Please endorse Clint Curtis for congress in FL-24

UPDATE: A debate between Clint Curtis and Suzanne Kosmas was held by WMFE, the PBS affiliate in Orlando, last Friday, August 8th. Watch it here.

Congratulations, Clint, on a terrific performance. There's no doubt who is the better, and more progressive, candidate!

UPDATE #2: The FEC has filed charges against Kosmas:

This has caused the state party to step up campaign activity for her and has resulted in Federal Election Commission charges being filed against the Kosmas campaign for deliberately misrepresenting themselves to the primary election voters. Paid campaign staffers were using state party offices and phones to place calls to registered Democratic primary voters, identifying themselves as representatives of the Florida State Democratic Party, and urging them to vote for Kosmas. This is a violation of FEC rules and a charge has been filed.

Check it out here and here.

* * *

I got an email from the Clint Curtis campaign a couple of days ago. Clint's running for congress in FL-24 against incumbent republican, Tom Feeney (tied to Abramoff) and he has an opponent--Suzanne Kosmas--for the primary.

I met Clint Curtis in Washington, DC, just after the 2004 election, when people gathered to protest the the acceptance of the electoral college vote, and again at a DFA conference in NH in June of 2007. He is smart, dedicated and committed to serving his district in Congress. He knows more about election integrity and electronic voting machine issues than most members of congress. He is a former computer programmer and whistle blower, who testified at a 2006 congressional hearing (see video below) held to investigate election fraud in Ohio in 2004. He came very close to winning the 2006 general election against Feeney, despite being outspent 26 to 1!

From Clint Curtis for Congress blog

In 2006, Curtis launched his first congressional bid — as a Democrat — taking on Feeney himself for his FL-24 seat. A pre-election Zogby poll showed Curtis in a statistical dead heat with Feeney — despite Feeney’s big-money smear campaign against Curtis (‘CrazyClintCurtis.com’ featured doctored photos of Curtis wearing a tin foil hat.) But on election night, Curtis took a double-digit drubbing. Problem is, those election results didn’t make much sense based on the Zogby poll, exit polling or Curtis’ own internal polling. So Curtis did something remarkable. He filed a Congressional election challenge.

His team went door to door collecting signed affidavits from FL-24 voters testifying as to how they voted. The results were shocking. The official results were wildly off, by double digits in places. Despite this evidence, the Democratically controlled House committee summarily dismissed his election challenges (along with several others.)

But I digress...

Suzanne Kosmas, wealthy real estate developer and owner of Prestige Properties of New Smyrna Beach, served in the Florida state legislature from 1996 to 2004, where she co-sponsored a resolution to support GW's invasion of Iraq. She announced her candidacy for US Congress on January 31st of this year. This is Kosmas' opening statement on her website:

Welcome

I am running for Congress to change the priorities in Washington and bring a moderate, common sense, and fiscally responsible approach to government.

During my time in the state legislature, I worked hard to focus on people over politics. I frequently voted across party lines, because it was my job to represent Florida families - not a political party.

Suzanne Kosmas

Wow.

So, guess who the DCCC has endorsed?

Now, in order to tell this tale, I need to add US Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, FL-20, to the cast of characters. Considered one of the "brightest stars" of the current Democratically-controlled house, Wasserman Schultz has mightily angered the left, as demonstrated by the following quote which was taken from the popular blog, Down with Tyranny:

Wasserman Schultz, the sorry chairperson of the DCCC's very compromised Red to Blue program, virtually endorsed 3 extreme right South Florida Republican incumbents-- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart-- with the clear intention of sabotaging the campaigns of the three Democrats running against them-- Annette Taddeo, Raul Martinez, and Joe Garcia-- and making it impossible for them to get serious institutional money in Florida. She angered enough people, who pressured the DCCC, so that she finally made nice with Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia. She is still doing everything in her power to undercut Annette Taddeo, the challenger in the least Republican-leaning of the 3 districts.

So, the congresswoman refused to endorse the Democratic challengers to Republican-held congressional seats in south Florida, and the DCCC made her the chairwoman of the Red to Blue program. What am I missing here?

One of the candidates Wasserman Schultz has endorsed for Red to Blue is Suzanne Kosmas. Her PAC, DWSPAC (Democrats Win Seats/Debbie Wasserman Schultz) has given Kosmas $4,378. The main tactic Wasserman Schultz and Kosmas have used against Curtis, a viable candidate who came close to beating Feeney in the last election and who announced his candidacy long before Kosmas thought of running, is to ignore him. Kosmas runs against Feeney. Period. Curtis has asked for debates; she hasn't responded. No one ever mentions Clint Curtis. And, because Curtis doesn't have the machine backing him up, he struggles to stay in the public spotlight.

(More about Wasserman Schultz from the Huffington Post here and here.)

This is from Curtis' email:

My opponent has received lots of media attention and money – most of it from out-of-district donors who can write big checks – but for what? She can’t win. The polls prove it. Even a poll by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Emily’s List puts her far behind the Republican incumbent: http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/2008/congress/florida.html

Here are a number of posts about Clint at Brad Blog.

Here's Clint's website. And, while you're there, don't miss his blog.

Help Clint Curtis by going to DFA and add your vote urging them to endorse him!

And, if you are able, please contribute to his campaign.

Concert to benefit Obama campaign Sept. 12

There's a wonderful event coming up on September 12th: a concert to benefit Obama will take place at Jordan Hall (not a bad seat in the place). Tickets start at only $20.

Many well-known Boston area musicians are coming together to perform a concert to benefit the campaign. And to entertain us!

Here is the announcement on BlueMassGroup as well as a post from Wednesday requesting we buy our tickets by the end of the month. Hey, that's today!

Who's going to carpool down with me?

BREAKING NEWS

TWO stories in the category of NEWS YOU NEVER BELIEVED YOU'D HEAR:

From TPM:

The House Judiciary Committee has just voted to hold Karl Rove in contempt for failing to respond to a subpoena to face questioning from the Committee on the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

AND
from Federal Times
IG: Justice illegally weighed political leanings of job applicants

Senior aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales violated federal law and Justice Department policy by using political affiliation as a factor in hiring decisions — a process that slowed the hiring process and left key positions unfilled, according to a new report from the department’s inspector general.

In one case, an experienced prosecutor, with more than 15 years in criminal law, was turned down for a job on a counterterrorism detail because his wife was an elected Democratic official. The job went to a Republican prosecutor with less than three years’ experience. Another candidate was recommended for a job because she was “pro-God in public life” and “pro-marriage, anti-civil union.”

Watch the video of the Inspector General testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on c-span (link in the blogroll on the right). Since it happened this morning, there's no permanent link to post yet, but the video is available on the front page of the c-span site.

Oh, one more irresistible quote from the Federal Times:

Goodling also used the Internet to search for information about candidates’ political and ideological beliefs, running searches for terms like “sex,” “NAFTA,” “Iran-Contra” and “spotted owl.”

What an amazing day!

TAKE ACTION! Election day registration in MA

UPDATE: Check out this post at BlueMassGroup.

This was in my in box this morning. I called my state rep, Harriet Stanley's office. (Had to leave a message on her office voice mail. I left a message asking for her vote and asked for a call back.)

If you live in MA, please take action today! Thanks!

URGENT: Election Day Registration will pass or fail by Thursday. Please call right now!

We've never been this close.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate passed the state's most important voting bill since 18 year-olds were given the right to vote — a bill for Election Day Registration.

Hundreds of you called your senators, and we heard directly from their staff members that those calls made a difference. Now, we must do the same in the House.

Unfortunately, we are fighting against time. We have enough votes to pass Election Day Registration. But the 2008 House session ends on Thursday. To pass this historic bill, a critical mass of representatives needs to bring Election Day Registration to the top of the agenda.

If you want to help pass this historic bill, call the Massachusetts State House at (617) 722-2000 and ask to speak to your representative. Ask him or her to bring Election Day Registration to the floor for a vote.

If you don't know your representative's name, simply tell the operator where you live and you will be connected to the correct office.

The nine states with Election Day Registration have turnout rates that are 10 to 12 points higher than states without. Election Day Registration is of particular benefit to young voters, first time voters, voters of color, and new citizens. The bill passed the Senate 33 to 5.

Election Day Registration in Massachusetts could bring over 200,000 new voters to the polls. The enthusiasm surrounding the 2008 elections is tremendous. Election Day Registration would ensure no eligible citizen need be turned away from voting.

Please call (617) 722-2000 now and urge your representative to support Election Day Registration.

Thank You for working to build a better world.

Leah Donahey, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

Matters of the media and FCC

A few things of note going on re. the FCC today:

• Re. the XM/Sirius merger...they merged today--look here and here;
  
• Republican Chairman Martin joined the 2 Democratic commissioners to demand Comcast stop restricting internet P2P (peer to peer) file sharing reported here;
• and, AT&T bans same (P2P) from wireless phone service.

Oh, Chairman Martin's notoriety expands exponentially with this.

And, speaking of oversight,

Oversight Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., on Monday sent letters to 24 companies that receive large subsidies asking a host of questions, including whether they take that money into account when building out their networks or during merger talks with other companies.

Don't breathe in the kitchen!

Last Saturday, I went on the Newburyport kitchen tour. Less than 10 miles of driving, including backtracking (about $2 in gas), and 14 kitchens later, I'm still liking mine! (It'll be even better when it's finished, whenever that happens. Lucky I like it the way it is.)

Most of the kitchens on the tour had granite counter tops. I've never liked granite, and chose not to use it. Guess I got lucky. Boy, how often does that happen?

Take a look at this piece from last Thursday's NYTimes.

BTW, more on what I did use deserves its own post, but the story can't be written until the kitchen's done. Don't hold your breath!

h/t to Melissa for telling me about it and Robin for reminding me!

Folks, grab a soda and a box of popcorn or M&Ms, turn up the air conditioning and put on a sweater, turn off the light and take a minute and 41 seconds to watch this trailer of the new Oliver Stone movie. It's called, "W."

BTW, some of the comments on the Guardian site are pretty good. I especially like the one by dholliday, who wrote, "Yay, all the bad guys are in it."

Hat tip to Robin for the link!

Is it early today or late yesterday?

From Politico via Common Dreams:

“Today’s report describes ‘systematic’ violations of federal law by several former leaders of the Department of Justice,” Conyers said in a statement released by his office. “Apparently, the political screening was so pervasive that even qualified Republican applicants were rejected from Department positions because they were ‘not Republican enough’ for Monica Goodling and others. ...... The Report also indicates that Monica Goodling, Kyle Sampson, and Alberto Gonzales may have lied to the Congress about these matters. I have directed my staff to closely review this matter and to consider whether a criminal referral for perjury is needed.”

***

Every week I download the podcast, The Campaign Trail, from the New Yorker, and either listen to it online or on my ipod. In this week's podcast, David Remnick, Hendrik Hertzberg, Ryan Lizza, and George Packer discuss Obama’s visit to Germany and the future of the war in Iraq.

***

From The Independent:

With $33m (£16.5m) in venture capital funds, Anne Patterson and two other Google alumni – Russell Power and Louis Monier – yesterday took the wraps off [a new search engine,] Cuil.com. ... If it's out there, Cuil will find it for you. ... Cuil (pronounced "cool") will be easier and nicer to use and will have a longer reach.

Then check it out yourself! cuil.com

(Not to be confused with my friend, Sheila's website, kkooll !)

***

ABC reports Homeland Security is instituting a POHA (period of heightened alert) from now until July, 2009.

The reasons: There are no specifics indicating an attack on the U.S. is imminent, and U.S. officials do not want to be accused of trying to inject themselves into the presidential campaign.

"That's a balancing act," said Jerry Hauer, former Homeland Security official and ABC News consultant. "They really have to focus on these events and this critical time we're going through as a nation, but they have to be very careful about the public message to not make it look political or like they're fearmongering."

Right.

In pointing to the piece, Talking Points Memo titled the link, "US to be place on 'heightened terror alert' in response to Republican efforts to maintain hold on presidency."

***

Sunday morning

This morning, when I remembered Obama was going to be on Meet the Press, I flipped on the TV and found myself watching c-span, the channel I was watching last night before going to bed. The congressional hearing exploring the horrible policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell was being aired, and I ended up watching the entire thing. (You can find the link under the Congressional Hearings heading in the column on the right.)

When it was over, I watched Senator Obama here.

I spent most of the day learning bits of html and exploring the layout and posting options of this blog. It's a little overwhelming, but lots of fun. (It would be lots more fun if someone would pay me to do it!)

Now, I'm going to stop this. I've been waiting all day for a few moments to read the latest post on Dick Cavett's blog, What's So Funny About Nebraska If you didn't know about Cavett's blog, but remember his TV show, you'll be pleased to discover his writing entertains with the same unique and refreshing style. I envy those of you who have yet to discover the posts in the archives of his blog!

1st post: Al Gore's 10 year challange to make electricity production 100% carbon-free!

It seems appropriate that the 1st post on this blog links to what I believe will be the speech that finally sets the course for a dramatic and holistic change in the world's political, industrial, economic and social landscape.

On Thursday, July 17, 2008, Al Gore gave a speech in Washington, DC in which he said: "It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for more oil ten years from now."

Bluntly truthful. Refreshingly open.

Did you know scientists are warning there's a 75% chance that in 5 years from now, the Arctic polar ice cap will totally disappear during the summer? (Note to self: write piece speculating on where Santa will spend the summer, whether he'll move the workshop or shut down for the season, and implications for on-time holiday deliveries...)

Watch the speech. And then, as Robert Greenwald says, "Psssst--DO SOMETHING!"