Plans are still in the works to launch the First Coast Democratic Professionals Council and an inaugural event is being hatched for the end of April. Right now, we are asking all interested people to go to the DPC website and sign up to receive event notifications. Given the fact that registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by over 40,000 in Duval County (yes, you read that correctly), the success of the DPC should be a no brainer.
Despite all of the bickering going back and forth between the two Democratic contenders and the fight that's brewing in this state to conduct a do over primary vote, this truly is the year for local Democrats to unite and show the rest of the state and country that Northeast Florida is not the Republican stronghold that people think it is.
The Democrats have a strong candidate in Jay McGovern as he campaigns for Ander Crenshaw's seat in Florida's Fourth Congressional District. Bob Harms is coming off of his court victory that unseated Jay Jabour and is well-positioned to take the at-large Group 2 seat on the city council. And despite getting away with less than a slap on the wrist, John Peyton, Art Shad and other top GOP officials were found to have committed legal and ethical violations.
The mission statement of the DPC is to re-engage area professionals in Democratic politics. There could not be a more perfect time to get out, get involved, get active, get seen, get heard.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Since The Camps Insist On Beating Each Other Up, Let's All Just Make Fun Of Them
It's time to instill some humor into this Democratic primary debacle. Otherwise, we'll all go friggin' crazy.
Plus, a friend of mine told me just today that if Hillary's camp keeps up the cheap shot negative campaigning, and becomes the eventual candidate, then she won't bother voting come November at all.
So let's bring some levity into this primary race and not get cynically bogged down with the senseless inter-party bickering that will do in the Democratic ticket. It's not like we or anyone else has any control over the Hillary and Obama camp as neither seems concerned with the BIGGER PICTURE THAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE AND FUTURE OF THE PARTY! Sorry about that.
Plus, a friend of mine told me just today that if Hillary's camp keeps up the cheap shot negative campaigning, and becomes the eventual candidate, then she won't bother voting come November at all.
So let's bring some levity into this primary race and not get cynically bogged down with the senseless inter-party bickering that will do in the Democratic ticket. It's not like we or anyone else has any control over the Hillary and Obama camp as neither seems concerned with the BIGGER PICTURE THAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE AND FUTURE OF THE PARTY! Sorry about that.
Republicans Do Live In Glass Houses -- Don't Let Them Forget That In The Wake Of The Spitzer Scandal
If your job is anything like mine, you spend over one third of each of your day surrounded by mostly Republicans. Which means, if you get caught in the kitchen or at lunch with any one of these folks, you may very well find yourself quickly outnumbered as they swarm in with a barrage of Faux news sound bites they caught either the night before as they were falling asleep, or that morning as they were rushing out the door.
So as you can imagine, today is not one I’m really looking forward to given the scandal de jour that is Eliot Spitzer and his link to a prostitution ring.
There appears no way to defend the man. He’s made his confession, said his apologies, etc. This rising star in the Democratic Party screwed up. He apparently broke the law and could be out of a job and into a new set of pinstripes. Simple. I really don’t want to defend him anyway. But that doesn’t mean I have to face each of my colleagues unarmed, defenseless, whimpering for forgiveness as I mope back to my office while being jeered at and poked with a cross and thumped with a bible.
Instead, I want to be prepared to take on the self-righteous smugness of these folks who will, with outright indignation, condemn the sinfulness of Mr. Spitzer as if he, a Democratic superdelegate, represents the continued plague on society that perpetually emanates from the left.
I want to be prepared to look these people in the eye and say, “Yeah, he did it. But I think you should be just as concerned about cleaning your own house.”
And with that, I’ll be armed with a list of criminal and/or morally offensive acts committed by those on the Right. This list is far from exhaustive and I heavily edited it by removing some of the more vile convictions of pedophilia, child pornography and incest. You can find a more complete list here, which includes links to supporting articles.
While posting this list may seem petty, I promise you it will come in handy should you find yourself cornered in the elevator or kitchen or bathroom by a frothing at the mouth wingnut crying holy mary about Spitzer’s issues.
Senator David Vitter, Louisiana Republican Senator. His number appeared on a list of clients linked to the “D.C. Madam” and several women have confirmed that he regularly appeared at the Canal Street Brothel.
Senator Larry Craig, caught in an airport bathroom attempting to solicit sex. Arrested and admitted offense.
Dick Armey (R-Texas), former professor, has been accused by The Dallas Observer of sexually harassing female students.
Jim Bakker, televangelist with Pat Robertson at Robertson's Christian Broadcasting network. Committed adultery with Jessica Hahn and then used charitable donations to pay her hush money.Fellow televangelists say he's gay. Indicted on 23 federal charges of fraud, tax evasion, and racketeering.
Robert "Bob" Allen, Florida state Rep. Arrested in the afternoon at a Veteran's Memorial Park for solicitation of prostitution from an undercover male officer inside a restroom. According to the papers Bob "offer[ed] to perform oral sex for $20". Bob Later claimed that his offer had somthing to do with his being afraid of Black people.
Bob Barr, Republican Congressman from Georgia. Sponsored the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, saying "The flames of hedonism, the flames of narcissism, the flames of self-centered morality are licking at the very foundation of our society, the family unit." Was married three times. Paid for his second wife's abortion (she also suspected he was cheating on her). Failed to pay child support to the children of his first two wives and while married to his third and present wife was photographed licking whipped cream off of strippers at his inaugural party.
Robert Bauman, Republican congressman and anti-gay activist, was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
John Bolton Bush's appointee ambassador to United Nations, corroborated allegations that Mr. Bolton’s first wife, Christina Bolton, was forced to engage in group sex have not been refuted by the State Department.
Mike Bowers Former State Attorney General, prosecuted the famous Bowers vs. Hardwick case, based on Georgia anti-sodomy laws. Admitted to a 10-year adulterous affair.
Ken Calvert, Congressman (R-Ca), champion of the Christian Coalition and its "family values." Sued as an alimony deadbeat by his ex-wife. Said "We can't forgive what occurred between the President and Lewinsky." In 1993 he was caught by police receiving oral sex from a prostitute and attempted to flee the scene.
Mark Foley, Republican Representative, Florida Sixteenth Congressional District. Resigned after trying to solicit sex from male congressional pages via an instant messenger program. The conversations included his asking a sixteen-year-old "stud" whether his penis was erect and requesting that he take out and measure his penis. The cover-up involved Republican House Majority Leader John Boehner, Ohio Eighth Congressional District and Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Illinois Fourteenth District.
Jeff Gannon Partisan blogger with no journalism credentials and a fake name who got invited to Bush's Press conferences. Is also a pimp and a gay prostitute.
Newt Gingrich, married three times. Gingrich campaign worker Anne Manning admitted that she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. Informed one wife he was filing for divorce while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments.
Rush Limbaugh, triple-divorcee, 30-pill a day drug addict.
Brent Parker Utah State Representetive. Arrested for soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a male prostitute.
Mark Pazuhanich, Republican judge, pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman, currently a conservative talk show host. Resigned his congressional seat abruptly to spend more time with his family, amidst allegations of an affair. His intern, Lori Klausutis, was soon after found dead in his office. The medical examiner, who had his license revoked in Missouri for falsifying information in an autopsy report, and suspended in florida for six years, ruled the case an accident, after giving conflicting information about her injuries. He said he lied about them because "The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury."
Ed Schrock, two-term republican congressman, with a 92% approval rating from the Christian Coalition. Cosponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, consistently opposed gay rights. Married, with wife and kids. Withdrew his candidacy for a third term after tapes of him soliciting for gay sex were circulated.
Tom Shortridge. Republican campaign consultant, was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr., Republican City Councilman, pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist, said during a sermon "I'm trying to find the correct name for it … this utter absolute, asinine, idiotic stupidity of men marrying men. … I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I'm gonna be blunt and plain; if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died." Had an affair with a prostitute.
Randall Terry, Right to Life activist, founder of Operation Rescue, involved in the Terri Schiavo protests. Once imprisoned for sending former President Bill Clinton an aborted fetus. His son Jamiel is gay; his daughter Tila had sex outside of marriage, became pregnant, had a miscarriage - she is no longer welcome in his home; his daughter Ebony had 2 children outside of wedlock and became Muslim. He has campaigned against infidelity and birth control, gays and unwed mothers. Terry himself was censured by his church after committing adultery.
Strom Thurmond, republican senator and racist, raped and impregnanted a 15-year old African American maid.
J.C. Watts, Representative (R-Oklahoma), loud champion of "moral values." Has out-of-wedlock children.
Stephen White, Republican preacher. Was arrested after allegedly offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
So as you can imagine, today is not one I’m really looking forward to given the scandal de jour that is Eliot Spitzer and his link to a prostitution ring.
There appears no way to defend the man. He’s made his confession, said his apologies, etc. This rising star in the Democratic Party screwed up. He apparently broke the law and could be out of a job and into a new set of pinstripes. Simple. I really don’t want to defend him anyway. But that doesn’t mean I have to face each of my colleagues unarmed, defenseless, whimpering for forgiveness as I mope back to my office while being jeered at and poked with a cross and thumped with a bible.
Instead, I want to be prepared to take on the self-righteous smugness of these folks who will, with outright indignation, condemn the sinfulness of Mr. Spitzer as if he, a Democratic superdelegate, represents the continued plague on society that perpetually emanates from the left.
I want to be prepared to look these people in the eye and say, “Yeah, he did it. But I think you should be just as concerned about cleaning your own house.”
And with that, I’ll be armed with a list of criminal and/or morally offensive acts committed by those on the Right. This list is far from exhaustive and I heavily edited it by removing some of the more vile convictions of pedophilia, child pornography and incest. You can find a more complete list here, which includes links to supporting articles.
While posting this list may seem petty, I promise you it will come in handy should you find yourself cornered in the elevator or kitchen or bathroom by a frothing at the mouth wingnut crying holy mary about Spitzer’s issues.
Senator David Vitter, Louisiana Republican Senator. His number appeared on a list of clients linked to the “D.C. Madam” and several women have confirmed that he regularly appeared at the Canal Street Brothel.
Senator Larry Craig, caught in an airport bathroom attempting to solicit sex. Arrested and admitted offense.
Dick Armey (R-Texas), former professor, has been accused by The Dallas Observer of sexually harassing female students.
Jim Bakker, televangelist with Pat Robertson at Robertson's Christian Broadcasting network. Committed adultery with Jessica Hahn and then used charitable donations to pay her hush money.Fellow televangelists say he's gay. Indicted on 23 federal charges of fraud, tax evasion, and racketeering.
Robert "Bob" Allen, Florida state Rep. Arrested in the afternoon at a Veteran's Memorial Park for solicitation of prostitution from an undercover male officer inside a restroom. According to the papers Bob "offer[ed] to perform oral sex for $20". Bob Later claimed that his offer had somthing to do with his being afraid of Black people.
Bob Barr, Republican Congressman from Georgia. Sponsored the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, saying "The flames of hedonism, the flames of narcissism, the flames of self-centered morality are licking at the very foundation of our society, the family unit." Was married three times. Paid for his second wife's abortion (she also suspected he was cheating on her). Failed to pay child support to the children of his first two wives and while married to his third and present wife was photographed licking whipped cream off of strippers at his inaugural party.
Robert Bauman, Republican congressman and anti-gay activist, was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
John Bolton Bush's appointee ambassador to United Nations, corroborated allegations that Mr. Bolton’s first wife, Christina Bolton, was forced to engage in group sex have not been refuted by the State Department.
Mike Bowers Former State Attorney General, prosecuted the famous Bowers vs. Hardwick case, based on Georgia anti-sodomy laws. Admitted to a 10-year adulterous affair.
Ken Calvert, Congressman (R-Ca), champion of the Christian Coalition and its "family values." Sued as an alimony deadbeat by his ex-wife. Said "We can't forgive what occurred between the President and Lewinsky." In 1993 he was caught by police receiving oral sex from a prostitute and attempted to flee the scene.
Mark Foley, Republican Representative, Florida Sixteenth Congressional District. Resigned after trying to solicit sex from male congressional pages via an instant messenger program. The conversations included his asking a sixteen-year-old "stud" whether his penis was erect and requesting that he take out and measure his penis. The cover-up involved Republican House Majority Leader John Boehner, Ohio Eighth Congressional District and Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Illinois Fourteenth District.
Jeff Gannon Partisan blogger with no journalism credentials and a fake name who got invited to Bush's Press conferences. Is also a pimp and a gay prostitute.
Newt Gingrich, married three times. Gingrich campaign worker Anne Manning admitted that she gave Newt oral sex while he was still married to his first wife. Informed one wife he was filing for divorce while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments.
Rush Limbaugh, triple-divorcee, 30-pill a day drug addict.
Brent Parker Utah State Representetive. Arrested for soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a male prostitute.
Mark Pazuhanich, Republican judge, pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman, currently a conservative talk show host. Resigned his congressional seat abruptly to spend more time with his family, amidst allegations of an affair. His intern, Lori Klausutis, was soon after found dead in his office. The medical examiner, who had his license revoked in Missouri for falsifying information in an autopsy report, and suspended in florida for six years, ruled the case an accident, after giving conflicting information about her injuries. He said he lied about them because "The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury."
Ed Schrock, two-term republican congressman, with a 92% approval rating from the Christian Coalition. Cosponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, consistently opposed gay rights. Married, with wife and kids. Withdrew his candidacy for a third term after tapes of him soliciting for gay sex were circulated.
Tom Shortridge. Republican campaign consultant, was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr., Republican City Councilman, pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist, said during a sermon "I'm trying to find the correct name for it … this utter absolute, asinine, idiotic stupidity of men marrying men. … I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I'm gonna be blunt and plain; if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died." Had an affair with a prostitute.
Randall Terry, Right to Life activist, founder of Operation Rescue, involved in the Terri Schiavo protests. Once imprisoned for sending former President Bill Clinton an aborted fetus. His son Jamiel is gay; his daughter Tila had sex outside of marriage, became pregnant, had a miscarriage - she is no longer welcome in his home; his daughter Ebony had 2 children outside of wedlock and became Muslim. He has campaigned against infidelity and birth control, gays and unwed mothers. Terry himself was censured by his church after committing adultery.
Strom Thurmond, republican senator and racist, raped and impregnanted a 15-year old African American maid.
J.C. Watts, Representative (R-Oklahoma), loud champion of "moral values." Has out-of-wedlock children.
Stephen White, Republican preacher. Was arrested after allegedly offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Did Obama Actually Win Texas, Despite What Our Media Friends Are Telling Us?
I'm posting this snippet from the Daily Kos because I've become a bit annoyed at how the media keeps telling a story of how Hillary won Texas, etc.
Now, it's not that I have much against Hillary. I'll vote for her if she is the candidate. No, this is more of a statement against our mainstream media and how those journalists do their best to under-report, over simplify, grossly distort and downright falsely report the news. So if Hillary is complaining about the treatment she is getting from the press, she should at least take solace in the favors they are giving her on this Texas thing as I'm sure this "victory" is worth at least a few hundred million in fundraising.
Now, it's not that I have much against Hillary. I'll vote for her if she is the candidate. No, this is more of a statement against our mainstream media and how those journalists do their best to under-report, over simplify, grossly distort and downright falsely report the news. So if Hillary is complaining about the treatment she is getting from the press, she should at least take solace in the favors they are giving her on this Texas thing as I'm sure this "victory" is worth at least a few hundred million in fundraising.
You'll remember the "Texas two-step," in which Texas voters participated in both a primary and a caucus. Under that system, two-thirds of Texas delegates are allocated according to the primary results, and one-third are awarded based on the caucus. Well, despite the fact that major media outlets called Texas for Clinton, the results of the caucus are still not in, and the final results may not be announced until March 29. That's because phone-in reporting from caucus sites was optional, and the majority simply mailed in their results. March 29 is the date that county chairs, who receive those results, are obliged to reveal them, according to the AP. But here's what we already know: in the primary, Clinton picked up 65 delegates to Obama's 61.
And Obama has a very solid lead in the caucus. As NPRreports,
If the numbers in the caucus vote hold up, then Obama will win 37 more pledged delegates to Clinton's 30. So Obama would have 98 delegates and Clinton 95 and he would leave Texas with three more delegates that Clinton.
That will mean that Obama wins Texas, just as clearly as he has won any other state that holds a caucus.
This is actually a huge problem for the Clinton, because she will have netted only eight delegates total on March 4th when you count Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. With the Obama victory in Wyoming yesterday, she's still behindby nearly 140 delegates. This is roughly where she was before March 4th, except that five more
states have gone by. It turns out Texas really was a must-win state for Clinton, just like her husband said.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
"The Jacksonville 11" -- Starring Michael J. Fox As John Peyton, Coming Soon To A Theatre Near You
Remember the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six and the Maguire Seven, those tragic Irish nationals wrongly accused and convicted in the 70s of bombing British pubs and performing other IRA acts of terrorism? Their story was made famous by the movie In the Name of the Father and even got mention in a Pogues song.
Then there were the Scottsboro Boys over in Alabama back in the early 30s. These nine black boys, ranging in ages twelve to nineteen, were accused of raping two white women on a train from Chattanooga to Memphis.
Oh, and how about the Chicago Seven, those counterculture activist tried and acquitted (or freed on appeal) for inciting riots and committing other acts of civil disobedience at the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention?
The common thread running through these groups is that all were caught up in an overzealous, prosecutorial campaign to gain convictions at whatever cost, civil liberties be damned, only to see their convictions overturned after years of legal, physical and mental torture.
So what’s the point of this history lesson? These stories, like so many more, have been captured in the annals of history not so much by the horrific facts of each incident, but by how the naming of these groups summons visions of global governmental violent oppression, false accusations, and decades of wrongful imprisonment, creating martyrs who inspired change.
Now the martyr-makers at the Florida Commission on Ethics have done their part in the same fashion to immortalize the vindication of the mayor, his staff, some city officials, and other local businessmen by dubbing these people at their ethics hearing as the JACKSONVILLE 11.
No joke. The Times-Union, in a single stroke of insensitive editorializing, and the Ethics Commission, in full mockery of the legal process (and as an affront to Leslie Goller who filed the ethics complaint), have attempted to invoke sympathy for these local officials and public figures by referring to them as the JACKSONVILLE 11, even though it was determined that they ALL BROKE STATE ETHICS LAWS by failing to disclose perks and gifts.
Yes. The state ethics commission found that rules were broken by the official’s failure to report perks received in excess of $100.00. The non-elected officials got off because they were not required to report the perks (it’s only wrong if there’s a law that says it’s wrong.) So, in essence, guilt was found. Yet the state did not see fit to go any further to penalize these saps because, well, there’s now a reporting system in place.
So who are the JACKSONVILLE 11 that we are now supposed to pity? First, there’s the mayor. Then Art Shad, Michael Corrigan, former Councilwoman Elaine Brown and former Chief Administrative Officer Dan Kleman. The others are former and current Peyton staffers Scott Teagle, Steve Diebenow, Adam Hollingsworth, Kerri Stewart, Trey Byrd and Dan McCarthy.
Make no mistake. These people were found to have committed the violations they were accused of. The real crime is that absolutely nothing will happen to them. I thank the Florida Commissions on Ethics for immortalizing the indiscretions of the JACKSONVILLE 11 and making them come off looking like victims and heroes.
Will “THE 11” now get t-shirts made? Will we have to endure an A&E special documenting their plight through the administrative legal system? Will we see Michael J. Fox play John Peyton in the biopic film adaptation of the book soon to be written by Bob Woodward? Will we soon be singing a folk song in their honor accompanied by an accordion and pan flute? Will the nightly news be filled with interviews of the accused families who are just grateful to see Johnny and Arty home again, completely vindicated.
You get the point.
Then there were the Scottsboro Boys over in Alabama back in the early 30s. These nine black boys, ranging in ages twelve to nineteen, were accused of raping two white women on a train from Chattanooga to Memphis.
Oh, and how about the Chicago Seven, those counterculture activist tried and acquitted (or freed on appeal) for inciting riots and committing other acts of civil disobedience at the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention?
The common thread running through these groups is that all were caught up in an overzealous, prosecutorial campaign to gain convictions at whatever cost, civil liberties be damned, only to see their convictions overturned after years of legal, physical and mental torture.
So what’s the point of this history lesson? These stories, like so many more, have been captured in the annals of history not so much by the horrific facts of each incident, but by how the naming of these groups summons visions of global governmental violent oppression, false accusations, and decades of wrongful imprisonment, creating martyrs who inspired change.
Now the martyr-makers at the Florida Commission on Ethics have done their part in the same fashion to immortalize the vindication of the mayor, his staff, some city officials, and other local businessmen by dubbing these people at their ethics hearing as the JACKSONVILLE 11.
No joke. The Times-Union, in a single stroke of insensitive editorializing, and the Ethics Commission, in full mockery of the legal process (and as an affront to Leslie Goller who filed the ethics complaint), have attempted to invoke sympathy for these local officials and public figures by referring to them as the JACKSONVILLE 11, even though it was determined that they ALL BROKE STATE ETHICS LAWS by failing to disclose perks and gifts.
Yes. The state ethics commission found that rules were broken by the official’s failure to report perks received in excess of $100.00. The non-elected officials got off because they were not required to report the perks (it’s only wrong if there’s a law that says it’s wrong.) So, in essence, guilt was found. Yet the state did not see fit to go any further to penalize these saps because, well, there’s now a reporting system in place.
So who are the JACKSONVILLE 11 that we are now supposed to pity? First, there’s the mayor. Then Art Shad, Michael Corrigan, former Councilwoman Elaine Brown and former Chief Administrative Officer Dan Kleman. The others are former and current Peyton staffers Scott Teagle, Steve Diebenow, Adam Hollingsworth, Kerri Stewart, Trey Byrd and Dan McCarthy.
Make no mistake. These people were found to have committed the violations they were accused of. The real crime is that absolutely nothing will happen to them. I thank the Florida Commissions on Ethics for immortalizing the indiscretions of the JACKSONVILLE 11 and making them come off looking like victims and heroes.
Will “THE 11” now get t-shirts made? Will we have to endure an A&E special documenting their plight through the administrative legal system? Will we see Michael J. Fox play John Peyton in the biopic film adaptation of the book soon to be written by Bob Woodward? Will we soon be singing a folk song in their honor accompanied by an accordion and pan flute? Will the nightly news be filled with interviews of the accused families who are just grateful to see Johnny and Arty home again, completely vindicated.
You get the point.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
An Open Letter From Congressional District 4 Democratic Candidate, Jay McGovern
Below is the text of an email I received from the Duval County Democratic Party announcing Jay McGovern's candidacy against Ander Crenshaw. Jay is asking for petition signatures to get him on the ballot this November. I was unable to paste the actual petition, but if you email me I'd be happy to forward it to you. (Or you can always call him for a petition.)
Jay was at a Barack gathering last night that I missed, but friends who were there and had a chance to meet him were highly impressed and came away feeling that he will make a worthy and strong challenger to Ander's not-so-safe seat.
I'll continue to post McGovern events as I hear of them and hopefully we'll be getting him to speak at an upcoming DPC gathering.
Jay McGovern, Democrat, for Congress
Congressional District 4
To: All faithful DEMOCRATS in Congressional District 4
As many of you know, I have filed to run for Congress in the 4th district. I believe it's time for change and it's time to take back our country. Today, I am asking for your support and to help me make a stronger, safer and more respected America a reality.
It's time to collect petitions so we can be listed on the ballot for the November 2008 election. I want to ask that you take a few minutes to print and complete the attached petition form. We need 4430 petitions by the end of this March. Asking five or more of your friends, relatives, co-workers or neighbors to complete a petition card this week will help ensure we make the ballot. I truly appreciate your help. You are welcome to contact me with any questions or comments at 904-626-9618. Let's try to get 1500 this week through this electronic grassroots effort. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Jay McGovern
Jay was at a Barack gathering last night that I missed, but friends who were there and had a chance to meet him were highly impressed and came away feeling that he will make a worthy and strong challenger to Ander's not-so-safe seat.
I'll continue to post McGovern events as I hear of them and hopefully we'll be getting him to speak at an upcoming DPC gathering.
Jay McGovern, Democrat, for Congress
Congressional District 4
To: All faithful DEMOCRATS in Congressional District 4
As many of you know, I have filed to run for Congress in the 4th district. I believe it's time for change and it's time to take back our country. Today, I am asking for your support and to help me make a stronger, safer and more respected America a reality.
It's time to collect petitions so we can be listed on the ballot for the November 2008 election. I want to ask that you take a few minutes to print and complete the attached petition form. We need 4430 petitions by the end of this March. Asking five or more of your friends, relatives, co-workers or neighbors to complete a petition card this week will help ensure we make the ballot. I truly appreciate your help. You are welcome to contact me with any questions or comments at 904-626-9618. Let's try to get 1500 this week through this electronic grassroots effort. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Jay McGovern
Campaign by Stratagem, A New Chapter In The Art Of War
My only real commentary on last night’s results is that Hillary and Barack need to stop beating up on each other now that the GOP has narrowed the candidate field to one.
Seriously. These two have been campaigning against one another for over a year now. What else can be said? What other new mud is there? And why, now that the dollars war is going to really heat up between the two, would they want to give the GOP a pass on having to vigorously campaign and spend money. The GOP is salivating over last night’s results because they’re going to save a fortune watching Clinton and Obama duke it out. This is exactly what Rush was begging for on Laura Ingraham's show a few nights ago (no, I did not watch it, but read the highlights the next day).
The Democrats cannot let this happen.
Barack and Hillary do not need to campaign on the “I’m better than my opponent” platform anymore. We all have a pretty good grasp by now of their differences. They both have a clear target and the test now is to see how they each match up against McBush and the GOP.
I want to know how Barack or Hillary plans on dismantling eight years of failed domestic and foreign policies. I want to see some tough talk on how this country cannot survive another four years of Republican rule. I do not want to hear any more accusations about plagiarized speeches. I don’t want to hear Matt Drudge saying that Hillary’s camp gave him some photos of Barack in Somali attire. I don’t want fake tears or messianic pronouncements. I don't want to see barbs exchanged via Saturday Night Live. It’s time for these childish antics to stop.
This is a once in a lifetime chance for Hillary and Barack and a real opportunity for the Democratic Party to unite and drain what's left of McCain's bank account by going Sun Tzu on him, two against one. The two can use their combined $38 billion war chest on ad campaigns, not to promote their own individual merits, but to educate the country on the dangers of another GOP administration. To do otherwise, to continue beating each other up instead, is going to see that $43 billion (yes, they were able to raise another $5 billion in just one sentence) being wasted on negative infighting ads such that, come August 29, 2008, right after the Democratic convention, there will be nothing left but a broke, scarred, dismembered, emaciated and eviscerated candidate who won’t stand a chance of making it into the White House.
Seriously. These two have been campaigning against one another for over a year now. What else can be said? What other new mud is there? And why, now that the dollars war is going to really heat up between the two, would they want to give the GOP a pass on having to vigorously campaign and spend money. The GOP is salivating over last night’s results because they’re going to save a fortune watching Clinton and Obama duke it out. This is exactly what Rush was begging for on Laura Ingraham's show a few nights ago (no, I did not watch it, but read the highlights the next day).
The Democrats cannot let this happen.
Barack and Hillary do not need to campaign on the “I’m better than my opponent” platform anymore. We all have a pretty good grasp by now of their differences. They both have a clear target and the test now is to see how they each match up against McBush and the GOP.
I want to know how Barack or Hillary plans on dismantling eight years of failed domestic and foreign policies. I want to see some tough talk on how this country cannot survive another four years of Republican rule. I do not want to hear any more accusations about plagiarized speeches. I don’t want to hear Matt Drudge saying that Hillary’s camp gave him some photos of Barack in Somali attire. I don’t want fake tears or messianic pronouncements. I don't want to see barbs exchanged via Saturday Night Live. It’s time for these childish antics to stop.
This is a once in a lifetime chance for Hillary and Barack and a real opportunity for the Democratic Party to unite and drain what's left of McCain's bank account by going Sun Tzu on him, two against one. The two can use their combined $38 billion war chest on ad campaigns, not to promote their own individual merits, but to educate the country on the dangers of another GOP administration. To do otherwise, to continue beating each other up instead, is going to see that $43 billion (yes, they were able to raise another $5 billion in just one sentence) being wasted on negative infighting ads such that, come August 29, 2008, right after the Democratic convention, there will be nothing left but a broke, scarred, dismembered, emaciated and eviscerated candidate who won’t stand a chance of making it into the White House.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Fourth Circuit Judicial Races -- We Are Now Crossing A Zone Of Turbulence. Please Return To Your Seats And Keep Your Seat Belts Fastened
Alright, I admit it, I’m obsessed with the Fourth Circuit Judicial Races, so much so that I’m either going to be locked away, or forced to run for one of the open seats (the former being the most likely as, despite my years practicing in New York, I have not yet qualified to run in Florida).
There are fourteen seats available in the Fourth Circuit this time around, yet only eight Groups reveal a filed candidate. So let’s do the math:
Four incumbents have filed for re-election (Stetson, McCaulie, Gooding and Fryefield -- all going unopposed to date);
Three of the non-incumbent races are for seats being vacated by a formally announced retiring judge (Buttner, Mitchell and Nachman); and
One seat (this makes eight) sees Jeff Morrow running unopposed for the Group 19 seat in which Judge Aaron Bowden sits. (You may remember Bowden for his little antic of firing his faithful judicial assistant after 17 long years due to her cancer and required treatment, then getting into a spitting match with Chief Judge Moran whereby Moran called Bowden a no-good son of a bitch which resulted in Bowden filing a Judicial Qualifications Commission complaint against Moran which, . . . . which, . . . slow it down . . . deep breaths, in through the nostrils, out through the mouth, deep breaths . . crap, . . . I’m out of breath and forgot where I was going with this).
Anyway, the only real bit of interest about the Morrow candidacy is that not only has Bowden not made his retirement completely open, but there may have been an understanding between the two whereby Bowden would acquiesce to Morrow entering the race before Bowden made his announcement to retire, thereby minimizing, if not down right eliminating, any competition against Morrow. I’m not sure how fishy that all smells, but it does seem to reek of perpetuating the good ole boy network of hand picking successors in a Putinesque kind of way. (Did I just say that out loud?) For what it’s worth, I have heard nary a bad word about Morrow, and the consensus is that he makes for a highly qualified and competent candidate.
So that leaves six seats with a question mark. Right now, we’re waiting on Judges Johnson, Day, Moran, Skinner, Wallace and Cooper to file papers. A representative from the Duval County Supervisor of Elections informed me that most of the incumbent candidates usually wait until the last moment to file their qualifying papers as it reduces the need to do more than one quarterly report. The next quarter ends March 31, 2008, so it is likely we’ll see these six names appear shortly after this date, assuming each is running for re-election. The complicated rules for qualifying, if I read them correctly, show an absolute deadline of May 2, 2008, meaning whatever names are posted on this date are the ones in the race. And if a candidate is unopposed, then that name won’t even appear on the ballot.
In case there should be any concern that I am ignoring the County Court races, note that only Groups 13, 14, and 16 are in play. Judge Flower in Group 14 and Judge Cox in Group 16 have already filed. Judge Blazs has yet to file, although as the newest judge up for re-election, it is believed he will be filing soon.
There are fourteen seats available in the Fourth Circuit this time around, yet only eight Groups reveal a filed candidate. So let’s do the math:
Four incumbents have filed for re-election (Stetson, McCaulie, Gooding and Fryefield -- all going unopposed to date);
Three of the non-incumbent races are for seats being vacated by a formally announced retiring judge (Buttner, Mitchell and Nachman); and
One seat (this makes eight) sees Jeff Morrow running unopposed for the Group 19 seat in which Judge Aaron Bowden sits. (You may remember Bowden for his little antic of firing his faithful judicial assistant after 17 long years due to her cancer and required treatment, then getting into a spitting match with Chief Judge Moran whereby Moran called Bowden a no-good son of a bitch which resulted in Bowden filing a Judicial Qualifications Commission complaint against Moran which, . . . . which, . . . slow it down . . . deep breaths, in through the nostrils, out through the mouth, deep breaths . . crap, . . . I’m out of breath and forgot where I was going with this).
Anyway, the only real bit of interest about the Morrow candidacy is that not only has Bowden not made his retirement completely open, but there may have been an understanding between the two whereby Bowden would acquiesce to Morrow entering the race before Bowden made his announcement to retire, thereby minimizing, if not down right eliminating, any competition against Morrow. I’m not sure how fishy that all smells, but it does seem to reek of perpetuating the good ole boy network of hand picking successors in a Putinesque kind of way. (Did I just say that out loud?) For what it’s worth, I have heard nary a bad word about Morrow, and the consensus is that he makes for a highly qualified and competent candidate.
So that leaves six seats with a question mark. Right now, we’re waiting on Judges Johnson, Day, Moran, Skinner, Wallace and Cooper to file papers. A representative from the Duval County Supervisor of Elections informed me that most of the incumbent candidates usually wait until the last moment to file their qualifying papers as it reduces the need to do more than one quarterly report. The next quarter ends March 31, 2008, so it is likely we’ll see these six names appear shortly after this date, assuming each is running for re-election. The complicated rules for qualifying, if I read them correctly, show an absolute deadline of May 2, 2008, meaning whatever names are posted on this date are the ones in the race. And if a candidate is unopposed, then that name won’t even appear on the ballot.
In case there should be any concern that I am ignoring the County Court races, note that only Groups 13, 14, and 16 are in play. Judge Flower in Group 14 and Judge Cox in Group 16 have already filed. Judge Blazs has yet to file, although as the newest judge up for re-election, it is believed he will be filing soon.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday Snippets, Politics From Coast To Coast (But Mostly Duval)
Starting with the local stuff, there are some tidbits to mention and to mull over.
First: Delegates were chosen yesterday to be seated at the Democratic convention. I was really torn about this whole affair, ultimately having decided that we in Florida need to let this one go and hope that Dean or his successor think this one through a bit more the next time. But still I drove down Liberty Street past the Union Hall a little after 10:00 battling my indecisive demons. Although I didn’t stop, I could see that there was much ado about the process. The Times Union has a little write up about the event and “winners” in today’s paper.
Second: For all those who do not know, Ander Crenshaw is facing opposition this year in the form of James Joseph “Jay” McGovern (D). Don’t bother Googling the name. You won’t find anything. McGovern only just filed in early February and I have yet to determine the extent and seriousness of his campaign, although I’ve heard that he reached out to Florida CFO Alex Sink’s campaign manager, Chris Hand, for assistance. Even for those of us who concede that Ander will probably stick around a while, it’s still worth it to put as much might and muscle behind McGovern, if for no other reason than to show the GOP that Ander’s seat should not be taken for granted. Make the man spend some of that $800,000 he has and maybe even sweat a bit. I’ll keep updating with news of McGovern’s campaign.
Third: The Jacksonville area chapter of The Democratic Professionals Council is having its second meeting this week to finalize its board membership and to begin planning its inaugural event. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, we have been added as a chapter on the DPC website, so now is a good time to sign up for email event notifications.
Fourth: Jim Daniel, Fourth Circuit judicial candidate for Clay County, held a fundraiser last Thursday at the Fraternal Order of Policy headquarters. Although I did not attend the event, a friend called me shortly afterwards to fill me in on the highlights (which were few). The one thing of interest that was confirmed by Jim’s campaign chair was that Jim is indeed raising as much money as possible (including loaning his campaign $100,000.00) to prevent any challenger from entering the race against him. While I’ve already posted my displeasure at this strategy, let me say again that it saddens my democratic (the system, not the party) sensibilities to have this race decided so far ahead of time without any concern for allowing the voters in the Fourth Circuit to get to make a reasoned choice. It no longer matters if Jim is the most qualified. We will never get the opportunity to know.
Fifth: Speaking of the judicial races, it appears that Gerald Wilkerson has dropped out of the race against Adrian Soud and Mark Hulsey, III, as his name no longer appears on the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website. This race and the one between Virginia Norton and Frederick “Rick” Buttner remain the only two that are competitive at this point.
Sixth: As I promised “Coast to Coast,” here’s some news on a gentleman named Matt Gonzalez from San Francisco. He’s a former Green Party mayoral candidate and former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Currently he does some art and has been tapped as Ralph “the [insert expletive here]” Nader’s vice presidential running mate. The only reason I bother with this bit of information is that Gonzalez, when confronted with the spoiler issue, responded, “If people worry about us spoiling the election, I invite them to earn our voters away from us.” So there’s the challenge. How’s that for perpetuating the hubris? How about asking Nadzalez whether they care more about the state of this country than they do their own egos.
First: Delegates were chosen yesterday to be seated at the Democratic convention. I was really torn about this whole affair, ultimately having decided that we in Florida need to let this one go and hope that Dean or his successor think this one through a bit more the next time. But still I drove down Liberty Street past the Union Hall a little after 10:00 battling my indecisive demons. Although I didn’t stop, I could see that there was much ado about the process. The Times Union has a little write up about the event and “winners” in today’s paper.
Second: For all those who do not know, Ander Crenshaw is facing opposition this year in the form of James Joseph “Jay” McGovern (D). Don’t bother Googling the name. You won’t find anything. McGovern only just filed in early February and I have yet to determine the extent and seriousness of his campaign, although I’ve heard that he reached out to Florida CFO Alex Sink’s campaign manager, Chris Hand, for assistance. Even for those of us who concede that Ander will probably stick around a while, it’s still worth it to put as much might and muscle behind McGovern, if for no other reason than to show the GOP that Ander’s seat should not be taken for granted. Make the man spend some of that $800,000 he has and maybe even sweat a bit. I’ll keep updating with news of McGovern’s campaign.
Third: The Jacksonville area chapter of The Democratic Professionals Council is having its second meeting this week to finalize its board membership and to begin planning its inaugural event. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, we have been added as a chapter on the DPC website, so now is a good time to sign up for email event notifications.
Fourth: Jim Daniel, Fourth Circuit judicial candidate for Clay County, held a fundraiser last Thursday at the Fraternal Order of Policy headquarters. Although I did not attend the event, a friend called me shortly afterwards to fill me in on the highlights (which were few). The one thing of interest that was confirmed by Jim’s campaign chair was that Jim is indeed raising as much money as possible (including loaning his campaign $100,000.00) to prevent any challenger from entering the race against him. While I’ve already posted my displeasure at this strategy, let me say again that it saddens my democratic (the system, not the party) sensibilities to have this race decided so far ahead of time without any concern for allowing the voters in the Fourth Circuit to get to make a reasoned choice. It no longer matters if Jim is the most qualified. We will never get the opportunity to know.
Fifth: Speaking of the judicial races, it appears that Gerald Wilkerson has dropped out of the race against Adrian Soud and Mark Hulsey, III, as his name no longer appears on the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website. This race and the one between Virginia Norton and Frederick “Rick” Buttner remain the only two that are competitive at this point.
Sixth: As I promised “Coast to Coast,” here’s some news on a gentleman named Matt Gonzalez from San Francisco. He’s a former Green Party mayoral candidate and former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Currently he does some art and has been tapped as Ralph “the [insert expletive here]” Nader’s vice presidential running mate. The only reason I bother with this bit of information is that Gonzalez, when confronted with the spoiler issue, responded, “If people worry about us spoiling the election, I invite them to earn our voters away from us.” So there’s the challenge. How’s that for perpetuating the hubris? How about asking Nadzalez whether they care more about the state of this country than they do their own egos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
