Can A Democrat Displace Reactionary Republican
Villain Patrick McHenry In A Deep Red North Carolina District

post from DownWithTyranny! on 15 September 2008 11:00:00 AM. © DownWithTyranny!

One year ago to the day (well... to yesterday), in an update of a post about how the Republican Party had changed into something unrecognizable on the American political landscape, we promised to keep you updated on a fresh new face in North Carolina politics. Meet Daniel Johnson, the Democratic war hero who is running for Congress against the most reactionary and dishonest member of the North Carolina delegation, Patrick McHenry. During that time DWT has run over a dozen posts on Patrick McHenry, on everything from his abysmal anti-family voting record to his extremism to his disrespect for American soldiers to his alleged involvement in a gay prostitution ring and triple murder.

But we haven't done much on Daniel, who, we were happy to see, was added to the DCCC's Red to Blue list last week. Daniel is a decorated military veteran from Hickory, N.C. who learned right from wrong as the son of a minister and a public school teacher. He lost both legs below the knee while risking his life to save a fellow serviceman, and received the Navy's highest peacetime medal for heroism. After recovering at Walter Reed, Daniel worked for U.S. Senator Max Cleland on military and veterans issues. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill's highly regarded law school, Daniel has been working for North Carolina as an effective prosecutor. We asked him to introduce himself to DWT readers on a topic he thought might be relevant today. I hope you can guess the subject. Daniel Johnson:

One of the reasons that I am running for Congress is because the economic trends of the past ten to fifteen years-- from unfair trade deals to the rising cost of food and fuel to the increasing unavailability of healthcare-- has stacked up against the working families of Western North Carolina. The implosion of big banks like this will make it even more difficult for the people of our district to get the funding to expand their small businesses or buy their first homes. The financial meltdown that played out today shows the great damage done politicians like Congressman Patrick McHenry who abdicated their responsibility to crackdown on abuses in the housing market. While the subprime crisis was caused by the actions of irresponsible lenders and irresponsible borrowers, failure to act to stabilize the housing market affects all homeowners and drags down the entire economy.

Time and time again, McHenry, who has accepted campaign contributions from subprime mortgage lenders like Countrywide, has taken the side of big Wall Street banks over the families of Western North Carolina. McHenry, who sits on the Financial Services committee, not only didn?t lift a finger to take action before problems in the mortgage industry rose to crisis level, for years he advocated for subprime lenders. In an October 27, 2005 op-ed in the Charlotte Observer, McHenry praised the subprime industry and argued against ?burdensome regulations? on such lenders. Most recently, McHenry voted against a comprehensive, bipartisan response to the current mortgage crisis that would have empowered more families to stay in their homes and prevent further disclosures (American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act [HR 3221]).

For most Western North Carolina families, their most important asset is their home, and we need a leader in Washington who represents homeowners, not subprime lenders. In Congress, I will advocate for increased consumer protections and for responsible and reasonable oversight of the mortgage industry. I will fight for additional deductions for property taxes for middle class Americans, and for an increase to the VA home loan limit so that returning veterans can realize the dream of home ownership. Western North Carolina?s families can?t afford another two years of Congressman McHenry.

And neither can the rest of America. There is literally no worse member of Congress than Patrick McHenry, a disgrace to his office. If you are so moved to lend a hand to a genuine American hero, who needs to get out a message of hope and change against a deluge of corporate bribes that are flooding into McHenry's campaign accounts, here's Daniel's contribution page. McHenry has already spent nearly a million dollars on the race and as of June 30 had nearly half a million on had. So far Daniel has raised $341,942, almost entirely from small donors, while McHenry's biggest "contributors" are from the Real Estate Industry, the insurance industry and commercial banks, all the industries that have done so much to wreck the economy for ordinary folks by buying off political hacks like McHenry with bribes disguised as donations. He has served them well-- voting against every single regulation meant to protect workers and consumers from the unbalanced and unbridled excess of corporate power.

Let me leave you with one last thought while you decide whether or not to donate-- even $5 or $10-- to Daniel's campaign: Since being elected to Congress in 2004, McHenry has accepted $26,000 in "contributions" from Big Oil. Since then he has voted for every single thing Big Oil has wanted and against every single reform and every single alternative energy bill Big Oil has opposed.

Read The Full Article:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/09/can-democrat-displace-reactionary.htm
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As Wall Street collapses, McCain declares that
‘the fundamentals of our economy are strong.’

post from Think Progress on 15 September 2008 11:00:00 AM. © Think Progress

Speaking in Florida this morning — the very day that two of Wall Street’s major banking institutions collapsed — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared he “still” believes “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” Watch it:

video details and more

Though McCain noted that “these are very, very difficult times,” he seemed oblivious to today’s evidence of the crumbling foundations of the economy, with the Dow Jones industrial average dropping 300 points in the first 15 minutes of trading this morning. Yesterday, former Fed chief Alan Greenspan said this economy is the worst he has ever seen. (HT: Ben Smith)

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Read The Full Article:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/15/as-wall-street-collapses-mccain-declares-that
-the-funamentals-of-our-economy-are-strong/

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As Wall Street collapses, McCain declares that
‘the funamentals of our economy are strong.’

post from Think Progress on 15 September 2008 11:00:00 AM. © Think Progress

Read The Full Article:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/15/as-wall-street-collapses-mccain-declares-that
-the-funamentals-of-our-economy-are-strong/

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OBAMA ON THE CRISIS.

post from Ezra Klein on 15 September 2008 10:58:00 AM. © Ezra Klein

This morning, I heard Obama's statement on the financial crisis read out on CNBC:This country can't afford another four years of this failed philosophy. For years, I have consistently called for modernizing the rules of the road to suit a 21st century[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=09&year=2008&base_name
=obama_on_the_crisis

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The Best Obama Ad Yet!!!!

post from TPMCafe on 15 September 2008 10:52:00 AM. © TPMCafe

This is precisely the content and tone we need.

I think the campaign really gets it!

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tpmcafe-main/~3/gZBfR7x-D_M/

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The Economy Keeps on Tanking

post from TalkLeft on 15 September 2008 10:46:00 AM. © TalkLeft

Even someone with as little knowledge of stocks and big business as I have knows that this is another failure of the Bush Administration's economic policies.

Can anyone explain for those of us who are economically challenged what this means to our day to day lives and pocketbooks?

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkleftThePoliticsOfCrime/~3/392957367/8197

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Hard to imagine, but true...

post from DemConWatch on 15 September 2008 10:45:00 AM. © DemConWatch

If you've been reading DCW for a while, you've heard the name "Vito Fossella". You've read about the NY-13th. You might have thought that "Vito Fossella" and "NY-13th" would never be in the same sentence again.

I wish I were making this up...

Four months after a DWI arrest and revelations about an out-of-wedlock child forced him to forgo a run for reelection this fall, the shamefaced Staten Island Republican is looking for a way back on the ballot.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/09/hard-to-imagine-but-true.html

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Today in Congress/Open Thread

post from Daily Kos on 15 September 2008 10:35:08 AM. © Daily Kos

In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

House meets at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour; 2:00 p.m. for Legislative Business
Unlimited "One Minutes" Per Side
Last Vote Predicted: 7:00 p.m.

Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (23 Bills):
1) H.R. 5350 - To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to sell or exchange certain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration property located in Norfolk, Virginia, and for other purposes (Rep. Scott (VA) – Natural Resources)
2) H.R. 3437 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the Jackson Gulch rehabilitation project in the State of Colorado (Rep. Salazar – Natural Resources)
3) H.R. 2535 - To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility and suitability of constructing a storage reservoir, outlet works, and a delivery system for the Tule River Indian Tribe of California to provide a water supply for domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes, and for other purposes (Rep. Nunes – Natural Resources)
4) H.R. 5293 - To approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation in Nevada, to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the settlement, and for other purposes (Rep. Heller – Natural Resources)
5) H.Res. 1200 - Honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families (Rep. Sutton – Armed Services)
6) H.Res. 1255 - Honoring Toby Keith's commitment to members of the Armed Forces (Rep. Cole – Armed Services)
7) H.Con.Res. 390 - Honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States (Rep. Carney – Armed Services)
8) H.Res. 1335 – Celebrating the 120-year partnership between Government and State veterans homes (Rep. Hodes – Veterans’ Affairs)
9) S. 2339 - Lt. Col. Clement C. Van Wagoner VA Clinic (Sen. Stabenow – Veterans’ Affairs)
10) H.R. 5376 - To extend the temporary suspension of duty on Thymol (Rep. Brown (SC) – Veterans’ Affairs)
11) H.R. 1594 - To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic (Rep. English – Veterans’ Affairs)
12) H.R. 5938 - Former Vice President Protection Act/Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act (Rep. Conyers - Judiciary)
13) H.R. 6064 - National Silver Alert Act (Rep. Doggett – Judiciary)
14) H.R. 6503 - Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program Reauthorization of 2008 (Rep. Waters – Judiciary)
15) H.R. 2352 - School Safety Enhancements Act of 2007 (Rep. Rothman - Judiciary)
16) H.R. 6855 - To extend the authority for the United States Supreme Court Police to protect court officials off the Supreme Court grounds, and for other purposes (Rep. Lamar Smith (TX) - Judiciary)
17) H.Con.Res. 410 - Recognizing the FBI’s 100th Anniversary (Rep. Gohmert - Judiciary)
18) H.Res. 1425 - Honoring the life and music of the late Isaac Hayes (Rep. Blackburn – Judiciary)
19) H.R. 5167 - Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act (Rep. Braley – Judiciary)
20) H.Con.Res. __ - Celebrating 75 years of effective State-based alcohol regulation and recognizing State lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement officers, the public health community and industry members for creating a workable, legal, and successful system of alcoholic beverage regulation, distribution, and sale (Rep. Coble - Judiciary)
21) H.R. _ – To extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to ensure continued access to federal student loans, for one-year (Rep. George Miller (CA) – Education and Labor)
22) H.R. _ – To extend the waiver authority for the Secretary of Education under section 105 of subtitle A of title IV of division B of Public Law 109–148, relating to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief (Rep. Melancon – Education and Labor)
23) H.Res. 1372 – Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and recognizing the partnership between the City of Omaha, its citizens, and the University to build a vibrant and dynamic community (Rep. Terry – Education and Labor)
Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.

Motions to go to Conference should they become available.

Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.

In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

Convenes: 3:00pm

Resume consideration of S.3001, Defense Authorization Act.

4:00pm filing deadline for first degree amendments.

Votes:
There will be no roll call votes on Monday, September 15.

Another Monday holding pattern. Twenty-three suspensions, with another twenty-one (so far) pending for the balance of the week. In the Senate, they're still working on the Defense authorization bill, and get this: there are more than 200 amendments pending. Amazingly, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), the Armed Services Committee chair, says it's his intention to finish up and have a vote on Tuesday. And that's with no votes scheduled tomorrow. That ought to be... interesting. In the meantime, if things don't work out on all those amendments, Harry Reid filed a cloture motion last Friday, which could come to a vote on Tuesday. Levin hopes to avoid having to go to a vote on cloture. We'll see.

There's an interesting fight still looming on the bill over -- what else? -- earmarks. You may recall the executive order issued by Bush earlier this year, directing federal agencies to ignore earmarks made in the committee reports that accompany authorization and appropriations bills (and indeed all bills). Earmarks typically are written into the report language and not directly into the bills themselves. That gives the necessary wiggle room to ignore them, since the committee reports aren't actually part of the legislation passed.

The response of the Senate Defense authorizers? Put language in the bill that deems the report's list to be a part of the bill. The looming fight? An amendment to strike that language from the bill. Levin says he'll block a vote on that amendment, but Bush says he'll veto any bill that keeps that language in.

Sounds like fun.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/iLZzfSpaYsM/78876

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Barbara's Daily BuzzFlash Minute for September
15, 2008

post from BuzzFlash.org - Progressive News and Commentary with an Attitude | Fight Ignorance: Read BuzzFlash on 15 September 2008 10:33:08 AM. © BuzzFlash.org - Progressive News and Commentary with an Attitude | Fight Ignorance: Read BuzzFlash

BARBARA'S DAILY BUZZFLASH MINUTE

If indeed one believes as I believe, ?Honor equals Honesty? then John McCain is NOT an ?honorable? man! If indeed he would rather be dishonest and run a dishonest campaign than lose an election, then John McCain is NOT an ?honorable? man, if indeed his ?country comes first?, then John McCain would not have picked an inexperienced part time former mayor and part time governor, full time ?cocky wacko? to be his ?heart-beat away from the presidency? as his running mate in this presidential election cycle, John McCain is NOT an ?honorable? man!!!

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