Blog For America
Join Democracy for America!

Grassroots Event Finder

enter your zip code
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

In Washington State, the Never-Ending Election

In the effort to dislodge the duly elected governor of Washington from office, Republicans are still at it:

The first-ever trial to settle a disputed Washington governor's election opened [on May 23] with Republicans launching a broad and bold attack on King County, alleging that "sinister" fraud and corruption "up the food chain" robbed Dino Rossi of the governor's office.

Judge John Bridges was quick to rein in such talk. He said fraud charges, which could make it easier for Republicans to get the November election thrown out, have not been part of the Republican case and can't simply be added now.

Bridges said he would allow Republicans to introduce evidence against King County, but as of now it won't be considered fraud in his courtroom. That matters because a fraud claim would not require Republicans to show that King County's actions specifically cost Rossi votes or gave Democrat Christine Gregoire her winning margin of 129 votes.

Without that, Republicans are required to show how actions by election workers, as well as illegal votes by felons and others, directly affected the candidates' vote totals.

Republicans made clear from their opening statement yesterday that fraud in King County is now the central claim of their case.

... Foreman's opening statement yesterday was notable for the sharp language he chose and because he offered no direct evidence of fraud. He said the case will be made by circumstantial evidence.

"This election was stolen from the legal voters of this state by a bizarre combination of illegal voters and bumbling bureaucrats," Foreman said.

The lawsuit was filed in January by Rossi, state Republican Party chairman Chris Vance and other Republicans. Rossi won the initial count by 261 votes. He then won a machine recount by 42 votes. But Gregoire won the third and final count when a hand tally of nearly 3 million votes gave her a margin of 129 votes.

You stood by Governor Gregoire when Republicans tried to cow her from making the state count every vote — and we know you stand by her today. Stay tuned.

Posted by Greg Greene at 09:00 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (188)

Compromise?

The buzz today is the filibuster compromise, engineered by bipartisan group of 14 senators, and annouced yesterday evening:

Under the deal, Democrats have agreed to allow final confirmation votes for Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor, whom Bush has nominated for appellate court judgeships, the Associated Press reported.

The Senate was expected to vote Tuesday on Owen's confirmation, according to published reports.

Future judicial nominees would "only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances," with each Democratic senator holding the discretion to decide when those conditions have been met, according to media reports.

Some prominent bloggers are bemoaning the compromise, like John H. Hinderaker of Powerline:

What a hideous deal! The Democrats have agreed to cloture on only three nominees, and they have made no commitment not to filibuster in the future, if there are "extraordinary circumstances." Of course, the Dems think any nominee who is a Republican is "extraordinary." The Dems have just wriggled off the hook on some of the nominees that, politically, some of them did not want to be seen voting against.

Someone explain to me why the Republicans haven't been rolled once again. To me, it looks like a pathetic collapse on the part of the Republicans--not the leadership, but Senators like McCain who sold out their party.

Focus on the Family's founder, James Dobson, called the deal, "a complete bailout and betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats."

Read More >

Posted by Tara Liloia at 01:15 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (224)

The Stars At Night...

Nick Lawrie is the 2005 Entertainment Chair of DemocracyFest.

...will be at Stubb's Bar-B-Q, in Texas!

Hello y'all. We're very excited about our Texas lineup of all-stars at DemFest on Saturday, June 18!

Our first artist of the night is Austinite Tish Hinojosa, a bilingual singer-songwriter. The Los Angeles Times called her "tremendously gifted and uncommonly diverse;" the Boston Herald said she had "a beautiful voice...a roots-oriented sound;" the Chicago Tribune attests that Tish is "diverse, crowd-pleasing." Be sure to get to Stubb?s early!

We are also happy to announce that Doyle Bramhall will be joining the festivities. USA Today said that "if you listen to Doyle Bramhall and think he sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan, it's actually the other way around." The Washington Post says of his current CD, "Doyle Bramhall unleashes a torrent of gutbucket Texas blues the likes of which haven't been heard since Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood" in 1983." Doyle is a definite Texas favorite.

Our headliner for the evening is Grammy-winner Joe Ely, who will be performing with his Liberty Lunch Band. Joe has a long and colorful history in Texas music. A reviewer for NET Online once said, "Ely live is the ultimate honky-tonk adrenaline rush—the sonic equivalent of getting sucked into a panhandle twister." That just about says it all. That, and the fact that when Bruce Springsteen was in town, he pulled Joe up on stage to play some songs. If that isn't cool, we don't know what is.

Also appearing on Saturday night will be Governor Howard Dean, DFA Chair Jim Dean, Molly Ivins, Jim Hightower, and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. The event will be emceed by Austin's Neal Pollack, who has written for Vanity Fair, Nerve.com, Salon.com, emusic.com, and Slate, among others.

DemocracyFest as a whole is going to be an amazing event, and this Saturday night party tops the cake. Looking forward to seeing y'all in Austin!

—Nick Lawrie

My Vote is My Voice and Democracy for Texas are Co-Sponsors of DemocracyFest 2005. This year's event is hosted by Democracy for Texas.

Posted by Guest Writer at 08:29 AM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (193)
Monday, May 23, 2005

Breaking Point

That's what the United States Army has been brought close to:

Army Capts. Dave Fulton and Geoff Heiple spent 12 months dodging roadside bombs and rounding up insurgents along Baghdad's "highway of death" ? the six miles of pavement linking downtown Baghdad to the capital city's airport. Two weeks after returning stateside to Ft. Hood, they ventured to a spartan conference room at the local Howard Johnson to find out about changing careers.

Lured by a headhunting firm that places young military officers in private-sector jobs, the pair, both 26, expected anonymity in the crowded room.

Instead, as Fulton and Heiple sipped Budweisers pulled from Styrofoam coolers next to the door, they spotted nearly a dozen familiar faces from their cavalry battalion, which had just ended a yearlong combat tour in Iraq.

The shocks of recognition came as they exchanged quick, awkward glances with others from their unit, each man clearly surprised to see someone else considering a life outside the military.

"This is a real eye-opener," said Fulton, a West Point graduate who saw a handful of cadets from his class. "It seems like everyone in the room is either from my squad or from my class."

More than three years after the Sept. 11 attacks spawned an era of unprecedented strain on the all-volunteer military, it is scenes like this that keep the Army's senior generals awake at night. With thousands of soldiers currently on their second combat deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan and some preparing for their third this fall, evidence is mounting that an exodus of young Army officers may be looming on the horizon.

So this is where we are: recruitment numbers have hit 30-year lows. Officers increasingly want to quit. And operations in Iraq keep dragging on, with no end in sight.

Americans can see the effects of our policies — and they can vote with their feet. So we need to ask a question: what kind of national defense policy can an administration have when no Americans want to do the defending?

Posted by Greg Greene at 09:10 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (348)

Food Drive with San Francisco Dean Corps

Stephanie Linder is the Communications Director of San Francisco for Democracy. San Francisco for Democracy has chosen to keep the name "Dean Corps" for their community service projects.

Saturday, May 14th was not only DFA's National Day of Action, it was also the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, and the San Francisco for Democracy Dean Corps was out in full force to meet the legendary eagled trucks as they pulled into the Food Bank with their loads of generously donated foodstuffs from all parts of the city. Together with a number of other volunteers, the eighteen of us sorted about 63,000 lbs of edibles not to mention toothpaste, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, baseball gear, and cat food. One thoughtful donor meticulously clad each of her contributions in bubble wrap, and included handwritten instructions for how to prepare each item for consumption.

San Francisco for Democracy Dean Corps

The San Francisco Food Bank staff was very grateful for our help and sent us a nice note:

"....Thank you SO much for your help on Saturday with the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive! It was a pleasure meeting all of you kind-hearted Dean Corps folks. Thank you for staying later and helping us.... In my book, you get the volunteers of the month award! I hope you all had a great time! Again, you all helped to sort over 63,000 lbs of food! That's a whole lot of food that will soon be back in the communities helping to feed people in need. As always, we were glad to have your group here, and we look forward to working with you all again soon...."

San Francisco for Democracy Dean Corps

Our upcoming Dean Corps activities are: serving food at St. Anthony's Dining Room, working with the SF Parks Department Native Plants Program, and organizing a crew for the SF AIDS Walk - see our calendar for more details: www.sf4democracy.com/calendar.

—San Francisco for Democracy Dean Corps

Posted by Guest Writer at 04:40 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (180)

Rapid Response: Good news and bad news

The Rapid Response Network offers guest commentary at Democracy for America on Monday mornings.

On Friday, the New York Times printed a substantive article on the Downing Street meeting. While disappointing that the piece led with the "news" that the memo " is still creating a stir among administration critics," it did provide largely ignored but critical context by referencing charges made by Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke. Still more promising, the Washington Post ran a fact-filled second story on the memo. Too bad the Post saw fit to bury this solid reporting on A26, after "breaking" the story on A18. Perhaps we should look for the next installment in the Classifieds?

The Newsweek apology, receiving slightly different treatment by the Post, landed on A1. As much as the media's coverage of what the LA Times aptly dubbed the "Newsweek effect" has generally left progressives apoplectic, the brouhaha has also inspired some unexpected (and hopeful) journalistic feistiness. While Frank Rich showing spunk is nothing new, David Brooks was a bit of a surprise. Many actually did see the forest for the trees:

For all the administration's huffing and puffing about Newsweek getting the story wrong, it has produced such a catalog of misdeeds at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo that almost any allegation is instantly credited abroad.

Even the White House press corps showed signs of life with tough questions like these:

Q: With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?

Q: With all due respect, though, it sounds like you're saying your single anonymous sources are OK and everyone else's aren't.

Q: (The New York Times' Elisabeth Bumiller) Are you asking us to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?"

Bumiller went on to write that "Republicans close to the White House said that although President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were genuinely angered by the Newsweek article, West Wing officials were also exploiting it in an effort to put a check on the press."

For this week anyway, that's looking just a little harder to do.

—Liz Herbert (FL)
Speak up. Join Rapid Response.

Posted by Guest Writer at 10:04 AM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (135)
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Down and Down and Down He Goes ...

... and where he stops, nobody knows:

George W. Bush's job approval ratings have dropped to post-election lows as Americans have become increasingly concerned about their personal finances and the national economy according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 43% say they approve of the way Bush is handling his job and 51% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 37% of Americans say they approve and 57% say they disapprove.

Among Americans registered to vote, 43% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 51% disapprove. As for Bush's handling of the economy, 38% of registered voters approve and 56% disapprove.

A total of 59% of Americans say the national economy is getting worse, up from 53% in April, 51% say they expect the national economy to be worse a year from now, up from 44% in April, and 61% say the financial situations in their households are getting worse, up from 50% in April.

It couldn't happen to a more deserving fellow. Let's hope, for the country's sake, that this duck keeps on flying south.

Posted by Greg Greene at 11:16 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (121)

The Fish Rots From the Head Down ...

... and a few bones behind House majority leader and billboard pinup Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), you can find the just-as-mercenary majority whip, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). He had a profile in the Washington Post this week, and ... say, what's that smell [emphasis added]?

Here in Washington, Blunt has converted what had been an informal and ad hoc relationship between congressional leaders and the Washington corporate and trade community into a formal, institutionalized alliance. Lobbyists are now an integral part of the Republican whip operation on par with the network of lawmakers who serve as assistant whips.

... Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Blunt's deputy whip, said he meets regularly with the lobbying community and, as different bills come up, "we go over lists to see who knows this member, how can we get that person feeling more comfortable, can we get him more information." These drives are conducted "on bills that are big -- tax, energy, bankruptcy, class action, tort reform. The whole world swoops in," Rogers said. For each bill, a steering committee is created that "hands out assignments, coordinates activities."

... Over the years, seven companies with business before Congress stand out as the most reliable Blunt supporters: Altria, SBC Communications, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, Verizon, United Parcel Service and BellSouth have together given more than $1.2 million to political committees tied to Blunt. Altria is the largest contributor, giving more than $270,000. Blunt, a vocal social conservative, divorced Roseann Blunt, his first wife, to marry Altria lobbyist Abigail Perlman in October 2003.

Blunt's lobbyist son Andrew includes among his clients Altria-owned Kraft Foods, Philip Morris, and 36 percent Altria-owned Miller Brewing, along with SBC Missouri, Burlington Northern and UPS. Hartley has among his clients Verizon (paying $320,000 a year), SBC ($120,000) and BellSouth ($120,000).

Matt Blunt, the governor, has awarded one of the few remaining patronage plums in the state -- franchises to collect fees for driver's license renewals, tax payments for new cars and processing motor vehicle titles and registrations that can provide recipients with as much as $1 million over four years -- to the wife of U.S. Attorney Todd P. Graves, Tracy Graves, and to Graves's brother-in-law, Todd Bartles. The U.S. attorney's office has jurisdiction over Blunt's congressional district and the state capitol.

How convenient — but how predictable.

That, ladies and gentlemen, stands as yet more proof that coin-operated government and pay-to-play dealing don't just taint the Republican model of government, because they are the Republican model of government — and they characterize the rot of the radical clique in Washington through and through.

Posted by Greg Greene at 03:37 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (249)

Sunday Morning Shows

Governor Dean's interview with Meet the Press' Tim Russert (MSNBC) aired this morning on the east coast. Catch it in your time zone for a fantastic discussion with Dean!

This Week with George Stephanopoulos (ABC) - As the Senate moves toward a compromise or confrontation on the filibuster of judicial nominees, George Stephanopoulos turns to Sen. Joseph Lieberman, (D-CT)., and Sen. George Allen, (R-VA), to assess whether progress is likely in the looming showdown. Also, two views on the upcoming vote that would roll back restrictions on stem-cell research -- one from Dana Reeve, widow of the actor Christopher Reeve, and another from Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the Rev. Billy Graham.

On Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer (CNN) is joined by Afghanistan's leader Hamid Karzai. The discussion will focus on alleged the violence said to be linked to a Newsweek story and the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Also on the program; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Iraqi Minister of Planning and Development Barham Salih, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Former assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle, author, "An End to Evil: Strategies for Victory in the War on Terror", Former Democratic Presidential candidate Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme allied commander and Terje Roed-Larsen, United Nations Secretary-General's special representative for Lebanon.

Fox News Sunday (FOX News) - Moderate senators from both parties are working behind the scenes on a compromise as a battle plays out on the Senate floor on whether President Bush's judicial nominees should all be given a straight confirmation vote in the chamber. Chris Wallace will talk with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Plus, Congress is poised to overturn President Bush's stem cell policy. Meanwhile some state governments are taking a fresh look at the issue. We'll get an update from Gov. Mitt Romney, (R-MA)., and Boomer Esiason, former NFL player and father of a son with a genetic disease.

Posted by Tara Liloia at 10:10 AM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (239)

Don't Forget!

Don't forget to tune in to watch Governor Dean who will be the guest for the full hour on this Sunday's "Meet the Press with Tim Russert."

"Meet the Press" is regularly seen from 9-10 a.m. ET, except in Washington D.C. and New York City where the broadcast is seen from 10:30-11:30 a.m ET. Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" Web site for airtimes in your area.

Posted by Tara Liloia at 01:01 AM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (217)
Saturday, May 21, 2005

The 2005 Manhattan Borough President Forum

Next Thursday, May 26th, the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century (DL21C) and Democracy for New York City, in partnership with the NYS Young Democrats will host "The 2005 Manhattan Borough President Forum." The forum will feature all the candidates running for Manhattan Borough President, as well as a chance to hear what each stands for.

Don't miss this great opportunity to meet all candidates face-to-face and hear their pitch for your vote! The forum will take place from 7:00pm-9:00pm at New York University School of Law, Furman Hall, Room 216, 245 Sullivan Street. To learn more about the forum and other events in the area, or to RSVP, visit: http://dl21c.org/.

You can also learn more about each of the candidates by visiting: www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/57

Posted by Noreen Nielsen at 02:03 PM
Link | TrackBack (0) | Comments (129)