I'm Takin' My Country Back

For all you Cass County internet "honkey tonkers" out there....a pep rally!

Pink- Dear Mr President - Live

For some of the more progressives in Logansport...I keep thinking and wondering how Rep. Chocola can continue to be a rubber stamp for this administration with a clear conscience.

Check Your Votes!

I'm not trying to start a conspiracy, but please, please check the review screen when you vote to make sure its right.

Broward Supervisor of Elections spokeswoman Mary Cooney said it's not uncommon for screens on heavily used machines to slip out of sync, making votes register incorrectly. Poll workers are trained to recalibrate them on the spot -- essentially, to realign the video screen with the electronics inside. The 15-step process is outlined in the poll-workers manual.

This is the truth with touch screens, so please make sure your votes is counted for the right candidate!

Well this is Reassuring

Over 14,000 weapons bought for Iraq's defense forces have gone missing, and many more cannot be repaired due to no parts and lack of manuals according to a government audit.

The Defense Department cannot account for 14,030 weapons — almost 4% of the semiautomatic pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons it began supplying to Iraq since the end of 2003, according to a report from the office of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

I'm not even sure I want to know what the "other weapons" are in a list that includes RPGs. But the bigger questions are how many of these weapons have fallen into the wrong hands, and how many US soldiers will be injured or killed by them?

The Final Week

Indiana Second CD is currently rated a top 10 pickup for the Democrats this year. From the National Journal to internal GOP memos everybody is saying that Joe have every chance to win this race. But he still needs help. Here in Cass County we will need a lot of help to get the vote out on Election Day. The best way to help is to volunteer, we'll need a lot volunteers, especially working the phone the last four days to make sure we get out the vote for Joe.

So please if you have any time the last four days please call 574 722 3554 and volunteer today.

Run its Nancy Pelosi!!

Jack Colwell writes today on the single thing that scares the GOP more then anything. No, not that their ill-conceived war in Iraq has lead the US to withdraw resources from Afghanistan allowing the Taliban to begin to re-establish control there.

Instead they fear Nancy Pelosi. They seem very worried about her being from San Fransisco. I'm not sure if the 49ers porous defense make them think she'll be weak on national security, or that Barry Bonds will lead her to require that all Little Leaguers use the cream and the clear, but they sure are scared of her.

My question is, are we really supposed to trust a party afraid of a 66 year old grandmother to protect us?

Those Who Fail to Learn from History...

The New York Times (reg. req.) has a story today about corporate America and the Bush admin. attempting to repeal the more stringent laws put in place post Enron. It's goal?

The groups are drafting proposals to provide broad new protections to corporations and accounting firms from criminal cases brought by federal and state prosecutors as well as a stronger shield against civil lawsuits from investors.

Less then 4 years after Enron and Worldcom and they're already trying to go back to business as usual. The idea that we should protect these people from paying for their wrongs is laughable, but most likely will occur as the S.E.C. will pass most of these "reforms" as administrative policies. The only way to stop these policies, which are scheduled to be announced the day after the election is by an act of Congress.

So ask yourself who is more likely to vote to uphold the more stringent law, Joe or Chris "Big Business's best friend" Chocola?

Great News!

To everyone in the Cass County Dems I must say, I have been hearing great things about you! I talked to Andrew from the Donnelly campaign and he said that you had around 15 vols for a canvass. Wow! I know that the Donnelly race is the least of your worries. I know that we need to get people who listen(Dems) in all levels of government. Election day is a week and a half away and we must get the people out to vote! Remind your friends, neighbors, spouses, everyone needs to vote this year. All the work that we have been doing is not going to mean a thing if we don't hit the phones and doors hard over these last few days. I must say that I am proud to be hearing that Cass County is coming alive! Everyone on the Hodes for Congress Campaign in New Hampshire knows about you guys! I think that Matt and Dave deserve a standing ovation! Give them Hell Cass County Dems!

Out of Touch

There is no other way to describe a person who would donate money to Katherine Harris. How can Chocola make any claim to being capable of sound fiscal management when he thinks giving Katherine Harris money seems like a good bet?

NYT: In a GOP Stronghold, 3 Districts in Indiana Are Now Battlegrounds

Second District

Representative Chris Chocola, a Republican, and the Democrat, Joe Donnelly, a lawyer and businessman, are in a race that was never supposed to be so close, though the district has elected Democrats in the past.

The economy and immigration loom as large as Iraq in this blue-collar district. Many auto-parts plants have closed or been cut back. Workers are nervous, and some say that Mr. Chocola does not understand their predicament because he is independently wealthy.

Plant workers blame Washington for higher gasoline prices, which hurt demand for automobiles; for spending money on Iraq that could be spent at home; and for failing, as they see it, to stop illegal immigrants from taking jobs in nonunion shops.

Mr. Chocola soundly defeated Mr. Donnelly in 2004, but polls now show Mr. Donnelly ahead. Mr. Donnelly appears to be benefiting from spending by independent groups and national Democrats. (Republicans recently stopped broadcasting advertising for Mr. Chocola, cautioning they have not given up on him but declining to say if the advertisements will resume.)

“Billions of dollars go to China, they’re taking away our jobs, and they call it free trade,” said Richard Rittenhouse Jr., leaning against a friend’s pickup after their shift at the AM General Hummer H2 plant in Elkhart.

Illegal immigrants, whose numbers are relatively small in Indiana, but are concentrated in some areas, are “working hard and cheap” in nonunion plants Mr. Rittenhouse said, while union jobs are trimmed.

He and his friend, Steve Patton, said they were also frustrated by high property taxes, the leasing of a state toll road to a foreign entity and changes in the local daylight saving time.

Mr. Chocola said he was not worried.

“This district is always competitive,” he said, after addressing students at Penn High School in Mishawaka. “Nothing unusual.”

Mr. Donnelly, who criticizes Mr. Chocola for supporting the president on Iraq and foreign trade, sounds equally confident.

“We’re going to change the country,” he said in a South Bend pub.

Will Weldon Make 5?

You've got to give Curt Weldon some credit, he has a very vivid imagination. Only he would:

Launch his own hunt for WMDs in Iraq.
Suggest that he personally convinced Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi to give up his nuclear program.
Accuse his democratic challenger, Joe Sestak, of being a carpetbagger, citing as proof the fact that Sestak's five-year-old daughter was receiving cancer treatment in Washington, D.C. rather than in Pennsylvania.

So not only is he full of it, he's a classless hack. Now we can add under investigation by the FBI to his list of "honors." Weldon's involvement with a Russian company known as ITERA has come under scrutiny, the firm also does business with Weldon's daughter to the tune of $500,000 a year. After visiting Russia Weldon began very aggressively pursuing a deal between another one of his daughter's clients, Saratov and the Navy. The product? A drone described as a "flying saucer."

So it would appear that Mr Weldon is well on his way to becoming the fifth indicted Republican Congressman this year. When Republican campaign on government corruption, do you think they add a disclaimer that they're the source of most of that corruption?

Country Democrat

I admittedly know nothing about country music, so my basic understanding of Tim McGraw is limited to he's Faith Hill's husband, and Tug McGraw's kid (I do know baseball, and Faith has done enough pop (well that and I'm not blind) to enter my radar.) So I had no idea he was a Democrat, and a fairly well spoken one at that.

The issues that matter to me are the social safety nets for people, health care, middle-class concerns. We need to take care of the middle class and the poor in our country.

That is exactly why you vote Democrat, and it's good to see somebody with "red state" appeal say it so eloquently.

Confessions of a 'Defeatocrat' (reg. req.)

There's really nothing here for me to add, I'll let Rep. Murtha speak for himself.

"Cats and Dogs, living together"

Yes the end of the world may be near The Indianapolis Star has endorsed Democrats. The good news is Joe is one of them.

Supporters of Rep. Chris Chocola are crying foul that he's taking blame for the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road to a private entity, an unpopular move in the Northern Indiana district.
But challenger Joe Donnelly is right to argue that a congressperson should at least have spoken up informally about the momentous deal involving an interstate highway, even if the federal government was not directly involved.
Making his second consecutive run at the Republican two-term incumbent, Democrat Donnelly could benefit enough from the Toll Road controversy and another state issue, daylight-saving time, to close the narrow margin by which he lost in 2004. Dissatisfaction with the national GOP and with the Iraq war also is behind one of the nation's closest congressional races.
At the same time, Donnelly, a well-spoken Mishawaka businessman and former State Election Board member, brings many positives of his own to the table, including sound, moderate positions on extrication from Iraq, immigration control and taxation. While Chocola in his brief tenure has established himself as an advocate for small business and fiscal sense, Donnelly is the better choice between two worthy candidates.

I have to give the Star some props for acknowledging that Chocola could've done something about Major Moves, far too many media outlets have been far too willing to give him a pass on it.

Americans for Tom DeLay?

Rep. Chocola does travel in some interesting circle you have to admit. And one of the key figures in that circle continues to be former House majority leader Tom DeLay. Chocola has taken over $30,000 from DeLay, and has contributed to DeLay's defense fund as well. One would think in a tight Congressional race like this it would be a good idea to distance one's self from DeLay. But that's not how Chris rolls. Recently a group known as "Americans for Honesty on Issues" have been trying to run ads on Chocola's behalf attacking Joe. I say try because WSBT has refused to air them as being dishonest. Who is "Americans for Honesty on Issues"?

The leader of Americans for Honesty on Issues is Sue Walden, a close ally of Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader who left Congress amid questions on ethics and fund-raising. Ms. Walden has also raised money for President Bush and served as an adviser to Kenneth L. Lay, the former chief executive of Enron who died in July.

And Chris like to whine about moveon.org. Why is it every time you turn around there is another link between Chocola and DeLay? Is this some sort of pathological disorder? Chris will have plenty of time to think about it after he loses on November 7th.

Conservative Pickpockets

Maybe I'm not the only one to receive the Republican Party's most recent plea in a flier mailed out urging everyone to "vote early" or the liberal Democrats will pick your pockets!! ...or "Failing to vote could be a costly mistake" and "Hold on tight to your paycheck. Vote Republican." Funny. I recall my paycheck going further 6 years ago.

Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future group, has written this article presented on tompaine.com. Please read this excellent rebuttal of their resurrected campaign meme.

Earth to Chris, Come in Chris

On the heels of the third immigration focused mailer I've received from Chocola in the last week (sorry Chris I voted this morning, and it wasn't for you) I found this article interesting.

Just 24 percent of voters name immigration as a key election issue, compared with 51 percent who cite Iraq and 37 percent who cite terrorism, according to the poll.

"It matters a great deal to a small minority of voters, but it is not a top-tier issue for a majority of voters," said Pew's associate director, Carroll Doherty.

With the scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley dominating the national political discussion, it remains to be seen what impact immigration - or, for that matter, any other issue - will have on voters.

Even among Republicans only 32% identified it as a top issue. Those aren't good odds for a Congressman trying to avoid talking about Iraq and Mark Foley. And once people start learning the details of the vote authorizing the 700 mile long security fence (like the fact that the money can be transfered to pay for other homeland security projects) I'm not sure if it really is going to be a point of strength.

GOP Officials Brace for Loss of Seven to 30 House Seats

Sweet music to my senses!

Exerpt:

With four weeks left in the campaign, GOP strategists, speaking on background, have begun to outline a highly gloomy view of the House election for their party.

They are all but writing off GOP open seats in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Florida (the one previously held by Foley). Party officials said that three GOP incumbents in Indiana are trailing in private polling and that seats thought safe suddenly appear imperiled. These include the open Florida seat vacated by Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), who is running for senator. "It is unquestionably closer than we would like," said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.).

NYT: In House Races, GOP Races Are Seen at Risk

See also this link for a color coded map of the congressional House races.

Ready For Some Fun? Watch This.

Here's a fun campaign ad....sure beats the heck out of the negative ad campaigns!

Have You Had Enough? Click here!

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment

Awesome commentary from Countdown's Keith Olbermann.

Indiana to take 1200 California prisoners--Thank You Mitch Daniels

I think I'm going to get sick. I've heard that the prison system is nothing more than a big business industry for the wealthy. Not only are the toll roads and our state hospitals up for leases and privatization respectively, but our nation's prison systems have also been moving to become operational through private enterprise. I wonder who are those receiving the benefits here? Into whose pockets do these tax dollars go? I am an RN and I've seen first-hand the use of agencies in the prison system. The state relinquishes the duty of providing benefits for these healthcare workers yet they pay double the salary to the contracted agencies of which the nurse only gets half of that pay on the hour...many times the nurse will receive a slightly higher payscale than at a regular facility but often without decent health benefits and no guarantee of a job when the contract is over. Every so often the state will take bids for nursing agency contracts for these prison & mental health systems and the contract, of course, goes to the lowest bidder. So where does this leave the nurse in the long run? The nurse is often forced to switch tp the agencies that pay the lowest because those are the ones who win the contracts with the state government. This is a race to the bottom in pay for nurses--if only they would understand how they are being used longterm.

But back to the article....

Do you suppose the average Hoosier Joe would be happy knowing that we will be receiving some of California's overflow of criminals?? I thought I've also recalled that our local county jails are overcrowded and much money is needed to expand these particular facilities?? I suppose those die-hard conservatives will continue to support such representatives as Daniels no matter what--so long as they "win". What a pity. What a shame. I wonder if this will make front page Hoosier news? I'll be surprised if it does.

Click here for full story in another window.

Condoleezza Rice Should Resign?

Since calls for Rumsfeld to resign have become so common place as to seem pedestrian, I thought we'd take a swing at a Condi should resign rant. Its been a few years since we've seen somebody really go after her, and what makes this all the more surprising is its from a Conservative. And it far more inflammatory then what you see coming from our side.

The fact that Rice cared nothing of the warnings, however, should surprise no one. Having a long association with neoconservatives, Rice cares nothing for the United States. As many close to her have revealed, she was secretly pleased by the 9/11 attacks (as were many neocons, like David Frum and Bill Kristol), because they could be used as a pretext to invade Iraq. Her loyalty to America is about as thick as a checkbook, and her disdain as long as the proposed NAFTA superhighway.

That sort of language from a liberal would have the lapdogs of the right (I'm looking in your direction Mr. Drudge) screaming bloody murder, and its probably one of the more polite thing said in the article. You doubt me? Try this:

She has received many reports about Iranian and Arab terrorists - Spanish speaking and disguised as Mexicans - crossing the US-Mexico border, but she has done nothing. She knows of the Mexican plan to reclaim the Southwestern United States, and she (like Bush’s left-wing Mexican nephew) secretly supports it. As someone recently said, "Condi hates traditional white America with a passion." Not many realize how left-wing Rice truly is.

Like all of her neocon associates, Rice cares for only one thing: power. She wants power, and she doesn’t care what it takes to acquire it. She is willing to throw aside the Constitution and American lives to obtain it. And she (supporting almost unlimited immigration) plans to transform the US into a third-world wasteland.

Condoleezza Rice should resign immediately and treason charges should be brought against her.

Secret plot by Mexico to retake the South West? Treason? The next time somebody starts foaming at the mouth about Cindy Sheehan, ask them to explain that.

Poll Prediction Site Links

Here are some links for some websites that track polls:

Election Projection

Election Prediction

Electoral Vote

Real Clear Politics

The Foley Follies

A lot has been made of the GOP's Orwellian Speak over the past few years, the Clear Skies initiative creates more pollution, Healthy Forests is the name of a massive logging operation.

But this one has to take the cake. No doubt we've all heard by now about Rep. Mark Foley who resigned Friday after it was revealed that he had sent explicit email to an underage page. The piece de resistance?

Foley, co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, helped write a law signed by President Bush in July that toughened prison sentences for sexual offenders. He told USA TODAY earlier this year the bill was needed because of online child exploitation. Referring to online predators, he said: "We're going to make your life a living hell."

Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. For those keeping track this would be the fourth Republican Representative to resign in the last year. And as we learn that Republican leadership may have been protecting Foley we may see more heads roll.