as the newest member of this campaign.

What you and Barack have accomplished over the past 19 months is incredible, and it's an honor to be part of it. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting involved.

I recorded a short video message about how I hope to help in the weeks ahead.

Please take a minute to watch the video and share it with your friends:

Over the next few weeks, I'll be doing a lot of the things you've done to grow this movement -- reaching out day after day in neighborhoods all across the country, connecting with people who are hungry for the change we need.

This is no ordinary time, and this is no ordinary election. I plan to do everything I can to help Barack take back the White House.

I don't need to tell you that John McCain will just bring us another four years of the same. You can't change America when you supported George Bush's policies 95% of the time.

Barack has the vision and the courage to bring real change to Washington. But even he can't do this alone.

Join me by getting involved in your community -- and reach out to your friends and family to get them involved as well.

Please watch this video and pass it on:

http://my.barackobama.com/bidenvideo

Thank you,

Joe

Newsom to Host All-Star Outdoor Concert at DNC in Denver in honor of young Democrats

2008-08-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Free to the public, special event will feature top indie rock bands and celebrate young voter participation in this year’s election

SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today that he is hosting a special outdoor concert at the Democratic National Convention in Denver to celebrate the historic participation of young Americans in this year’s election and in support of the candidacy of Barack Obama for President.

Called “Unconventional ’08,” the event will honor College Democrats of America, Generation Obama, Students for Barack Obama, Young Democrats of America, Young Voter PAC and other organizations. It will feature an all-star line-up of indie rock artists, including Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, Silversun Pickups, Nada Surf, DJ Z-Trip and members of Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley and She and Him, as well as a special appearance by comedienne and actress Sarah Silverman and other surprise guests.

“One of the defining dynamics of 2008 has been the emerging wave of new, young voters getting involved and storming the gates of the traditional political establishment,” said Mayor Newsom. “They are a key to this election and Senator Obama is energizing this new generation of voters in a way never seen before. Our Party and our politics are better for their participation and I look forward to hosting this extraordinary event on their behalf.”

The event will be held at the Manifest Hope Art Gallery on Wednesday evening, August 27, 2008. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and the concert is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.

Sponsors include Moveon.org, Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, AT&T and Pacific Gas & Electric.
Tickets are free to the public and can be requested online at www.unconventional08.com or www.gavinnewsom.com.

-# # #-

Alberta Tribunal Leaves Canada Speechless

2008-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

From Tony Perkins, FRC, Washington Update

David Ben Gurion, the first Israeli Prime Minister, once said, "The test of democracy is freedom of criticism." Nowhere have politicians more miserably failed that test than in Alberta, Canada, where the gatekeepers of political correctness--the Human Rights Commission (HRC)--have sentenced a pastor to a lifetime of silence.

The case was initiated in 2002, when Rev. Stephen Boissoin published letters to the editor opposing same-sex "marriage" in the Red Deer Advocate. At the time, Canada was embroiled in a debate over whether to legalize counterfeit marriage across the country. When Professor Darren Lund of Calgary read Boissoin's editorials, he filed a complaint with the Alberta HRC, alleging that the content of the articles was "hateful."

The Commission appointed a tribunal to investigate Boissoin, led by an unelected bureaucrat Lori Andreachuk. Last November, Andreachuk found Boissoin guilty of discrimination and, without the benefit of his testimony, forbade him from uttering "anything disparaging about homosexuals." Notice that Andreachuk does not ban him from speaking about anything "illegal" but bars him from any negativity toward gays and lesbians. The official punishment, issued without so much as a public hearing, includes everything from personal emails to congregational sermons. As if the lifetime speech ban were not tyrannical enough, Andreachuk also ordered Boissoin to compensate Professor Lund, who was not a victim of the so-called "hate crime," $5,000.

Under the terms of his sentencing, the Reverend must "cease publishing...remarks about homosexuals" and submit a written apology to Lund for publication in the Red Deer Advocate. Ezra Levant, who is under similar scrutiny for printing cartoons about Mohammed, notes in a new column, "[Boissoin] has to publicly humiliate himself, by publicly declaring his contrition--a contrition he does not feel--and his abandonment of his deeply-held religious beliefs... Does that happen anywhere outside of Communist China?"

Conservatives across Canada are in an uproar over the ruling and many are demanding that Premier Ed Stelmach follow through with his promise to review the unbridled "censorship powers" of the HRC. If he refuses, Alberta's thought police can indict any pastor or average citizen who holds political or moral views contrary to the powers-that-be.

Kern County Caveman Republicans Blow It on Gay Marriage

2008-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

How do the idiot bureaucrats in Kern County decide to opppose the recent State Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marraige? They'll issue licenses but they are ending performing civil ceremonies for all couples, straight or gay. Just keep on being dinosaurs and sink the Republican Party until the socialists take over for good morons.

Villaraigosa to Aid Obama?

2008-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Those of you who worried about longtime Villaraigosa foot solider Mike Trujillo having to visit the Canoga Park office of the Employment Development Department following the withdrawl of Mrs. Bill Clinton from the Presidential sweepstakes likely need not worry. Tony Castro reports that insiders within presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama's campaign planning on sending the Villaraigosa machine in search of Latino votes in Texas, Colorado and Michigan. Pack your bags Mike.

America's Iron Lady?

2008-06-10T06:00:00.001-07:00

I remember hearing years ago that the first female President would probably be a Republican, particularly because at the time most of the supply of female Senators and Governors were Republicans.

That's changed some in recent years but upon the failed campaign of Hillary Clinton I've come to another conclusion why it will most likely be that a Republican woman will likely beat her Democratic counterparts to the White House: that Americans are more likely to turn the Presidency over to a hard fisted Margaret Thatcher or Golda Meir type than a touchy-feely give me benefits Democrat.

It was nearly 30 years ago that the United Kingdom first came to be led by a woman, the old Iron Lady herself, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher was a cold warrior, virulently anti-Communist yet not afraid to shake up the old conservative order. She was most definitely the female version of her contemporary, spiritual twin and friend, Ronald Reagan.

In thinking forward as to who is going to be the American version of Thatcher I look past old guard hard nosed Republican grand dames like Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson or North Carolina's Elizabeth Dole . Both are contemporaries of John McCain (in fact Dole is a few months older than the presumptive Republican nominee) and both old enough to be Barack Obama's mother. Dole herself ran for President before Hillary Clinton was even elected to the Senate, though obviously didn't come as far in her attempt at the nomination.

No we have to move to this generation, that of Barack, Valley Doll and myself, those of us born somewhere between Apollo 1 and Apollo 11. And that of course would be none other than Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Palin, who has one of the highest popularity rankings of any politician in the US at present, took on the old guard and shady government corruption in her own party in her state. She was one of the folks that put an end to the "bridge to nowhere" and wasn't afraid to piss off Republicans as she steamrolled through the 49th state to election as Governor.

Palin - known as "Sarah Barracuda" during her basketball days in high school, is similar to Thatcher in that she took on her party establishment, stood hard on principles, and never looked back. As Thatcher was an iron fist against Communism, Palin is on the right side of the issue when it comes to the war on terror, is a staunch supporter of the troops, supports the second amendment and fights against government waste and corruption. I bet if you look back at Thatcher when she was in her 40s, when she served as an MP from Finchley and was in charge of British housing policy, she was probably a lot like Palin.

As John McCain looks for a running mate, many of those suggested as possibilities bring as many negatives as they do pluses. Fortunately for Palin however, the math is on her side. She would bring an energy to McCain that he greatly needs, satisfy his conservative base and bring over many of the Reagan Democrats who voted for Hillary Clinton that can't bring themselves to vote for Obama.

Then, serving four to eight years as McCain's VP (depending on his health) Palin is primed to become America's Iron Lady.

Why Bother Voting? Well Do It Anyway

2008-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Doug McIntyre admits that he forgot to vote last Tuesday. I too, for the first time in many years did not cast a ballot. Doug's reason is he was busy and engaged with other things; mine was I was pretty sick in bed. As bad as that seems, McIntyre and I are of the same mind: why bother? Voter participation is so low that the brain dead masses that do vote can be so easily manipulated by the special interests and idiocy reigns supreme. On a sidenote, given how abysmally low voter turnout was, we don't want to hear any more electeds complaining about Neighborhood Council election turnout.

McCain Daughter Turns Blogger

2008-06-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

When it comes to potential Presidential daughters, blogger Meghan McCain appears to be one of the more interesting to come down the pike in a while. The 23 year old recent Columbia University grad is traveling with her father - Senator and Republican Presidential nominee John McCain - and blogging the campaign from the Gen Y point of view. Looks like Meghan will most likely be the next Eleanor Mondale or Ron Reagan.

Obama and the Latino Vote

2008-06-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Now that Hillary Clinton's dropped out of the Presidential race, Mayor Villaraigosa has jumped on the Barack Obama bandwagon. And maybe it's helping: a recent poll shows the Illinois Democrat capturing up to 62 percent of Latino vote over Senator John McCain.

2008-06-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

This could be it for Hillary Clinton. Democratic primaries in South Dakota and Montana Tuesday are the last of the bunch and could be sufficient to push Senator Barack Obama over the top with a little bit of Superdelegate juice. The Senator's husband, former President Bill Clinton told crowds in South Dakota Monday that this could be the very last day he campaigns for a candidate. In a related story sources are saying that the Obama campaign is negotiating with Hillary Clinton, presumedly to get her to campaign for Obama this fall in exchange the presumptive nominee paying off some of the New York Senator's campaign estimated $40 million campaign debt.

Same-Sex Marriage Could Be Bonaza for Political Consultants

2008-06-02T23:21:00.001-07:00

The primary campaign season is over today and just in time for political consultants looking to get a new paycheck is the big battle over same-sex marriage. Both sides intend to raise upwards of $30 million in a likely ballot measure in November.

America the Beautiful

2008-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a quote from one who witnessed a recent interaction between an elderly woman and an antiwar protester in a Metro station in DC:

"There were protesters on the train platform handing out pamphlets on the evils of America. I politely declined to take one.

An elderly woman was behind me getting off the escalator and a young (20-ish) female protester offered her a pamphlet, which she politely declined.

The young protester put her hand on the old woman's shoulder as a gesture of friendship and in a very soft voice said, 'Lady, don't you care about the children of Iraq ?"

"The old woman looked up at her and said, 'Honey, my father died in France during World War II, I lost my husband in Korea, and a son in Vietnam. All three died so you could have the right to stand here and bad mouth our country. And if you touch me again, I'll stick this umbrella up your ass and open it. "

Assembly Votes Jobs Out of California

2008-05-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

The California State Assembly has passed yet another jobs killing initiative - mandatory sick leave for all employees. The Assembly doesn't get that it's good business for employers who want top employees to offer these and other benefits. Some of the top employers in the state such as Google, Mrs. Gooch and others offer fantastic benefits voluntarily and find they huge numbers of potential employees lining up to apply for open positions. Therefore, they get to pick the cream of the crop. At the same some really small businesses often can't afford to offer these benefits and will either close down or move out of the state or country. Get ready to watch unemployment go up!

Why Clerks Should Perform Gay Marriages

2008-05-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Following the Supreme Court's ruling that allows same-sex marriages in California, a number of county clerks are balking at performing the marriages or issuing licenses based on their political and/or religious beliefs.

While I can respect the individual views of these individuals and their right to have them, government employees are duty bound to follow the law and to treat all citizens equally. As of now, same-sex marriage is the law. If there are government employees or officials who can not enforce the law then they need to either find a new job or transfer to a position that would not put them in a role where they would be required to perform the marriages.

This is somewhat akin to public college or school officials who want to ban military recruiters from coming on campus. However the law states that schools that receive federal funds must allow the recruiters on campus. If the people who work on the campuses don't agree with that, they need to find another job.

When government employees begin to think they have the authority to shirk the law, we're in trouble.

Blumenfield/Berman: "Beyond the Envelope"

2008-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

The controversy continues for Assembly candidate Bob Blumenfield as the issue of a questionable independent expenditure committee set up by his father Michael Blumenfield and employer Congressman Howard Berman.

Linda Sutton, a writer and active supporter of Blumenfield opponent Laurette Healey said "Of course, we have to really IMAGINE that there is no coordination between the campaign and the father across the street and the employer of 18 years. This IS a stretch, but, hey, can we really IMAGINE THIS???"

"the actions of the Blumenfields go far beyond the envelope as it is usually interpreted"

The Sister City had the opportunity to speak with a veteran of several campaigns who knows a thing or two about campaign finance law. Our source told us that "the actions of the Blumenfields go far beyond the envelope as it is usually interpreted. On just about every campaign where it has been an issue, the rules on coordination have been applied to mean that you can barely even have a social conversation with anyone affiliated with an IE. If one Blumenfield said to the other something as simple as 'We aren't getting much support east of the 405', that could be a violation. And if the parents were canvassing, they certainly know where the campaign is investing time and resources."

Is the District Attorney investigating?

ERS News Alert: The “Scud Stud” Goes to War with “Charlie Wilson’s War”

2008-05-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Duck and Cover: Incoming!
by Edward Headington

Canadian journalist, turned politician -- turned journalist again, Arthur Kent has a new lawsuit pending against the filmmakers of the recent Hollywood film “Charlie Wilson’s War”. The 2007 film, which did less than blockbuster box office (although a respectable 66 million was nothing to dismiss) grabbed mixed reviews. The movie stars Tom Hanks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts. The story follows the exploits of a U.S. Congressman from Texas who helped facilitate the CIA and the U.S. support for the Afghan “mujahedeen” fighters who ultimately drove the former Soviet Union’s Red Army from Afghanistan. According to the film’s PR it’s “based on an unbelievable true story”. Mr. Kent begs to differ.

Click here for the full story.

###

The mission of The Enterprise Report is to break news and its motto is “It's news: exclusive and original.” It utilizes the talents of its journalist creators and contributors to bring the public stories that cannot be found anywhere else. For more information, go to www.ERSNews.com

VICA's Useless Mission

2008-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's not a surprise that the Valley Industry and Commerce Association is opposing Proposition 98 though the measure has a very free market mission in preventing local government from taking private property to give to developers. VICA's leadership is rife with developers and other business interests who really are more in favor of a cozy relationship with government than the free market.

In terms of advancing the true business needs of the Valley, it's quite a useless organization. VICA has been around for nearly 60 years and during that time the Valley has degenerated from a vibrant, growing community to a near third world nation. Contrast it's fortunes with that of other nearby regions such as Santa Clarita or Orange County and you'll see how the lack of leadership and vision has really hurt the Valley.

And of course VICA is run by Brendan Huffman, husband of LAUSD School Board member Tamar Galatzan. Brendan, a big time supporter of the Home Depot in Sunland-Tujunga is said to have never met a developer he didn't like.

Teenage Voting?

2008-05-28T00:16:00.001-07:00

This has got to be the most ridiculous idea to come before the Council in I don't know how long. Clowncilman Richard Alarcon has got unanimous support from the Council to support Assembly Bill 1819 which would allow 16 and 17 year olds to "pre-register and vote." This is something that will lead to more voter fraud but will add to the bureaucracy to make it happen. The idea is to get young people more involved but the logic is lost on me. What's next? Allowing teens to pre-register for their first kegger or their first age of consent sex?

The Nanny State Marches On

2008-05-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Another victory for the nanny state as the California State Senate passes SB 1420 requiring fast food restaurants to post nutritional information for all items on their menus.

Though studies show that posting this information could cut down on obesity and I'm all for the restaurants providing this information (many do already on a voluntary basis) once again I have to ask do we need government to take care of us?

Oh - and by the way this bill isn't from the usual nanny source of course but Senator Alex Padilla.

Obama Website Lifted?

2008-05-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

David Markland busts the County Supervisor campaign of Bernard Parks. It appears that the Parks campaign may have lifted the template from Barack Obama's campaign website for it's own.

What Political Talkshows Were Like Fifty Years Ago

2008-04-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Political television shows are now hosted by blowhards like Chris Matthews or Keith Olberman, but back in the day most hosts had class. The guest is none other than the father of one US President and grandfather of another, Senator Prescott Bush, Republican of Connecticut.

Richardson: How I Picked Obama

2008-04-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson talks about his turning point in making the decision to endorse Barack Obama and not the wife of his former employer for President. Richardson cites intense pressure from the Clinton campaign and his disgust at anti-Obama television ads the New York Senator aired.

Richardson was confident he had been loyal to President Clinton during his years of service as UN Ambassador and Energy Secretary. Richardson claims that supporters of the former First Lady told him he owed her his support. "That really ticked me off," Richardson said, "But I don't think that loyalty is transferable to his wife... You don't transfer loyalty to a dynasty."

Tom McClintock Needs Your Help in Congressional Race

2008-03-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Help Counter My Opponent's Ad Blitz

First, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the tremendous outpouring of support and generosity that you have shown me as we began this Congressional campaign. I am genuinely honored to have you by my side in this battle.

As I write this, my millionaire liberal opponent has begun pouring money into the advertising blitz that he threatened to unleash if I dared to oppose him. In the last week alone, he has pumped over $300,000 into TV, radio and print ads to slow our momentum. We enjoy a large lead in the polls, but it is imperative that we be able to counter him in order to preserve our advantage.

Some people can write personal checks to cover their campaigns. Others can call on the liberal labor union bosses or ultra-liberal organizations to help them finance their efforts. I don't fall in either of these categories. My support comes from individuals like you who believe in the principles we share. Without you, I have no campaign.

Will you help us preserve our lead in the polls and counter my opponent's ad blitz? Your urgently-needed contribution will give us the resources to ensure that our momentum is sustained. Federal law limits contributions to $2,300 per individual. You may contribute securely on our website or mail a check to:

McClintock for Congress
c/o Igor Birman
1029 K Street, Suite 44
Sacramento CA 95814

Thank you again for standing with me in this fight.

Sincerely,

Tom McClintock

Tom McClintock's web site.

Latinos Upset Solis Dumped by Clinton

2008-02-12T22:21:00.001-08:00

A leading Hispanic Democratic leader is fuming mad that Hillary Clinton has replaced her previous campaign manager, Patti Solis, with longtime advisor Maggie Williams, who happens to be African American.

In an email blast to Democratic party members, Steven Ybarra head of the voting rights committee of the Democratic National Committee Hispanic Caucus and a "super" delegate from California had the following warning for the Clinton campaign:

"Apparently, loyalty is not a two-way street," he wrote. "Latino superdelegates like myself . . . will have cause to pause."

Ybarra told reporters that Clinton's termination of Solis, whose parents were Mexican immigrants, was "dumb as a stump."

This is in the wake of a series of Clinton losses in primaries and caucuses and her campaign pinning its strategy on winning delegate rich Texas in March, with the help of Latino voters. To this end, the campaign has sent longtime Villaraigosa flack and former Sister City blogger Michael Trujillo to handle the ground war in Tejas.

Latino Leaders Endorse Obama

2008-01-30T21:34:00.000-08:00

In a stunning blow to Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton - and her surrogate in Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa - the Mexican American Political Association has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President.

On the heels of the endorsement of the Illinois Senator by labor leader Maria Elena Durazo Clinton's prospects of gaining significant support amongst California's Latinos appears to be fading.

Motivating the decision has been the campaign tactics of the Clintons in South Carolina and elsewhere that some have criticized as being race baiting.

MAPA's National President Nativo Lopez issued the following statement:

“Something nasty in the national campaigns reared its head over the past two weeks, which motivated us to consider another endorsement for a presidential candidate of the Democratic Party primary elections. We have observed with utter disgust the use of racially divisive and polarizing tactics employed by the Clintons, both Hillary and Bill, against Senator Barack Obama, not the first presidential candidate of African American origin. This is something that we would have expected from Republican candidates, but instead it surfaced from the bowels of the center-right institutional currents of the Democratic Party. The tactics are absolutely deplorable and clearly demonstrate what the Clintons think of all people of color."

Lopez' full statement can be viewed here.

Losing support of both the African American and Latino communities in Los Angeles could have a chilling effect on Clinton's prospects in California. It would have a greater impact and reflect poorly on politicians in the state such as Mayor Villaraigosa, Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who've been working hard on behalf of the Clintons.

PTA Moms Against Measure S

2008-01-10T21:52:00.001-08:00

Today, parents of Beckford Ave. Elementary school will be receiving their monthly newsletter. Inside, they'll find the following editorial by a PTA parent urging ALL PTA members to vote No on Measure S.

Rock the Vote Beckford!
By Debbie Lopez

It's another campaign year and another chance for Beckford parents to get involved in the future of not only our country, but locally as well. On February 5th, the Beckford Auditorium will once again be a polling place for the upcoming Presidential Primary election.

Are you registered to vote yet?

The last day to register for the Feb. 5th election is January 22nd. Registering is easy! Just visit: http://www.sos.ca.gov/

"NO on Measure S"
PTAs may be asked to help secure the passage of a school bond or local parcel tax election or to participate in campaigns to pass or defeat other election ballot measures.

One of the Purposes of the PTA is "to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth." It is by educating its members — and through them, the general public — on the impact of issues affecting children and youth, that PTAs can best influence the course of action of those who make policy decisions, thereby achieving the Purposes of the PTA. Measure S (the "Cell Phone Tax 'Reduction'"), as written, applies an unfair tax to voters, as we will be charged 9%, while telemarketers (grrr… who call you as you sit down to dinner) will only be charged 5%.

This places an unfair burden on families who rely on cell phones to keep in touch with (and keep tabs on!) their children. The Northridge West Neighborhood Council voted to take a position AGAINST Measure S. The Neighborhood Council agreed with the COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT, DIVISION TWO, who ruled that the current cell phone tax the city is collecting is a violation of Prop. 218, passed by California voters in 1996. By voting NO, the current tax goes away. A YES vote enables City Hall to tax you for using the internet, wireless networks, text messaging, instant messaging, VoIP and similar services.

As a high-performing school, Beckford is not eligible to receive funding (such as Title 1 funds) that we so desperately need. Our Valley neighborhoods contribute a substantial amount in tax revenue each year to the City's General Fund. That is where the money from Prop S. will be going. There is nothing in the wording of Measure S. that specifically binds these funds to things like additional police and fire units. Voters can't ever really be sure exactly where and HOW those General Fund dollars are going to be spent. Unfortunately, we don't see too much of it coming back into the Valley in the way of help for our schools.

If it were not for the generosity, the hard work, the endless hours of volunteering, the commitment, the love and support of our Beckford families, we would not have the funding for many of the wonderful educational programs here at Beckford. Perhaps it's time to take a stand, Valley Families.

How about we just vote NO on Measure S, and instead make a donation to the Bell Fund, or take your sweetie on a date to our "Ace of Hearts" fundraising gala? Money wisely spent, and guaranteed to be used for the betterment of our school and our children's education. PLEASE COME TO OUR PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING ON JAN. 22 AND LEARN MORE!!

Beckford PTA will be encouraging ALL Valley PTAs to join us in voting NO on S. Additionally, in lieu of dumping tea into the L.A. River, we are also asking that at the same time members are voting NO, to send a donation to their PTAs instead of Measure S taxes to the City's General Fund. This way, members can be assured that their hard-earned dollars are going directly to schools instead of lining the coffers of the "Bermuda Triangle" that is the General Fund.

We wil be speaking at the montly PTA President's Meeting later this month, and asking our PTA Council to please circulate the above editorial to each of the schools in the area, and to send it home in their newsletters.

NO ON S AND SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS! PLEASE VOTE NO AND SEND A DONATION TO YOUR LOCAL PTA. OUR SCHOOLS NEED THE MONEY MORE THAN THE CITY, AND WE'LL SPEND IT MORE WISELY, TOO!

Debbie Lopez is a community activist, PTA leader and mom in the North Valley.

Los Angeles Politics

2008-01-10T00:02:00.001-08:00

The place to to read about Los Angeles Politics is Mayor Sam's Sister City. Mayor Sam blogs about Los Angeles Politics everyday along with Zuma Dogg, Joe Mailander and Red Spot.

Want to read about Mayor Villaraigosa? Check out Mayor Sam.

Is Mayor Villaraigosa having an affair? You can read about it at Mayor Sam.

Sometimes we talk about Presidential Politics including Ron Paul. Check us out at Mayor Sam's Sister City, the blog that covers Los Angeles Politics.

Sam's American Hotsheet for Monday

2008-01-07T00:11:00.000-08:00

So much for "We Report You Decide" at Fox News. Maverick Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul has been bounced from their on-air debates as well as third party candidates. An activist group, rockthedebates.org is pressing to get pledges from the Democratic and Republican candidates to debate Libertarians, Greens and other third party candidates. So far Paul and Mike Huckabee have signed on; Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are opposed. What are they afraid of?

latinopoliticsblog.com questions the strategic wisdom of the Hillary Clinton campaign having Mayor Villaraigosa tag along in New Hampshire. More importantly - the blog drives home - why isn't the Mayor at home solving problems instead of playing Presidential politics out of state?

Sam's American Hot Sheet

2007-10-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

The media actually reports something going well in the war in Iraq. Its about how the City of Fallujah is turning around, suicide bombings haven't happened in months and the citizenry appreciates the Marines. Wow! Maybe if we held on it this thing might start working.

John Stossel is taking on Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and the mis-truths and made up facts in it. First he talks with scientists who don't buy the global warming hysteria and whom are often threatened for having a dissenting view. In another piece, Stossel says that even if there is global warming that "Despite recent developments, man can't control the weather, much less the climate. "

Apparently Barack Obama doesn't believe in putting his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. Even Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson show some respect for the flag.

Brent Bozell is apparently furious some schools are handing out birth control to 11 year olds. No doubt no one in their right mind thinks 11 year olds should be having sex. However having been an 11 year old once myself, I know it happens (not from personal experience mind you). So at least they need to be prepared should it happen. Though rather than easily giving out birth control they should be severly programmed as to why its just a really bad idea.

We've seen this before, liberal Democrats for some reason get a pass when making racial slurs. In this case there's no brouhaha over the fact that Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen used an offensive ethnic slur about the Chinese.

Despite a report by the oh so not conservative LA Times, all the mainstream media except for Fox News failed to report that the Clinton campaign received a significant number of large contributions from poor Chinese immigrants. Hmm, wonder how those poor people did that?

And finally, Radar is reporting that the author of a new book claims that RFK banged the widowed Jackie Kennedy. Writer C. David Heymann plans to drop that bombshell in a new book, "A Woman Named Jackie."

Al Gore To Run For President

2007-10-15T00:56:00.000-07:00

At least that's the headline this old, dead Republican Mayor is predicting we will see soon.

He just won the Nobel Prize. He won an Oscar. What is there left for a 60 year old man to do?

With Hilary being the only real contender in the Democratic primary - and lots of liberals and environmentalists not real happy with her - You Can Call Me Al could be the savior they're looking for.

Al himself hasn't ruled it out; at the same time a number of major leave efforts are underway to draft the man who invented the internet to run for President in 2008.

That sound you just heard is the Clinton Campaign crapping their pants.

Hillary's Five Grand Plan

2007-10-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton has proposed that every child born in the United States should receive a $5000 bond which would earn interest over time, which they would receive at age 18 to finance a college education or make a down payment on a house (or throw a massive kegger?).

If the bond earns the current average of around 3.6% and compounded daily, after 18 years the kid could cash out at $9,558.26

This is just more of the socialism that Democrats want to serve up.

One is reminded of the following phrase - though there is disagreement and uncertainty as to who said it:

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship. "

Keep voting yourself those benefits!

Sam's American Hot Sheet for Wednesday

2007-10-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

Tim Graham comments at NewsBusters about bigoted, one-sided reporting on illegal immigration in The Washington Post. Graham paints the article as "another set of sympathetic portraits of hard-working Latinos who weep on street curbs over how they're hated by the Angry Caucasian Menace," and points out that anti-illegal immigration advocates are mentioned only in passing.

He hasn't been in office for nearly 35 years and been dead for over 10 but apparently ABC News thinks it's news that Richard Nixon thought that now Presidential candidate and then thirty-something Watergate prosecutor Fred Thompson was "dumb as hell."

There may be blood in the water surrounding the re-election prospects of Alaska's antique GOP Senator, Ted Stevens. Stevens who has been controversial recently for his pork barrel bridge to nowhere and other corruption allegations is considered vulnerable on both his right and left flank. The leading Democratic contender is 45 year old Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and on the Republican side is ever popular Alaska Governor Sarah Palin - though a number of folks are boosting the attractive, tough fisted 43 year old as a potential GOP Vice Presidential nominee.

Sam's American Hot Sheet

2007-10-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

John Seiler blogs E.J. Dionne's silly idea to ask Republicans to support a tax to keep the war going. Dionne is apparently thinking that Republicans should be forced to put their money where their mouth is on keeping the war going.

Supposedly tolerant liberal wags would totally jump at the chance that Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice is supposedly gay. They've seized on the fact that Rice co-owns a home with another woman as evidence Condi plays for the other team. Turns out that Rice's fellow property owner is a radical liberal Stanford professor and longtime friend - Randy Bean - who bought the home with Rice as an income property; neither of them live there. Indeed Bean says she's such a lefty that she would never be in the closet were she actually gay.

To left leaning MSNBC pundits such as Lynne Cheney who speak on behalf of Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson are spinning. Warner Todd Houston wonders if the same description would be given to Oprah's boosting of Barack Obama.

Justin McCarthy blogs on Bill Sammon's Fox News Channel report that Hillary Clinton has hired document stealer and former national security advisor Sandy Berger to her team - and the mainstream media's lack of coverage of such. Indeed, both McCarthy and Sammon wonder what would happen if one of the Republican candidates were to hire Scooter Libby.

Hotties Could Save Republican Party

2007-10-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Usually Republicans are wizzened old white guys with the charisma of a wet blanket. But perhaps not for much longer as young, talented, strong, intelligent Republican hotties are coming on the scene.

We've talked before about Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Enormously popular, the 43 year old Republican has fought back against dinosaur, tax and spend Republicans in her home state and there's no doubt she could do the same at the national level. Many speculate that Palin could easily challenge bridge to nowhere builder Republican Senator Ted Stevens but a grassroots movement is growing to encourage consideration of Palin as a potential GOP Vice Presidential candidate.

Palin who has what is probably the highest approval rating of any politician in America at 84% has shaken up the GOP old boys club in Alaska, putting a stop to pork barrel politics and ending old sweetheart deals. She even put an end to the bridge to nowhere; killing what some considered to be the poster child for Congressional pork.

Some pundits who like Palin think she needs more experience. However some of her supporters posit that were Palin a male and a Democrat, she'd be considered the next JFK. Indeed, she has more executive experience and is of the same generation as Barack Obama.

Another young, female GOP power player of late is Jeri Kehn Thomspon, 41. The former media consultant and Republican National Committee staffer is considered to be the svengali behind her Presidential candidate husband, Fred Dalton Thompson. As the Thompson campaign kicks into high gear, Mrs. Thompson has become more prominent.

The Republican Party could be revived by turning leadership over to youngsters such as Palin and Thompson. Sure, Thompson's husband is the candidate and yet another wizzened old white guy, but should he be elected there certainly is a model for a first lady to follow to a political career of her own. Given that both Palin and Thompson are of my generation I agree its high time to turn things over to their peers.

By the way before any of you go nuts, when I refer to Palin and Mrs. Thompson being hotties, its the whole package, not just their looks. It refers more to a state of mind, intelligence and ability. Indeed, if Palin or Thompson were just clerks at the Piggly Wiggly, they'd probably just be considered of average attractiveness. Indeed, Henry Kissinger may have been correct when he said power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

9. 11. 01: We Will Never Forget

2007-09-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Ted Nugent on the "Summer of Drugs"

2007-07-08T20:48:00.001-07:00

Ted Nugent is one of the greatest all time rock musicians; in recent years he has become one of the most eloquent statesman in America on the topics of personal liberty and personal responsibility.

Ted's latest essay, this one for the Wall Street Journal, takes to task romantic notions of the Summer of Love (not to be confused with this Summer of Love) that took place some 40 years ago. Short of the civil rights movement and some great music, Nugent finds absolutely nothing of value from the decade of the 1960s and successfully traces many of our current ills to the half-baked notions developed by the so-called "counter-culture." Indeed, the 60s was the petri dish for the malignant narcissism that is rampant today.

Nugent - who has never gone in for alcohol and drugs - said the following of his experience amongst the "tuned-on, tuned-in and dropped-out" generation:

I literally had to step over stoned, drooling fans, band mates, concert promoters and staff to pursue my musical American Dream throughout the 1960s and 1970s. I flushed more dope and cocaine down backstage toilets than I care to remember. In utter frustration I was even forced to punch my way through violent dopers on occasion. So much for peace and love. The DEA should make me an honorary officer.

Nugent connects rising rates of divorce, high school drop outs, drug use, abortion, sexual diseases and crime as well as "the exponential expansion of government and taxes" to the "if it feels good, do it" lifestyle of the 1960s and "hippies who thought utopia could be found in joints and intentional disconnect."

When our leaders exercise some personal responsibility in their own lives and hold especially young people to higher standards rather than endeavoring to garner them self-esteem, we may eventually get back on track.

Happy Fourth of July!

2007-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Today we mark the 231th anniversary of the signing of the greatest document ever written on Earth. It was so important and the men who signed it believed in it so much they mutually pledged "to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Read the full text of the Declaration of Independence.

VillarSalinas: We Told You So

2007-07-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is in the midst of divorce proceedings with his wife, acknowledged he is in a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter, according to a statement published Tuesday.

Villaraigosa issued a statement, published Tuesday by the Los Angeles Daily News, acknowledging his involvement with Telemundo newswoman Mirthala Salinas, after the paper told the mayor it was set to publish a story about their relationship.

"It is true that I have a relationship with Ms. Mirthala Salinas. As I've said I take full responsibility for my actions, and I once again ask that people respect my family's privacy. For my part, I intend to stay focused on my job, and to work as hard as I can every day to be the best mayor I can be," Villaraigosa said.

Liberals Want to Outlaw Conservative Talk

2007-06-26T22:21:00.001-07:00

Well sort of.

Unable to achieve success in talkradio via the free market, liberals now plan to use government intervention to achieve their goals of more "liberal voices" on the air. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barbara Boxer want to bring back the so-called "fairness doctrine" and other regulations to "balance" programming. Its not just the liberals who are after talkradio but Republicans such as Trent Lott upset that their "free ride" on many conservative programs is over.

As reported by The National Review, longtime Clinton crony John Podesta has authored a treatise on what has to be done about the "problem" of conservative talkradio.

What's next? Are they going to outlaw blogs?

See the problem for you liberals is you might be able to try to outlaw the speech you don't like. However, the dangerous precedent you set will eventually come back to harm you when your opponents are in charge.

If it were up to some of the members of the City Council and the Mayor, laws might be passed that would impose government control on radio programs such as that of Doug McIntyre (pictured above) or blogs like this.

And even if the liberals get their laws, its likely they won't have the intended goals. Should stations be able to air unfettered and wildly profitable conservative talkradio programs, they will drop the format and political coverage altogether in favor of talk programming similar to Howard Stern or Tom Leykis or even other formats such as sports, music or foreign language broadcasts. And even if the government mandates certain types of programming be covered (such as they once did with community affairs programming) the broadcasters will find ways around those rules, such as airing the programs at 7:00 a.m. on a Sunday (as many still do voluntarily).

The best bet is to let everyone express their views and then let them be judged in the marketplace of ideas. But do liberals get that? I imagine some do but their numbers are shrinking everyday.

A Real Civil Rights Journey

2007-03-29T00:55:00.000-07:00

by David Hernandez

Midway through the 20th Century, almost 100 years after President Lincoln wrote and delivered the Emancipation Proclamation, white Americans were awakened to a painful truth; Millions of American men and women, descendents of freed slaves, were being treated like second and third class citizens. In some parts of this nation, they were treated worse then stray dogs.

Forced to sit in the back of busses, prevented from eating and drinking in “whites only” restaurants and bars, waiting in line to drink from water fountains designated for “colored” only, black Americans suffered the shame and humiliation associated with bigotry and racism.

Given a series of events both political and social, Americans finally awoke to this reality and the Civil Rights Movement began. With leaders like Martin Luther King and courageous political and civil activists, laws were acquired at the local, state and national level that prevented abuses so common in the black community.

These laws permitted individuals born in the United States of America–some 4th, 5th and 6th generation Americans-to finally enjoy the basic rights so many citizens took for granted.

The Civil Rights Movement was their battle. It was a battle fought in the streets, in the schoolhouses, and in the courts for over a decade. It was founded on a dream that all men would someday be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Because of the sacrifices made by these courageous folks who were willing to put their lives on the line, civil rights exist today for all American citizens no matter what their race, religion, nationality or creed.

But there are a growing number of people in our country who are claiming that their civil rights are being violated. These men and women are Persons Here Illegally. They have stolen across the border and claimed this country as their home. Moreover, they are demanding the rights available to all American citizens with the help of organizations like the ACLU. According to the ACLU,

The Immigrants' Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation was established in 1987 to expand and enforce the civil rights and civil liberties of non-citizens and to combat public and private discrimination against immigrants.

Rights that took American Blacks decades to acquire are being handed to persons here illegally because they have successfully evaded authority and circumvented the legal process.

This is a civil rights issue, but the question is “Who’s civil rights are we most obligated to protect?”

What needs to be done.

There cannot be any discussion of immigration reform that does not include the impact illegal immigration has on the African American community. Those most impacted by the flood of persons here illegally will not be left to fend for themselves. The price of freedom was too great; the sacrifices made for civil rights were too painful.

The economic challenges faced by those from other countries deserve our compassion and our concern, but they do not equal the price paid in the journey from the auction block to the voting booth, from the plantation to the state assembly, from the back of the bus to the freedom to live, work and worship with every other American citizen. No, the road to citizenship was too painful and too costly to devalue by keeping it out of so-called “compressive reform.”

Before we can engage in any discussion of rights for migrant workers and those claiming entitlement to civil liberties, we must remember the sacrifices that were made by Americans in the name of liberty. We cannot keep American blacks out of the discussion.

When jobs, services, and money for education are diverted away from black communities and given to persons here illegally, we are stealing from the poor to give to the poor. Some say we are igniting a race war–well let me tell you–the war is here and it has been here for a very long time.

Politicians no longer get to blame activists for that which they have too long ignored.

So, I am closing with a challenge to all elected representatives and candidates for President: If you do not stand up for the black community now and include them in your talks of immigration reform, then you are not qualified to represent any American in the future.

God bless you and God bless the United States of America.

Midway through the 20th Century, almost 100 years after President Lincoln wrote and delivered the Emancipation Proclamation, white Americans were awakened to a painful truth; Millions of American men and women, descendents of freed slaves, were being treated like second and third class citizens. In some parts of this nation, they were treated worse then stray dogs.

Forced to sit in the back of busses, prevented from eating and drinking in “whites only” restaurants and bars, waiting in line to drink from water fountains designated for “colored” only, black Americans suffered the shame and humiliation associated with bigotry and racism.

Given a series of events both political and social, Americans finally awoke to this reality and the Civil Rights Movement began. With leaders like Martin Luther King and courageous political and civil activists, laws were acquired at the local, state and national level that prevented abuses so common in the black community.

These laws permitted individuals born in the United States of America–some 4th, 5th and 6th generation Americans-to finally enjoy the basic rights so many citizens took for granted.

The Civil Rights Movement was their battle. It was a battle fought in the streets, in the schoolhouses, and in the courts for over a decade. It was founded on a dream that all men would someday be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Because of the sacrifices made by these courageous folks who were willing to put their lives on the line, civil rights exist today for all American citizens no matter what their race, religion, nationality or creed.

But there are a growing number of people in our country who are claiming that their civil rights are being violated. These men and women are Persons Here Illegally. They have stolen across the border and claimed this country as their home. Moreover, they are demanding the rights available to all American citizens with the help of organizations like the ACLU. According to the ACLU, The Immigrants' Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation was established in 1987 to expand and enforce the civil rights and civil liberties of non-citizens and to combat public and private discrimination against immigrants.

Rights that took American Blacks decades to acquire are being handed to persons here illegally because they have successfully evaded authority and circumvented the legal process.

This is a civil rights issue, but the question is “Who’s civil rights are we most obligated to protect?”

What needs to be done.

There cannot be any discussion of immigration reform that does not include the impact illegal immigration has on the African American community. Those most impacted by the flood of persons here illegally will not be left to fend for themselves. The price of freedom was too great; the sacrifices made for civil rights were too painful.

The economic challenges faced by those from other countries deserve our compassion and our concern, but they do not equal the price paid in the journey from the auction block to the voting booth, from the plantation to the state assembly, from the back of the bus to the freedom to live, work and worship with every other American citizen. No, the road to citizenship was too painful and too costly to devalue by keeping it out of so-called “compressive reform.”

Before we can engage in any discussion of rights for migrant workers and those claiming entitlement to civil liberties, we must remember the sacrifices that were made by Americans in the name of liberty. We cannot keep American blacks out of the discussion.

When jobs, services, and money for education are diverted away from black communities and given to persons here illegally, we are stealing from the poor to give to the poor. Some say we are igniting a race war–well let me tell you–the war is here and it has been here for a very long time.

Politicians no longer get to blame activists for that which they have too long ignored.

So, I am closing with a challenge to all elected representatives and candidates for President: If you do not stand up for the black community now and include them in your talks of immigration reform, then you are not qualified to represent any American in the future.

God bless you and God bless the United States of America.

David Hernandez
http://blackamericanscivilrights.wordpress.com/

The Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles Presents POLITICAL SATIRE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: SALIH MEMECAN & JIBJAB on Thursday, April 5

2007-03-28T19:47:00.001-07:00

The Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles Presents POLITICAL SATIRE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: SALIH MEMECAN & JIBJAB on Thursday, April 5; 7:00 p.m. at 465 N. Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Join JibJab founders Gregg and Evan Spiridellis and Turkish satirical cartoonist Salih Memecan discuss how political satire plays out in a digital age.

For more details, please call 310 786 1091 or visit www.mtr.org. Tickets are $5 at the door and free for students with proper ID - please call 310 786 1034 to rsvp.

More Edwards Spam for your Perusal

2007-03-28T19:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Friend,

I was in Congress for 26 years and I've worked on a lot of campaigns, but I've never been so proud to be a part of one as I am right now. Because John, Elizabeth and you have created something incredible together. Our grassroots campaign for change is raising the bar for what leadership means in America—and it's strong enough to win.

As you probably know, this Saturday at midnight marks the first major fundraising deadline of this campaign—which means we have less than 96 hours to show that our campaign has the support and momentum we need to put our agenda in front of voters nationwide. This first test couldn't be more important.

If you've been waiting to plunk down your $50 until a truly critical moment—that moment has arrived. Your contribution of $25, $50 or any amount you can afford to give today will send a loud message that the American people are ready for change:

http://johnedwards.com/r/8884/848039/

When I say "raising the bar for what leadership means" I'm not just blowing smoke. To fundamentally change the country, we've got to go where ordinary campaigns fear to tread. That means putting forward real, bold plans for the future. It means putting our hands and our voices to work right now in local communities and on the national stage. All this clarity means real accountability, which you don't see much of in American politics. But if we're serious about change, it's the only way to go.

Here's how we've done it so far:

Proposing transformational change for America and the world: John's plan for universal health care "set the standard for all the candidates with a specific proposal" (as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman put it). He's set out a plan to end the war in Iraq—starting now. He's offered a bold agenda for tackling extreme poverty at home and around the world. And last week, John announced a cutting-edge plan to halt global warming and create a new energy economy.
Raising our voice on the issues today: We aren't waiting until 2009 to push for the big changes we know our country needs. Over 130,000 of us signed up to oppose Bush's escalation and demand an end to the war in Iraq. We raised our voices against the outrage of inadequate health care for our service members and veterans. And we called on Congress to vote to raise the minimum wage—and they did.
Changing America right here and now: Through One Corps, thousands of us have gotten together to make our communities more energy efficient, volunteer in hospitals, serve those in need and gather grassroots support for the big goals we care about. And tonight, thousands of us will join in the first National John Edwards House Party Day to spread the word and grow our team.

You see why I'm so proud? In all my years in public life I've heard a lot of different people talk about change. But I've never seen someone at the national level walk the walk like John Edwards. That's why I know this campaign can really transform America—it's already begun.

But to keep our momentum going, we've got to have a strong showing for this Saturday's fundraising deadline. The press and the pundits will look at our fundraising numbers at the end of this week and ask: "Does the John Edwards campaign have what it takes to go the distance?"

You and I know the answer to that. This week, let's prove it to the world. Please chip in $50, $100, $25 or whatever you can afford to help us across the finish line today:

http://johnedwards.com/r/8886/848039/

Thank you for taking action,

David Bonior
Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

Commentary and Coffee

2007-03-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

This morning I bought a cup of coffee at the Starbucks located at the base of my office building and found a very political statement printed on my cup.

This is the result of a program started by the coffee retailer, The Way I See It. The Seattle based company says it "has always supported a good, healthy discussion," Their website continues, "To get people talking, “The Way I See It” is a collection of thoughts, opinions and expressions provided by notable figures that now appear on our widely shared cups."

I was kind of shocked and offended to find what I thought to be a typically liberal, anti-Christian screed on the side of my sugar free vanilla latte.

"Evolution as described by Charles Darwin is a scientific theory, abundantly reconfirmed, explaining physical phenomena by physical causes. Intelligent Design is a faith-based initiative in rhetorical argument. Should we teach I.D. in America’s public schools? Yes, let’s do it – not as science, but alongside other spiritual beliefs, such as Islam, Zoroastrianism and the Hindu idea that the Earth rests on Chukwa, the giant turtle."
David Quammen
Author. His books include The Song of the Dodo and The Reluctant Mr. Darwin.

Just as I was about to blast them for this, I actually did some research and found that for the most part, the selected commentaries are fairly balanced. To take it a step further, Starbucks allows its customers to comment further on their website.

Here's a quote from another cup featuring thoughts from right leaning radio shrink Dr. Laura Schlessinger:

"Many people search blindly for the “meaning of life.” What they don’t seem to understand is that life does not have meaning through mere existence or acquisition or fun. The meaning of life is inherent in the connections we make to others through honor and obligation."
Dr. Laura Schlessinger International radio host and author. Her program is syndicated on more than 250 radio stations worldwide.

To be honest, I knee-jerked on this one and upon further research and reflection, I think this is a great program. I may not agree with some of the sentiments but if Starbucks is encouraging an open discussion it can't be a bad idea.

Edwards Reveals Wife Has Cancer

2007-03-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

Elizabeth and I are so grateful for your prayers and wishes. Your support means a great deal to us during this difficult time.

As you may have heard, yesterday we found out that Elizabeth's breast cancer is back, but confined mainly to her bones. Although this isn't the news we wanted to hear, we are very optimistic. Having been through many struggles together in the past, we know that the key is to keep your head up, keep moving and be strong. And that's exactly what we intend to do.

Elizabeth and I have been married for nearly 30 years and we will be in this every step of the way together. We will keep a positive attitude and always look for the silver lining—that's what we do.

Although the cancer is no longer curable, it is treatable, and many patients in similar circumstances have lived full, energetic lives. We expect nothing less for Elizabeth. She expects to do all the things next week that she did last week.

Our campaign goes on and it goes on strongly. We are so proud of the campaign we are running—a campaign based on ideas and reaching out to people. This campaign is not about me or Elizabeth—it's about all the people we have met these past few years and people like them all across America and the world—people worried about feeding and clothing their kids; people without health care; people facing hardships overseas.

Both of us are committed to this campaign. We're committed to this cause and we're committed to changing this country we love so much.

Thank you again for your support and for standing with us.

John Edwards

P.S.-- Many of you have asked how to contact our family and the campaign. You can click here to send us a note. Quite a few supporters and friends have already e-mailed and blogged such kind messages. Thank you so much.

How You Can Take Action

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Paid for by John Edwards for President 410 Market Street, Suite 400, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 636-3131. johnedwards.com. Contributions to John Edwards for President are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Morris Says It's Hillary, Rudy and Maybe Bloomberg

2007-03-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Even though he says she's faltering at the moment, pundit Dick Morris predicts that Hillary Clinton will eventually overtake Barack Obama to secure the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination.

Morris feels that oodles of previously non-voting women will turn out in droves to vote for the New York Senator and former First Lady. Some have referred to this as the "Oprah" factor, that is millions of working and middle class women who are fans of the daytime talk show host would take Oprah's cue to vote for the first female President of the United States.

Unfortunately for Clinton, Oprah didn't get that memo. She's supporting Obama. With two important constituencies that Clinton needs - women and Blacks - likely to follow Oprah, my view is Hillary could be in trouble short of a major Obama stumble.

Despite this, Hillary has geared up a major effort to reach out to women voters across the spectrum.

Hillary knows she needs Oprah and one report has her offering Ms. Winfrey the VP spot. Some have urged Oprah to seek the Presidency herself. Neither scenario is likely to play out, Oprah is doing quite well with her media empire and she will no doubt have any desire to take a major pay cut to have every detail of her life spilled across the media, more than it already has been.

On the Republican side, Morris doesn't see anyone but former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's campaign going anywhere. Were former Senator and Law and Order star Fred Thompson or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to enter the race, they could make a dent; Morris' view is that Rudy will win anyway. Both nominations could be settled by the February 5th "Super Primary" and in the ensuing wait for the summer political conventions, Morris predicts that current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg could enter the race as an independent.

Rosie Throws Her Weight Around Again

2007-03-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

Rosie O'Donnell - who marks her 45th birthday Wednesday - decided to throw her weight around on Tuesday's episode of The View on ABC.

In a discussion of a film by RFK scion Rory Kennedy, Ghosts of Abu Gharib, the only conservative on the show - Elisabeth Hasselbeck - was about to challenge Kennedy on a key point. Big mouth Rosie jumped in to toss off one of her usual anti-American comments and then shouted Hasslebeck down.

Its bad enough that out of 4 or 5 hosts on the show, only one is not a liberal. Its even worse that an obnoxious slob like O'Donnell is allowed to shout her down.

Transcript

Obama "Commercial" Slams Hillary

2007-03-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

In a confluence of next generation online guerrilla marketing and brilliant political advertising, an alleged supporter of Presidential candidate Barack Obama has put together a mash-up of Apple's infamous "1984" Macintosh Computer commercial that suggests if Hillary Clinton is victorious in her run for President, we indeed will be living in an Orwellian world.

Observant readers will notice that the producer used the 20th anniversary version of the commercial (debuted as part of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' annual presentation at MacWorld). This is noted by the iPod with ear buds the runner is wearing; which obviously didn't exist in 1984.

The Obama campaign denies responsibility for this ad. Considering the power of computers to create digital films and the reach of sites like YouTube to distribute them, I am sure this is not the last such campaign commercial we will see.

Latest John Edwards Spam

2007-03-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Dear fellow John Edwards supporter,

Hey, did you catch John's speech last week calling for transformational change on issues like education and global poverty? What about his announcement that the whole campaign is going carbon neutral? Every week, we have more reasons to be proud that we're part of this campaign. Don't you wish you could just gather all your friends in one place and show them what it's all about? Well, now you can.

Next Wednesday, March 28th is our first National John Edwards House Party Day. This is your big chance to invite your friends, family, and neighbors over to your place to learn more about John Edwards, the progressive vision we share for America, and how they can get involved to make it happen.

Hosting a house party is really easy. Just register your party online, and invite folks in your area. We'll send you everything you need, including a powerful DVD to introduce the campaign. And on the 28th, your party can join John Edwards live on a national conference call to ask questions and hear the latest from the campaign trail.

Sign up to host your party today:

http://johnedwards.com/r/8098/848039/. johnedwards.com/oc/houseparty

Hosting a John Edwards House Party is a hugely important way to help this campaign towards victory and support the kind of democracy this country deserves.

At this stage, most folks in the country are just starting to tune in to the presidential election. They're seeing some clips on the news, and starting to get a feel for the candidates. Most folks are still wide open—and they're hungry for real information.

But in our political culture, scandal and empty sound bites all too often crowd out serious discussion of the issues that really matter. But this election is about the future of our country—we simply cannot afford to let substance take a back seat.

So next Wednesday, one living room at a time, we can start to change the game.

We'll gather with our friends and neighbors to hear about John's stances on the big issues, discuss what matters to each of us and talk to John on the phone. We'll bring in new supporters, infusing energy and resources into the campaign at this crucial time. And together, we'll move America one step closer towards doing democracy right.

Please take a minute to register your John Edwards House Party online right now. We'll send you the DVD, a step-by-step guide, and all the support you need to make your party a smashing success.

http://johnedwards.com/r/8100/848039/. johnedwards.com/oc/houseparty

Thanks for all you do,

Ben Brandzel
John Edwards for President
Monday, March 19th 2007

Anna Nicole Circus Continues

2007-03-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Soon we will know who is the father of Anna Nicole's baby girl.

But some sources are reporting that Anna had a third child, a five year old half-Native American boy named Marshall.

And in the meantime, one of the judges in the Smith custody case was busted for smoking pot in a Hollywood, Florida city park.

John McCain Comes to California for Cash

2007-03-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

Senator John McCain will attend a fund-raiser tomorrow night in Irvine, hosted by billionaires George Argyros, Donald Bren and Jerry Perenchio and developer William Lyon, the Orange County Business Journal reported.

On Tuesday, the Senator will host a $1,000-per-person luncheon at the Beverly Hilton, Daily Variety reported.

McCain comes to the Southland as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- who attended a fund-raiser in Brentwood last week -- is reportedly widening his lead in the polls for the
Republican presidential nomination.

The latest USA Today/Gallup poll found McCain trailing Giuliani by 24 percentage points.

Giuliani was preferred by 44 percent of the Republicans and Republican-leaning independents surveyed between March 2-4, while McCain was preferred by 20 percent.

John Edwards Bitches Again

2007-03-11T21:06:00.001-07:00

Dear Friend,

You may have heard by now that John Edwards was the first candidate to officially say no to the Fox News debate in Nevada—and because of the hard work of so many grassroots and netroots Democrats, news is breaking tonight that Fox is out.

Fox has already started striking back at John for saying no. (There's a surprise—Fox attacking a Democrat.) Last night, Roger Ailes—the life-long Republican operative who is now Chairman of Fox News Channel—said that any candidate "who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake" and "runs a real risk of losing the voters."

And John's not their only target. Tonight Fox News Vice President David Rhodes is telling news organizations not to get involved in the Nevada Democratic Caucus because of "radical fringe" groups—meaning grassroots Democrats (that would be you)—who objected to Fox's long history of spreading Republican propaganda at the expense of Democratic leaders.

The whole right wing is getting in on the attack; the Drudge Report is blaring the headline: "War! Dems Pull Out of Fox News Debate."

Enough is enough. It's time to send a clear message to Fox News and their allies that their right-wing talking points and temper tantrums won't go unchallenged anymore—when it comes to what Democrats should do in the Democratic primary, we'll decide—no matter what they report:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7157/848039/

Fox News has already proven they have no intention of providing "fair and balanced" coverage of any Democrat in this election.

In recent weeks they have run blatant lies about Senator Obama's background. And Fox was only too happy to give Ann Coulter a platform to spew more hate a few days after her bigoted attack on Senator Edwards and the gay community.

Now it's time for Democrats to stand together and send a clear message to Roger Ailes, Fox News and all the rest of them: bias isn't balance, but turning tables is fair:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7159/848039/

The truth is, Fox News can "report" whatever they want. And when it works for us, we'll deal with them on our terms. But this campaign is about responsibility and accountability, and we need to send the message to Fox that if they want to be the corporate mouthpiece of the Republican Party more than they want to be an impartial news outlet, they shouldn't expect Democrats to play along.

You can send that message by contributing today, and remind Fox News that in this election, Democrats won't take their spin lying down:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7161/848039/

Thank you for standing up for what we believe in.

Jonathan Prince
Deputy Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

P.S. -- If the folks at Fox wonder why nobody thinks they play it straight, they should take a look at what Roger Ailes said about debates in 1988 when he was a top Republican spinmaster for then Vice President Bush: He told the Washington Post, "I don't know that we need to do more than one [debate]. There's no reason to think we'd need more than one." And he told the New York Times, "I don't think you learn anything about the issues" from debates. So please send Roger Ailes a message: Hypocrisy isn't fair and it isn't balanced; it's just hypocrisy—and we've had enough of it from you.

Black Panther to run for President

2007-03-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Former Black Panther Party leader Elaine Brown announced this week that she intends to seek the Green Party’s nomination for a presidential bid in 2008. “The 2006 elections signified a mass rejection of Bush’s policies–not a shift to the Democrats. We have arrived at a powerful moment when the majority of the country is seeking a political alternative, toward embracing progressive values and realizing a progressive agenda. I haven’t seen this potential since the 1960s.”

John Edwards Wants Some Attention

2007-03-07T19:57:00.001-08:00

Dear friend,

The growing scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has shocked the conscience of this nation. But the national crisis in military and veterans' health care only begins at Walter Reed.

All across this country, far too many of our national heroes are faced with similar nightmarish treatment: filthy living quarters, impenetrable bureaucracy and substandard care. And Veterans Affairs has a backlog of 400,000 unprocessed benefit claims.

Despite all this, President Bush's most recent budget proposal calls for serious cuts to veterans' health care in the years ahead – just as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are causing skyrocketing demand.

We cannot wait until the next election to address this national disgrace. So today, I've launched an urgent petition to Congress, calling on them to do whatever it takes to guarantee the quality care that every single veteran and service member deserves.

Congress is holding hearings on this issue this week and they're carefully gauging the public reaction. It's absolutely critical that we show Congress massive grassroots support for real, system-wide change – right now. Will you add your name today?

http://johnedwards.com/r/6857/848039

In the normal game of headline-driven politics, the specific scandal at Walter Reed Medical Center would cause a few high-profile resignations, some very public hand-wringing, and then would fade away – leaving the larger problem untouched.

But it doesn't have to be that way. This week, as Congress holds hearings, we can show them that thousands of their constituents—military and civilian alike—demand nothing less than quality care for every single soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and veteran in this country. They must understand that this scandal will not be over—this crisis will not be resolved—until we have achieved exactly that.

We ask so much of the men and women we send into harm's way. Every single one has volunteered to leave behind family and friends, put their lives at risk, and do whatever it takes to get the job done – all because their country said, "we need you."

It's time to tell our injured soldiers and our veterans that America still needs them. We need them to be healthy enough to care for their families. We need them to be active enough to share their courage and wisdom with future generations. And most of all, we need them to know that we honor their sacrifice – and we will not let them down.

Please add your name today: http://johnedwards.com/r/6859/848039

Sincerely,

John Edwards

How You Can Take Action

John Edwards Campaign Writes To Tell Us He Was Bitch Slapped by Sexy Ann Coulter

2007-03-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

Sent to us by the Edwards Campaign:

Dear Friend,

Did you hear about Anne Coulter's speech this afternoon attacking John? A friend just forwarded me the video and it's one of the worst moments in American politics I've seen.

I can't bring myself to even repeat her comments. Her shameless display of bigotry is so outrageous you actually have to see for yourself to believe it.

This is just a taste of the filth that the right-wing machine is gearing up to throw at us. And now that it's begun, we have a choice: Do we sit back, or do we fight back?

I say we fight. Help us raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" this week to show every would-be Republican mouthpiece that their bigoted attacks will not intimidate this campaign. I just threw in 100 bucks. Will you join me? Just click here.

Coulter's attack was no accident. It happened on national television at one of the year's biggest conservative conferences. Dick Cheney and most of the Republican candidates were in the audience. She was even introduced by Mitt Romney.

John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power. Since they have nothing real to use against him, Coulter's resorting to the classic right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion. And the Republican attack dogs will keep playing this despicable trick as long as they think it works.

But this time, you and I can change the game.

If we can raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" this week, we can show that bigotry will only backfire on those who use it. John is not the first progressive leader to face this kind of slime, but together, we can make sure he is one of the last.

Tonight, I've put in 100 bucks of "Coulter Cash" to get us started. Can you match me, or chip in whatever you can afford? Just click here:

http://johnedwards.com/r/6665/848039

Thanks,

David Bonior
Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

5 years later... WE REMEMBER

2006-09-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that fateful Tuesday morning 5 years ago?

Today I am asking that we put down our keyboards for a moment and reflect. Remember the nearly 3,000 people killed that morning and those left behind to carry on.

Remember how, for one brief moment in our history, there was no black, no white, no Mexican… just Americans united.

So use this thread to reflect upon where you were when the world stopped turning. What did you think? How did you feel? How have the events of 9/11 changed your life or those around you? What have we learned? But most of all, just take the time to REMEMBER.

Here is a listing of memorial events:

A remembrance ceremony for the 343 New York City firefighters killed in the collapse of the Twin Towers will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Los Angeles Fire Department's Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park, 1700 Stadium Way.

The Hollywood/Los Angeles Beautification Team and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will honor Los Angeles police and firefighters and other first responders, 1 p.m. Monday at The Grove reflecting pond, Third Street and Fairfax Ave., Hollywood.

A 1.8-mile Freedom Walk will begin at 5 p.m. Monday at the Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley,

"At Dusk ... New Dawn," will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Monday at the city's 9-11 memorial at North Hollywood Park, 5301 Tujunga Ave.

A candle-lighting ceremony and memorial will be held at 6:45 p.m. Monday at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd. A screening of Oliver Stone's movie, "World Trade Center," will follow. The screening is free, but reservations are required. Call (310) 772-2529.

Pedophiles and Illegal Aliens

2006-06-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

Unable to keep children - legal, illegal, black, brown white and everything else - safe from pedophile priests, the Los Angeles and Orange County Roman Catholic dioceses are at it again. This time they're giving in to political children, at the expense of the well being of their own children.

In order to root out pedophiles from those volunteers who work with children, the dioceses planned to do background checks. But the problem is, even with a Matricular Consular card, its not easy to vet the records of illegal aliens. And most of them are quite undestandily squeamish about things like being fingerprinted, showing ID, etc. So rather that upset and lose their services (apparently to the do the things American Catholics won't do), the church is quietly scrapping the background check plan.

Its absolutely shameful the church is doing this. Its not just the Catholics who have faced issues of child abuse in the church, but these two local dioceses are the ones in the news right now having made this horrible decision. Organizations like churches, mosques, synagogues, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Club, etc. that have children working near adults should do their due diligence. Those who prey on children are drawn to these opportunities to be near potential victims. Why open the door any more than necessary?

Three Strikes Law Exempts Illegal Criminals

2006-06-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

In a seven-minute news video blog the Full Disclosure Network™ presents L. A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley, Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Sheriff Leroy Baca describing how criminal aliens are NOT prosecuted under California’s Three Strikes Law. This shocking and revealing video can be viewed at the URL: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/flash/VideoBlogs/VideoBlog22.php

When criminal aliens have been convicted of a crime in California, they serve their time in prison and then are deported out of the country. But according to law enforcement and elected officials, many if not most, of them come back to California six to ten times, each time they return, they are committing a felony, but are not prosecuted under the Three Strikes Law or by the Federal Government.

D A Steve Cooley told Full Disclosure Network™ host Leslie Dutton, “Our Three Strikes Law does not take into consideration a person’s (illegal) status.” Sheriff Baca tells Dutton in the video blog that the Three Strikes Law applies to serious felonies such as assault, murder, or robbery.

When asked why criminal aliens were not subject to the Three Strikes Law, Supervisor Michael Antonovich described the process as “it’s kind of like ‘Kings X sometimes’.

In this video news blog Sheriff Baca states that there are 40,000 illegal criminals in California State prisons right now and that criminal aliens occupy 23 percent of all the L. A. County jails. Without mentioning the failure to prosecute the repeated felonies by these criminal aliens, he went on to say the federal government should be paying for cost and care of these criminals in our jails. Baca also said it is costing California $170 million per year to house the criminal aliens and the Federal government is only re-imbursing $13 to $14 million per year.

Over the past thirteen years Full Disclosure™ programs have been billed as “the news behind the news” and are featured on 43 cable systems and the Internet at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/. The programs have explored police policies, politics, corruption and reform, interviewing all the LAPD Chiefs from Ed Davis to William Bratton as well as the Southern California County Sheriffs and most U.S. Attorneys General and Special Prosecutors involved in Presidential investigations. Cable channels are listed by community and air times on the website.

What were al-Zarqawi’s final words?

2006-06-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Solis

Mayor Sam admonished me to stick to local political commentary, but after watching General Caldwell’s press conference, where it was revealed that the 39-year-old terrorist did not die immediately after being hit on the head by two 500-pound bombs, I’ve just have to know – what were his final words?

It doesn’t look like any of our medics were in a hurry to get him to a hospital, so that he might survive, and eventually go on trial after Sadaam. But I’m looking for a possible medical malpractice lawsuit here. The ICLU (Iraq Civil Liberties Union) is also considering possible legal action against Task Force 145, for acting as judge and jury, not to mention jurisdictional issues.

Finally, did the administration seek an environmental impact report before dropping bombs on Abu Musab’s safe house? Rumor has it that it was his real estate agent that turned him in. Obviously, the guy wasn’t a Realtor.

So, please check your copious sources, and if you can find out what were his final words before assuming room temperature, please post it here. Thanks.

Relief for Gas

2006-04-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

With gas prices skyrocketing, legislators are proposing two steps to bring some relief to motorists. The Sister City is supporting both and urging you to write to member of Congress asking that both proposals be implemented. We also urge other bloggers to pick up this meme of "gas tax relief."

Senate Republicans propose a $100 tax rebate for taxpayers. Not only would this cover the increase in gas prices for drivers for some time, pumping the money back into the economy could do some good. We saw this with the 2001 tax rebat e.

Democrats are proposing a temporary suspension in the 18 cents a gallon Federal gas tax. This would temporarily reduce money available for highway construction, but consumer spending could actually increase tax revenues by a greater amount.

These two measures won't necessarily lower gas prices but could provide some relief to taxpayers and a boost to the economy.

Below are links to the email addresses of California's Congressional Delegation.