A Young, Progressive New Yorker AGAINST Caroline Kennedy for Senate.

All the buzz in the choice for the replacement of Hillary Clinton has taken a sharp turn from a discussion of strong, qualified Upstate and Downstate politicians to one woman: Caroline Kennedy.  The media is jumping at the possibility of another Kennedy rising to political prominence.  However, this should not be a choice as to whether or not to carry on a political dynasty for Governor David Paterson.  As a citizen of the State in question, New York, I believe that Paterson’s choice should instead be what is best for the very troubled state of New York.  Don’t get me wrong, I am Progressive person, who agrees with Kennedy on a multitude of issues.  Putting that aside, the question remains as to whether or not she is the right person for the job.

Usually, when I say that I am from New York, the question that is posed to me is “Oh really, what borough?”.  The sad part is that the whole state of New York gets overshadowed by the City of New York.  In talking to my fellow Upstaters, animosity can be heard in their voices as they describe the lack of attention that Upstate New York receives.  David Paterson’s selection of Caroline Kennedy would just be another slap in the face for Upstate New York, who has not had a Senator from their own back yard since 1909 (Good Ole, Elihu Root of Clinton, New York.)  The face that Upstate has not had one of their own represent them in the United States Senate for so long is just shameful, and now Governor Paterson has a chance to change that with his power of appointment.

Caroline Kennedy is someone who I agree with, alot, she is a very charismatic individual who quite possible has a bright future in the political scene.  However, the fact remains that her first political job should not be an appointment to the Senate. She is not qualified for this position. She has not served the people of New York in extensive enough of a manner to receive the appointment from Governor Paterson.  Whether deservedly or not, Governor Paterson’s popularity has plummeted in the Upstate region, and he would only be making the problem worse for himself if he does the wrong thing, and appoints Caroline Kennedy to the Senate.

Today is a good day

I’m sure that I’m not the only one who was upset with the preliminary Senate results this year. Sure, the Democrats did great, but Ted Stevens was winning in Alaska. Convicted felon/Senator Ted “The Internet Is A Series of Tubes” Stevens was getting re-elected.

Today though, the final results have come out, and Ted Stevens has lost the Alaska Senate race. By just a few votes, Democrat Mark Begich has won a seat in the Senate. This makes Stevens the longest serving senator to lose re-election. Save for an end to corruption, and Joe Lieberman admitting he isn’t a Democrat, this is the best thing that could possibly happen to the Senate this election season.

Goodbye Senator Stevens. You will not be missed.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8[/youtube]

Who will replace tonight’s winners in the Senate?

Joe Biden might win two elections tonight. One for the vice-presidency, and the other for his Senate seat, which he has already won tonight.

Some of the name’s floating around for Barack Obama’s Senate seat are Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of Jesse Jackson, Rahm Emanuel, an already influential leader in the House, Jean Schakowsky also from the House, longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, and former congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth.

Joe Biden’s replacement could be just a temporary one until his son Beau Biden could run for the Senate seat himself in 2010.

As for Senator John McCain, the Democratic Governor in Arizona, Janet Napolitano, has the option to appoint anyone she wants as long as they are a Republican. So, she could not appoint herself.

Another twist in all of this: If current Alaskan Senator and convicted felon Ted Stevens wins his Senate seat and is ousted by the Senate leadership, Governor Sarah Palin could be appointed to Senator Palin. You Betcha!

Update, 11/5/08: Let me make this clear. The only way Governor Palin can be Senator Palin is if she resigns her spot as Governor of Alaska and then the new Governor, who would be Sean Parnell, would then appoint Palin to the Senate spot.

The Other Important Elections Tonight

Probably the most important elections are taking place for seats in the United States Senate. The balance of the United States Senate will also determine whether or not Barack Obama will actually be able to get things done.

Here are the races you need to watch, followed by the times they will be called.

Virginia at 7pm ET - Fmr. Governor Mark Warner is very likely to pickup our first Democratic seat of the night, currently held by Republican John Warner (no relation.) Governor Warner’s “challenger” is Jim Gilmore who ran for president last year.

North Carolina at 7:30 pm ET - Elizabeth Dole, wife of Bob Dole is at risk of losing her seat tonight. If Democrat Kay Hagan wins, Barack Obama and Democrats all across the country will have a good night as well.

Minnesota at 9pm ET - Former Comedian and radio host Al Franken has a good chance of picking up this seat from Republican Norm Coleman. Although, dirty campaigning has plagued this campaign in recent weeks, and is still an unpredictable toss up.

The American Dream Deferred

The American Dream Deferred

“America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men. “-Woodrow Wilson

It has been many years since the time of American Dreams realized. It would seem, since the birth of this great nation, that we the people have forgotten to realize the vision. A vision , that sculpted the mountain of the American way and made the U.S. the pinnacle of the World. Founded on the principles of liberty, freedom, and justice for all, we have throughout history contradicted the very principles that made us who we are. We as America have been the wind that has carried democracy, natural rights, and freedom throughout the valleys of the world, yet we deny many who are our fellow the natural right for well being.

Today’s America has matured from the days of slavery, denial of women’s rights, civil rights for all Americans, and public discriminatory racism to childish bickering of democrats versus republicans, conservatives versus liberals, and patriots and terrorism. When will the debauchery in America end. When will our greed and selfishness be replaced with Americanism and selflessness. People elect their representatives for irrational views than for the commonwealth of people and our nation. Our country bled the blood of countrymen for rights of freedom of religion but dictated politicians to the code of “Christianity”. Our spite of our fellow man and self interest blind our founding principles of the American way. The American dream.

Somehow we as a people have tarnished the glorious western light of liberty with pettiness and and foreign bullying. We arrogantly borrow from countries whose governmental ideologies differ from one another and then shove democracy in to nations whose culture and religion that conflicts with our concepts. The American Dream has evolved into the nightmare from the west, who dictates and forces our religion and democratic ideologies on the very difference that we cherish as America. How have we stray so far from home. Why do we roam for fear and force instead of exploration and innovation. We have allowed our fear to distort our vision of the world and manipulated Christianity to justify the cause.

It is that clouded judgment that has somehow made Christianity a qualification to be a real American. In a country founded on the bases of freedom of religion, we have become a nation that persecutes and isolate those whose religious preference differs from our own. In today’s world, we fight the crusade against Muslim nations and label it the war on terror so we can have a clear conscience. when we go to bed at night. Subsequently. we have become the very terrorist we despise and seek out. Not to point fingers but, it seems since Conservative Republicans took office eight years ago, hate, fear, and deception has been the fuel that drove our military into the heart of Muslim nations to wage war with and idea.

From observation of this nation’s past decade, one notion is true the American dream has been lost, abandoned for hate, diminished by fear and discouraged by deception. When will she return, when lady America grace American shores with her glory. It is not certain the time nor the hour, but merely determined by the minds and hearts of the American People who dream the dream of dreams.- William R. Gilbert, Jr.

69 People I Will Not Have Dinner With

The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 has passed the Senate. For those who did not read my post yesterday, this bill grants the telecom companies immunity for helping the NSA spy on phone conversations so that we may never know the extent of the NSA’s warrentless wiretapping program, and grants the president even more warrentless wiretapping powers. What follows is a list of all the senators that voted in favor of the FISA bill. Hopefully, I never have to meet any of these people (again), because I do not want to shake their slimy hands. Read more

Obama’s FISA Reversal and Imminent Vote

Well, Obama has finally made a proper statement about his disgraceful flip-flop on the FISA Ammendments Act. Mr. Charisma now supports the bill (though with only about with as much enthusiasm as I support him) after saying for the last few months that he would filibuster it as long as it had immunity for the telecom industry (which it does). More over at The Swamp.

As it stands, the bill is the results of apathetically lackluster “compromising” and “negotiations” between Democrats and Republicans in Congress which gave the Republicans more than they could have ever hoped for if there had been a competent negotiator on the Democrats’ side. The bill grants retroactive immunity to the telecom industry for helping the NSA with their warrentless wiretapping, meaning that we may never know for sure the extent of the spying (unless you listen to this man). And, all of this is happening before the results of a report by the Inspector General on the warrentless wiretap program.

To learn more about the FISA bill, check out this video at Four Hour Work Week. It is well worth watching, and makes includes a great argument that even though you may not be doing anything wrong, you still do not want the government spying on just anybody without a warrent. Daniel Ellsberg says that warrentless wiretapping means that government officials and activists can be spied on by the ruling party in an effort to stop plans that may be against what the ruling party wishes (Watergate anyone?).

Obama’s defense of his flip-flop is laughable. For one thing, he says that he will fight to remove immunity from the bill, but then admits that even if immunity is not removed, he is still voting yes on the bill. What kind of commitment is that? He continues on by saying all the reasons that the bill is “imperfect” (see: dangerously unconstitutional), but then brushes it all aside in favor of the “well counter-terrorism is important” defense. Clearly just playing towards the center during an election instead of sticking to his convictions. Obama claims that once he is in office he will have the Attorney General review survelence programs like this one, but not only is he making the assumption that he will win in November, but anybody who believes him is forgetting that power corrupts, and once in office he will have no reason to have that review. McCain is going to vote for the bill, so all Obama is doing by voting for it as well is playing politics for the election, and it is not right. The American people deserve better from a possible commander-in-chief. At least McCain seems to believe in his vote (however wrong it may be).

And please, call your senators. The vote is tomorrow. The EFF has a great script to read to them.

A Letter To Sen. Barbara Boxer On Unity

I wrote Sen. Barbara Boxer on helping unite the party and to endorse the “dream ticket”.
It reads:

Hello Senator Boxer,
I am writing you today not as a Obama supporter and not as a Clinton supporter, but as a Democrat. As a Democrat, I believe our best bet to win the White House is to endorse what has become the “Dream Ticket.” An Obama-Clinton ticket would be a shoe in for the Democrats into the White House. They both represent two different constituents in our party. Bringing both campaigns and supporters together would be a fantastic sign of unity. Polls indicate that an Obama-Clinton ticket would be insurmountable. So I respectfully urge you to endorse this ticket. I understand that only Sen. Barack Obama can make this decision, but you can offer your endorsement of this concept as your colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein has. As a Californian, I have been so proud of you and your leadership in our state and in our country. I only hope you can use that leadership to move toward this movement of unity.
Thank You,
Estevan J. Montemayor

How Could They? Mukasey Gets Confirmed

Mukasey has just been confirmed by the senate as the next attorney general. This is completely absurd. I mean come on. Congress is a joke. That joke isn’t funny anymore. How does Mukasey get confirmed without answering the waterboarding question? His inability to answer is his answer. Waterboarding is torture under United States law. No reasonable person can argue that it isn’t, so Mukasey hasn’t. He is telling America that he will be no different from Alberto (“I don’t recall”) Gonzolez. We deserve different. We deserve better. We should demand it.

It is hard to express my outrage over Congress for both confirming Mukasey and effectively killing Kucinich’s attempt to impeach Cheney in the same week. I just want to shout out “Arrrrrg!” like Charlie Brown.

This is disgusting. What congress has done by confirming Mukasey is effectively tell the President a few things that he is very happy to hear. Congress will not oversee his actions. Congress will not even attempt to control him. Congress approves of waterboarding. The democrats won’t live up to what they promised the American people during the last elections. Where is the democratic party’s passion for democracy and human rights?

Mukasey might have actually been a good candidate for attorney general, but when he decided to stay silent about waterboarding, he became completely unacceptable. With Gonzolez, we didn’t know beforehand that he was for torture. With Mukasey, we learned his stance on torture during the confirmation hearings, but he still got confirmed. How did this happen? Congress has effectively approved torture.

The only reason this could possibly be acceptable is if there is some sort of a compromise. But there isn’t a compromise. Instead congress has just decided to roll over for the President.

There has been talk of a bill that would close loophole in the law that allows waterboarding, but in fact, there isn’t a loophole. It is clearly illegal under the Geneva Conventions. And even then, any bill that would close up whatever supposed loophole Bush is using to claim that his actions are legal won’t be passed. Even if the bill somehow got through both houses of congress, it would be vetoed, and the democrats certainly don’t have the votes to overturn a veto.

Not confirming Mukasey was congress’ only chance to stop, or at least to voice its objection to, the practice of waterboarding. Now we’re stuck. Great job idiots.

Low Congress Ratings due to Republican Control

Two inter sting things happened relating to congress today. First an immigration bill granting children citizenship in the US after meeting certain criteria was struck down. Second a controversial judge, who overwhelming sides with corporations, was elected to the 5th Circuit Federal Court.

But last November Americans voted out the current leadership in congress. But some politicians haven’t realized Americans want change from twelve years of Republican mismanagement. But they’re still voting for (the Iraq war, uncontrolled spending) and blocking (children’s health care, immigration reform), the same policies that Americans are disgusted with. Unless the Republicans can let the Americans have a voice, more can look to loose their seats in 2008.

And it’s time for Democrats to be Democrats. I want to see Lyndon Baines Johnson type strategies. Not Democrats defecting, and siding with the Republicans. Many of the issues that have failed to be solved are just as important, if not more than the Civil Rights Movement.

Racism is making a resurgence in America (not that it was ever gone), for instance the State Department wants to shut down a Muslim school, because curriculum doesn’t “Meet their standards.” The head of the voting rights protection agency feels “The white vote is the most important to protect.” And there is a tremendous government/Republican started backlash against legal and “illegal” immigrants.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid need to become true leaders, willing at any cost to pass important legislation. But blame cannot be entirely placed on the leadership, Democrats need to stop being bullied by Republican tactics. And Americans need to stop being intimated by Republican fear mongering (ever noticed how a new Osama tape appears when Bush needs more money?). Lets live by the motto “Give me freedom or give me death.”

Proof The GOP Fails the Black Vote

If you go to gop.com, the official website of the Republican party you’ll find they have multiple categories for various issues. Immigration reform, woman, economy… They also have one for African-Americans, but when you visit that category they have only one blog post.

It goes on to talk about how African America education scores have increased on the Republican white house and congress. I guess that’s why lower SAT scores where blamed on more African Americans and Latinos taking the test. Anyways I’m not here to critique their lone post.

Today the Senate will be holding a vote on weather Washington DC (62% black) will have proper representation in the House of Representatives. The vote today is only a procedural one, if they get 60 or more votes to avoid a filibuster, then they’ll move on to the real “vote” later this session. But house minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) says “The right to vote is fundamental, and I will fight any attempt to dilute or impede that right, my opposition to this bill rests instead on a single all-important fact: It is clearly and unambiguously unconstitutional.” Most other Senate Republicans hold this view.

Not to vilify all Republicans on this issue, because Tom Davis (R-Va) cosponsored this legislation. But if this vote fails due to Republican opposition it will be the first voting rights filibuster since segregation was ended.

Update

The vote had 57 yes votes, and 42 no votes, with a Democrat from West Virginia, missing the vote, because he believes it is unconstitutional. Either ways they would have still been 2 votes short.

The Gay Difference

Senator David Vitter, the guy who had sex with woman prostitutes was welcomed back with applause from other Republicans. Many even came to his defense. But when Larry Craig solicits another man for sex, the party pressure him to relinquish his committees, and some even call for his resignation.

I wonder if the idea of homosexuality being un-Christian is really their cause in hating it. I mean homosexuality from a Christian perspective is just as wrong as sex outside of marriage. And in terms of family protection, I know many more families broken apart by affairs followed by divorce, then by homosexuality.

Both senators committed crimes, both should have to resign. I’m in no way supporting Craig, because we should not have convicted criminals in office. But I would like to see both the morality police and the “get the street thug in jail” police hold their own accountable to equal standards.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 2.0

The Senate passed the vote to expand the fine print of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act last night. The vote tallied in at 60 - 28. 16 Democrats and Joe Lieberman (Independent) joined 43 Republicans in supporting the bill.

The changes to the bill include things such as not needing a warrant to monitor phone calls domestic, or international calls that are leaving the US. Emails may also be monitored. This will be conducted by the NSA.
Read more

Senate to be in Session all Night

Just a brief update to say that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that he will keep the Senate in session all night Tuesday and into Wednesday to bring attention to the Iraq vote. Workers will set up cots outside the Chamber for Senators to sleep on in between votes. Although even this extreme step will not garner enough votes to pass the bill, it certainly is interesting and attention-getting! Hopefully it will get enough attention to eventually make some progress and allow the Senate to pass a good bill.