Tim Kaine and the license plates

The left is mad at VA Governor Tim Kaine. What are they mad at? They are mad that the Gov and DNC Chair allowed Pro-Life advocates to have a "choose life" license plate.

If Kaine were merely the governor of the Old Dominion, the move might have been less notable. Kaine—a Catholic who says he is personally opposed to abortion but pledged to leave the right to choose intact—won office in Virginia partly by seeking to reassure social conservatives.

But he is now on a national stage. And his decision could echo among women's activists who are among the most powerful financial supporters of the party.

“It is surprising that Governor Kaine would do this, but it’s all the more surprising that he would do it as chair of the DNC,” said Paulette McElwain, the president of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood.

McElwain exchanged numerous calls with the governor’s office over the license plates and organized a grass roots effort that logged more than 2,000 calls to the governor’s staff.

“We provided him with abundant information,” she said. “We’re terribly disappointed that he decided to sign it.”

In Washington, NARAL/Pro-Choice America channeled more than 17,000 emails and 200 calls to the DNC urging Kaine to veto the bill.

“It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women’s health,” NARAL/Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan said in a statement.
-From Politico

It may be my own ignorance, but I didn't know that having a license plate could cause harm to anyone's health. This is a waste of resources. IT'S A LICENSE PLATE! Why waste all this energy fighting A LICENSE PLATE! Get your own license plate...not to mention what the REAL issue here is...freedom of speech.

Thanks for angering your base, Mr. Kaine, but I guess he feels like he has to attack the liberals if he wants Villager props.
- From Crooks and Liars

As a response to that quote above. If the base is angry over a license plate then I fear for the future of the party.

I need for the Left to focus on REAL issues not stupid sidebars.

[Politico]
[Crooks and Liars]

Ole Miss Debate

And the winner is....Barack Obama!

I realize that this was an unusual debate. Here we are talking Foriegn Policy in the middle of an economic crisis. John McCain got lucky. Seriously, If this debate had been on the economy he would have been railroaded, most likely to the point where it would just have been unfair.

Barack wins not because he laid a huge bomb, no pun intended, but because he took away John McCain's main point of Obama's "Inexperience."

On the early wire Madeleine Albright says Obama had "A Breakthrough Night"

Jim For Georgia

Hey Georgia! Lets vote out Saxby Shameless. Vote Jim Martin for Georgia's Middle Class.

Are you a fiscal conservative? Then take a look at Allen Buckley the Libertarian.

Earmarks v Palin, Biden, et al.

On AC360, Anderson Cooper makes a point of "Keeping Them Honest." A few nights ago, the focus was on Gov. Sarah Palin (the Bridge and Road to Nowhere) and Sen. Joe Biden (with His own Bridge Earmarks) Earmarks have become somewhat of an issue. The media has latched on to them as a form of quasi-corruption. I however have two issues with earmarks, the lack of spending control and their secretive nature.

I have no doubt that within the earmark society there is corruption. However the projects that are funded via earmarks are important nevertheless. An earmark is really just a budget request. We cannot deny that the U.S. Congress, just like any other legislative body, has to allocate money for special projects. The issue is that while these allocations have no open platform, in the full view of the nation, they will continue to be hidden. Or they will continue to bloat massive spending bills.

So yes lets eliminate the pork. But lets also provide for projects to be brought into the light, where Americans can view them and give these special projects all due fiscal and ethical consideration.

Until then, lets keep them honest.

Its the Regulations Stupid!

The US Government is considering bailouts for Wall Street Firms and even some foreign banks. Current Cost...$700 Billion. Look for that price tag to go up before the bill passes. While this bailout may be necessary it is also an opportunity.

The Bush Administration is out to maintain some sort of legacy. They do not want to go down in history as the modern era equivalent of Herbert Hoover. Not to mention Democrats that want to push Obama into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., not to mention their goal of a Filibuster proof Senate Majority. Everything is on the table, Dems have the upper hand.

I have my 7 condidtions for a bailout and they are:

1. End Short Selling, While it is an easy way into the markets it is not worth the problems it causes.
2. Create a 4, 6, or 8 person council to decide who gets bailed out and how much money they get. This council must have an even number of members. Included on this board must be the Chairs of the House and Senate Banking Committee, Secretary Paulson, and the Ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee. They must agree in order to bailout. The Council only has a lifespan of 6-months.
   
3. The bailout must include aid and a restruturing plan for firms and in trouble households. Allow Local Courts to restructure loans from bailed out firms.
   
4. The Government must recieve a fair value in shares of companies bailed out. Said number of shares must be a condition of the bailout.
5. The Government must disclose who is being bailed out, why, and all of the terms of the bail out.
6. CEO's of bailed out companies cannot recieve pay or severence packages exceding $300,000
7. THERE MUST BE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE REGULATORY SYSTEMS FOR THE FINANCE INDUSTRY and any other industry in need of major government assistance.
   

I don't like the idea of a bailout but otherwise we risk turmoil. Oh and one more thing, NO BAILOUTS OF FORIEGN FIRMS!!!

A Great Time To Be A Democrat

My Friends our party is on the right track. With the Obama-Biden Campaign rolling into Denver, we focused on our strengths as a Nation. Mainly our strength in diversity. We must build our party around everyday people. We saw our future First Lady as a strong and caring person.

Amazing Speeches by the Honorable Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). Not to mention a interesting statement by former Representaive Jim Leach (R-IA).

Tonight the DNC put the nation at ease. It was a night for calm, compassion and focus on getting to know our party's leadership. And America can rest easy because these leaders are pro-America, pro-Main St., and pro-you and me.

In closing, I wish Sen. Kennedy a speedy recovery and respectable Democrats everywhere God's Speed to Victory in November.

Good Night and God Bless

Read My Lips, No Guns in the Airport

I am not your average democrat. I support peoples right to carry weapons. However, there are places where guns have no business, unless they are in the hands of law enforcement. For instance, guns don't belong in schools, parks, and high security areas. Moreover, business owners should be able to say that they don't want guns on their property.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the reasoning behind the Airport is simple, it is not safe. Airport Security should not have to worry about who has a permit and who doesn't. It should be simple. No guns period.

Contrary to the average gun control advocate, I realize that people who legally carry guns are not truly dangerous. And I also realize that criminals don't obey gun control laws, and that people are left more or less defenseless. No police force can be everywhere all the time, and people have a God given right to defend themselves. However, in areas like schools and airports security and police are in abundance, no need to carry a gun on your person here. But it must still be said that the presence of guns in the hands of untrained people is nevertheless a threat.

We as Americans have a right to carry weapons. But for safeties sake not everyone can carry them everywhere. What I want to see is Georgia law rewritten to allow guns in everywhere except schools & airports. Furthermore, any property owner or business owner can declare his/her/their property a gun free zone whither public or private. However, said owner must post a standardized sign in front of every entrance. Next, anyone wanting a gun permit must complete a safety course. And lastly no concealed weapons in vehicles.

Saudi's Increase Production

So what do you when your best customer can't afford your product? You lower the price. Recently the Saudi's announced they would increase oil production in an effort to lower gas prices. Americans over the last few weeks, since about the time Bush's request was rebuffed, have been engaged in a very real debate over Oil prices, $4+ Gas and ways to get away from those crippling things.

This debate, wither it involves drilling for more oil as Republicans want or utilizing alternative fuels and raising MPG standards as Democrats want, eventually deals a major blow to the Saudi's and other foreign oil powers. I encourage American's to keep the debate going. The Saudi's need this debate to stop. It would take 5-10 years for any American plan to get to full steam, so by lowering prices the Saudi's take a small hit now so they can ride America's addiction as long a possible.

It is our duty as American's to rid ourselves of foreign oil and influence regardless of party.

Roland Martin - CNN Commentary

This morning CNN commentator Roland Martin published an article relating to the recent Mitchell Report. This report on steroids in baseball has caused a flurry of attention directed towards the negative aspects of baseball and other American sports.

Personally I am not a huge fan of baseball, but this negativity is not good for sports in general. Furthermore, what does it say about Americans when our athletes are seemingly continuously "under the gun" for steroids? More importantly, how does this high publicized cheating affect both my peers as well as those younger than us?

Martin contends that we as Americans should view athletes as everyday people that make mistakes just like all of us. On that I have to agree and disagree. I contend that athletes have never been anything more than everyday people, and everyone we have ever or will ever look up to is irreversibly human, and that is a great thing. The military has the proper definition of a hero, someone that goes above and beyond the call of duty. And that is why we look up to athletes, because when faced with the opposition, they find a way to win, through hard work and perseverance.

But Mr. Martin's commentary goes further to talk of how a love of the game has turned into a lust. "Lust for fame. Lust for glory. Lust for more Benjamins." In reality our sports have fallen victim to a form of supercapitalism. That supercapitalism evolves when ambition meets deregulation or lack of regulation. Baseball players make more than athletes in any other sport because baseball doesn't have a salary cap. So my question is, does baseball open itself to more scandals because of a lacking steroid policy?

Baseball and the rest of our sports continue to lose battles based on integrity. Athletes deny and deny these claims, but when the truth comes out those who supported and believed are left with "black eyes." These black eyes have to stop; athletes have to hold themselves and each other to higher standards. As a collegiate athlete myself, it is our integrity that is on the line, as well as the morals and integrity of the future generation.

"So in the end, what's truly been lost? Home run and strikeout records? Memorabilia earned through less than truthful means? No. Their word; the one thing that we all should count on and that which is more important in life."

Roland Martin CNN Commentary