Register for the PDWV State Conference

Registration is now open for the PDWV State Conference. The details are as follows:

Date: January 23-24, 2009
Place: Days Hotel and Conference Center, Flatwoods, WV
Cost: $65.00
Lodging: $72/single $81/double (We encourage folks to at least double up to save money.)
Reservations: 1 (866) 700 7284

Click the link below to register and pay. You may also send all of your information and pay by check to

Malyka Knapp-Smith
907 Scenic Dr
Charleston, WV 25311

If you have any questions, please email us at info@pdwv.org or call (304)444-3418.

PDWV to Distribute Voter Education Literature

PDWV will soon be receiving literature from NoMoreStolenElections to distribute throughout the counties where touch-screen voting is becoming an issue in this election.

The information is in the form of a comic book authored by Greg Palast and RFK, Jr.

Woot! Takes on the Debate

Woot! is a site that sells one item a day, usually for a very good price. Today they take on last night's debate while trying to sell a portable space heater. I've edited out the lines where the space heater is part of the debate (with a speaking part), and the biting satire is brilliant. SNL couldn't have written better. Enjoy!



Tom: From Belmont Park Racecourse, welcome to the second lap of the 2008 Sierra Mist/Pennzoil Xtreme Race for the Presidency. Two weeks ago, the candidates completed the swimsuit portion of the competition, and are now ready to take questions from the American people. From millions of questions posted on the Internet, there were only maybe two good ones. So we brought in a bunch of undecided voters to ask the same questions that were asked in the last debate, since they all missed it. We’ll start with a question for you, Senator Mac, from Paris London of Rome, Texas.

Paris London, voter: My question is about the economy. Oh my God, what the hell are we going to do? What the hell, man? Somebody, for God’s sake, do something!

Senator Mac: My friend, a lot of Americans are angry, confused, and fearful right now. I should know. I’m one of them. People are hurting, and not just those people who deserve it. Why, just the other day, I paid $6.99 for the very same buffet I used to pay $6.49 for. And that was the early bird special. It’s clear that something, anything, needs to be done, no matter how feckless or ineffectual. So I am instructing my subordinates to suspend my campaign until the next question in this debate. It’s time to get serious, my friends.

Senator Bam: While they’ve been living the high life on Wall Street, all the lowlifes are living on Main Street. Things have been positively 4th Street, but a nightmare on Elm Street. We’ve seen 221 Baker Street turn into 21 Jump Street. But look: the thing we have to do is cut the strings on these golden parachutes. I pledge to you that within two years, I will eliminate not only golden parachutes, but every color of parachute besides the red, white, and blue.

Tom: And for our next question, over there in section F, Brad Nair of Bald Mountain, Wyoming.

Brad Nair, voter: Hoo hoo hoo! Section F rules! All right! Listen, Senator Bam, I do a lot of funnycar racing, I run the electric in my house off a gasoline generator, and I drive my SUV from my front door to the garage where I keep my bigger SUV. So the high price of gasoline is really hitting me in the wallet. What are you going to do for me so I don’t have to change my own behavior in any way?

Senator Bam: We’ve got to end our dependence on foreign oil. Every dollar we send to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and other foreign powers gets turned against us in international amateur hockey competition. But look, it’s not going to happen overnight. That’s why we have got to invest in alternative energy sources right now, because we’ve got to recognize that the sun is not going to be there forever. We need to grab that solar power while we can.

Senator Mac: My friends, let me tell you what my friends – not you guys in the audience, my other friends up here on stage – have really done beyond their fancy rhetoric and correct pronunciations of foreign words. Senator Bam voted 38 – no, 125 – no, 497 times to raise the price of gasoline. Approximately every four seconds, Senator Bam votes to raise the price of gasoline. There, he just did it again. And DeLonghi Multi-Position Ceramic Heater has a secret of his own: he’ll raise taxes on 119% of Americans by an average of 900%, and require each household to offer up two goats and three pecks of turnips. Don’t bother looking in his platform for this. It’s not in there. Fortunately, I overheard him talking about it in the men’s room.

Tom: The next question comes from Dale Glenn of Glendale, California.

Dale Glenn, voter: How can you the American people trust any of the candidates given the varying positions you’ve all adopted over the years?

Senator Mac: My friends, this one talks a good game. But when the time came to stand up for America, he voted for a budget festooned with goodies. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s goodies. In my day, when we wanted a treat, we soaked a piece of stale bread in castor oil and sprinkled nutmeg on it, with a glass of beet juice on the side. If that was good enough for me, it’s good enough for America. And when I’m in the White House, it will be.

Senator Bam: I’ve never wavered in my commitment to the American people to remain fully committed to the American people. That’s the kind of commitment I’m committed to. But look: we don’t need more of the same policies we’ve seen these last eight years. Reality is not a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, where you can go back and see what would have happened if you’d investigated the sound coming from the crash-landed UFO instead of following the mysterious light into the woods. It’s time for a president with the judgment to choose the right adventure the first time.

Tom: Here’s another question from section F, on the subject of healthcare. Let’s hear from Heather Gray of Pantone, Louisiana.

Heather Gray, voter: I am currently spending all of my income on health insurance for myself and my eight cats. Do you have anything really petty and irrelevant to say about lowering health care costs?

Senator Bam: You’re right, health insurance is too expensive. But look: what I would do is, put your health records online.

Senator Mac: I’ve heard of this “online”, my friends, and it sounds like a great place to store your most confidential, personal information.

Tom: I’d like to ask the viewers at home to please, if you’re playing a drinking game, to stop drinking when you hear “my friend” or “but look”, for your own sake and that of your loved ones. Now we’ll turn to foreign affairs. Our next question comes from the Internet, and has to do with Pakistan. Is al-Qaeda up in ur mountns plannin ur massacres, or do all their base belong to Pakistan?

Senator Mac: Pakistan is a real problem, my friends. But the deal is, we have to pretend we like them or we won’t get invited to Bangladesh’s skating party. When it comes to bin Laden, I will stop at nothing to capture him. But if Pakistan asks, you didn’t hear that from me, OK?

Senator Bam: The fact of the reality of the matter is, Osama bin Laden is still out there somewhere. He’s not in Iraq, and he’s not here tonight, so that’s two places we can cross off our list. But look: every breath he takes, every move he makes, every bond he breaks, every step he takes, we’ll be watching him.

Tom: The next question will again come from section F, from a Mr. Pladimir Vutin of Moscow, Idaho.

Pladimir Vutin, voter: Thank you in the name of the motherland. Candidates, the mighty Russian empire was bringing light to the darkness of Central Asia when America was just a bunch of naked beaver-trappers with malaria. How dare you lecture one of the most advanced civilizations on Earth about how to conduct her internal affairs?

Senator Bam: The problem was, Putin went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal. But look: he paid for it all with Granny’s caviar money. Russia’s laughing all the way to the bank, or wherever they keep their money in that messed-up country. So until we end our dependence on foreign caviar, Russia wins.

Senator Mac: Our friends in Georgia must know that they have friends in us, my friends. That is why I will always, always stand by those brave, brave Duke boys. They’re just good ol’ boys, never meaning no harm. And they’re fighting the system like a true modern-day Robin Hood.

Tom: And our final question tonight also comes from the Internet, and it has something of a Zenlike quality: what do you not know that cannot be unknown, and when did you know it?

Senator Bam: I’m glad someone has finally asked that. But look: as I travel this nation seeking the votes of Americans, I’m constantly reminded that people need help. Right now, somebody out there has a flat tire. Somebody is trying to reach something on a high shelf, only to find that in America today, reaching high shelves is a right reserved only for the tall. Somebody else has just run out of brown sugar, and may be turning to a neighbor or a relative just to finish the recipe they started. I say, it’s government’s job to give these people a hand. This is the best of America at its worst. This is the highest point of our lowest moment. And it’s time for the beginning of the middle of the end. Thank you.

Senator Mac: Here’s what I know. My friends, our nation faces challenges the likes of which we’ve never seen. The recession. The fuel crisis. The gathering storm over Iran. And the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. But with a leader like President Reagan, I’m confident that our nation will see its way through the 1980’s in better shape than ever. And if you, the good people of Arizona see fit to elect me Senator, I pledge to always fight for your interests, against the special interests. Not that you’re not special in your own way. You know what I’m saying. Thank you.

Tom: Thank you to the candidates, and to the horses of Belmont Park. Good night.

Going Forward

Now that the second "debate" is over and done with one thing is clear: McCain has a lot of ground to make up.

We've seen in recent days just exactly how he plans to make up that ground. He and Palin and his surrogates will continue to whip the base into a frothy-mouthed mob that will continue to scream ridiculous asides at rallies and bash the media. The question is whether or not someone will physically bash the media before it's all said and done.

The McCain/Palin supporters are disappointed and desperate. Take this emailer at the National Review Online as an example:

"Well I have gone outside and pulled up my Mcain/Palin sign. This election is over. I will vote for Mcain but I know that come Nov. 5 Obama will be our president-elect.

I feel sorry for Sarah Palin. A once promising career will be permanently connected to the landside loss of John McCain.

I weep for my children and their families."

Others aren't taking it that well even. They're looking for someone or something at whom they can lash out. Before the election that someone is not going to be John McCain, his advisers or Sarah Palin. After the election some will, inevitably, turn on McCain and his advisers and maybe even a few on Palin (expect very few if any). So for the time being, McCain/Palin will blame the media and the crowds will, in turn, take their frustrations out on the media. They are becoming increasingly hostile, and, in my opinion, will turn violent unless some sense is talked into them by McCain or Palin.

The oft-asked question as McCain changes his strategy to full-time negativity is "Will it help him?" For the first time this election cycle I watched the debate on CNN. As I've stated before, I'm a poll junkie. Those little lines at the bottom of the CNN screen do for me what Sarah Palin does for Rich Lowry.

I learned something from those lines last night. The "Uncommitted Ohio Voters (TM)" didn't like it when McCain attacked. The lines dropped like rocks when he attacked Obama. They also dropped when Obama attacked McCain.

Going forward McCain's team plans to attack Obama over and over for the next 4 weeks. It's going to kill him in the end. This election cycle, undecided voters don't want to hear how bad your opponent is. They want to hear how you will respond to the MAJOR issues facing our country and rightfully so. They don't want to hear that your opponent is dangerous so you should elect me.

For the first time in several election cycles I'm regaining my faith in the American electorate. Not because Obama is leading and is likely to be our next President, but because the voters are looking at candidates' positions on real issues and aren't being swayed by fear tactics.

Coal River Mountain Wind Project on CNN

You can now find the story and video on CNN. The first time I looked at it the front page headline read "The Battle over Coal River Mountain". It now reads "Blowing off mountain tops to get coal."

Also, soon-to-be-ex Sen. Vic says of the Coal River Mountain Watch appearance on Decision Makers:

"Now, it's not often that I feel bad for the enviros, but holy smokes did Bray Cary completely destroy and embarrass them."

Then he compared Bray Carey to Andre the Giant. No kidding...Andre the Giant.

Carey said of the "enviros" that they support terrorists (that's right, terrorists) because they want to deep mine the coal rather than blow up the mountain. Now that's class. It's no wonder soon-to-be-ex Sen. Vic liked it: he's that kind of classy guy, too.

The VP Debate - Palin doesn't get the job

Like all the rest of you, we watched the VP debate last night. My gut reaction is that the word "also" now needs to be removed from the English language, and if anyone winks at me today, I cannot be held responsible for what may happen next.

Seriously. Did anyone else find the winking to be completely over the top?

Think about it this way. Basically, Gov. Palin was in a job interview last night for the Vice Presidency of the United States. Which, incidentally, she answered like she was still doing the interview portion of the Miss Alaska contest. "As Vice-President of America, I would like to achieve world peace. Also, Joe Biden is really old. Also, John McCain is a maverick. Also, I am governor of Alaska. Also, I am also a maverick."

Palin refused to answer questions, even when she was blatantly called out for NOT answering the questions. She gave pat, rehearsed responses, shuffled her notes incessantly, and winked into the camera, dramatically on cue. In an attempt to be "folksy," she completely butchered the English language. (God help me, I cannot take 4 more years of "nuQlar." I may go nuclear.) If you were a manager hiring a person for a position at your business, would you HIRE this woman?

I know "Joe Six-Pack," and he's got no business in the White House

Yesterday, in a radio interview with Hugh Hewlitt, Gov. Sarah Palin said that some people are ticked off at the idea of "Joe Six-Pack" being represented in the office of Vice President of the U.S. In response to Gov. Palin's comment, I offer a resounding, "Heck, yeah, I'm ticked!!!"

I know Joe Six-Pack. He lives in the house behind us. He is a 40-yr. old man who is being supported by his elderly mother, stays drunk all the time, and watches TV in his underwear. Do I want him in the White House? I think the question is: Do You?

Pollster Likely Underestimating the Youth Vote

If I'm inundating and annoying everyone with polling information, I apologize. Just tell me and I'll stop. My biggest weakness is that I'm a poll junkie. I can't get enough of reading polls and analyzing the crosstabs.

In that respect, here's something I came across:



This graphic shows the representation of voters aged 18-29 in the 2004 election and compares that to what current pollsters are using to represent that age bracket in their poll numbers. Though it is possible that 2008 turnout among 18-29 will be lower than the 17% from 2004, it is not very likely.

Only R2K/dKos and CBS are polling this age group at that rate. Gallup is including them at as low as 10% of their sample.

If the youth vote turns out to be between 18% and 22% as is projected and backed up by primary exit polls, the current polling numbers could vastly change in Obama's favor.

Update on Voter Suppression in WV

The latest information I have is that Secretary of State Ireland has requested that the spot not be released to a media source who was interested in doing a story about the ad in light of the stories going around about voter suppression scare tactics going on at area colleges and universities.

This begs the question: why doesn't Secretary Ireland want additional media coverage about this important information?

Could it be she has something to cover up?

WV Secretary of State should Educate rather than Supress voters

In a recent ad, which I personally heard on 58 Live (WCHS) during the Sportsline program, WV Secretary of State Betty Ireland was touting the "three ways" a college student who lives away from home can vote in the general election. According to Ireland, students need to either:

1. Vote early in their home county.
2. Vote by mail via absentee ballot.
3. Vote in their local precinct on Nov. 4.

Secretary Ireland leaves out an important fourth option. WV students can choose to register to vote using their mailing address at school. I phoned the Secretary of State's office on Friday, and was informed by Special Assistant Jason Williams that the Secretary's ad was "accurate in that it truthfully represented the facts as they related to the specific topic that the ad addresses." I pointed out that students were already being informed in WV and other nearby states that they might lose their financial aid if they register away from their parents' address, and that the Secretary's ad smelled of partisan politics. The Special Assistant responded that "the Secretary cannot promote college students running around all willy-nilly registering to vote where they may or may not have a permanent address." Willy-nilly, indeed. If McCain were going to benefit from those registrations, I bet they'd have no problem with it. Secretary Ireland swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of WV, and she has a responsibility to educate and inform voters of ALL of their options, not just the ones that benefit her party.

PDWV Unveils New Logo

A big shout out to PDWV member One Citizen for putting together a beautiful new graphic logo for us. We'll be using this one from here on out, hopefully. Please feel free to use the comments section to give OC his props.

Better use of McCain's Time

I heard John McCain in Wisconsin today say that he couldn't wait to introduce Sarah Palin to Washington (rooaad triip!) I also heard him say that he couldn't wait to introduce her to pork-barrel spenders and lobbyists. I know he meant that she was with him in being all maverick-y (strong emphasis on "icky"), but he should try to recall a few things. I know it's hard, but this is America and we can do anything we set our minds to because John McCain was a POW.

Though she may need an official introduction to pork-barrel spenders (except for the indicted ones from her home state, Stevens and Young), she knows them well already. As we've heard before Palin was very successful at getting earmarks/pork for her hometown of Wasilla. She even remarked in her own handwriting that they "did well" during one session of Congress.

As for introducing her to lobbyists - already handled. She hired a firm to lobby Congress for those precious earmarks they "did well" on.

He doesn't even have to travel very far to introduce her to lobbyists - only as far as the Straight Talk Express (they save on gas that way). The McCain campaign has more lobbyists on staff than any other campaign.

That John McCain...he just always finds some way to take care of the small things. The good news is that he doesn't have to waste time on all this. He and Palin can quickly get back the job at hand: lying to the American public.

McCain Forgets Just How Rich He Is

From MSNBC:

Days after he cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year, Republican presidential candidate John McCain acknowledged that he wasn't sure how many houses he and his wealthy wife actually own.

"I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain responded to a question posed by Politico, according to a story Thursday on the publication's Web site. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

Later, the McCain campaign told Politico that McCain and his wife, Cindy, have at least four in three states, Arizona, California and Virginia. Newsweek recently estimated the two owned at least seven properties.

How are the Republicans getting away with declaring Obama an elitist?

Minimah: Not In It to Win It?

Charleston Daily Mail - News - W.Va. GOP nominee says he's willing to quit race

In a seemingly chivalrous move, GOP candidate for WV Secretary of State Charles Minimah graciously volunteered to withdraw from the race and allow incumbent Betty Ireland to have his spot on the ballot. Ireland previously decided not to seek re-election citing the need to care for her elderly parents. After Ireland's parents both recently passed away, Minimah had an apparent change of heart, stating in a news release on Monday that he believes, "Betty represents West Virginia's best option to keep the state's election division moving in a positive direction."

Unfortunately for Minimah, and perhaps for the GOP, the deadline to withdraw was Friday.

If he wants to be a gentleman, he could just tell everyone to vote for Natalie Tennant. Oh, wait, he sort of just did, didn't he?

REMINDER: PDWV Platfomr Meeting

This is just reminder that the PDWV Democratic Platform meeting is tomorrow. The details are below. I hope to see a good representation of progressives at the event to push our issues. If you cannot make it to the meeting, but there is an issue that is pressing in your mind, please feel free to contact me by email or by phone. The information is at the bottom of this email.

PDWV Democratic Platform Meeting
2:00-4:30pm
South Charleston Public Library
312 4th Ave
South Charleston, WV 25303
(The meeting room is to the left as you go into the foyer of the library before you actually get into the main library itself. There should be a sign.)

This has the potential to be a big event in a couple of ways. First, this is an opportunity to have our voices heard by the Democratic Platform Committee (WV's representative on the DNC Platform Committee hopes to be at the event and definitely wants a report before the committee meetings.) Never before has the platform been open in this way. It's an opportunity we should take. Second, this event could be really good exposure for PDWV. It will help "put us on the radar" of local Democrats and Democratic leaders.

Hope to see you there!

A Quick Comment About Gas Prices

For almost 2 weeks, gas at the station I usually use has been $4.099/gallon. Now, crude production (via OCS or ANWR) hasn't increased and no new refineries have come online in the last couple of days, but prices are now $3.999/gallon.
Some have been saying for weeks that oil speculators have been at least part of the problem with rising gas prices. Since some lawmakers in Washington have been talking for the last week about putting more effort into controlling speculation the price of gas has gone down. Now this is not necessarily direct causation, but it could be.
Are speculators backing off crude with reports that Washington plans to monitor more fervently? Is this the reason prices are going down? Does that validate the argument that speculators (like Rep. Shelly Moore-Capito's (R-WV) husband) are a large cause of recent price spikes?

PDWV Forms PAC

As of this afternoon, Progressive Democrats of West Virginia is a legal and authorized Political Action Committee registered with the WV Secretary of State. This is an important step for our organization for several reasons.
As a legally registered PAC, PDWV can raise and spend money on behalf of the group. Now all of our hard-raised dollars can be kept here to benefit the local groups rather than being sent to the national organization.
With this designation we can endorse, raise and spend money and campaign for candidates on the state, county and city level. Since PDWV and PDA are grassroots, bottom-up organizations, it is important to the state and local chapters to be able to advocate for candidates here in West Virginia, in your county and in your municipality.
By registering the state group as a PAC, all other chapters within the state can fall under the umbrella of the state group when it comes to raising and spending money and endorsing candidates. If a local chapter doesn't want to deal with all of the forms and paperwork involved with reporting, they can use our state PAC for that purpose.
If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at pdawv@gmail.com

PDWV to host local Democratic Platform meeting

This year the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Obama for America campaign have asked Americans to participate in writing the Democratic National Platform. Progressive Democrats of West Virginia (PDWV) will host one of those platform meetings at the South Charleston Public Library on Saturday, July 26 from 2:00 to 4:30.

"From the beginning, we said we were going bring down the traditional walls of the Democratic Convention and make this event more accessible and include as many people as possible," said Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean. "This process will empower Americans in all 50 states to make their voices heard as they help write the document that embodies our Party's values and vision for the future,” he continued.

Progressive Democrats of West Virginia invites all interested parties to this open meeting. “If we have many diverse views represented at the meeting, the suggestions we send on to the national platform committee will be more representative of West Virginians,” said Dave Nichols, State Coordinator for PDWV.

Once the meeting is concluded, PDWV will be sending a summary to the Democratic Platform Committee so they will have those suggestions in hand for consideration during their drafting meetings August 1-3.

If you have questions or comments Nichols requests that you submit them via email to pdawv@gmail.com.

Anne Barth speaks to Veterans at the UMWA rally

Reasons To Vote Republican

Republicans Block Windfall Profits Tax

In a 51-43 vote today, Republicans blocked the Senate from passing a windfall profit tax on the oil industry.

Some will say (like this guy) that this infringes on the freedom of companies to make profits and interferes with the free market. Companies should be allowed to make however much profit the market will allow.

To a certain degree that's true. However, in true free market style, let's open this up to the free market. Many companies are given a pass on paying royalties for crude extracted from federal lands. That's right. While ABC Oil Company, Inc. is drilling on taxpayer land and extracting oil, refining it and selling it for record profits, we the taxpayer give them the oil FOR FREE.

Maybe we should find out how much those companies are willing to pay for their profits. Let's reopen the leases and have a bid on who gets to drill. Wouldn't that be "free market." Or would making a company pay for it's resources be too communist for the market. If you follow that logic (and it is faulty) I can get to the most (il)logical conclusion: Truckers should stop in to refueling stations and fill up with diesel, then drive off. ABC Oil needs free crude to operate and make huge profits. Truckers need free diesel to operate and make huge profits.

I'll say again to those opposed to windfall profits taxes: the oil companies make money for free and are experiencing record profits. It is only fair in a free market system that the taxpayer who is subsidizing their profits should see some of that.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich calls for Bush Impeachment

This is the reason I was willing to volunteer to coordinate his campaign in WV. He is one of the most courageous people on Capitol Hill. The Democratic leadership really, really doesn't want him to do this. As a matter of fact, they quietly worked to have him defeated in his primary, but couldn't pull it off. He got over 50% of the vote in a field of 5.

If you're interested in his reelection campaign you can get more info here.

Contracts with Crooks: There really is no "low" anymore

According to ABC news and Gretchen Peters, the bush administration has pulled off another one.

"The US military has awarded an $80 million contract to a prominent Saudi financier who has been indicted by the US Justice Department."

Saudi businessman Ghaith Pharaon is WANTED and has been indicted by the FBI, is a fugitive from the law and will be providing jet fuel to American bases in Afghanistan. If only this were a "bad-boy-makes-good" story. It's not:

"Pharaon is wanted in connection with his alleged role at the failed Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), and the CenTrust savings and loan scandal, which cost US tax payers $1.7 billion.

"The Saudi businessman was also named in a 2002 French parliamentary report as having links to informal money transfer networks called hawala, known to be used by traders and terrorists, including Al Qaeda.

"Interestingly, Pharaon was also an investor in President George W. Bush's first business venture, Arbusto Energy."

skip

"Ghaith Pharaon is an FBI fugitive indicted in both the BCCI and CENTRUST case," said Richard Kolko, a spokesman for the FBI. "If anyone has information on his location, they are requested to contact the FBI or the US Embassy."

It's hard not to laugh at the sheer audacity of it. Pharaon not only invested in Arbusto, but was a classmate of "W" at Harvard.

How have we not gotten out the pitchforks and torches?

"Recorded Live" Blogging from the HRC event in Charleston

I attended the HRC event at the Capitol this morning. Since I could actually do a live blog from the event, I decided to take notes as though I was. That's why I live to call it "Recorded Live." Enjoy.

9:40- There is a long line from the Attorney General's office (where the metal detectors are) back to the east wing entrance. People are handing out stickers, clean coal hats and information and selling button. Someone also gave me a full-page flier entitled "Don't Burn Down Denver If Obama Isn't Nominated: Learn How We Can Prevent a Riot ad Read About Hillary on our Revolutionary Party Homepage." Sweet Lord!

9:45- A staffer tells me I need to fill out a form with volunteer information on it "for security purposes." Right...security purposes.

9:55- I've made it to the area outside the AG's office and see a staffer wearing a sticker that says "STOP Altzheimer's NOW." Another staffer takes my "for security purposes" form and puts is in an open cardboard box - you know - for security purposes. There's a woman who comes in the door wearing a white pantsuit. It has Hillary's face hand-painted on it like she stood too close to Andy Warhol. She claims to have a blog. I didn't catch the web addy.

10:02- I'm through security and into the rotunda 20 yards from the podium. A staffer is gathering members of various demographic groups together. because I'm writing on my pad, they think I'm a reporter and leave me alone.

10:07- A reporter just asked me what news organization I'm with. I said, "The American people and WVblue.com."

10:10- There's Natalie Tennant.

10:15- There's Joe DeLong and John Perdue. At the scheduled start time, there is no sign of HRC. It looks like there might be 300 people there not including the press.

10:30- There's a guy at the podium doing a comedy routine. Now he's changed it to a game show and the prizes are signed HRC campaign signs. A bomb-sniffing dog just stopped to smell the shoes of the person standing next to me.

10:40- Natalie Tennant introduces herself to me and asks for my vote "even though [I'm] a reporter." As if. Isn't she the same thing? Someone who looks remarkably like AJ Manchin pulls up on a rascal scooter. The speakers are blaring "9 to 5."

10:45- Security is moving people out of my area who aren't members of the press to make room for the traveling press corps. They leave me alone.

11:00- The traveling press corps arrives.

11:07- CNN is preparing for a live feed.

11:25- There is a second attempt to get people to chant "Hillary Hillary" and clap (both times it started with a staffer). It dies. Is that prescient? There's some guy in a hazmat suit, rubber gloves, goggles and a facemask holding a Hillary sign. He seems to have his own press corps.

11:27- The music stops and people begin to clap. "9 to 5" starts to play again.

11:30- The game show guy introduces Brig. Gen. Jack Yeager, Gayle Manchin and HRC. Yeager talks about veterans and giving HRC a big win on Tuesday, then introduces Gayle Manchin.

Gayle Manchin says "We're gonna make history on Tuesday." and calls HRC "a great wife, a great mother, a great first lady and a great senator."

11:40- HRC takes the mic. The following is a list of quotations and summaries she made during the speech and some of my random thoughts.
*"We're gonna make the big oil companies pay the gas tax this summer." Seems like a turnaround from last week.
*freeze home foreclosures, affordable health care
*encourage clean coal, solar, wind and biofuels and higher gas mileage cars
*$10k tax credit for buying hyper-hybrid cars
*"...make coal as clean as it can be under the circumstances."
*get college-going rate up and tuition down, double the college tax credit and expand the Pell grant
*reign in student loan companies; have direct lending from the federal government and retrurn to 2-3% interest
*end war in Iraq (This got the most deafening cheer from the crowd. Pundits can say the economy is the big issue if they want to, but this is a unifying issue for the party.)
*can't afford to give up on Michigan and Florida
*We need a paramedic and water. HRC offers her water bottle. "Whenever anyone faints or swoons at one of my husband's rallies, it makes me feel good."
*"If you were hiring a president, who would you hire?"
*McCain "would not change economic policies and would not end the war."
*"Ready on day one"
*"It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush. It's gonna take a Clinton to clean up after the second."

12:00- Out the door

I called a friend of mine on my way to the car. He's from Illinois and vehemently supports Obama. I left him a message telling him I had decided to change my vote. That should make my phone ring angrily later tonight.

Here are some observation and things I learned at the event.
1. Everyone was well-behaved. There were no hecklers during the entire speech.
2. HRC is very impressive in person. She seems sincere and heartfelt.
3. you can go just about anywhere you want at a press event if you take a stenopad with you. I even got free food since they thought I was a reporter. No one ever asked me for my press credentials.

This is what can happen when progressives work together

PDA Helps Donna Edwards Win Stunning Upset Victory!



Progressive Democrats of America helped progressive challenger Donna Edwards win a stunning upset victory against eight-term incumbent Albert Wynn. Despite Wynn's huge advantages in terms of special interest contributions and insider connections, Donna Edwards marshaled support from what Wynn's campaign dismissed as "a vast left-wing conspiracy" to defeat the most conservative member of the Congressional Black Caucus. With 77% of the precincts reporting, Donna led by 60% to 35%, a margin of nearly 21,000 votes. Because the 4th district is overwhelmingly Democratic, Donna is a sure bet to win this seat in the November general election.

Tonight as PDA celebrated victory with Donna, the room was packed with PDA members led by National Board Chair Mimi Kennedy PDA and Vice Chair Steve Shaff, Board Member Steve Cobble, Store Director Tom Pallow, and Maryland State Coordinator Mike Hersh. PDA was on the ground helping Donna from the start. National Field Coordinator Diane Shamis led the PDA effort helping Donna.

Mimi flew in from L.A. Friday night to ride through Maryland's 4th District on a Bus, then rallied for Donna. Steve Shaff, Steve Cobble, Diane Shamis, Tom Pallow, and Mike Hersh also rode in the caravans to canvass at several shopping centers on the way to the big rally for Donna Edwards at the United Food & Commercial Workers offices in Landover, MD.

The PDA team made countless calls for Donna, and also worked at Giant supermarkets, metro stops and door-knocked to help achieve this victory. Diane Shamis and Tom Pallow organized a nation-wide virtual phone bank as well. Mimi stayed in Maryland through Tuesday night, working the precincts, meeting voters at Metro stops, and then celebrating with Donna and the PDA team in Prince Georges County.

Saturday, PDA National Board Member Rev. Lennox Yearwood rushed back from an appearance in Texas to Prince Georges County, where was "born, went to public school, was ordained, and commissioned into the Air Force." Why? To rally voters for Donna Edwards, the most exciting and progressive candidate this district has seen.

At the Saturday rally, Rev Yearwood fired up the crowd as only he can. He spelled out how damaging incumbent Albert Wynn's mistakes--like voting to attack Iraq and voting for the bankruptcy bill--have been for people in the 4th District of Maryland and other Americans. Mimi matched his energy, taking on Albert Wynn's allegations that a "vast left wing conspiracy" is backing Donna and giving a big shout out to the new PDA Prince Georges chapter leadership.

Local Democracy for America (DFA) leaders including Sharon Polidoro, Maida Schifter, Suzanne St. Cyr and Donna's Montgomery County Campaign Organizer Gina Angiola joined in the celebration.Democracy For America Executive Director Jim Dean, like Mimi, rode through this sprawling district, meeting voters, waving signs, passing out information about Donna. Kim Gandy, the President of the National Organization for Women praised Donna's courage and dedication. After the rally, Kim put on a "PDA for Edwards" sticker and joined us in the group pictures and discussed ways NOW and PDA can work closely together.

SEIU Executive Director Terry Cavanagh put the contest in context, recounting his conversation with a member of Congress who wondered "why are you doing this to Al Wynn? There are worse Democrats than Al Wynn." The reply: "Give me some time and maybe we'll think of one." Other supporters spoke of Donna's willingness to listen, her eagerness to help, her goodness, decency, intelligence and more. Jim Dean said this is a contest between "the culture of incumbency vs. the culture of activism." He sounds like a natural partner for PDA, and Mimi discussed issues like election protection with him before and after the rally.

Donna thanked all of us for our support. Donna told us she's lived in Prince Georges County for 25 years, the county where she raised her son. In a voice worn by weeks and weeks of hard work, talked about her commitment to the people of the 4th District, her fundamental understanding of the difficulties facing working people, single moms--real Americans. As Donna explains, if we elect her to Congress we won't have to push her or lobby her to do the right thing on universal health care or getting us out of Iraq or helping families hurt by the foreclosure crisis.

Donna promised us, "January 2009, my name will be right on top of the list," of the leaders making a difference on all these issues and more. And PDA is right on top of the list among the "vast left wing conspiracy" poised to usher Albert Wynn back into private life. As the chant rocked the room: "Al Wynn? Time to go!" and "It's Donna Time!" Voters in Maryland's 4th District agreed.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help Donna win!

Yours in the movement,


Tim Carpenter,
National Director

WV Democratic County Conventions

For those of you who don't already know, the WV Democratic Party is having conventions at the county level for the first time.

At the county convention each county will elect a preset number of delegates to the WV Democratic State Convention. Candidates for delegate will be nominated and voted on the day of the county convention.

Because the turnout to these conventions is expected to be low, it is imperative that we, as progressives, get as many people to those conventions as possible. The more people we can get there, the more official voting delegates we will have at the state convention. With a big enough bloc of progressive votes at the state convention, we will be able to help shape the party platform.

If you are interested in coordinating efforts in your county to get out the progressive vote to the county conventions, please contact me at pdawva@gmail.com or at (304)444-3418.

This is a unique and realistic chance for us to be able to shape the state party. Let's not waste it!

PDA Organizes in West Virginia

PDA has begun organizing efforts in West Virginia. We are currently looking for dynamic people who are interested in helping effect progressive change in our state and nation to organize chapters across West Virginia.

If you are interested in helping with this organizing effort or would like more information please contact State Coordinator Dave Nichols via email at pdawva@gmail.com or by phone at (304)444-3418.