Go to : http://www.ourcampaigns.com/... and read the revolting thread. Read the disdain, the arrogance, and the downright ignorant prattle that oozes forth in these posts like puss from a sore. These are people who do not know me and yet they type posts putting me down and talking about me like I am subhuman.

This has also gone into politics on a much larger level. Charges fly back and forth like mud so much that we no longer hear the good for our ears are caked with the mud.

And we wonder why Good People don't want to run for office.

We can win Alabama if we recruit a strong enough Democrat. But the deadline is April 4th. We need to encourage Jim Folsom, Jr., and the DSCC as well to encourage them to recruit Folsom.

You can contact the DSCC at : http://www.dscc.org/...

You can contact Lt. Governor Folsom at : http://www.ltgov.alabama.gov/...

In places like Idaho, Nebraska, Alaska, Kansas, and even Mississippi, that have in the past been Republican strongholds, the Democratic Party has successfully recruited strong and progressive Democratic candidates who have better than just even odds of winning Republican Senate seats. But we need to try to increase our majority to 60+ seats to produce a Veto-proof Senate.

Think about it, whomever is President, there will be a Veto proof Senate that can withdraw our troops from Iraq, pass the Human Rights Amendment, get Universal Health Care, etc. In the realm of probability the chances are much greater with a Veto-Proof Senate.

In Alabama there is a chance to defeat a Rubber Stamp Republican, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, but it will take someone more well-known and financially secure than State Senator Vivian Figures. Also theres a progressive Democrat in office who could raise the money to be competitive, who has already shown a desire to serve in the U.S. Senate, and who has an elective office history that gives him a well-known name and a positive reaction to his record - Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.

Some may think this is about wealthy Democrats or wealthy Democratic candidates. Rather this is about (7) individuals I have selected, who are Diamonds in the Rough, as it were but whose elections could signify great change in Congress.

As a former statewide candidate for Lt. Governor of Arkansas as well as recently seeing my brother with an excellent resume' but frustration at the inability to raise the funds to compete with a Rubber Stamp Republican, I understand the frustrations of fundraising.

In fact, I marched with Granny D, the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Congressman Rush Holt, and other in D.C. as well as walked with Ms. Doris Haddock in three states during her push for Campaign Finance Reform. In fact, Ms. Haddock learned firsthand the frustration of the system when she stepped in and ran for U.S. Senate in 2004.

Not since I read of the Dirty Tricks Department of Richard Nixon's Administration have I considered this exists in politics today. But what is disturbing is that Governor Eliot Spitzer (D-N.Y.) has become the latest target of a Republican inspired Coup D'Etat.

First consider the fact that in Republican philosophy advanced since their much vaunted "1994 Revolution" that there was a move to return more power to the states. Ever since the 1960's and the press for Civil Rights, the Republicans have shamefully used code words like "State's Rights" and "Local Authority" and other words that are against a more inclusive society. Is it any accident that Ronald Reagan went to Neshoba County, Mississippi in 1980 to reemphasize his commitment to "State's Rights". The same area where civil rights advocates and more importantly college kids were savagely murdered in the 1960's? Wouldn't there be an outcry if a candidate for President stood in Dealy Plaza, in Dallas, Texas, or the lobby of the old Ambassodor Hotel in Los Angeles, California and reemphasized their commitment to the 2nd Amendment?

I will be the first to say I have been guilty of laying it on thick. But I am facing the same reality many of us should be facing. We cannot take it for granted that we are going to defeat John McCain in the fall.

Too many people said George W. Bush could never be elected eight years ago. Regardless of the manner, it happened, sadly for our nation. Too many more people, said George W. Bush could never be reelected, four years ago. Many of us worked hard day and night. In the end, regardless of the nuances of why, Bush was reelected.

We, those of us who care for our nation, CANNOT allow our nation to endure four more years of the Republican Administration. The language and interplay back and forth in the past weeks has sent up a dangerous signal.

Okay this is a big night for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), no matter how you look at it, and most of all she has shown she is a Democrat who can win in states we need to win, to recapture the White House in the fall. Outspent 2-1 in Ohio & 3-1 in Texas by Senator Barack Obama, Senator Clinton won the popular vote. In Ohio and Texas, unions that came out and endorsed Obama including the very critical S.E.I.U., Senator Clinton fought back and won.

When Senator Clinton won, I noticed she thanked those who worked for her, and helped her win. When Senator Obama conceded, he dared to compare Senator Clinton to Senator McCain. Talk about not being able to walk the walk after talking the talk. We do not need to alienate anyone. We are Democrats and we are even more important AMERICANS and we need to work together to beat Senator McCain.

There was the movie recently about the Marshall University and it's recovery after the disastrous plane crash that killed it's football team, coaching staff, etc. West Virginia is my birth state and where my paternal ancestors first arrived and settled in the Colony of Virginia in 1648.

The movie was inspiring because it showed how a community recovered after a blow. The famous chant was....WE ARE....MARSHALL! Well I want to say this evening, regardless of how it goes, regardless of who wins, WE ARE AMERICA once more. For you see, I am seeing that people are fighting for democracy once more. People are turning out and debating issues, not personalities and not the society imposed labels, and the direction we want our nation to go in the coming years. And on top of it, the choices we have to choose for President rests in the hands of either A qualified Woman, who is a two-term United States Senator from a northern state, former First Lady of a southern state, and a former First Lady of our country or A qualified African-American man, who is a United States Senator from Illinois but who has ties to Kansas & Hawai'i, an inspirational speaker who inspires hope, and is an accomplished author.

Regardless of who wins the Democratic Presidential Nomination we will need a stellar, one-two punch ticket, to win in the fall.

I want to advance here for consideration and to build public support to name to the ticket, former General Wesley K. Clark for Vice President. After all, with the issue of Iraq and with a former Vietnam P.O.W. seemingly the apparent Republican Presidential nominee, what is a better counter balance as well as someone who is appealing in so many ways.

I want to make this clear that I am still a Hillary Clinton supporter and believe solidly she is a great choice for President. However, I decided since I was on two Delta flights yesterday to buy Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope. Hearing the clamour of many on this blog about Obama, I feel should Obama become the nominee....and that STILL is a BIG IF my fellow Kossacks....well I wanted to know Barack Obama.

Not that I want to sound like George W. Bush but I will borrow one of his lines and say after reading this book, I feel as if I have looked into his eyes, and seen his soul, and Barack Obama....I believe Barack Obama has a vision that is challenging, hopeful, and inspirational.

I found myself in near tears as I read the passage about first the lesbian mother who called him and from that phone call he was willing to listen and change his views humbly on gay marriage. I laughed in understanding about what he says about Alan Keyes, because I believe we all on face value hate someone who claims a title like Christian but cares more about an obscure verse in Romans to define a faith over say the teachings of Christ himself, like the Sermon on the Mount. I also see a man who understands, has a capacity to care, and truly will try to bring social, as well as political and economical change, to our nation.

I must confess the reaction on this blog in the last few days by the diehard Obama Supporters has not encouraged me. If anything it's heightened my fear to what will happen to Democrats in 2008, regardless of who is the nominee, and the repercussions of this race.

First of all, if we disagree with someone, then lets disagree on issues of merit. Lets discuss policy and I am one to admit at times my posts have been those sometimes of irrational fears, but largely this is my diary, and its what I believe and feel at the time. However, the response has been overwhelmingly negative. So since one Obamanite says I am a mirror of the typical Clinton supporter, I am firing back this question, are you the typical Obama supporter? I hope not and ask where is your hope?

Yes, I understand being fully supportive of a candidate. I have schlepped to many a door for many a Democrat. I have argued the merits of a progressive agenda when it wasn't popular. I have given money when it could have been a movie that weekend for me to another candidate. I have paid my dues as it were, aside from just voting, but being actively invested in the Democratic Party and it's nominees.

This is not the first time we have seen the supporters of a candidate all fired up in the primaries. But as the leaves turn golden and red, cooled by the October winds, into November so does the fervor of the supporters. By the time Election Day rolls around, the candidate falls short, and theres an apologetic round stretching for up to a decade afterwards of what went wrong.

George McGovern in 1972....Walter Mondale in 1984....Michael Dukakis in 1988....Al Gore, Jr. in 2000 and John Kerry last time in 2004. All of these are good men who would have made great Presidents. All of these men eventually were or will be vindicated by history. All of these men LOST.

If McGovernites had reached out to Hubert Humphrey and Scoop Jackson's people in 1972. If Mondale had reached out more to Jesse Jackson and Gary Hart. Etc....the apologetics come out. The fact is these guys lost and their supporters contributed to that loss.

Since there are some on here holding Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton nfor one vote lets talk about Senator Barack Obama's record. Because aside from the voting PRESENT on key issues while a member of the Illinois State Senate, as a member of the U.S. Senate, he has ducked responsibility again.

In 1988, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Ma.) who endorsed Obama asked, "WHERE WAS GEORGE?" Well the refrain in 2008 should be, "WHERE WAS BARACK?" No, this is not a smear but a matter of public record.

The source of this information is the Washington Post and can be found at : http://projects.washingtonpost.com/...

As this campaign has boiled down to two unique and accomplished individuals, we who are progressive, are very lucky. We have a choice between an African-American U.S. Senator who opposed the Iraqi War and who inspires people or an accomplished female U.S. Senator with a record of achievement who has been able to forge a coalition to get results. But the most important thing in all this hysteria that is being drummed up is to ask ourselves....do we want to celebrate a win now with Barack Obama or do we want to win in the fall with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

People complain because they cannot get the government they seek. But the fact is in society because of liars and thieves we are slowly losing the battle for true representative democracy.

For whatever neurosis people possess I have run into those, demonstrated even in my last Diary Entry, by those who are armed with nothing more than a lie or a rumour seek to attack and discredit someone they don't know. They do not back up their comments with facts. They cite rumours and gossip or whatever someone said and fan the flames of the lie. Yet do they even take the time to consider the damage they cause or even care?

The thieves meanwhile continue to take from our country and are reelected.

I am going to suggest something unusual but then again I have never been known for the norm. I might end up running for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District in Arkansas. But I need your help if I am to do this in the first place.

In 2005 and into 2006, I mounted a bid for Lt. Governor. In my campaign I talked about an Education Lottery, the need to abolish the Death Penalty, the need to pass Meghan's Law to protect against predators; Raise the Minimum Wage, and the need to pass a comprehensive Collective Bargaining legislation to reverse the effects of Right to Work in our state. In the end, I didn't file, because I had mainly self-filed. I swore then, I would not make another major race, unless I had adequate funds to compete. Recently, my brother considered a bid. But my brother is in Iraq and conceivably it could be June before he's home. While he hasn't made a firm decision one way or the other, I believe he may not run.

I believe we need to be out of Iraq. I believe we need to move to an alternative fuel-based economy in the next decade. Most of all, I believe we should allow workers to organize and have collective bargaining. So if my brother doesn't run, I may run, but here's the thing. I have to raise $8K between now and March 10th to qualify to have my name on the ballot.

Democracy for America has begun another round of Grassroots All-Star Challenge. DFA endorses candidates at all level of office from School Board to the Presidency. A DFA-List endorsement brings our national network of activists together, providing key resources to the endorsed campaign: Time, People, Money and Media.

Outside of our traditional endorsement process, each year DFA offers a high visibility fast-track endorsement process for all candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives called the DFA Grassroots All-Star contest. The competition decides who receives a DFA endorsement and the title of DFA Grassroots All-Star.

Imagine to my amazement that the Arkansas GOP Right Wing is scared of my criticisms of John Boozman. Being obviously ignorant of how Daily Kos works they now have tried to insinuate that Daily KOS and I are somehow in some great conspiracy to defeat Boozman.

Well guess what....I do want to see Boozman defeated. And yes, I hope DailyKOS ends up supporting my brother. But unlike some right wingers who do participate in these clandestine efforts, Daily KOS is part of democracy. It is a resource where citizens, not the special interests, can come together and speak honestly and without agendas.

Read http://arkansasgopwing.blogspot.com/...