and

THANK GOD WE'RE NOT A NATION OF LIBERTARIANS OR WE'D HAVE NO FIRE FIGHTERS AND CALIF WOULD BE TOAST!

(note to Ron Paul and Tucker son of Carl)

I want to thank our workers at DNC. They do so much for the people. I am thankful I am with the peoples party. Even though the people that lost homes are wealthy, we all know some things you can't replace. I hope they all had a fire proof safe in their homes for personal things like family pictures.

Beside this happening, our Party works so hard to get our people elected and Dean is still pushing for victory. He has a wonderful way of thinking up plans for our success. I know he must spend hours each day thinking how he can improve the way he organizes the party. Thanks Dean for your wonderful mind. I hope you stay the Chairman for many years to come.

Wall Street Democrats vs. Main Street Democrats
By Harold Meyerson
The American Prospect

Thursday 25 October 2007

The Democrats are the party of class conflict, and nowhere is that conflict clearer these days than in the efforts of Senate Democrats to designate the two new Democratic members of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Never let it be said that there's no difference between the two parties. On matters economic, the Republicans are almost invariably the party of major banks and corporations (though the current backlash against immigration is one of the rare instances in which the party's voting base has triumphed over its financial base). The Democrats, by contrast, are on matters of economics the party of - well, not labor, as such. Not consumers, as such. The younger masters of the universe who work on Wall Street like as not are liberal on cultural issues and appalled at Republican foreign policy, though they're no fans of regulating capitalism. They give big-time to such Democrats as Barack Obama (who supported legislation moving class-action lawsuits from state to federal courts, a bill intended to reduce the size of jury awards in such lawsuits) and Chuck Schumer (who has opposed a fairer tax rate for hedge fund operators). The Democratic Party is their political home - just as it is labor's.

The Democrats, in short, are the party of class conflict. Nowhere is that conflict clearer these days than in the efforts of Senate Democrats to designate the two new Democratic members of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC has five members nominated by the president, three from the president's party, two from the opposition). One of two Democratic-held seats is newly vacant, and the other is expected to be vacant by year's end.

Largely behind the scenes, a battle has been raging between those Democratic groups that want to see the seats go to investors' advocates and the Wall Street Democrats who prefer new members who would keep the banks' and brokerages' concerns uppermost in mind.

Until the past few days, the two front-runners for the slots were Luis Aguilar and Yoon-Young Lee, both attorneys at Washington law firms.

Aguilar came to the United States from Cuba as a child and worked in a staff position at the Atlanta office of the SEC before becoming a private-sector securities lawyer. He has criticized the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which stiffened financial reporting requirements on businesses in the wake of the Enron debacle, for what he termed its "burdensome cost imposed on corporate America."

Lee is a longtime attorney with WilmerHale, which is one of the financial industry's leading lobbyist law firms. She has written a number of letters to the SEC on behalf of clients, a list that includes Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Citigroup. On their behalf, she has petitioned the SEC to weaken the firewall between a firm's investment banking and research-analyst operations. "The notion that an analyst might have an incentive to influence a fund's investments via research is entirely remote," she wrote - notwithstanding that this is precisely what happened in the Enron affair. In another such letter, she argued that rules requiring firms to disclose their procedures on research-analyst compensation - that is, to make sure that analysts' pay wasn't linked to the value of the stocks they were appraising - posed a "technological nightmare for broker-dealers."

Such arguments sent an understandable chill down the spines of investor groups, and late last week Lee's candidacy, which had been championed by Schumer, reportedly fell into disfavor among leading Senate Democrats. Aguilar's confirmation, however, is still considered likely.

The entire behind-the-scenes confirmation process still leaves some investor advocates uneasy. "The financial industry gets to vet the candidates," says Barbara Roper, the director of investor protection for the Consumer Federation of America. "They've been given this veto authority that's not helpful." Dan Pedrotty, who as director of the office of investment at the AFL-CIO looks out for the union pension funds that are among the largest investment pools on the planet, says that the Democratic appointees need "not just expertise in securities but a demonstrated track record of advocating for investors and for our members' funds."

The problem is that the drift of much of Wall Street toward the Democrats on noneconomic issues coincides with Wall Street's creation of inscrutable and unregulated investment devices that imperil the entire economy, as the current mortgage crisis makes painfully clear. On gay rights, say, the nouveau financiers are 21st-century progressives; on economic oversight, they are 1920s speculators, determined to keep their machinations free from public oversight. The decision the Senate Democrats make on their SEC appointees will be a good index of the relative strengths of the economically opposed forces within the party and may even foretell the balance of forces within a Hillary Clinton or Obama administration. If the financial industry prevails, it will also leave the Democrats having to answer an awkward question going into the 2008 elections: Why does America need two parties that represent Wall Street?

Harold Meyerson is executive editor of The American Prospect and a columnist for the Washington Post. Click here to read more about him.

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Yes, why does America have two parties representing Wall Street and no party representing Main Street? This is the question to the Democratic Party that is suppose to represent labor for the 70% majority common population.

Boy, I'll bet that makes them feel better. Praise from Howard Dean, all the way from 3000 miles safely out of the line of fire.

JamesP:

Apparently you are into feel good propaganda.

The California wild fires have burned up a more affluent, influential neighborhood, so I expect CA will get more government help than the disbursement of the people, the separation of their families and a bunch of little trailers that no one can use, disallowing the people returning to their good, livable and undestructed homes, houses and apartments that weren't destroyed because those homes, houses and apartments just happened to be in the destruct area, as reported in New Orleans, LA. After all, the government has had a learning experience.

What Happened to the "DFL" for America, the Democratic Farmer Labor Party for America???????

Five Years After His Death, Wellstone Still Inspires
By Mark Zdechlik
Minnesota Public Radio

Thursday 25 October 2007

Five years ago today a plane carrying DFL Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, their daughter, and five other people crashed into the woods in northeastern Minnesota. All eight were killed, and Minnesota politics was thrown into chaos just days before the election.

Since Wellstone's death he's been remembered in big and small ways. Supporters say rather than fading, Wellstone's legacy is growing stronger. And some DFLers say they can hardly wait for next year's election, and the chance to win back what they consider Wellstone's seat from Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

St. Paul, Minnesota - Even five years later, it's evident many people still grieve the loss of Paul Wellstone. The green and white lawn signs are gone, but the t-shirts and bumper stickers are still around.

So too is a small, wooden bench alongside Ashland Ave. in St. Paul, outside the home of Steve Heitzig and Gwen Pappas. There's a card on the seat of the worn bench, with a picture of Wellstone smiling and a Wellstone quote about social justice.

"I walk by here maybe five to six times a week," said Mary Oberg, who lives just down the street.

Oberg quietly admits she was not a fan of Wellstone's politics. Still, she says she's happy to see the bench.

"It's just part of Ashland Avenue," Oberg said. "I think it's a nice way of paying tribute to Paul Wellstone. It shows respect, and that's what's lacking in the world today is a lot of respect for others."

Since the Wellstones died, communities have named schools in their honor. Awards have been given in their name. People have written books and music and documentaries about them.

But some of those closest to Wellstone say, more than anything, his legacy lives on in Wellstone Action. That's the nonprofit group formed by his political allies less than a year after the plane crash.

"I think, to some extent, we were at the right place at the right time," said Jeff Blodgett, who ran all three of Wellstone's Senate campaigns. He is now the executive director of Wellstone Action.

"Even though our organization grew out of a tragedy, it was also a time when a lot of people were looking for a way for people to get involved in politics, and start being active running for office working on their issues," Blodgett said. "So there's been a resurgence in activism, I think, and we've been a place where people can go to get the skills to be effective."

The flagship program of Wellstone Action is called "Camp Wellstone." It's an intensive political organizing seminar that trains aspiring politicians and activists.

Participants can focus on organizing around an issue, they can learn how to be strong candidates, or they can zero in on behind-the-scenes campaign techniques. The seminars have been held in 38 states.

"The grassroots education and training that they put us through in two and a half days was incredible," said Arizona State Sen. Paula Aboud, a Democrat.

Aboud is one of more than 7,000 Camp Wellstone graduates. After being appointed to the state Senate in Arizona, Aboud knew she would face a tough re-election campaign. She said that's why she and her campaign manager enrolled in a Camp Wellstone. She's certain that without the training she would not be in the Senate.

"All across the country, people that did not know Paul Wellstone personally lived by a code and an ethics of our own, and Paul represented that code and ethics for us," she said. "He became the standard bearer, whether he wanted to or not. Now we're carrying that banner, not for Paul, but really for the good of our country and the well-being of our communities."

Minnesota State Rep. Patti Fritz, DFL-Faribault, is another Camp Wellstone graduate. Fritz knew Paul Wellstone long before his Senate days. More than 30 years ago, Wellstone helped her and some others raise awareness about poverty in southern Minnesota.

Fritz says the skills she learned at Camp Wellstone reminded her of Wellstone's approach during that anti-poverty campaign in Rice County.

"He wanted that to grow - the movement to grow - but he wanted the people to do it," Fritz said. "He did not want to lead it and he didn't want to be the guru of it all. He handed it over."

Like many Democrats, Fritz said five years later she still grieves the loss of the Wellstones. And she predicted a groundswell of DFL activism going into the November 2008 election to win back the Senate seat now occupied by Republican Norm Coleman.

"It's like the fire's been burning in us, and now it's just glowing and growing in us," said Fritz. "We can't wait to fight for that seat."

Coleman said he expects a tough re-election campaign. But he said in a split state like Minnesota, neither Republicans nor Democrats can take anything for granted.

Coleman predicts the 2008 race will be a high-profile battle, just as the 2002 campaign was. But Coleman said he doubts most voters will be motivated by anger.

"If people look for leadership and look for the ability to get things done, then I've got a pretty good chance to keep doing what I'm doing," Coleman said "As I've said before, I consider myself blessed to be representing Minnesota in the United States Senate, and I'd like to get doing it, and the voters ultimately - they'll have their say."

University of Minnesota political scientist Lawrence Jacobs said Democrats may not need much extra motivation next year, given their anger with the Bush administration over the war and other issues. He said if DFLers choose to play up the Wellstone angle, it could easily backfire on them.

"The Wellstone legacy could very well alienate the independent and swing voter who might see this homage to Paul Wellstone as kind of stuck in the past," Jacobs said. "So it could end up hurting the DFL candidate, particularly in the general election campaign, when the candidate tries to broaden their message and appeal to those swing voters."

But Jacobs said if DFL activists are able to draw energy from their goal to win back Wellstone's seat without making the late senator a centerpiece of the campaign, their grassroots work could significantly help the DFL candidate.

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Well, Bushie got his photo op. Picture in morning paper of him hugging a couple over the ruins of their house. Bet that made them feel SO much better about losing everything.

Like he cares that thousands of homes and personal possessions have been destroyed !

Save your energy, Idiot in chief, your legacy has been carved into stone already with your Iraqi Folly and the destruction of American civil rights and the Constitution .

II Th 3 Pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

This is a message to all Republicans. How can you be moral and faithful and yet you do such evil things?

Stop all you so called Christians and take account of your thinking and actions.

I find it rather amazing that the Federal Government has learned so much about disaster response since the Katrina debacle. Could it be that our government only wants to jump to it, when the victims are upper middle class and wealthy white folks? Seems like in New Orleans blacks and the poor whites are still waiting for assistance. I find it outrageous that we are being asked by our Democratic leaders to donate time, money and food to this area without a mention of what is still going on in New Orleans. I am not cold-hearted and do not wish anything but full recovery for those caught in the SoCa fires, but we cannot forget those in New Orleans who are still need our assistance. President Bush was quick to fly to CA for his photo op, but he couldn't cut a vacation short to see first hand what was happening in New Orleans? Don't be fooled by this display of empathy by George W, it’s a sham.

Good statement/Could not agree more/

Diva .. face it, the local first responders in CA were ready when the LA 1st responders clearly weren't. I don't know of any Californians who burned alive while parked school busses were nearby. Even Gray Davis said California will recover and that it was handled well.

Anyway, Air America says Bush set the fires, so that must be why the first responders were ready to go.

We love you Dean. We love everything you say and think. Your mind is a wonderful active machine.
Keep thinking and suggesting and putting great successful programs into progress. Then We will win.

Some of the people Bush impressed by going to California could buy Bush the Presidency over and over again.

diva6-
God, I get so tired of hearing about poor New Orleans. How many more volunteers are going to go there, how many more billions (yea with a B) are going to be poured into that bottomless pit.
Maybe it's time you stopped blaming Bush and started examining the local political morons that were running the show then and, for God only what reason, were re-elected to do it again.
Two years after the fact, and they still can't get their act together. Get over it!

Good call.

I think many of you folks need to not focus on the federal government so much. Their jurisdiction isn't as expansive as you think it is, and believe me, you don't want it to be. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with the fed, it's just more efficient to place the lion share of disaster relief on the individual states. Think about it, would you really want the federal government to be solely responsible for every disaster on American soil? I don't care who the President is, it just wouldn't work. Not only that, the Constitution isn't set up for an omnipresent federal government.

As for California, the operation was run pretty well and despite what everyone seems to think, I don't believe it's because the federal government worked its magic in some conspiracy. It was mostly handled by the state of CA. As for the relative hardships of Lousiana v. California, I think a lot can be said for the relative ability of the two affected groups. Generally speaking, those of higher socioeconomic status tend to fair better in situations like this, and it's not because the red government carpet is rolled out for them. For example, I didn't hear about any $2,000.00 debit cards being distributed to the fire victims of CA (for clarification, this exact measure was taken in the wake of Hurricane Katrina).

Holy cow patriotman, I'm quite amazed no one has challenged your post. They don't take kindly to strangers on this blog. I once posted that my African American colleague was paying the price for quotas since people (behind her back) said she got the job because of her color -- which was totally NOT true since I'm the one who hired her....then my fellow DNC bloggers called me a racist. Go figure.

My thoughts go out to those negatively affected by the CA wildfires. I'm not sure who else was able to see the documentary on PBS about the fast disappearance of bees (insects) in countries where pesticides & gene modified crops are prevalent. In other words, without bees there will be no food crop polination, and the US will run out of food by 2030. If the reader thinks our global dependence on oil is a nuisance, then please consider our total dependence on food imports in the near future.