As We Celebrate Our Independence, It Is Time for Energy Independence.

On Friday July 4th we will celebrate Independence Day marking 232 years since our founding fathers declared that the United States of America would be an independent nation.  Back in 1776, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others showed courage, leadership and vision by drafting the Declaration of Independence creating a democratic government based on freedom and rights for the common people.  

Now, 232 years later, we need to see the same courage, leadership and vision from our elected leaders to declare independence again.  In 2008, the independence we need to declare is not from tyrannical leaders and an oppressive government but energy independence from foreign sources that have too much control over a product that is so vital to our nation.

This past week had important events scheduled every day ending with a very busy weekend.  Here is a brief rundown of the highlights of the week:

The first major joint debate between the 2 candidates in the 5th Congressional District was held on Tuesday at the CBICC luncheon.  The event was broadcast later that evening on PCN.  The feedback I’ve received is that the debate clearly showed the contrast where I stand on the important issues, both regional and national, and where my opponent stands.  The important topics addressed included healthcare, the Iraq war and the growing crisis of increasing gas and energy costs.

Like most unrealistic Dirty F'n Hippies, I am outraged by both the assaults on the Constitution by Team Bush and the GOP as well as the unflinching resolve by Decent Responsible, Upstanding, Serious Adult Democrats to hand him every last thing he desires.

Between the sheer power of a minority GOP and the sheer dedication of Democratic leadership to give them what they want, people like me feel pretty powerless and totally shut out.

Well, here in Georgia there is a Bush Democrat named "John Barrow" and he is up for re-election and he has a primary fight on his hands.

Make the jump...with both feet.

NOTE: this diary is substantially rewritten and reposted.

It seems like Hillary Clinton has a debt of $22.5 million from the primary campaign, and $23 million in donations from her supporters for the GE which she cannot use to retire her debt.  The GE funds she is obligated to return to the donors if they wish it, unless they authorize her to use it for other purposes, like her a future Senate reelection bid (should she not gain any post in an Obama administration).

Any Clinton supporter might ask her to do so regardless of this suggestion, but for those concerned about Hillary´s debt from the primaries, they might ask Obama supporters to choose to donate to Hillary (to retire the debt) in exchange for a dollar for dollar authorization to give those GE funds to the DNC for use during the general election or the convention, perhaps even for use buying ads to support Obama.

I´m not an expert on the campaign financing rules, but it seems this might be a solution that would do a lot for party unity.

3/31.    6/30.    9/30.    12/31.

Most of us reading or writing at DKos understand what those numbers mean.  The end of the fundraising quarter.

(Cross posted from Boyda Bloc)

Just as the Republican Primary campaign bursts on to the stage, all of us watching the race in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District got a very, very unexpected surprised today that throws the conventional wisdom about this race right out the window.

Results of a poll conducted in the Kansas 2nd District in May by  Anzalone Liszt Research, Inc. shows truly shocking numbers- and proves Congresswoman Nancy Boyda isn't quite as vulnerable as previously thought.

Here they are as they were sent to us:

Father's Day -- Our Day to Relax

Today being Father's Day, I'm getting extra special treatment from Amanda.  I was treated to breakfast this morning and afterwards, Kelly and Amanda headed to the community pool in Clearfield so I could relax for a couple of hours.  For all the fathers, soak up the special treatment today because tomorrow it's back to solving problems.

The Candidate-Nominee Crossover
The first article in this series described how some of the most astute political observers were "blindsided by Hope" and Barack Obama’s historic victory, convinced America would continue to be ruled by Freak Show politics.  Eleven organizational principles guided Obama’s campaign for the nomination, which relied heavily on grass roots and community organizing tactics.  The successful "early states" strategy provided enough momentum to carry Obama over the finish line, a race he won by the only measure that counted: delegates.

This article offers a candid assessment of the campaign’s challenges as Obama goes from being a candidate to the nominee.  Obama will adapt his management approach to the general election campaign, internalizing electoral strategy as an important part of the corporate culture.  The internal challenge is melding a grass roots movement with the Democratic Party establishment and limiting expenditures on paid political ads and services.  The external challenge is to avoid inevitable

In the past several days we have begun to see the birth of a new and dangerous myth: the myth that Hillary Clinton lost the democratic nomination because of the "sexism" of the media – or maybe of the country, or maybe of the Democratic Party. .

In my view, this theory is a gross canard. I believe, in addition, that the adoption of this theory as an accepted part of the conventional wisdom poses a serious threat to the election of Sen. Obama; for the simple reason that it profoundly undermines the legitimacy of his primary victory.

“I am not a member of any organized party—I am a Democrat.”
Will Rogers

This election year, one has to wonder what Will Rogers would make of Democrats' system for choosing our Presidential nominee. It's a system that has shown that pandering to two states, Iowa and New Hampshire, is important enough to disenfranchise two others, Florida and Michigan. It's a system that purports to be a democratic election, yet one fifth of the decision-making power is invested in a select group of individuals. And it's a system open to GOP manipulation, be it Limbaugh's “Operation Chaos” or the GOP-led Florida Legislature's moving its primaries. Perhaps Rogers would hesitate to call it a “system” at all. Call it what you will, but Democrats need only think back to 2000 to recall the devastation and bitterness—yes, bitterness—left by an unjust electoral process. Yet in 2008, it's clear that the Democratic Party's process for choosing its nominee is itself rife with dysfunction and injustice.

Given contemporary concerns about electoral integrity, the Democratic Party should set an example for the nation, and perhaps the world, by choosing its nominee in a manner that employs the best practices for a democratic election. Here is what I propose:

Somehow or another I got on johnmccain's email list.  As a regular visitor to this site, it is very interesting to see how they spin their recent string of disasters.

The latest email made me smile--and I thought you would enjoy it.  It's called "McCain Cribs:  Straight Talk Express".  The video is shot similar to how MTV shoots their popular series "Cribs"--and it gives you an inside look at the STE.  The email promises you can even get a look inside the refrigerator!! (It's soda-"No booze this time!").  Party animals.

If EVER there was a more pathetic attempt to make McCain hot, fly, and edgy ("Take that Hollywood!"), this is it.  I warned you:

Paul Tonko was one of the most talked-about candidates for months before he decided to run about two months ago, and "officially" a few weeks ago.  He could often be heard saying he would "hit the ground running" both on the campaign and in Mike McNulty's seat once the Congressman retired and the recently resigned NYSERDA presient and 23-year Assembly veteran Tonko took the cake.

But judging from Tonko's performance on the web as the Times Union reported yesterday, Tonko may have hit the ground running, but when it comes to hitting the Web, a better saying might be "I've fallen, and I can't get up."

Find out how the big name fell flat below the flip...

I went on a blog vacation for a few months, as I do occasionally.  And I came back home to find the place (the greater blogosphere) trashed!  There were things missing, people missing, and other things in grave disrepair.  And I'm wondering what the hell happened!

There've been lots of good-natured diaries inviting, apologizing, and/or demanding that Hillary's supporters fall in line.  As many have astutely said, these things will take time.  This is not my concern.  This isn't necessarily a unity diary.

Over at mydd, there are lots of interesting meta-diaries, where feelings seem to remain somewhat raw.  These diaries suggest a blogosphere forever changed.  So, specifically, what's the chronology of events?  How has this affected the perception of certain blogs, the nature of the dialogue and sense of community, and the efficacy of blogs as a tool for political organizing?

We all stand to benefit from learning what pitfalls nearly ruined certain blogs, who are even now stuck in an endless cycle of petty comments, abusive ratings, hurt feelings, and a blurred line between what's snark and what's sincere.  Snarkiness, if you will...

My own (incomplete) theory below the fold...

OMG, OMG, OMG, it is SO GOOD to be back from Mother Nature's suspension! Hopefully, I'll post some pictures of the huge flying tree chunks that took out the line for my home cable modem. Many people are still out, so I should feel fortunate. Also, many are suffering from century - old record - breaking flooding, and the apartment complex that got the direct hit from the nearby tornado on May 30 is going to be demolished. Lots of "Hoosiers" are losing their homes. Complaining about losing home internet access seemed more - than - a - little petty. Mother Nature has truly been a *itch to my little corner of the world.

I missed you all so much, and, once again, it is WONDERFUL to be back! Let the Countdown diary fun resume!

Originally Posted at The Albany Project

Now that the big Democratic primary for President is over with Hillary Clinton suspending her campaign this weekend, it’s time to turn our primary-attention to races for Congress and state houses.  First question on  the list: how does Hillary’s exit and Barack Obama’s triumph affect the many Democratic primaries that are still ongoing?

In New York’s 21st Congressional District, the question has greater weight: candidate Tracey Brooks, the only woman in a field of eight other men seeking retiring Representative Mike McNulty’s seat, has made the fact that she served as an aide to Senator Clinton a centerpiece of her campaign.

So does Hillary’s exit help or hurt the Congressional hopeful from Albany?  The Times Union considered this question just before Clinton’s exit:  Feel free to join the discussion below the fold.

I originally posted this diary right after the Iowa Caucus. I think My analysis still holds. After months of professional punditry and having the voters being sliced and diced into every conceivable voting block, Obama won ultimately because his message is believable and resonated with people longing to change the way politics works in this country.

On the other side is my original fom January and an updated analysis of where I think we are today.

There have been a myriad of calls for changes to our Democratic Primary system, with the simply stated goal of making the process better. Of course, what makes a "better" system is open to interpretation, but most can agree that any reforms be beneficial to the voters and the Party.

Of course, simply stated goals often have complex solutions. The idea of abolishing limited-participation Caucus contests sounds good at first, until you read how effectively Kos made the case for the Caucus. Same-day hybrid systems would seem to have the best of both worlds, until you go back and look at the mess that was the Texas contest from this year and the shenanigans in both the campaigns and media surrounding the question of who "won" Texas. Changing to a National Primary/Caucus Day could solve the Iowa/NH problem while creating still greater new ones.

The solution I hit upon follows after the fold.

A Choice - More of the Same or Something Different

On November 4th, voters will have a choice to make, not only in the race for President between Senator John McCain (More of the Same) and Senator Barack Obama (Something Different), but also in each of the contested races for seats in the US Congress.  

Voters have to look no further than two recent congressional roll call votes to see a contrast between the Democratic and Republican parties.  On May 21st, with solid Democratic support, HR 6049 passed on a 263 for / 160 against vote.   HR 6049 provides energy, business and personal tax breaks totaling $55.5 billion to spur the production of non-fossil fuels, promote energy conservation, stimulate business activity and help homeowners and the working poor.  In order to offset the costs of HR 6049, the bill tightens accounting rules on multinational corporations and eliminates certain offshore tax shelters and loopholes utilized by some US hedge fund managers.  Most important, HR 6049 does not add any additional burden to the national debt.