Thanks for hosting Jon again Howie.

Jon, you are a great netroots candidate. I’m honored to be standing by you through this primary fight and we will take this all the way to November.

Hey, Jon… and Howie. Glad to have you both here.

Hi Robert, glad you’re joining us!

Jon, I saw you were very active at Netroots Nation. Tell us about the Netroots for the Troops. I saw you were part of that effort.

I am really excited to be back on Blue America! Our netroots support has made a huge in difference in this campaign.

We had a great time at Netroots Nation. I was very moved by the efforts of the community that put together care packages for the troops. Timroff from DailyKos showed real leadership with his efforts and I was honored to be a part of it.

Jon,

You unveiled your education policy this week – the same week I was informed that I owe over $30,000 in student loans just from my time at SUNY Fredonia. I know that you mentioned lowering interest rates (which is VERY good and important) but would you fight for more funding for PELL Grants so that college students can turn to PELL grants instead of taking on more and more student loans?

hey Jon, nice to see you back at the Lake.

sure appreciate your immigration sanity, hard to take the immigration inanity influence of the talk-showey right.

Howie’s having a little computer glitch — but sent this along via phone while we troubleshoot:

Jon, welcome back to FDL. I’m really appreciative that you could take precious time out of your campaigning to spend a couple hours with us again (when you could be marching in a parade or sitting and making donor calls which I’m sure you must love so much). Last time we met here you had just turned 29 and it looked– at least to me– like you were going to sail into Congress and start kicking some butt there. Now with a discredited Republican incumbent retiring and with some opportunists making a grab for the nomination it looks more difficult. I know you’ve been doing well in terms of fundraising from individual donors– amazingly well– but I also know that you’re the non-millionaire in a race with a bunch of millionaires. Is it possible for non-millionaires to get elected anymore? Friends of mine near Buffalo are telling me that they’re seeing nothing of Jack Davis at all– except wall-to-wall TV commercials. It’s like your grassroots army against his high dollar campaign ads.

As a teacher I wanted to really focus on the incredible need for a better education policy in this country. Robert, I know you are someone who has put an incredible emphasis on your education and under this administration who cut funding to support higher eduation they made it much more difficult for you.

Increasing funding to PELL grants can be one way to help and I also think that, as we rolled out in our education policy, we need to decrease the interest on our federally backed loans.

Hey, Christy … Thanks for hosting Jon. He has been a great candidate here in New York and can help turn our entire Congressional delegation blue.

Hi Christy! Thanks for getting us back on.

We been on an amazing journey since last we were here. Let me get to your question. let me begin with the fact that my primary opponent, Jack Davis is the one who took the Millionaire’s Amendment to the SCOTUS and had it thrown out. As a result of his actions, it’s even more difficult for people powered campaigns to match media money dollar for dollar…but we have been building, as you say, a grassroots and Netroots campaign, depending upon the volunteer time and donations from many to match the millions of dollars supplied by one. Our campaign was recently endorsed as an Orange to Blue candidate on DailyKos and along with Blue America, we have done very well on the web. We have also created a “Powers Platoon” that hits the streets every day and gets the word neighbor to neighbor.

As far as comparing the two campaigns is concerned, a diarist on the excellent RochesterTurning and TheAbanyProject blogs termed the phrase, Powers v. Davis is actually “By the People” v. “Buy the People,” and that seems to be very reflective of how we are going about our campaigns.

Hi Christy! Thanks for getting us back on.

We been on an amazing journey since last we were here. Let me get to your question. let me begin with the fact that my primary opponent, Jack Davis is the one who took the Millionaire’s Amendment to the SCOTUS and had it thrown out. As a result of his actions, it’s even more difficult for people powered campaigns to match media money dollar for dollar…but we have been building, as you say, a grassroots and Netroots campaign, depending upon the volunteer time and donations from many to match the millions of dollars supplied by one. Our campaign was recently endorsed as an Orange to Blue candidate on DailyKos and along with Blue America, we have done very well on the web. We have also created a “Powers Platoon” that hits the streets every day and gets the word neighbor to neighbor.

As far as comparing the two campaigns is concerned, a diarist on the excellent RochesterTurning and TheAbanyProject blogs termed the phrase, Powers v. Davis is actually “By the People” v. “Buy the People,” and that seems to be very reflective of how we are going about our campaigns.

Thanks Elliot

It’s good to see you! Am wishing you all the best of luck in September!

Yeah Jon, how did that district get carved out the way it did? Did the Rs in the state senate think it would always be reliably R so go ahead and split it between two semi-major media markets (Rochester and Buffalo)?

LOL! What about Davis going after you for a jaywalking ticket? Is he insane? Does anyone take him seriously in the district?

Thanks! We are working really hard to win this!

This district was definitely cut for Tom Reynolds. During his retirement speech he said that “this is a Republican District, and it will remain a Republican District.” Ironically as I talk to folks all over this district they are focused supporting solutions, not political parties.

That is why we continue to get so much support in all parts of the district.

Maybe Jon knows the specifics of the particular gerrymander that created this district but I know that this kind of thing is rampant all over America– and it wasn’t invented by Tom DeLay– and that it subverts Democracy. The people who created this district tried keeping as many Democratic voters in Buffalo and in Rochester out of the district. Thanks to the Bush-GOP agenda though, suburban votes now have turned against the Republican approach to government too.

but I also know that you’re the non-millionaire in a race with a bunch of millionaires. Is it possible for non-millionaires to get elected anymore?

Jon — MORE POWER TO YOU!!! Thank you for fighting the good fight. Am so despairing of big money with tsunami-strength usurping the political will of the citizenry (corporation as legal person has characteristics of a self-aggrandizing psychopath as the old documentary claimed).

Am from NYC. Glad to have my neighboring consciousness raised about your campaign!

dakine01,

I’ll let Jon take the one about NY-26 since you asked him directly, but if you look at other congressional districts and then look at some of the state senate districts, they are so ridiculously gerrymandered. Jon’s isn’t the only one. Rep. Louise Slaughter’s district is a great example of this. Also, the 29th congressional district where Eric Massa is running can be another example of this.

At the state senate level, the 51st Senate District is so ridiculously gerrymandered that it has been described as Abe Lincoln on a vacuum cleaner. No kidding.

Remember – back when these districts were gerrymandered, the Republicans still had a stronghold in the NYS Senate and they still had a number of congressional seats in their pocket. Now, three upstate seats held by Republicans are about to fall and a fourth (NY-13) is looking more and more blue by the day.

And after the 2010 Census and when a Democratic state senate gets to form these districts, we will bring accountability and fairness to a process that has become too political over the years.

This is another example of our oppenents not wanting to talk about the issues. Jack has lowered the discourse to this.

I just returned from going door to door this morning in Amherst. We met a Marine who has done numerous tours and is going back again. Last week a woman told me her boyfriend from Ft. Drumm is on his 7th tour…that is right, 7! He was diagnosed with PTSD after his 6th, and now he is in the middle of a 15 month tour.

This is the conversation we are having and I believe this is what a Representative should be doing.

I lived in Rome, NY for over 5 years and had Sherry Boehlert as the Congressman at the time (Mike Arcuri’s district).

All those upstate districts have been weirdly drawn, but do understand the gerrymandering affect as a long and “honored” tradition in US politics. Delay just took it to the extreme. As he and the Rs seem to do quite frequently.

Redistricting is an issue that is going to raise its head in the 2010 election as well. The Governors’ races will be important because they will have lots of say in the process.

Thanks for the support Libby!

Jon,

In your trips to the rural parts of the 26th, you know how big of an issue immigration is in our agricultural community. When you get to Congress, what will your approach be to immigration so that we can have national security while not hurting our farmers and members of the farming community?

On top of our education policy that we announced last week, we also launched Teachers for Powers…the same day we received the NYSUT endorsment! If you know any teachers, please send them to our website http://www.powersforcongress.com to sign up…it is on the left hand side!

It is a never-ending battle. My favorite district is the one in South Carolina, I think, that basically runs on each side of the interstate about five miles either way. It just snakes alongside the road. Bizarre.

A jaywalking ticket? Oh, snap! That is my kind of risk-taking, living-on-the-edge Democrat.

Welcome back to FireDogLake, Jon Powers — it’s great of you to stop by on a busy Saturday to visit. I can’t wait for you to get this crazy primary behind you and start fighting the Republican who isn’t embarrassed to call himself one.

Firepups, I will match the first five ten-dollar donations today to Jon Powers’ campaign at our Blue America website. Here’s a way to make your ten-dollar contribution sing like a one-hundred dollar bill! Hop in the pool for Jon Powers!

Thanks, Jon, for your tireless efforts this campaign season. We need more like you in Washington!

That’s such a great idea, Jon. My mom taught in the public schools for more than 30 years — having a voice for education who knows what they are talking about in Congress would be invaluable. Far too few of those, these days, given how expensive it is to run against the millionaire set.

There’s one in NY that we call Abe Lincoln using a vacuum cleaner…and it really looks like one.

What is the foreclosure rate in your district, and is that helping you? I wonder if your opponent has a chunk of money in CDOs, directly or indirectly.

Teddy, you’re on. I’m in for $10.

Can Independents vote in your Primary? Or Democrats only?

Powers for Congress
Ann Marie Glaser, Treasurer
PO BOX 46
Williamsville, NY 14231

for snail mail contributions, Jon?

Robert, as you know from living in Orleans county the system is broken. Washington continues to fail in addressing this issue, putting our farmers in a difficult situation. We need a policy that is tough and secures our borders, is fair to our taxpayers, and is practical to the community by enabling our farmers to pick their crops and milk their cows.

There is nothing fair about free trade, some countries use prison labor, some use child labor, some use slave labor, is there any way we can have New York State Apple Juice instead of Apple Juice concentrate from China?

And I’ll match Teddy

Jon, what will be your main priority projects once you get into the Congress?

Thanks Teddy for your support! We’re almost at a million dollars raised and 80% of our donors are under $100, 67% are under $50. That’s the grassroots and netroots support that will help us win this election!

Democrats only. We’ll get the rest in November!

to teddy at 30–

ok, here’s one, she says, slowly waving a ten in front of your eyes and then shoving it into your hand.

go jon.

good luck…..

and i must have missed it–who is the rep in your district now?

New York primaries are closed. In fact, the deadline for registering as a new Democrat for this primary was yesterday.

Just got back from canvassing in Dansville, southern Livingston County. Jon has scores of committed volunteers going out for him all the time, while Jack Davis only has the supporters he hires.

That’s our mailing address. Thanks! You can also contribute on our website http://www.powersforcongress.com

Christy: It think you mean Mel Watt’s district in NC-12

It runs right along I85 from Charlotte to Greensboro. One of the most egregious pieces of gerrymandering I have ever seen.

Tom Reynolds, but he is retiring. We are in an open seat and I am a Red-to-Blue and Orange-to-Blue Candidate!

Great, Brian!

And with Howie’s match, every ten-dollar donation swells the coffers $30.

Way to go, dmac!

Teddy & Howie – I’m in.

We also could use more members of Club 26. Club 26 is a group of donors who have pledged at least $26 a month until November. If you are interested in joining Club 26, make your secure online contribution here via the Club 26 ActBlue page.

HistoricalPessimist, thank you, you are correct. Our Powers Platoon is what is going to not only win this election, but change Western New York! The volunteers who are hitting the streets and making calls for us each night have given me an opportunity to beat millionare candidates who try to buy this election. Please sign up today at http://www.powersforcongress.com

By the way, thanks for the support!

Teddy … If you want to know About the Jaywalking…

Thanks Howie! We’re 24 days out and this will make a huge difference.

Jon — One of the things I most look forward to about your winning the election in November is how it will change the outlook of the rural counties. Trying to get Democrats energized to work for anyone has always been like pulling teeth before, but now they won’t be able to say, “Oh, it’s no use. A Democrat can’t win around here.” It will be a sea change.

Thanks Teddy!

Teddy,

I’m in for $10. Just had to find the ol’ debit card.

Jon,

Liked these two you tube promotions for you. Very powerful.

Powers bio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related

conversation with candidate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related

I agree. I am so excited about the energy and support we receive from Wyoming, Orleans, Genesee and Livingston Counties. They have been the foundation of our campaign.

one more you tube:

war kids relief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related

what a worthy cause!

Who knows? Maybe next time I run for Assembly, I could actually win!

For crying out loud – this is just rich. Davis accuses Jon of being disrespectful to law enforcemtent because some officer in Ohio gave him a jaywalking ticket? I’d have barely been able to contain my sarcasm in that situation, and I don’t enjoy confrontations at all.

Jack Davis is trying to buy the elections through Bribes and voter fraud.

He’s ethically challenged.

yep teddy and howie, every little bit helps…(but no tip for act blue anymore-they didn’t answer any of my emails when i questioned something, and i used to tip BIG. oh well.)

if you don’t get five contributors , i’ll chip in another ten, let me know at the end of the thread, i’ll check back later.

and maybe jon will be on this list someday–new feingold’s progressive patriots contest-$5,000 goes to one with the most votes-blue america candidates bennet, doherty, feder, shulman, taddeo are on it this time.

good luck jon.

Corn based Ethanol is the most expensive and most water intensive Ethanol, 30% of our corn crop to make 3% of our fuel. Would you support using Sugar Beets instead, when you get elected?

John, there were an awful lot of Democrats who were elected in 2006– freshman like Heath Shuler in North Carolina and Chris Carney in Pennsylvania and Nick Lampson in Texas– who got into Congress and have actually voted more frequently with the Republicans on contentious substantive issues than with the Democrats. They excuse is that they live in “red districts.” To me this is a disgusting cop out since its up to real political leaders to help make voters UNDERSTAND issues and stop swallowing the talking points they hear on Republican-owned radio and TV. I know it’s harder to fight this battle than to just jump in and swim with the red tide. When you get into office are we going to look back with pride that we helped you– the way we do with John Hall and Donna Edwards? People who donate their money through Blue America aren’t the same as people who donate from the Red to Blue and Orange to Blue. They just want MORE Democrats. We want BETTER Democrats. The hell with more if they’re going to turn out to be shills like Shuler and Carney and Lampson.

For crying out loud – this is just rich. Davis accuses Jon of being disrespectful to law enforcemtent because some officer in Ohio gave him a jaywalking ticket? I’d have barely been able to contain my sarcasm in that situation, and I don’t enjoy confrontations at all.

Can you believe that?

Yeah Cujo, the Davis campaign thinks that Jon can’t respect authority.

If he can’t, how did he make it through the ranks of the U.S. Army and serve in Iraq?

I know people who are serving or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and I have had veterans of past wars in my family and collection of friends. None of them have authority issues. After meeting Jon, I know he doesn’t either. He’s a born leader, not a follower, but he will also respect those who outrank him.

forgot link
http://www.progressivepatriots…..use-v.html

jon, waht are your views on more drilling and permits on land and on sea?

how do propose we transition from fossil fuels to alternative fuels/sources of energy?

Jon,

Regarding the education policy, how would you reform NCLB? Seems like there are several possibilities…

Sandman, Corn based ethonal is no silver bullet to our solutions. We need to look at a menu of options, including sugar beets. Brazil has almost weened itself off of oil through renewable energy. There is no reason America should not be a leader on this.

There is a reverse ageism I will bet going on here, too, in this election. People fear change … and don’t want status quo disturbed, even when times are bad. And when “fear mongering” and dirty campaigning are wielded it is dispicable but so often effective. And also, the “fat cats” asserting their wills and their taste for power does seduce others. After all, they have made it big. They will show the citizenry the way, like big caring daddies. NOT!

To be able to gather momentum of loyal local volunteers willing to do the footwork and walk the walk for you and a long with you. That is great and gives me hope for all of us, on all levels. Yet, it is all local as they say, isn’t it?

And focusing on children. How core is that? Whether New York kids or Iraqi kids. The hope for the future is with them and their security and enlightenment.

I will make you proud by working towards securing our energy independence, ending the war by bringing our troops home safely, securely and soon, and taking the voices of hard working Americans back to Washington.

By the way, John Hall has done amazing work on behalf of veterans. He has been a great voice.

I’ll answer my own question. The only areas with foreclosure problems are Niagara, 1 in 822, and Erie, 1 in 1126, in July. The problem in Niagara is pretty significant.

Cujo, there are several reforms. The first problem is that we have a federal mandate that was not funded putting a tremendous strain on our local school districts. We need an educational system that develops lifelong learners, not students who are forced to learn toward standardized testing. Our students need their teacher’s expertise, not an inflexilble rubric.

Monroe County also has trouble (1 in 1272). The western portion of Monroe County is in NY-26.

I am in for $10.

I wanted to mention that State Fram Florida is seeking to raise home owners insurance 47% in one year. They do this by creating a subisidary, which is losing money, while the parent company is making huge profits, please remember your friends in Florida, and all along the coast, who are being screwed.

So, fund the mandate? Do away with standardized tests, or make them more representative, less important, … ?

Thanks to Thomas Mifflin for the Digg! Pups be sure and Digg this great post to show your Support for the Lake!

Jon, you just wrote “We need an educational system that develops lifelong learners, not students who are forced to learn toward standardized testing.” I think most people would agree with that but it seems like the Republican Party has been actively working towards undermining public education at least since the Reagan administration. And NCLB isn’t something Bush just pulled out of his rear end. I know at one time it was your goal to be a teacher and I have a feeling you’ve put a lot of thought into how to get public education to function again. What will you be able to do as a congressman in this regard?

I am in for $10.

Sandman….you rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHR7j3avdc

and jon maybe you’ll be in a video like this someday–political montage-has blue america candidates in it.

great video, made me want to go knock on some doors.

closer to free
the bodeans

found it because of a link from dr. dick. click on the submitter’s name, more stuff on his/her page.

any idea who did it and uploaded it to youtube howie? *g*

We need an educational system that develops lifelong learners, not students who are forced to learn toward standardized testing. Our students need their teacher’s expertise, not an inflexilble rubric.

Teachers need to be “teachers” not judges or handmaidens to a judging bureacracy. And schools “judged” below par need compassion and nourishment, not denial of support. Stuck in a catch-22, lose/lose scenario. And teachers need support, they are on the front lines of this country’s future. In a country that desparately needs its citizenry involved and capable of critical thinking, the government mandate on our schools is away from that. A recipe for demoralization.

I am glad you brought up energy. This summer we went to a local gas station and helped folks pump gas to talk to them about the problems $4 per gallon gas brings to their lives.

One couple told me that since retiring from GM, they have had to sell one car and may have to go back to work just to help the budget. Gas prices are too high and we have focused on breaking our addiction to oil. That is why we released our policy to Secure our Energy Independence ( http://www.powersforcongress.c…..8;s=powers ).

We need to lead by example and move towards renewable energy as quickly as possible.

Sorry masaccio, I missed your earlier question. Forclosures are more of an issue in Niagara, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming county than they are in Monroe and Erie county. That being said, the middle class across this district are feeling the pinch.

Yeah; I did it. The Bodeans used to be on my label too. Now I’m trying to learn how to work with actual moving pictures so I can make more effective clips. I’m counting on having Jon be in the November version of that one.

Howie, it is not just being a Congressman, but being a representative/leader. For example, I was in Batavia hosting a roundtable program for teachers and they told me about a great program in one of the towns. They had students stealing lunches on Fridays and Mondays, and it turned out they were doing this because they were not getting enough food at home.

The principal worked with the community center and the senior center to develop a program where now 20 families take home backpacks full of food each weekend for the students…at no cost to the tax payer. We can play a roll at creating this dialogue and solving these problems with the community.

That is how we solve these problems, together.

Jon was in that one. He’s in his army fatigues and has the Iraqi child on his shoulders.

Great vid, Howie.

jon at 86-thanks.

some people on fixed incomes (disability, ss, retired) can’t afford the rise in costs and have no way of increasing their income. and the prices of gas and goods sure aren’t going to come back down. it’s serious..

Thank you Howie and everyone at Blue America. I have to be at a roundtable this afternoon. Please help us spread the word (www.powersforcongress.com) and enlist 3 new people to the Powers Platoon. That is how we can win this thing.

I am honored to have your support and will work hard to not only win this election. Together we have the power to change Washington.

Thanks for your time Jon. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you real soon.

They had students stealing lunches on Fridays and Mondays, and it turned out they were doing this because they were not getting enough food at home.

How wonderful to actually recognize the “stealing” pattern was a symptom of a profound problem that could be addressed and healed. Instead of seeing the symptom as the problem and “punishment” being the ultimate and demonizing end block.

howie–thought it was.great job. love them….lots of cool things on your page, i subscribed the other night-the ’readfdl’ name and promoted it on fdl, but didn’t want to assume it was you without asking…

nybri–wondered if that was jon.

take care jon, thanks for coming, and good luck to you and your supporters.

Pups, which candidates do you want me to invite back for another chat?

Thanks for dropping by, Jon. Good luck.

BTW Teddy, I dropped more than $10 in the pot, but if you want to match the first $10, be my guest.

Thanks for this great chat today — heading off to match now~!

Alan Grayson, he is great.

I’d like to see Sam Bennett back. Communications with her campaign seem to be mostly in one direction. I have little idea what’s going on there.

Want to keep hearing about Jon Powers!

Annette Taddeo in Florida.

Wexler’s fight in Florida.

Good Luck Mr. Powers. Sounds like one life long progessive with a spine and a heart is on the way to stand up for human kindness. Kurt Vonnegut would love your style. Go Jon!

Alan’s primary is a week from Tuesday. I was thinking of asking him to come back next Saturday or maybe waiting til Tuesday nite or Wednesday to have him on for a little on-line celebration. He seems to be way ahead although that dickwad Bob Graham endorsed an anti-choice/pro-war corporate shill so that’s giving Alan a little problem. But just a little.

By the way, Blue arranged for Alan to do the only screening of “War, Inc” in Florida last weekend. It was a huge success for him– both in terms of donations and publicity.

i’d have to look at the list—-but the guy from iowa comes to mind.and vic wulsin, she really needs to win against jean schmidt,,,,that’s by my ‘home’ district…she’s right next to boehner.would love it if his new congressional neighbor were vic, would irk him every time he went home.wouldn’t be such a bastion of republicanism anymore.

Sam wants to come back so that will be easy.

Well said libby! lLets let teachers teach and give them all the support they truly need and deserve! None of this Big Brother testing crap, most teachers know what they are doing… they didn’t get into teaching for the money! They do it because it is a calling!
My feeling are that every child should be entitled to 12 years of grade school and 4 years of higher education! If we don’t invest in our children then we invite disaster for the country as a hole!
Netherlands saw that when they strated the project to protect the ports at the mouth of the Rhine they had to hire over 95% of foreign workers. They then decided to invest in the education of their own people and now 20 years later the investment is paying off in spades as now the same work force is now 95% it’s own citizens. This is proof that good education can and will help a country succeed and increase the standard of living for all of it’s citizens. Unlike the rethuglian version where only the well off children get good educations. They will never want to spend “their Money” on educating the masses as they are way too short sited and only care about themselves!

Just my $0.02 on education.

I know you’ve probably already left, but Jon, Thank-you so much for being here and much good luck for your campaign….:)

don’t forget to vote and send it on to friends and family

new feingold’s progressive patriots contest-$5,000 goes to one with the most votes-blue america candidates bennet, doherty, feder, shulman, taddeo are on it this time.

http://www.progressivepatriots…..use-v.html

and check out what happened to heather ryan when she confronted mcconnell.

Vic’s race is looking good. I think she’s going to win. A whole sky of hurt has been opening on Mean Jean lately– not national news but a steady stream of local stuff that keeps turning independent voters away from her– like her crazy lies about how China was drilling all the oil out of Cuban waters via Cuba. Even after other Republicans (like Boehner) said this wasn’t true, Mean Jean was still repeating it at every opportunity in front of credulous voters. She also just ran into a problem of not paying her fair share of real estate taxes. I’ll find out when Vic wants to come back

Has Jon already left? and can I go OT?

Nahant… so agree. It seems so wholesome and clear and spot on, doesn’t it? But where the money goes is not toward the teachers and good programmers. The non-psychopathic priority (as opposed to the corporate self-aggrandizing one) should be to promote education and educators. Teachers are so low on the professional caste system. I taught for nearly a decade and kept thinking re bureaucracy… oy vey… if you can’t help me, get out of my way. But burn-out seems so inevitable for so many. And it is systemic, the problem. People pit their earnest hearts to help and they do… but it needs such an overhaul, and some kind of self-nourishing programs to help new teachers not drown in the challenge and old teachers not become embittered and entrapped.

yes/yes

Ian upstairs

Thanks Howie :)
I see there is a new thread so I’ll go OT upstairs..
Ohhh, Howie BIG THANK-YOU’s for everything you are doing to help get the word out to us :)

wow, howie, hard to choose. i say bring back whomever most needs/deserves our support right now.

i noticed you linked fdl chats on some candidates, but vic’s isn’t linked. *g*, fix it maybe?

i usually throw a little into her jar when i contribute to someone on blue america, but not this week, other things goin’ on.

thanks for all you do howie.

Very True! And none of this testing for testing sake. Most teachers know which children need extra help and that extra help should be available for the kids as most families are now having to have both parents working and really don’t have the time nor the energy to provide the help that my generation had from mom. It is all a race to the bottom.. if we don’t wake up and invest in our kids we will become a third rate country. Thanks in no small part because of the policies that the rethuglians have put in place… Privatize education and make it “FOR PROFIT” how short sited can you get… It is all the Friedman policies that have got us to this point… California once had one of the best education system in the country and because of the rethuglian cutting of funding, including RayGun we have fallen to one of the worst!

thanks–yeah, she’s not so popular anymore, must kill her.

my family and friends are in boehner country. all dems but my broinlaw.
i go there once a month, very scary indeed. funny thing though, one of the wealthiest republican families there contribute more money to public good than anyone else there.they contributed millions to keep the one emergency room open and to keep the public pools open, then the city screwed them…government screwed a republican. big. lotsa people not so happy about it. guess we’ll see in november just how mad they are at their own…

i’m on the other side of the state-charlie wilson.

Since we’re into the OT portion of this thread, I’ll just remind folks that Slobber and Spittle Blue candidate Diane Benson is facing a tough primary challenge this month. She could really use your support.