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Labor is getting behind John Boehner's opponent Justin Coussoule. From the AFL-CIO blog today.
Be sure to visit BeatBoehner.com, and click here to find out more about Justin Coussoule who is running with labor's support to unseat Boehner in Ohio's 8th Congressional District. He is a West Point graduate, a former Army captain, a lawyer and a small business owner.
Boehner's so-called job creation strategy is to return to the Bush policies of tax cuts for the wealthy and Big Business and free rein on Wall Street. Tuesday in St. Louis, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka summed up Boehner's jobs program.
His idea of job creation is to hire a second caddy.
We've been hosting a lot of Q+A's with candidates and Representatives and have had an amazing time. I thought I'd take a second and write something up to show potential interviewees how a Q+A happens.
Step 1 a. Set up the time, date and duration of the meeting.
b. Exchange phone numbers and facebook names or gmail addresses between Progressive electorate staff and campaign staff. This way we can help out if you have any questions about getting to the Q+A.
c. Choose whether you want moderated or unmoderated questions.
Step 2 is promoting the event. We'd like the candidate to put out a message on his/her facebook page letting people know when and where we are meeting.
The top post will start to fill up with questions. That is where you should respond. The lower posts are ones we've made over the past hours to let people know your candidate is coming. Feel free to comment there, but people will expect your comments in that top post.
Step 4 Click the View Comments / View All Comments button to see the questions that have been asked.
"She'd do a great job." That's what Charlie Crist said about Sarah Palin as President of the United States. If that doesn't tell you where he stands, then I don't know what does.
Crist may want us to forget he's a conservative Republican, but the past keeps coming back to haunt him.
That's just one reason I'm supporting Kendrick Meek. Kendrick understands that you don't send politicians to Washington to flip flop--you send public servants there to get things done.
You know where you stand with Kendrick because he doesn't change his values and beliefs based on which way the political winds are blowing.
We can't let Crist pretend to be a "moderate," particularly after appointing George LeMieux, who's voted no on health care, no on Wall Street reform, and no on extending unemployment benefits. That's why I'm helping Kendrick raise the money he needs now so he can get on the air, reach voters and make sure they know the truth.
This is an important point. We need to leave it all on the road now. We can't afford more votes like Crist's in the Senate. Last minute donations just end up in warchests for next time, now's the time to give. Even $1 sends a message.
On 8.28.2010, Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally was held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The purpose of the rally, which Beck claimed to be "non-political" despite featuring Tea Party-favorite Sarah Palin as a speaker and its being attended entirely by conservatives, was unclear. The participants spoke abstractly about the need to restore "honor" and "pride" to a country that had lost it. When pressed for when our country had lost its honor, most cited the election of Barack Obama.
After watching this video I'm conflicted. Does this video prove that the conservative agenda is easily absorbed and that will lead to a strong showing in the fall elections? Or does it show that these people are so uninformed that they might be persuadable?
continued below..
We're quite lucky. Last week Alan Grayson stopped by for a hour and change, tonight at the same time at the same place Justin Coussoule will be joining us. Justin is a West Point grad and Army Captain that is running in southwestern Ohio for the 8th district seat. We'll be liveblogging the questions and answers right here. Check out how it went down last week with Alan Grayson.
Justin's campaign page If you can give any amount is appreciated, no matter how small. Even $1 sends a message.
Question 1 - Grassroots Support Nationally
Spandan Chakrabarti Thank you for challenging John Boehner. What kind of grassroots as well as national Democratic support are you getting, and how can we get you more?
Answer
We're all grassroots. No national party support. We need vols, $ and votes. Anything people can do to help spread the word! A little help from a lot of people will help get us there.
Question 2 - Net Neutrality
Martin: 1. What do you think about the debate over net neutrality?
Answer
@ Martin: Support net neutrality. One more place we need to prevent big business from crowding out the people's right to be heard.
Question 3 - Polling
Brad: How are you faring in the polls, Justin? I haven't seen any numbers so far.
Answer
Brad: No one has ever bothered to poll here. Boehner hasn't faced a real challenge in the 20 years he's been in the House. A good District poll is about $20k.
Question 4 - R+14 District
Chris McGann Hey, Justin. Great to have you here. My question: Your opponent seems more interested in becoming Speaker of the House than working for the people. I like that strategy, but how do you convince the people of an R +14 district to support a Democrat?
Answer
This District is 55% Ind. The rest is split evenly D and R. The D's have chosen never to compete here against Boehner. That's why the R+14. Boehner has taken his constituents for granted once again and is actively running for Speaker. The people here are tired of his arrogance. We need a voice in the House, not a Speaker. Someone who is in touch with the people of the District. That's what the majority of the voters here want. We hear it every day.
Question 5 - Boehner Not Representing His District
Anastasia Pantsios Does it seem to you that voters are becoming more aware of Boehner's lack of concern for regular people's lives? What are they saying to you about his failure to campaign in the district, if anything?
Answer
We know that Boehner's strategy will be to ignore us for as long as he can. As soon as he acknowledges us or reacts to us then he gives us credibility. So we'll keep on talking to voters 3 and 4 at a time and building our campaign up one day at a time as we have for the last 7 months. It's a case of turning an opponent's strength into a weakness. He needs to act like he's got nothing to worry about in his home district, and we'll keep exploiting that.
Question 6 - Health Care
Jeff Reed
What are your thoughts on the Health Care bill? What improvements could be made? Thoughts on the Public Option? My state of Missouri just voted overwhelmingly against the mandates, something I did not support without the presence of a public option.
Thank you Justin, and best of luck from MO-9.
Answer
The health care bill was a good start. We need a public option. We need more effective reform. Our goal should be affordability and accessibility. The current reality (1/6 of our economy spent on health care and we're not even close to the most healthy country in the world) is just not sustainable. It's consuming our economy and us, and many of our citizens are suffering from lack of care.
Question 7 What Can We Do To Help?
Jacqueline Jacqrat Propps Hi Justin, so excited and proud of your campaign against the evil that is Boehner. What can people do, either in OH-08 our outside your district to help your campaign gain ground? What do you need for us to do to help you #BeatBoehner.com?
Answer
Great question. We need dollars and volunteers to help us win votes. It's that simple. People in district can help us knock doors and make calls. People outside the district can help make calls. Everyone can help spread the word by forwarding our website, FB, Twitter. Tell everyone you know about our campaign and ask them to follow us and tell their friends. And of course, everyone can donate. Every dollar counts. Radio and cable TV spots are as cheap as $50-$100 each. Yard signs are $1 each. We're an all volunteer, grassroots campaign, so every dollar helps advance this worthy fight, not pay consultants.
Questions 8+9 Jobs and the Economy
Rory Michael: Justin, nobody can deny that there is still a major problem with foreclosures across the nation, and that our economy is still not where it needs to be. When you make it to DC, what do you plan to do to address the crisis we continue to face?
Maria Suhr: Hi Justin...what are your thoughts on how to create jobs in OH-8 and the nation? I think that is what people are really focused on right now.
Answer
I don't have a magic bullet on the economy. No one does. If they did, they would have used it by now. It took decades to get in this hole. It will take years to climb back out. People like Boehner who offer quick fixes and easy answers just want a vote. He has no ideas, except more of what got us in this mess. We need to make things in this country again. We need real jobs for working middle-class people. Green jobs are one possibility. Whatever the next big industry is, we need to get in on it, innovate, be the world leader. We need to make products and provide services right here in the US again. Fair trade, not free trade.
Question 10 - Lake Communities
Anastasia Pantsios Have you talked to people around Grand Lake St. Mary's? What are they thinking and telling you? What do you think needs to be done to restore the lake to acceptable condition for recreational use?
Answer
The Lake communities need money, now. They know what the problem is and how to fix it. We need to help the businesses and the communities survive in the short-term, kill the algae in the lake and then address the upstream sources of contamination with the farm practices that we know will reduce the impact on the lake. All of this takes money and a little leadership and support from the state, local and federal government. The people of GLSM don't need hand-holding, but they do need a little help from their Rep. Sadly, they're not getting it. Boehner has chosen to ignore them. Essentially telling them that they are on their own.
Question 11 - Lobbyists and Change
Hi Justin, I would like to know how lobbyist's are allowed to practice? I feel they buy our politicians and cause any real change from happening. Would love a yard sign here in Hamilton.. TY
Answer
Agreed. That's exactly what we're fighting in this race. Boehner is the most coin-operated career politician in Washington. Want to know where his priorities lie - follow the money. They ain't with the middle class, I'll tell you that. If you send us a note through our campaign website asking for a yard sign, we'll get you one! And thank you! Spread the good word!
Question 12 - Guantanamo Bay
Spandan Chakrabarti Since you are a military person, I am wondering how - or if - you plan to add your voice to closing Guantanamo Bay, if you are elected.
Answer
Gitmo should be closed ASAP. I'd like to see the President follow through on this commitment.
Question 13 - West Point Experience and Military Contracting
Curtis here. What lessons could you bring to the Congress from West Point?
In the military is there much of a debate about how private contractors should be used? Do you think we have a healthy mix now or should there be changes to our procedures for military contracting?
Answer
Most important West Point lessons: always put the needs of those you serve ahead of your own - public service is synonymous with selfless service; leaders of character choose the harder right over the easier wrong, they do the right thing even when no on is watching. The most important lesson is that leaders of character never compromise their honor or integrity. Stay true to that core principle and that is all anyone can ask of you. As far as contractors, in some instances they are OK. But we need a self-contained fighting force that is highly trained and cohesive. We can't hire out our nation's defenses. That just doesn't work. Ask the Romans. And the waste, fraud abuse and fleecing of the US taxpayer that seems common place in military contracting should make us all very suspicious.
Question 14 - Female Candidates
Rory Michael Justin, an AP article was released today (the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment) stating that we still have a huge gap in how many female candidates are elected to office, what are your thoughts on this?
Answer
Women are slightly more than half of the US population. We need more women in elected office at every level and in the judiciary. Our institutions of government should reflect the people they serve.
Question 15 - Accessability
Laura Thomas Justin, Are you going to be a hands on congressman? If I have a concern, can I call your office?
Answer
Absolutely. I live in this district with my wife and young children. I have no intention of spending any more time away from SW Ohio than I have to. That is exactly the problem we have now - an out of touch, absentee politician. We need to get back to basics - accessible and accountable representation.
Question 16 - Republicans Taking Over House and Senate
Linda Morris Justin are you fearful that we Dems will lose the majority in both houses as was reported today. When you win how will that affect the things you want to do?
Answer
As Dems, we need to get up off the mats and fight. The R's are trying to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. If they say they will win majorities over and over, then people and the media start to parrot their mantra. They are not offering anything of substance as an alternative. In this race, Boehner is doing the same thing, hoping that if he repeats that he's the next Speaker enough then everyone will just assume that's reality. Don't believe it. Get energized and fight for the government that we deserve.
Question 17 - Golf courses
Anastasia Pantsios Do you think the 8th district needs more golf courses?
Answer
I think the Gov. is on the right track with GLSM. But I think his plan doesn't fully go into effect for 2 years. The lake and its communities can't wait that long. And no, we don't need more golf course in OH-8! We need more jobs after 20-years of failed representation by Boehner. Where are the jobs Mr. Boehner! Let's put Boehner on his home course permanently, so he can play golf even more than his current 100+ times per year.
Closing Remarks from Justin Coussoule
Thanks to all for the great questions and the words of support. Please help us spread the word and keep an eye on our campaign. With a little help from a lot of people, we can fight for and win real change for OH-8 and our country!
The DNC and DCCC are targeting John Boehner with a "beat Boehner" campaign, I just got another fundraising e-mail from them. That's a great idea but it doesn't appear any of the money is going to fund his actual opponent Democrat Justin Coussoule.
I got a call the other day from a frustrated Democrat in a red state who works on the Democratic Party's coordinated campaign effort for the state. He was fuming because he feels the DSCC and DCCC come into his state to raise money by talking about how bad extremist Republicans are, collect a bunch of money and then instead of using it in the state, use it to bolster conservative Democrats elsewhere. We've been talking about that for a while here at DWT, presumably why the guys called me.
Hello friends. TONIGHT from 8-9 ET Rep. Alan Grayson will be having a Q+A session and virtual fundraiser with us on Facebook at our group Progress For a More Perfect Union.
The format will be 3 pre-written comments and questions. While the Congressman is answering those questions we'll be opening the floor to you all.
Here are the pre-written comments/questions.
From Peg Taylor Wainscott
At the moment, I'm still employed, but my hours have been cut in half. The small business I work for is going under and I don't know from one week to the next if I'll still have a check. My husband is about to be forced into early retirement since a new company bought out his employer...we're getting behind on everything and are scared to death. I'm 53 and once worked as a Surgical Technologist, but would have to go back to school to re-certify since it's been 18 years since I worked in an O.R. We have no money for school, and I don't have any other real skills. At 53, I wonder if I could still handle to stress and long hours standing in one position by an operating table! Here's the biggest problem...we're about as rural as you get. We're on the Ohio River half way between Louisville and Cincinnati, north it's 1 and 1/2 hours to Indy. There are no jobs around here because so many people are in my same position. We mostly work in a small tourist town, Madison, IN. and cross a bridge over the Ohio to get there. However, businesses in Madison are dropping like flies. And guess what?!!! They're closing this bridge to re-build it within the next year and there is NO WAY over to Madison except a 50 mile trip up the river and over a dam, that's 50 miles,one way! We literally live in the middle of nowhere! What's taking so long for the economy to re-bound??? We used to do fine on our income, but puny raises and hefty health insurance increases ate away at us. My job used to be just for extra gas, food and fun money...now we can't do w/o it!
when I asked Peg if she could make it to our meeting with Grayson she responded..
I don't even have a computer at home right now and have been borrowing my granddaughter's laptop! But I will catch it at work the next day...thanks! You can share whatever you want and tell him I have not lost faith yet!!! I believe in what our President is trying to do with SO MANY obstacles...and I adore Alan Grayson. My daughter has a "GRAYSON-TRUTH" bumper sticker on her car and we live in KY!!!
From Curtis Abbey
Over the last 3 decades we've seen a movement towards corporate retail and away from mom and pop businesses. There's a family run hardware store in my neighborhood that's been open for 99 years but they won't make it to 100. Minton's hardware is closing their doors because they can't compete with the Home Depots. Is anyone in Washington DC concerned about the shift of retail ownership away from the middle class to publicly traded corporations? What can we do about it?
From Terry Pierson
Why have the Democrats had such a hard time controlling the message and shaping the narrative while in power?
Are the fall elections going to be as gloomy for Democrats as they are being portrayed?
1st Answer to pre-written questions
Alan Grayson Try to find a union job. That's one way to get ahead. But more generally, we need to do more for the people in America who work. Health coverage for them and their families, paid sick leave, pensions and a decent life. A New New Deal. A Real Deal.
I'll be updating this post as best I can as the answers and more questions come in.
1st live Question from Gail Carlson
Thank you for being here. I am wondering if you feel the Democratic chances for election victories in November are as grim as some prognosicators are reporting? Thank you.
1st live Answer
Alan Grayson No. I can't believe that America wants to go back to $4 a gallon gas, endless wars, and borrowing from the Chinese to give tax cuts to the rich.
2nd live question from Spandan Chakrabarti
Welcome Congressman! I'm the publisher of ThePeoplesView.net, a health and economic policy blog. Has the Medicare buy-in bill been scored by the CBO? What can we do to help you move it, if anything, beyond making calls to our Representatives and Senators?
Answer
The Medicare You Can Buy Into Act scores at zero or better, because it specifically says that it has to pay for itself. But we have premium estimates that are very reasonable -- barely $500 month for people ...in their 60s, down to $100 a month for children.
3rd live question from Francesca Palermo
Alan why aren't the Democrats more agressive in responding to Republican erroneous talking points.
4th live question Paul Spencer
Why have the Democrats abandoned North Georgia?
Answer
Regarding the "abandonment" of North Georgia, no one is going to save us from us but us. There is a vibrant Democratic Southern Populist tradition; if you don't believe me, just as Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.). There are a huge number of Democrats in Southern State legislatures, and lots still in Congress (including me). If you want to take back North Georgia, just do it.
5th live question Chris McGann
Congressman Grayson. Thanks for joining us and it was a pleasure meeting you a few months ago at the Netroots Nation fundraiser in DC. My question: We are well aware that the Bush tax cuts represent the biggest portion of the deficit. Letting the cuts expire will only affect the very wealthy. How do Democrats sell a "tax increase" during the midterms?
Answer
On the Bush tax cuts for the rich, President Obama has said quite clearly that he will not raise taxes on people making up to $250K each year, but that pledge does not apply to the rich. That's where he has drawn the line. If the Republicans think that they can force through more tax cuts for the rich while blocking health care and energy independence, they're crazy.
6th live question Andrea Thomas
How do you view the Fair Elections Now Act?
7th live question Barbara Craig
Hi Congressman Grayson, so glad to see you here. Why oh why, don't the Dems ever force a real filibuster? I think we would have gotten rid of a lot of nonsense two or even three years ago if the Republicans had been forced to talk ad-nauseum on their hair-brained schemes instead of getting by with their stupid threats.
Answer
The Republican filibuster has made the Senate entirely dysfunctional. Which is exactly how the Republicans like it -- dysfunctional. I saw today that Daily Kos is leading a campaign against the filibuster, and I hope it will catch on.
8th live question Peg Taylor Wainscott
How about the economy...getting better or should we be ready for even more pain? I need to find a job making more money, at 53! I thought we were going to make it...now my husband is being forced into early retirement. We are terrified of losing my grandparent's land which has been in my family for 75+ years!
Answer:
I'm not sure which way the economy will go in the short-run. The Recovery Act runs out at the end of September, and the Republicans have gotten so good at blocking everything that there may be nothing to replace it. Which would mean more pain, for lots of people.
9th Question John Ryan Chaffin
Congressman Grayson, do you have anything to say to those disaffected progressives out there who aren't exactly "fired up and ready to go" this election season?
Answer
As to being "fired up" this year, just find candidates whom you believe in, and support them. It's that simple.
10th Steven Kurzban
Yes, please explain why the progressives who gave the President his job and a super majority have been ignored while conservatives have been wooed. And please make believable promises for some unmistakable progress in America.
Answer
Regarding why conservatives have been "wooed" by the White House, there was a theory at the beginning that this would help to stave off Senate filibusters. That theory has been proven wrong, over and over again. Like any other failed theory, it should be discarded.
Congressman Alan Grayson will be joining us tomorrow night in a Facebook group I help run called Progress For a More Perfect Union at 8-9ET for a Q+A and fundraiser (though no donation is necessary to attend). You all are cordially invited.
I'm absolutely thrilled!! But I am not surprised. About a year ago I wrote a diary called Rep. Grayson Provides Us With a Unique Opportunity. In that piece I discuss how unique it is to have a representative that talks to us, listens to us and speaks our voice on the floor of Congress. Yesterday Alan again proved how exceptional he is by collecting our comments to give to President Obama today. Last year the Congressman with guts said that this is where the best ideas come from. Tomorrow night he needs your best ideas one more time.
1. A 103 year old vet from WWII met President Obama this week.
Edwards told me he was born in 1907 and served in the Army during World War II. He lived most of his life in Mississippi and worked on farms. He said he has seven children, and some of them moved to Wisconsin. They brought him up here about 10 years ago because of his health problems.
Hicks, who has raised four children and five grandchildren, met Edwards and discovered that he was living in poor conditions. So a few years ago she moved him into her house. She cares for him with help from a hospice nurse. In 2008, she took him to the polls to vote for Obama.
Anxious about his meeting with Obama, Edwards woke at 2 a.m. Monday and told Hicks they needed to get ready. Go back to sleep for a few more hours, she replied.
Hicks had car trouble, so a friend drove them to ZBB. Hicks pushed Edwards into the building in his wheelchair and they waited for Obama to arrive.
"He came right to us," Hicks said.
Obama shook Edwards' hand twice and thanked him for his military service. Right there in Obama's presence, Edwards then kissed his own hand, the one that had touched a president.
"The president looked like he was wanting to cry a little bit himself. It was very emotional, the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life," Hicks said.
Target is one of the first companies to take advantage of the Supreme Court's godawful Citizen's United ruling that allows corporations to take part in our elections. Target gave $150,000 to a Republican candidate for Governor in Minnesota. We're not gonna take this lying down, in fact we might even have a song about it.
Target was one of the first companies to take advantage of the Citizens United decision -- it spent over $150,000 to help a far-right Republican. We're running a massive campaign with ads, flash-mobs, and visits to over 1,000 Target stores to show Target and other companies that we won't stand by and let corporations buy elections.
Robert Gibbs is under fire from all kinds of online liberals after his comments in the Hill.
"I hear these people saying he's like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested," Gibbs said. "I mean, it's crazy."
The press secretary dismissed the "professional left" in terms very similar to those used by their opponents on the ideological right, saying, "They will be satisfied when we have Canadian healthcare and we've eliminated the Pentagon. That's not reality."
Of those who complain that Obama caved to centrists on issues such as healthcare reform, Gibbs said: "They wouldn't be satisfied if Dennis Kucinich was president."
The White House, constantly under fire from expected enemies on the right, has been frustrated by nightly attacks on cable news shows catering to the left, where Obama and top lieutenants like Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel have been excoriated for abandoning the public option in healthcare reform; for not moving faster to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay; and for failing, so far, to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
I'm with Gibbs 100%. There is a loud segment of the left that are not helping our cause. One of the louder voices is Adam Green of the group PCCC who repeatedly said Obama has a "loser mentality." Green and his group of progressive misfits also raised money to air this ad. Professional left is not the best term, I heard a better one today "leftier than thous". These types have been calling Obama a centrist, a Republican, even a Bush for months. They push Obama and his supporters towards the center so they can feel like pure leftists. I'm glad to see the White House starting to push back and not at all surprised to see every egotistical blogger assuming that Gibbs was speaking to them.
Anti-government shooting suspect Byron Williams has been charged with allegedly opening fire on police officers on Interstate 580 in Oakland, California, while on his way to "start a revolution" by attacking members of the ACLU.
Williams was charged yesterday with "four counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, one count of unlawful possession of controlled ammunition and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was also charged with two gun enhancements and a body armor enhancement for each attempted murder charge," according to reports.
On Sunday morning, the 45-year-old Williams was reportedly pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on Interstate 580 for driving erratically, at which point he allegedly engaged in a gunfight with a dozen officers -- during which he was seriously wounded. According to the San Francisco Chronicle:
Police say he then initiated a chaotic, 12-minute gunbattle with officers, firing a 9mm handgun, a .308-caliber rifle and a shotgun. He reloaded his weapons when he ran out of ammunition and stopped only after officers shot him in areas of his body not covered by his bullet-resistant vest, authorities said.
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters _the black protesters - spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn't like were enforced by the government? Would these protester - these black protesters with guns - be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that's what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation's capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country's political leaders if the need arose.
A rapper from Pittsburgh named Jasiri X has taken that enlightening idea and made a rap video out of it.
The Southwest Workers Union's living quarters, called "Solidarity House," was sprayed with 15 rounds of semi-automatic rifle fire early Sunday, July 11. A 23-year-old man, James Domingue, was severely injured. His pelvis was shattered by bullets. He remains in critical condition in the hospital.
Six other summer interns fortunately escaped the bullets because they were sitting and eating below the path of gunfire. A member of the group said that if it had been 5 minutes earlier they would have been standing and everyone would have been hit.
Twenty-five shell casings were found in the street by members of the organization and police.
A vigil for the victim was held on Monday at SWU headquarters.
More details will be filled in on this when I get them.
Lets see if I remember how to do this. Sorry y'all for the hiatus but I've been pretty busy with my new job and helping to run a facebook page called Progress For A More Perfect Union. Check it out! :)
#1 We've got another political motivated shooting. This time a right winger shot at the California Highway Patrol as they attempted to pull him over.
She said her son, who had been a carpenter and a cabinetmaker before his imprisonment, was angry about his unemployment and about "what's happening to our country."
Williams watched the news on television and was upset by "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items," his mother said.(...)
Janice Williams said she kept the guns because "eventually, I think we're going to be caught up in a revolution." But she said she had told her son many times that "he didn't have to be on the front lines."
Luckily no one was killed. How many more times does this have to happen before the media picks up on the trend? You know what would have happened by now if these were left wing shooters. Fox News is having a field day over something called the New Black Panthers party, that supposedly is made up of about 12 people. At this pace we may have 12 violent right wingers to make up a terrorist New White Panthers party by the end of Obama's presidency.
#2 Obama to stump for Progressiveelectorate.com Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias who is running for Obama's old seat in Illinois.
#3 Bob Schieffer responds to Fox News attacks that he's holding water for President Obama. They claim he did not ask Eric Holder about the New Black Panther drama to protect Obama.
"Frankly, had I known about that, I would have asked the question," Schieffer said. "I was on vacation that week. This happened -- apparently, it got very little publicity. And, you know, I just didn't know about it. I mean, you know, God knows everything, but I'm not quite that good. Every once in a while, something will slip by me. And in this case, it just slipped by me. If I'd have known it, I would have asked about it."
OK. Left wing activists take note. CBS will aire right wing nonsense scandals if they harp on it enough. This is where Democrats struggle, we don't communicate our talking points well. On one of the sites I go to, it's actually discouraged to repeat a story that someone else has already blogged about. That's a mistake if we want to get our messages out effectively. This NBPP scandal is another win for the dark side. We need to learn this lesson or continue to be railroaded. I've talked about this before, right wing media has been amazingly successful at getting their "Democrats Lose Big in 2010" story into nearly every political pundit's mouth. That's a huge PR loss for us as we have to now play defense and describe "how we're not going to lose" instead of "how we will win." This is craziness but we have to learn to play this game.
#4 The Teaparty is having some internal conflicts as the Tea Party Express and the Tea Party Federation go at it.
On Sunday, the Tea Party Federation, an umbrella organization, expelled the Tea Party Express over the actions of one of its leaders, Mark Williams.
The Tea Party Express fired back Monday with a statement excoriating the Tea Party Federation for its "arrogant" decision to expel the group after Williams posted a highly controversial satirical "letter" he wrote from NAACP head Ben Jealous to President Abraham Lincoln.
"Most rank-and-file tea party activists think we're talking about 'Star Trek' when we try to explain who the 'Federation' is," said Tea Party Express spokesman Joe Wierzbicki. "Given the absurdity of the actions by the 'Federation,' this is quite fitting, since their conduct is alien to our membership."
#5 David Vitter's days in the Senate may be numbered. He's run into an extremely qualified challenger from his own side of the aisle. Meet Chet Traylor
the first Republican elected to Louisiana's Supreme Court since Reconstruction, made a last-minute decision to take on Vitter after a fresh scandal for the first-term lawmaker: An aide had remained on Vitter's payroll after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a knife-wielding incident with an ex-girlfriend.
"In the weeks leading right up to the campaign, people just wanted an alternative," said Traylor, 64, an Army veteran and former state trooper who later became a lawyer and a judge.
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