|
archived:
10 - 16 Feb, 2008
Back
Next UPDATED: FEB 14, 2008 DEMS GONE MAD The focus on Obama’s truly impressive win in Maryland this past Tuesday overshadowed a larger message that Democrats throughout the Party may be sending. Democrats in Maryland ousted an eight term member of Congress in favor of a Democratic newcomer. The issue in the Congressional primary was not the Presidential Primary, both Congressional candidates supported Obama. Both candidates were Black, running in a Black majority Congressional District. The results are telling: In the state’s Fourth Congressional District, Democratic activist Donna Edwards defeated eight-term incumbent Albert Wynn in a fiercely contested race. The race was a rematch of the 2006 primary election, when Wynn held onto his seat by a few thousand votes. This time around, Donna Edwards defeated Wynn by a wide margin, receiving about 60 percent of the vote, while Wynn got about 35 percent. The race has been described by The Nation magazine as “a bellwether contest in the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party.” Edwards ran a populist, antiwar campaign that drew support from national liberal groups. She criticized Wynn for his votes tied to Iraq and the housing crisis. If she wins in November, she will be the first African American congresswoman to represent Maryland. A growing number of Democrats are festering over the seeming inability of Congressional Democrats to mount principled opposition to the Bush administration. In North Carolina, Anglico at BlueNC (a TPJ favorite) summarized the frustration of Democrats, aiming the frustration and Congressman David Price in this open letter: I've heard you make the case that impeachment proceedings in the US House of Representatives would be a waste of time and a distraction. And you've heard me ask the question: distraction from what? It's clear that Congress is mired in a stalemate that will not end until Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. And in the meantime, only a few matters of significance are moving through the legislative pipeline.
Which brings me to this letter from Robert Wexler to Chairman Conyers. In case you haven't read it, the letter makes a compelling case that impeachment is the only way to get past the Bush smokescreen and get to the bottom of a whole host of violations of public trust on the part of this administration.
Dear Chairman Conyers: You have been a tireless champion of providing oversight to an Administration that has run roughshod over our constitution, that operates with no limits on executive branch authority and one that has repeatedly flouted the investigations and oversight the 110th Congress has tried to provide over the past year. We have the greatest respect for the work you have done and believe that impeachment hearings pertaining to Vice President Cheney are the best way to move that work forward.
Impeachment hearings will allow for the exact kind of oversight that you and the Democratic leadership have provided regarding the actions of the Administration but without the opportunity for the Bush Administration to ignore lawful requests for information, refuse subpoenas and effectively limit its own oversight.
Impeachment hearings can provide the opportunity to cut through the executive privilege defenses and force this Administration to answer a Congress it has clearly chosen to ignore. We know you would agree that as Members of Congress, we can not allow legitimate oversight to be thwarted or such a dangerous precedent to stand.
Your name is not among those supporting this effort. Why is that? Rank and file Democrats are on the verge of a revolt against their Party elected leaders. Evidence of this is suggested by Obama’s increasing support among voters seeking a change: In Maryland over half of the voters were looking for “change:”
In Virginia the number looking for a candidate of “change” was equal:
These two recent primary states show a distinct upturn in those looking for a candidate of change from these early primary states: In Arizona:
In California:
As rank and file Democrats identify a candidate who will bring change, Obama’s fortunes have risen. Conversely, the Congressional election result in Maryland is a warning to other Congressional Democrats that their patience has ended. More incumbent Democrats may come under threat. The anger and determination is expressed by William A Franklin in his article immediately below. HEAD DOWN,
ASS IN THE AIR, FORWARD FOR LONG TERM GROUND GAME Democrats think elections are pick-up basketball games, which then turn out to be professional level, and mostly they get beaten. In football terms, it is the grinding ground game, the yard by yard constant pressure on opponents and holding our own people accountable - a form of machine politics if you will. I want a progressive government, but I am a hard headed, clear eyed cynic of a school well over 2000 years old. If you are not working for 2010, 2012, 2014 .... and with no damned excuses, you are NOT in the game and you forfeit your rights thereby. I am disgusted beyond puking by the Republicans and the last 20 or so years. I am more disgusted by the Dems for NOT providing in the least a credible opposition in favor of common people. And, I am mad as hell - but giving into emotional prattle rather than cold hard analysis, understanding the issues and numbers and knowing how to fight emotionally and when you got them down, killing them, slitting their throats is the job at hand These people have redefined government into something dirty and besmirched with lies, as they inflicted corruption, crime and massive incompetence upon what we pay for -- good governance. And, worse, they accepted the coin of the realm from corporations and embittered conservatives for it and purposefully contaminated Democrats who had not the sense to "go along". One cannot declare their impatience and stalk away. We have to fight on the shores, in the trenches, in the streets, house to house, room to room - to mangle Churchill - without cease and or remorse. We have to “kill” the bastards. They raped and robbed us. Our country was sold by the rich, and
they got the whores, O'Reilly and Limbaugh to get us to like it. I quoted in
2001, "The lights are going out all over Europe [America], I doubt we will
see them relit in our lifetimes." {Apologies to Earl Grey, 1st Viscount Grey
of Fallodon}. So, at this point, we _____________________________________________ UPDATED: FEB 10, 2008WHY? Last week, TPJ published this letter from Jenny Edwards regarding the recent meeting of the last meeting of the State Executive Committee: Perhaps the Exc. meeting should start earlier. They have begun scheduling them in difficult places to attend (on purpose?) and many have three hour drives. The most ridiculous is the state convention to be held in New Bern. This of all meetings should be in the central location a fair drive for all. Many members are elderly and do not drive after dark. Having the most important meeting of four years in which Convention delegates are elected, at the far end of the state is simply unimaginable. WHY? TPJ has received a number of responses to Ms. Edwards’ question. State Party leaders would note the following: 1. More people were in attendance at the Hamlet meeting than at the August meeting in Greensboro. So, the suggestion that turnout in smaller, more remote locations is lower is not supported; 2. The Party gets far better press going to places like Hamlet and High Point than in Raleigh; 3. The Party sends a message by going to such places. Hamlet signaled our support for smaller communities. It also signaled our commitment to the 8th district race this year. 4. Under Chairman Meek’s tenure, the SEC has always obtained a quorum to conduct business. That fact has not always been true. Wayne Goodwin, a stalwart Democrat and publisher of Wayne's World: Politics in and around NC's 8th District (a highly respected website), provides a full reply: Regarding your Feb 7th TPJ posting: Jenny questioned why the State Executive Committee meeting was held in Hamlet. As one of the Richmond County hosts, I have several reasons: First, there is more to this State than Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte. Scheduling one SEC meeting in a rural area out of the last 30+ is the least we can do for us Democrats who do not live in urban NC. Second, the Eighth Congressional District is a Democratic congressional district held by a Republican; the State party's commitment in word, finances, and deed to re-taking the Eighth will insure that we do not lose it by 330 votes but win it instead in 2008. Having the SEC meeting in Richmond County - the 8th District - struck a tremendous blow for re-taking that Congressional seat for Democrats, particularly with the literature drop and publicity that it gave Larry Kissell that same day. Third, despite Jenny's negative allusion to the contrary, and according to Jerry Meek's email today, turnout for the meeting in Hamlet was extraordinarily HIGH. Furthermore, more then 200 ADDITIONAL observers and guests joined the 480+ SEC members, many of whom are from rural NC and where we need to regain our Democratic foothold. (We fed 640 people for lunch at the SEC meeting, and not everyone ate ...) Fourth, Hamlet/Richmond County is less than 2 hours from Mecklenburg, Guilford, Durham, Wake, Cumberland, New Hanover - and most other metro areas - except the very western part of NC, and located along U.S. Highway 1 so it is a weak contention to say Hamlet was too far for SEC members to visit; besides, it is in 3 major TV media markets. Fifth, with the SEC meeting being held on the same day as the South Carolina Democratic Party presidential primary, there was also great interest and attempts to bring one of the Democratic presidential candidates or their spouses across the SC border to our SEC meeting; though it did not happen, on good authority we were very close to snagging such a visit until the last minute. Sixth, with a tip of the hat to our good friend Steve Gheen, areas where we have seen Democratic voter registration drop has been in rural NC; the Democratic Party's attention to rural NC for this SEC meeting, at least to the 8th District's corner of the world, gives those of us working on increasing voter registration something tangible and new to hang our hat on when making our case to prospective registrants. Seventh, having the SEC meeting at Richmond Community College in Hamlet underscored the Democratic Party's legacy and ongoing commitment to the mission/role of community colleges in North Carolina. Finally, and certainly NOT the least, isn't it worth it to show a HIGHLY reliable Democratic county that we do not take the county and the district for granted? ... I rest my case, but reserve the right for rebuttal! TPJ is convinced – and we hope all of our readers will be too. IMMIGRANTS Admission of undocumented resident students into the North Carolina Community College system is still playing out across the State. As one might expect, the Chapel Hill/Carrborro Board of Education will be admitting these students: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education tonight (Thursday) is expected to approve a recommendation to support the recent ruling that requires North Carolina Community Colleges to admit undocumented individuals who meet admission requirements. The North Carolina Community College System in November directed all community colleges to begin admitting undocumented individuals, who must pay out-of-state tuition. According to school officials, the board is considering supporting the ruling because Chapel Hill-Carrboro students are affected by the decision and could be negatively impacted if the General Assembly were to consider legislation overriding the decision. The school board in January considered whether or not to take a position on the issue, and directed administration to bring back a recommendation for the board to support the ruling. Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College System, said in a statement, “The vast majority of students who might pursue an educational opportunity at a community college came to this country as young children having no choice in the matter. They were brought here by their parents, often as babes in arms. How can these children be considered ‘lawbreakers’ intent on taking advantage of our community college programs illegally?… “If North Carolina wants to continue its dramatic economic progress, it must embrace education as the primary strategy for its future. No potential worker of tomorrow must ever be consigned to the desperation that comes from ignorance and inability to obtain rewarding employment.” According to Lancaster, 37 of the state’s 57 community colleges had already begun formally admitting undocumented individuals prior to the ruling, and 340 undocumented students of more than 271,000 curriculum students had enrolled. Republicans will be raising the issue in the General Election. Democrats should be prepared to engage the public discussion that will be coming. REPUBLICAN EGGROLL Republican Congressman Sue Myrick helps defense contracting firm in Gaston County, run by a Republican County Commissioner in Gaston County, secure a 15 Million Dollar federal grant. The company, Defense Technologies Incorporated, promises it will bring hundreds of jobs to Gaston County. After five years the results – no hundreds of jobs but Rep. Myrick gets plenty of contributions. The company publicly lies about its hiring practices and when exposed will not return phone calls. The military promises the company millions in defense contracts. The company gets help from a key member of Congress, who receives thousands in campaign donations from company execs. But now, after five years and $15 million of your tax dollars, what about the company's promise to hire hundreds of new workers in Gaston County? That’s the situation the WCNC Investigators found at Defense Technologies Incorporated -- a Ranlo defense contractor headed locally by John Torbett, who’s also a Gaston County commissioner. WCNC: “You don't have anybody working here yet.” Torbett: “We're not making anything yet.” WCNC: “And I guess the people who live in Gaston County are saying you're not hiring anybody either. When will that happen?” Torbett: “Gosh, I wish I could just put an absolute date on it. I can't say that today. There’s no way I can say that today.” On DTI’s website, WCNC found an impressive Star Wars-style mission statement, claiming they “support and protect the war fighter with dominating combat power.” But their headquarters here in a former textile mill isn't exactly the Pentagon. All WCNC found on the job were a few engineers, in offices along mostly empty hallways, connecting mostly empty laboratories and workshops. The DTI engineers admit a lot of the parts for the company’s high-tech military research projects come right off the retail shelves at Best Buy and Radio Shack. And after four years of federal funding, the military still hasn't ordered a single one of DTI’s unmanned ground vehicles, or their drone airplanes, or the company’s computer control systems. Not one. Meanwhile, back on their Web site, WCNC also found stories touting a “200 employee” manufacturing plant, bringing “technology jobs” to replace the jobs that struggling Gaston County has lost. WCNC also asked Torbett, the DTI vice president, about an interview we found posted on line at dtiweb.net, claiming 200 hundred workers are already on the DTI payroll, with 200 more still to be hired, at salaries of $50,000 a year. Torbett: “I haven’t seen that.” WCNC: “Yeah, it's on your Web site.” Torbett: “That one's on our Web site? WCNC: “Yeah. It's from an interview from Sue Myrick, with a newspaper in Huntersville.” That same interview, which bragged about hundreds of high-paying DTI jobs that don't actually exist, also turned up on Charlotte Congresswoman Sue Myrick's Web site – after Rep. Myrick helped Defense Technologies win more than $15 million in federal funding since 2003. Myrick now admits “we made a mistake in saying 200 jobs.” “Quite frankly,” continued Myrick, “if I went over there and found a bunch of Mercedes and Lexuses parked out front, I'd be a little disturbed. But I think they're being frugal with their money.” Even though they haven’t hired the people in Gaston County they promised to hire? “Right,” answered Myrick. “Exactly. They (Gaston County) have benefited some, and hopefully they will in the future.” But WCNC’s search of Federal Election Commission campaign funding records shows Rep. Myrick has benefited from DTI already. The FEC reports that DTI’s out-of-state president has given the campaign organization Sue Myrick for Congress more than $5,000 over the past four years. The company’s out-of-state chief financial officer has contributed $3,000. And Defense Technologies’ out-of-state vice president gave almost $8,000 in campaign donations to Rep. Myrick, since DTI started getting all that federal funding. WCNC: “Were they contributors to your campaign before they got those dollars to move to Gaston County?” Rep. Myrick: “I did not know them before that. No they weren't a contributor, because they weren't in my district… I'm an open book. Everything I do is an open book.” Meanwhile, “the focus here in Gaston County is still jobs, jobs, jobs.” That's a quote WCNC found back in 2004, from Gaston County commissioner John Torbett. That’s the same John Torbett who also runs DTI, where hundreds of jobs from all that federal funding still haven't materialized -- and where the chief job recruiter for Gaston County’s Economic Development Commission says there's not much the county can do about it. “Had there been incentive programs in place,” explains executive director Donny Hicks, “then we'd going back saying ‘hey – we want our money back.’” “I just know that everything we do is obviously open,” responds Torbett. “Everything is government inspected, highly regulated, cost analyzed. We're doing what the government expects us to do.” But Torbett didn’t say what taxpayers expect DTI to do – after all those millions in taxpayer dollars, and all those promises of new jobs. Also, after WCNC started asking questions about Defense Technologies, those claims of hundreds of jobs we found on the company Web site disappeared. We called Torbett to ask him why. Torbett never returned that call. WCNC also phoned DTI’s corporate headquarters in Tampa, Fla. to find out more about those campaign donations to Rep. Myrick from company executives. They didn't call back either. Delay, Cunningham – now Myrick? Is this the Republican Party that North Carolinians are being asked to return to power. One more reason to vote Democrat.
Last Update: 02/15/2008 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
