The good Doc is number one.  If only he were running this time around.

Dear rich^kolker,

The final DFA Presidential Pulse Poll ends tonight at midnight Eastern Standard Time. That means you only have a few hours left to vote and make sure your voice is heard.

Today is a big day. With over 130,000 votes cast, the poll is already the largest presidential poll of progressive activists this year. Yet this isn't even close to over. Traditionally, tens of thousands of votes come in on the last day.

That means the winner is still very much up for grabs. Cast your vote right now:

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PulsePoll

Barack Obama has moved from second to fourth and currently back to third. Can Obama finally hit the top spot and repeat his previous DFA Pulse Poll victory from April 2007? You decide.

As of this morning, Dennis Kucinich has over 40,000 votes and a striking lead in first place -- proving that the Kucinich get out the vote campaign is delivering results. Will he win? You decide.

Early in the poll, DFA members wrote in Al Gore and propelled him to first place for almost a week. Will the unannounced candidate manage to take back the lead? You decide.

John Edwards held the top spot on day one of voting and held it throughout the first week. Can Edwards return to the top for an incredible finish? You decide.

Today is your last chance to vote:

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PulsePoll

This is not an ordinary poll. Several candidates have sent you "vote for me" messages and videos on the issues they believe you care about.

The count is based on one vote per email. So if one of the candidate's messages swayed you, you can change your vote today and it will override your previous choice.

After you vote, get your friends, family and co-workers to support your candidate. Think of this as Election Day. You have the power to choose the winner. It's up to you to make it happen.

Thank you for everything you do,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain
Political Director

You Decide!  Isn't that the slogan of a "News" network not exactly known for their progressive views? 

One thing's right.  This is not an ordinary poll.  An ordinary poll meets some scientific statistical standards for selecting who gets to vote.  Of it's a poll of known members of a group, like a union or PAC.

This is like one of those things Fox or CNN put on their web page as "Question of the Day" -- Do you think Britney should keep her kids?  Self selected and meaningless.  More than that,  its meaningless has been promoted by encouraging the candidates' campaigns to get their people to stuff the ballot box.  No paper trail here!

Yet DFA says they'll base their endorsement on this.  Or at least send out email messages over the DFA name in each state based on this.  This is embarassing. 

It looks like Bergen did more to get an accurate measure of its membership and set standards for its endorsement than DFA.

Naomi Wolf Talk: The End of America October 11, 2007, University of Washington, Seattle

ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC BLANK CHECK FOR BUSH

DISGUSTING!

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Blank_check_seen_headed_Bushs_way_1105.html

Democratic leaders in Congress are quietly preparing to give President Bush essentially everything he wants to keep the Iraq war going for at least another six months without forcing any change in course.

Swept into power on the votes of war-weary Americans last year, Congressional Democrats have so far failed in all their attempts to curtail Bush's war efforts. As they consider the president's latest request for $200 billion in supplementary war funding party leaders have pledged not to hand over another "blank check."

But, as Roll Call reports, a "blank check" is exactly what appears headed for the Pentagon.

"Democratic leaders continue to fear GOP attacks that cutting off or slowing funds would hurt the troops, despite anger among the Democratic base over the party’s failure to use Congress’ power of the purse to end the war," reports the Capitol Hill newspaper's Steven T. Dennis.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) have said they won't consider a supplemental funding bill that doesn't include timelines for troop withdrawals. But, Dennis reports, "Democrats are quietly preparing to give the president enough spending flexibility to keep the war going anyway," for as long as six more months.

As adamant as they say they are about tying war funding to deescalation timetables, Democratic leaders appear even more firmly against an overall cut-off of war funds, which critics say may be their only recourse to actually effect a draw-down of troops from Iraq.

"Sure we have the power on anything to stop the money ... but the thing we have to do is make sure we do it the right way," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on a liberal radio show last month. "It's not a question of all or nothing; it's a question of making sure we do the right thing."

Democrats acknowledge frustration among voters, especially the party's liberal base that has long been calling for an end to America's adventure in Iraq. Pelosi acknowledged the frustration and said she too was frustrated at the lack of progress toward ending the war.

"As long as leadership is not willing to challenge the way the president is hiding behind the troops," the aide said, "they're going to continue to get rolled."

SNIVELLERS IN CHIEF

Morning bloggie;

Who are you going to believe, Bush or Musharraf?

CNN internat'l reporting that US give millions to Pakistan to fight terrorism.  In Argentina, I saw a BBC report with Musharraf during which he said that the promised money from the U.S. never has come in.

Which dictator should we believe?

Blog clock is again messed up....along with Pelousy and Read-em-and-weep.

I would suggest that the pulse poll is as messed up as this blog.

Huron John
Mon, 11/05/07
12:40 pm

This is yet another reason we need a true Progressive party in this country. Our efforts at a progressive nation are being diverted by this insane attempt to reform the Democratic party.

Aren't YOU tired of this yet? DFA is well-meaning but they are not acknowledging how much we enable the DC Dems to take progressives for granted. After all, we are told THEY ARE THE LEADERS, and we're JUST MERE ADVOCATES.

No, Nancy and Harry. We are the people.

Cautions from Harold Ford about talking about the Iraq War past. 

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1614

seashell :-)
Mon, 11/05/07
12:34 pm

Hi, Sea. LOL! Yes, the blog time stamp and the "pulse poll" are both the result of net oddities!

"Sure we have the power on anything to stop the money ... but the thing we have to do is make sure we do it the right way," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on a liberal radio show last month. "It's not a question of all or nothing; it's a question of making sure we do the right thing."

So they keep doing the same thing -- which is the wrong thing?  That's DCDem pretzel logic for ya.

Democrats acknowledge frustration among voters, especially the party's liberal base that has long been calling for an end to America's adventure in Iraq.

If they don't like people's impatience with their failures, they shouldn't  have made promises they can't -- or won't -- keep.

I really gave the Dem party a chance. To stand up to Bush and finally end this war. To not play politics with soldiers' lives. And for Howard Dean to reform the party in a way that includes progressives rather than taking us for granted.

But enough is enough. The Dems are going to give Bush a blank check on Iraq and then TELL us they are standing up to them. We fell for it twice. No more.

Time for Dems to show they appreciate progressives and the base of the party or we should form our own. Let the Dems cater to the center-right. We will build a progressive majority.

This is yet another reason we need a true Progressive party in this country. Our efforts at a progressive nation are being diverted by this insane attempt to reform the Democratic party.

I'm curious why you post on a blog whose very purpose that is? 

Encourage the presidential candidates to sign the American Freedom Pledge!

How important do you think it is for our next president to take a pledge committing to defend the Constitution if he or she is elected to our nation's highest office? We think it is extremely important. That is why we have asked the presidential candidates to do exactly that.

On August 15, we mailed and faxed a letter to all of the major presidential candidates, asking them to sign the simple and straightforward American Freedom Pledge (which you can see at http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org ). This short pledge concludes with, "I pledge to fight to protect and defend the Constitution from assault by any President."

As of October 4, only eight candidates -- all Democrats -- had either signed the American Freedom Pledge or had provided the American Freedom Campaign with a statement expressing strong support for defending the Constitution.

If you agree that every candidate should sign this pledge, please fill in the information HERE: ( http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/216... )and send a quick e-mail to all of the campaigns.

----

About American Freedom Campaign (AFC)

The Constitution protects American Freedom. With checks and balances, and basic legal rights, it has prevented tyranny and safeguarded our liberty. Yet today, under the pretense of the "war on terror," the White House is dismantling the Constitution, concentrating power in the President and undermining the rule of law. THIS IS UN-AMERICAN. The American Freedom Campaign is dedicated to confronting and correcting these abuses of our America.

The mission of the American Freedom Campaign (AFC) is threefold. Our initial goal is to educate American citizens about the current Constitutional crisis in this country, about their individual rights, and about our Founders’ vision. As we educate, our secondary goal is to motivate and inspire individuals in order to build a grassroots citizens’ democracy movement. Finally, with the strength of this grassroots movement at our side, the American Freedom Campaign – through its advocacy arm, the American Freedom Campaign Action Fund – will push for the enactment of statutes that would end the infringement of fundamental rights by the executive and restore the Constitution’s hallowed system of checks and balances.


The American Freedom Campaign Agenda will work to restore the roles of Congress and the federal judiciary to protect against injustice and prevent abuses of executive power.


Americans’ support for restoring checks and balances and protections against the abuse of power transcends partisanship. In advancing the American Freedom Campaign Agenda, we are neither Conservative nor Liberal; neither Republican nor Democrat. We are above all Americans who cherish the Constitution. Thus, we call on Americans across the political spectrum to join us. The enactment of the American Freedom Campaign Agenda would mark one of America’s finest Constitutional hours and restore the core rights of our citizens while making the nation safer.


The American Freedom Allies & Supporters

The American Freedom Campaign is being conducted in partnership with…

ACLU of Southern California
Amnesty International USA
Brennan Center for Justice
Campaign to Defend the Constitution
Center for Constitutional Rights
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Human Rights Watch
MoveOn.org
True Majority

(The American Freedom Campaign does not necessarily speak on behalf of its organizational members.)

We applaud the work of other prominent civil liberties and human rights organizations:

American Civil Liberties Union
Human Rights First
People For the American Way

Cautions from Harold Ford about talking about the Iraq War past.

The chief caution being....HALF OF THE DCDEMS VOTED FOR IT. 

Let the Dems cater to the center-right.

As Edwards did as a DCDem. 

Someone's having fun talking to himself!

Someone's having fun talking to himself!

We're never alone here. And since you're here, how about explaining why you post on a blog that is devoted to reforming the Dem Party when you think it's an insane thing to do?

One definiton of insanity: doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results!

One definiton of insanity: doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results!

We've all heard that one. I'd like to hear your explanation. If you don't want to answer that's fine and understandable. 

Will it be a Repub or Dem who will try to kill the IMPEACHMENT res. tomorrow by bringing up a motion to table? I bet "leader" BushDem Pelosi won't be able to resist sashaying up to the mic and saving the country from the people.

This is the time to make the big effort to let the Critters know how loud our voice is.!!!!

VOTE YES FOR IMPEACHMENT and NO for tabling.

This is the time to make the big effort to let the Critters know how loud our voice is.!!!!

Does shouting louder at the deaf enable them to hear? 

The Democrats With the American People Have Bush – On the Run!

The Ballyhooo and World War III! threats  = are the cover.  And so is every propaganda piece trying to blame the Democrats for this historic mess!  Yes there is something wrong with his brain.....and with anyone else's that push's his propoganda and let's MORE disasters happen.

Democrats: What about your SURGE Mr. President!?  MORE Americans are dying.  Enough!

So – Bush and his Corporate Generals pulled our  guys out of the street fighting and just had them call in ‘air strikes’ – which just bombed whole buildings – civilians and all.  He STOPPED THE SURGE. And the airstrikes are way down now, because the Iraqi’s won’t tolerate them.

So - Bush has turned over  Western Iraq to the Sunni’s – who fight Al Quaeda better than we do.....turned over Southern Iraq to the Shi’ites – who are fighting among themselves....turned over Northern Iraq to the Kurds – and we have a few problems up there now.  I'd say - he's REDEPLOYED OUR TROOPS.  THANK you.

And the OIL? – the Iraqi’s have control of it now.  OUCH – sorry Mr. Bush.

Democrats:  What about these mercenaries?!  Blackwater – OUT.

Democrats:  What about the lost and wasted (fraud) money to Iraq?

DEMOCRATS ARE INVESTIGATING!   Boy, does Boy Bush hate that.  Mentioned it during his speech.

WE WILL FUND OUR TROOPS UNTIL THEY’RE SAFE!   Bush never had them protected = bad planning, bad Generals, bad armor, humvees, ‘walking through Baghdad’.  WE are the patriots who care about them. We'll make sure they have enough bullets and armor to cover their backs on their way OUT of Iraq.

It will take at least 18 months to pull our troops out of Iraq.  It will take another 18 months to get the Mercenaries out of Iraq!  In April – we will be short of troops.  Everyone knows it.  

Afghanistan is lost:  NATO is pulling troops out of Afghanistan and that’s  going down now.  

Pakistan  - is in CHAOS. And unlike Iran - they DO have nukes up for grabs. 

Turkey  - is threatening the Iraqi Kurds.

And Al Quaeda? --- running free in Afghanistan, Pakistan and 60 other countries.

BUSH has created INSTABILITY in the East!   The man - with the poison touch.  He has destroyed Iraq,  ruined our Military, put our economy in grave jeopardy and still trying to hold power by THREATENING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE with another WAR!   Bombing Iran?...with the same intelligence he used to bomb Iraq.   Can you say - TRAGEDY?  Not just for Iran, but for the whole world.

The Worst President in the history of the United States and most likely – the history of the world!   Maybe one day we can forgive those trying to cover his tracks and blame others.  Maybe - but I doubt it!

The Democrats With the American People Have Bush – On the Run!

Democratic leaders in Congress are quietly preparing to give President Bush essentially everything he wants to keep the Iraq war going for at least another six months without forcing any change in course.

Hmmmmm... Who should I believe? Experience points to the latter. 

3849

DEMOCRATS ARE INVESTIGATING!

Leahey said he would hold up the Mukasey nomination until Bush came clean on Gonzogate. Mukasey will be recommended by his committee and confirmed by the Senate this week.

Democrats:  What about the lost and wasted (fraud) money to Iraq?

DCDems are about to sign on to another Iraq mortgage -- no questions -- no accountability. 

Democrats: GET OUT OF IRAQ! –

They can't even muster enough of their own votes to pass the Feingold Resolution which calls for just that. 

Democrats: What about your SURGE Mr. President!?  MORE Americans are dying.  Enough!

Democrats funded it. 

All he has left - is his 'mouth'.

It turns out that's all Pelosi and Reid ever had. 

I "converse" with people who genuinely want to discuss issues, not set people up with one-liners and put-downs. So no answer from me to the one who is talking to himself.

So no answer from me to the one who is talking to himself. 

The perfect political non-answer. But then, I didn't expect a real one when I asked since you obviously can't come up with a positive explanation for why you post on a reform blog when you've stated it's insane to even try.

Interesting how the Gravel vote apparently was a major "fluff-up".

I own over 100 web addresses and could have "fluffed up" Kucinich's total a little - but chose not to.

I ask people who seem bent on demeaning any of the individual candidates - or complaining that Al Gore "shouldn't be here" - not to demean the end result. I don't expect that Kucinich supporters would behave like that if the vote had gone against him.

I believe that Dennis Kucinich best reflects DFA's core values - and won't get into any petty arguments with anyone who disagrees. Hey, you had your  chance to vote too.

And, etc. etc.

DEMOCRATS ARE INVESTIGATING!

Leahey said he would hold up the Mukasey nomination until Bush came clean on Gonzogate. Mukasey will be recommended by his committee and confirmed by the Senate this week.

Democrats:  What about the lost and wasted (fraud) money to Iraq?

DCDems are about to sign on to another Iraq mortgage -- no questions -- no accountability. 

Democrats: GET OUT OF IRAQ! –

They can't even muster enough of their own votes to pass the Feingold Resolution which calls for just that. 

Democrats: What about your SURGE Mr. President!?  MORE Americans are dying.  Enough!

Democrats funded it. 

All he has left - is his 'mouth'.

It turns out that's all Pelosi and Reid ever had. 

*****************************************************************

Worth repeating - and although Sitka can be overly acerbic at times - he is 100% accurate on this.

Dear Linda,

The Alliance for Climate Protection challenged people from around the world to make provocative ecospots -- short video messages that inspire people to get involved in solving the climate crisis. Hundreds upon hundreds of ecospots were submitted. George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Orlando Bloom, Rihanna and the rest of the judges picked the semifinalists based on which were the most inspiring and relevant to climate change.

Now you get to tell us which of the semifinalists' entries inspired you the most by picking the winners of the “:60 Seconds to Save the Earth” Ecospot Contest. Vote now at:

http://current.com/ecospot

The top four ecospots as chosen by you, the community, will be featured in the Alliance's national campaign, broadcast internationally on Current TV and showcased on MySpace's Impact Channel. Choose carefully because this ad is crucial to the Alliance's effort to change the way people think about global warming.

The grand prize winner gets a Toyota Highlander hybrid (if the winner is a US resident) or a Toyota Prius (if the winner is a UK resident). Three finalists receive prizes from Sony, and 19 runners-up get T-Mobile Sidekicks.

Vote now to tell us which ecospot is the most inspiring and relevant to addressing global warming.

http://current.com/ecospot

Voting ends at 12:01 pm PST / 3:01 pm EST on Friday, November 9th. So get the word out and encourage others to vote. After all, you can change how people think about the climate crisis by spreading the word.

Thank you,

Al Gore

I ask people ......not to demean the end result.

It's just a poll, after all.

(You should have left off the ad for DK, though.) 

David A.,

As you know, I've been criticizing "polls" like this since BFA used to freep the ones on other sites in support of Governor Dean.  At least CNN and its ilk stand up and admit these self selected surveys are not scientific or statistically valid.  They certainly don't make endorsements based on such a farce.

I'd feel the same way no matter who's leading. 

Enuf is Enuf.  If Gore doesn't jump in soon,  I'm all for joining with the greens and forming a true opposition party, even if we lose.

Will there be much difference between Hillary and Rudi.  Prolly some, but we can't go on like this, powerless.  We need to revolt at the polls and agree on one candidate to support - that's the tricky part, but I will go along with the majority. I think we should choose one of the running candidates, not someone like Nader or an unknown green person.  We could have some sort of online poll and see who wins and that will be the man we all agree to support.

I nominate Dodd. 

It's just a poll, after all.

 No, it's a self-selected vote.  Polls have standards of sampling with a goal of reaching a reasonable truth within a margin of error.

DFA could have held a poll of its membership.  They did this instead. 

although Sitka can be overly acerbic

It's just to balance the syrupy pom-pom posts of some.

 No, it's a self-selected vote.

Whatever. I've stopped caring except for amusement.

If Gore doesn't jump in soon

Thursday. 

Al Gore has been correct about the issues long before the other candidates try to play catch up. From Social Security and the tax cut causing Deficit and the need for Universal Health Care. From being the first person to speak out against the Invasion in to Iraq to being one of the first to speak out on the trampling of our rights with the overreaching powers.

Al Gore is asking to rebuild our democracy and for citizenry activism to bring about the change we need to make.

Join the Draft Al Gore movement to take our country back and solve the many crisis we face.

Start by WRITING IN AL GORE in the DFA Pulse Poll
Click on Other and Write In Al Gore
http://democracyforamerica.com/pulsepoll...

Then sign the petition at DraftGore.com
http://draftgore.com/

Take the next step by joining the ground efforts at:
http://www.algore.org/

Time for
a COOL
Change,
Gore
2008

Health Care
Iraq War

rich^kolker
Mon, 11/05/07
1:47 pm

DFA ought to abandon the notion that this is a vote by members on endorsement. Most are not members and endorsements should not be made based upon a competitive come vote for your candidate kind of appeal.

Getting Presidential candidates to respond with videos and letters was a coup by DFA. Now that they have taken the time, DFA is blowing it by maintaining this is a vote for endorsement.

WE DEMAND a real vote for endorsement by MEMBERS OF DFA. Just call this an unscientific Internet poll and avoid the potential blowup this will create.

I think we should choose one of the running candidates, not someone like Nader or an unknown green person.  We could have some sort of online poll and see who wins and that will be the man we all agree to support.

I'm not sure the Greens will appreciate us showing up at their door and telling them we don't want one of them to represent their party. 

I nominate Dodd.

If the Greens are going to nominate someone who voted to invade Iraq, they might as well nominanate Hillary and be on a winning side and help the first woman get elected prez. 

WE DEMAND a real vote for endorsement by MEMBERS OF DFA.

You and Rich make an army of two. 

So Thursday is the new timeframe for Gore to get in the race?

Is there any indication he is even considering it? I will not hold my breath but I'll try to watch Leno to read the tea leaves.

Meanwhile, deadlines for getting on ballots have come and gone. Time to DECIDE or tell us no, Al.

Congressman David Obey (D) Wisc, speaking at the National Press luncheon a few minutes ago, was asked who he supported in the Dem primary.

His response was very strong for John Edwards. He gave several answers as to why he supported Edwards.

One was that Obey  considers Edwards the strongest candidate when it comes to the economy. Second was that his nomination would help bring along other Dems to  Congress from more southern regions. Third was because Obey's wife thinks Elizabeth Edwards is Mother Earth and that her devotion and love for John is a strong indication that Edwards is indeed the kind of person we need in the WH.

He answer also got a very nice supportive applause.

All of that, of course, is from my faulty memory. I will post a transcript of that part of his fabulous talk and interview as soon as it is posted on  C-span (if it ever is).

Obey is one of our true progressive from a highly progressive state, one that gives us Kohl and Finegold. He proposes a "war tax" for those most capable of paying it, etc. I respect him very much and would give a lot of weight to his answer today to my primary vote which of course will not count in Denver:))

Meanwhile, deadlines for getting on ballots have come and gone.

Only four

1. Michigan (boycotted)
   
2. Illinois (Obama's and Hillary's home turf)
3. Georgia (who cares)
4. SC (ditto)
   

Time to DECIDE or tell us no, Al.

You'll know when Gore thinks it's the right time for you to. 

----- Original Message -----
From: American Freedom Campaign
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:30 PM
Subject: Will we remain a nation of laws?


Dear Susan,

You may not realize it, but the U.S. Senate is about to give the Bush Administration its blessing to ignore the laws of this nation. If you do not take action to stop them, our entire system of government may be in peril.

Within days, the Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to vote on the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next attorney general of the United States. During his testimony before the committee, Mukasey made numerous comments that demonstrate his lack of respect for domestic law and international treaties. He went so far as to say that the president could ignore federal law whenever he determined -- on his own -- that national security interests trumped the laws of the land.

Don't sit by quietly and allow this man to become the nation's top law enforcement official. Take a moment and send an email to your senators, urging them to oppose Mukasey's nomination. You can send a pre-written email -- which you should feel free to edit -- by clicking on the following link:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/216...


Here is just a sampling of the outrageous assertions made by Mukasey before the Judiciary Committee:

Mukasey refused to acknowledge that "waterboarding," a technique used to simulate drowning during interrogations, constitutes torture. Despite the fact that waterboarding is an infamous torture technique barred under both international and domestic law, Mukasey said that he was not familiar with the practice. He could only meekly say, "If waterboarding is torture, torture is not constitutional." Given the Bush Administration's practice of having a flexible definition of torture, confirming a nominee who cannot recognize waterboarding as torture would be like putting an inmate in charge of the asylum.

Mukasey shockingly claimed that the president should not be bound by federal law. When asked specifically whether the president is required to obey federal statutes, he said, "That would have to depend on whether what goes outside the statute nonetheless lies within the authority of the president to defend the country." It is that kind of attitude that led to the use of torture, the abuse of signing statements, and widespread and unconstitutional warrantless wiretapping. We are -- and we can only hope we will always be -- a government of laws, not of man (or woman). It is not up to the president or other members of the administration to determine whether federal laws apply in a given situation.

(For a lengthier discussion of the preceding point, see this recent opinion piece in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinio... )

Mukasey indicated that his Department of Justice would likely turn a blind eye to the Bush Administration practice of ignoring congressional subpoenas. He was asked whether he would, as attorney general, direct the U.S. attorney in D.C. to refer contempt charges against Karl Rove and Harriet Miers to a federal grand jury for criminal prosecution, as federal law requires should the House or Senate pass a contempt resolution. Despite the fact that executive privilege is traditionally asserted to protect certain documents or conversations -- not to defy completely a subpoena to appear before Congress -- Mukasey said that the U.S. attorney would have to determine whether the assertion of privilege was "unreasonable." If Mukasey does not know that it was unreasonable already, there is little chance that he will object when a Bush-appointed U.S. attorney claims that it was not.

When Mukasey was first nominated, he was widely praised for his balance and intellect. It is now clear that he would be anything but balanced when it comes to the relationship between Congress and the executive branch. With respect to his intellect, it appears that whatever faculties he possesses, they would be employed to further the Bush Administration's goal of expanding executive power and defying any entity -- including Congress -- that dares stand in its way.

After the disastrous tenure of Alberto Gonazales, our next attorney general must be committed to upholding the rule of law. Unfortunately, Michael Mukasey has demonstrated that he will place the whims and desires of the executive branch above both domestic and international law. This is simply unacceptable.

Tell your senators to reject the Mukasey nomination by clicking on the following link:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/216...

Thank you for taking action.

Steve

Steve Fox
Acting Campaign Director
American Freedom Campaign

Gore's current view on Iraq from his video isn't particularly brave or clear. It is more like Clinton's than Richardson's. Let's not build him up into something he's not.

This is why he needs to enter the race. For now, everyone can pour into him whatever they want. And it may not be accurate.

Maybe that is brilliant since he can be all things to all people, but he owes it to us and our Democracy to lay out what he will do if he wants to be President (which I think he's been clear he is not going to do this time).

His response was very strong for John Edwards.

Considering how much I despise Obey, I'm not surpprised he supports Edwards, whom I also despise. 

Remember folks, these words come from someone who said last week that he'll support Gore should he run. 

Sitka
Mon, 11/05/07
1:57 pm

Exactly right. If he wants to be President, Gore should subject himself to the same kind of scrutiny and questions as the others are. And his views on Iraq going forward should be part of that. Who knows what he actually thinks on that?

He has a responsibility to enter the fray if he wants to be considered a serious candidate. Of course, I don't think he wants to be a candidate this time around. He should say one way or another out of respect for others and our Democracy.

BTW, Sitka, don't put words in my mouth. I said I would consider switching to Gore from Edwards. But it isn't automatic. And the longer he waits, the less likely it is.

Monday, November 5, 2007
WASHINGTON NEWS

Schumer, Feinstein Push Mukasey Over The Top

After Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein on Friday announced they would support the embattled nomination of Michael Mukasey to be attorney general, Sen. Arlen Specter also threw his support to the nominee. USA Today reports Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will "vote to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general, joining two Democrats whose support assures that the committee will recommend the former federal judge Tuesday." The AP notes Mukasey's confirmation "had been in doubt as five of the panel's 10 Democrats, including Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont, had lined up against Mukasey after he refused to state categorically that waterboarding is illegal." ...full article: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bu...

If Gore does run, I'll look forward to seeing your posts in support of him, as you have said you'll do. 

THIS JUST IN from the Edwards campaign!

Dear Steve,

At midnight tonight, polls close in the online vote to choose who Democracy for America will support for president.

What's at stake? If John Edwards wins, DFA will ask their hundreds of thousands of trained volunteers in every state to help us out. DFA volunteers have moved mountains before, and we know they can do it again.

The poll is open to all progressives and we need your voice in the mix. Please take a moment -- right now -- to vote for John Edwards in the DFA poll:

www.democracyforamerica.com/pulsepoll

If we can come first in today's online DFA vote, it will not only win us one of the best volunteer networks in America, it will show the whole country what you and I already know: John Edwards is the one candidate committed to expanding the map and turning red states into blue states. Time and time again, opinion polls show John is the one Democratic candidate who can win in red states, blue states and across our nation.

www.democracyforamerica.com/pulsepoll

Thanks for making it happen,

--David Bonior
  National Campaign Manager
  John Edwards for President

P.S. Remember, the DFA poll closes at midnight tonight -- so please take a moment to vote now.
www.democracyforamerica.com/pulsepoll

Look for a new little Edwards run in the pulse poll.  I just received an email from the Edwards campaign.  I'd guess I'm not the only one.

57. Dennis sent out another one too.

Like anyone running for Prez, Gore needs to make his case and earn our votes. This "gore is our savior" is NOT what he wants nor is it healthy to our democracy. He is one man, a very fine person, but until he enters and makes his case, I will not commit to vote or work for him.

Good luck to those trying to "draft" him. I think you will be disappointed, but hopefully he will answer one way or another SOON.

I said I would consider switching to Gore from Edwards.

I remember differently. But you were backed into a tight corner at the time. At least since then you've learned to just ignore questions you can't answer.

Like anyone running for Prez, Gore needs to make his case and earn our votes.

He did that for me back in 2000, and has since built even more upon it. 

It would take a heck of a run for anyone to get to 50% and an endorsement, but since HQ's promised to show us how the numbers line up after taking Gore's votes out and using the Gore voter's second choice; I'd say right now is the time so the top three can duke it out down to the wire..

57.Indy Steve

Like anyone running for Prez, Gore needs to make his case and earn our votes. This "gore is our savior" is NOT what he wants nor is it healthy to our democracy
===============

well put

The WSJ likes Chuckie!

Al Gore has made his positions as clear as any of the other candidates, and has done it without spending tens of millions.

55.

Edwards campaign email to Steve:

DFA volunteers have moved mountains before, and we know they can do it again.

Truly unfortunately, not enough mountains to get Dean nominated and then elected!

HQ's promised to show us how the numbers line up after taking Gore's votes out and using the Gore voter's second choice

with more than twice as much as Edwards and Obama combined, it's impossible to imagine one of them catching Kucinich. 

And I wonder, will DFA disregard Other and give those votes to the second choice?

Edwards campaign email

The last thing we need in DFA is somebody like you coming down and telling us what we need to do.

with more than twice as much as Edwards and Obama combined, it's impossible to imagine one of them catching Kucinich.

New thread (already christened).
http://blogforamerica.com/view/22837#com...

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Please email her your birthday cheers HERE: https://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/p...

or you can send a card to Senator Boxer at one of these addresses. https://boxer.senate.gov/contact/offices...


Thanks!

What is CONSERVATIVE and LIBERAL?

To paraphrase and carry forward a metaphor of Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay, "The CONSERVATIVE": Dirt as the decomposition and consolidation of past progress represents the political CONSERVATIVE; and what grows from dirt as an ongoing renewal and reaffirmation of NEW life and progress represents the political progressive, the LIBERAL.

Dirt comes from the resolution of organic and inorganic matter. DIRT and LIFE, the political CONSERVATIVE and the political progressive, the LIBERAL, move cyclically from politically CONSERVATIVE resolution into politically progressive, LIBERAL, reconstitution.

Since the time of Goldwater and Reagan, the United States has been in a period of politically CONSERVATIVE resolution, and as the cycle passes, the United States will emerge into a politically progressive reconstitution into NEW political LIFE and PROGRESS; this cycle will inevitably result in future cycles of politically CONSERVATIVE resolution and politically progressive, LIBERAL, reconstitution.

The cycle is inevitable both in nature and in politics. In nature the cycle is a part of nature and does not need constant awareness and attention to maintain the cycle. In politics, constant political awareness and political attention is required to keep the cycle in balance. Political progressives, LIBERALS, for the most part, do not have resolve comparable to that of nature and as a result progressives, LIBERALS, allow the CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL CYCLE to get out of balance by political inattention to maintenance of the cycle; this inattention to maintenance of the CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL CYCLE by LIBERALS must change if politically progressive, LIBERAL, political life is to maintain its cycle of growth, and balance politically CONSERVATIVE resolution of politically progressive achievement.