Today’s big news is that Laura Bush is having a secret breakfast on an estate for Wetterling’s opponent, Bachman, later this week, and then she will do a public event in Rochester for Gil Gutknecht, (R) First District. Waltz (DFL) is either even or a little ahead in that southern Minnesota Rural district. You got to wonder at sending in Laura for a secret event, though it is probably a high ticket fundraiser. But with Amy heading the ticket and being polled at perhaps 24 points ahead, you can see why the R party is pulling money out. Kennedy was not a Minnesota party choice — it was engineered by Rove a couple of years back. Rove, it seems does not always have perfect instinct.

To be fair, the Washington Dem’s also took away some of Amy’s money after it was clear she needed it less than others. She is still very up on TV, and has local money that will take her to Election Day.

One fascinating thing is happening at the Grass Roots — someone shouted “Wellstonians to the Barracades” and thousands of people are scheduling themselves for phone banks and for Night before Election doorhanger efforts in the tradition of one of Wellstone’s campaigns. It’s huge. Something happened and it all just came alive again. As I understand it, much will focus on GOTV in Wetterling’s district. But the hurt of 2002 is still very much evident. The other day I heard someone say “Crash and Burn” in reference to Bush’s efforts — and people turned away, some cried a little, they are still emotionally raw.

No kidding. You can’t turn on a radio or a TV set without seeing or hearing a Talent commercial.

You may wish to ban me from here on out. I’d certainly understand.

Bush signs the torture bill today. Democrats made this possible. After over 40 years of exercising my right to vote, I feel strongly for the first time that I may stay home on November 7th, that this is actually the right thing to do. Never would I have imagined that I would have this thought, but now I do, that I would feel cleaner by abstaining.

We shall see.

But something has happened in this country that completely trivializes a shift in party dominance, and it should not pass unmarked.

JHF, this is truly a day to mourn. This hideous law can be undone, but only if there is the will and I agree, there is not enought will in the right places just now. But there is some. A Dem House will put John Conyers in a good spot to subpoena, and I think he might just do it.

I never thought this would be an easy fight. I never thought it would be quick. I never thought that it was a sure thing. I thought this would be a risk, and that getting Dems in is only a first step, then fixing the Dem party, and there need to be other parties too, and a proportional system of representation that isn’t this damn Othello shit. I figure it won’t happen in my lifetime (est 20-30 years, if I’m lucky). But maybe, maybe my grandchildren can have a real democracy with real elections and a real government of the people, for the people and by the people.

The snakes-in-charge have been hugging this country to death, like a boa. They don’t have to be strong enough to crush, just patient — just little bit, little bit. Everytime we move they just squeeze and set the rachet that little bit tighter.

I fault the congresscritters w/D after their name for not fighting this hideous Act every way possible up to and including self-immolation on the floor of the House and the Senate. We’ve called, we’ve marched, we’ve e-mailed and it rolls off them. The D’s are owned by the same folks as own the R’s and we have a long, long battle ahead.

But we can’t not fight it.

Take a rest on this one for now. Take a day or a week or however long you need to grieve it through. When you are ready, come back and fight with us some more. I for one will be glad of your help.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c…..ml?cnn=yes

Bit of trivia, Tyson used to be married to Steele’s sister. No word of lie.

She’s going to vote absentee, that’s already in the plan. But I’m trying to figure out some way she can help the Dems in GA by phone-banking from her home when she’s able to do so. (Even in this semi-anonymous forum, I’d rather not talk about her medical problems, but let’s just say she can’t walk very much, and has severe agoraphobia.) She can be very shy in person, but if I can plug her into a system where she can call people and talk on the phone, she’d be a real asset to a phone bank. I’ve done a little googling, but haven’t found a group doing phone banking that could use her. If somebody out there can point me in the right direction, I can give her the information and clear the way for her so she can do some work. I’m sure there’s got to be some FDL-GA folks around here, so I’ll keep checking back today to see if somebody can give us some information on how she can help.

thanks again for all the help, I love this community, so much passion and compassion, kindness and intelligence is manifested here daily. Whenever I have a Bad Day, I find hope here, and the impetus to get up off the ground and fight on.

I’ll be back in a few hours – am going down to the county clerk’s office to get my early voting done and see if I can still sign up to be an election official.

Coz at 89 — Why does George Allen think it is okay to attack a veteran?

Desperate I guess. They make it sound like the money was from a bank heist or something, tainted? LOL

Bush signs the torture bill today. Democrats made this possible. After over 40 years of exercising my right to vote, I feel strongly for the first time that I may stay home on November 7th, that this is actually the right thing to do. Never would I have imagined that I would have this thought, but now I do, that I would feel cleaner by abstaining.

We shall see.

But something has happened in this country that completely trivializes a shift in party dominance, and it should not pass unmarked.