Beat It - Green Iran Version

Standing up for freedom.

YouTube link here

h/t Matt Ortega

Going to Ground

It's been a very intense couple of weeks as you can see from the attatched firedoglake crossposts. Still awaiting the outcome on a couple of races including Charlie Brown in CA-04 and Begich Sen-Alaska. Our man Larry Kissell NC-08 in '08 has won won won won!!!! After just missing it by 300 votes in 2006 he cruised to a lovely 55% victory over the longtime incumbent.

And so, to rest and reflect and recuperate. I have little idea even how to begin. Daughter-west is taking me to a spa over the weekend for some proper reeducation into that rest thingie, not to mention taking care of oneself. I'm always so brain oriented, keep the mind busy, I forget everything else. Dinner with a friend a couple days ago, a girl talk fest. A little shopping - I was good, just one new pair of lovely shoes. Restocking the frig with healthy food. Getting out the door with walking shoes on every day. You know, the basics.

Not quite there yet. I went to prepare my coffeemaker for the morning - 6:45am editor shift is an abrupt way to begin the day, must have caffeine - and realized I had purchased beans instead of ground.

Oh well, I figure, if you can laugh at your own mistakes, you'll never run out of material.

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Alaska -- Begich Vote Count Update

crossposted 10 Nov 2008 at firedoglake oxdown

Blue Alaska favorite Mark Begich is still waiting to learn whether he will represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate.

Alaska Senate and House races are still unfinished as absentee and provisional ballots are being counted. Colleagues in Alaska indicate if the counting is done honestly, Begich ought to come out the winner. But that's a big "if".

Received this from the Begich campaign: [Donate Here to help the count and recount]

There are currently more than 81,000 early, absentee, and questioned ballots going through the validating process. More ballots are arriving each day, so that number will grow a bit. While currently trailing by 3257 votes, we did exceedingly well with the early votes counted so far (61% for Mark, 48% for Stevens), sent a terrific mail piece to every absentee voter, and question ballots in Alaska usually skew to Democrats. You can see this by going to http//action.begich.com/electoralmap.

This is a race we are fighting for and intend to win.

Darcy Burner Concedes, Reichert Re-elected in Washington State

crossposted 7 Nov 2008 at firedoglake

Blue America candidate Darcy Burner announced she will concede her congressional race to incumbent Dave Reichert in Washington's 8th District.

The Seattle Times has the sad news:

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has survived a second Democratic wave election, bucking a national trend that flipped at least 24 Republican congressional seats to Democrats.

His opponent, Darcy Burner, conceded tonight after The Associated Press determined tonight that Reichert's lead for the 8th District seat was insurmountable.

In a statement tonight, Burner said: "It is likely at this point that Congressman Reichert has won re-election, and while we will certainly ensure that every valid vote is counted, we accept the decision of the voters.

"I would like to thank the thousands of people who put so much time and effort into the campaign, as well as the countless thousands more who went beyond voting to actively participate in our democratic process this year. The election of Barack Obama as our new president will ensure that the change to the direction of our country called for in this campaign is realized in the new year."

Our best wishes to Darcy and her family, along with the hope she will begin her campaign for 2010 as soon as possible.

Joy to the World!

Make it happen.

Is It Tuesday Yet??

Watertiger gently reminds me the correct question is, Is it Wednesday yet.

I hear echoes from dreams - anguished dreams - far, far away. My esp antennae on high alert. This is the big one. Let's make it happen people.

photo by eleda

*****

The Debate is On: McCain Flip-Flops Again

crossposted 26 september 2008 firedoglake

The Presidential debate will go on as scheduled. So McCain's campaign suspension is suspended. Or something.

From Reuters:

Republican John McCain said he will attend the first of three presidential debates with Democrat Barack Obama on Friday, ending two days of suspense and setting up a showdown that could help decide a tight race for the White House.

McCain had vowed to skip the debate if a $700 billion rescue of the U.S. financial industry was not settled, but his campaign said in a statement that enough progress had been made to go ahead.

"The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the senator will travel to the debate this afternoon," the statement said. He will come back to Washington after the event and return to the negotiations.

photo by wedgienet

A Common Enemy

Forest v trees. We all need to pile onto one end of the seesaw thru the elections and then we can scatter into our many respective points of view.

The current administration has been responsible for killing a million innocent people in Iraq. I cannot type that without being sick. I have spent my entire life working to save a mere few thousands of lives, and in the meanwhile, my government has killed a million people. May God forgive us, for the rest of the world will not.

I truly cannot contemplate the NEXT big thing which is aggressive war against Iran. I came into blogging because Washington insiders who opposed Bolton were horrified about this next step that would truly take our country off the cliff.

This administration is responsible for the shredding of our Constitution. The degrading of our planet. The justification of the unthinkable -- torture, the abdication of the Geneva Conventions, and starting a war of aggression. Our country.

Eyes on the prize folks. We have a real enemy in common. We are fighting evil, the Biblical kind of evil. Money versus human lives. Power versus human rights. It is ugly and wrong.

Can we please, please, please get behind the only chance to turn things around in the short term, and then argue the fine points and the frankly hurtful points of division, after we have given it our best effort, our one big push in November?

We need a Democratic president and we need to help elect as many progressive Senators and Congressmen as we can. It is a race against time and a race against insanity. Let us work together to fight against this insanity and not attack each other. There is an enemy, and it is not us -- let's stand together for now and work out the fine points later please? The Germans went down because the left dissolved into bickering factions. Let's do better, ok?

*******

photo by pagedooley at Santa Monica Beach, one cross for each American killed in Iraq.

Larry Kissell - NC-08 in '08!

crossposted tuesday 20 may 2008 at firedoglake

Announcing a special Blue America time tomorrow to welcome back our friend Larry Kissell, Congressional candidate from the eighth district of North Carolina. NC-08 in '08!

President Bush will be coming to his district Thursday to give out medals at Ft Bragg. You would think the President would be ashamed to show up there because their substandard housing has been much in the news lately.

Let's hear from a progressive Democrat how things really are for the returning troops. Larry has shown real leadership in reaching out to those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The contrast between his actions and the lack of support from the Bush administration is clear.

Kissell got national attention during his 2006 race, when he lost to the incumbent by only about 300 votes, by having an event where gasoline was sold for $1.22 a gallon, the price at the beginning of the Bush administration. That sure seems hard to believe now, with gas pushing $4 a gallon.

Larry will be with us to answer our questions on how things are going in his district, which has suffered greatly from decisions made by this administration. They have one of the highest rates of unemployment in the area and a lot of people are facing foreclosure on their homes.

I have talked with Larry by phone and feel that his concern for the folks in his district and his love for our country are genuine. You want a true grassroots progressive candidate? Kissell is the real thing.

We're eager to hear his plans for the future and how his terrific campaign with hundreds of volunteers is going. So join us tomorrow at 6:00 ET, 3:00 PT for what promises to be a great Blue America session!

I Voted...I Think

First time California voter. Despite registering in time, they didn't have me on the official list. Got a provisional ballot, with a phone number to call in a month and see if my ballot was counted.

Heavy turnout, according to the poll workers. I was first in line at 7am :)

The provisional ballot guy looked at me and said "Democrat?" I wonder how he knew. Maybe from the big smile on my face.

*******

photo by finn

New Hampshire Vigil

Waiting for the results of the New Hampshire primary.

Heavy turnout, especially among independents asking for Democratic ballots. That's gotta be some kind of good.

Some polling places were asking for additional ballots this morning.

Are we there yet?

Late results: McCain, Clinton

*******

Photo by technicolorcavalry

Iowa Caucus Theme Song?

This could be an election survey question, how sure are you of your vote for this candidate? Fifty percent? Seventy-five?
"Somewhere between unsure...and a hundred"

Yes I do love the Fray, does it show?

*******

Ohio SoS to Cleveland: Ditch the Touch Screens

crossposted at firedoglake 26 december 2007

Republican vote tampering efforts in Ohio took a direct hit this week when newly elected Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner cast the deciding vote to get rid of hackable touch screen voting machines in Cuyahoga County.

Cleveland was the center of a hailstorm of objections to the presidential vote in 2004, where polls up until election day had Kerry comfortably ahead. Whoops, look at that, all of a sudden Kerry was behind...and so lost the national election. I'm sure there was a perfectly good explanation why all the exit polls were so wrong.

In 2005, partly in response to suspicions of vote tampering, Ohio voters were offered several good government referenda related to cleaning up election procedures. [Hey---I mean you could always relax and trust Secretary of State Ken Blackwell to do the right thing---right? The very idea that he came close to being governor in 2006! /rant]

As predicted by the Columbus Dispatch poll, which historically has been accurate to within a tenth of a percentage point, the referenda were slated to pass by a 2 to 1 margin. Ooops, look at that, overnight the voters must have changed their minds! The good government reforms LOST by a 2 to 1 margin. I'm sure it was just a "glitch." I hate this word, it sounds so teeny and innocent, and ever so much sweeter than its real meaning: "election fraud."

By November 2006 voters in Ohio had HAD ENOUGH. With rare exception voters cast out Republicans and elected Democrats for state office including Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. People I know who have been lifelong Republicans cast their first ever vote for Democrats, probably crying as they went into the voting booth.

Voters Boot Out Pro-Blackwater Board

crossposted on firedoglake late nite 13 december 2007

photo by Annie in Beziers

Voters in Potrero CA ejected all 5 pro-Blackwater members of the planning board Tuesday. Local opposition to the proposed private military training camp produced a 59% turnout that booted out the incumbents by significant margins.

If you're looking for job security, this board ain't it. Another three of the nine members were dismissed earlier when it became known they had been improperly appointed, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The ninth member opposes the training camp.

But don't be looking for used jackboots on ebay just yet, the big vote is still a year away, when the county Board of Supervisors makes their decision.

Blackwater VP Brian Bonflglio commented on this exercise in democracy with customary sensitivity for community relations:

“I don't care one way or the other,”

And God forbid the voters should have a say in the matter:

“I feel bad that people that I believe were serving the community were removed based on political influences,” Bonfiglio said. [egr bold]

Juls has the background in this Kos diary:

It was the nation's first ever electoral vote on Blackwater and it was a massive people-powered grassroots victory over the mercenaries. Every "stop Blackwater" candidate won by at least 63%.... [snip]

It is also a blistering statement by a very conservative town to reject the Bush world view. Our nation is not better served by having a privatized Army. There is nothing pro-troop about supporting Blackwater.

Refresh my memory here, Blackwater is fighting for the American way and democracy? Seems they just can't be bothered with actual pesky voters.

*******

The Rescue

crossposted at firedoglake 29 november 2007



Video by SNPS Brian Shajari

Looks like the perfect storm, doesn't it? This post is in honor of Old Coastie's success in helping to save California from election fraud.

Repubs know they can't win a fair presidential race in '08, so they were trying to siphon off part of the CA electoral votes. And cheating besides.

If you go to the website of newly elected Secretary of State, Debra Bowen-D, you will see the following exciting language:

1250. (07-0016 Amdt. #1NS) Requirements for Presidential Electors. Statute. WITHDRAWN from Initiatives in Circulation. [egr bold]

Music to my ears! Link for the full text, scroll down.

It all began when Old Coastie [named for her work in the Coast Guard], along with Vikingkingq and PeteB2 from Kos and a few other sharp-eyed observers saw people gathering signatures on multiple petitions in a way that looked suspicious. While ostensibly signing for a children's cancer hospital [I mean really, how heartless could you be not to support a children's cancer hospital?] people were asked to put their name on 'multiple copies.' But these weren't duplicates, they were other initiatives, with the deception hidden by using rubber bands across the pages.

OC's Kos diary, pushed up onto the Recommended list by a surge of firepups, has all the juicy details. Instead of just shrugging and doing nothing, OC and others took action by calling officials and demanding to know what was going on. See this FDL comment where she asked pups for help in figuring out the next steps. Word spread, many more people got involved, and they scored one for the good guys.

Loo Hoo found a SacBee article that links the shenanigans to good ol' Congressman Issa. Who could have guessed? And BradBlog ties the whole thing to the increasingly desperate Giuliani campaign.

So the Repub attempt to steal yet another presidential election, this time by splitting the electoral votes in California, has been thwarted---for now. Still hoping that loosehead and colleagues succeed in keeping New York State from losing authority over its own elections.

Gee, isn't it amazing that the Republicans don't want electoral reform everywhere, just the places that could tip the election to them? And even then only thru deception? They can't win fair and square, so they have to cheat. US Attorneys scandal among sooo many others. Nice party ya guys got there.

But at least one part of the government has escaped being eviscerated by the Repubs, and still works the way it's supposed to: the Coast Guard performed heroically in New Orleans while so many others did nothing. [Truth in advertising, despite being in a Navy family I'm fond of the them because my brother was in the Coast Guard Band.] Their motto is Semper Paratus = Always Ready.

Coast Guard to the rescue---a toast to our Old Coastie and all who helped! To firepup citizen action!

*******

BREAKING: Good Guys Win In Australia

crossposted at firedoglake 24 november 2007




Bush ally Howard booted out by the voters of Australia.


WOOHOO!


From Reuters/MSNBC:

SYDNEY, Australia - Australia’s Labor Party swept into power at national elections on Saturday, propelling 50-year-old former diplomat Kevin Rudd into office on a wave of support for generational change.

The surge to Labor left conservative Prime Minister John Howard struggling to hold on to even his own parliamentary seat, which he has held since 1974, putting him in danger of becoming the first prime minister since 1929 to lose his constituency.

Wow. Wonder what the issues were? [egr bold]

Rudd presented himself as a new generation leader compared with Howard, 68, promising to pull Australian combat troops out of Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, further isolating Washington on both issues.

[snip]

The election was fought mainly on domestic issues, with Labor cashing in on anger at workplace laws and rising interest rates which put home owners under financial pressure at a time when Australia’s economy is booming.

To our Aussie pups, got your Snoopy Dance right here. And your Dancing In The Streets!

Better foreign policy, responsive domestic policy...taking notes, fellow Americans? This is how it's done.

Australian fireworks graphic from Flickr Creative Commons artist woowoowoo, a pretty darn good name for this celebration

*******

Clocks

crossposted at firedoglake 3 november 2007



Hope you all saved all the daylight you wanted, 'cause it's over. Extra hour for late nite partying tonight! So turn those clocks back and let's celebrate!

With this free gift of time I would like to share what is making me so happy tonight. Virginia Democrats are in the midst of unrolling an unprecedented get out the vote effort for this Tuesday, when we elect our new legislature. There are not so many elections in '07, so our gains will be seen as symbolic progress for the national party.

Yes, I know, Blue Dog Dems, traitor Dems, et al, but we are talking about a conservative state that is moving in a good direction at a fairly rapid clip. Two consecutive Dem governors, for the Senate we are on track to replace the Repub Warner with the Dem Mark Warner, and the outcome of the presidential election in Virginia is now uncertain---our electoral votes do not automatically go to Thug-in-Chief Giuliani (R-Terra/Be afraid!) or other subpar candidate. From WaPo:

"A win in Virginia will send a powerful message around the nation about next year and the outcome of the 2008 elections," Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said while soliciting Democratic volunteers to help get out the vote.

Did I mention how much I adore Webb, who is front and center in the Senate efforts to delegitimize an attack on Iran, establish a new Truman Commission on war contracting scandals, and spare our military from being sent back to the hellhole that is Iraq before they have had adequate rest? Talk about supporting the troops, this is it.

A particularly splendid victory would be in my own district where incumbent Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, wife of Congressman Tom Davis [who unlike Waxman, found nothing worth investigating] is pitted against the seasoned and reasonable Chap Peterson for State Senate. The Davis campaign has been predictably nasty and a victory would be very sweet. It's all about get out the vote, and we are so working on it.

And, at least in Virginia, we are finally beginning to get the winning coalition together:

Labor unions, who view Virginia's elections as a test run for next year's presidential race, are also flooding the state. The AFL-CIO is mobilizing 150 union volunteers in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Roanoke...also getting help from the Human Rights Campaign...and the Sierra Club.

In a week where we have experienced many setbacks and disappointments---and as one who works in Russia I bow to no one in my capacity to be depressed about how the world is going---I do see signs of hope. If states like Alaska and Virginia can turn blue so quickly, we might just make it after all.

*******

Can't Make It On Your Own

crossposted at firedoglake 10 november 2007



In celebration of all the firepup meetups this month! I love this version, he is singing his heart out and the audience is feeding him.

We need each other. There is so much work to do and it seems so discouraging at times. We faced a huge disappointment this week with the Attorney General confirmation. People write in the comments about losing hope and not knowing what to do.

To those who are despondent I would hold up news of our victories. Jane and Matt raised a quick $100,000 for Donna Edwards which got the attention of the Washington Post.

In Virginia this week a predicted close race to eject Tom Davis' wife succeeded 55-45 because of our get out the vote effort, and may in fact drive this very senior Congressman into early retirement; conservative/military Hampton Roads helped us vote in a Democratic State Senate; and it looks like our 13 electoral votes are no longer safe for the Republicans in '08.

We lost the battle, not the war. Count on taking more hits and having more wounded as this goes on, and let's take care of each other.

*****

"No You Can't Vote Here"

Ready to do my civic duty and vote today, I set off for my regular polling place only to find there was nobody there. We vote in the local elementary schools, so I asked the secretary if maybe the polls had closed early or something.

Sec: "No, you can't vote here, they only have a few places open today."

Me: "But it's the Democratic primary and this is my official legal voting place."

Sec: "Well they only have a few places open during these minor elections."

Me in bubble over my head, thinking: "A year ago was the primary where Webb defeated Miller. That was a total mob scene. Minor elections??"

Me, politely: "Do you happen to know where I -can- vote, then?"

Sec: "Let me see if I can get someone on the phone."

This was interrupted by a mom who came to pick up an injured child and I decided that was a vastly more important use of the secretary's time. Thanking her, I left and drove home in quite a huff. My time wasted, my inclination to participate in elections thwarted.

The candidate I wished to vote for had urged me to vote on June 12 and provided a web link to where the polling places were. Something was wrong here. A phone call to the campaign predictably got the answering maching, they of course were out working.

As I was dialing the State Board of Elections to ask about the situation, a tiny little light went on over my head. [the aforementioned bubble had gone away.] What if this was not, in fact, my candidate?

Needed to marshall the facts. Ok candidate literature which had cruelly taken me away from my couch and blog in order to do my civic duty. Checked to see which district: yes, the xy-th district. That's mine. Then checked to see who the incumbent was. Say WHAT? He's in a different place, one town over.

Turns out I had not read the campaign literature very carefully. I do in fact live in the xy district: for the state senate. Said candidate is running in the same numbered district: for the state house. Headsmack.

After being sufficiently bewildered, I had to admit the joke was on me. For this is one of my most favorite categories of mistakes [which I collect]: insufficient separation of the variables.

For a few minutes I had a taste of what many Americans of color experience when they try to vote: "No, you can't vote here." It was a moment I will remember when working for electoral reform in the future.

If I as an educated, politically aware [HA!] suburban voter couldn't keep things straight, I feel sorry for those with less time to figure out the truth from the lies in the pamphlets that tell them they can't vote either. Is this any way to run a country?

Webb: "Invasion and Occupation"

Senator James Webb [I just LOVE saying that} pulls his weight on the Armed Services Committee interviewing General Pace.

He called the so-called war in Iraq: an "invasion and occupation." This is from a Marine platoon leader in Vietnam, and Secretary of the Navy. His words about military engagement are not carelessly chosen.

He had a sharp reply for Senator Lindsey Graham about why people join the military. It is not for "policy," which Graham was putting forth on behalf of the Administration, but because they love their country, have a family tradition of serving in the military, are looking for camaraderie, or are trying to better themselves. Policy indeed.

I missed the hearing and then missed the C-Span rerun. At least I was able to alert fdl folk about the rerun, maybe some kind person taped it for YouTube. [This is on the edge of being abbrev if not already. uTb?]

In another conversation, with Secretary Rice, he asked if the Administration would go to war against Iran without the approval of Congress. Answer: Hint. It wasn't no. Not no means yes. Of course it's a moot point as we are by some indications already in Iran with special forces.

Am so grateful we helped elect Webb. I began in February 2006 when his ratings were in the asterisk range. Read about his candidacy and said This Is It.

Called up and sent a check. Got involved with get out the vote efforts. Attended meetings and actually had to Talk With People™, agony for shy little egregious. Surprised myself by calling friends and asking them to donate.

Met with Webb, and Governor Warner, and gave each of them with my business card. On the back, the egregious political platform:

Domestic policy: the Constitution
Foreign policy: Geneva Conventions

If we lose these, we have truly lost our way as a nation.