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Senator Evan Bayh is not seeking re - election along with other top Senatorial Democrats such as Chris Dodd. However, Evan Bayh was the first candidate to come to northern New Hampshire. As well he has his family's name and has a three million dollar war chest. Bayh is quoted as saying that
"Congress is not operating as it should," Bayh said at a news conference in Indianapolis, adding there's too much partisanship and "the people's business is not getting done."
CNN quotes Bayh as saying...
"I'm an executive at heart," Bayh said. "I value my independence. I'm not motivated by strident partisanship or ideology. These traits may be useful in many walks of life, but they are not highly valued in Congress."
A source noted that Bayh is unclear about what his next step might be but said he would entertain the idea of becoming a university president, running a private business or heading up a charitable endeavor.
Another source added that Bayh could consider another bid for Indiana governor.
Bayh maybe trying to shore up the vital Central United States voting block of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois by trying to run for Governor again.
Bayh, a centrist Democrat, reportedly was considered a possible running mate for Obama in 2008.
Also since Bayh was a possibility on the Short List of Vice Presidential candidates he has already established a base of support throughout the central United States as well as a possible base in early Caucus and Primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. Bayh also has his Father's good name and popularity in the Central United Sates to boost his possible popularity. With Bayh not seeking re - election he could establish support bases throughout other important primary states such as South Carolina. Bayh could also expand his war chest and add more credibility to his name as a President of a University. I have a feeling we will be seeing Evan Bayh in New Hampshire again if not in 2012 definitely 2015. Bayh would be 57 and 60 years old respectively if he decides to run in 2012 or 2015. If Bayh waits until 2015 he would have the endorsement of another Central United States Elite: President Obama, if Hillary decides not to run. This is a good way to put out the feelers of a Presidential Committee avoid the major Health Care Debate, avoid Dont Ask, Dont Tell, and be able to take the view point of a Washington outsider while the economy fluctuates.
Consider this an open thread for State of the Union Watch Parties.
Manchester Watch Party:
Co-hosted by Drinking Liberally Manchester and NH Change That Works
When: Wednesday, January 27 from 8:00-9:00 PM
Where: A Caribbean Affair, 915 Elm Street (next to Shaskeen)
RSVP: Facebook
This, at least to me has become increasingly evident. There's been an upswing of threats, a surge in right wing fringe groups and white supremacist groups since Obama took office. dlh77489 had a diary calling for more money for the Secret Service. FishOutofWater discussed the number of threats. The Republican party has become both complacent and an instigator of violent rhetoric in an attempt to remain significant.
There was a lot of talk that Bobby Jindal was the Next Big Thing in GOP national politics. Then someone slips him a micky before his big coming out speech, he comes across like a condescending zombie and his campaign boat sinks before it ever leaves the dock.
There are whispers that Sen. Ensign is testing the presidential waters. He gets caught in a ridiculous sex-with-married-staffer scandal, and now he is permanently high-and-dry.
As you know there are tremendous victories to report up and down the ballot.
Time to get right to work to ensure that President-elect Barack Obama and the incoming members of the new Congress tackle the pressing environmental issues facing our state and the nation.
But first, here's an opportunity to congratulate the candidates who won and applaud their commitment to the environment.
Environment New Hampshire, as part of Environment America, endorsed 29 candidates for Congress and Sen. Barack Obama for president. We're excited to announce that, so far, 25 environmental champions were victorious on Election Day -- including Jeanne Shaheen for U.S. Senate and Reps. Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter for Congress -- giving us an enormous head start on our agenda for 2009. (The other four races are still too close to call.)
Join us in sending them a note of congratulations for their Election Day victory and to applaud their environmental leadership.
From curbing global warming to repowering America with clean, renewable energy to preserving our threatened wild places, the politicians we elected yesterday will help define the legacy that we leave for our children and future generations of Americans.
Together we've done our part during this historic election. Over the last few months, staff and volunteers have been knocking on doors, making phone calls, sharing e-mails and Web videos and distributing important education materials to tens of thousands of undecided voters about the pressing environmental issues facing the nation -- and the candidates that will tackle those issues.
Meet Chet Edwards, US Congressman from the TX 17th district which includes Crawford, TX.
I taped his remarks to a crowd at the VFW post in Manchester just last Sunday.
He was stumping in NH with Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and the focus of the day was vet issues.
Edwards is extremely knowledgeable on Vet issues and a tireless champion for their interests, our interests, in the Congress.
The two have become fast friends in DC as Congressman Edwards, Carol's new BFF down there, is the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and VA (MILCON/VA) and she's trying to get either a full service VA hospital in NH which is currently the only state in the country without one or equivalent care in communities for the state's 130K plus vet residents.
The bus was late, but the show was sweet - bittersweet. John Edwards closed out his NH campaign in Dover last night to a rapt audience.
Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and James Denton were there. The whole Edwards family was there. The entire campaign family was there. The family of labor showed up in full solidarity for John Edwards. The enthusiastic family of environmental activists represented by Friends of the Earth was there.
But another family came to the Elk's Lodge in Dover tonight to support John Edwards at his final campaign event in NH.
The family of Nataline Sarkysian, a beloved daughter and sister, a friend and a young teenager so full of hope and potential, an American no longer on this earth for the sake of a few dollars more on the bottom line, that family was there tonight in Dover. The Sarkysian Family was there to raise their voices in protest during their time of intense grief to remind us that pernicious influence of corporations is not just the ultimate boogeyman out there in the political landscape today. No, the story of Nataline is a story about the human costs of the system we live under today in this country.
With less than 24 hours left before the first in the nation New Hampshire primary, voters are getting a "glimpse behind the curtain" of what the candidates would be like as President.
Beyond all of the stagecraft and theatre that goes into every campaign, there have been some critical moments, where voters were given a glimpse behind the curtain as to "which ones are politicians and which ones are leaders" (Elizabeth Edwards).
John Edwards made the case of a clear choice in the following morning of his 2nd place showing in the Iowa Caucuses on NBC with Meredith Vieira on the Today Show.
The choice between a symbolic change with a new Senator that conducts business as normal, or with the candidate that provides the hope and has the issues for the entire country and building up the Middle Class, the heart and soul of our country, again.
This will be the final installment of my "Obama: The Only Thing You Need to Know" series, which will also be my "closing argument". For what it's worth, I've been for an Obama presidency since 2004.
To me, it didn't matter when, or where, or how it happened. When you see a brilliant, inspiring man with real integrity and progressive ideals have a shot at the Presidency, it is my belief that you jump in head first and do everything you possibly can to make him the next President of the United States.
But where did this man come from? I was determined to find out..
I have been asking myself that question for the past few months as I have watched them pile up from the likes of unions, state reps, bloggers, and, more recently, newspapers. With elected officials and unions I have always held the suspicion that favors, money and ambition were too prominently involved not to cloud the judgment of the decision-maker. With bloggers, the potential of truth is higher, but so is the potential for ill-founded contrarianism. With newspapers, who gives a shit because they are either small potatoes or else the wretched elite media. In some instances, they are misguidedly both.
So ever since I made the decision to stand up on a podium of truth and narcissism by officially endorsing a candidate, I have been thinking of how I might at least make my bullshit as pure as possible. For better or worse I felt that a spreadsheet might do the trick, maybe mix things up in my own mind, get over my biases and superficial nit-picking, and maybe even allow a dark horse candidate to win from the depths of my consciousness.
That led to the following creation: a matrix of candidates, issues that I think are the most important for the future of the country, and characteristics that I believe are important in a President. Those qualities are as follows, with their value in parentheses.
Vision for the Future (5), Iraq War (10), Environment (5), Energy (5), Poverty (10), Health Care (5), Leadership Ability (10), "Presidentiality" (10), "Constitutionality" (5), "Intangibles" (5), Guts (5), Ethics (5), Personality (5), Pander Factor (-5), Baggage (-5)
Best Possible Score = 85 Worst Possible Score = -10
The methodology basically consisted of poring over my notes from six months on the campaign trail, recalling the best of times and worst of times, and checking in with the issues pages on the candidates' websites to make sure I wasn't wildly mistaken. But I should admit that, first and foremost, the above scores come from primary documents. I am, after all, a historian of sorts. My belief is that a candidate, in the heat of the moment, reverts back to the things that are on their mind which are, as a result, the things that will be on their mind in the Oval Office. If a candidate is too polished to revert back to things that are on his mind, then he is a piece of shit and deserves neither my time nor my endorsement.
Obviously, there are biases built into my endorsement formula, but I am flying them high for all to see. I think poverty and environmental issues are huge in this country, as well as ending the Iraq War. I also believe that a President is, in many ways, a figurehead at worst and an agenda setter at best whose chief job is to motivate people, speak well, and make good judgments. Having a 1,000 page health care plan is less important than having a list of the ten health issues that are most in need of fixing.
While other candidates have a clearly poll-tested stump speech, Richardson has what I like to call the "bull-tested stump speech". In other words he was the candidate that consistently spoke about the things he felt were important, whether or not they are the same issues on the top of the fold.
Not a debate or house party went by that I didn't find myself nodding along as Richardson brought up issues that no one else would. He was the first to give education a prominent role in the debates. He was the only one talking about mental health in his stump speeches. He was the one who mentioned the possibility of boycotting the Beijing Olympics. These are the kind of reminders that Americans need in order to get ideas pushed out into the solutions marketplace.
Richardson has the foresight to dwell on balanced budgets, having done it as Governor of New Mexico. He knows the importance of building a sustainable economy. He knows that, out in the middle of nowhere, having a gun under the bed isn't such a bad thing.
Richardson also has the vision to focus on the issue of water. He is the only candidate who discusses water scarcity in his website. In snow-soaked New Hampshire it is hard to believe that water is scarce, but in the arid west, especially where American population growth is the highest and when humongously out-of-place cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are sucking the water tables dry with downtown fountains, miles of golf courses, and gaudy displays of electric lights, there is good reason to believe that once we are able to pull some more focus back onto ourselves, we will see that, oil be damned, water is potentially the next great resource threat. Considering that even in rainy Seattle yards will turn yellow in the summer, and the threat of global warming could put a devastating couple of per cent of our freshwater into the ocean, it is a problem we need to start facing now. As governor of New Mexico, Richardson understands this better than any other candidate.
"We must protect our rivers, lakes, and streams. As the governor of an arid Southwestern state I know that water is our most precious natural resource. The Clean Water Act is the primary vehicle for preserving America's rivers, lakes, and streams and it must be restored."
Richardson also realizes that our environment is best protected for the future with technology and intelligent use. He wisely plans to encourage these behaviors through incentives.
"Give preference to funding for sites that comply with Smart Growth guidelines."
"Recycling rates vary greatly across states and regions, ranging from a high of 30-50% in some states to a low of less than 5% in others. As we did with the interstate highway system and national speed limits, we should encourage a national recycling system by making federal funding contingent on participation. This will help create a national market for recyclables as well as a new industry and jobs on the process."
He also has put out arguably the boldest energy plan, and not a campaign rally went by where Richardson didn't call on the nation to make sacrifices, to drive less, to make better energy choices in their everyday lives. Other candidates talk about speaking truth in inconvenient circumstances, Bill Richardson repeatedly did it.
I won't bore you with details on the energy plan, but please read it here. It is good.
The next big thing for the future of our country is undoubtedly education. Speaking as a teacher with battle scars (take that, Hillary!) from one of the toughest, most under-performing districts in all of New England. I have seen first hand the need for a change in our education system. I also know that no one else was going out of their way at the debates, with the possible exception of Chris Dodd, to bring this issue up to the voters.
Governor Richardson led a state. He knows what it is like to take electoral responsibility for children. He has led the upward movement of a state's education. No one else in the Democratic field can say that. Here are a few of his best ideas.
"It is imperative that the next President ensures that states receive appropriate funding and are no longer forced to accept one-size-fits-all programs. I will reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but eliminate the punitive approach of No Child Left Behind Act and replace it with a fairer, more comprehensive, and more supportive system of measuring progress."
"I oppose public tax dollars going to private schools, but will increase school choice with charter, magnet, and other public school options, as well as more flexible course options."
"Our work to improve education depends on parental involvement. We should provide all federal employees with eight hours per year of paid, one-to-one time with their children, and encourage private businesses and the rest of the public sector to do the same."
Yet it was not merely his approach to environmental and educational issues that won me over, it was his ability to connect each issue together, and to do so with bold and innovative ideas. The Governor repeatedly called for math and science improvements in our schools that would help us with our environmental and energy problems. He even talked about health care in the schools.
Many urban communities are, or at least should be, based around schools. Schools are where poor children are taught, fed breakfast and lunch, and given guidance from dedicated teachers, administrators and staff. It is also potentially the place where parents and guardians can receive care and advice on matters of health. Not only can sick children be more easily tended to, but the idea of community-based response is a great idea.
"Governor Richardson's health care plan uses new ways to expand proven sources of
affordable coverage to all Americans. Richardson will invest in prevention, streamline administration, and support healthier lifestyle choices. In New Mexico, he got junk food out of schools, increased physical education, doubled the number of school based health centers and enacted a statewide public smoking ban."
Furthermore, Richardson gives focus to the hidden problems of our health system. While other candidates have issue tabs for autism on their websites, Bill Richardson actually talks about it face to face with people on the stump. He also has an entire section of his own issues page dedicated to the problem of mental health in our country.
"Behavioral health is an essential part of overall health. Over one quarter of Americans suffer from mental illness, affecting every other aspect of their lives -- including their ability to learn and work productively, to relate positively to their families, and simply to enjoy life to its fullest. That is why, as Governor, Bill Richardson has fought for this issue in New Mexico, and will never stop fighting for it when he is President."
Bill Richardson has fought hard for civil rights. He will end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and had the judgment to vote against it as a Congressman. As he puts it, "homosexuality is not immoral, asking someone to hide their identity and devaluing their sacrifice is."
Oh, and while we are talking about military policy, he'll end the war in Iraq.
"Our military presence in Iraq is prolonging the violence, costing us more than $10 billion a month, and distracting us from the war against Al Qaeda. George Bush's 'surge' has suppressed some of the violence, at least temporarily, but it has failed to bring about political reconciliation. Our troops have done everything we've asked them to do -- but they cannot win someone else's civil war. Now it is up to the Iraqis. We need to get our troops out so that a new political process can begin."
I personally have had enough of the likes of Joe Liebermann and Joe Klein and Joe Biden, affectionately known as the Joe Squad (with my sincere apologies to Mr. Biden for including him in that group), talking about how irresponsible it is to pull troops out from Iraq. Bill Richardson seems to have an ideology of respect and common sense. Finally putting a real end to the war in Iraq, unlike most other Democrats (Kucinich and Gravel honorably excluded) is the best path. I dare you, Blue Hampshire, to disagree with me without twitching your eyes to make up for the awful feeling in your gut.
Beyond all that policy mumbo-jumbo, Bill Richardson is a good listener. I didn't see any other candidate come close to his level of attentiveness to questions on the stump. His "Job Interviews" were just that, a chance for people to grill him like an Iowa State Fair pork chop, and Big Bill consistently returned the favor with savory answers marinated in the heart of his listening oven.
I remember one time in Dover this fall when a woman told Richardson a story about a specific type of health insurance issue that she had been studying due to problems in her own family, then asked him what his policy was on it. Clearly, this issue was minutiae and Richardson had no answer. Yet, instead of thanking the woman and blowing her off as many would do, he thoughtfully told her that she seemed like quite an expert, and asked her to write a policy brief to share with his staff. A policy brief. That, my friends, was the New Hampshire politics that I came to see.
While we are at it, he ended that particular Dover campaign stop with an anecdote about FDR. While Roosevelt's funeral procession was winding across America by train, a reporter happened to see a poor-looking farmer clad in overalls and a straw hat just bawling his eyes out to the point of distraction. Unable to avoid the intrigue, the reporter approached the farmer and asked him if he had known the President. The man pulled himself together the best he could and raised his chin with a proud look on his face and said, "no, but he knew me." That, Richardson said, was the kind of President he wanted to be.
With his winning sense of humor, wide-ranging policy repertoire, multicultural heritage, and tireless campaigning techniques, I firmly believe that Bill Richardson is the best-positioned candidate out there to achieve such a goal. Given the secrecy, dishonesty, and plain dastardly behavior of the current administration, I don't know that there could be a better kind of President to follow.
I urge all of you to Vouch, Volunteer, and, most importantly, Vote for New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson between now and January 8th.
P.S. Did I mention that he is the only candidate who can credibly wear a cowboy hat? Because he is, and we need to remember how important that is. Once again, vote for Bill Richardson. You won't regret it!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! There I covered all grounds. LOL. It's Christmas night and there is hardly an Edwards story to be found. But I did the best I could. Join us....
Today, an insurance company denied a family healthcare. This case of denial of coverage, was so grievous, that a public outcry arose.
Nataline Sarkysian died after she was denied a liver transplant by CIGNA- even after her surgeons requested the transplant. Besides feeling anger and indignation against the insurance company, I felt sorrow for the family. 'Is anyone listening?' I thought to myself.
Turns out, someone is. John Edwards...
On Bill Richardson's recent push to restore the war in Iraq to the most prominent issue among the Democrats running for President, Chris Bowers writes:
While I know that everyone in American politics is supposed to have some ulterior motive behind everything they do in public, everything in my experience has indicated to me that Richardson's position on Iraq is genuine. Richardson isn't alone, either. The latest CNN poll on Iraq showed public sentiment for total withdrawal sharply rising to 39%, a clear plurality nationwide. Further, residual forces wouldn't even be an issue in the campaign were it not for Richardson. No matter what happens when the voting starts, and no matter what you may think of Richardson otherwise, that is an important contribution to the campaign. And yes, it is one reason not to be cynical about American politics.
Through his campaign stops, press releases, TV ads and postings on blogs, Richardson has been relentless in raising the issue of Iraq and forcing the media and other candidates to not ignore it.
A feisty and boisterous overflow crowd greeted Team Edwards Wednesday in Portsmouth, NH on a chilly and gray day with more snow forecast for the Granite State. "Only in NH would someone ask the band a question," and JJ, a volunteer who introduced Peter Coyote, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, even got heckled by another attendee.
That mood was matched by the tone and passion of the new John Edwards stump speech.
"America Rising" is not a warm and fuzzy retooling of a "harsh anti-corporate populist" message that Edwards has been accused of delivering in this race. The remarks by Edwards were fairly consistent with the message I've heard since summer and they encapsulate the core values of our nation. The speech is truthful and aspirational. We were all in the mood for some truth-telling on Wednesday.
Follow me below the fold for all the video of Edwards's closing argument: "America Rising."
We elected a Democratic Congress to stop the war, and it's not happening. I regret very much that those senators running for president weren't even there to cast their vote, they were out campaigning. We gave the president $70 billion more to continue this war without any restraint or timetable to reduce the troops - it's basically a blank check.
That's what Bill Richardson said yesterday in New Hampshire.
Will Clinton, Edwards or Obama promptly bring the U.S. occupation of Iraq to end? None of them have made an iron clad promise to bring our troops home. Instead, all want to keep their options open and refuse to pledge to bring home all U.S. troops from Iraq by 2013.
X-posted from Dkos, with slight edits. (update is placed in diary)
Well, this is interesting. ABC is reporting that the Obama campaign is circulating a pamphlet attacking John Edwards.
Circulating among Iowa labor circles, I am told, is this leaflet,which looks to be a standard opposition-research paper against formerSen. John Edwards, D-NC. The shocker? It's from Mr. Positive, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois.
snip
It's a shocker because Obama chief strategist David Axelrod told ABC News that "One of the things people appreciate about (Obama) is he's not a cheap-shot artist" and this flier is full of cheap shots.
ABC News
Come around after the fold and let's talk about this interesting turn of events from a campaign we keep hearing is "surging," but feels the need to go negative against John Edwards.
