What?!

From Swing State Project (http://www.swingstateproject.com/2006/01/oh18_ney_to_oh.php)

Asked if Ney planned to step down if Bennett urged him to do so, Ney said: "I would say if he asked me to step down that he'd better look in the mirror because glass houses break easily." (Emphasis added.)

Go check this site out

But I Won't Stop Writing

So I wrote both Senators concerning the confirmation of Judge Alito. Here is what I received from each…

Sen. Martinez : Dear Mrs. Lunningham:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.
According to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the United States Senate must “advise and consent” to each of the president’s judicial nominations. In this role, we have a great constitutional responsibility to ensure a strong and qualified judiciary.
The position of Supreme Court justice is one of the highest and most respected in the land. The decisions of this Court resonate at the very foundations of the beliefs upon which our nation is built. In Judge Alito, I believe President Bush chose an individual with impeccable academic credentials, an extensive background as a lawyer and jurist, and seasoned experienced in handling arguments before the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Alito has been well received by my predecessors in the Senate on each of his previous confirmations. He was unanimously confirmed in both of his prior appearances before the United States Senate, both as a nominee for United States Attorney for New Jersey and to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
During his 15 years as a United States Circuit Judge, Judge Alito demonstrated the intelligence and judicial temperament required of this important office. It is now our obligation in the United States Senate to ensure that Judge Alito receives a thoughtful and deliberative evaluation. I look forward to hearing more from Judge Alito during the hearings and the confirmation process.
Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

Sen. Nelson : ear Mrs. Lunningham:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is important that we confirm a justice who will be a voice of reason and a staunch defender of our constitutional rights.
As part of the deliberative process, I will conduct a thorough review and inquiry into Judge Alito’s integrity, qualifications, and past record. I also will pay close attention to the proceedings of the Senate Judiciary Committee. When that process is complete, I will make my decision on whether to vote for his confirmation.
I appreciate hearing your concerns and will keep them in mind. Please don’t hesitate to contact me in the future.
P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians. If you'd like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at http://billnelson.senate.gov/newpages/newsletter.cfm .

Oh well, who the hell needs civil liberties anyway?

Nothing Up My Sleeve....

From blog I will now read everyday: http://opovet.blogspot.com/ One Pissed Off Veteran writes….

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Town Hall Meeting Shocker

I just got home from a "town hall" type of meeting with my congressman, Brian Baird (Washington 3rd). He's a smart, personable, even-tempered guy who's good at thinking on his feet, which I guess is why he keeps winning elections. He and I have disagreed over the years on some issues (e.g., Terri Shiavo, flag burning), but he's in the forefront of fighting for veterans' benefits, supporting veterans' issues and funding veterans' health care, so by and large he's way better than whatever knuckledragger the Repugs have thrown -- or can throw -- up against him.

But he told an absolutely appalling story about what happened when he and his wife attempted to travel to Kuwait to make a personal visit to a group of National Guard troops from right here in this district who had been deployed to Kuwait and were on the verge of going into Iraq.

He contacted the commanding general of Task Force Olympia and was told that they would not allow him to make an official visit as a congressman and not be able to ask questions of the troops because -- get this -- That fat bastard, the Squeaker of the Hose, one Denny Fat-boy Clogged-arteries Supersize-me Make-that-three-triple- cheeseburgers Hastert issued an edict that no Democratic congressman could speak to the troops without a Repugnican sewer rat being present.

And people still wonder why we need to get that slavering pack of corrupt GOP bastards out of there.

Hmmmmm………

Sen Your Senator A Letter RE: Alito

COPY AND PASTE THIS LETTER AND SEND TO YOUR SENATOR. ALITO MUST NOT BE CONFIRMED

DATE

The Honorable (your Senator's name)
(The Senator's address found at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm )

Dear Senator (insert last name):

I am writing to urge you to oppose the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito. Judge Alito’s written opinions as expressed in decisions such as: (1) Bray v. Marriott Hotels, 1997 indicates a woeful lack of understanding of minority rights that could set civil rights back decades; (2) Nathanson v. Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1991 suggests that Judge Alito has either disdain or a true lack of understanding for Americans with disabilities, (3) in Doe v. Groody, 2004, Judge Alito actually wrote he though the strip search of a child who happened to live in the same residence of a suspected criminal was perfectly fine. These are just a few cases, but I have researched far more that indicates to me that Judge Alito, while undoubtedly intelligent and capable, and would place the interests of business above the health, welfare and economic interests of the vast majority of Americans in the middle-class. While this may be preferable to those who own major corporations, it is not at all in the best interest of the majority of your constituents.

Senator (your Senator’s name), issues such as equal protection, Amendments IV, V, XIV, XV, XIX, and XXIV to the Constitution, the Family and Medical Leave Act, or any civil right hard won by the minority populace cannot be taken lightly. The Supreme Court is a co-equal branch of government, not an arm for any political interest. This appointment it effects more than the right to privacy (which is what was decide by Roe V. Wade, not abortion rights), it effects whether the common people will have equal representation with companies and powerful interests groups. I must tell you, as it stands, the average American cannot see much representation from Washington.

Sincerely,

(your name)

The Anti-Federalist Papers (Part I)

I love America. Not in a sappy, bumper sticker, tear jerking song kind away, but with a painful understanding and acceptance of everything this country has been and all that it has come through, a deep abiding respect for everything that this country is, and a hope eternal of what this country can be. It is because of this love I have written this for anyone who will read it. All I ask is that you read with an open heart and mind and remember being an American means you don’t have to march in lock step.

It is a funny thing, but more often than not, it is not the righteous, well respected holy man that fights to right the wrongs of a blind society, it is oft times the sinner. Men beholden to no one save their own conscience, men looked down upon by his contemporaries, scoffed at and belittled step into the breach and hold a mirror to our faces and show us how very ugly we really are.

I am not a righteous person, though I pray everyday to become one. My sins are great, my past may be considered shadowy, but I know what is right and what is wrong. I do not presume to be smarter than anyone with a high school education, but I am able to separate fact from fiction, truth from lie, and I can even see in shades of gray when things are not in black and white. So can you. I just want to give you a little help.

Intro-

There was a time when American leaders inspired the people, making us believe. Words from Lincoln, both Roosevelt’s, and Kennedy (to name a few) moved us to reach beyond, to move us greatness, to give us hope. Well, when was the last time any politician made you feel pride? I am talking true pride in your country, not the last vestiges When was the last time you as an American, felt you were a part something special and unique? You probably don’t want to hear this. You have been brainwashed into thinking that your personal views are the only correct views, so any dissent makes you uncomfortable, if not down right irritable. However, after the initial shock that the world does not revolve around you has worn off, and you begin to see you do not get to dictate to the world how it should live and what everyone should believe, you will begin to open you mind to the possibility that maybe you are not right all the time. Maybe, you will even begin to understand that you current government is dead wrong; in fact, it is bad for you and the country on the whole.

My own political leanings are irrelevant. It does not matter what party I call myself affiliated with, whatever that means. I am not writing to you to push anyone’s agenda. My aim is not to convert the masses, but to remind you of who you are and what power you wield

I do not seek to sway political views. My incongruity is with the powers that be on all sides. I wish to remind my fellow Americans of the things that unite us as a people. I wish to open your minds to the possibilities of all we still could be. It is this authors’ humble opinion that our political parties are necessary, both right and left, to compliment and balance one another, in order to ensure that all people are represented and all values devotedly held are worth fighting for and should be fought for.

Blogging Baghdad

If you have not been to Blogging Baghdad, http://baghdadblog.msnbc.com/ , on the MSNBC website, you should give it a once over. The observations are poignant and you will probably never see any of these things on television.