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RootsWire is a new collaboration of bloggers aggregating their sites into a nation-wide news reporting system.

Saturday Wrap-up: Emails, planting artichokes, & choking down more Palin BS

February 7, 2010 by Steve Hanson



Slogging through emails...

Today I did some more reading of Todd Palin's revealed emails from MSNBC's records request. I hope to post something tomorrow regarding questions some of you have been asking.  I also want to thank all those folks who have been pointing out emails they find interesting.  I'm making notes of them and researching to see if they are significant.

It seems that everyone, right and left, are reading the emails.  However, this struck me as friggin' amazing on Twitter today.  It seems that there was one email from Sarah regarding Piper Palin that a bunch of the Teabaggers thought was "so cute."  I expected something like the hair-flattening moment at the Republican Convention so I decided to check it out.  Imagine my horror when I read this:

From: gov [dot] sarah [at] yahoo [dot] com [mailto :gov [dot] sarah [at] yahoo [dot] com]
Sent: Tuesday , January 15 , 2008 9:08 AM
To: Kelly, Russell T (GOV); Tibbles, Michael A (GOV); Frank Bailey ; Perry, Kristina Y (GOV);
Leighow, Sharon W (GOV); Leschper, Beth (GOV); Frye, Ivy J (DOA)

Disastrous Primary Outcome in Illinois -- Could it happen in Alabama?

February 7, 2010 by Left in Alabama

GOP conveniently discloses unsavory past of Democrat -- immediately after he wins primary.

Scott Lee Cohen sold himself to Democratic primary voters as a shining example of integrity, transparency and business acumen. "Scott is prepared to bring his professional and life experience to the office of lieutenant governor," declared his campaign Web site.

From the earliest stages of his campaign, Cohen says, he was up front about two issues rarely seen in a successful political candidate: His business as a pawnbroker and domestic battery charges, later dismissed, involving a girlfriend.

But his vague account of the battery case fell apart a day after his Democratic primary victory when an examination of the police record portrayed a more troubling picture than what the candidate offered.

The ex-girlfriend is a convicted prostitute and there's a police report where she accuses Cohen of holding a knife to her throat -- just a minor detail Cohen neglected to tell voters before the primary.  He also neglected to mention being sued for back taxes, failing to pay utilities and a host of other, shall we say, character issues.

Water For Waukesha - - And Growth For Whom - - Is A Legitimate Issue

Submitted by The Political E... on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 00:05
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
The Journal Sentinel says in a Sunday editorial that questions about the relationship between Waukesha's access to and use of diverted Lake Michigan water and potential growth are not appropriate.

Let's look at this differently.

I would argue that these are perfectly reasonable and relevant questions, for three reasons, at least:

1. The Great Lakes Compact, under which the Waukesha diversion application us being made, is principally a water management and conservation document about a shared resource held in trust for the people of two provinces and eight states - - and is not principally a diversion exception document.

2. If the diversion is to help Waukesha grow - - and its application cites new areas to its west and south for annexation to which water will be provided - - who or what will guarantee that the growth actually helps the region, since the water is a multi-state/regional resource?

At the public meeting in late January where the city rolled out its application, at least two Waukesha city alderman bluntly said they would not support any agreements with Milwaukee as the potential supplier that went beyond a bare-bones water rate deal.

State Efforts Are Fine, But Great Lakes Need National Effort To Block Asian Carp

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 23:59
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
If the invasive and menacing carp get above the locks at the Chicago shipping canal, we'll all look back with regret and disgust at years of regional and Illinois' half-measures and inertia.


"D" vs. "R": Any Further Questions?

February 6, 2010 by Blue Virginia

Original Author: 
noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)
No more questions about whether to vote Democratic or Republican't? Not after these graphs!




Case closed.

Palin On CNN (Why), Fox, Too

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 20:41
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
CNN won't get any credit from the far Right for carrying Sarah Palin's speech to the Tea Partiers.

Can you imagine Fox carrying a speech by whomever might be the left's leading celebrity?

I was feeling like a goof myself for watching; then I channeled what John McCain must be thinking and felt less goofy.

IA-Sen: Conlin organizing against Shelby's "political extortion"

February 6, 2010 by Bleeding Heartland

Bleeding Heartland's picture
Original Author: 
desmoinesdem
Whether you call it hostage-taking or shark-jumping, we can all agree that Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama is abusing Senate conventions. He has put a blanket hold on all Obama administration nominees until his state gets more than $40 billion in federal money.

Roxanne Conlin, one of three Iowa Democrats running against five-term incumbent Chuck Grassley, may be the first Democratic candidate in the country to organize against Shelby's power play.

CA-33: Will Karen Bass Go To Congress?

February 6, 2010 by Calitics

Calitics's picture
Original Author: 
Robert Cruickshank
That's the report coming out of a meeting yesterday in Southern California with Diane Watson, who currently represents the 33rd District in Congress. A Swing State Project report from someone who attended the meeting, augmented by our own BruinKid who also was at the meeting and wrote about it in the comments to yesterday's open thread, explains the story:

Just left a CA delegation meeting with Cong. Diane Watson was quietly telling Members that she will not be running for re-election.

Word is that Former CA Assembly Speaker Karen Bass will immediately enter the race following Watson's announcement.  Further proof of this plan --- Bass is scheduled to be in DC next week for a series of meet and greet events with potential financial supporters.

This would be a welcome development. Karen Bass brought a lot of progressive potential to the Speaker's office in 2008, but ran immediately into the brick wall of the state budget crisis, the 2/3rds rule, and the breakdown of California's system of government, all of which frustrated her agenda.

Term limits mean we'll never know how Bass would have taken those lessons and applied them to state government.

CYD Statewide Candidates Forum

February 6, 2010 by Calitics

Calitics's picture
Original Author: 
Brian Leubitz
If all goes right, this video window will allow you to watch the California Young Democrats Bay Area Regional Statewide Candidate Forum that's starting at 1 pm today. Enjoy, press release over the flip...

Watch live streaming video from vidsf at livestream.com

CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS (BAY AREA REGION) HOST NEARLY EVERY STATEWIDE OFFICE SEEKER

While Economy and Infrastructure Crumble, House of Delegates Tackles...Involuntary Microchipping?

February 6, 2010 by Blue Virginia

Original Author: 
noreply@blogger.com (Lowell)
Today's Virginian-Pilot has an editorial, "Tinfoil hats are not enough." The subject is legislation by Del. Mark Cole (R-Spotsylvania) that would "put an end to a disturbing threat to public safety...Virginians are in danger of having top-secret microchips implanted against their will." Yes, this is nuts. And no, this is (apparently) not a joke.

That's right, believe it or not, as our economy and infrastructure crumble, this is what our wonderful House of Delegates chooses to spend its time on. As the Virginian-Pilot inquires, "Don’t lawmakers have better things to worry about than aliens and hair transplant specialists?" Apparently not.

More Suburban Shopping/Lifestyle Destinations Bite The Dust

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 12:57
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
Franklin's grand experiment in destination shopping-cum-sprawl (hat tip, blogger John Michlig) goes the way of Delafield's canceled Lang lifestyle mega-development, the troubled Pabst Farms, (still no '"upscale" mall underway, but some big box stores might find their way close by the subdivisions that are filled with "for-sale" signs), and that effort to pull motorists from afar to the region;s Cabela's.

We constantly hear about public sector officials who can't do adequate planning and forecasting, but isn't this a private sector problem, too?

You can't fake population density or over-hype little pockets' perceived exceptionalism to support costly upmarket retail, which is why Milwaukee's Third Ward and truly diverse Riverwest and Walker's Point have a much better shot at success, and why transit would give some of these suburban investments a chance.

Maybe.

600 Attendees Makes For A National Party?

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 12:29
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
I've been to local weekend conferences with that many people.

Let's call it the tEA Party.

From Unconfirmed Sources ...

February 6, 2010 by Left in Alabama

Senator Richard Shelby Demands Earmark Cash in Unmarked Bills

(Washington D.C.) Ucs News: The nations deadly stand off Sen. Richard Shelby entered it 4th day with no end in sight. As the nation's capital cowers Richard Shelby continues to swagger through the halls of power intent on delivering budget busting earmarks to his home state. According to capital police, the Alabama Senator is now demanding 40 Billion dollars be delivered in cash and that Michelle Obama deliver the money dressed in her, in Shelby's words "Stunning", state of the union gown.

Richard Shelby is Alabama's Pork King -- heck, he might be America's Pork King -- but Sen. Claire McCaskill (D, Mo) says his tantrum over defense spending should spell the end of the road for earmarks.  It's time.


Ryan not running because his head's too small

February 6, 2010 by Uppity Wisconsin

Uppity Wisconsin's picture
Original Author: 
xoff

"I am not going to run for president. I'm just not going to do it. My head's not that big, and my kids are too small.

- U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan to Mike Gousha.  .


US Senate and Feingold Defend Doing Nothing

February 6, 2010 by Uppity Wisconsin

Uppity Wisconsin's picture
Original Author: 
mal contends
In the United States Senate, doing nothing is protected as a point of historical pride. It is the privilege of a U.S. Senator to do nothing and the do-nothing gang does not want this august legislative body to lose its harrowed privilege.

As Gail Collins puts it this morning: "There is a stupendous lack of real enthusiasm in the Senate for doing anything as dramatic as eliminating the senators’ right to stop things."

“It’s beyond the breaking point,” said Senator Tom Harkin, referring to the U.S. Senate's obstruction-as-usual, holds on nominations, filibusters, the whole paralysis of a sick legislative body. Harkin will introduce a bill to eliminate the Senate filibuster next week.

Even reformers like Sen. Russ Feingold defend the filibuster. Maybe Feingold and the Senate will have a change a heart, feeling that the problems facing Americans are so serious that a decaying institution's relics and undemocratic rules must change for the good of the citizens of our republic.
KickTime's picture

Friday Web Picks--Fantasies We Live By

Submitted by KickTime on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 08:00
Original Author: 
KickTime
From Corporatist ideology and fantasy of power, pt 2 Stephen Dufrechou.  It is a small snippet, and I recommend reading the whole piece that ranges from Zinn and Chomsky to Zizek and founders of the US on the hunt for a deconstruction of our collective fantasy life that bars us from justice that leads to peace. Well at least perhaps explains the Supreme Court decision that has disturbed so many. Indeed, "corporate personhood"--and the state's upholding corporate interests over those of "the people"--is but an expected extension of America's founding ideological fantasies. The US Supreme Court's decision in "Citizens United"...

Wacko Tea Partiers Marginalize Themselves - - And Probably Are Killing Tea Sales

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 01:56
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
At this rate, I look for the Tea industry to demand a name change from the racist fringe 'movement.'

Waukesha Posts Lake Michigan, Water Supply Alternatives' Cost Estimates

Submitted by The Political E... on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 01:23
Original Author: 
jer45y@gmail.com (James Rowen)
The Waukesha Water Utility has posted on its website a breakdown of estimated costs for three water supply alternatives, with its preferred plan - - a Lake Michigan diversion - - carrying a projected $164 million construction price tag.

The posting is here.


And is about triple the entire City's 2010 operating budget.

So any way you slice it, it's a lot of dough.
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