From the Files of Stuck on Stoopid in Alabama Second Editon

Artur Davis

Just when you thought things couldn't get any wackier in Sweet Home Alabama we learn former democrat turned republican,  Congress Critter Artur Davis is back and running for Mayor of Montgomery, Al.

Either Davis  believes voters in Montgomery have a chronic case of amnesia, or, he thinks they are stuck on stoopid.

Bye-bye, Democratic Party ... or as the right wing Daily Caller originally put it: Former Alabama Democratic Rep. Artur Davis has come out of the closet -- as a Republican.

In the interest of full disclosure, and for those who don't know,  Artur Davis ripped his drawers with me a six ago, and I hold my non support of his gubernatorial aspirations partially responsible for me being booted and banned from the pages of Left in Alabama. 

Davis supporter, and regular columnist for Alabama Media Group Cameron Smith  says,  Even if you don't like Artur Davis Montgomery should hear him out.

Alabamians from both ends of the political spectrum are willing to take pot shots at Davis. Democrats rejected his gubernatorial bid because he was not liberal enough for their base, and many Republicans are skeptical of a candidate who used to be a Democratic gubernatorial candidate. And then there is the matter of his leaving for Virginia once that race was done.
But unlike many politicians, Davis is more interested in answering his critics than avoiding them.

 Pots shots?  Is that what you call honest criticism of Davis' actions?

Alabama District 7 is 61.7% African-American. 72.2% live in urban areas (primarily Birmingham, Bessemer, Tuscaloosa, Selma and Demopolis). The district’s median per capita income was $26,672.
NO group is disproportionately uninsured than Black folks, and he voted AGAINST healthcare reform.
Uh huh.
No group is at the BOTTOM of nearly all healthcare statistics like Black folks, and he voted AGAINST healthcare reform.
Uh huh.

RedEYE can't wait to see how Davis answers his critics. 

Davis is a political enigma in Alabama, the kind of moderate pragmatist that drives the partisan purists wild, a market-minded politician who sees a helpful role for government to play. Davis embraces it noting,

RedEYE can't wait to see how that embracing nothing works out for Artur this time.

Stuck on Stoopid in Alabama to be continued.....

RedEye's Week in Review

What a week this has been full of good, bad, and the downright ugly.

First the good.

Former Alabama Congress Critter Artur Davis(the latest delusional puppet of republican racial propaganda) is taking his jigging skills to the republican party like a good House Negro.  I pity the fools at Left in Alabama who fell for the Okay Doke. Although their track record for endorsements appear to based on the image the candidate projects, rather than the content of their character, it tends to makes me suspect of any democratic candidate(s) they endorse.

 Sorry.

It's always a good thing when a jury tells the Department of InJustice to go Dick Cheney themselves.  North Carolina has the kind of juries I wish we had instead of the juries we have.  I thought President Obama said he was going end Scooter Libby Justice?  I guess that's hard to do when the TeaPulblicans are blocking his Judicial Nominations.  Strike that, they are blocking the ones they don't agree with.

I'm just saying...

Now for the bad, Mitt Romney, President Obama and Casey WARdynski vie for who can hurt public education the worst.  Of course I am a dumb, ignorant, racist, n-word who was kicked of of Left in Alabama because I was incapable of logic based argument, just because I  dared point out segregated public schools are illegal.  It's too bad Romney, Obama and WARdynski don't realize there is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Finally the U-G-L-Y, how do republicans plan to steal the 2012 elections?  The same way they did in 2000?

Remember?

Today's must read

Edwards Charged With Wrong Crime. 

Free Your Mind Friday

H/T YELLOWDOG GRANNY

There is no middle in the democratic party.  

You are either with US,

Or, you are with them.

That 

Is 

All 

you really need to know. 

What I'm Reading on the Eve of Christmas

H/T The Obama Diary

Even though I am one of three people banned from participating in the discussion at Left in Alabama,  and it doesn't look like a Christmas miracle is in the cards for RedEye, I (pun intended) will continue to read and link to them because I learn something new every day from the informed, involved, progressive commentary.  Anyhoo, there is a ongoing and fascinating discussion taking  place over the question  Are White, Southern, Men The Problem With Today's GOP?  What I'm learning is white, Southern, men, and I might add women, might be the problem with today's democratic party, because angry, white men and women have infiltrated the democratic party, much like the Tea Party infiltrated the gop.  What say you?

Speaking of the gop infused, media enabled, tea party, welcome to the 2012 republican watershed.   I HOPE and BELIEVE the Suckers are waking up and smelling the Coffee.  Thank you republicans for sending Obama some Christmas balls. And not a minute too soon.

What's that you say?  Segregated Charter Schools Evoke Separate But Equal Era in U.S.?  I'm  shocked!  Shocked I tell you!  NOT.     We can't have ALL children having equal access to a quality, public education.  How else are we going to bring back slavery?

What's on your Eve of Christmas reading list?

RedEye's Week in Review

My real life is colliding with my blog life so this will be short and sweet.

As Gene Hackman's character said in the movie Mississippi Burning..the rattlesnakes are beginning to turn on each other thanks to gop over reach.

This is turning out to be a very bad, no good week for Republicans. And we have had a couple of those lately, but this one isn't even thanks to Paul Ryan. The Republican "War On Working People" like teachers gave us this win.

Chalk up another Democratic win this week: Alabama State Rep. Daniel Boman, who entered the legislature as a Republican in November, is switching parties to become a Democrat after he says the GOP went too far in attacking teachers in the state.

This is why there is NO HOPE for The Huntsville City School System. Read it and weep.

Interesting that Texas doesn’t have a tenure law… and yet the sky hasn’t fallen, and education continues to occur.

The gop education policy is a miserable failure, blame the tenure laws. NOT.

The GOP wants at least half of a teacher's evaluation to come from testing. This is incentive based, market based profit motive reform. The problem is that is not what drives improvement. In fact, the incentives can have the exact opposite effect. According to the National Academies:
Evidence also suggests that high school exit exam programs, as currently implemented in many states, decrease the rate of high school graduation without increasing student achievement.
The report states the obvious. Test based incentives can encourage teachers to teach to the test.

Are the people running the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission completely out of their minds?

I report. You decide.

Artur Davis voted against DADT, blame his constitutents and Joe Reed

I am continually shocked by those who continue to defend the indefensible actions of Alabama CD 7 and outgoing Congress Critter Artur Davis (DINO) but blaming the people who elected him to office and Joe Reed, who has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of black/disenfranchised Alabama citizens is steeped in institutional racism and white privilege.

First of all... While it may or may not be an excuse, it's very possible that Davis was representing his district in his vote-- something he's been criticised for not doing in the past. Take a good look at Birmingham as Democratic as it might be and you tell me that it's a friendly place for our gay and lesbian friends. I can think of a few good arguments that might prove otherwise.

First of all...it's a horrible excuse because if Davis was concerned about representing the interest of his district he wouldn't have voted against the health care reform and hate crime bills. Birmingham is as friendly of place for our gay and lesbian friends as any other Sweet Home Alabama city/town/county. In case you've forgotten Birmingham used be called BOMBINGHAM because it wasn't a friendly place for black folks including Frank Phelps a black democrat.

We've proven that Democrats aren't the logical thinkers they love to claim they are. They're based in emotion, with no room for logical, complex thought as to strategy or asking for valid reasons as to why a thing might happen a certain way. We don't dissect a vote and consider that some things might be a little more complicated than one simple yes or no vote. We look at the "he voted against tax cuts" line rather than the "those tax cuts were also going to add a huge burden on the deficit" line.

Spoken like a true republican. Democrats aren't capable of logical thinkers, especially if they don't go along with the right wing spin. Democrats have to be told how to think and what to feel because they're democrats. Contrary to popular opinion, democrats, strike that, real democrats know the difference between right (pun intended) and WRONG. Real democrats base their thoughts on emotion. They care about their fellow human beings regardless of race, gender, religion or party. Real democrats aren't "in the middle", real democrats take sides. Strike that, they take the "right" side. Real democrats don't try and walk an imaginary line down the middle.

Here we have one of the few people who could bring so much good to Alabama politics, but his greatest sin is to piss off the party establishment. Yeah, sure he votes against the party line sometimes-- which by the way isn't so big a deal for others in the party-- but for the most part, he's a good guy and votes with the caucus. From where I'm standing, the only current Alabama Democrat who has any room to criticize Davis for his vote is Patricia Todd, as she's really been the only one with enough guts to really come out in favor of gay rights.

Uh, how the heck can you bring so much good to Alabama politics is you pi$$ of the party establishment? From where I stand any democrats, gay or not has the the right to criticize Artur Davis. Patricia Todd is not the only Alabama democrat with the guts to really come out in favor of gay rights. Patricia Todd had the guts to be openly gay and I commend her for her being who she. I wish other elected officials and candidates had her courage.

Speaking of Ms. Todd... Let's not forget what happens when you piss off Joe Reed.

Joe Reed didn't challenge Patrica Todds election on the basis of her sexual orientation. As a matter of fact Joe Reed didn't challenge Patrica Todds election at all. Stay tuned for an in dept/detailed debunking of this LIE. And let's not forget what happens when you pi$$ off the LiA establishment eeither.:)

I disagree with his vote. The problem is that there are so many others that I do agree with. If Dems are willing to overlook that, then you deserve what you get. Perhaps November wasn't a big enough message.

Dems aren't willing to overlook elected officials who pander to right at the expense of their base. The problem is Dems have overlooked and defended the indefensible for the sake of "winning" elections. If WE democrats continue to not hold elected officials accountable and stop going along to get along we will continue to get what we deserve. NOTHING.

Enough of blaming the victims for the actions of those who elected to represent us. They work for us. Remember? Artur Davis and his defenders are perfect illustrations for the difference between liberals and progressives/moderates Liberals don't give Artur Davis a pass just because of the color his skin. Liberals look at the content of his character, on this case the lack there of.

Redeye's Bad, Awful Week in Review

I'm glad last week is over because it was a bummer. First of all the House and Senate passed the Obama Compromise and Obama signed it into law. Wham! Bam! Thank you Mam! I still have figured what the big hurry was. Yes I can, it was because the gop infused, media enabled Tea Party won again. I have the same sense of foreboding I had when Bush told us he was sending our troops to war because Saddam had tons and tons of WMD and he was about to use them on us. And we know how that turned out.

The coffee tastes more than a little bitter this morning. It is no sweet tea to see your worst political predictions come true.

I have been railing for the past five and a half years about the need for a coalition to come together to fight the complete corporate takeover of the American political system. Many people got off the couch and fought for the election of Barack Obama in 2008. It was a great victory and there is no doubt he is a better president than George W. Bush and certainly better than anything we could have hoped for from John McCain or Sarah Palin.

But thanks in part to the tea party morons, that election looks like one step forward, two steps back. Give me the Coffee Party any day.

With dems like these who the heck needs the gop?

I know that for Obama's critics the secret is that "he lead" or that he "show leadership" or that he "knock some heads" or whatever, but I think the roll call on the Bernie Sanders amendment should tell you all you need to know about the Democrats' resolve to hike taxes on rich people. Evan Bayh doesn't even have to worry about getting reelected and he still sided with the fat cats. Apparently, Democrats from Colorado or south of the Mason-Dixon line are supposed to be for low taxes on the wealthy that are paid for by raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. I'm not saying that the president is beyond criticism on this, but we ought to take a look at our own caucus. Manchin, McCaskill, the Nelsons, Herb Kohl...these people are not on our side.

Were we progressives punk'd again?

As soon as Obama’s candidacy was pronounced “viable” by the high priests of corporate media he became a figure of historical significance, a walking, talking racial “breakthrough.” African Americans saw the possibility of a brand new day – and so did Obama, although his vision was much closer to that of those whites who have tired of – or, more likely, always resented – Black demands for redress of grievances, past and present. Anyone that listened to Obama’s actual words (rather than the voices in their own heads) would have quickly realized that he is ideologically opposed to all manifestations of independent Black politics, much less notions of Black self-determination.

Lynchings are alive and well in 2010. And they said Senator Hank Sanders robo calls were "race baiting"?

Never in a million years did I think I would live to see a black man become President of the Divided States of America. Nor did I think I would live to see Jim Crow and lynching revived under the leadership of a black President either, but well there are some folks in America that are longing for those nostalgic days.

I thought President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder said they were going to put an end to Scotter Libby justice?

Why were lawyers in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) willing to pursue political prosecutions against Don Siegelman, Paul Minor, and other Democrats during the George W. Bush years? Probably because they knew they could get away with it.

The only high point of this week was the repeal of DADT,which means our LBGT sisters and brothers can be who they are. The dems managed to block a filibuster, too bad they couldn't/wouldn't do it for the Obama compromise.

I am so thankful for the impending repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell; thankful to Harry Reid, thankful to Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, George Voinovich, Mark Kirk for breaking with their party and supporting this law that will enshrine a new civil right for many of our brothers and sisters. Thankful to Rep. Patrick Murphy who introduced this bill in the House and was a tireless advocate for repeal.

I'm glad Rep.Patrick Murphy and all the others just didn't go along to get along and follow a rule they weren't fond of and fought for the things that ARE in the U.S. Constitution.

My point is that you have a great deal to add to the conversation. Use your posts, even if limited, to provoke serious discussion. If you wish to do a point - counterpoint routine, let me know and I will take the opposit side. Do not lessen your attributes by constanting carping about the rules. Sadly all of us must abide my rules we are not particularly fond of.

It looks likes meancat(s) have disabled my username so it looks like my limited comments have been revoked just like my front page privileges were in an attempt to put me in my place once and for all. Sorry, it doesn't work like that. Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice anywhere. Kathy said it best;

I do have a problem with people who don’t just disagree with the concerns expressed here and elsewhere but go a step further to trivialize them. They’re “silly”, and we’re “miserable” for considering them. That’s the same kind of silencing technique that has been used from time immemorial to dismiss the legitimate complaints of the oppressed. I don’t know about you, but I’m mighty glad that Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King didn’t listen to the people who told them that they should worry about more important things than women’s suffrage or civil rights.

Psst! I've just begun carpping about the unfair rules,discrimination and the anti liberal bullying at Left in Alabama.

See ya next week!

The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party shows you how to deal right wing republican Bully's

And NO, you don't bend over and take your gang banging like Girlie Men, and NO you don't resign yourself to go along to get along. YOU CALL THEIR BLUFF. You call out they HYPOCRISY. You stand up to them. Kudos to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the progressive, I mean LIBERAL caucus. This is what I'm talking about!

From Talking Points Memo

"If we're going to lose, let's lose with a strong message," Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) -- chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- told me and another reporter in the Speaker's Lobby this afternoon.

Earlier today, he and other progressives interrupted the tax plan's glide path by blocking a key procedural measure -- a stalling tactic they hope to leverage into being given a chance to vote on substantial changes to the bill. All efforts to amend the legislation are expected to fail. But rank and file Dems are angry that during the brief floor debate over the cuts they were given only one shot at a relatively narrow, symbolic amendment to raise the estate tax.

As long as they're being set up to fail, progressives want that measure to include a whole range of changes to the bill.

Oh, and remember how the righty's were complaining about Congress not knowing what was in the health care bill, that President Obama didn't have hearings on C-Span nor did he include the republicans? Can't find a link, but outgoing Florida democratic Congressman Alan Grayon (Liberal) makes note the government is getting ready to spend trillions without what's knowing what's in the bill(besides tax cuts for the rich, the estate tax and unemployment insurance) without hearings or mark ups. Now ain't that a dip?

I heard a Talking TeeVee Chuckle head say the democrats want to push this bill through before the republicans take over the house because "they would come up with something much worse and cut off unemployment insurance" blah, blah, blab, blab. I say Let em Bring it On. The blood will be on their hands. To quote Governor Howard Dean, I'm tired of being bullied by the right wing. If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. Freedom is worth fighting for.

Redeye's Week in Review

Congress failed to repeal DADT this week, but the ACLU will keep on fighting.

Congress' failure to repeal the shameful "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is a devastating loss to the gay and lesbian service members who put their lives on the line for this country every day — and for Americans everywhere who believe in fairness and equality.

Rest assured that the ACLU will not give up on this fight. We are 100 percent committed to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and will do everything we can to bring about its demise.

Not only did the democrats magically grow a pair this week they are standing with *gasp* the Congressional Black Caucus! When you think about it, African Americans will suffer the most if unemployment insurance is not extended since unemployment among African Americans is at an all time high.

Unemployment for African Americans is projected to reach a 25-year high this year, according to a study released Thursday by an economic think tank, with the national rate soaring to 17.2 percent and the rates in five states exceeding 20 percent.

Blacks as well as Latinos were far behind whites in employment levels even when the economy was booming. But throughout the recession, the unemployment rate has grown much faster for African Americans and Latinos than for whites, according to the study by the Economic Policy Institute. Moreover, the unemployment gap between men and women has reached a record high -- with men far outpacing women in joblessness.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Reverend Al Sharpton speaks for me!

Over the course of the last several weeks, we have diligently watched as our President, Barack Obama, and the Democratic Party withstood filibustering and stonewalling from the right. Conducting hearings on the weekend, and doing everything they conceivably could to assist the poor and middle-class, their repeated attempts at compromise were met with fierce resistance and an utter disregard for the majority of this nation by the Republicans. And now, after holding the American people hostage as our President so rightfully pointed out, these self-aggrandizing politicians are sitting back and allowing Obama to be the scapegoat for all that ails us. It’s time we call them out.

Speaking of calling them out, they are who we thought they were.

Today, a right-wing organization called Judicial Watch hosted a panel discussion on the “current and upcoming fights over immigration enforcement” featuring Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce (R). Pearce, the author of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, railed against the Obama administration for “siding with a foreign government” against the state of Arizona. However, looking on the bright side, Pearce joked that Obama may not want to come to Arizona as they will require him to show his papers:

Terri Sewell isn't the only newly elected Congress Critter hiring help this week.

Perhaps to the surprise of many Tea Party populists who helped elect them, the Washington Post reports, “Many incoming GOP lawmakers have hired registered lobbyists as senior aides. Several of the candidates won with strong support from the anti-establishment tea party movement.” These lobbyists are not public servants. They are experts at carving out special deals and tax giveaways to powerful corporations

What's that you say? Soon to be former Gooberner Rob Riley is using his so called ethics reform package for political payback against the evil, awful Alabama Education Association and to silence them there uppity teachers? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! NOT.

Despite the fact the NCAA and Auburn found Cam Newton's father Cecil Newton guilty of being a modern day slave trader selling his son to the highest bidder, banning him from attending games and awards ceremony's Cam Newton shows why he is a true winner and stands by his father. If there is any lesson for talented African American athletes maybe they shouldn't play for predominately white Universities and take their talents to a Historically Black Colleges and Universities where they don't have deep pocket athletic boosters. The same thing happened in the movie Blindside, talented black player must have been offered pay for play .

"I'm not sitting up here saying that we all are prefect. Everybody's made mistakes. I'm not sitting up here saying what he did or what he did was wrong. Who am I up here to say that what he did is true or not. But I know that if I can call Cecil Newton right now, he'll pick up the phone."

This week ends with me being talked down from my previous rage over the Obama compromise. I accept the fact he acted in the best interest of the American People, I don't accept the fact that it had to be this way. I still maintain he should have listened to his base instead of suppressing the base. I hope and pray now that the big republican fat cats have received their big tax cut they are going to start creating jobs in America and the banks are going to start loaning money again. I also hope that if they don't, the gop doesn't try to blame it on Obama.

The highlight of my week and the best Christmas present ever was the high honor and privilege of being named Blog I'm Feeling by the Field Negro. Welcome to my world and please don't just lurk, join the conversation!

Redeye's Inbox

I would like to share a few emails I received in response to some of this weeks front page diaries.

WTF is the Democratic Party?
I want to know too. You and I ARE on the "same page," Girl Friend.
The President that we worked so hard to elect has extended yet another
olive branch to the GOP by offering to freeze salary increases for all
Government workers while prices on everything from electricity to food
continue to rise.. Meanwhile the National Dem. Party has selected a
former Blue Dawg from New York to head up Party activities for the 2012
push to elect Democrats. Another slap in the face to the liberal,
progressive Democratic Party base who made the difference in electing
Obama President. Sheeze! What's next? Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and
Social Security? I'm polishing my pitchfork for that one.

I just received a horror story from a friend in Florida. Her bank was
taken over by one of the Banking giants we bailed out. The Giant Bank
then proceeded to play Bank Bingo with the mortgages on both her
business and her home, increasing the rates and making it damn near
impossible for her to keep either her home or business from going
under. She is temporarily covered by Unemployment Benefits, which are
helping make the mortgage payments, but there's no way of knowing when
the newly elected Republican Congress are going to stop paying those
benefits. When that happens, there goes both her home and her business
that she has worked so hard to maintain all of her adult life. Stories
like this are being repeated all over America, but those huge salaries
and bonuses for Banking CEOs keep being doled out. The rich are
getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It's Class Warfare and
the rich are winning more than just elections. They are eliminating
the Middle Class in America!

Like you, I can't understand why Americans don't wake up to what is
happening before it is too late.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving in spite of all the dire stuff
going on around us, and would like to wish you Happy Holidays and a
Super New Year.

Note: I agree and I'm polishing my pitchfork too!

I Choose Neither
Every real Democrat I know is doing more than just a little soul
searching after the last election. Clearly something has broken within
the Democratic Party in Alabama, and I believe it began with Ron Sparks
and other True Democrat's inability to raise the funds needed to win
the race. That, of course, could have been overcome IF the
progressive/liberal Democrats had hit the streets and donated to the
campaigns of old fashion, "We serve the people," Democrats with the
same zeal they exhibited during the 2008 election, and had been given
real Democrats running for office instead of Rahm's "Blue Dawg
Democrats" as candidates. We have now seen the Corporate Takeover of
our Government raise it's ugly head once again. How we managed to
hang on to the U. S. Senate is akin to a miracle. How much good will be
derived from our hanging on to the Senate is yet to be seen. The
Republicans in Congress are STILL obstructing all laws that are not
favorable for the very rich and their corporations as exhibited by
their recent threatening letter stating that they will obstruct all
matters coming before the Senate except tax breaks which include
millionaires and billionaires, and renewing funding so the government
can continue to function.

Our State Party is broken, so perhaps now it is time to make a clean
sweep of the Party Leadership and begin anew, electing, keeping, and
appointing only those Democrats who adhere to the long standing
Democratic principles of taking care of the least among us and our
elderly, supporting the efforts of Unions, who fight against the
excesses of their Corporate bosses, and ending all inequality of
racial and lifestyle issues once and for all by passing such laws as
"The Dream Act" and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." More than
anything else, however, The Glass/Steagall Act needs to be reinstated
and thereby bring back the banking regulations that kept us out of a
depression/recession until it was repealed. Paying Unemployment
Benefits is a must as well. The money spent by those receiving
assistance during unemployment goes directly back into the economy for
things like food and making mortgage payments to keep families from
joining the ranks of the homeless in America. We know that the
"trickle down economy" proposed by the Republicans hasn't worked in the
past and won't work now. 12 million jobs were created during the
Clinton Administration. Under Bush and his tax cuts for the very rich
only 1 million jobs were created as the Nation's newly unemployed
continued to march off a cliff to drown like lemmings.

The greatest disappointment is that our President from whom we expected
much change and progress has accomplished neither. His bipartisan
give-aways have NOT WORKED and his disregard for the Liberal Democratic
Base turned out to be a disaster when we review the results of the 2010
Midterm election. I am beginning to fear that President Obama is
nothing more than yet another Corporatist Politician. That hurts most
of all.

Note: I fear President Obama let his advisers and the media shape him into their image of the first black President. President Obama let the media define him. Therein lies the problem. A media that is controlled by white males who wanted him to fail so that he would be the first and last African American President of the United States of America.

Tooting my own horn

I'm writing this in reference to XXXXX's suggestion that Democrats search their souls to see if they're good democrats, or something to that effect. If everybody had worked even one-fourth as hard as I did, there may have been a different out come. I have long contended that most Democrats do nothing during an election but go into a voting booth and vote, if they even do that. Here's some of what I specifically did for Ron Sparks and Steve Raby.


First I tried to get people registered. I took applications for registration forms to three black ministers and asked them to distribute
them to any person they knew who is not registered to vote. I'm guilty as sin of targeting people who I think will vote democratic. I don't have the
time to waste on anybody I'm not sure of. Been there, done that. As an enticement, I paid $2 each for 20 pictures of President Obama being sworn in to give to people to hang in their homes. I always carried a supply of registration forms in my car in case I encountered anyone who wanted to
register. I have been run off store parking lots more times than one.

I made many phone calls from the Democratic Headquarters for various candidates.

I e-mailed and called teachers, both active and retired to within an hour of the polls closing reminding them of the pitfalls awaiting them if
Republicans got elected. (They can read today's paper to see how right I was.)

I would drive to neighborhoods I never knew existed, park my car then walk door-to-door through big lots and no side walks handing out candidates'
literature as well as letters I had written and signed myself. Then I decided that it would be more expedient if I did small businesses instead for a couple of reasons: both candidates stressed the importance of small businesses and had so much to offer them, and also the few people working there usually represent more than one family. Thus began my sojourn into the small business community. Starting at the Tennessee River, I hit every small small business on both sides of the street to Weatherly Road: propeller shops, tire stores, parts stores, antique stores, consignment shops, auto stores, engine shops, tackle shops, quilting stores, doctors' and dentists' offices, barber shops and beauty shops. I particularly enjoyed going into businesses with Mo Brooks signs on their property such as Lily Flag Furniture and Fuel City. At two ABC stores and a wine store in other areas of town, I found that everyone working there was a Democrat. In all my encounters, not one person was ever rude to me.

I did the same thing on Meridian Street hitting small businesses on BOTH sides of the street from where it begins down town to Oakwood Avenue. If
the businesses were closed, I struggled to get the info into a crevice around the door, sometimes lucking out and pushing it all the way in, or getting it to go under the door. Sometimes I attached the literature to doorknobs with rubber bands. I worked the old Holiday Office Center south Parkway, a big, sprawling multi-story complex. Twice it grew dark, as was the case at Holiday Office Center, and I would be afraid for I always worked alone.


On Bankhead Road, I covered two condominium complexes where doormats were close together and easy to slip material under. You learn the ropes after awhile, and you discover that people are really nice, regardless of their political persuasion.

Somebody said to toot your own horn, for ain't nobody gonna toot it for
you.

I have tooted my own horn.

Note: Toot on! Toot often! This is the kind of democrat I wish we had more of instead of some of the democrats we have. This illustrates the difference between the gop and the democratic party..the gop is organized, their voters don't have to be begged to come to the polls and vote because they've been armed with misinformation and righteous anger. The gop also put their most effective voices out front whereas democrats tend to suppress their effective voices out of fear of offending the gop.

What's the difference between Charlie Rangel and Joe Wilson despite the obvious?

I wrote this to another list: “Clearly this was done to a black progressive who had done great work for years and years. But never to the slimy Republican thieves who get away with anything, even when Democrats are in power

Please note that the Ethics Committee is thoroughly bipartisan – half democratic and half republican. The demographic significance is that the committee is strongly skewed to white persons – almost all of them are white.

Yes, the decision is racist!”

Reprimands are also issued in a racist (and nationalist) manner. When Earl Hilliard was running for Congress the first time, he wrote the Ethics committee asking if he could use an office he owned in Montgomery for a satellite campaign office. The Ethics Committee said it was OK!

Well, shortly after Earl went to Congress, he organized a caucus within the Black Caucus to concentrate on getting to know African nations better, and had Members “adopt” a country to get to know and to direct assistance to as much as possible. In doing this, he found that there one African nation not recognized by the US, Libya, and he couldn’t find out specifically why. (This was after Reagan tried to assassinate President Gadaffi by shelling the Presidential Palace from a US ship near the shore. [He failed to kill him, but he did manage to murder Gadaffi’s daughter, 3 years old, as I remember])

Unable to get clear info on our embargo, Earl went to look at the situation (he was unable to use his passport, since the State Department controls all use of passports) and arranged to go without using it (Americans are constitutionally guaranteed the right to go anywhere in the world, but the State Department and Treasury control things, making it difficult. [Later, during Clinton’s bombing of Iraq between the Bush wars, I went there without passport, and later still to Cuba – there being careful to stay below the $200 limit of matter we brought back]) You see, the administration doesn’t like the freedoms the Constitution grants to Americans! Anyway, when Earl returned, some Members freaked out, especially the ever-asinine Spencer Bachus, who called for Earl’s removal from Congress. That died, but ethics charges were filed against Earl from the campaign office matter, but in fact triggered by this incident.

The ethics charges hung over his head for years, not coming up, but used by the Birmingham News (Noose) in every election to smear him. Finally a Democrat who was a member of the Israel nationalist caucus became chair of the Democratic side of the Ethics Committee (I don’t remember his name but he was from Southern California) and the charges came up and Earl was reprimanded in a truly kangaroo trial. Earl was glad since he had called for them to hurry up and get it done over the years and get it over with, but the lowest level of politics ruled. Of course the reprimand meant nothing in the real world.

Note that a black member interested in a black nation was attacked by racist white southern member, Bachus. Sound familiar? Yes, Congress is racist, and the Democratic Party doesn’t purge itself of its own racists.

Both men, Rangel and Hilliard, are among most honorable and ethical members of Congress I have ever known.

Note: I'm sure it's no surprise I agree the Rangel censure was racist. Read the 10 good reasons Rangel shouldn't have been censured. Read the letter from Rep. Bobby Scott who served on the committee. Read about past sanctions and actions taken against other members of congress. If it's not racism, what is it?

We Will Overcome Someday
I'm wondering where all the righteous people have gone after
the humiliating defeat handed liberal Democrats recently? Surely we
liberals aren't so thinned-skinned that we no longer have the urge to
fright for the democratic principles so near and dear to all of our
hearts. It's time to get off the pity pot and renew the fight, my
sisters and brothers. We can and shall overcome if we put our bruised,
bloodied, but unbowed shoulders to the wheel and push! It's hard work,
but it is necessary work, right now, if we are to be successful in our
fight for liberty and JUSTICE for all American citizens. I like the
idea of hitching up the galluses one more notch on my coveralls, one
more time, and putting my bare feet on the hot asphalt road to
righteousness and liberty for all. Please join me and make a joyful
noise for justice, equality and freedom for all Americans. If you will
take the first step, and if we all take that first step, there is no
obstacle, boulder nor barrier that we cannot overcome.

Note: Let us march on until victory is won!

Thanks for reading, lurking, your emails and your comments.

I cannot let these brazen lies stand

Since I am being accused of hacking into mooncats LiA account and posting a diary calling out Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III(R. Azalea Trail Maids) for his opposition to the DREAM ACT like that's a bad thing, I am compelled to correct some of the brazen lies contained in comments by Sessions apologist/supporters.

mooncat

Jeff Sessions opposes educating brown kids (+)

Jeff Sessions is the GOP point man against the DREAM Act, which is pretty fitting considering his past racist statements. Sessions has authored a "white paper" with 10 point talking points against the act.

Brazen lie #1

While I support any immigrants right to become a citizen, why should we make it even more complicated than it already is by adding loopholes to naturalization process? If a Democrat had come up with the "white paper" instead of Sessions, I would agree with it still, just the same. And by the way, the majority of Democrats support Sessions points.

I don't know what "majority of democrats" the commenter refers to, but here is the OFFICIAL Democratic Party position on immigration reform.

We will extend the promise of citizenship to those still struggling for freedom. Today’s immigration laws do not reflect our values or serve our security, and we will work for real reform. The solution is not to establish a massive new status of second-class workers; that betrays our values and hurts all working people. Undocumented immigrants within our borders who clear a background check, work hard and pay taxes should have a path to earn full participation in America. We will hasten family reunification for parents and children, husbands and wives, and offer more English-language and civic education classes so immigrants can assume all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. As we undertake these steps, we will work with our neighbors to strengthen our security so we are safer from those who would come here to harm us. We are a nation of immigrants, and from Arab-Americans in California to Latinos in Florida, we share the dream of a better life in the country we love

Brazen lie #2

First of all, pandering to immigration by the Republicans, Democrats, liberals and conservatives is just a vote buying game. The majority of Democrats oppose naturalization of illegals and support some type of substantial border protection.

First of all, unlike republicans, democrats don't do things in order to "buy votes", which I assume is another way of saying pander for partisan political gain, democrats support the DREAM Act because it's the right thing thing to do. The second point has already been refuted.

Then you have people like Mo Brooks that didn't go overboard with his immigration rhetoric like Peterson & James, but they still campaigned on something they cannot possibly deliver. But they sure did drive home the point of how the illegals take American jobs and such. (trying to appeal to the racist voters) When finally Mo Brooks, Robert Bentley and others outlined just how they would solve the immigration problem, all they came up with is e-freekin-verify. That idea's not worth the paper it's printed on. All that does is create a bigger market for hackers and fake ID makers. The only way to stop illegal immigration would require at least one million troops along the border. And that would be MUCH too expensive.

Brazen lie #3

The white exodus from the Alabama Democratic Party is for exactly the same reason, only here mooncat is playing the role of Joe Reed.

Nope, the reason for the white exodus from the Alabama Democratic Party is there are more of them than there are of us. There are more white democrats (and I use that term loosely) who care more about sending them there illegals back to Mexico than they do their city, county, state and country. The playing the role of Joe Reed race baiting was meant as a slam but it's actually a complement to mooncat for calling out the racist racism.

Brazen lies #4,5,6,7

I'm tired of trying to talk reasonably with Democrats. You guys complain about previous administrations spending habits but are now ok by doubling down on the spending. You argument? They spent us into this recession... We can spend ourselves out.

The fact of the matter is, our social entitlements programs are struggling as it is. You want to pour millions of more people into these programs without finding a way to shore up our current obligations. Its just plain ignorant.

Why is it impossible to work to improve the situation for all Mexicans? Not just the ones who break our laws? If all you bleeding heart liberals out there really stood behind what you say instead of just pandering for votes then you'd be pushing for America to work with Mexico to improve its impoverished. To improve its economy, to improve its job market so that suddenly America isn't as appealing to break into. But nah, if they are in Mexico, then that means they can't vote democrat.

is type of rhetoric. The ADP converted an 100+ year reign in the majority into a republican super majority. I guess all us racist white folk got tired of the status quo.

I guess it depends on what the meaning of to talk reasonably with democrats IS, if it's listen to and adhere to right wing talking points and tortured logic, no we democrats aren't hearing it. We democrats were right (no pun) to complain about the previous administrations out of control spending on all war all the time, raiding the deficit to give the rich a tax cut and creating debt as far as the eye can see.

The fact of the matter is without those "social entitlement programs" righty's rail against like Medicare, Social Security, and aid to dependent children people would suffer and die.

Instead of trying to tell another country what to do, why not enact comprehensive immigration reform in this country? In other words let America run America and let Mexico run Mexico. We don't believe in "nation building", remember? It's Country First. A country founded by immigrants. Remember? If you want immigrants to vote republican instead of democrats, give them a reason to vote for the gop instead of against the gop.

Please do continue this type of rhetoric. The ADP converted an 100+ year reign in the majority into a republican super majority. I guess all us racist white folk got tired of the status quo

Translation: STFU and let us continue to oppress black/brown and red folks and maintain the status quo.

mooncat asks

What would the GOP do without Southern racists to carry their water?

What indeed.

Let them define themselves, let them reveal who they are~Rep. Maxine Waters

Why should the democratic party include Moderates?

WTF is a "Moderate" anyway? Let me make this perfectly clear... I believe so called Moderates are republicans who infiltrate the democratic party in order to obstruct the agenda. You know, like the kid who jumps in and pi$$es in a crowded swimming pool.

There is no way in hell Alabama Democrats can win, much less get any portion of their agenda passed, if they rely on so called Moderates and I am sick and tired of democrats pandering to them at the expense of the traditional democratic base. I have to hand it to the gop, they don't allow such nonsense. You're either with the grand old party or you're against the grand old party, and they WIN each and ever time because they know a party divided will not stand. They don't throw the voters who will vote for them under the bus for the voters who might NOT vote for them. If they have a choice between a republican and a Moderate they will choose the republican every time. It's party first. Democrats would be wise to learn that lesson if they want to WIN. If they want to keep losing keep pandering to the right and taking the base for granted.

What do Moderates stand for?

What is the Moderate agenda?

Are Moderates pro choice?

Are Moderates pro affirmative action?

Are Moderates pro labor?

Are Moderates pro civil rights, equal rights, human rights and LBGT rights?

Are Moderates pro public schools and public school teachers?

What are they moderate about?

–noun
6. a person who is moderate in opinion or opposed to extreme views and actions, esp. in politics or religion.
7. ( usually initial capital letter ) a member of a political party advocating moderate reform.

If Moderates stand for democratic values and democratic principles why not identify with the democratic party?

If Moderates don't stand for democratic values and democratic principles why should they be included in the democratic party?

If Moderates don't stand for democratic values and democratic principles why would they want to be included in the democratic party?

Moderates should get their own damn party.

Rant over.