Most excellent! If the republican party did the samething-they wouldn't have any money for this election.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

As a strong supporter of John Edwards - and then Barack Obama... I cannot tell you how important this is to real reform in our political process! I am so proud today!

My compliments to Chairman Dean and Sen. Obama (D-IL) for taking this bold step. It is past time to return to a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people as opposed to the GOP form of governance which is nothing more than government that is bought and paid for by special interests such as big oil and the pharmaceutical industry to the detriment of the American people.

DNC bans lobbyist money; Dean remains as chair

The new policy will eliminate one source of contributions to the DNC, which has significantly trailed its Republican counterpart in fundraising. So far this election cycle, the DNC has raised $77.6 million and had $4.4 million cash on had at the end of April. The RNC, however, had raised nearly twice as much and had $40.6 in the bank.

You all know what this means: we have to step up and contribute to staunch the shortfall. One thing is perfectly clear from reading Eleanor Roosevelt's writing: we get the democracy we are willing to create, each of us individually, all of us collectively. Without our participation, democracy is impossible. Do all you can to stay informed on the issues, and contribute something, even if it hurts a little, and even if it is just a small amount. If each of us sent in just $5 - our Party will belong to us, not lobbyists.

Dear Gov. Dean,

Thank you for joining Sen. Obama in this noble pledge. Thank you, too, for the 4+ years of hard work that you have given to this party and to the nation.

About time. Let's hope this is the first of many steps in a new direction. We will all be watching closely.

It's going to take a monumental effort to divide the lobbyists from government officials since they have become so intertwined in the past 50 years. They seem to feed on each other...a real revolving door syndrome.

We need new people not the same Old Boy Network running everything. Let's continue to find these good people within our communities, urge them to run as Democrats, and then help them get elected.

I don't know where all my comments are going. Please fix this thing.

About time. Let's hope this is the first of many steps in a new direction. We will all be watching closely.

It's going to take a monumental effort to divide the lobbyists from government officials since they have become so intertwined in the past 50 years. They seem to feed on each other...a real revolving door syndrome.

We need new people not the same Old Boy Network running everything. Let's continue to find these good people within our communities, urge them to run as Democrats, and then help them get elected.

About time. Let's hope this is the first of many steps in a new direction. We will all be watching closely.

It's going to take a monumental effort to divide the lobbyists from government officials since they have become so intertwined in the past 50 years. They seem to feed on each other...a real revolving door syndrome.

We need new people not the same Old Boy Network running everything. Let's continue to find these good people within our communities, urge them to run as Democrats, and then help them get elected.

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Thank you DNC! That is what attracted me to Barack Obama to begin with. Now we can really get on with putting Barack in the wh and taking this country back.

The other part is that we really need to work to get the Democratic senators in office in the races coming up.This will be crucial to stopping the repubs from holding up legislation coming through.

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Posted by SandyH on June 5, 2008 at 04:29 PM
=================================================

No one seems to know. The blog is a mess. Maybe this will show up by tomorrow.

Here's one on McLiar:

FactCheck.org catches McCain lying about Hurricane Katrina
John Aravosis (DC) · 6/05/2008 08:18:00 PM ET · Link
11 Comments · reddit · FARK · Digg It! ·

From FactCheck.org:

McCain was asked by a New Orleans reporter why he voted twice against an independent commission to investigate the government’s failings before and after Hurricane Katrina, and he incorrectly stated that he had "voted for every investigation."

McCain actually voted twice, in 2005 and 2006, to defeat a Democratic amendment that would have set up an independent commission along the lines of the 9/11 Commission. At the time of the second vote, members of both parties were complaining that the White House was refusing requests by Senate investigators for information.

The McCain campaign accused the Obama campaign of "tired negative attacks" for pointing out and documenting McCain’s gaffe.

So in fact, McCain defended George Bush at the expense of the American people. Even McCain's best buddy Joe Lieberman said the White House was playing games and we should support this commission.

The other co-chair of that Senate investigation, Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, more forcefully chastised the White House and other federal agencies for withholding documents, refusing interviews and derailing the Senate's work.

Lieberman, Jan. 24, 2006: There has been a near-total lack of cooperation that has made it impossible, in my opinion, for us to do the thorough investigation we have a responsibility to do.

===============================================

McCain ... same as Bush ... just older and more corrupt.

fade and i passed the test?

Hooray! NO MORE BRIBES!!! This is wonderful news! I am so happy and now we must really get with it and get active locally and give to create the true blue democracy for all of The People, By the People and that is US!!! Well wishes for Senators Kennedy and Byrd. Loving and admirable memories for Bobby. Congrats to Senator Jay "Rock" of WVA and the Senate Intelligence Commitee regarding the incorrectness of the Executive on pre Iraq intelligence. There is so much going on right now, exciting times - oh yes, hooray for Ted Strickland of Ohio in endorsing Obama and all who are working so hard for our DEMS United especially and respectfully to dear Hillary, our fem fighter forever along with wasserman, tubbsjones, sheila lee and all the CA team and Pelosi I am so proud and there are so many more brilliant leaders, we still are with you Hill and Bill and Al and Tipper, I just love being a DEM and a big Yeeeehaaw for you too Howard Dean and thanks for this latest wise and good move to You and Obama!!! We all must remember that in ancient Greece, any servants of the polis were immediately ousted if found taking any kind of a bribe from anyone and only allowed to serve for 2 years! Now I hope this gets through and posted okay!!! I am getting that error too if I try to preview so here goes directly to post...I have really missed everyone and the great info and support I get on this blog!!!

Great move DNC. Please explain to the little guy, that that means that DNC votes can't be bought. The presidency and congress is not for sale to the highest bidder, like it is for the republicans and has been for 12 years.

So, now we have Prostitution and Bribery. How did we wander so far away from Honesty and Ethics? When did the bad boys get in and start cheating the order? You sure as hell cannot blame Obama for that one!!! Fricking Pretenders opening Pandora's box. Little did you know how big that genie was going to get, backfired and now we get to clean up your dirty oil soiled laundry, great. No more guzzle for you because Nixon made sure China was going to get it, the master of crash and burn. Thank God for a little guy in France and the Air Car. It just might save this planet. Sometimes there are things to consider before, after, or completely aside from politics and money, for example, your health comes first. I would like to have breathable air and not die from cancer, do you have a client that can create that??? Hmmmm.....

Here is my response to the DNC’s email asking for money and pretending to not take lobbyist money anymore, which starts with: “Dear… I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know about a major policy change here at the Democratic Party…” :

“Dear Howard,

I wanted to drop you a quick note about a major policy change with close to 18 million voters.

As the disenfranchising Democratic party moves toward the already lost general election, it is not only the Reagan Democrats who are going to keep you out of the White House, as ordinary Americans will be busy with their guns and religion in November and with voting for John McCain.

Well, our new policy is: “no Hillary no Presidency”. I thought you’d like to know!

I WILL NOT BE in touch later about our plans for the general election, because I just told you what they are! But I wanted to let you know about our policy change right away.

Oh, and no money for you. Well maybe in 2012, you never know…

To tell you just how serious I am, I will indicate that I signed up for blogging on John McCain’s site, and will change my party affiliation to Independent tomorrow. Such a shame, I was a Democrat always, not anymore.”

Here is my response to the DNC’s email asking for money and pretending to not take lobbyist money anymore, which starts with: “Dear… I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know about a major policy change here at the Democratic Party…” :

“Dear Howard,

I wanted to drop you a quick note about a major policy change with close to 18 million voters.

As the disenfranchising Democratic party moves toward the already lost general election, it is not only the Reagan Democrats who are going to keep you out of the White House, as ordinary Americans will be busy with their guns and religion in November and with voting for John McCain.

Well, our new policy is: “no Hillary no Presidency”. I thought you’d like to know!

I WILL NOT BE in touch later about our plans for the general election, because I just told you what they are! But I wanted to let you know about our policy change right away.

Oh, and no money for you. Well maybe in 2012, you never know…

To tell you just how serious I am, I will indicate that I signed up for blogging on John McCain’s site, and will change my party affiliation to Independent tomorrow. Such a shame, I was a Democrat always, not anymore.”

You are not posting my comments, well that figures. Here's one:
NO HILLARY, NO PRESIDENCY!

Wow! How interesting that you should bring this up. Just read an article, McCain sets sights on Clinton supporters. That's okay. This is where we can get everything out on the table and sort it out. Many of us have been pondering all the issues that have come up and sometimes it has been like the twilight zone, some things we suspected then being discovered to be true. Many myths busted on all sides along the way, sometimes walking in sand standing still and wondering if we have progressed since the sixties at all. Feeling one way and reading fresh news the next day and seeing a whole different situation then disagreeing with the former opinion. Time passes, we are not made of stone, and we change with new evidence coming in or upon learning more. We need to keep looking at the big picture.
Will McCain be able to successfully court and charm the ladies? Well, "there is no fury like a woman scorned", said old Shakespeare one year... and Robert Goulet and Richard Harris sang the song, How to Handle a Woman in the musical Camelot another year somewhere in the sixties...we have come a long way baby but we do not smoke slims hopefully anymore since we have discovered what smoking does to the body. We change over time and we are not so prone to just looking at one figurehead but at the issues that seriously affect women and women's quality of life. Guess what, women of all creeds, colors, etc. have a problem sometime in their lives where they need support, say a pregnancy, or domestic violence, or poverty, or an addiction. There are so many issues out there and they need to know that who they put into office is helping to provide services for them in their community, to respect women, protect women and children, to provide education, opportunity, jobs. Oh gosh, we have been at it for so long, since the twenties, the industrial revolution and mother Jones and the textile mills and the unions, on and on it goes, the History of Women in America and the World. If there is constant war and crime women and children are not safe. If there is not education and freedom of speech and press, there is ignorance and superstition and women get labelled witch and thrown in the looney bin. Simple stuff from college social studies 101. We are too smart to be fooled when there is so much information coming out that proves openly in the press that most of what McCain has boasted is just downright untrue and based on wrongheaded assumptions and false premises. For example:
McCain's McClellan Nightmare
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/opinion/01richedit.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
And then there's today's story; Report accuses Bush of misrepresenting Iraq Intelligence
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080606/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iran_intelligence;_ylt=AoQWnJvXQ_UWRvtoi63wPWOs0NUE

I adore Hillary and Hillary is my fem fighter forever. Hillary is a Democrat by principle, by her inner convictions, by philosophy and fact. Hillary will always be a big part of us and has a dynamic future, there can be no doubt. Yes. This is hard and we are bruised again so it seems but as Hillary always said, this is about You and You and YOU, all of us are still here ready to assure that the future is safe and liberated for ourselves and our daughters, for all of us humans to go across the bridge to century 21 in a progressive enlightened wise and peaceful way. That bridge is a rainbow bridge and we all must coalesce and not allow wedge issues to fool us, divide us, weaken us and then oppress us. If you read the two articles above that totally disprove the premises of McCain's braggato on a green stage as Bush continues to push for him behind the scenes...I would question your complete understanding about what Women's liberation is, or Men's or what By the People, For the People or Of the People means. Look. This planet is in deep doo doo. One thing I know. If we continue down this primrose path, there will be no decent future for our children. So I know many of my sisters are upset right now, but just think about it and keep looking at the big picture. There are liberated Males, even Hillary knows, and Bill, that Obama is one of them.

Posted by dem44hill on June 6, 2008 at 05:04 AM

You have to be very careful about what you wish for, especially if you have a son or grandson who is 10-15 years old. He might wind up in a spider hole in Iraq.
Oh, I forgot, we don't have the draft back yet, forget it!.

Very good point Goodfoe...it is getting close to a draft situation, in fact some call what is going on now an unofficial draft or worse where the guys are deployed over and over again. The key word here is...yet.
We, with the help of this world, must stop this violence and misery through civilized ethical diplomacy, bring back agreed upon treaties like we had before 2001...before we, for the first time, allowed a war to be waged by choice over necessity, and ruined the trust and cultural understanding so carefully built up by the previous administration and others before it.

john boy

dem44hill is no Democrat

he has no idea what the Democratic party and liberalism has done for him. Me suspects he would not have voted for Hillary either,

IF McBush should get in, little men like dem44 will have the blood of thousands of US troops on their hands, as well as million more Iraqis and Iranians. When our credit card debt comes due, let all those who voted for Bush and McBush pay for it,

why should we pay for their idiotic ignorant mistakes!!!!!

Here is someting I found, speaking of the sixties...it is a trailer of a movie that really impressed me when I was..seventeen. I would love to see the whole thing again and it brings everything together with an incredible cast. Sometimes things should be handed down and this was a classic...here is your film studies special for the day, enjoy!

Hurry Sundown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZD2cvnJDQw

The DNC will begin to note, today, a significant uptick in $25 contributions from those of us who have been working tirelessly in Barack Obama's campaign.

Gotta get to work (thank god I have a job) so I can contribute a little here and there to my fellow Dems....it's been great visiting with you all now that we're back up and running!!!

MarieDNC,.Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I had to take my youngest grandson "Little Tank" out for a visit to the dono shop! I don't know who or what Dwm44 is and I really don't care!.

Pammy! I hope little Logan is doing great today! Thanks for the heads up on Dem44.....John Boy.....

dem44hill you're such a damn fruitcake! If you truely supported Hillary them you would vote for any Dem and stand with our cadidates no matter what. You're nothing but a cheap republican whore.

Well, I will try this:
completely unable to PREVIEW---just get error and my post lost

I think it is most important to point out the difference by literal comparisons.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080605/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_money;_ylt=A0WTUfimI0hIj8YAxwqs0NUE

The DNC has trailed its GOP counterpart in fundraising. Over the past 17 months, the Republican National Committee has raised $166 million to the Democratic National Committee's $82.3 million. The DNC also has spent heavily, leaving little cash on hand while the Republican National Committee has built up its reserves.
At the end of May, the RNC had nearly $54 million in the bank to the DNC's $4 million.

Today as the Democratic nominee for president, I am announcing that going forward, the Democratic National Committee will uphold the same standard — we will not take a dime from Washington lobbyists," Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Bristol, Va.
"We are going to change how Washington works. They will not run our party. They will not run our White House. They will not drown out the views of the American people."
Obama is pressing his case that McCain is under the influence of special interests because of his advisers' lobbying ties.
McCain's senior advisers are former lobbyists, including campaign manager Rick Davis. McCain was stung last month by the disclosure that two advisers — now gone — had worked for a firm that had represented the military junta in Myanmar, also known as Burma, which has restricted foreign assistance for cyclone victims.

The new fundraising policy is not expected to hurt the party's fundraising ability because lobbyists and PACs do not constitute a major source of money.
According to its latest report with the Federal Election Commission, the DNC had raised $2 million from PACs over the past 16 months. And according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, the DNC raised a mere $53,360 from executives or associates in lobbying firms so far this election cycle. That total, however, includes employees of lobbying firms who are not registered lobbyists.

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute?source=NETA453

To donate to the democrats, there is a Compliance Statement that must be acknowledged:
Legal Compliance
Check this box to confirm that the following statements are true and accurate:
1) I am a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien.
2) This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
3) This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.
4) This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee.
5) This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.
6) The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

Here is the Republican Donation Site
You will notice that no such COMPLIANCE statements are required
https://www.gop.com/Donate/Default.aspx

McCain Donation site-----------also does NOT require you are not part of lobbyist, foreign agent or PAC

https://www.johnmccain.com/Contribute/ContributeB.aspx

Obama Donation site………..DOES REQUIRE compliance that you are not part of lobbyest. Foreign agent or PAC

Legal Compliance
Check this box to confirm that the following statements are true and accurate:
I am a United States citizen or a lawfully-admitted permanent resident.
I am at least 16 years old.
This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee.
This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.
This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.
The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

I find it interesting that on the front page of the DNC website is {drumroll} BARACK OBAMA

AND

on the front page of the RNC website is {drumroll} BARACK OBAMA

I know that we're all frustrated with the performance of the blogs, but maybe Michael and his crew are all very busy with the DNC's new direction and policy with respect (no pun intended) to lobbyist contributions.

As Sen. Clinton said during the campaign, "we have systematically diminished the role and the responsibility of our government, and we have watched our market become imbalanced.” And as Sen. Obama said, "I want to make government cool again."

These are not the triangulating sentiments behind President Clinton's famous declaration, "The era of big government is over," which only served to wrongly equate small government with effective government.

This is not to say that the Democratic Party has suddenly become pure and above political calculation. There will never be perfect in politics.

This is only to note that triangulation -- which eats away at the policy principles that define a party -- is no longer the organizing principle of the party,

Meaning the voters will have a clear contrast of visions to choose from in the fall.

Unless Sen. John McCain -- after surveying the wreckage left by eight years of conservatism -- starts to see the merit in triangulation. (Hey, he's already triangulated his website design.)

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/triangulation-kicked-out-public-square

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/04/mccain-rips-off-obamas-sl_n_105266.html

No. Prisons of Punishment — seven by my count — gleamed near small towns throughout the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. All built in the past two decades.

With the third eye of my soul, I gazed back on California prison history.

I turned my soothsaying eyes back to the Great Valley, searching for balance and hope. Nestled in the center of the valley, I spied one new university glowing dully – the only one built in the past two decades.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/63889

Prison funding high

Now that Governor Schwarzenegger is in his final days of office, we finally get to see him for the "girly man" he is.

Why else would he cut the state's education budget while refusing to stand up to the all-powerful California Correctional Peace Officers Association? This is one of the most powerful unions in California. It lobbies for increased wages and perks, even though the Department of Corrections has some of the highest paid jobs in the state.

Don't believe it? Go onto the Sacramento Bee's Web site and search for highest paying state jobs outside the UC system. And be prepared to get angry. There you will see page after page of psychiatrists and other Department of Corrections officials earning in excess of $200,000.

This is why California, with the nation's biggest prison population, spends more money per prisoner than it does per student.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_9481817

Lets hope we are not being lied to. If they are just saying this to get elected, this will destroy our democratic party. Please listen. WE ARE TIRED OF BEING LIED TOO. DO NOT USE US THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS HAVE. I am asking you for my children and my grandchildren.

I do not dislike Obama, neither does Hillary, but I think the DEMS and Media made a BIG mistake by not helping Hillary...you know deep in your hearts that she was the best canadate...not only that but you treated her unfairly and WHY????
because you are prejudice against women, afraid of a woman in office, for fear they will upset your apple carts...there is still 2016; or Hill could run as independant; or we could just write in her name.......

howard dean should retire.....he has messed up the party something awful....