Sunday Open Thread

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:24:08 -0500

Chat away...

From the Archives

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:02:43 -0500

Description: "National Archives footage of [Woodrow] Wilson at Labor Convention in Buffalo; footage of Samuel Gompers, head of the American Federation of Labor."

No audio on this one, but it's worth watching.

Saturday Open Thread

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 07:23:27 -0500

Chat away...

PB Rescue Open Thread

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:07:56 -0500

Read them all, then chat away...

Congress Brings Private Contractors in Iraq Under American Jurisdiction

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:23:30 -0500

The Democratic Congress passed legislation yesterday that would bring all United States government contractors in the Iraq war zone under the jurisdiction of American criminal law. The measure would require the F.B.I. to investigate any allegations of wrongdoing.

The White House strongly opposes the legislation. Paul Bremer, the former U.S. administrator for Iraq, granted contractors immunity from prosecution in an order he signed the day before handing over sovereignty in June 2004.

Blackwater USA, a private mercenary firm that operates in Iraq, is under investigation for a September 16 incident in which as many as 17 Iraqi civilians may have been killed. Following the incident, the Iraqi government expelled Blackwater from the country.

The Friday Five

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:45:57 -0500

Every Friday we're highlighting five events happening around the country that we've found in PartyBuilder's Events system.

Here are 5 events happening around the country. If you don't see one in your neck of the woods, click here to search for one near you. Or better yet, create your own!

1. Annual Chili Supper, Silent Auction and Chili Cookoff (Pagosa Springs, CO)
   

   Everyone is invited to join us in welcoming Andrew Romanoff, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives as our guest and keynote speaker, at the Archuleta Democrats Annual Chili Supper, Silent Auction and first ever Chili Cook-off.

2. Advanced VAN/My Campaign Training (Reno, NV)
   

   The VAN is an online database tool to help you find fellow Democrats in Washoe County. The VAN's advanced screening options will help you pinpoint your target democratic demographics. "Report" features include robust tools such as printing neighborhood maps of registered Democrats.

3. Comedy Benefit for VoterGA (Marietta, GA)
   

   A broad coalition will hold a comedy benefit/fundraiser for VoterGA, a nonpartisan group of concerned Georgians that is sponsoring a lawsuit challenging Georgia's electronic voting system.

4. GOTV and Poll Watching/Working (York, PA)
   

   Campaign season is upon us once again. With the election just a few short weeks away the Democratic Party of York County is focusing on volunteer education and our Get Out The Vote effort.

5. Ward 11A Precinct Organizing Meeting (Albuquerque, NM)
   

   At 7 PM Ward 11A will meet at Ward Chair, Dallas Timmons' apartment to view a short video on the importance of continuing to develop a Democratic presence in our Ward.Following that we will discuss plans for our organizing efforts for the remainder of the year with a peek ahead at organizing 2008.

Millionaire Mitt Tries To Buy The Quarter

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:36:46 -0500

He once said that donating to his own campaign would be "akin to a nightmare," but now Mitt Romney is writing himself big checks in order to stay competitive.

Mitt Romney is relying increasingly on his own bank account to fund his presidential campaign, announcing yesterday that he chipped in almost as much money during the summer as his supporters did.

The former governor wrote himself an $8.5 million check in the third quarter and raised an additional $10 million from contributors, his campaign said. That brings to $17.4 million the amount Romney has loaned his campaign since launching his White House bid in January - 28 percent of the $62.4 million he has banked.

"I am going to contribute to my campaign, but my campaign is not entirely being financed by my own resources," he said during a campaign stop yesterday in Derry, N.H., adding that he could not expect others to give if he did not give himself. "The campaign is being financed primarily through the donations of others."

Ann Coulter: "Personal Fantasy" To Take Away Women's Right To Vote

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:08:14 -0500

Ann Coulter, a right-wing Republican columnist, said in an interview that she believes women should not have the right to vote. Seriously?

"If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat [sic] president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen."

Oh, right, she has a new book out. I guess she has to say something to get attention--like last time, when she publicized a book by slandering 9/11 widows.

More Of The Same From The GOP: Candidates Back Bush’s SCHIP Veto

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:46:31 -0500

A New York Times article today details the extent to which the four leading Republican presidential candidates are embracing Bush's policies--this time they are supporting his decision to veto health coverage for poor children.

The four leading Republican presidential candidates have aligned themselves with President Bush’s veto on Wednesday of an expanded health insurance program for children, once again testing the political risk of appearing in lock step with a president who has low approval ratings and some critics of the veto within their party.

Considering Bush has a 31 percent approval rating, it's a strange election strategy.

New Video: What About the American Dream?

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:34:44 -0500

Over the last few months, the leading Republican presidential candidates have skipped most of the minority debates they've been invited to. This month they missed a chance to talk at the Tavis Smiley debate (HBCU) at historically black Morgan State University, and the Univision Hispanic debate. Over the summer they skipped debates and forums at the NAACP, NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected), National Education Association and the Urban League.

Will the Republicans ever respond to those hoping to live the American Dream?

Friday Open Thread

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:58:23 -0500

Chat away...

Thursday Evening Open Thread

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:01:53 -0500

Chat away...

Fred Thompson Embarrasses Conference Attendee's With Bad Answers

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:19:23 -0500

There may be a serious problem with lobbyist Fred Thompson's knowledge of the major issues. At the Teddy Forstmann's annual conference in Aspen, many members found him to be "embarrassing."

Thompson made the strange claim that the Islamic group Hezbollah is in Afghanistan (it's based and run out of Lebanon).

Asked whether he would carry over the people and policies of the Bush administration, the Tennessean offered a less than substantive reply: "I would keep the good things and let go of the bad things."

NRCC Stands With Rush

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:53:14 -0500

Yes, they actually just sent out an email saying that they stand with Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" comment.

From their email:

Does the NRCC really want to endorse these comments?

Judge Denies Republican Senator's Move to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:30:07 -0500

Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) will not be able to withdraw his guilty plea from a bathroom sex sting in a Minneapolis airport.

A Minnesota judge Thursday denied Sen. Larry Craig's decision to withdraw his guilty plea.

"Because the defendant's guilty plea was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence, the defendant's conviction for disorderly conduct occurring on June 11, 2007, in the men's public restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minn., is valid," Judge Charles A. Porter wrote in a 27-page opinion released at 1:40 p.m.

There has been no reaction yet from Craig. He initially said he would resign from his seat last Sunday, but decided to stay in office until the judge issued his ruling. No word yet on whether Craig will now step down, but the pressure on him from GOP leaders to leave will be intense.

UPDATE: CNN is reporting that Craig is saying he will stay in the Senate after all.

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