Archive for September 6th, 2006
September 6th, 2006
I was surfing some political blogs and found this Canadian piece. While the context of the sentiment isn’t relevant, I noticed the embedded chat tool in the sidebar and wondered if it would be a good tool to incorporate here.
Gabbly is a chat service that allows you to chat around any webpage. The tool is supported by several browsers (Firefox 1.5, IE 6.0, Safari 2.0, Flock, with more on the way), and a link can be provided for a floating version of the chat. There is no filtering — other than using our domain name as the name of the chatroom — so all sorts of content may diminish the chat experience. However, each user has the ability to censor users on their own and thus manage his own sensibilities.
Continue Reading September 6th, 2006
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE.
CONGRESS #1 : FBI LOBBYING PROBE LOOKS AT “NO-SHOW JOB” FOR DeLAY’S WIFE.
According to the Wall Street Journal, FBI agents are investigation if the wife of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was paid $115,000 for a purportedly “no-show” job with a DC lobbying firm. The firm — Alexander Strategies — was run by former DeLay aide Tony Rudy, who already pled guilty to felony corruption charges tied to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy, who is now cooperating with federal agents, admitted in court he accepted bribes while he worked for DeLay and later conspired to bribe other congressmen when he was a lobbyist. According to the newspaper, “investigators also asked about $144,000 that Mrs. DeLay received from one of Mr. DeLay’s fund-raising committees, the Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, which was housed at the lobbying firm’s offices.” Mrs. DeLay was a “key adviser to her husband and her employment at Armpac and Alexander Strategy was real and valuable,” explained a DeLay family spokesman.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
CONGRESS #2: GOP INCUMBENTS WANT MORE DEBATES.
Traditionally, it is challengers who insist upon holding debates with incumbents and the incumbents who try to dodge debates. The theory is a debate give a challenger free attention. This year the concept is out the window. The Hotline reports that Congressman Chris Shays (R-CT) agreed to debate challenger Diane Farrell (D-CT) a whopping 11 times over the next month. Yup, eleven debates! Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA) started challenging her opponent to debates back in June. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and his challenger Patrick Murphy — an Iraq War veteran — already debated four times. Now comes the news Fitzpatrick is insisting Murphy agree to a series of additional debates. Most amusingly was the recent debate between Congressman Mike Sodrel (R-IN) and former Congressman Baron Hill (D-IN). The two argued about holding more debates during their first debate, with the challenger saying he would not agree to additional meetings unless Sodrel would agree that each debate would focus in detail on separate and specific issues. By contrast, Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) has not agreed to any debates against State Senate President Jeff Lamberti (R-IA). For now, Boswell is non-committal about participated in a single televised October debate. In Illinois, Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D) already held the fourth and final agreed debate with wealthy challenger David McSweeney (R) this week — held in the summer before most voters even started paying attention to the race — and with no debates during the remaining two months.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
CHICAGO: CONGRESSMAN JACKSON JUMPS INTO ‘07 RACE AGAINST MAYOR DALEY.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) on Wednesday launched his run against five-term incumbent Chicago Mayor Rich Daley in 2007 by forming an exploratory committee. Jackson also kicked-off a “listening tour” of the city. Daley (D) is expected to seek reelection next year, but has yet to make a formal announcement. Cook County Clerk of Courts Dorothy Brown (D) and former mayoral aide Bill “Dock” Walls (D) were already announced candidates against Daley in the non-partisan February 2007 primary. Daley has cruised to landslide wins in most his runs. He scored a 3-to-1 victory in 1999, for example, over Congressman Bobby Rush (D).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
NEW MEXICO - CD-2: Congressman Steve Pence (R) - 54%, minister Al Kissling (D) - 29%. (Albuquerque Journal).
NEW MEXICO - CD-3: Congressman Tom Udall (D) - 71%, engineer Ron Dolin (R) - 18%. (Albuquerque Journal).
OKLAHOMA - GOVERNOR: Governor Brad Henry (D) - 54%, Congressman Ernest Istook (R) - 33%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
FLORIDA: REPUBLICANS NOT RALLYING AROUND HARRIS.
If this is any indicator, Congresswoman Katherine Harris’ victory in Tuesday’s GOP primary for US Senator is not going to put an end to the attacks on Harris from her own party. The latest example is the post-primary statement issued Wednesday by primary candidate, wealthy developer and former GHW Bush Administration official Peter Monroe. Here are just a few excerpts from his written statement: “Yesterday, Florida Republicans selected Katherine Harris as their nominee to take on Senator Bill Nelson this November. Name recognition, no matter how unfavorable, trumped substance and character … To date, I have supported all Republican nominees. I fully and enthusiastically support [Governor nominee] Charlie Crist, [Attorney General nominee] Bill McCollum and [State CFO nominee] Tom Lee. However, I cannot support Katherine Harris as the Republican Party’s nominee. Her anti-Semitic statements made to the Florida Baptist Witness were the last straw in a string of misdeeds during our race. They are indicative of a person who is unfit to serve in public office … She is an embarrassment to Florida, the Republican Party, our nation, and herself.” It goes on, but that gives you the flavor of it. By contrast — despite the bitter nature of the GOP gubernatorial contest — primary loser Tom Gallagher plans to campaign with winner Charlie Crist on Friday. No such public rapprochement yet from the Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The other stuff.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06
Continue Reading September 6th, 2006
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
FLORIDA: CRIST CRUSHES GALLAGHER, DAVIS & HARRIS WIN.
There were no major surprises in Tuesday’s Florida primary. In GOP race for Governor, Attorney General Charlie Crist cruised to a landslide victory over State CFO Tom Gallagher. The numbers: Crist - 64%, Gallagher - 34%. Gallagher’s repeated social conservative attacks on Crist for purportedly being a moderate never inflicted any significant damage on the frontrunner. Instead, the attacks probably made Crist stronger going into the general election by bolstering his credentials as a centrist. The Democratic slugfest was equally nasty, although the punches were more personal in nature by impugning each other’s political integrity. The vote was also much closer than the Republican contest, with Congressman Jim Davis defeating State Senator Rod Smith by a vote of 47% to 41%. Both nominees must now designate Lieutenant Governor runningmates, decisions that could nominally influence the outcome in a close race.
In the GOP race for US Senate, Congresswoman Katherine Harris won the nomination with 49% — leading her nearest opponent by nearly 20-points. Republicans — from Governor Jeb Bush to NRSC officials — have already openly distanced themselves from Harris. US Senator Bill Nelson is safe in his November race against Harris.
The Democratic primary for Davis’s open CD-11 seat, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor easily won with 53% against her four opponents. The district is solidly Democratic, so Castor is assured of victory in November. In CD-13 — the race for Harris’ open seat — wealthy auto dealer Vern Buchanan (R) raised a record-breaking $4.1 million in the primary (much from his own deep pockets) and won with 32%. State Representative Nancy Detert — who by contrast only raised around $250,000 — was second with 26%. Wealthy banker Christine Jennings won a 2-to-1 victory in the Democratic primary and will face Buchanan in the general election. CD-13 Race Rating: Leans GOP. Congressman Ric Keller (R) easily turned back an aggressive primary foe in CD-8, winning in a 3-to-1 landslide. Business consultant Charlie Stuart won the Dem primary in CD-8, but Keller will be favored in November. State Representative Gus Bilirakis scored an easy win in the CD-9 GOP primary — but will face a fairly competitive challenge from former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky (D). FYI: The hottest US House race in the state in November was not even on the primary ballot: the CD-22 fight between 13-term Congressman Clay Shaw (R) and State Senator Ron Klein (D). To date, Shaw raised $3.4 million and Klein raised $2.8 million — making Klein the best financed challenger in the nation. Shaw continues to make the pitch to voters he needs to be reelected because he’s going to be the next Ways & Means Committee Chair, even though House insiders unanimously agree Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA) is a lock to win the powerful gavel.
One primary race that drew some national attention was Randall Terry’s GOP primary run against centrist State Senator Jim King. Terry — founder of the 1990’s pro-life Operation Rescue group and spokesman last year for the parents of Terri Schiavo — handily lost by a 2-to-1 margin. Also, centrist State Senator Alex Villalobos (R) narrowly survived a bitter primary challenge from a GOP conservative who was actively backed by Governor Jeb Bush. Bush targeted the incumbent for defeat when Villalobos broke with the Republican Senate Leadership a few months ago and helped derail Bush’s attempt to repeal a voter-approved class size reduction amendment to the state constitution. Click here to view all of the Florida nominees.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR: Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) - 45%, Congressman Jim Davis (D) - 41%. (Rasmussen Reports).
FLORIDA - US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D) - 57%, Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R) - 34%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) - 44%, US Senator Bob Menendez (D) - 39%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW MEXICO - CD-1: Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R) - 45%, Attorney General Patricia Madrid (D) - 42%. (Albuquerque Journal).
RHODE ISLAND - GOVERNOR: Lieutenant Governor Charlie Fogarty (D) - 46%, Governor Don Carcieri (R) - 41%. (Rasmussen Reports).
RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE: US Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) - 44%, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - 42%. (Rasmussen Reports).
RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE: Whitehouse (D) - 58%, Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Fill in the other news of the day.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06
SEND A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here’s my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in — feel free to add a sticker and brochure — and I’ll place a link to official campaign site here on our homepage in a daily “thank you” note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. TODAY’S THANKS GO TO: Computer consultant & ‘04 Presidential nominee Michael Badnarik, Libertarian for Congress in Texas CD-10.
WANNA TRADE?
Apropos of nothing above, I’m interested in building up my collection of Canadian campaign buttons. If you’ve got Canadian political buttons to trade, I’m interesting in swapping with you for some great US pins. Please drop me a note!
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