Tell it like it is, Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide

I have a love affair with Rep. Alan Grayson (D-BrassOnes), not him personally, (not that there's anything wrong with that), but with his frank speech and principled positions.

He called out the Republicans for their (lack of) Health Care Proposal on the House floor:

"The Republican plan is don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly."

The rethugs were incensed and called on him to apologize- "That is about the most mean-spirited partisan statement that I've ever heard made on this floor, and I, for one, don't appreciate it," Rep. Jimmy Duncan, R-Tennessee.

Grayson did:"I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America"

And now he calls out Darth Vader dick Cheney for his statements on Fux News->

Cheney: I saw [Obama], when he got elected, as a liberal Democrat -- but conventional, in the sense of sort of falling within the parameters of the national Democratic Party. I think he's demonstrated pretty conclusively now during his first year in office that he's more radical than that. That he's farther outside the parameters, if you will, of what we've traditionally had in Democratic presidents in years past.

Grayson's reply was made on Hardball->

Grayson: I don't know, you know, on the internet there's an acronym that's used to apply to situations like this, it's STFU. I don't think I can say that on the air, but I think you know what that means."

Each time, of course, the republicans and their M$M allies clutch their pearls like Margaret Dumont in a bad outtake from a Marx Brothers film. (Fainting couches are optional.)

Somehow repubs don't mind Cheney saying "Go fuck yourself" on the Senate floor, GW Bush calling the US Constitution a "goddamn piece of paper" or their constant cries of people like me being called terrorist supporters because we think torture and violating the Geneva Conventions and the US Constitution is a very bad thing.

Did I mention Grayson was rich? That's not a bad thing:

"I don't need the job for income or satisfaction," said Grayson, sitting on a bench outside the House chamber in between votes. "The truth is, it's really a hardship. I took an enormous pay cut to take the job. Every week, I leave five young children and my wife to come up here.

"I don't owe anything to anyone here. I don't owe anything to lobbyists. I don't owe anything to leadership. The only thing I owe to anybody is the well-being of 800,000 people who depend on me."

Well said sir. It's always a pleasure to see rich people, like FDR and George Soros and even Bill Gates do the right thing. It's especially nice when they have FY money and they choose not to say FY to the people who don't.

And now a special treat:




Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

Listen my friends

Creepy fund-raising email. I haz a sad:

Three weeks ago, my friend Senator Arlen Specter added one more feat to his long and impressive career -- he became a Democrat.

Over the years, we've certainly had our disagreements. During that time, however, Arlen has been my friend, my confidant, and my partner in enacting many pieces of significant legislation.

Learn more about Senator Specter's long record of achievement.

I'm as happy as anyone about another Democrat in congress. But Specter hardly qualifies. He comes across as a real maverick in talking points, but folds like day-old Jello when he votes.

Color me cynical, but he isn't a friend of mine.

Beach baby, Beach baby there on the sand

This is awesome. Artist creates massive Obama portrait near Barcelona beach:


And this is funny:

Failure to Blow Election Stuns Democrats
Party Faithful Mourn End to Losing Tradition

Just minutes after their party's longstanding losing tradition lay in tatters on the ground, millions of shell-shocked Democrats stared at their television screens in disbelief, asking themselves what went right.

For Democrats, who have become accustomed to their party blowing an election even when it seemed like a sure thing, Tuesday night's results were a bitter pill to swallow.
[...]

(p.s. to Steve, the only YouTube I could find of Beach Baby was David Hasselhoff, no linky for the drinky.)


Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

Here's Our Job

An article in the New York Times today highlights our job as liberals, Democrats and progressives over the next months before the November election. While it is easy to stand around and shake our heads in wonder at the way the conservative right vote it is much more important for us to understand why they vote the way they do and what we can do to change it. These are the people that are suffering worst from Shrub's economic policies. These are the people that will continue to suffer if McSame is elected. We really need to reach them and educate them. They need to understand that a vote for McSame in November is a vote for the same people that have been shafting them for years. They need to understand that these are the people who are making them have to decide whether to put gas the car or to buy food. They need to understand that they are the ones laboring hardest and suffering the most from the deliberate strategy of Shrub and Cheney and their collusion with the petroleum industry to make this country one that is painfully divided between the filthy rich and the devastatingly poor.

Across broad swaths of the South, Southwest and the upper Great Plains, the combination of low incomes, high gas prices and heavy dependence on pickup trucks and vans is putting an even tighter squeeze on family budgets.

Here in the Mississippi Delta, some farm workers are borrowing money from their bosses so they can fill their tanks and get to work. Some are switching jobs for shorter commutes.

People are giving up meat so they can buy fuel. Gasoline theft is rising. And drivers are running out of gas more often, leaving their cars by the side of the road until they can scrape together gas money.

The disparity between rural America and the rest of the country is a matter of simple home economics. Nationwide, Americans are now spending about 4 percent of their take-home income on gasoline. By contrast, in some counties in the Mississippi Delta, that figure has surpassed 13 percent.

As a result, gasoline expenses are rivaling what families spend on food and housing.

“This crisis really impacts those who are at the economic margins of society, mostly in the rural areas and particularly parts of the Southeast,” said Fred Rozell, retail pricing director at the Oil Price Information Service, a fuel analysis firm. “These are people who have to decide between food and transportation.”

A survey by Mr. Rozell’s firm late last month found that the gasoline crisis is taking the highest toll, as a percentage of income, on people in rural areas of the South, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and North and South Dakota.

With the exception of rural Maine, the Northeast appears least affected by gasoline prices because people there make more money and drive shorter distances, or they take a bus or train to work.

But across Mississippi and the rural South, little public transit is available and people have no choice but to drive to work. Since jobs are scarce, commutes are frequently 20 miles or more. Many of the vehicles on the roads here are old rundown trucks, some getting 10 or fewer miles to the gallon.

The survey showed that of the 13 counties where people spent 13 percent or more of their family income on gasoline, 5 were located in Mississippi, 4 were in Alabama, 3 were in Kentucky and 1 was in West Virginia.

There it is in black and white. The areas of the country where people are spending over 10% of their income today on gasoline are smack dab in the middle of the most reliable Republican-voting states. You do have to wonder why they can't see it, but regardless we obviously have our job to do. We need to understand why they continue to shoot themselves in the foot and figure out a way to make them quit. It won't be easy trying to convince these folks to change the way they've always voted. It will be very difficult and maybe even impossible to convince all of them that the Democrats aren't going to take away their Bibles and put gays in every Boy Scout troop but it is a job that needs to be done. We have to do our very best to instill in them the reality that their future under John McCain is going to be far worse than it is now and far worse than anything they can imagine with Barack Obama and the Democrats in charge.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Where's your shame, You've left us up to our necks in it

Well, it's Super Tuesday, so just a reminder to folks to get out and VOTE FOR CHANGE. It's important for the Democrats to set up the candidate who would give this nation the best chance to reverse the downward direction 8 years of Bush has taken us. Whether it's Obama or Clinton or whoever, my attitude has always been that a person doesn't have the right to gripe about whoever ends up in office if they didn't at least contribute with their vote in attempting to change the status quo. And this is the first step towards taking back the White House in November.

George W. Bush has made quite a mess of things with his unnecessary war, tax cuts for the wealthy and pathetic record in regards to the poor, middle class and victims of disaster. And the budget he is currently proposing, which would only magnify all of the above and take it well into the future, shows he's leaving office not a moment too soon.

America needs a change from Dubya. Though at this point even voting for a bucket of rhinoceros dung would be a marked improvement.

I got the rockin pneumonia, I need a shot of rhythm and blues

Joh Padgett is a passionate blogger, tireless Democratic activist, and a friend to this blog. And he's landed his ass in the hospital:

Dr. Rumack: You'd better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.

Elaine Dickinson: A hospital--what is it?

Dr. Rumack: It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.

Seriously, here's the deal with Joh:

I am going to be in the hospital for at least a week and possibly longer if there are further complications. I will attempt to keep this blog updated with my prognosis, but should something bad happen I will make sure somebody posts here with updates and info.

On a personal note here I really could use positive thoughts, prayers, good energy and whatnot as I deal with this situation. I am a believer in the power of prayer/good energy in these situations and could use as much support from as many folks as possible. I am very concerned about the current situation as it has been made clear to me the life threatening nature of what I am dealing with.

Follow the link to see exactly what Joh's situation is. But the above paragraphs are the essence of the story. Joh could use good thoughts, prayers to pagan goddesses and other deities, and general good wishes. He's a good guy, and deserves health and a long life.

'cause it dont take much of the right thing

The food chain for the Democratic Presidential candidates has been established thus (Gallup Poll-11/07):
Top tier:

• Clinton 50%
  
• Obama 22%
• Edwards 15%
  

2nd tier

• Richardson 4%
  

bottom tier:

• everyone else 1%

Edwards is making a smart move this week. On a 4 day West Cuast trip he's speaking before a League of Conservation Voters Forum Sat., 11/17 (I'll be there).

But even more importantly to the party base:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2007
1:45 PM
Senator Edwards to join striking Writers Guild Members on the picket line in front of NBC Universal Studios
NBC Universal Studios
3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA

Excellent move. Good publicity, good photo ops, good cause to support. Right-wingers who hate unions will be outraged of course, but they're also outraged that as an attorney Edwards helped actual people sue actual corporations for actual damages for bad stuff they did.

Since corporations can do no wrong for the Right-wing base, he's already Satan. Or something.

Good idea, John.

Leaving's not leaving, 'cause I'm not leaving you behind

Our good friend and co-blogger Wintermute resigned today, in large part because of his commitment to working in local politics:

I’m revisiting my commitments today, and I decided y’all were carrying me on SteveAudio, so I took myself off. Thanks ever so much for the honor of writing with you.

Friend, you honor us by your contribution here. Thanks very much.

Without revealing who or where he is, I'll just say that Wintermute is very active in his community, is good friends with his congressperson, and works tirelessly for local progressive candidates. So if that noble work prevents him from writing here, well, the loss will be sweetened by the knowledge that his work is going to the greater good.

Thanks much, my friend, You're welcome back here any time.

ADDENDUM by The Sailor: SteveAudio said it better than I can so all I can do is say 'what he said!'

Good luck Wintermute, it's been my honor to work with you.