Over the flip you’ll find the weekly 50 (more or less) state roundup. Thanks to Betsy of BlueNC for this week’s roundup.
New Mexico The greatest YouTube video you will ever see, featuring Republican candidate for House in NM-01, Darren White. He’s telling us to just say no. Impossible not to watch more than once.
North Carolina At BlueNC we’re putting together a resource that will help our readers Buy Blue in North Carolina this holiday season and throughout the year.
Nevada My Silver State asked the candidates Nevada related questions that weren’t asked at the debate. Thus far, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Mike Gravel have responded.
The big Rudy Giuliani supporter Paul Singer is back in the news. The New York Times did a story about the “vulture capitalist” fund manager recounting his plan to steal 20 electoral votes for his main man, Rudy G. A sneak peak:
Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic Party, questioned “Paul Singer’s involvement in this dirty trick aimed at stealing the White House.” A group of Democrats filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging that Mr. Singer had been acting on behalf of Mr. Giuliani in his efforts to change the California law – which Mr. Singer and the campaign deny. And the Democratic National Committee drew attention to the part of Mr. Singer’s business that involves buying the debt of poor countries at a discount and then seeking repayment in full – prompting an article in The Times of London labeling his firm, Elliott Associates, a “vulture fund.”
***
Mr. Singer, who has given millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes over the years, said that he met Mr. Giuliani in 2006 and decided to support him. He signed on as one of the campaign’s earliest major fund-raisers. For months, Mr. Singer made a jet leased by one of his companies available to Mr. Giuliani. This June, he said, he stepped down as the campaign’s Eastern finance chairman to become a policy adviser.(NYT via MSNBC 11/22/07)
First thing, first. Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope it was truly a day of optimism and hope for each of you. This is certainly a time to review the good things we each have in life.
Times spent with Family, Friends, and Good Food, form the basic fabric we call Life and History. Individual Happiness is woven from such threads. And goodness knows, we could all use just a little more Happiness in life.
Since it is a “slow news” day in terms of campaign activities, I thought I’d take a retrospective look at of some of the many things John Edwards has said he is thankful for. Please take a few moments to reflect on these, and you may find you have similar “blessings” in your life, that you are thankful for, too.
In Honor Of Thanksgiving, Edwards Gives Thanks To American Families
For two parents who worked so hard to give us a better life.
For thirty years with one amazing woman.
And for four wonderful children.
For 231 years of America.
For the hopes and determination of a nation filled with the most optimistic people on Earth.
And for all of you, who have welcomed us into your homes and hearts.
Thank you.
Thread (1) For two parents who worked so hard to give us a better life.
Edwards’ parents, Wallace Edwards and Bobbie Wade, were both working in the mill when they met at a square dance at a nearby state park. They married in 1952 and settled into a three-room rental in Utica Mill Village.
Edwards’ first home may be the perfect campaign prop in his quest for the presidency – the modern equivalent of the log cabin. Earlier this summer, Edwards and his parents stood outside the mill village house and took questions from reporters.
“We didn’t know any better than this was good,” said Wallace Edwards. “We had the basics, food and clothes.”
Their first child, Johnny, was born in 1953, his father taking out a $50 bank loan to pay the hospital bill. Six months later, Bobbie was back at work folding sheets on the night shift at J.P. Stevens. Wallace, who worked the day shift, took care of their son in the evenings.
They lived briefly in a public housing project, but things soon got better for the young family.
Wallace spent most of his career with Milliken & Co., a huge textile operation based in Spartanburg. He was transferred from town to town in the textile belt as he got increasingly better jobs in the industrial engineering department.
…
His father eventually left Milliken, frustrated that he could not advance further in the company because he had not attended college. He set up his own consulting firm advising textile companies.
His mother held a series of jobs, including starting a small roadside antiques store where she bought furniture, refinished it and sold it to help put her son through college. She worked for the county board of elections. She took her last job, as a rural letter carrier in West End, to provide her family with health insurance.
Edwards is truly a self-made man (with much love and support from his family of course!)
Thread (2) For thirty years with one amazing woman.
Here’s what John says about this amazing woman, Elizabeth
“She’s the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known. I call her my conscience,” John says. “She knows intuitively the difference between right and wrong. She seems to have an understanding of what to say and what’s real and what’s not. She is an extraordinary woman.”
She IS Extraordinary! Here she is, discussing their life together:
Elizabeth is truly is a self-made woman, a full partner in their Life and Marriage.
Thread (3) And for four wonderful children.
Cate, Emma Claire, and Jack. Truly a source of pride and ambition for John and Elizabeth, no doubt. (John often says that “we need to fix this mess, and NOT leave it to our children.”)
and here is son Wade, who’s life was tragically cut short by an automobile accident, in 1996, at the age of 16.
Needlessly to say such a tragedy is the worse thing that a family can suffer. Parents are not suppose to outlive their children. Such a pain can change those impacted in deep and profound ways. The Edwards’ family, being human, were also deeply effected.
Here another wonderful interview and photo-essay with the Edwardses on Oprah discussing how the family was changed:
Surviving Wade — Elizabeth Edwards on Oprah
Elizabeth says that even though she’ll never understand the “why” of Wade’s death she has made peace with God. “My daily prayer is that I have enough faith that I will one day be reunited with him.”
Another “enormous” comfort for the family was Wade’s personal journal, which Elizabeth found after his death. In it he wrote, “I really want to do something great with my life. I want to start a family when I grow up. I’m going to be as good a parent to my kids as my parents are to me. But more than anything, when I die, I want to be able to say that I had a great life. So far, I’ve had a wonderful life. And I hope it keeps up.”
For Elizabeth, finding out she had breast cancer wasn’t “overwhelmingly devastating” because, unlike Wade who was killed instantly, she saysshe had a chance to fight.
After the tragic loss of a child many marriages struggle, some leading to divorce. John Edwards says through their grief, his relationship with Elizabeth got stronger. “She’s the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known. I call her my conscience,” John says …
Many families have faced such tragedy. Life has its share of pain, for all of us. Not all us us come through these events as positive and hopeful as the Edwards’ have, though. Their strength and moral compass, is truly an inspiration to many.
Thread (4) For 231 years of America.
OK, what happened 231 years ago, I give up?
2007 – 231 = 1776
OK, wasn’t that when Thomas Jefferson set pen to paper, which set in motion, one of the greatest democracy this world has ever seen? You bet it was.
We enjoy so many freedoms still today, due the insight and courage and perseverance of the ‘founding fathers’ of this great Nation, called America!
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America:
Here are a few highlights, though I recommend anyone that still loves this country, to actually sit down and read it sometime, to try to understand the foundation on which our freedoms are built:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary
for one people to dissolve the political bands
which have connected them with another,
and to assume among the powers of the earth,
the separate and equal station
to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,
a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
–That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
–That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government,
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form,
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
…
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress
in the most humble terms:
Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
…
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America,
in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge
of the world for the rectitude of our intentions,
do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare,
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be
Free and Independent States;
that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,
and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;
and that as Free and Independent States,
they have full Power to levy War,
conclude Peace,
contract Alliances,
establish Commerce,
and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States
may of right do.
And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other our Lives,
our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
…
I for one, am also thankful our Country was built on the Courage and Vision of such Leaders — who indeed were NOT afraid to do the Right thing, and to LEAD!
Thread (5) For the hopes and determination of a nation filled with the most optimistic people on Earth.
The American People are not afraid of hard work. We are not afraid of Sacrifice. But we are fearful that our wonderful democracy, and its many freedoms are being literally given away to the highest bidder. We are worried that the country we grew up in where ‘Hard Work meant achieving the America Dream’ — that ‘that Country’ could some day soon be a thing past. (Especially, if we stay on the “Business as Usual” path.)
Americans are not afraid of Hard Work, it’s just that our work so often does not accomplish what it use to. Hear why a few of those Americans are counting on Edwards to listen and help:
Most Americans, see what has happened recently to this Country we love, and we want change:
Overwhelmingly, Democrats want a new direction, but so do three-quarters of independents and even half of Republicans. Sixty percent of all Americans said they feel strongly that such a change is needed after two terms of the Bush presidency.
Most Democrats Express Decided “Preference for Change Over Experience” — 73% favor presidential candidate who strongly desires to change Washington, in this recent Gallup poll.
JFK appealed to American Optimism, it is time for such Leadership again.
Be Thankful for American Optimism
John F. Kennedy spoke of American optimism, and our ability to invent and solve great problems. For Americans to solve our current multifaceted sets of problems we must reclaim the ‘can do’ spirit JFK described.
“The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.”
Thread (6) And for all of you, who have welcomed us into your homes and hearts.
John Edward loves to meet with WE the People, to hear our concerns, to connect in a real way. He does not turn away from the questions of People. John and Elizabeth are welcomed into the Homes and the Hearts, of many hopeful Americans all around the Country. The Edwards’ ARE fighting for US, and to many, many People, that distinction really matters!
John Edwards wants the honor and privilege to restore America to its potential and to its historic legacy. John and Elizabeth are fighting for causes truly “bigger than themselves”. Personally, I have no doubt, they will not let us down, if we trust them with this awesome responsibility.
And thanks everyone for stopping by for this special Holiday Edition of EENR!
Me? I’m still thankful we have time to fix this Country that we love. But I worry that we may let the opportunity for Real Change, slip by, once again … a road untaken.
What can we as individuals do to help fight this campaign and hopefully prevent it from getting on the ballot?
Let me make a few suggestions:
1. Sign up here with the CA Dem Party’s group set up to fight this: the FraudBusters.
2. Add your name to Courage Campaign’s No More Dirty Tricks pledge and kick them some money (same page). (Courage Campaign is bloggers – they are us, so kick ’em some money.)
3. Check for any “assignments” from the FraudBusters folks (I believe they are supposed to come by email). If you’ve got nothing, then DON’T WAIT — simply go to the most high traffic places that ballot petition signers frequent to get signatures — Wal-Mart, Target, etc., determine whether Dirty Tricks ballot petitioners are there, and notify the Courage Campaign, the CA DEM Fraud Busters and also the state Dem organization fighting this (Californians for Fair Electoral Reform). When you’re at the location, go up to them, present yourself as someone who they would tend to target (pose yourself as someone uneducated about how ballot petitions work, in a hurry, etc.) and see if they take an illegal or unethical approach with you.
4. If you encounter Dirty Trick petition signature gatherers (aka Dirty Tricksters) and they are doing clearly illegal or misleading things, or if you learn from Courage Campaign or the CFER folks about places where such Dirty Tricksters are, go there and see if you experience it yourself. If you do, go to the store manager and complain as a customer that you don’t want the store to protect lawbreakers. See if you can get the names of the signature gatherers from the store manager while there.
5. File a complaint against the Dirty Tricksters with the Secretary of State. Form available here.
6. If you encounter Dirty Tricksters and they are giving incorrect descriptions of the ballot initiatives they are getting signatures for, especially the Dirty Trick initiative, then get a video camera, read the ballot summary to them on camera so that they cannot say they were not aware they were misinforming people of the ballot initiative. Misleading people about ballot petitions is not a crime unless you can show it’s purposeful – that’s why getting proof they were informed of the ballot initiative is very important.
7. (For the intrepid) Get lawbreakers on camera or audio doing clearly illegal things — instructing potential signers that they need to sign multiple times, misinforming voters when you have proof they’ve been informed of the actual ballot summary — or even sleazy things which might not be illegal but totally wrong, and get those to the Courage Campaign and the Californians for Fair Election Reform folks.
A couple of suggestions if you are going to use video tape: use one take, do not cut — even if there are boring parts, it makes it a lot clearer that you are not messing with the timeline. Also, to establish the place, date, and time, consider making a purchase at the store and then showing the receipt to the camera so that no on call into question the When or the Where of the illegal activity you capture if it’s on the same take as when you’ve shown the timedated receipt.
8. Get on your local progressive local talk radio show, inform folks about the Dirty Trick campaign and encourage them to do the above.
9. Bring up the issue at your local Dem Club or other progressive organization meeting and get people involved there.
Please feel free to comment on or add to the my suggestions above. I don’t pretend to know a lot about these issues, but I hadn’t seen an effort at a practical “What to Do” list for average folks, so I offer this modest effort…
The greatest YouTube video you will ever see, featuring Republican candidate for House in NM-01, Darren White. He’s telling us to just say no. Impossible not to watch more than once. 
How Virginia Won’t Close Its Budget Gap, and How It Should How Virginia Won’t Close Its Budget Gap, and How It ShouldHow Virginia Won’t Close Its Budget Gap, and How It Should 
CA-12: Tom Lantos could get a challenge from former state senator Jackie Speier. 
The Michigan January 15th primary is back on! 
At BlueNC we’re putting together a resource that will help our readers Buy Blue in North Carolina this holiday season and throughout the year. 
Gunterman calls out Markos and Jonathon Singer of MyDD. MediaCzech gives us yet another reason why Mitch McConnell has got to go. Getting rid of McConnell is getting easier as he loses support of Independents. 
My Silver State asked the candidates Nevada related questions that weren’t asked at the debate. Thus far, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Mike Gravel have responded. 
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley hates elections. 
SquareState issues an open invitation to blogger boot camp. Congressional District 2 candidate, Jared Polis, announced his plans to visit Iraq over Thanksgiving. 
Lamont roasts Lieberman and My Left Nutmeg gives us a recap. 
At West Viriginia Blue they’re wishing Senator Robert C. Byrd (D – Beloved) a happy 90th birthday. 
At Washblog, BryceM reports on Mitt Romney’s meeting with Microsoft’s PAC. Don’t miss this great first-hand report. 
In Signs, Polls and Conventional Wisdom Green Mountain Daily discusses Governor Douglas’s re-election prospects. 
Over at Wasatch Watcher, Marshall informs us that Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is endorsing a company that could very likely be committing fraud. 
Delaware Dem laments Joe Bidens way with words but pegs him for Secretary of State. 
They’re discussing water woes in Georgie which is the norm in the south these days. 
At 43rd State Blues:Democracy for Idaho there is a series of videos of speeches from the Ada County JFK banquet. 
Don’t miss the 6th in a series of diaries on how the Iowa Caucuses work hosted at Bleeding Heartland and written by DemoinesDem. 
At Blue Indiana there’s good news in the polls for Democrats. 
Subprime Lending in Texas is being discussed at Burnt Orange Report. Subprime Lending in Texas is being discussed at Burnt Orange Report.Subprime Lending in Texas is being discussed at Burnt Orange Report. 
Elwood makes the case for New Hampshire going first in the presidential primaries. 
Blue Mass Group covers the Boston Herald’s Obama/Osama mix up in their dead tree version with pic. 
Oregon’s College Dems go after Gordon Smith. See the video at Loaded Orygun. 
Quick review of the just-released Almanac of American Politics, 2008 edition. 
