Be mindful Sheldon has some warts that the GOP machine will make certain to exploit so badly that Myrth York will look like his supporter.

It is not a position that you are to use to line your own pockets and those of your cronies. Nor is it your seat — you earn it every single day, or we will find someone who will.

This is why I read this weblog, and this is also why I vote.

-GFO

I recently had a conversation with someone running for the state legislature here. He has worked as an activist for a long time and had a reasonably productive relationship with an older state senator who is now being challenged by a younger, more progressive Dem. Many local pols are coming out in favor of the new guy, who is mounting a pretty strong campaign, but the fellow I was talking to is staying out of the fray. His reasoning was that he simply could not risk his own reputation by turning his back on someone who had taken on some tough issues with him in the past. Obviously, the Maryland Delegate and the US Senator from California are not in the same ballpark, but I found the discussion worthwhile. If Lieberman had a favor to call in with Boxer and she paid up, then I don’t see how she can really be criticized. I’ll guarantee you that every sitting Dem senator will support the winner of the primary.

————————————–
Dear Jane,

One of the great thrills working on Ned’s campaign has been the opportunity to witness, up close, a rebirth of the democratic process in Connecticut. From Norwalk to New Haven and Waterbury to Willimantic, this is what democracy is supposed to look like. Check out some photos from the trail and invite your friends to do the same.

http://www.nedlamont.com/page/invite/democracy

Ned likes to tell the story about one of his first campaign events at Naples Pizza in New Haven, Connecticut. About a dozen people showed up to meet a candidate few thought had a chance to compete against an entrenched incumbent wrong on the war, universal health care and energy independence. Fast forward to today, and a people-powered movement has Senator Lieberman on the run with two weeks to go.

http://www.nedlamont.com/page/invite/democracy

Many have said this race is about the “heart and soul of the Democratic Party,” and they are right. Do we believe health care is a right for all Americans? Do we believe it’s time to start bringing our troops home from Iraq? Yes and yes. At least Ned Lamont’s campaign does.

But this race is also about a democratic process beaten down by corporate interests and a complete lack of accountability in Congress. We’ve stuck to the issues while Senator Lieberman’s guttural politics of personal destruction and outright lies attempt to distract from what’s really at stake in this country. We’re going to keep the focus on what the people of Connecticut care about, and this wonderful democratic revitalization taking place. It’s a story of hope that needs to be told.

http://www.nedlamont.com/page/invite/democracy

Tim Tagaris
Internet Communications Director, Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate

Attorney’s Offices’ Staffing Is Decried
Two lawmakers upbraid Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales, saying cases are going unprosecuted.
By Joe Mozingo, Times Staff Writer
July 25, 2006

Two congressmen called Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales to account Monday for severe staffing shortages and cutbacks in U.S. attorney’s offices across the nation, which they say have halted prosecution of important cases including bank robberies, immigrant smuggling and tax fraud.

U.S. Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) said in a letter to Gonzales that federal prosecutors had been starved of resources although for four years the Justice Department’s budget had grown faster than inflation — from $1.349 billion in fiscal year 2001 to $1.588 billion in 2006.

“The disparity between increased funding for U.S. attorneys overall and drastic shortages in staff and supplies in individual offices raises questions about Justice Department management,” they wrote
—-
The story goies on to talk about how bad the problem is – they’re even short on paper clips!

“And for every person who whines about the Democratic party not living up to your expectations, and on and on, this is a long, long road.”

I appreciate that. We have a situation here in my town where in the last election cycle we managed to toss out some of the good ol’ boy establishment and elect a few more progressive types. But a part of our constituency is impatient, and wonders why everything isn’t perfect already. It’s a slow, drip-drip-drip process, and we have to accept that before starting down the path of change.