Today's Updates: Tuesday, August 6, 2013

From John Cuneo at the Atlantic

• Florida House: When I read the following story, I first thought the guy was a STATE representative. Usually the Congressional Republicans aren't quite as ... ignorant. (But then I guess I'm forgetting Michelle Bachmann, Allen West, and a few others that have (or are) gracing our halls of Congress.) But, no, Ted Yoho (Florida - 3rd) is a CongressCritter from that great state of Florida. He is a brand new Tea Party CongressCritter which is probably why I hadn't heard of him.  The Atlantic had an interesting profile of Yoho, a large animal veterinarian, HERE.
  
  He says the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCares) is racist... because it includes a tax on tanning salons. And, since dark skinned people don't need to tan, they will never pay the tax. The only people, therefore, who will pay the tax are light skinned people, usually Caucasian. Um.. now, no one forces any of us light skinned types to sit our butts down in a tanning salon, do they? I don't have any intention of paying a tanning salon tax no matter how white I happen to be.. because I can't imagine roasting myself like a hot dog.  In any event, Yoho thinks that all of ObamaCares is racist due to this particular tax. 
  
  My friend Rob Sobel at the Examiner also mentions that this yoyo Yoho is planning on introducing some kind of birther bill in an attempt to get President Obama out of office. Great. Let's waste more of the taxpayer's money that these Teapeople claim to be so concerned about.
  
  Here's more about that, from Salon:  "(Yoho) told constituents at a town hall meeting that though he thinks questions about President Obama’s birth certificate are mostly a “distraction,” he is supporting legislation to investigate further because if it is true, “we can get rid of everything he’s done.” And something about freedom: "in order to have freedom, you have to have economic freedom,” and “if it is true [that Obama wasn't born in the United States], it’s illegal, he shouldn’t be there and we can get rid of everything he’s done, and I said I agree with that.”  Huh?  
  
  When are the people of this country going to wise up and stop sending these racist, extremist whack jobs to Congress?
  
  This district is definitely not one to be targeted by Democrats. Even a Republican as off-the-wall and extreme as this guy won his central Florida district by 65 to 32%. So we'll move on.

Today's Updates: Thursday, August 1, 2013

• Tennessee House:  File under "This one will really make you sick":
  Scott DesJarlais Fundraising Troubles.  You may recognize the name even if you don't live in Tennessee.  Here's his story in a nutshell from the Huffington Post:
      
  "DesJarlais cruised to reelection in November 2012, defeating Democratic challenger Eric Stewart by nearly a dozen percentage points. Voters looked past the anti-abortion congressman's admission that he engaged in four flings during his divorce, while pressuring one mistress to have an abortion. Less than two weeks after re-election, court transcripts also showed that DesJarlais' wife had two abortions -- one for medical reasons and another on an elective basis.
  By early December, DesJarlais appeared convinced that his scandalous past was in the rear-view mirror, telling a conservative radio show that God had "forgiven" him."
  
  The guy was back in the news today, as he has a PAC and apparently found a Tennessee Congressman (Steve Southerland) who accepted a thousand bucks from that PAC.  Details HERE.
• Kentucky Senate:  Hmm... Yesterday the pollsters had the Kentucky Senate race as "Likely Republican" as it seemed that current Senate minority leader had a firm grip on his seat in red Kentucky.  But today, not so.  Reported at Huffington Post:
  
  
  "New poll numbers released on Thursday hold troubling signs for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
  
  
  According to the survey -- conducted by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling on behalf of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America -- Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky's Democratic secretary of state who officially entered the race on Tuesday, leads the longtime senator by one point, with 45 percent to McConnell's 44 percent. While her lead is within the margin of error, the poll also underscored some broader issues that McConnell is likely to face as he campaigns for a sixth term."  The article goes on to mention turtleman's general unpopularity even in red Kentucky.  It mentions other recent polls, and highlights the McConnell campaign's response:  Something to do with George Soros and Obama releasing a fictitious poll.. Though PPP, a Democratic polling firm, was pretty much on track in terms of results in 2012.  But you know, that Soros guy....  That rich billionaire who wants to roll back the minimum wage.... Oh, no...  The billionaires who want to get rid of the minimum wage are Republican billionaires!  I really have no idea why the Republicans don't like Soros other than he is a rich guy who funds populist causes.  Could that be it?        
  
  This Senate race continues to be a race of national importance.
  
  
• South Carolina Senate:  I just love the Tea Party some days; oh, yes, indeedy I do.  Now why would I, a nice liberal girl from a nice blue city in a nice blue state, love the Tea Party?  Because they may make it easier for the Democrats to keep the Senate and even win a few seats that were considered in the "Republican" column here and there.  The Tea Party is noisy, active. and extreme.  And, outside of the Republican party, not very well liked.  And it appears that long-time Republican Senators are attracting Tea Party challengers these days faster than garbage attracts flies.  Lindsay Graham of South Carolina is the latest.
  
  
  Again from Huffington Post:  
  
  
  "Republican Nancy Mace will run for Senate in South Carolina next year, Goose Creek Patch reports.
  Mace, the first female graduate of The Citadel and a tea party favorite, told Patch that she plans to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the 2014 Republican primary. She is set to announce her candidacy at a Saturday breakfast hosted by the Berkeley County Republican Party.
  Graham, who will seek a third term in the Senate, has been targeted by tea party activists who have taken issue with his willingness to compromise with Democratic colleagues on issues like immigration reform. Conservatives also lashed out at Graham for his opposition to Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) March filibuster on the Obama administration's use of drones.
  "Lindsey Graham could be replaced with someone worthy of that seat," FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe said in May. "The way he lashed out against Rand Paul, he's begging for a primary.""
  
  So we'll let Mace push him as far to the right as he can go... and, if she can't beat him in the primary, maybe he will say or do something that will sound so extreme that there will be room somewhere for a Democrat.  But we're talking South Carolina here, so I wouldn't put any money on this, though I wish the good people of South Carolina can prove me wrong.  
          
• Kentucky Senate:  More on Senator Mitch McConnell's Tea Party challenger.. It seems as though good ol' Mitch is getting hit from both sides today, doesn't it?
  
  
  From last week:  Matt Bevin would be more than a pesky distraction:
  
  
  "Bevin is going to be more than a pesky distraction to Sen. McConnell," Rhodebeck said. She said McConnell is "going to have to spend money and time on the primary, and it's clear he'd much rather be attacking Grimes right now."
  (McConnell's campaign manager Jesse) Benton said McConnell "will keep his focus where it belongs: working hard for Kentucky every day." He said the campaign team will have no problem dealing with both Bevin and Grimes.
  
  
  Well, of course that's what McConnell's campaign manager would say.  
  
  
  Meanwhile, this came out Tuesday:  Matt Bevin challenges McConnell to sign a pledge to defund Obamacare:
  
  "Mitch McConnell's rhetoric on defeating Obamacare is nothing but empty promises," (Challenger Matt) Bevin said. "I challenge Mitch McConnell to join me in signing the pledge to defund Obamacare. Instead of playing political games, it's time to stand up for the people of Kentucky."
  Mighty Mitch's campaign manager Benton is pretty quick with the comebacks, and it seems as though he might earn his money this time around:   "When Senator McConnell became the first lawmaker to launch coordinated opposition to Obamacare back in 2009, political opportunist Matt 'Bailout' Bevin was busy racking up tax liens on his business and million dollar New England vacation home," Benton said. "There isn't a single member of Congress who has fought Obamacare harder or longer than Mitch McConnell and he has repeatedly said if he has the opportunity to defund or repeal the law he will not hesitate."
  
  Sigh.  I have no idea how tax liens has anything to do with Affordable Health Care.  And I still don't understand why all of these guys are so anxious to deny millions of people who are counting the days until they can get health care.  Explain that to me, one of you Republicans out there.  

Today's Updates: Wednesday, July 31, 2013

• Arkansas Senate:  "Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) plans to announce a Senate bid next week, challenging incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) in a state that is considered a top pick-up opportunity for Republicans, a source confirmed to POLITICO Wednesday.
  
  
  The freshman congressman, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a star among neoconservatives and could serve as a major counterweight to the more libertarian voices of the Senate, including Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz."  Also, some Senate prognosticators have now moved the Arkansas Senate race from "Safe Democrat" to a toss up.
  
  Read more at Politico.
  
  
  
• Wisconsin:  As far as I know, there are no recent announcements of people challenging notorious Republican Governor Scott Walker for the governor's mansion, but many, many people in Wisconsin continue to be unhappy at the corruption and the autocracy that Walker and his Republican henchmen have brought to Wisconsin, the birth of the early 20th century Progressive movement.
  
  The latest is that the capital police are arresting people for singing while protesting in the capital.  One of those involved, Kimi Ishikawa, posted this note, with historical context, at Facebook.  
   
• Kentucky Senate:   This politcal ad actually brought tears to my eyes.  Alison Lundergan Grimes, the current Democratic Kentucky Secretary of State, is challenging Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, for his Senate seat.  This one will be tough for the Dems to win, and the prognosticators have Kentucky in the "Likely Republican" column.
  
  Watch the ad (and read the story) HERE, and then see what big gun is helping Alison HERE.  

Today's Updates: Monday, July 29, 2013

• Georgia:  We posted the Living Blue in Georgia Facebook page.
• Georgia:  Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former long-time Democratic Senator Sam Nunn, enters the Georgia Senate race for the Democrats, giving some hope to Democrats in Georgia.
• Milkshakes Against the Republican Party (cute name) on Facebook lists the following state movements:
  
  
  "Alright Milkshakes! Don't forget that there are state movements for you to get involved in. From Living Blue in Georgia to Living Blue in Oklahoma and further! Go find your state's page, because you know you wanna. Here are a few other examples:
  Find yours! I command it!
  
  
  Living Blue in North Carolina
  Living Blue in West Virginia
  Living Blue in Idaho
  Living Blue in South Carolina"

Today's Updates: Sunday, July 28, 2013

• Become the GOP's nightmare in 2014: Vote!  Relevant to all of us, but with a special call-out to those in Texas.
• All state stubs are now live; now to add the CONTENT!  (This will take some time.)

Today's Updates: Saturday, July 27, 2013

• In case you missed it, North Carolina has lost all of their extended unemployment benefits.  States are required to follow the federal government's rules to collect extended unemployment benefits on behalf of their people.  The North Carolina state legislature refused to do this by cutting back on unemployment benefits below the level required by the federal government.  About 70,000 people in North Carolina were kicked off of extended unemployment benefits the first week of July.  More HERE.

Become the GOP's Nightmare in 2014: Vote!

Found HERE at Facebook:

Though the following was written regarding Texas, it is true for all red/purple states and red districts: 

"Absolutely! We need to turn it all Blue. Elections have BIG Consequences. Get out the Vote!

We ALL know that ALEC is the root source of most of the insane things going on in our government. Great. WHAT is the solution? Just exactly HOW do "WE the People" fix this? 

1. Become a DVR.

2. Register voters.

3. Educate voters.

4. Motivate voters.

Motivating the apathetic Dem base has traditionally been near impossible.

Historically, the key Demos do not vote during mid-term elections. If this holds true in 2014, we are screwed. We MUST be visible in our communities. We must be a bit of a nuisance, making calls, and follow-up calls. Then follow-up with another reminder call. We have to connect the dots for the voter and make it RELEVANT to his/her life. The apathetic voter must be educated on what "Elections Have Consequences" really means to them personally. No easy task.

Have YOU volunteered with your County Dem Party or local club? Have YOU signed up to volunteer with Battleground Texas? Have YOU become a DVR in your County? If not, what are you waiting for? BGTX is calling on the phone looking for volunteers to help with local voter registration drives.

We who are here on FB, reading this, already know what's up. When I'm speaking with y'all, I'm preaching to the choir. It is incumbent upon each of us reading this message, to take this information off the computer, out your front door, and implement these strategies in your neighborhood and community, where you send your kids to school, where you grocery shop, where you go to work, where you go to church,...where you live and breathe.

This is how WE the People take back control of our country. This is how WE stop ALEC. This is how WE TURN TEXAS BLUE!!! Not in 2016, 2018, or 2020. But 2014!!! YES WE CAN!!! SI SE PUEDE!!! "

Note:  I attempt to find and credit all sources of photos, memes, quotes that I reproduce at this site, but sometimes it is impossible.  If you see a photo, article, or meme that is yours, please contact me and we will either remove the article/photo or credit it to you as you wish.  

Today's Updates: Friday, July 26, 2013

Great 2014 photo meme from Tracy Knauss HERE at Too Informed to Vote Republican:

"Blue is true. Vote Democratic or Pay the Price of the Red Plague." 

And then there is North Carolina:

• Updated July From Living Blue in a Red State on Facebook:

"Darth Vader would approve of the GOP in North Carolina. Image from Living Blue in a Red State.

Posted on Americans Against The Republican Party"

 

See the original HERE.

Today's Updates: Thursday, July 25, 2013

• We added a link to a blog from Michigan with a focus on Michigan state politics; very relevant as Detroit has just declared bankruptcy.
• Facebook had a discussion about gerrymandering in Ohio.  

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• The Cognitive Dissidence blog has great political information about Wisconsin from a progressive perspective.  Check it out!
  
• Added Wednesday, July 30th:  As far as I know, there are no recent announcements of people challenging notorious Republican Governor Scott Walker for the governor's mansion, but many, many people in Wisconsin continue to be unhappy at the corruption and the autocracy that Walker and his Republican henchmen have brought to Wisconsin, the birth of the early 20th century Progressive movement. 
  
  The latest is that the capital police are arresting people for singing while protesting in the capital.  One of those involved, Kimi Ishikawa, posted this note, with historical context, at Facebook.   
  
  

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South Carolina

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• Added August 1, 2013:  South Carolina Senate Tea Party Challenge:  I just love the Tea Party some days; oh, yes, indeedy I do.  Now why would I, a nice liberal girl from a nice blue city in a nice blue state, love the Tea Party?  Because they may make it easier for the Democrats to keep the Senate and even win a few seats that were considered in the "Republican" column here and there.  The Tea Party is noisy, active. and extreme.  And, outside of the Republican party, not very well liked.  And it appears that long-time Republican Senators are attracting Tea Party challengers these days faster than garbage attracts flies.  Lindsay Graham of South Carolina is the latest.
  
  Again from Huffington Post:  
  
  
  
  "Republican Nancy Mace will run for Senate in South Carolina next year, Goose Creek Patch reports.
  Mace, the first female graduate of The Citadel and a tea party favorite, told Patch that she plans to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the 2014 Republican primary. She is set to announce her candidacy at a Saturday breakfast hosted by the Berkeley County Republican Party.
  Graham, who will seek a third term in the Senate, has been targeted by tea party activists who have taken issue with his willingness to compromise with Democratic colleagues on issues like immigration reform. Conservatives also lashed out at Graham for his opposition to Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) March filibuster on the Obama administration's use of drones.
  
  
  "Lindsey Graham could be replaced with someone worthy of that seat," FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe said in May. "The way he lashed out against Rand Paul, he's begging for a primary.""

  
  

  So we'll let Mace push him as far to the right as he can go... and, if she can't beat him in the primary, maybe he will say or do something that will sound so extreme that there will be room somewhere for a Democrat.  But we're talking South Carolina here, so I wouldn't put any money on this, though I wish the good people of South Carolina can prove me wrong.  

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• Added August 1, 2013:  File under "This one will really make you sick":
  
  Scott DesJarlais Fundraising Troubles.  You may recognize the name even if you don't live in Tennessee.  Here's his story in a nutshell from the Huffington Post:
      
  "DesJarlais cruised to reelection in November 2012, defeating Democratic challenger Eric Stewart by nearly a dozen percentage points. Voters looked past the anti-abortion congressman's admission that he engaged in four flings during his divorce, while pressuring one mistress to have an abortion. Less than two weeks after re-election, court transcripts also showed that DesJarlais' wife had two abortions -- one for medical reasons and another on an elective basis.
  By early December, DesJarlais appeared convinced that his scandalous past was in the rear-view mirror, telling a conservative radio show that God had "forgiven" him."
  
  The guy was back in the news today, as he has a PAC and apparently found a Tennessee Congressman (Steve Southerland) who accepted a thousand bucks from that PAC.  Details HERE.

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• Added July 27, 2013; found at Facebook:

Become the GOP's Worst Nightmare: VOTE!

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• Added Wednesday, July 31, 2013:  Living Blue in North Carolina:  Yes, you can.. be Blue in North Carolina, that is.  

So much to add about North Carolina.  Let's just start with this one for now:

• Added July 26, 2013:  From Living Blue in a Red State on Facebook:

"Darth Vader would approve of the GOP in North Carolina. Image from Living Blue in a Red State.

Posted on Americans Against The Republican Party"

See the original HERE.

• In case you missed it, North Carolina has lost all of their extended unemployment benefits.  States are required to follow the federal government's rules to collect extended unemployment benefits on behalf of their people.  The Republican North Carolina state legislature refused to do this by cutting back on unemployment benefits below the level required by the federal government.  About 70,000 people in North Carolina were kicked off of extended unemployment benefits the first week of July.  More HERE. 

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• Update July 25, 2013:  Here's a great blog with political news about the state of Michigan and information on national issues as well:  Electablog: Progressive News and Commentary

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July 14, 2013:  This Facebook Meme found at American Voice of Reason:

Comments and discussion found HERE.

There were about 210,000 more votes cast for Republicans than Democrats in federal House of Representatives races.  Altogether, about 51% of people voted Republican, and 47% voted Democratic. Yet... 75% of the Ohio representatives are Republicans while only 25% are Democrats?

That's the really misrepresentation right there. If you talk about equal representation, something like 9 (vs. 12) of those 16 Representatives should have been Republican with 7 (vs. 4) Democrats.  That's a switch of 25% of the seats. 

In the discussion, someone brought up gerrymandering in New York.  But it really isn't nearly as bad as it was in Ohio.  In New York, about 32% voted Republican, and Republicans have 22% (6) of the New York delegation to the House. About 58% voted for Democrats and the Democrats have 78% (21) of the New York delegation to the House.

If New York's delegation were more representative, the Republicans would have about 9 seats (vs. 6) and the Democrats would have about 18 (vs. 21).  That's a switch of about 11% of the seats.

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• (Pinned) Added Wednesday, July 31, 2013:  True Blue Party - Kentucky:  
  "Unite, Educate, Take Action-
  Dynamic Democratic Core Values:
  
  
  We strive to unite all liberals, independents, and like-minded individuals in Kentucky. We work to educate the voter on local issues and politics through media and groundwork. We educate the voter. We work to help turn or keep Kentucky Blue, with True Blue candidates that will support laws that better the human condition, by working on the ground and through any media we can. 
  
  
  We are a grassroots roots movement of people uniting, educating, and taking action. We bring our voices in solidarity to speak for those who cannot be heard."
  
  
  
• (Pinned) Added Wednesday, July 31, 2013:  Living Blue in Kentucky:  Yes, you can.. be Blue in Kentucky, that is.



• Added August 1, 2013:  Hmm... Yesterday the pollsters had the Kentucky Senate race as "Likely Republican" as it seemed that current Senate minority leader had a firm grip on his seat in red Kentucky.  But today, not so.  Reported at Huffington Post:
  
  
  "New poll numbers released on Thursday hold troubling signs for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
  
  
  According to the survey -- conducted by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling on behalf of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America -- Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky's Democratic secretary of state who officially entered the race on Tuesday, leads the longtime senator by one point, with 45 percent to McConnell's 44 percent. While her lead is within the margin of error, the poll also underscored some broader issues that McConnell is likely to face as he campaigns for a sixth term."  The article goes on to mention turtleman's general unpopularity even in red Kentucky.  It mentions other recent polls, and highlights the McConnell campaign's response:  Something to do with George Soros and Obama releasing a fictitious poll.. Though PPP, a Democratic polling firm, was pretty much on track in terms of results in 2012.  But you know, that Soros guy....  That rich billionaire who wants to roll back the minimum wage.... Oh, no...  The billionaires who want to get rid of the minimum wage are Republican billionaires!  I really have no idea why the Republicans don't like Soros other than he is a rich guy who funds populist causes.  Could that be it?        
  
  This Senate contest continues to be a race of national importance. 
        
• Added August 1, 2013:  More on Senator Mitch McConnell's Tea Party challenger.. It seems as though good ol' Mitch is getting hit from both sides today, doesn't it?
  
  
  From last week:  Matt Bevin would be more than a pesky distraction:
  
  
  "Bevin is going to be more than a pesky distraction to Sen. McConnell," Rhodebeck said. She said McConnell is "going to have to spend money and time on the primary, and it's clear he'd much rather be attacking Grimes right now."
  (McConnell's campaign manager Jesse) Benton said McConnell "will keep his focus where it belongs: working hard for Kentucky every day." He said the campaign team will have no problem dealing with both Bevin and Grimes.
  
  
  Well, of course that's what McConnell's campaign manager would say.  
  
  
  Meanwhile, this came out Tuesday:  Matt Bevin challenges McConnell to sign a pledge to defund Obamacare:
  
  "Mitch McConnell's rhetoric on defeating Obamacare is nothing but empty promises," (Challenger Matt) Bevin said. "I challenge Mitch McConnell to join me in signing the pledge to defund Obamacare. Instead of playing political games, it's time to stand up for the people of Kentucky."
  Mighty Mitch's campaign manager Benton is pretty quick with the comebacks, and it seems as though he might earn his money this time around:   "When Senator McConnell became the first lawmaker to launch coordinated opposition to Obamacare back in 2009, political opportunist Matt 'Bailout' Bevin was busy racking up tax liens on his business and million dollar New England vacation home," Benton said. "There isn't a single member of Congress who has fought Obamacare harder or longer than Mitch McConnell and he has repeatedly said if he has the opportunity to defund or repeal the law he will not hesitate."
  
  Sigh.  I have no idea how tax liens has anything to do with Affordable Health Care.  And I still don't understand why all of these guys are so anxious to deny millions of people who are counting the days until they can get health care.  Explain that to me, one of you Republicans out there.
  
  
• Added Wednesday, July 31, 2013:  This political ad actually brought tears to my eyes. Alison Lundergan Grimes, the current Kentucky Secretary of State and a Democrat, is challenging Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, for his Senate seat.  This one will be tough for the Democrats to win, and the prognosticators have Kentucky in the "Likely Republican" column.  She'll need national help to pull this one out. 
  Watch the tearjerker ad (and read the story) HERE, and then see what big gun is helping Alison HERE.
  
• Added Monday, July 29, 2013:  Mitch McConnell Gets a Tea Party Challenger