50 State Strategy

Or at least a 14 state strategy. I'm happy about this. It seems to me that a solid Democratic Congress will mitigate against the lousy Bush Dogs that Raum Emmanuel recruited. A good Congress will allow those members, Feingold, Obey, Wexler, Harkin, Sanders, etc., who are true progressives/liberals to be a much more active group & we will get better laws & policies. Being President is probably cool, but if I think back on the Presidents in my lifetime I find it hard to come up with positives accomplishments that are big time (not a reference to the Dick "Dick" Cheney). Probably LBJ's Civil Rights agenda would be the one that I recall off the top of my balding head. The last 40 years have seen a steady decline in our democracy, our civil liberties, our standing as a positive ethical force in the world, much less our treatment of our own citizens. So, while I will not donate to Sen. Obama's election because of his stupid views on FISA, I applaud his campaign for the forward looking approach to the down ticket candidates.

In an unusual move, Obama’s campaign will also devote some resources to states it’s unlikely to win, with the goal of influencing specific local contests in places like Texas and Wyoming.

My Friend Al

Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot organization voted to give Al Franken their newest $5,000 donation. Since Al is a friend of mine, sorry, but you will need to come to my house to see the photo, since the lame coffee shop I just about live in decided to take down the pic. Screw them. Anyway, go to my friend Al's website to donate more money or to get involved. Thanks to all of my loyal four readers, in advance I might say, for doing your part to elect Progressive Patriots.

TX

Via.

The new Rasmussen poll shows Barack Obama taking a four-point lead in the Texas primary. Here are the numbers, compared to the previous poll from Sunday:

Obama 48% (+3)
Clinton 44% (-2)

Too bad somebody didn't label Bill Clinton the first Latino president.

Change Is In The Air

Woke up this a.m. & it was 2 degrees F. above zero, but it felt springlike, like the sap could start running in the maples. Other stuff seems all springy & new, stuff like this.

Today was the special election for House District 32 on Florida’s East Coast. The district was vacated when former Rep. Bob Allen resigned after being convicted of soliciting sex.

The seat was fairly safe - held by a Republican for some time. Bob Allen and before him Republican Randy Ball.

But tonight, at least from what I can see on the Florida Department of State website, the seat was won by a Democrat.

Sex is a wonderful thing, but not if you solicit it from an undercover policeman. & then there is this, another Dem win in a ReThug district. &, my friend Al received another endorsement. You go, Al.

Things do seem to be moving somewhat in a good direction.

Obama Wins Wisconsin

For better or worse, looks like we helped Obama today.

Wisconsin -

Obama 58%
Clinton 41

85% reporting

Actually, quite a convincing win.

I Promise

Not to sing, too loudly, at least. The best thing that could happen to the Democratic Party is for someone not named Clinton be nominated. This analysis looks about right. What really galls me is Bill Clinton telling the Obama supporters to stop being enthusiastic. That takes the cake. Since McGovern, I have had zero enthusiasm for any Democratic presidential candidate. For Bill Clinton to give that b.s. legs is, to me, very telling about his wife's campaign. I'm with BooMan, I could imagine Hilary Clinton being a good president, but I would rather have someone else. & I may still need to bring Gus Hall back from the dead.

More Good News

Another Bu$hCo-dog Democrat goes down. & goes down hard.

Edwards 59,462 60%
Wynn * 35,590 36%
Other 4,357 4%

*Incumbent

Just Excellent News

Shaheen(D) - 54% | Sununu(ReThug) - 37%

Sununu is the incumbent. Heh.

Obey To Vote For Obama

During Wisco's primary I'm putting Edwards name down, but this move by Obey signals where I'll put my vote in November, providing Clinton doesn't get the Democratic nomination. Don't misconstrue that last statement to mean I will not vote for the Democratic nominee.

And Obey has made that choice.

"For eight long years, in extreme partisanship, George W. Bush has governed this country by dividing it," the senior Democrat from Wisconsin explained in an email sent to this reporter after we spoke about the race Thursday. "(Bush) has pursued disastrous foreign and domestic policies and has stubbornly refused to listen to anyone's views except those who march in lockstep with him. America desperately needs a new president who can reach across old barriers to form new alliances that can produce a new era of optimism and a healthier respect for the needs of others. I had originally supported John Edwards for President, but with his withdrawal I am voting for Barack Obama."

My Friend Al

Looks like The Kid's bumper sticker is having the desired effect. Al Franken, that would be my friend Al, leads Norm Coleman, R-Asshat, by about 3 points. Franken also leads all the other Dems in the MN race. In fact, Franken is the only Dem to be ahead of the Asshat. I'm glad. Go give Mr. Franken some love.

OK, Sure

Notice the enthusiasm here. I feel the same way, although I'm writing in Edward's name as previously disclosed. I'm afraid that this sort of enthusiasm doesn't bode well for this November. I've been wrong before.

Who Cares?

No one. What a joke grandpa daddy is.

Mitt, The Man With The Special Underwear

Will get a wedgie in Michigan. I sure hope so. Here a bit of the piece:

On the campaign trail, Romney has presented himself alternately as a Christian Coalition ideologue and as a pragmatic, can-do corporate fixer-upper in the mold of Chrysler savior Lee Iacocca. He pledges to do for America what he did for corporations when he ran Bain Capital's private equity business. But these days, private equity is a dirty word for many Michigan voters—even the Republican members of the managerial class. Private equity doesn't signify profits and fortunes. It signifies Cerberus, the new owner of Chrysler, which is presiding over huge job cuts. That's probably why Mike Huckabee's decided to turn his dig at Romney—"most Americans want their next president to remind them of the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off"—into a television advertisement.

Via Talking Points Memo.

My Friend Russ, My Friend Al

This is great. Via Crooks & Liars. & he's one of my senators, although he made my daughter almost cry one night while she was trying to raise money for the Democratic Party of Wisco. Remember, he did a bad thing during Clinton's faux impeachment. On the other hand, as John Nichols said to me at a bar in Ashland, Wisco, "When the election comes, comrade, you'll do the right thing." As with almost all progressive, liberal folks, he was correct. & now The Kid lives in Minnesota & sports my friend Al Franken's bumper sticker. He's running for Senate against that asshat Norm Coleman. & I'm one out-of-stater who is going to try & influence Minnesota's Senatorial primary, Mr. Norwegianity. Like a lot of people, bud, we're probably more Minnesotan than you are, but I like you nonetheless.

BTW, here's the original.

The Gay In The Airport Terminal Bathroom

I'm with Atrios in that why don't these closeted gay ReThugs just come the hell out of the closet? Why conform to the worst of the stereotypes that the right wing throws at gay & lesbian citizens? When people in power aren't comfortable in their skins, the whole country suffers. When will this guy grow up & just be an admitted self-hating gay man?

Craig said in a statement issued by his office that he was not involved in any inappropriate conduct.

"At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions," he said. "I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."

& if you believe that bullshit, well, I have lots of stuff to sell.

UPDATE:
Poor Larry, it appears the Mormon has abandoned him. I thought the sacred underwear meant never having to say you're not good enough to endorse me. Go figure.

Sound Familiar

Looks like Canada has been infected with the ReThug disease. Too bad, it's generally a great country.

Harper's response set off a series of Liberal dissections of the prime minister's character.

Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale said Harper has proved time and again that he is "mean and petty," willing to stoop to ``concocted slander."

"For the prime minister, quick, partisan advantage trumps everything else, every time, no matter the cost, no matter the collateral damage, no matter the innocent victims, no matter the truth."

Liberal MP Ken Dryden said Harper plays ruthless, hardball politics on every issue, "no matter what or who gets run over along the way."

He accused the prime minister of having "no internal compass" to tell him when he's gone too far.

For those who are wondering, yes, it is this Ken Dryden. Time for me to get the puck out of here. Who says athletes are all backward thinkers?

Good

Yay, Chicks.

The Passion of the Chuck

From Jesus' General, whom I love, in a completely, 110% heterosexual way, of course. I even stole the title to this post. So sue, me, or cover me with rose petals.

Feingold

Via Raw Story.

In a passionate thirty minute call, Feingold stressed, "This is an important moment to see if we're gonna try and end this war. Frankly, I'm disappointed that Democrats are playing it safe on this one."

"We need to play hardball on this. We're gonna have to take the lead on this issue and we're gonna need to tie this place up as long as it takes," he said in describing what he sees as a fear and timidity in his colleagues who now hold a slight majority in the Senate...

"The problem is a whole lot of middle-of-the-road Democrats who refuse to pull the trigger, who refuse to do what needs to be done," Feingold stressed. "Even people who voted against the war" seem afraid, he explained. "It requires courage. It requires brinksmanship."

As we previously reported last Spring, after a bloggers' lunch with Feingold in Los Angeles, the progressive third-term Senator continues to place a great deal of blame for the failure to act among his colleagues on the "Washington insiders, particularly from the previous administration...who say if you're going to take a tough stand, they're going to tear you apart."

He said the advice of the "media consultants" and "power structure in Washington" has led fellow Democrats to believe they'll be criticized if they withhold funding for a war they previously supported. Those same insiders, he explained, previously supported the war and are now scared to death about what would happen if their clients --- many of whom who have now admitted their initial support for the war was a mistake --- now took a tough stand to undue that mistake.

"They want their cake and to eat it too since they voted for the war. They're trying to have it both ways. That has to end because Americans are dying unnecessarily. Too many of my colleagues are trying to massage this and have it both ways. That has to end."

Feingold was also critical of John Edwards who, he says, has been "masquerading" as a critic of the war, but whose proposal so far only calls for refusing to fund the proposed Bush troop escalation in Iraq. Even he, Feingold said, fails in his rhetoric to call for withdraw and a full defunding of the current debacle.

My emphasis.

Peace 2

Newsweek has this sad story. Via Crooks & Liars.

Cpl. Victor Langarica did not share (his fellow troops') optimism about the mission in Iraq. From the moment he received his deployment orders last April, he seemed convinced that he would not leave the war zone alive. Worse, he believed that he was going to die for no good reason. A twice-divorced single father of a young son and daughter, he had joined the Army hoping to gain the skills that would lead to higher pay than he made at Home Depot. His mother and ex-wives looked after the kids while he was overseas. He was proud of the nine months he served in combat in Afghanistan after 9/11, but the experience left the lighthearted 29-year-old sullen and fearful. Once he was surprised by an Afghan soldier who put a gun to his head. Just as the soldier was about to fire, a fellow American shot the Afghan dead. He never found out who had saved his life, but thought of him as an angel.

Unlike most of the others who died in the crash, Langarica was regular Army. But when he got his deployment papers to Iraq, he didn't want to go. The invasion made no sense to him. " 'I don't understand why Bush is doing this to us'," his mother, Pearl Lucas, recalled his saying. " 'If I die, I won't know why I died, if it was for oil or for revenge'."

My emphasis.