You are hereFeed aggregator / Categories / Democratic Blogs
Democratic Blogs
Doing What's Best for Small Businesses
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 09/03/2010 - 14:55
"This piece of legislation is good for workers, it's good for small business people, it's good for our economy. And yet, Republicans in the Senate have blocked this bill -- a needless delay that has led small business owners across the country to put off hiring, put off expanding and put off plans that will make our economy stronger." – President Obama
Today the President called on members of Congress to immediately pass a small business bill that has been held up by Senate Republicans.
New jobs numbers released this morning show that while we’re continuing to make progress on the economy—adding 67,000 private sector jobs in the 8th consecutive month of growth—businesses and workers are still hurting.
Loans for small businesses under the Recovery Act have successfully helped create jobs, but funds ran out in May. The Small Business Jobs Act would mean that more than 1,000 small businesses waiting for loans would be able to receive them.
Small Business Administrator Karen Mills explained on the White House blog:
Not only will the bill immediately help thousands of small business owners get access to capital, but it will also raise the limit on SBA loans from $2 million to $5 million, helping high-growth small firms who are ready to expand, franchisees who want to open a new location, and exporters who need to ramp up to meet a big order from abroad.
And on top of that, the bill has $12 billion in tax cuts for small businesses, including accelerated depreciation, eliminating capital gains on small business investments, and doubling the deduction for start-ups. It’s fully paid for and both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses have praised the legislation.
In other words, this is a strong bill. It has broad support. It will give taxpayers a big bang for their buck. And, it will benefit thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country, including the more than 1,000 who are right now waiting to get an SBA Recovery loan.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Technology to Change the World
News from the DNC blog - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 16:46
I’m an iPhone developer. It can be an exciting job: there are always puzzles to solve, you meet a lot of clever people, you’re always working late and shipping yesterday—but it can quickly start to feel like a grind. How many interactive corporate brochures can a person make before starting to wonder whether technology really has the power to change the world?
That’s why I’m so excited about the project I just finished working on: today’s update to the Organizing for America iPhone app, which gives volunteers everything they need to go door to door talking with people about what’s important to them.
The app takes the usual unwieldy accouterments of canvassing—the pen and paper, clipboards, and lists of voters—and puts them all on your mobile phone. It lets you connect with real people wherever you are and whenever you want. It gets rid of the time-consuming process of assembling lists of houses and entering data, and makes it easier for people on the ground to focus on the things that matter: the one-on-one conversations with your neighbors. (And it makes for a pretty exciting video, too.)
For me, this is exciting in a way software seldom is: it’s technology that affects the real world, that can change the lives of the people who use it and those around them. This is why I’m a programmer.
Most importantly, I think it could have the ability to bring a little spark back to the lives of those who have become jaded by the current political scene. Too many people have become disenchanted with the idea that politics can change the world for the better. In a time when moving forward can seem too difficult to bother, this old-fashioned activity—talking to neighbors about their hopes and concerns—might help remind us that change and connection can still happen. OFA volunteers are already out there knocking on doors—more than 200,000 just last weekend—and now it’s easier than ever to join in.
My favorite Obama slogan was always “We are the change we have been waiting for.” We all still are. Get out there. Talk to your friends, to your neighbors, to strangers. That change and energy is still all around us, even if it can be sometimes a little hard to see. But you’ll never find it if you don’t look.
If a simple iPhone app can help even one person to realize that, it’s worth all the e-brochures in the world.
Download the OFA iPhone app, get today’s canvassing update, or learn more here.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
@Stake: Unbelievable
DCCC Blog - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 14:35
Executive Director Jon Vogel just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
Unbelievable! You didn't just help us make President Obama's $1 million grassroots goal for August 31st. You absolutely shattered it!
Thanks to you, we raised an astonishing $1,078,442 in grassroots gifts before this critical deadline. This massive outpouring is sending an irrefutable message to the pundits, the Republicans, and the world that as the fall campaign begins, grassroots Democrats are fired up and ready to go!
On behalf of everyone at the DCCC, I cannot thank you enough. Check out our special Fall Kickoff edition of @Stake to see how your dollars are being put to work in the critical final two months of the 2010 campaign.
Thanks to you, the DCCC has already hit the airwaves with our first hard-hitting TV ad for the fall campaign. The first target is Social Security privatization supporter (and former reality TV show star) Sean Duffy, the Republican candidate in a crucial swing district in Wisconsin. Thank you for making this ad possible.
Check out the brand new DCCC television ad, hitting Republican Sean Duffy for supporting Social Security privatization >> Rapid Response: DCCC Goes After Republican Shadow Group
Last week, the DCCC formally asked the IRS to investigate one of the Republicans' most well-funded shadow groups, Americans for Prosperity, after accusations surfaced that they violated their tax exempt status. The group is funded by Charles and David Koch, two Republican billionaire brothers. The founder of a respected nonpartisan watchdog group recently said of the Kochs, "They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I've been in Washington since Watergate, and I've never seen anything like it."
Watch reports from Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show about the Republican billionaire brothers and their campaign of attack ads against Democrats >>
The DCCC's Fall Kickoff began last week with six days of house parties across America. It all led up to last Saturday's National Day of Action, when volunteers knocked on more than 200,000 doors in a massive neighbor-to-neighbor get-out-the-vote drive. But it's just the beginning. We urgently need volunteers to join our ground effort from now until Election Day.
Check out our Photo Gallery from last Saturday's National Day of Action. Then sign up to volunteer in your area. We need you!
Onward to Victory!
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director Top Links:
1. Tell Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin: We Won't Stand for Your Smears
2. House Republican Candidates in Disarray Across the Country
3. VIDEO: GOP Candidate Accused of Driving Truck off the Road
Help us Redesign the DCCC's Online Action Center
As we prepare to make some upgrades to the DCCC's website for the fall campaign, we wanted to provide you with an interactive opportunity to be part of our campaigns nationwide. Right now, we're making final decisions on what to include before we launch. So who better to ask for advice than you, our most dedicated grassroots supporters?
Tell us what you want to see on the DCCC's new website as we prepare to upgrade it for the final critical weeks of the 2010 campaign >>
DCCC Rapid Response
Don't miss a beat: Get up to the minute Rapid Response updates from the DCCC on Facebook and Twitter:
Not on Facebook or Twitter? No problem: Download the DCCC Breaking News Toolbar.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
@Stake: Unbelievable
DCCC Blog - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 14:35
Executive Director Jon Vogel just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
Unbelievable! You didn't just help us make President Obama's $1 million grassroots goal for August 31st. You absolutely shattered it!
Thanks to you, we raised an astonishing $1,078,442 in grassroots gifts before this critical deadline. This massive outpouring is sending an irrefutable message to the pundits, the Republicans, and the world that as the fall campaign begins, grassroots Democrats are fired up and ready to go!
On behalf of everyone at the DCCC, I cannot thank you enough. Check out our special Fall Kickoff edition of @Stake to see how your dollars are being put to work in the critical final two months of the 2010 campaign.
Thanks to you, the DCCC has already hit the airwaves with our first hard-hitting TV ad for the fall campaign. The first target is Social Security privatization supporter (and former reality TV show star) Sean Duffy, the Republican candidate in a crucial swing district in Wisconsin. Thank you for making this ad possible.
Check out the brand new DCCC television ad, hitting Republican Sean Duffy for supporting Social Security privatization >> Rapid Response: DCCC Goes After Republican Shadow Group
Last week, the DCCC formally asked the IRS to investigate one of the Republicans' most well-funded shadow groups, Americans for Prosperity, after accusations surfaced that they violated their tax exempt status. The group is funded by Charles and David Koch, two Republican billionaire brothers. The founder of a respected nonpartisan watchdog group recently said of the Kochs, "They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I've been in Washington since Watergate, and I've never seen anything like it."
Watch reports from Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show about the Republican billionaire brothers and their campaign of attack ads against Democrats >>
The DCCC's Fall Kickoff began last week with six days of house parties across America. It all led up to last Saturday's National Day of Action, when volunteers knocked on more than 200,000 doors in a massive neighbor-to-neighbor get-out-the-vote drive. But it's just the beginning. We urgently need volunteers to join our ground effort from now until Election Day.
Check out our Photo Gallery from last Saturday's National Day of Action. Then sign up to volunteer in your area. We need you!
Onward to Victory!
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director Top Links:
1. Tell Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin: We Won't Stand for Your Smears
2. House Republican Candidates in Disarray Across the Country
3. VIDEO: GOP Candidate Accused of Driving Truck off the Road
Help us Redesign the DCCC's Online Action Center
As we prepare to make some upgrades to the DCCC's website for the fall campaign, we wanted to provide you with an interactive opportunity to be part of our campaigns nationwide. Right now, we're making final decisions on what to include before we launch. So who better to ask for advice than you, our most dedicated grassroots supporters?
Tell us what you want to see on the DCCC's new website as we prepare to upgrade it for the final critical weeks of the 2010 campaign >>
DCCC Rapid Response
Don't miss a beat: Get up to the minute Rapid Response updates from the DCCC on Facebook and Twitter:
Not on Facebook or Twitter? No problem: Download the DCCC Breaking News Toolbar.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Big Oil Billionaire Koch Brothers Funding Swift-Boat Attacks on House Democrats
DCCC Blog - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 11:52
Last week, the DCCC formally asked the IRS to investigate one of the Republicans' most well-funded shadow groups, Americans for Prosperity, after accusations surfaced that they violated their tax exempt status. The group is funded by Charles and David Koch, two Republican oil billionaire brothers.
Watch this clip from Countdown with Keith Olbermann on the "Kochtopus":
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Good Economic News: Agriculture Going Strong
News from the DNC blog - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 15:45
With millions of Americans still struggling to find work, the pace of our country’s economic recovery has been slower than anyone would like. But there are some bright spots as the Obama Administration works each day to get the economy back on track—like yesterday’s good news that agriculture is thriving thanks to increased exports.
The New York Times highlighted new estimates out yesterday that represent good news for farmers and other rural Americans:
Even as the broader economy falters amid signs of a weakening recovery, the nation’s agriculture sector is going strong, bolstered in part by a surge in exports, according to federal estimates of farm trade and income released on Tuesday.
The estimates confirm what economists have been saying for months: agriculture, which was generally not hit as hard by the recession as many other segments of the economy, remains a small bright spot going forward.
“We’re just having a robust rebound in the agricultural sector and promises of more growth,” Jason R. Henderson, vice president and economist at the Omaha branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, said in a recent interview.
The estimates show that American farmers will ship $107.5 billion in agricultural products abroad in the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. That is the second-highest amount ever, behind the record $115.3 billion in exports logged in 2008, when commodity prices soared as the global demand for agricultural products was helped by fast-growing economies in the developing world....
“The better the demand, the higher the price, and it’s going to put another 10, 15, possibly 20 cents in the price of a bushel of corn,” said Bill Horan, a corn farmer in Iowa. Corn is about $4 a bushel, which is about 50 cents higher than last year. “It means my wife can go out and buy a new sofa, and I can put new tires on the pickup.”
Categories: Democratic Blogs
An End to the War—and a Campaign Promise Kept
News from the DNC blog - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 14:59
“Tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended.” — President Barack ObamaIn 2008, many volunteers were first drawn to Barack Obama as a candidate for President because of his firm promise to end the was in Iraq.
Last night, the President made good on that campaign pledge, and spoke to the nation to mark the end of our combat mission in Iraq.
In just his second Oval Office address, President Obama thanked the millions of Americans who put their lives on the line, including the 4,400 who gave their lives in this war.
We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war. We’ve endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation -- a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity -- may seem beyond our reach.
But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.
From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.
These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides. At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am incredibly proud of their service. And like all Americans, I’m awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.
The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people, trained Iraqi Security Forces, and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians -- and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people -- Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.
So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.
This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office.
The President also emphasized his steadfast commitment to taking care of our troops once they return home as veterans:
Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and we will do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That’s why we’ve already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We’re treating the signature wounds of today’s wars -- post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury -- while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we’re funding a Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II -- including my grandfather -- become the backbone of our middle class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.
Last night we witnessed a historic milestone in our nation’s history. You can join in and mark this moment by welcoming our troops home—send our men and women in uniform your personal message of thanks.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
A Message from the President: "The end of our combat mission in Iraq"
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 22:30
President Barack Obama just sent a message to supporters following his Oval Office address on Iraq:
Tonight marks the end of the American combat mission in Iraq.
As a candidate for this office, I pledged to end this war responsibly. And, as President, that is what I am doing.
Since I became Commander-in-Chief, we've brought home nearly 100,000 U.S. troops. We've closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of our bases.
As Operation Iraqi Freedom ends, our commitment to a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq continues. Under Operation New Dawn, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain to advise and assist Iraqi forces, protect our civilians on the ground, and pursue targeted counterterrorism efforts.
By the end of next year, consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, these men and women, too, will come home.
Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest -- it is in our own. Our nation has paid a huge price to put Iraq's future in the hands of its people. We have sent our men and women in uniform to make enormous sacrifices. We have spent vast resources abroad in the face of several years of recession at home.
We have met our responsibility through the courage and resolve of our women and men in uniform.
In seven years, they confronted a mission as challenging and as complex as any our military has ever been asked to face.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans put their lives on the line. Many returned for multiple tours of duty, far from their loved ones who bore a heroic burden of their own. And most painfully, more than 4,400 Americans have given their lives, fighting for people they never knew, for values that have defined our people for more than two centuries.
What their country asked of them was not small. And what they sacrificed was not easy.
For that, each and every American owes them our heartfelt thanks.
Our promise to them -- to each woman or man who has donned our colors -- is that our country will serve them as faithfully as they have served us. We have already made the largest increase in funding for veterans in decades. So long as I am President, I will do whatever it takes to fulfill that sacred trust.
Tonight, we mark a milestone in our nation's history. Even at a time of great uncertainty for so many Americans, this day and our brave troops remind us that our future is in our own hands and that our best days lie ahead.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Moving America Forward: 200,000 Doors in 48 Hours
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:51
Over the weekend, thousands of Organizing for America supporters and grassroots Democrats came together to reach out to voters in support of candidates who are fighting to move America forward.
Before our Moving America Forward Day of Action, Organizing for America set an ambitious goal of 200,000 doors knocked in 48 hours. Volunteers across the country stepped up—not only hitting that goal by knocking on 200,893 doors, but also making 168,330 phone calls to voters.
Check out some of the press coverage of the events and take a look at photo highlights from the weekend.
CNN - “Dems Launch Get Out the Vote Campaign”
Two major Democratic committees jointly launched their first nationwide get out the vote initiative of the fall campaign season on Saturday. The Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee set a goal of knocking on 400,000 doors (200,000 for each committee) in 75 congressional districts as part of their "National Day of Action." "This level of voter contact this early is unprecedented," DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen said in a statement. "We will continue to meet with voters face to face and spread the message about moving the country forward."
Virginia’s NBC 29 News - “Mark Warner surprises Organizing for America”
Democrats brought in some national star power to help pound the pavement Saturday afternoon. Senator Mark Warner offered some words of advice to about 40 canvassers before they hit the streets of Charlottesville. Organizing for America teamed up with Tom Perriello's campaign to try and rally votes for the incumbent. Senator Warner told the party faithful that face-to-face time with voters is important for success in November.
Pennsylvania’s Scranton Times Tribune - “Casey rallies area Dems as party preps for midterm races”
When Democratic volunteers and activists gathered to campaign for the 2010 midterm elections Saturday, U.S. Sen.Bob Casey Jr. told them Democrats can prevail in the fall elections. "We're going to win this year, but I know we have a lot of work to do," he told the canvassers gathered in downtown Scranton, with cell phones for phone-bank calls and clipboards for door-to-door campaigning stacked on a table a few feet away. The gathering Saturday was part of a national campaign effort on behalf of Democrats over the weekend. Sixty events were planned in Pennsylvania.
See more highlights and photos from this weekend’s Moving America Forward Day of Action.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Chairman Kaine on President Obama's Statement on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:29
Following President Obama’s Oval Office address regarding the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine released the following statement:
“President Obama’s Oval Office address this evening marked an important moment for America, as U.S. combat operations in Iraq have now ended. Those operations ended as promised and within the promised timeframe. While this chapter in American history is now coming to a close, other challenges still lay ahead. 50,000 American troops remain in Iraq for non-combat purposes. Tens of thousands more continue to fight al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. As we move forward, we shall continue to honor those who are currently serving and extend our thanks to those who have now come home from the Middle East. To that end, President Obama committed to our American soldiers that they will have the resources they need to succeed on the battlefield and at home.
“As the President has said, America’s commitment to our veterans is a sacred trust and upholding that commitment is a moral obligation. To that end, this Administration is investing in a 21st century Veterans Administration that can meet the needs of veterans quickly and efficiently. By funding the post-9/11 GI bill, President Obama is helping hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families to obtain a higher education. In so doing, the President has demonstrated that while combat operations in Iraq have ended, our country’s dedication to those who served there never will.
“At the same time President Obama is working to guarantee the safety of the American people and to safeguard the future of American families and workers by strengthening America’s position not only militarily but also economically. That means laying a solid foundation for economic growth and prosperity, and making sure that Americans have the tools they need to compete effectively in the global economy. I hope that as leaders of both parties can mark the end of U.S. combat operations together, they can also come together with the President to take the steps necessary for a more secure and brighter economic future for all Americans.”
Categories: Democratic Blogs
House Republican Candidates in Disarray Across the Country
DCCC Blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 18:46
While House Republican Leaders in Washington have spent the past month measuring the drapes, Republican candidates across the county were facing tough stories on everything from coming out in favor of privatizing Social Security... failure to pay taxes... ethics problems... arrest warrants... to even a candidate lying about their role in driving a truck off the road because it was carrying negative mail pieces from a rival campaign.
Here is a sample of August's local coverage of Republicans' problems:
Rick Crawford (AR-01) - Rick Crawford refuses to say whether he paid bankruptcy bills
"Crawford refuses to say whether he paid the bill this summer after questions were raised and after he had insisted that he had long ago repaid his debts. A campaign aide of the candidate said that was all he was ever going to say about the matter." The Arkansas Leader concludes, "If you cannot trust a man to be honest about so trivial an affair in his own life, how can you vouchsafe any faith in what he says about matters that are truly grave?" [Arkansas Leader, 8/17/10]
Ben Quayle (AZ-03) - Republican candidate Ben Quayle tied to ‘The Dirty' since 2005
"Ben Quayle now admits that in 2007 he used a pseudonym to contribute to the voyeuristic website, DirtyScottsdale.com, which later became TheDirty.com, after first denying any affiliation with the site... Quayle's ties to the founder of the site go back more than five years when the two were introduced during a celebrity golf tournament at a country club in Lake Tahoe, Nev." [Arizona Capitol Times, 8/12/10]
Representative Dan Lungren (CA-03) - Former California Attorney General spiked his state pension just before leaving office
"In addition to his federal pay as a United States Congressman, in his last year as California Attorney General, Rep. Dan Lungren, expected a 25% a spike which increased the amount that he was able to except in his pension by over $11,000... In his final months as attorney general, his salary jumped to more than $140,000. upping his retirement pay by more than $11,000 per year." [KOVR-TV, 8/22/10] [Sacramento Bee, 8/19/10]
Michele Rollins (DE-AL) - Michele Rollins owned a Venezuelan state oil bond that was controlled by Hugo Chavez
Rollins owned a bond worth over a quarter of a million dollars in an oil company Chavez uses to fund his agenda. "Chavez, who has increased the oil entity's power, has not been the strongest of American allies — in 2009, he called America the greatest terrorist in world history." [Politico, 8/16/10]
Allen West (FL-22) - Under fire for his tax liens
Allen West has been hit with thousands worth of liens because of his unpaid taxes, including a single $11,000 lien by the IRS. [Miami Herald, 8/27/10]
David Rivera (FL-25) - CBS 4 Miami discredited David Rivera's account of what took place in a traffic accident where a truck carrying literature from a rival campaign was driven off the road.
The station reported that police reports contradicted Rivera's story about his role in the 2002 accident. In the incident, a truck carrying flyers from a rival campaign, detailing the alleged domestic violence charges, en route to a post office was driven off the road by David Rivera. [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]
In an investigative report, the Miami Herald discredited Rivera story surrounding past domestic violence allegations.
The paper discovered that David Rivera did in fact have ties with the domestic violence victim in question despite his denials. [Miami Herald, 8/19/10]
Rivera previously lied about foreclosure proceedings on a home he co-owns with Marco Rubio. Rivera "denied that a bank began foreclosure proceedings on a house he owned with former House Speaker Marco Rubio even though property and foreclosure records clearly showed he did co-own the home." [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]
Rivera also lied about his personal ties to a controversial businessman. As CBS 4 Miami reported, Rivera "denied to the Miami Herald being friends with a principal of a group that advises companies on how to trade with Cuba despite several prominent witnesses who said the two men were close." [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]
Brad Zaun (IA-03) - Congressional candidate Brad Zaun told to stay away from former girlfriend
"Republican congressional candidate Brad Zaun had to be told by West Des Moines police in 2001 to stay away from a former girlfriend who had accused him of harassing her, a police report shows...Zaun, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Leonard Boswell in Iowa's 3rd District, acknowledged in an interview Wednesday that the incident took place when he was Urbandale's mayor." [Des Moines Register, 8/18/10]
Representative Mike Pence (IN-06) - Rep. Mike Pence hosted job fair with Employers that received stimulus funding
On August 10, 2010 Representative Mike Pence hosted a job fair in his district with 65 businesses attending. 16 of the businesses invited received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which he voted against. [CBS News, 8/11/10]
Andy Barr (KY-06) - Disgraced Gov. Ernie Fletcher's "a voice of compliance" tied to missing public documents
GOP challenger Andy Barr is struggling to distance himself from his former boss, unpopular ex-Gov. Ernie Fletcher. That's becoming even harder as reports surface about 2007 rulings that said the Fletcher administration, where Barr worked as a top legal aide, was bad at maintaining open records requests. [CQ Politics, 7/29/10]
Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski (MI-09) - Raczkowski is off to a rocky start
"Should we pity the elected official who tries to tailor his message to his audience, gets caught saying different things at different places and tries to recover by straddling the mixed messages? Or should we laugh, considering that the antics of politicians should never be taken too seriously?... Raczkowski can't seem to stop slipping on the banana peel." [Macomb Daily, 8/14/10]
Raczkowski questions President Obama's citizenship
In a Politico interview Republican candidate Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski said that he would "love" to see President Obama's birth certificate and also, in appearances has openly questioned whether the President was born in the United States. [Politico, 8/6/10]
Kristi Noem (ND-AL) - Noem: Received 20 speeding tickets, six court notices for failure to appear and two arrest warrents.
"KELOLAND News checked the records for all five candidates for U.S. House and Governor; Noem has the longest list of violations, including 20 speeding tickets, three stop sign violations, two seat belt violations, and no driver's license. Noem also has six court notices for failure to appear and two arrest warrants." [Keloland, 8/26/10]
Michael Grimm (NY-13) - Michael Grimm breaks Marine Corps and FBI rules again
The FBI and Marine Corp are unhappy with Republican congressional candidate Michael Grimm because in his two new television ads by using Marine and FBI snapshots in the ads. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Block said, "The Web ad is not OK" and FBI spokesman Stephen Kodak said, " ‘We would definitely consider that an inappropriate use ...we're an apolitical agency," he added."That's giving the impression that the FBI endorses him, or he represents the FBI, and that's not the case," Kodak said. [NY Daily News, 8/6/10]
Matt Doheny (NY-23) - came under fire after he called Social Security a bad investment.
Doheny told the Watertown Daily Times that "Social Security unfortunately is probably — as somebody who knows a little bit about finances — the worst, worst, worst investment you can ever make," comments that should send shivers down the spines of North Country seniors. [Watertown Daily Times, 8/26/10]
Matt Doheny has two ‘boating under the influence' charges against him
Matt Doheny has been charged twice for ‘boating under the influence.' On July 10, Cost Guard officials boarded Matt Doheny's boat. Coast Guard member, Adam Moss said he "‘noticed the subject to be stumbling and slurring his speech.' He also described Doheny as uncooperative and yelling.' As a result, Doheny was handcuffed." On July 24th, Matt Dohney was reluctant to take a sobriety test two times before only taking the test when the Coast Guard threatened to send NY State police for his lack of cooperation. Doug Hoffman, his Republican opponent, called Doheny's conduct during the first stop 'disturbing.'" [WWNY TV 7, 8/6/10]
Anne Marie Buerkle (NY-25) - Called out for her false and misleading rhetoric
In an Aug 10 letter to her supporters, Anne Marie Buerkle claimed: "the Obama Health and Human Services Department is planning to compile a federal health record on all U.S. citizens by 2014, and will include information on each individual's Body Mass Index in the files." PolitiFact said, "So will an intrusive government will have access to your private medical information? The short answer is: No.. As a result, we rate the claim False." [PolitiFact, 8/30/10]
Joe Heck (NV-03) - Joe Heck's pay check comes from taxpayer money
"Republican House candidate Joe Heck has said that it's not government's job to create jobs. But for more than a decade, Heck's paychecks have come from government entities... Heck's income is primarily from government entities via his business, Specialized Medical Operations, which provides training and consulting to security companies, law enforcement and the military. Since 1993, Specialized Medical Operations has held 11 consulting contracts, worth up to $944,550, with the Southern Nevada Health District. The most recent contract pays Specialized Medical Operations $100 an hour. Heck's company also landed at least two contracts with Metro Police, worth up to $216,000." [Las Vegas Sun, 8/13/10]
Steve Stivers (OH-15) - Steve Stivers flip-flops on stem cell research
"Stivers, a Republican, has said he favors stem-cell research but, as a state senator, he voted against allowing state bond funds to be spent on that purpose. Stivers explained his vote as a procedural tactic to allow an economic-development package to proceed through the legislative process." [The Columbus Dispatch, 8/25/10]
Jim Renacci (OH-16) - Jim Renacci cheated on his income taxes
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's PolitiFact found that Republican candidate Jim Renacci did in fact fail to pay his income taxes. The Ohio Department of Taxation found, " [that] Renacci [had] about $1.4 million in back taxes, interest and penalties for misreporting his income in 2000. Renacci and his wife, Tina, filed a state tax return for that year that claimed they had a loss of $247,336, but an audit found they actually made $13,730,440. The couple filed a tax appeal when the state dinged them for $954,650 in back taxes, $146,938 in interest and $293,876 in penalties." [The Plain Dealer, 8/27/10]
Bob Gibbs (OH-18) - Bob Gibbs forced to file an amended campaign finance report
"The campaign of 18th Congressional District candidate Bob Gibbs filed an amended campaign finance report Monday morning, shortly after his opponent accused him of accepting illegal contributions. Gibbs, a Republican state senator from Lakeville, misreported some contributions for his primary campaign as general election donations, said campaign spokeswoman Emily Pettigrew." [Zanesville Times Recorder, 8/31/10]
Scott Bruun (OR-05) - Scott Bruun and the Politics of Social Security
The Democrats noted that Scott Bruun said on KGW's "Straight Talk" that, "I do not support privatizing Social Security." Yet, in March of this year, Bruun told a group in Salem that he believed "we have to have a private element of Social Security to make it work." [Oregonian, 8/9/10]
Tom "Casino" Marino's (PA-10) ties to disgraced businessman Louis Denaples continue to haunt his candidacy
WILK wrote that "Tom Marino's integrity is crumbling," and that "Law-abiding citizens are wondering if Marino's word is any good." [WILK AM, 8/25/10]
Marino wants to cut Social Security
Marino was attacked because of comments he made advocating for the "elimination or reduction of Social Security benefits for future generations. [Times Leader, 8/25/10]
Lou Barletta (PA-11) - Opposes bringing new jobs to the district
"In the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression, with unemployment rates at their highest levels in a long time, with jobs a big issue in his contest with incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, [Lou Barletta] just went on record as opposed to a proposal that could bring 1,000 jobs to the region." [Times Tribune, 8/26/10]
Stephen Fincher (TN-08) - Stephen Fincher may have hidden several loans he received
J. Houston Gordon, a well-known Covington attorney and former state Democratic Party chairman, sent a letter to the U.S. attorney in Memphis this week that says Fincher may be in violation of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 by not listing several loans he received in the last two years or showing assets other than his income from his farm. [The Jackson Sun, 8/28/10]
Francisco Canseco (TX-23) - Traffic Ticket led to arrest warrant for Francisco Conseco
"According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, Quico Canseco was pulled over in April 2004. An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to the pay the ticket, though it was eventually paid in full — plus an additional $50 fine — about 10 months later in January 2005." [AP, 7/3010]
Robert Hurt (VA-05) - Republican candidate Robert Hurt attended Tea Party meetings that were closed to the press and the public
Republican candidate Robert Hurt attended a Lynchburg Tea Party meeting that was closed to the press and public. Many of the Tea Party members have been some of Hurt's fiercest critics. "For Hurt to meet with a group of potentially hostile Fifth District voters behind closed doors and without recording devices denies the public a chance to see how Hurt responds when the heat is on." [Danville Register & Bee, 8/4/10]
Eric Cantor (VA-07) - Cantor criticized for accepting donations from financial center
"Republican leader Eric Cantor of Richmond received $460,000 in donations from the financial sector in Quarter 2, a haul that has opened him up to criticism from watchdog groups after he led opposition to Wall Street Reform." [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/30/10]
Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08) - The Seattle Times recommends Suzan DelBene and Tim Dillon for the 8th Congressional District
The Seattle Times endorsed Suzan DelBene and Tim Dillon for Washington's 8th congressional district. The Seattle Times declared, "On issues ranging from the wars to the economy, three-term Republican incumbent Reichert is unstudied and comes up short. After six years in office, this is unacceptable." [The Seattle Times, 8/5/10]
Zack Space (OH-18), Jason Altmire (PA-04), and Walt Minnick (ID-01) - NRCC admits Reps. Space, Altmire, and Minnick are no longer top targets The New York Times reported that Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.), Walt Minnick (Idaho) and Zack Space (Ohio) "are among the Democrats no longer seen by Republicans as easy targets." The line was part of a larger story regarding Democratic incumbents running in districts won by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008." [CQ Politics, 8/12/10]
Categories: Democratic Blogs
An End to the War in Iraq
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 14:18
After more than seven years, today we end our country’s combat mission in Iraq.
As the President wrote yesterday, “We are at a truly historic moment in our nation’s history.”
To mark this important day, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight the President will speak to our country from the Oval Office—the second Oval Office address of his Presidency. You can watch live at WhiteHouse.gov/live or on any major television network.
President Obama has also invited all Americans to join him in sending a message to our troops thanking them for their service to our country. You can send in your salute through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Flickr—and check out all the messages at WhiteHouse.gov/Salute.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Five Years Later, a Continuing Commitment to New Orleans
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 13:09
On the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this weekend, President Obama spoke in New Orleans about the Administration’s recovery efforts and ongoing commitment to the Gulf Coast.
President Obama:
"We’re cutting through the red tape that has impeded rebuilding efforts for years. We’re making government work better and smarter, in coordination with one of the most expansive non-profit efforts in American history. We’re helping state and local leaders to address serious problems that had been neglected for decades -- problems that existed before the storm came, and have continued after the waters receded -- from the levee system to the justice system, from the health care system to the education system.
"And together, we are helping to make New Orleans a place that stands for what we can do in America -- not just for what we can’t do. Ultimately, that must be the legacy of Katrina: not one of neglect, but of action; not one of indifference, but of empathy; not of abandonment, but of a community working together to meet shared challenges."
Categories: Democratic Blogs
DCCC TV Ad Hits Sean Duffy (WI-07) on Privatizing Social Security
DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/30/2010 - 15:52
The DCCC released today its first Independent Expenditure campaign TV ad of the cycle hitting Sean Duffy (WI-07, open) on his support of privatizing Social Security. The DCCC ad will begin running tomorrow.
Sean Duffy will claim that he does not support privatizing Social Security, but he has twice stated his support for Congressman Paul Ryan's "budget blueprint" that would privatize Social Security. Ryan is House Republicans’ point man on the budget.
Watch the ad hitting Sean Duffy for his support of privatizing Social Security:
House Republican leadership's "budget blueprint" written by Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the Budget Committee, privatizes Social Security, gambling the benefits seniors earned on Wall Street, and eliminates Medicare by turning it into a voucher program that would force seniors to buy coverage from insurance companies. National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions said that if Republicans become the Majority party, their plan is to go back to their "exact same" agenda under President George W. Bush. Privatizing Social Security was a top priority for President Bush and strongly supported by Republican Leader John Boehner and his colleagues in the House.
BACKGROUND ON SEAN DUFFY’S SUPPORT OF PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY
Duffy Supported Congressman Paul Ryan’s Extreme Budget Blueprint
In 2010, Duffy was asked if he supported Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget. Duffy replied, "I do."
From tracker footage:
Q: Are you a supporter of Paul Ryan’s budget?
A: I think Paul Ryan’s a rockstar. I think Paul Ryan’s a rockstar, so thank you. I don’t regret his roadmap for America. (unintelligible) to get our country back on track. I think it’s a starting point to, uh, to, uh, (unintelligible) fiscal responsibility.
Q: Ah, so, that was actually another point. So, to kind of clear up the first point, yes you do support it?
A: I do.
Q: OK, excellent. [YouTube, "Sean Duffy Supports Paul Ryan Budget (WI-07)"]
Duffy: "I think Paul Ryan has some very good ideas in his Roadmap for America"
On Mike Gousha’s Upfront show in May, Duffy again endorsed Paul Ryan’s "Roadmap for America."
When asked what he would do to address Medicare and Social Security costs, Duffy said, "I think Paul Ryan has some very good ideas in his Roadmap for America."
Duffy went on to say, "Social Security, um, people [who] are 55 and older are looking for that in their retirement, but folks that are in their early 50s, 40s, in the late 30s like me, we realize that that system’s not going to be there for us when we get to the age of retirement." [Upfront with Mike Gousha, 5/23/10]
Ryan Budget Would Privatize Social Security
According to CBO Analysis, under the Ryan Budget:
Traditional retirement benefits would be reduced below those scheduled under current law for many workers who are age 55 or younger in 2011... A system of individual accounts would be established in 2012. In that year, workers who are age 55 or younger would be able to participate in voluntary individual accounts, funded with a portion of their payroll taxes. [Congressional Budget Office, 1/27/10]
Ryan Budget Creates Private Accounts for Social Security
Ezra Klein of The Washington Post explains the implications Ryan's budget alternative would have on Social Security:
"Social Security gets guaranteed, private accounts that CBO says will actually cost more than the present arrangement, further underscoring how ancillary the program is to our budget problem." [Washington Post, 2/1/10]
CBPP: Ryan’s Plan Would Divert Funds From Social Security into Private Accounts
A July 2010 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analyzing Representative Paul Ryan’s “Roadmap for America’s Future” included changes to Social Security including diverting large sums from Social Security to private accounts.
"It also would divert substantial sums from the Social Security trust funds into private accounts and then maintain Social Security solvency by transferring funds to Social Security from the rest of the budget." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/07/10]
Libertarian CATO Institute: There’s No Difference Between Privatization and Personal Accounts
According to the Star Tribune, "The word 'privatization' has been part of the Social Security debate for many years and has been used by many Republicans. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington and an advocate of the idea, used to call its effort ‘the project on Social Security privatization.'" [Star Tribune, 8/5/02]
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Tomorrow Night
DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/30/2010 - 15:21
Paul Begala just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
Republicans are banking on your complacency...literally.
They've lined their pockets with corporate special interest cash. They've called in their Karl Rove-inspired shadow groups. And they're already spending millions to spread vile and despicable attack ads against Democrats far and wide.
I just got off of a conference call with some top DCCC strategists. They've got a plan to fight back -- but if they don't have the resources to get started right now, it could be too late come September. This FEC deadline is our last chance to close the gap before the fall campaign kicks into high-gear.
House Democrats are just $93,115 away from making President Obama's $1 million grassroots goal by tomorrow night's FEC deadline.
Contribute $5, $10 or more before Midnight Tomorrow and your gift will be matched 2-to-1 by committed Democrats -- and you'll be invited to join me and one of the DCCC's top pollsters for an insider conference call tomorrow.
Here's the bottom line: It's do or die time.
I've read the polls. I've met with their strategists. The DCCC has some of the toughest, smartest people in politics today. They're ready to fight to the finish in dozens of battleground districts. Democrats will retain the House this year, so long as we help them put the Republicans' war on the middle class American Dream center-stage.
Every dollar you give will make the difference between victory and defeat for a Democrat locked in a tight race.
Give today to have your gift matched 2-to-1 by Democrats and be invited to join me and a fellow Democratic strategist for an insider conference call tomorrow.
It's crunch time.
Paul Begala
P.S. Elections can't be won right now, but they can be lost. I've seen it happen too many times. We are now just $93,115 away from shattering President Obama's $1 million grassroots goal for Tuesday's August 31st FEC deadline. Contribute today and you'll be invited to join me and a fellow Democratic strategist for a special insider conference call tomorrow.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
President Obama: “The bottom line is this: the war is ending”
News from the DNC blog - Mon, 08/30/2010 - 14:48
Tomorrow, after nearly seven years, our country will end its combat mission in Iraq. Ending the war was one of Barack Obama’s most important campaign promises—and so far this Administration has brought home more than 90,000 troops, with all troops coming home by the end of next year.
Tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the President will deliver his second Oval Office address to mark the end of our combat mission in Iraq and thank our troops and their families for their service.
President Obama has also invited all Americans to join him in sharing a message of support for our troops. Take part and salute our troops through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Flickr.
In his weekly address, President Obama paid tribute to men and women in uniform and pledged that his Administration will do everything possible to care for veterans when they come home.
President Obama:
"As we mark the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq, a grateful nation must pay tribute to all who have served there. Because part of responsibly ending this war is meeting our responsibility to those who have fought it.
"The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now make up America’s longest continuous combat engagement. For the better part of a decade, our troops and their families have served tour after tour with honor and heroism, risking and often giving their lives for the defense of our freedom and security. More than one million Americans in uniform have served in Iraq – far more than any conflict since Vietnam. And more than one million who have served in both wars have now finished their service and joined the proud ranks of America’s veterans.
"What this new generation of veterans must know is this: our nation’s commitment to all who wear its uniform is a sacred trust that is as old as our republic itself. It is one that, as President, I consider a moral obligation to uphold."
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Volunteers to Knock on More than 200,000 Doors for DCCC’s National Day of Action
DCCC Blog - Sat, 08/28/2010 - 10:33
Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is holding its National Day of Action today where its volunteers, in conjunction with Organizing for America (OFA) volunteers, will knock on more than 200,000 doors in 75 of the most competitive districts across the country. They will be talking with voters about the choice in this election between moving America forward or letting the Republicans bring back the exact same disastrous economic agenda of former President Bush.
The DCCC's Fall Kickoff began this week with hundreds of house meetings across the country, where volunteers and neighbors came together for discussions about what is at stake this November and to build an energized base of volunteers from the ground up.
"All week, volunteers across the country have been hosting house meetings with their friends, family, and neighbors to discuss the stakes in this year’s elections," said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen. "Today marks a critical milestone with our National Day of Action where our volunteers will knock on more than 200,000 doors in competitive districts across the country in a massive neighbor-to-neighbor grassroots effort to highlight the choice facing voters in this election. This level of voter contact this early is unprecedented. We will continue to meet with voters face to face and spread the message about moving the country forward.
Sign up to volunteer in your area >>
The battle tested DCCC voter contact program has started earlier this cycle than ever before and is using new technologies and data-driven analysis to support our Frontline members and candidates. The DCCC tested the effectiveness and improved its enhanced voter contact programs with each of the special election victories in NY-20, NY-23, and our eight-point victory in PA-12. Working with State Parties across the country, field staff have been recruiting and training volunteers for the fall elections. In turn, those volunteers are knocking on doors and making phone calls, talking to their friends and families about the importance of continuing to move the country forward.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Remembering Katrina, Rebuilding New Orleans
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 18:01
This weekend marks the fifth August since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. It is a solemn anniversary, one marked by still empty New Orleans homes and still scattered New Orleans neighbors. Yet it is also a hopeful anniversary, one marked by the tremendous progress made since the levees broke and the water washed so many peoples’ homes and hopes away.
This year, for the first time since the storm, my own family is back in New Orleans, together and whole. I have spent portions of this summer with them in the City of Jazz, renovating their new homes. As we put the finishing touches on those clean, mold-free houses we looked back on Hurricane Katrina with immense gratitude for our good fortune – though my family lost their belongings and their home, they all survived, thanks to the incredible kindness of strangers.
When the storm made landfall, the government response was painfully slow. There was a breakdown in communications. People - many of whom were too frail or simply without the means to evacuate - were stuck waiting to be rescued. Then, the levees failed.
I will never forget the generosity of people from across the country as they rose to the occasion to help so many people rebuild their lives. Regardless of race or background – people came together and helped one another. Our common humanity rose to the surface. It is that common humanity that I am thinking about today, as the people of New Orleans and the entire Gulf coast continue the process of rebuilding their lives.
So on this anniversary, let us offer our remembrance to those who perished in the storm, our gratitude to those brave individuals who offered their aid to others caught in the storm, and our own kindness and goodwill to all those around us – because as Hurricane Katrina showed us, we are all dependent on one another, and a little human kindness goes a long way.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Chairman Tim Kaine’s Statement Commemorating the Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 17:53
This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of the Gulf Coast. In commemoration of that anniversary, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:
“This weekend we have cause to remember all that was lost when Hurricane Katrina battered the shores of four states and wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. More than a thousand lives were lost in the storm, more than a million people were displaced, and American towns were left in ruins. The images from that time—of homes under water, families stranded on rooftops, and displaced people seeking shelter in stadiums—remain a sober reminder of nature’s strength and its potential for devastation.
“Now, five years after Hurricane Katrina, it is important not only to pay our respects to those who died or were displaced and to their families, but it is also important to renew our commitment to ensuring that our government never again fails its people in the wake of such a disaster. To that end, President Obama has made it easier for residents of the Gulf Coast to get the support they need to recover from Hurricane Katrina, and he has worked to improve America’s disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, so that our country will be better able to handle future disasters on the Gulf Coast or wherever they occur. But our work is not yet finished. It will not be finished until communities damaged by Hurricane Katrina are restored and those who wish to return to their communities are able to do so. Even then, we must continue to honor the lives lost and survivors harmed—by better preparing ourselves and responding more effectively to those in need as future emergencies occur.
“So on this anniversary, as America commemorates a tragedy that changed the face of a region and tested the resolve of its citizens, I offer my support to President Obama for his efforts to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for any disaster that may reach our shores and as he strives to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America.”
Categories: Democratic Blogs
DCCC: IRS Should Investigate Americans for Prosperity Foundation
DCCC Blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 17:39
The DCCC today requested an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigation into Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s tax exempt status. The Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s attack ads are being run in coordination with the attack ads from Americans for Prosperity, which has made Americans for Prosperity Foundation a de facto political "action group," violating its tax exempt status.
"The DCCC is asking the IRS to hold the Americans for Prosperity Foundation accountable for its illegal election ads that are being used to mislead voters," said DCCC spokesperson Jennifer Crider. "Americans for Prosperity Foundation is trying to avoid paying taxes by claiming to be tax exempt, while running campaign ads that benefit a Republican candidate and the NRCC."
Americans for Prosperity is funded by Charles and David Koch. Charles Lewis, the founder of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said of the Kochs, "They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I’ve been in Washington since Watergate, and I’ve never seen anything like it." [New Yorker, 08/30/10]
Categories: Democratic Blogs
