How About Some "Coulter Cash"?

The above video shows lying bit... uh, I mean conservative columnist Ann Coulter's recent remarks at CPAC. Below is the response from the Edwards campaign.

Dear Friend,

Did you hear about Anne Coulter's speech this afternoon attacking John? A friend just forwarded me the video and it's one of the worst moments in American politics I've seen.

I can't bring myself to even repeat her comments. Her shameless display of bigotry is so outrageous you actually have to see for yourself to believe it.

This is just a taste of the filth that the right-wing machine is gearing up to throw at us. And now that it's begun, we have a choice: Do we sit back, or do we fight back?

I say we fight. Help us raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" this week to show every would-be Republican mouthpiece that their bigoted attacks will not intimidate this campaign. I just threw in 100 bucks. Will you join me? Just click here.

Coulter's attack was no accident. It happened on national television at one of the year's biggest conservative conferences. Dick Cheney and most of the Republican candidates were in the audience. She was even introduced by Mitt Romney.

John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power. Since they have nothing real to use against him, Coulter's resorting to the classic right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion. And the Republican attack dogs will keep playing this despicable trick as long as they think it works.

But this time, you and I can change the game.

If we can raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" this week, we can show that bigotry will only backfire on those who use it. John is not the first progressive leader to face this kind of slime, but together, we can make sure he is one of the last.

Tonight, I've put in 100 bucks of "Coulter Cash" to get us started. Can you match me, or chip in whatever you can afford? Just click here:

http://johnedwards.com/r/6665/782378


Thanks,

David Bonior
Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

I think they handled it pretty well.

Hattip tip BSB for finding the video.

You Could Have Just Turned Comments On...

... but instead I have to go through all the trouble of making a separate post.

First off, here's what I'm replying to...

Lincoln Logs » Blog Archive » He’s A Good Man

Redhorse wants a “defense” of Bob Ney from me. Alright. I actually provided one long ago to the local newspaper. I said simply that Bob Ney will pay for his mistakes, as he should, but that his legacy will also be one of great service to the citizens of the 18th Congressional district.

I am not saying anything earth-shattering here. Ellen Ratner says it in the article. So does a “Ney associate.”

But here’s my question - why does the left continue to target Bob Ney?

Why do we keep "kicking a dog while he’s down" (as he goes on to call it)? Because it's not a question of partisan politics, it's a question of ethics. He sold out the people of his district for poker chips and golf trips. Now he has to pay the price for his decision. Can you honestly tell me you wouldn't be doing the exact same thing we are if Ney had been a Democrat? At least we don't go around calling him gay or talk about him lacing fruits with marijuana.

On a side note I've gotta ask, why no comments? It's not like you can't moderate them.

Update (3/2 - 7:28 P.M.): There's been a response posted here that seems to answer the comment issue (I'll take him at his word but I sure hope he's not paying for crappy hosting like that). I also didn't realize that Brewed Fresh Daily had addressed the same post.

The Bob Ney Email In Full

Thank you Zanesville Times Recorder, you have made my week. They published the full, unedited Bob Ney email yesterday. Here you go...

hello,

i will not have access to e mail so this will be my last for awhile. i wanted to drop you a short e mail to give you my address:

robert ney inmate number 28882-016
fci morgantown 446 greenbag road
route 857
morgantown, west virginia 26501

i also wanted to thank you for all you have done for me and my family. your kind words, thoughts, and prayers throughout the last six months have helped all of us quite a lot.

someone asked me the other day, if i wish i had never ran for office. i answered that i am glad that i did. nothing can erase the wonderful memories, thoughts, constituents, and changes that we, working together with the republicans and democrats, have been able to do. working to bring jobs to the district, helping constituents with issues, and trying to change law to help people has been the greatest memory ever.

would i change things if i could, sure. am i sorry for things that happened, absolutely, and i will pay the price. but, i am grateful for many good people in our office that helped the district and grateful for a free nation, the men and women that protect it, and a wonderful constituency in the district that i used to serve.

my family and i have lost everything on an economical basis, house, health care, possesions, but so have other people, people in the district, many, have lost all. and yes , that is painful for anyone that has gone through it, but, i am so fortunate to have my wife and children, we are so rich with family, friends like you, loved ones that are there for us, and full of hope for a good future.

the darkest days are not ahead, i have gained a higher power, the god of my understanding, is with all of us and that allows me to view tomorrow, although as a day of loss of freedom, as a day of enlightenment and of life to come.

as garth brooks said in his song the dance:

and now i'm glad i didn't know
the way it all would end, the way it all would go
our lives are better left to chance,
i could have missed the pain,
but i'd have had to miss, the dance
my family and my life is starting new, thanks for being part of it.

god bless,
bob ney

And I thought I was a terrible writer.

Source: Times Recorder - www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com - Zanesville, OH

Strickland Makes State Board of Education Pick

No comment, just wanted to pass it on.

3.2.07 - Strickland Announces Appointments to State Board of Education, Boards and Commissions

Strickland appointed Heather Heslop Licata to the Seventh District seat on the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education creates policy and makes recommendations for K-12 education in Ohio.

“Heather’s approach to educational issues reflects the utmost importance of a quality, affordable education at the local levels,” Strickland said. “She has been a leader in educational and community activities in the Akron area, and I know she will draw from these experiences as a member of the State Board of Education.”

When States Get Greedy

It seems like every single state in the union wants to move up its primary this year and as more states actually take action on it it's only increasing the problem. By 2012 we'll probably be close to a national primary.

Anyways it looks like there's a few people out there that want Ohio to join in the frenzy.

Should Ohio move presidential primary?

The presidential nomination decisions of 2008 could be over before Ohio voters weigh in next March 4.

A slew of delegate-rich states seeking to increase their clout in the presidential sweeps are rescheduling their 2008 political primaries for Feb. 5. Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur want Ohio to join them.

"It is in Ohio's interest to be at the front of the line, not the back of the queue," said Kaptur, who believes moving Ohio's primary to Feb. 5 will force candidates in both parties to highlight issues important to Ohio, like jobs, health care and trade.

Any switch from Ohio's March 4, 2008, primary date would be up to Ohio's legislature. Although Democratic and Republican leaders in Columbus say they have no plans to change the date, Kucinich said he will mobilize his "grassroots network" to make it happen.

John McCain Big Not Quite Announcement

Take that CBS, I found a way around your anti-embed philosophy. It was even YouTube supported.

The above is last nights John McCain interview on Letterman.

Slow News Day?

It's only 8 o'clock on a weekday and my feed reader is already starting to run on empty. What gives? Usually I still get a few hundred items an hour at this time.

Strickland Announces BWC, OIC Budgets

This just showed up on governor's website a few minutes ago. You can read the entire announcement here.

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today presented his budgets for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Ohio Industrial Commission, including significant reforms of the governing and oversight structure of the BWC.

The Ohio Industrial Commission recommended budget for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 is $61.8 million each year. OIC conducts hearings on workers’ compensation issues and is responsible for providing fair, impartial and easily accessible resolutions to disputes.

The total recommended budget for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 is $328.9 million and $329.2 million respectively.

Bob Ney In The Big House

After all the twists and turns that this story has taken Bob Ney is finally behind bars (or fiberglass or whatever the heck they use in low security). Ney reported to his new home at around 10:30 this morning to begin his 30 month stay.

The link below goes to some good local coverage of Ney including links to all of their stories on the events leading up to today.

Source: Ney Behind Bars - News

Jennifer Brunner Speaks To The People

Jennifer Brunner fired off an email to her list today about her first few weeks in office. I've pasted it below if your interested.

The first seven weeks...

Hitting the ground running is the perfect metaphor for my first weeks in office. I have updated www.jenniferbrunner.com with highlights of my first seven weeks in office, and I share my experience of my staff and I working diligently to turn around the operations of the office while setting a course for the future.

The very first day January 8, I was asked to return Senate Bill 117 to Governor Ted Strickland. The bill was filed without signature or veto from the outgoing Governor of Ohio Bob Taft. According to the state constitution the Governor has 10 days to take either sign or veto the bill, and if neither occurs, it becomes law without his or her signature at the end of the 10th day after it is received by the Governor.

I followed the state Constitution and honored the Governor's right under it to act on a bill within ten days of receipt and returned the bill to Governor Strickland for him to determine its fate. (read more)

At the end of our first week we had a wonderful swearing-in and inaugural celebration attended by many from around the state and by our state office holders, including Governor Ted Strickland and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. I appreciate the support of my transition team, our volunteers and the sponsors of the celebration. A highlight of my inaugural celebration was hearing my daughter, Laura, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, sing at the celebration.

Back at the Secretary of State's office, I have inherited some major challenges from the previous administration.

One of the main issues boils down to an important lesson learned: Good public service is about good stewardship of the public trust and taxpayer money. Being a public servant cannot be taken for granted or abused. (read more)

Other experiences I would like to share with you...

• The Business Services Mailing
  
  An employee in the division of Business Services brought to the attention of my new director of Business Services a letter that had been produced before we took office to over 50,000 businesses in Ohio who had not paid their taxes and had their business standing revoked. (read more)

• The Ohio Association of Election Officials Winter Conference
  
  I had the opportunity to greet members and employees of Boards of Elections from across Ohio in my third week on the job. Over 400 members of the Ohio Association of Election Officials convened in Columbus. During my address to the group I introduced my senior team and discussed my four goals for the Office. (read more)

• Meeting with Key Legislative Leadership
  
  Our legislative team and I have met with all four leaders of the legislative caucuses and look forward to working with them on legislation and budget issues. Because former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell spent 69% of the budget in the first half of the fiscal year, we will be forced to seek additional spending authority of existing business service fees to avoid a budget crisis before the end of this fiscal year in June. (read more)

• Audit Request to Mary Taylor, Auditor of State
  
  Three weeks ago I requested an audit of the Secretary of State's office by new State Auditor Mary Taylor, after discovering that no complete financial audit of the office has been performed since June 30, 2004.

• Lawsuits
  
  Upon taking office, we have been faced with 21 pending lawsuits against the former Secretary of State. In the first week of office, we discovered that former Secretary of State Blackwell had settled litigation relating to the 2004 Presidential election, agreeing to an order for attorney fees in the amount of $225,000. During our first week we were required to pay that sum out of our limited budget.

• Voting Rights Institute
  
  In just one short month we are working intensely to do the necessary work to make Ohio's elections free, fair, open and honest. (read more)

• The National Association of Secretaries of State conference
  
  I attended the National Association of Secretaries of State Conference in Washington, D.C. February 9 through 12, benefiting from the chance to meet with other secretaries of state from 42 states, including up and coming secretaries Mark Ritchie from Minnesota and Debra Bowen from California. (read more)

• My first directive to Boards of Elections
  
  I issued my first directive to the Boards of Elections on February 20th to establish minimum standards for the hiring of directorsand deputy directors at the county boards. (read more)

I am extremely fortunate to have working with me a professional and dedicated staff who believes, as I do, that we live in a great state, and that soon the nation will see a new Ohio that will be an example of what people working effectively together can do in just a short time - turn around Ohio. I will keep you updated on our progress. Thank you for all of your continued support.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Brunner

First ProgressOhio Chat Session

Progress Ohio's first chat session finished up about a half hour ago. It was interesting but if they plan on doing it again they need to find a chat service that allows for a moderator. Too many people were asking questions at once. They did a good job of making sure most of them got answered though.

I published a transcript of the chat here.

McCain's In

It's not really a surprise but John McCain is planning a run for president. He's making the required announcement of the official announcement tonight on Letterman.

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain will officially enter the presidential race with a formal announcement in early April.

The Arizona senator disclosed the timing of the long-expected announcement in a taping for the "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS. The segment was set to air Wednesday night.

"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," the senator told the talk show host.

As an added bonus here's a 10 second clip of an enthusiatic McCain at this years State of the Union. Enjoy.

Source: McCain to formally announce bid in April - John McCain News - MSNBC.com

Bob Ney Goes To Jail Tomorrow

Do not pass Go, do not collect $200 in poker chips.

Bob Ney is scheduled to report to prison tomorrow to begin serving his 30 month sentence. Today he took the opportunity to send an email to friends filled with Garth Brooks quotes and without using capitalization. Yep, it sure sounds like he's sober alright.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, expresses remorse and quotes singer/songwriter Garth Brooks in an e-mail sent to friends Wednesday, a day before he is to enter federal prison after pleading guilty to corruption charges.

Ney will report Thursday to a minimum security prison in Morgantown, W.Va., to begin serving his 30-month sentence after his guilty plea in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

In the all-lowercase e-mail note to friends, Ney thanks them "for all you have done for me and my family. your kind words, thoughts, and prayers throughout the last six months have helped us quite a lot."

Source: CNN Political Ticker

ProgressOhio Offers Up A Chat With Veterans

Progress Ohio holding a live chat tonight with two different war veterans from two different wars talking about why the troop surge is a bad idea.

LISTEN UP! SPEAK OUT!

Wednesday, February 28 at 8pm

Join Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and ProgressOhio for an online chat featuring Communications Specialist Christopher Stentz, a National Guard reservist who served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

He and Bob Rower, a Vietnam veteran, will share their war experiences and explain why America needs to do the right thing by Stopping the Escalation and bringing the troops home.

Sign Up: Progress Ohio | Signup

Governor Richardson Will Save Us!

While cruising through the presidential contenders websites I saw this line in an animation on Bill Richardson's site.

Governor Bill Richardson recently traveled to Darfur where he negotiated a fragile cease-fire between the Sudanese government and rebel militias.

Really? Whenever we have a major international problem we call in the governor of New Mexico? I always thought the U.N. handled things like that.

Jokes aside I'm pretty sure the issue in Darfur is far from solved. While I appreciate Richardson's work on the issue I doubt he can solve the problem singlehandedly in his current position.

My Presidential Rankings - 2/27/07

I've made no secret of my support for an Al Gore candidacy but as time goes on it gets harder and harder to keep waiting on him to announce. If he does announce I'll probably shift my support back to him but until then I've decided to move on. That was the easy decision, much more problematic is move on to whom?

Below I've listed my personal presidential rankings along with a brief explanation of why they hold the position that they do. What I want to know is whats wrong with them? Have I missed anything? This is your one big chance to convince me who to support, go for it.

Al Gore
Al will always be number one on my list until he explicitly says that he isn't running. He's managed to bounce back from his 2000 lose and achieve a sort if rock star status that he's never had before. Unlike some of the others he has no Iraq baggage as he's been opposed to the war since its beginning. He also has the environmentalist vote locked up.

Barack Obama
I don't know a whole lot about where Barack stands on the issues yet but his youthful energy and idealism appeals to me. He has the potential to make history by being the first African-American president. I am a little worried about his lack of experience but I'll be the first to admit that results speaks louder than experience.

John Edwards
I saw John Edwards speak in Wheeling during the '04 campaign and really liked him. He seems like a down to earth guy with working class roots (which he constantly reminds us of). He earned major points with me over his unpopular announcement that his health care plan would raise taxes. I think it's better to have an unpopular funding plan than no funding plan at all.

Hillary Clinton
Hillary's lack of regret for her vote to go to war irks me to no end. I really would like to see a woman president but that doesn't mean I'll support any woman that comes along. She also seems to lack personality in my opinion. Right now her spot in the 4th position is due to her chances of getting elected.

Joe Biden
He sounds like a nice guy but I just don't think he's big enough to compete. I figure his biggest role in this campaign will be in choosing who he supports after he drops out. He might also make a good VP but that's really beyond my ability to speculate on.

Bill Richardson
While Richardson manages to get the occasional mention on the major news channels he just can't compete with the bigger names. He'll probably drop out after a few primary's if he makes it that far.

Chris Dodd
He's got the DoddPod, he's got the DoddSquad, he's got... pretty much nothing to offer. In a campaign as packed as this one Dodd can't seem to get the kind of front page news coverage that a candidate needs to survive.

Mike Gravel
I have no clue who this guy is and that's the main reason why I think he'll fail. I'd heard of Tom Vilsack before and he couldn't raise enough money to compete, what's different with this guy?

Dennis Kucinich
I wanted to like Dennis, I really did. He had virtually no chance but he was anti-war and from Ohio. He just had to do stupid stuff like singing "16 Tons" and twirling around chanting "No Strings!", the man has become an embarrassment. Did I mention that he has absolutely no chance of winning?

President Bush: Against Terror Only When It Suits Him

President Bush is once again letting his hypocrisy show. This time he's promising to pull out his veto pen for an anti-terror bill unless a stipulation allowing airport screeners to unionize is removed.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush and his Senate allies will kill a Sept. 11 antiterror bill if Congress sends it to the White House with a provision to let airport screeners unionize, the White House and 36 Republicans said Tuesday.

''As the legislation currently stands, the president's senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill,'' said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Senate Republicans swiftly backed up the threat with a pledge by more than enough senators to block any veto override attempt.

Source: Labor Language Threatens Antiterror Bill - New York Times

Putting The "Fair" Back In Fair Use

A bill was introduced in the House today that would provide a much neede update to the DMCA, a copyright law that's currently acting as a major roadblock on the Internet.

clipped from blog.washingtonpost.com

Today, Reps. Rich Boucher (D-Va.) and John Dolittle (R-Calif.) introduced what they call the "Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship" (or FAIR USE) Act they say will make it easier for digital media consumers to use the content they buy.

The lawmakers seek to amend the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which content-makers, such as movie studios and record labels, fought to pass to protect their wares from getting stolen and pirated.

"The Digital Millennium Copyright Act dramatically tilted the copyright balance toward complete copyright protection at the expense of the public's right to fair use," Boucher said in a statement. "Without a change in the law, individuals will be less willing to purchase digital media if their use of the media within the home is severely circumscribed and the manufacturers of equipment and software that enables circumvention for legitimate purposes will be reluctant to introduce the products into the market."

Obama Plans On Spending More Time In Ohio

CNN's Political Ticker had this little clip in it's coverage of Obama's Ohio stops yesterday.

"I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Ohio so that people are familiar with me, so that by the time I'm the Democratic nominee they don't feel like I'm just parachuting in but that they've heard me and had a chance to kick the tires and lift the hood," Obama told reporters after the event in Columbus.

It's nice to see Ohio is still being respected as a swing state.

Source: CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker

Pizza Party With John Ashcroft?!?

I know thats always been my definition of fun. Sadly the Justice Department doesn't agree. I think even they would admit that it sounds a lot better than a pizza party with Mark Foley though.

Think Progress » Beware of pizza parties with John Ashcroft.

Hillary Coming To Ohio Soon

There's really not much to say because details haven't been announced. All that's been said is that it'll be sometime in the next month.

Read More: OPENERS: Fighting for the hearts of Buckeyes

Why I Keep Doing This To Myself

Tagged again! This time the subject is "5 Reasons Why I Blog", a post I've been meaning to write for a while now.

Preface
When I started this blog last summer I had no clue about the great blogs that Ohio had. Since I learned of them my reasons for keeping this blog have changed several times, bringing me to reason number one...

#1 - It Never Gets Boring
Every so often the major issues change and everything has to start from scratch. For example before election day the focus was campaigns and poll numbers. After election day the focus switched to making sure Republicans didn't hurry and push things through to hinder the newly elected Democrats. Once the Democrats took office the focus again shifted to new policies. And of course there's always several things going on at the same time.

#2 - Learning
Since I started keeping this blog I've become more knowledgeable about state and national issues than I've ever been before (which is far from saying I know it all) and there's always more to learn.

#3 - Opportunities
The day after Christmas I received an invitation to Governor Strickland's Inaugural Ball. Sure it might not be the most exciting thing in the world but until then I'd never dreamed of being invited to such an event. I wasn't able to go but it still just exciting to be nominated uh, I mean invited (it's probably just the cold medicine but I really did type nominated).

#4 - To Have A Voice
I spoke earlier of the great blogs Ohio had. Have you ever noticed where most of them are located? Northeastern Ohio. There are very few blogs in Southeastern Ohio and I'm one of them. I feel like it's my responsibility to keep us on the map.

#5 - It's Addicting
Last August I went down to Myrtle Beach with some of my extended family and I found myself spending a few hours each day in the hotel room watching MSNBC and trying to email in a few posts on my cell phone. Sure I need a few days off as a break every few weeks but if I go beyond that it drives me nuts.

I'm not going to tag anyone specific with this one but I think anyone with a blog should consider writing a post like this.

Al Sharpton Ancestor Was Owned By Ancestors Of Strom Thurmond

This is going to be the strangest election season ever. Yesterday we all learned that Mitt Romney's great-grandfather had five wives. Today we learn possible (but not likely) candidate Al Sharpton is a descendant of slaves owned by ancestors of Strom Thurmond.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prominent black activist Al Sharpton has learned he is descended from a slave who was owned by ancestors of the one-time segregationist U.S. senator, the late Strom Thurmond, the Daily News reported on Sunday.

The series of revelations came to light after the newspaper offered Sharpton a chance to delve into his family history with the help of genealogy experts from Ancestry.com.

Sharpton learned of the connection this week, and told the News that "nothing -- nothing -- could prepare me for this."

I don't even want to know what tomorrow will bring.

Source: Sharpton, Thurmond linked by slavery | US News | Reuters.com

You Think Al Gore Is Still Boring? Think Again...

I'm really not feeling great today (still got a cold) but I still wanted people to see this great article on the evolution of Al Gore.

Read More: WP: Al Gore, global rock star - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com