Michael Schiavo, who endorsed Tim Kaine for Governor this past election cycle, has now started a national political committee called TerriPAC. His goal is simple: to hold the (overwhelmingly Republican) politicians who interfered in his wife?s case accountable for their actions. That?s great news for all Americans who care about protecting their lives, liberties, and loved ones from tyrannical, overreaching government power. And let's not forget who controls all three branches of government right now: Republicans who call themselves "conservatives." In fact, those Republicans actually are right-wing extremists, bent on using government power to dictate what individuals and families can do in their bedrooms, their doctor's offices, and their hospital beds. In contrast, Democrats and Progressives are the ones who believe that we should be allowed to make the most personal, life-and-death decisions ourselves, without Big Government looking over our shoulders every step of the way.
What's particularly significant here is that Michael Schiavo was, as he puts it, "a life-long Republican before Republicans pushed the power of government into my private family decisions." In other words, Schiavo is not a partisan Democrat. To the contrary, Schiavo is an independent and a libertarian, making him a great spokesman to reach moderate Republican and Independent voters. And that's exactly what he intends to do, starting right now.
It is important to point out that Michael Schiavo was no political activist - by any stretch of the imagination - before his wife's case caught the nation's attention. In fact, Schiavo says that "[t]he easiest thing would be to move on and let the headlines fade." But now, having been through that horrible situation, Schiavo says:
...my experience with our political leaders has opened my eyes to just how easily the private wishes of normal Americans like me and Terri can be cast aside in the destructive game of political pandering. The best way to hold them accountable is to make sure voters know where the candidates stand when they come looking for votes next November.Those politicians lost a basic respect for marriage, family and personal privacy. Their blind obstruction of my wife?s wishes and the legal courts orders that enforced them was a sickening exercise in raw political power.
In other words, despite the fondest wishes of Republicans that this issue would just go away, and that people would just forget how those Republicans interfered in one family's most personal decision making process about life and death, Michael Schiavo is determined to not let them get away with it. As a result, the Schiavo case -- and the behavior of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and the Republican Congress -- could very well be a major campaign issue in 2006 and 2008.
Specifically, Schiavo will be busy reminding people about how Republicans used the power of Big Government to hurt him and his family, while undermining the rule of law and the U.S. court system. But Michael will not just be talking about the Terri Schiavo case as an aggrieved husband. More than that, he?ll be speaking out in political terms and in campaigns -- where and when it will hurt Republicans the most. As Michael says:
If our political leaders have taken no lessons from their shameless exploitation of Terri, and the public outcry against it, I have. I have taken my sadness, anger and worry and channeled them into a personal resolution: I will do everything in my power to keep another unsuspecting American family from re-living our private national nightmare.
In a recent interview on the Ed Schultz Radio Show, Schiavo said he was going to personally campaign against Tom Delay, Rick Santorum and others. Can you imagine anything more fun than seeing Michael Schiavo at a press conference in Tom Delay?s district? Or having Michael Schiavo follow Rick Santorum around Pennsylvania for a week, stealing his message and media? How about George Allen in Virginia? Hmmm....
The powerful thing about Michael Schiavo talking about his wife's case during this coming election cycle is that it will force Republicans to continually explain the unexplainable. That should be interesting to watch. And the more Michael Schiavo speaks out, the more voters will be reminded about what the Republicans did to his family, betraying their own supposed respect for the sanctity of families.
Interestingly, just this past Friday, Republican Congressman Chris Shays (CT) told reporters that he feared Republicans could lose control of Congress in 2006. And, Shays added, if they did, one of the main reasons would be Palm Beach Post resported "[v]oter revulsion over Republican ethics lapses and the party's efforts to keep brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive last spring."
For those skeptical about Michael Schiavo as a political player, it is worth considering the fact that he openly - and strongly - endorsed Tim Kaine in the recent Virginia Governor?s race. As we all know, Tim Kaine won that race. Obviously, one endorsment cannot be said to have propelled Tim Kaine to victory in this race, but Schiavo?s personal touch certainly didn?t hurt Kaine in any way. Instead, it may even have helped to motivate Democrats and Independents to vote for Kaine over Jerry Kilgore.
Recall that Tim Kaine's lead over Kilgore exploded during the last week, ending in an emphatic 6-point victory on Election Day. Is it possible that the Michael Schiavo endorsement of Kaine, just six days before Virginia voters went to the polls, played a small role in that surge - reinforcing Jerry Kilgore's overreaching on hot-button social issues like the death penalty? We'll never know for sure, of course, but here's an interesting thought to contemplate: millions of Americans remain VERY angry at Republicans for what they did to the Schiavo family, and a strong reminder of that VERY WELL may motivate them at the voting booths in coming elections.
The bottom line is this: Democrats will win next November if they are seen as the party of personal liberty standing up against the tyrannical, right-wing, Pat Robertson extremism practiced by Republicans. That's why someone like Michael Schiavo - a former Republican with a powerful story to tell - could be so important. I'm just glad we have him on OUR side for the battles to come...
Gutter politics at its worst -- and precisely why Kaine wants nothing whatsoever to do with this site.
When the gutter is all you know, it's all you see.
You've never made a cogent argument on this site. You've never taken a principled stand, and you've never made a contribution. You are the embodiment of failed poltical punditry. Get over yourself and get involved.
This site stands for Democracy and Broad Prosperity. This site stands for Responsible Government, Strong Communities, Fair Markets, Leading by Example and Investing in the Future.
Tim Kaine embodies all of these principles and adds faith, results, and competence to the mix.
The way I see it 15 out of 24 posts are positive on the front page right now.
This site doesn't exist to play nice for your benefit as a Jerry W. Kilgore supporter. We're here to Raise Kaine.
There's a clear choice here. A weak, inexperienced, out of the mainstream zealot, or a strong principled, experienced leader. Tim Kaine is that Leader, proven results to move Virginia forward.
We're here to make that choice as clear as possible.
Lowell: I was impressed to hear about all the outreach efforts at the rally this weekend. When I returned to the Dunn Lorning metro, I was met by a Kaine volunteer and every single car in the parking lot had a flyer on it. So hats of to the campaign for being on top of that!
But I don't think you should be suprised at the lack of enthusiasm among progressives and people on the far left for a centrist democratic candidate like Kaine. Like everyone, I recognize that this is a very important election and that Kilgore would be a HORRIBLE Gov. And yes I realize that VA is a red state and you can't run a socially liberal candidate here and win. The problem is that Kaine doesn't even come across as economically progressive (to me anyhow). If you didn't know any better, you'd think he was a republican candidate in his ads where he proclaims how he is "business friendly" and how he will provide "tax relief". Those are all republican frames he's using and there isn't an ounce of populism in that message.
My point is, speaking as a progressive willing to forgive democrats in red states for their stance on social issues, Kaine's message still isn't very inspiring. You have to throw SOME sort of red meat to your base. I've yet to see it.
Just my take...
The war in Iraq is a federal issue. Moran has far more to do with the war in Iraq than Tim Kaine does.
I do not understand why someone would say that the way to influence U.S. policy in Iraq is to ignore the position of the U.S. congressman representing your district, and to march along with international communists like International Answer downtown.
Those International Answer dimwits were giving speeches about Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Cuba Five. I think local action is much more relevant. It amazes me that someone would think that Moran has nothing to do with Iraq.
Moran doesn't care if you march downtown.
Moran, however, would squeal like the pig that he is if you tried to get him to say whether he supports or whether he opposes keeping U.S. troops fighting in Iraq right now.
I believe that keeping Iraq unified is Jim Moran's goal and that he supports keeping U.S. troops fighting in Iraq to attain that goal.
Is keeping Iraq unified Gen. Clark's goal? Is it worth keeping U.S. troops fighting at the present time in order to unify Iraq a worthy goal?
I doubt that the average American cares whether Iraq stays unified or fractures into ten thousand villages. I don't care. And j'accuse Jim Moran and Gen. Clark of seeking to keep U.S. troops fighting in Iraq at the present time in order to keep Iraq unified.
I dispute that Jim Moran and Gen. Clark oppose fighting the war in Iraq. If they opposed fighting the war in Iraq then they would support bringing the solders home.
Moran is a Tom Davis stooge who supports keeping U.S. troops fighting in Iraq for now. So does President Bush. And yes, it matters what the congressman you elect does. It matters a lot. It matters a whole lot more than marching downtown in the company of International Answer and the Mumia Abu-Jamal Liberation Front.
What about David Englin, Adam Ebbin, etc. who run for office to be Democratic delegates in the Virginia legislature?
They too will be in the minority. They too will have to share power and influence with a lot of other people, 99 instead of 434.
Does it also not matter what your Virginia House delegate does?
I agree that President Bush has more power than Jim Moran or David Englin. However, President Bush doesn't know you exist, never will, and you have slight ability to influence him.
Jim Moran and David Englin probably know that both of us exist. We influence them slightly by what we do when they react to us.
Even if all we do is persuade Moran or Englin (note, I like Englin, I am not comparing him to Moran except as an example of an elected representative) to be more careful in what they way when they are around us we have still influenced them.
This exchange has helped me to understand why so few people seem to care about what Jim Moran does, or whether he supports keeping U.S. troops fighting in Iraq while claiming to oppose the Iraq War.
People think that it doesn't matter what our congressman Jim Moran does. He is one of 435, and the Dems are the minority, so what is the difference?
I don't agree with this theory in any way. It matters a lot what your congressman does on federal issues. If you cannot get your own congressman to behave morally, speak frankly and vote wisely then what can you do?
Now, the question is, what do we do going FORWARD about Iraq? I've stated numerous times that I'm in the Wes Clark "success/exit strategy" camp. I want to get out of there, but not at all costs to regional stability and US national security interests. What does this have to do with the Virginia House of Delegates? Frankly, you lost me there, my friend, probably because you took my comments on Iraq and expanded them WAY beyond what I was talking about. Peace.
I agree that President Bush probably does not know and certainly does not care what Jim Moran does or says about Iraq. I am the one who cares. Other people on this planet have other concerns.
I am glad that we agree that the world will be a little bit better place if Tim Kaine wins in November.
I hope you're kidding, because I admire YOUR intelligence way too much to believe you really meant what you just wrote.
- Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to his son, 1/10/1917
Those who stood for "peace at any price" were in DC this weekend.
Those who stood for righteousness (my little brother, and countless Brother Rats and friends from VMI) were in Iraq.
As a Principled Progressive, I was generally unhappy with the directionlessness of the Anti-War rally.
That said, I fully support this rally both in practice and principle. Mr. Bush and his followers have been uniquely un-American in their label of dissent as unpatriotic since 9/11. Beligerent Nationalism is not conducive to Democracy. Since 9/11 we've had hundreds of civil right abridged, an our Government is clearly engaging in campaigns of War and Torture around the Globe.
The majority of Americans are now dead set against this war. No matter how many times Mr. Bush changes his goals, this war fails to achieve any of them. Meanwhile, the brave men and women who put their lives on the line continue to be betrayed by the liars who put them in harm's way.
Just last week, the GOP leadership decided that rather than risk the Massive Tax Cuts they've given to the very wealthiest rich-kids and freeloaders, they'd instead start gutting veteran's benefits. That's right, your friend in Iraq, who's life we're trying to protect by bringing him home, is being sold out to the free lunch billionaires who pay for Tom DeLay's golf trips.
We love America too much to let it continue to be sold out by liars, looters, and thieves.
Jenna and Barbara are both old enough to join the Army. Is George sending them to Iraq? No? I wonder why.
I must say that it is a truly an honor to have an attorney from the anti-worker NRTWLDF posting on here. Especially since they have been "Defending workers since 1968". Now, that is even funnier than Bush's "Clean Skies" initiative. Frank Luntz must have done your messaging!
James: You seem a little perturbed on this blog. Are they treating you okay at on the job there? If not, you should like, start a union or something...
You and I are going to just have to agree to disagree.
You're paid to believe the way that you do. I'll trade slugs with you toe-to-toe all you want, after November 8. Right now I need to make sure that Virginians don't make a huge mistake and put Jerry W. Kilgore in the Governor's mansion.
You're a good debater, James, Masterful even. Still, it's too bad your worldview is so badly skewed that you can't see the massive damage the radical right wing agenda continues to inflict on our Nation.
As for mediatransparency, prove to me that those Grants weren't made, and then we might be able to have a conversation.
And no, I've seen absolutely ZERO evidence that President Bush supports a "strategy for success.' Not at all. Read this week's Time Magazine and then tell me what you think.
As far as being "anti-war" is concerned, I never said I was a pacifist. I believe, like Madelein Albright and most other Democrats, that sometimes you need to use force. However, I hold to my view that this was the wrong war at the wrong time, etc. I also hold to my view that it was completely bungled, once the decision was made -- agree or not -- to go to war. At that point, you need to deploy overwhelming force, explain to the American people exactly why we're going to war, and have a plan for what to do after you've defeated the enemy's armed forces. In Bush's Not-So-Excellent Iraq Adventure, we had none of that.
As far as Congressman Moran is concerned, I truly marvel (and wonder) at your ability to drag his name into every conversation, no matter how unrelated.
Tim Kaine's #1 issue is public education. Before the Warner-Kaine administration, Republican Governors chose tax-cuts over kids and the future of the commonwealth. The Warner-Kaine administration changed all that. TIM KAINE WORKED TO FULLY FUND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS GOVERNOR.
In addition, Tim Kaine wants to move forward by making pre-k dayschool available to all 4-year olds in VA. That would be a huge "strong start" for Virginia. Studies show that for every dollar spent on pre-k education, the state reaps 17 times as much in additional economic benefits and social services savings.
I don't know how much more progressive a fiscally responsible public official can be than proffering a plan to support parents, children and strong communities.
Kaine can't come out against the war, because it's not a states issue. Kaine can't come out against Mr. Bush for the same reason.
Tim Kaine is as progressive a candidate as Virginia is likely to see for governor. He will not criminalize the decisions made between a woman and her doctor. He will not change gun laws or death penalty laws. He supports private interests, small business interests, and the interestes of larger businesses.
The problem with the zealots on both ends of the electorate the failure to appreicate real leadership when it comes in a considered and measured package.
While Tim Kaine isn't going to set fire to the skies, he will keep Virginia moving forward in a way that protects the intersests of all Virginians, now and into the future.
As Howard Dean said to Ralph Nader: You can't let the perfect be the enemy of the common good.
On the protests, I didn't agree with a lot of the people there, but they certainly have the right to protest this Bush/neo-con debacle. To put it bluntly, this was the wrong war (Saddam, not Osama) at the wrong place (Iraq, not finishing the job in Afghanistan...or how about North Korea?) at the wrong time (drawing away resources from the fight against the people who attacked us on 9/11) with the wrong plan (for an elaborate description of mistake after mistake, read the latest Time Magazine...Rumsfeld et al. should be fired immediately for incompetence).
By the way, the whole red herring that people can't support the troops AND oppose the war is utter malarkey. I have never met ANYONE who "opposed the troops." I also would argue that people who are displeased with Bush for his pathetic handling of the Iraq War, not to mention the lies and stupidity that got us where we are today, are the true American patriots. They're also the vast majority of the population right now.
Having said that, I support your right to support even the stupidest war. However, you might really want to think about whether this war is a) enhancing or b) harming US national security. Personally, I'm with General Wes Clark on this one...against an immediate withdrawal but FOR a "success strategy" and an "exit strategy" as soon as possible.
Having said that, can you spare us all the "compulsory unionism abuses" line and admit that your group is nothing but an arm of big businees aiding in the effort to destroy the collective power of workers? If you guys really cared about workers rights, then why aren't you fighting businesses that intimidate and fire workers TRYING to form a union. After all, part of your mission statement reads "The National Right to Work Committee advocates that every individual must have the right, but must not be compelled, to join a labor union." Funny how the first part of that statement doesn't seem to be at the forefront of your agenda.
You may find this interesting. I certainly did.
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=1128
John M. Olin Foundation, Inc.
[Editor's note: The John M .Olin Foundation will be closing its doors in November 2005.]The New York-based John M. Olin Foundation, which grew out of a family manufacturing business (chemical and munitions), funds right-wing think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Hoover Institute of War, Revolution and Peace. It also gives large sums of money to promote conservative programs in the country's most prestigious colleges and universities. After Michael Joyce left to take charge of the Bradley Foundation, William Simon continued as president at Olin...(Editor's note: William Simon passed away in 2000).
Looks like your largest funder is going out of business in November, James. How are you feeling in terms of Job security at this point?
Secondly, you should be horse-whipped for attending that protest against America. My friend called me from Iraq yesterday and asked what was going on back home, I told him about you guys and he said he hoped you all got the chance to share what he's experienced. Congratulations to all of you who attended the "I hate my country rally" in DC. How many terrorists did you embolden to kill our soldiers, through your actions?
But that's what you want isn't it? Just like the protestor who was holding the sign up that read "I'll support our troops when they shoot their officers."
James Young is a paid right-winger.
James Young is a Staff Attorney with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, in Springfield, Virginia, and is a nationally-recognized expert in labor and constitutional law in the context of individual rights.
The NRWLD is funded by the likes of the Roe Foundation, the Armstrong foundation, and the John M. Olin foundation.
John must have been very successful indeed. We've seen the rapid decline of organized labor accelerate in the last few years, and the NRWLD has been one of the leading legal callengers to Organized labor nationwide.
While you and I just do this because we believe in social justice, James is on the payroll alongside the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
Hell, if I could get paid for this I certainly would. I must say, however, that with the many many millions of dollars these fatcats are pumping into James organization, I'd expect to see him posting more often.
And yes, I know EXACTLY what I'm saying when I refer to Jerry "Pat Robertson crony" Kilgore is part of the theocratic wing of the Republican Party. Sorry to disappoint you about my intellect, though. Should I return my Ivy League diploma and demand reimbursement since, obviously, the education failed? Ha ha.
I want a medium tent. For instance, here in Virginia, Virgil Goode had started voting as a Republican for years before he finally made it official and left the Democratic party.
The big tent local party leadership insisted that nothing was amiss, even when Goode voted to impeach President Clinton.
There are politicians who clearly hurt the party. Their endorsements and presence cost other members of the party votes. Kaine cancelled his appearance at a Moran Town Hall meeting. The event has never been rescheduled. Why?
A really popular congressman could be a huge asset in get out the vote drives in Northern VA. There is a huge opportunity cost in this big tent theory when it comes to keeping declining sixty-something incumbents with serious baggage in office.
The Republicans pull the plug on losers. That gay Republican guy who was also a homophobe, Ed Schrock, got the boot. So did the hit and run Ohio congressman/bad driver.
Jim Traficant, on the other hand, was supported by the Dems until Traficant got indicted.
One reason Republicans are more loyal is that Republicans seem to have some minimal quality assurance for removing really unacceptable candidates. The cases of Virgil Goode and Jim Traficant shows that the Democratic party has none.
The solution, then, is not to alienate these people by nominating and renominating "Corporate Dems" who support Debt Slavery, anti-NAACP class action reform, and the Small Business Health Fairness act, among others.
You will not change us. You will not lecture us into voting for people who sell us out.
I will not vote for people who support Moran, and it is all I can do to get myself even to vote for Tim Kaine, given Kaine's mixed messages on Moran. In the end, Kaine passes muster because he cancelled his appearance at Moran's Town Hall meeting.
Kaine has yet to appear in a one-on-one event with Moran, and the day he does he loses me and others.
There are any number of websites complaining about the Corporate Dems. Workinglife.typepad.com has a project going on to punish the CAFTA 15, the 15 Dems who went over to the Republican side and supported CAFTA.
The leader of the CAFTA 15 was Virginia's own corporate Democrat Jim Moran. He whipped CAFTA for Tom DeLay.
These sellout stooges of Tom Davis bring nothing to the table. They rule over gerrymandered Democratic districts like the 8th that would be just as Democratic without them. When you get rid of them you replace them with someone better.
Help us get rid of the Corporate Dems here in the gerrymandered Democratic districts such as the 8th. Strengthen the Democratic Party by doing so. Help Tim Kaine and future Tim Kaines.
This year is the first time in my life I have ever heard people describe supporting a strategy for success in a war as being anti-war. I do not understand this logic.
Don't you think that President Bush supports a "strategy for success"? There is nothing wrong with supporting the Iraq War, but if you wish to fight it to a successful conclusion using a strategy for success then you are not anti-war.
I think this whole "strategy for success" frame is one more way for establishment Democratic politicians to avoid being candid with the public. They don't call for a withdrawal from Iraq now. They call for it someday after we succeed. That may be a good policy. It is not antiwar.
You ran a picture of Wes Clark arm in arm with the Moran Brothers this month at a Moran fundraiser. We are long past the point where a thinking person will support a policy because "the General" or "the Doctor" say so.
What are the goals of this war? J'accuse Jim Moran of wanting U.S. troops to keep fighting in order to keep Iraq unified. J'accuse Jim Moran of wanting U.S. troops to keep fighting in order to prevent the Iraqi oilfields from falling into the hands of the Shiites in the south of Iraq and the Kurds in the north.
In other words, J'accuse Jim Moran of wanting to keep fighting this war over oil.
But go ahead. Support fighting this war while you search for your mythical "strategy for success." And claim that you are antiwar while you do it.
While I appreciate Tim's strong stance on public education, my concern is that it won't be a rivetting issue that will get people out to the polls. And my point isn't that he should come out against Bush or the war. What I am looking for is an ounce of populism in his message. Why isn't he talking about the working class, about poverty, about workers and their rights on the job? And why not attack Kilgore for being in bed with Corporate America?
I'm sure you've read Thomas Frank's book "What's the matter with Kansas". There's a reason the working poor don't come out and vote for Democrats anymore. And I don't believe Lakoff when he says it's because people vote solely on who they "identify with". In my view, it's because democrats are afraid to declare class warfare and risk losing their corporate supporters. I believe that is something that must change.
Just my 2 cents!
It would be easy to just call you a fascist and have done with it. You seem content to just label those American Patriots who contribute here as socialists, totalitarians or idiots.
What's good for the goose is not what's good for the gander in this case however. You're not some idiot, fascist or coward, as easy as it would be to label you so.
What you are is a well paid attorney for the right wing. The fact that you are paid for your efforts simply puts your comments in a special category of consideration. Where those of us who post here are open to debate or revision of position, you are tied to the perspective of your employers and therefore your comments must be considered in that light.
There was a lot that took place on the Mall this weekend that I disagree with. I went to protest a war that was chosen and orchestrated to serve the political and economic positions of a liar. Yes, George W. Bush lied and continues to lie. You can smugly posit differently, meanwhile my friends and neighbors.
Two things doubled in the last year, the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq, and Halliburton's Stock Value. How convenient to Mr. Cheny (who is directly benefitting through stock and deferred compensation) and Mr. Bush (who's family position in the Carlyle group must now be worth many many billions.).
How convenient it is to blame this on intelligence failure, and that on the now-cowed press, and the other on Bill Clinton. George W. Bush will never unconditionally takes responsibility for anything that happens in his administration. 9/11?, wasn't my fault. WMD? what's that? Thousands dead in Iraq? oops, didn't plan on that one. "Nobobdy thought the levees would break".
Your golden boy is a coward and as a supporter, you contribute to the downfall of this nation.
Our nation is a nation of Justice, not vengence. Our nation is a nation of Generocity, not Greed. Our nation is a nation that works together, not a nation that goes it alone. America gives, this adminstration takes. It's that simple, and it's simply wrong.
Sort of like what happened in Nevada in 2004.
These people (by which, I mean, REPUBLICANS) are anti-democracy SCUM. They are sick and evil. They honestly believe in their bitter little hearts that "the ends justify the means" and that keeping Democrats from voting is a "noble cause" because their party is just and right and "deserves" power, regardless of whether the people agree or not.
I'm a pacifist, but there will come a time when killing known Republicans dead in the street will be acceptible behaviour. At that point, I'll drop into a Wal-Mart and pick myself up a pistol and deliver some well-deserved karma.
These slime make me sick.
Charlie L
Portland, OR
CLL2001@gmail.com
maybe th(Josh - 4/4/2006 11:28:15 PM)
maybe the Kilgore team will embrace scandal-ridden House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX)?
Make that INDICTED House Majority Leader Tom DeLay!
So, by election day, if the rethug is behind by only 4%, lo and behold he/she will have won by 4%, and what gets my goat is that nobody challenges this with a recount of the paper ballot.
Mark Warner and Tim Kaine were our saving grace during the Bush Administration, and right now you (Raising Kaine) have presented another example as to why it is so damn important to get off the couch and educate the voters about Tim Kaine's positive message for Virginia.
We absolutely cannot sit back and let the Jerry Kilgore turn our wonderful Virginia into the mess Gilmore left behind in 2001 or the mess that W. has made of OUR country.
The Warner-Kaine administration turned around the mess Gilmore left behind, and Jerry Kilgore fought them every step of the way!
The republican lack of leadership has made our country a mess, and I do not want it here in my home, Virginia.
Anyone who votes for Kilgore is not voting their best interests. I don't care if you are rich or poor, black or white, male or female, old or young, business owner or employee! Jerry Kilgore is cares not about people, he cares not about freedom, he most certainly does not care about Virginia! Jerry Kilgore cares about his own personal power, and that is scary!
Tim Kaine is the future, he will move Virginia forward. Let's get Tim Kaine to to the Governor's mansion, and stay on this positve course.
By the way, frivilous challenges are considered a form of harrasment. Alert the election judges if you see this going on and they will shoo away the offending individual. If they don't, call the Democrats and the local Board of Elections.
Mike
I also love the cane idea...illegal or wrong! They are the biggest cowards when confronted.
I live in RI and even vote in the Republican primary to try to insure the least harmful Repug gets to run since you can change your affiliation when you go in and then change it back to independent when you leave. I have to laugh at the Repug literature I get by doing this but I send them back with some scathing suggestions with what they can do with their edicts from on high.
And to plunge, I agree that's just what they do to try to disenfranchise legal voters and there should be a law that has a higher bar than the fact that someone isn't registered as a damn Repug so that should keep them from casting a ballot! How can you be thrown off the voter rolls on simply one party's say-so?
Which is funny, because I've been properly registered to vote since 1999.
Sue: Great ideas. How about a fine for not voting. I like that one.
Charlie: I'm pretty hyped up on this issue to, but we're not advocates for violence. We're the ones who support law and order and the power of right over might. We're also for gun rights under the 2nd ammendment.
Big Dave: I still love your idea.
Welcome, all! It's nice to see some new blood from outta state coming to check us out here.
I think there should be a protest in front of the State Board of Elections by angry voters!
These guys are just thugs.
When you go down to the polls, bring all the proper documentation that you need to vote, and bring along a cane -- yup, just like Grandpa used to use. If you're young and strong-looking, limp.
When and if you're challenged by Republican thugs masquerading as "voting police," poke the business end of the cane an inch from their snoot and let them know what you'll do to them if they interfere with your legal right to vote. If they continue harassing you, lay that cane upside their heads.
Okay, it's probably not such a good idea, but I'm telling you, the only thing these Republican brownshirts understand is a trip to intensive care. When they understand that interfering with our legal freedoms will result in them getting their asses well and truly whipped, then they'll back down. Not before.
Now to figure a way to bring this about without winding up in jail for assault....
Okay, it's a bad AND an illegal idea. But by God, something to stop them from gaming the electoral system has to be done.
The solution is simple. WE need a law or Constitutional amendment that says the following: "Every person aged 18 or over not currently in jail on a felony conviction shall automatically be registered to vote as an non party independent unless such person independently changes his or her party affiliation."
b. Each voter shall be informed by a government mailing no more than 60 but no less than 30 days before each yearly general election of his or her voting place.
c. All voting shall be done by paper ballot or machines with a paper trail. It shall be a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison to use a non paper trail electronic voting screen.
d. It will be a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison to deliberately disseminate inaccurate information about the eligibility requirements or location of a person's voting place.
e. Congress shall have the power to take all necessary steps to properly enforce each subsection.
I'm all for that one.
Sounds like the Republicans are up to something. You can tell by the PAC registration number that it was just formed recently.
To the Republicans this is a tempest in a teapot. Jerry's connections to the scandals are a non-issue. It will continue to be business as usual for them, and Jerry will sail on. To be sure, he is absolutely part of the problem, not the solution, but never mind, his Party loves him.
Not to overstate it but when government is used to protect money interests against the interests of people, you'll see bagmen and criminal run amok. DeLay, Abramoff, Frist, Rove, they're all part of the "anything for our pals with bucks" mentality of the national GOP.
Kilgore is body, mind, and soul a part of that Culture of Corruption. You couldn't separate him from it any more than you could separate him from his own head.
First here http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2005/09/watts-meunier-mailing/
Then, more aptly, here
http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2005/09/watts-background-materials/
Does Munier seriously believe that a Delegate with Watts' record is going to start in on some hate speech? This was just a crass call for attention from a floundering campaign.
In a word, it's just sad.
Mu