Ohio:
Hundreds of thousands of voters-- mostly urban apartment dwellers (likely black) and students-- who are primarily Democratic-- were sent notifications that they would be purged from the eligible voter lists if they did not respond the letter. But, reportedly, the letter was designed to be easily overlooked, perhaps treated as junk mail. Failure to send in a response caused the voter to be removed from the voting roll...
California:
State and federal officials were investigating the letter, which was written in Spanish and mailed to an estimated 14,000 Democratic voters in central Orange County. It warns, "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time."
Debate in the blogosphere: Pressure on the `08 wannabees - particularly Bayh, Kerry, Dodd, and Biden - to cough up some emergency cash for challenger candidates at this particular advantageous moment. Kos:
I don't care how much these guys have raised via campaign rallies and the like. At this point, with the only thing standing between us dramatically expanding the playing field is cash, these 2008 hopefuls need to pony up.
They can hoard that cash. That's their prerogative. But we shouldn't forget when they ask us to sacrifice for their efforts in 2008. The time is now. Those that pay their share should be properly applauded, those who refuse, well, they can explain to use why they were too cheap to help out their party and country when it needed them most.
Jerome Armstrong disagrees:
I think overall, that all of the '08 Democratic wannabees have done a much better than usual effort. Kerry has used his massive '04 list to help more candidates than anyone; Bayh has bodies on the ground and is working Indiana's CD seats; Clinton gave millions and hits the path; Edwards has been doing more personal fundraisers than anyone; Fiengold's online contests have supported innovative candidates; who knows about Obama as a wannabee, but he's certainly worked plenty; Richardson is present... Dodd & Biden, I dunno, but that probably doesn't really matter...
Hard for me to judge because I'm a spoiled Iowan having seen Bayh, Dodd, Edwards, Kerry, Obama and (never mind) Warner just this fall. Not to mention the spouse of the junior senator from New York.
Speaking of $$$, Chris at Political Forecast does the campaign finance report homework on governor and on sec of state and sec of ag. Wish I had the time...
So why in the middle of insane election season am I spending my tiny tidbits of free time writing this blog? Well, because that's when you're reading for one thing. But I think this scene from classic Star Trek captures me best:
Kirk moves up and peers at the title of the tape that Scotty is reading.KIRK: Another technical journal?
SCOTTY: Aye, why shouldn't I?
KIRK: Mr. Scott, don't you ever relax?
SCOTTY: (puzzled) But I am relaxin'!
Or, in honor of the gone but not forgotten Jim Traficant, beam me up.
(Courtesy link to the source but fair warning: 294 page .pdf)
Loebsack and Leach met again last night with an audience of high school students. DI:
From the beginning, Loebsack urged replacing the Republican-controlled Congress with a Democratic majority to reverse "politics as usual" in Washington. While Leach tried to erect a solid wall between him and his party during the forum, Loebsack explained how being raised by a poor, mentally ill, single mother in Sioux City fostered his belief in "helping those who need help most," which he called a central Democratic doctrine.
The Cornell College professor asserted that, despite their agreement on some issues, a vote for Leach is a vote for a failing Republican majority.
Leach, in closing, aimed to separate himself considerably from his party. "To be on the side of a party and to have conviction are not synonymous."
Or: just because I support George Bush, campaigned with Dick Cheney,and worked for Donald Rumsfeld, it doesn't really MEAN anything...
Press-Citizen:
Loebsack, a 24-year political science professor at Cornell College in Mount Vernon and first-time public office seeker, said he would offer an alternative voice to President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress. He also touted education as a priority and said bans on stem cell research should be lifted.
I razzed the PC yesterday and in fairness I should note that the print edition did have some coverage of Wednesday's peace rally - a photo and caption on page 3 - and a wire service story on war casualties above the fold on page one. Neither was in the on-line version. I still think "how to upgrade your cable to watch the Hawks" was placed too prominently; put the peace rally on page one and the cable story in the paid advertising where it belongs.
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