Conservative Democratic Group (CDG)
About the Author
In American politics, Conservative Democrat is a term referring to a member of the Democratic Party who holds some conservative political views. Conservative Democrats of the twenty-first century are similar to their progressive Republican counterparts, in that both became political minorities after their respective political parties underwent a major political realignment starting in 1964. Prior to 1964, both parties had their liberal, moderate, and conservative wings, each of them equally influential in both parties. During this period, conservative Democrats formed the Democratic half of the Conservative Coalition. After 1964, the conservative wing assumed a greater presence in the Republican Party, although it did not become the mainstay of the party until the nomination of Ronald Reagan in 1980. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, has included both liberal and middle-of-the-road wings. This political realignment was mostly complete by 1980. After 1980, the Republicans became a mostly right-wing party, with conservative leaders such as Sam Brownback and Wayne Allard, while the Democrats became a mostly left-wing party, with liberal leaders such as Edward M. Kennedy and Jerry Brown. However, both parties have a notable centrist wing, with moderates such as Bill Clinton and Joseph Lieberman in the Democratic Party, and moderates such as Rudy Giuliani and John McCain in the Republican Party. Since 1994, conservative Democrats have been organized in the U.S. House of Representatives as the Blue Dog Democrats. Another coalition of moderate Democrats within the United States Senate is the Democratic Leadership Council, which promotes center-right[1] [2] social/cultural positions on political issues and neo-liberal fiscal issues.

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - India warned its citizens on Friday it was unsafe to travel to Pakistan and the prime minister met his military chiefs, while Pakistan canceled army leave and moved some troops from its western border.

The travel warning marked a dramatic rise in tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors after last month's attack on Mumbai that killed 179 people and which India has blamed on Islamist militants based in Pakistan.

It followed media reports in Pakistan and India that "several" Indian nationals had been held in the last two days after bombings in the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Multan.

"Indian citizens are therefore advised that it would be unsafe for them to travel (to) or be in Pakistan," India's Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.

Another Foreign Ministry official contacted by Reuters said the warning referred to all travel to Pakistan...   Read More »
Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman last night (18DEC08), on their respective shows on MSNBC, http://www.rachel.msnbc.com , did a good job at espousing the opinion of those who believe that Pastor Warren was not the best choice to deliver inauguration invocation on 20JAN09. I do not share all of Pastor Warren's views, either however, the choice was not yours or mine to make, it was President-elect Obama's choice as it is his inauguration.

But to automatically disqualify him for his opinion(s) is no better than qualifying someone based merely on their opinion(s). Pastor Warren, and those that follow him, had every right to advocate for CA Prop 8 as much as all the groups that advocated against CA Prop 8. That is our political process. And once again, in accordance with CA law, the will of the people is served. You and I may not agree with the majority decision but, elections have consequences.

Pastor Warren represents the views of tens of millions of Americans if not hundreds of millions when it comes to his religious convictions about gay marriage and other political hot button issues such as abortion. President-elect Obama will be the POTUS to all 300 million of us, not just the LGBT community and their supporters. Furthermore, the President-elect stated throughout his entire campaign that he was opposed to gay marriage but in favor of civil unions. The LGBT's knew this. What was their alternative, vote for Sen. McCain (R-AZ) or some third-party hack that didn't stand a snowball's chance in Hades of getting elected? The LGBT community will have a seat at the proverbial table in 2009. It will not be a front row seat though due to political considerations.

Once again, we are a nation of law, not men. The rule of law must be followed otherwise we live in a state of anarchy. Every single right we have, or do not have, is by the will of the people through their elected officials. There are consitutional mechanisms in place to amend the constitution or repeal any amendment. If the votes were there, any Amendment could be gone by the end of 2009. Want to ban guns? Repeal the 2nd Amendment. Want to make alcohol illegal again? Repeal the 21st Amendment. Want to ban term limits on the POTUS and VPOTUS? Repeal the 22nd Amendment. And if you want to secure gay marriage for the LGBT community, then it is time for the "28th Amendment". The trick will be finding the votes for such.

And as of this time in history, the votes are not there. IMO, the votes will not be there until the baby boomers have died off. Polling of CA voters indicated that those under 35 voted two to one against CA Prop 8. That will be the generation that brings gay marriage into existence, not us.

In VA, when we amended our constitution back in 2004, the gay marriage ban passed by a margin of two to one. The thirty-plus states that have passed similar amendments saw those pass by a similar margin.

The LGBT Community often asks, "How would gay people marrying affect heterosexual marriage"? The correct answer is, "It wouldn't". But the majority of Americans (60%+) disagree with that notion. Therefore, the question needs to be changed to, "If the LGBT community has the same rights as marriage but it is called a CU, why should that affect their 'marriage'"?

In closing, if the LGBT Community wants the same rights as married couples, the only viable alternative at this point in history is Civil Unions (CU's). Polling indicates that CU's enjoy significantly more support than gay marriage does. Is that seperate but equal? Yes, it is. Does that suck? Yes, it does as much as it did when the same standard was applied to African-Americans. Is that the best we can do now under the rule of law. Yes, it is because if it won't pass in, arguably, the most liberal state in the union, it darn sure won't pass anywhere else.
Well, the argument for it is millions of jobs will go under. You will lose the largest manufacturing unit in the United States, the heart and soul of American manufacturing. R&D goes with it. Technology goes with it. Engineering goes with it.

And more important, the auto industry has an enormous future in this world. Americans, we buy, in a good year, 17 million cars. China, India, all these countries are opening up. People are moving into the middle class. They're going to want cars. You will carve the United States out of much of the future. But in terms of viability, what's killed General Motors, and the others, is they have dropped the greatest, highest-paid guys who give the most in taxes, the cleanest, safest factories, and dropped them into global competition against factories in places like China, whose managers would be in a penitentiary if they were doing in the United States what they're allowed to do over there.

We are Americans. Why would you buy a car from a foreign country that hires Americans at a third of what American auto makers pay and all the profits go overseas? That, in and of itself, is un-American.

The Big 3 were instrumental in our winning of WW2. Were it not for GM and Ford converting to make military trucks, jeeps, and other components of the American war machine, we may be all speaking German or Japanese right now. And quite frankly, if we keep "whoring" ourselves out with the trade deficit the way we have been; we may end up speaking Japanese or Mandarin yet.

The time has come to stand up and say no more to our manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas. No more to foreign countries driving down the American standard of living. No more to foreign companies having influence over our elected officials. No damn more! Did Congress ask the AIG executives how they got to Washington? Did they ask Lehman Bros., Bank of America, or anybody else?

Stop selling out your fellow Americans. Look for the Union Label. Look for the Made in America labels. When you walk into a store, ask where the American made products are. Stay the hell out of Wal-Mart. We are Americans and it's high time we remember that. Buy American. At least 3 million of your fellow citizens, and quite possibly the economic future of this country, are depending on you.
I wrote this over the summer when I was used and abused as a serf; by a middle-class family on a roofing project. Will never do that again; would rather die than cow-tail out of my class and social spere again.

"A DEEPER SHADE of BLUE"
By
Brett Alexander Macarius Andreeivich Encelewski

They are like us; but they are not us.
They talk like us; but don’t say the same things.
They know similar people; but their people are more powerful.
They know the same TRADES; but they have different, better jobs.
They know the same craft; but they don’t know it as we do.
They work to play; we work to survive.
They clean-up nicely; we don’t.
They have a blue-collar; so do we, however:

It is a deeper shade of blue: saltier, grittier, earthy, and true.

Sometimes God-fearing,
Sometimes godless,
Sometimes enlightened,
Sometimes ignorant,
Sometimes grandiose,
Sometimes depressed,
Sometimes epic,
Sometimes tragic.

For millennia; civilization has risen and fallen at the compliance or rebellion of our meek and calloused hands. We may be your slaves; but you are just slaves of the WHITE COLLAR. A truly righteous and liberated man is he who has no servant; but serves and loves all mankind.

Who are we? Who are you? Our collar is cut lowest, a deeper shade of blue.
The following was published in my college Biannual Literary Magazine--'DRIFTWOOD' (2002 I think) It was inspired after the actions (and continuing actions of the United States--in response to Terror attacks); I felt it appropriate to repost here in wake of the RECENT INCIDENT in INDIA.


'IT DOES NOT CONCERN ME'
By Brett A. Encelewski

Children slowly die from starvation, in blistering hunger. Their bellies fill and expand with need. The eyes roll back into their infantile skulls in sunken misery. They bathe their chapped skin out of the same stagnant pool civilization has allotted them, and then quench their thirst with the same water. It does not concern me; I am an American.

Behemoths of death glide over the unforgiving surface of the gentle and delicate oceans. They send the carcasses of their steel kin to the bottom, to bleed their toxins into the gills of the children of the drink. They drag their screens of doom, raping the vitality of the deep blue sea. It does not concern me; I tend to the vitality of America.

A market place erupts into a macabre spray of fire, shredded produce, and the flesh of men, women and children. Religious patriots lob crudely constructed explosives into crowds. They reap the crimson glory for Allah, for Christ, and for Jesus. It does not concern me; I am a citizen of a great nation under God.

Whole countries bolster their economy on growing, producing, and manufacturing illicit substances. They aid international militants in their quests of terror. They slash down the great grandfather trees without an ounce of respect for their age, their function, or themselves. They fight, kill and die for primitive non-renewable resources. With great effort they smuggle their poisons through our borders. It does not concern me; I am an American consumer, and they can do what they want.

Men achieve great feats of martyrdom and bring down majestic mountains of steel and glass and gold. Brits lose lives, Japs lose lives, Frenchman lose lives. They all lose lives. Americans lose lives, and the streets of Babylon are filled with the dead. I am America, and I shall make the world pay the price, and cooperate with my vengeance lest they face my wrath.

When done, her hellfire spent, the beaten and weary citizens of a crumbled nation shall arise to see their crushed cities smoldering from the helping hand of America. It is a punishing hand, a disciplined hand. She shall feed them, and clothe them, and dictate their new government. Then the small men, the silent women, and the quivering children shall look up at the ominous figure of Lady Liberty and say “thank-you” to their great savior. They will have to rebuild the cities, and pick-up the dead, because America has done the hard part for them. But when the refugees come knocking at her door, she shall swat them like diseased flies, turn them away, and send them back to the dusty little hole that they came from. It does not concern me; I am an American, and that is the way it should be.
I was thinking to myself again about the classic hypocrasy and injustice of matters/issues regarding "ECONOMICS" and "SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES" when discriminating/ discerning PUBLIC or PRIVATE jurisdictions and/or the enforcement of the U.S. Constitutional Civil Liberties governing them.

Ergo:

Ultra-Liberals (in America more appropriately called "SOCIAL LIBERALS"/ aka the "Far Left" are the Ultimate Social and Political Hedonists. Wanting what they want, when they want it, how they want it; from whom they want it from; it what combination they want it in; as quickly and as conveniently as possible; with little or NO regard for current or past moral, cultural, or social tradition, norms, or morays. MAXIMUM liberties; MAXIMUM benefits; WELFARE-STATE; SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE; any number of personal economic systems--socialized after that;

SOCIAL LIBERALS. "SOCIALISTS." They like to call themselves "Progressives," but THEY ARE, indeed, NOT.

PROGRESSIVES; are painstakingly disciplined; conservative or liberal (usually moderate) socioeconomic political producers. That's a fact; JACK.

NOW--SOCIAL LIBERALS say things like "Live and let live..." interestingly (in theory) the cry of the Libertarian or Classical Liberal. Only the Classical Liberal and the Libertarian MEANS IT.

...while a REPUBLICAN would say: "Live and let DIE..."

Classical Liberals et al. are MONDO-SERIOUS about CIVIL LIBERTIES, PRIVACY, etc.

NOW; here is the hypocracy; A group--take your GAY RIGHTS movement; marches down on the STATE and/or FEDERAL scene; thereby making themselves PUBLIC; attempting to affect sweeping PUBLIC change.

IN THE PROCESS--groups of them viciously interfere with their peaceful opposers RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH (in PUBLIC); and RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY; now if that protestor group was a formal group; they could be BROUGHT TO TRIAL...

NOW; again--as a political paradigm/school: SOCIAL LIBERALS; who are so big into "Live and Let Live" right?

Well then--why is it that the SOCIAL LEFT interferes (for many, many decades now) with SO MANY of our PRIVATE MATTERS?

A child's RIGHT to read a BIBLE in SCHOOL!?

A Blue Collar working-poor family's RIGHT to 100% of their PRIVATE BUSINESS earnings (INCOME); or EVEN;

A successful Upper-Middle-Class entrepenuer's RIGHT to 100% of his BUSINESS earnings?

"ALL DEBTS PUBLIC and PRIVATE"

WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL PRECENDANT and "RIGHT" DOES the SOCIALIST LEFT have to STEAL anyone's money? Even if it is EARMARKED for "SOCIALIST" programs. So tell me the distinction? How is it different.

It is the BIGGEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! Most educated people (that acquiesce to paying SOCIAL SECURITY) know that 70-85% or more of it goes into pasting people's heads against the wall in the Middle East...).

The SOCIALIST, FACIST, LEFT--thinks it can get away with anything; taking prayer, and bibles from our schools; inserting facist Office of Child Safety agents into our lives to keep us from disciplining our children properly; While crack-heads rape their daughters across the street.

Tell our son's they cannot wear political or provoctive speech T-shirts; but allow girls to run around looking like WHORES. (interesting double-standard).

We may as well get rid of the white stripes on Old Glory and just put the Big Bird on there (emulated from the Roman Empire).

So SQUEAL about "Live and let live." But the SOCIALIST LEFT needs to STAY OUT OF OUR LIVES; LEAVE OUR CHILDREN; OUR PAYCHECKS; OUR STATES RIGHTS; etc, alone first. I am the LAST person to tread on YOU or your business... but YOU are ALL UP IN ON MINE.

But many people are not fooled--many people are not decieved by the reverse-psychology; the pity-call of the SOCIALIST.

If were going to do it--lets do it. Go big Red! Only thing is Alaska's Flag will stay blue; and Fly ALONE.

God preserve the Congress; and God preserve America.
As we attempt to coalesce, coexist; and build the party together--in all our diverse views, philosphies, theologies, ideologies, and especially political agenda--

We must be especially aware and VIGILANT; within the Democratic Party; of the far Left, Ultra-Liberal quasi-professional (or even professional--some even being payed by SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS)...

BIGOT-MONGERS. What is a "Bigot-Monger" you ask? Well we all know what a "Bigot" is. Now, a BIGOT-MONGER is someone who would call ME a "BIGOT" for merely writing this post on BIGOT-MONGERING... lol.

They are akin to the same hen-house breed of garden-variety SCANDEL-MONGERS; common to any hair salon. Furrowed, hateful, accussatory (guilty?) brows; pointing, trempling, intense index fingers...

BIIIIIIIGGGOOOOTTTT! YOU! You HATE [*insert group here*] REPENT, CONFESS!

Like any group of pitiful, feeble witch-hunters; the scour the community for signs of dissidence against their agenda; their weapon of choice; REVERSE-HATE; BIGOT-MONGERING.

What is VERY, VERY, sad; is that the Type-B far-left ultra-liberal innocent is oft duped by this agenda; and scared into submission; usually having NOTHING to do with the agenda of the group; or perhaps even STRINGENTLY disagreeing with it--however; manipulated and intimidated inot submission with REVERSE-HATE and PSYCHOLOGY and BIGOT-MONGERING;

"Don't speak out Karl, you don't want to be labled a Gay-basher!" or

"David--you should say those things about 14 year old girls wearing coochie-cutting denim-shorts, G-strings, and v-neck m-drifts in Junior high; you might get labled an Anti-Feminist or a Sauvinist!"

PEOPLE; in the name Christ, the Holy Mother, God and all the Saints; BEWARE of the BIGOT MONGERS! Be strong for your Family, for your State, for Country, and for your God.

Stand up for the Family, Stand up for Tradition, Stand up the preservation of a healthy society; Stand up AGAINST TRUE HATE-MONGERING and BIGOT-MONGERING;

God preserve the Congress; and God bless America. C.P.Q.A.
Someone had asked; or rather retorted; "What is AMERICA!" as if they didn't know... it was meant to be a rhetorical question, perhaps incredulous in nature. I say they did not fully understand themselves.

Our forefathers "crossed the ocean" to escape the tyranny of the English monarch, parliament, and the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England; which had a knack for having 'that affect' on people those days. Did this mean people 1)Believed; 2)Worshipped; 3)Intended to promulgate society in the name of the Lord any LESS?

Um, NO. Indeed; "ONE NATION, UNDER GOD." It becomes clear that the Anti-Christian Ultra-Liberal Coalition has become contented in their "belief" (and attempts to spread propaganda) that this statement in our Nation's ORGANIC DOCUMENTS is a "TRIVIAL NOVELTY" ....

"...inapplicable, and irrelavent to any State and/or Federal law in the land..."

WRONG.

Acts/ Policies/ Legislation like the ever-vaunted: SEPERATION of CHURCH and STATE; were FAVORED by the ever-PIOUS founders of our nation; to simply prevent over-zealous, radical THEOCRATS from overrunning our State and/or Federal Government(s); becuase especially in the matter of, say, the Roman Catholic Church--they are an Organization almost like a government unto themselves; and the POWER would be too terrible to comprehend.

This goes back to the case of THOMAS BECKETT, Arch-Bishop of Canturbury in England; while Beckett himself was not himself the problem; the situation he was put into BY THE KING (Henry II) and the CHURCH--was. I rest my case there.

The Founding Fathers knew this INTIMATELY while hammering the ORGANIC DOCUMENTS on the ANVIL of U.S. FREEDOM.

"What is America?" America is the IV Rome. The III Rome was Imperial Christian Russian Empire ("Tsar" was a Ruso-Greco-Roman derivitive of Caesar).

The Founding Fathers were scholars, scientists, soldiers, patriots, and mostly VERY PIOUS men.

There work on the ORGANIC DOCUMENTS of this country was based on their contributions to the works and texts; standing on the shoulders of TRUE INTELLECTUAL giants; dating back mellenia. Much of the ideology, philosophy-theology, principles, ethics, and constitutional draft; as well as the BILL of RIGHTS was based on: the French Revolution, English Civil War; European Enlightenment/ Renassaince; which all in turn hails back to the work and innovations of the Roman Empire and Hellenistic and Classical Greece.

Our BILL of RIGHTS is simply a clean re-draft of the ENGLISH Bill of Rights; facilitated after the English Civil War; thanks to the British 'ole Blood & Guts; Oliver Cromwell, Lord High Protector of England (PATTON; unleashed, uncut, and totally "proper"?)

SO; in sum, indeed--"What is America?" AMERICA is the IV ROME. Yes, the Fourth Great Roman Empire. To recap: Roman Empire of Italy; Holy Roman Empire (Constantinople); Tsarist Empire of Russia (Orthodoxy); and the United States of America.

Pax Roma and the U.S. the Irst and IInd "Romes" are great cultural and military, political, and economic powers dominating all the world; the IInd and IIrd "Romes" were the greatest Christian empires ever known to the world; RUSSIA suffered a great period of persecution and darkness during the SOVIET/ COMMUNIST athiest era; but held on; and is rebound healthily. Their President is THE FIRST ORTHODOX RULER since TSAR NICHOLAS II was executed in the October Revolution.

IN AMERICA; We believe in Christianity; it is ENCODED and LOCKED IN to our ORGANIC DOCUMENTS; but like the FIRST ROME; our EMPIRE entertains all types and "creeds" every household may have a different shrine; as is there right. Different Cities may erect larger community monuments and chapels/ temples as they see fit. It is SO REMARKABLY LIKE ANCIENT ROME; the parallels are frightening/ but they can be ENCOURAGING--if we reign in the positive elements...

And doggedly QUASH and DESTROY what is ROTTING this country to the core.

Senatus Populusque Romanus [(S.P.Q.R.) "The Senate and the People of Rome" or "The Senate and Roman People"), referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official signature of the government.

That was what unified Ancient Rome; and this is what I propose:

Congressus Populusque Americanus [(C.P.Q.A.) "The Congress and the People of America"], I hereby propose; for UNITY in civil, municipal, State, and Federal sectors of the United States; our official signature of the Republic.

We must ALL become more involved. The People; their Representatives must work closer together. The People must work for the Government; and the Government must work for the People; and it is the job of the U.S. Congress (the Senate; and the House) to see that this happens.

If the People cannot work with the Government; and the Government cannot work with the People--then in the NAME of CHRIST; the Government shall be destroyed.

That is why we have our Bill of Rights--that is the original purpose of the 2nd Amendment; have no illusions.
*BREAKING NEWS*

Sen. Ted Stevens the 40-Year; longest-serving (Republican) senator (and most powerful in Washington) in Alaskan history; CONCEDES DEFEAT to Anchorage moderderate-conservative DEMOCRATIC Mayor MARK BEGICH.

It is a glorious and bright new dawn for Alaska. It a glorious and bright new dawn for the United States Senate. It is a glorious and bright new dawn for UNION.

GOD BLESS MARK BEGICH; and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, Disrict-33 Alaska Democratic Party
Anger Over Prop. 8 Erupts In San Francisco

POSTED: 10:40 pm PST November 14, 2008
UPDATED: 11:57 pm PST November 14, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO -- In San Francisco's Castro District, people on both sides of the same-sex marriage controversy confronted each other on Friday night, as police tried to keep the peace. Proposition 8 passed in a close vote and eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Members of the gay community said that almost every Friday night, a Christian group meets at the corner of Castro and 18th Streets. They try to convert gays and lesbians into a straight lifestyle.

This Friday night, the message didn't go over well. Some gays and lesbians reacted by trying to chase the group out of the Castro.

"Their rights were respected," said Joe Schmitz, an opponent of Prop 8. "They got a chance to go ahead and pray on the sidewalk and I had the opportunity to express my freedom of speech which is telling them to get out of my neighborhood."

San Francisco Police officers in riot gear formed a line and escorted the religious group into a van to safely get them out of the area.

Members of the gay community insisted that their reaction to the Christian group was spontaneous. "It was not an organized thing. We're tired of it. It's not religious. It's not a racial thing. It's about hate. We're trying to send a message across the world that we're standing up and we don't want this to go on anymore," said Adam Quintero.

Supporters of same-sex marriage plan on Saturday to stage a national day of protest against Prop 8. Some demonstrators told KTVU that they are planning on more than protests. They say they plan to break away and carry out acts of civil disobedience.

In San Francisco, the demonstration is scheduled to take place outside City Hall. Other demonstrations are planned in Oakland and Walnut Creek, and in New York, Washington, Chicago and other U.S. cities...

http://www.ktvu.com/news/17986914/detail.html   Read More »
Begich's lead grows to 814 votes
by Jason Moore
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The race for U.S. Senate took a dramatic turn Wednesday as the Division of Elections began counting early and absentee ballots.

After nearly 59,000 of the more than 90,000 outstanding votes were tallied, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich pulled into a lead of just 814 votes over Sen. Ted Stevens.

Throughout the day, each update from the DOE drew Begich closer, until around 3:30 p.m. his 3,200-vote deficit became a three-vote lead.

By the time they stopped counting votes for the day, Begich's lead stood at 814 votes out of more than 278,000 tallied so far. Potentially tens of throusands of ballots are left to be counted.

Begich has 132,196 votes (47.41 percent) and Stevens has 131,382 votes (47.12 percent).

As the counting progressed it became clear Begich had the advantage in the early votes. No one knew how the absentees would break. By day's end, even the those, generally considered a Republican strongpoint, appeared to favor Begich.

"We had a strong drive to get people to vote early absentee, to get these votes in," Bethany Lesser of the Alaska Democratic Party said. "And I think that under this circumstance it's really hard to just say, ‘Well, usually in most election years they go one way.' This isn't most election years.

Republican candidate for the Sand Lake House seat Bob Lewis didn't like the early results in his district. Bob Buch extended his lead.

"It's a little steeper hill, but you just have to hang on and hope for the best," Lewis said.

Muldoon Republican Bob Roses, who trailed after Election Day, also fell further behind.

But most eyes were on the Senate race. At Begich's campaign headquarters, workers hovered over computers crunching numbers and enjoying the trend.

At Stevens' headquarters the doors were locked -- no one was around.

The DOE is expected to do another count this week. But absentee ballots mailed internationally still have until next Wednesday to arrive, so a final count won't be available until a week from today.

Contact Jason Moore at jmoore@ktuu.com

FWD; By:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party
Begich, Mark DEM 132196 [47.41%]
Bird, Bob AI 11315 [4.06%]
Gianoutsos, Ted NA 1140 [0.41%]
Haase, Fredrick D. LIB 2086 [0.75%]
Stevens, Ted REP 131382 [47.12%]
Write-in Votes 718 [0.26%]

SOURCE: AK Div. of Elections

FWD; By:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party
Sen. Stevens (7) Felony convictions DIDN'T help him at all; and DID help us; but not like you would think... Steven's loyalists were true-to-form for the most part (disqusting to see); but we never hinged on this.

Both the Alaskan Republican Party and the Stevens campaign aknowledge Begich as the straight-up toughest opponent he has EVER faced;

Alaska in general aknowleges the QUALITY and CAPABILY of the man [Begich]; and rarely in polics will you see such an amazing race--such a true exercise in Democracy; such a HARD CHOICE.

And ever as a cradle-to-grave Alaskan Democrat; I too must tip my hat to the great "Uncle Ted" for doesn't every family have one? A piller so established and legendary; that even with all his flaws, it is so hard to see him dishonored?

TED STEVENS is a undeniable piece of Alaska. That is history; but now--so is HE.

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party
Begich lead grows to 814 votes
by Channel 2 News staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mark Begich's slim lead in the U.S. Senate race grew from three votes to 814 Wednesday night as the Division of Elections continued to count early and absentee ballots.

Earleir in the day Begich saw a 3,000-plus deficit turn into a razor-thin three-vote advantage over Sen. Ted Stevens.

By day's end it was up to 814 after 58,939 ballots were counted by the DOE.

Begich has 132,196 votes (47.41 percent) to Stevens' 131,382 (47.12 percent).

In the race for the U.S. House, Rep. Don Young now has 140,269 (50.41 percent); Ethan Berkowitz has 125,184 (44.99 percent.

Tens of thousands of ballots still have to be counted, and more absentees can still come in.

FWD; by:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party
As it stands; all being equal; I will put all my chips and the farm on MARK BEGICH boys and girls. WE HAVE WON! Over this campaign, which "was always going to be close," as Mark himself says, the Alaska Democratic Party and 'Alaskans for Begich' deliberately pushed an Advance/ Absentee; and Early Vote strategem for the Democratic; Nonpartisan; and Swing-voters of DECISION-2008, ALASKA.

We have succeed. In just the FIRST DAY of counting; merely the absentee votes (which are ALWAYS severely biased to Republican advantage; because of the military demographic); Mark Begich, who was some 3,200 votes behind Ted Stevens... picked up 3,200+.... +3! To lead Sen. Ted Stevens; (according to a 'Breaking News' report released by KTUU News; based on the lastest press release from the Alaska Division of Elections).

There is still some 60,000+ EARLY VOTES to be counted. 'Early voting' has never been popular in Alaska. This year was a all-time record-smashing turn-out for Early Vote. This is unequivocally due to the Alaska Democratic Party. The Party is hoping for a 60-75% return on 'their investment' (or higher) in the Early vote count-out and report. (This of course conversationally speaking).

By the grace and glory of God, the Holy Mother, and all the Saints; we will have deliverance in this great State.

There is also still a reasonable chance for Democrat House challenger Ethan Berkowitz to take Don Young; if the numbers are as remarkable as Alaskan Democrats hope, dream, and pray them to be.

Even more MIRACULOUS; would be if President-elect Barack Obama retro-actively WINS Alaska's electoral votes; turning a RED-STATE to BLUE, that has not done so since JOHNSON.

This is the scope of the the DEMOCRATIC DREAM in Alaska. At the VERY LEAST we WILL HAVE the Senate; but so much more IS IN the realm of possibility... anything is possible; when people CHANGE their minds.

And the FRESH INSPIRED minds of ALASKAN, and AMERICAN DREAMERS, stand-up to be counted.

God bless Democracy, God bless, the President-elect, God bless Alaska, and God bless the United States of America;

Yours, ever in service,

Brett Alexander Macarius Andreevich Encelewski
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party
Begich holds 3 vote lead over Stevens
by Channel 2 News Staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska-- According to the Division of Elections, an updated vote count on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. shows Mayor Mark Begich with a three vote lead over Sen. Ted Stevens.

The Division of Elections began counting absentee ballots on Wednesday.

Begich currently has 125,019 votes and Stevens has 125,016 votes.

The Division of Elections will continue counting absentee ballots the rest of the week.

FWD; by:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Super Precinct Captain, (D33/Kenai);
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate,
('Alaskans for Begich'/ 'Victory '08')
Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman since the founding of the United States. To change something that embedded in the history of America should be put to a fair vote of the electorate as was civil rights. The results of CA Proposition 8 should send a clear message to the GLBT community that even in the most liberal of states; more than half of the electorate do not share your view in this matter. That is a democracy. That is the very foundation our great nation is built upon.

The GLBT community should reconsider their strategy at this time and come to the realization that, for at least another generation, Civil Unions will have to be an alternative. Polling indicates that state electorates, such as in CA, will have a lot easier time supporting Civil Unions than they will gay marriage.

Is this fair? No. Is it the old axiom of "separate but equal"? Yes, it is. But the civil rights contingent had to go through this period and it would appear that a majority of the electorate would want the same for the GLBT community if for no other reason than to give society, as a whole, time to adjust.

I'm confident that in one generation, or less, homosexuality will be considered as little as someone who is left-handed as many do now. I, like the GLBT community, look forward to that day. Every tax paying American citizen should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of a legally recognized marriage.

But while 52%+ of the electorate are prepared to accept an African-American as POTUS, the CA results clearly indicate that gay marriage is not that widely accepted. That is a true shame but, as in the POTUS election of two nights ago, the people have spoken. And the Democratic Party should not squander and of its mandate to force this through the Congress. To do so would violate the trust of a majority of the electorate. At best, this is a late second term item for the agenda and we need to see one state, any state, have a majority of its electorate approve gay marriage as opposed to judicial ruling(s). Pursue Civil Unions. That is your best chance, IMHO, for the foreseeable future.
VA is going to be closer than it looks. The weather forecast is for rain in the SE quadrant of the state. This is a big area for the Republicans due to the military population of Hampton Roads however, we're relying on heavy African-American turnout in Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Newport News.

Along the I-95 corridor, where we Democrats enjoy the advantage, the forecast is for intermittent rain. While none of the projected precipitation for Election Day is expected to be severe, it may have an impact on voter turnout.

So where does that leave us? I stand by my original predicition from last week.

Obama 49%
McCain 47%
Nader 2%
Barr 1%
All others 1%

Senate:
Former Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) 62%
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R-VA) 35%

House:
Dems +1
SEN. TED STEVENS FOUND GUILTY IN CORRUPTION CASE

Associated Press Writers Matt Apuzzo And Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press Writers " 4 mins ago AP " Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and his attorney Brendan Sullivan, leave federal court in Washington, Monday, …
Slideshow: Sen. Ted Stevens Play Video Video: New juror in Sen. Stevens trial AP Play Video Video: Stevens jury reports chaos, judge urges calm AP WASHINGTON " Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted of seven corruption charges Monday in a trial that threatened to end the 40-year career of Alaska's political patriarch in disgrace. The verdict, coming barely a week before Election Day, increased Stevens' difficulty in winning what already was a difficult race against Democratic challenger Mark Begich. Democrats hope to seize the once reliably Republican seat as part of their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Stevens, 84, was convicted of all the felony charges he faced of lying about free home renovations and other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. Jurors began deliberating last week.

Visibly shaken after the verdicts were read " the jury foreman declaring "guilty" seven times " Stevens tried to intertwine his fingers but quickly put his hands down to his side after noticing they were trembling. As he left the courtroom, Stevens got a quick kiss on the cheek from his wife, Catherine, who testified on his behalf during the trial. He declined to talk to reporters waiting outside.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced, but under federal guidelines he is likely to receive much less prison time, if any. The judge originally scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26 but then changed his mind and did not immediately set a date.

The monthlong trial revealed that employees for VECO Corp., an oil services company, transformed Stevens' modest mountain cabin into a modern, two-story home with wraparound porches, a sauna and a wine cellar.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican, Stevens said he had no idea he was getting freebies. He said he paid $160,000 for the project and believed that covered everything.

He had asked for an unusually speedy trial, hoping he'd be exonerated in time to return to Alaska and win re-election. He kept his campaign going and gave no indication that he had a contingency plan in case of conviction.

Despite being a convicted felon, he is not required to drop out of the race or resign from the Senate. If he wins re-election, he can continue to hold his seat because there is no rule barring felons from serving in Congress. The Senate could vote to expel him on a two-thirds vote.

"Put this down: That will never happen " ever, OK?" Stevens said in the weeks leading up to his trial. "I am not stepping down. I'm going to run through, and I'm going to win this election."

Democrats have invested heavily in the race, running television advertisements starring fictional FBI agents and featuring excerpts from wiretaps.

Stevens' conviction hinged on the testimony of Bill Allen, the senator's longtime drinking and fishing buddy. Allen, the founder of VECO, testified that he never billed his friend for the work on the house and that Stevens knew he was getting a special deal.

Stevens spent three days on the witness stand, vehemently denying that allegation. He said his wife, Catherine, paid every bill they received.

Living in Washington, thousands of miles away, made it impossible to monitor the project every day, he said. Stevens relied on Allen to oversee the renovations, he said, and his friend deceived him by not forwarding all the bills.

Prosecutors used a barrage of witnesses to question how Stevens could have been in the dark about VECO's work on the project. VECO employees testified to seeing Stevens at the house. One left him a company business card. Stevens sent thank you notes to others.

Stevens' conviction is the highlight of a lengthy FBI investigation into Alaska corruption, but prosecutors noted that it is not the end. Stevens' longtime Republican colleague, Rep. Don Young, remains under investigation for his ties to VECO. Stevens' son, Ben, a former Alaska lawmaker, is also under investigation.

Stevens is a legendary figure in Alaska, where he has wielded political influence since before statehood. His knack for steering billions of dollars in federal money to his home state has drawn praise from his constituents and consternation from budget hawks.

There was no immediate word on Stevens' campaign plans. His spokesman, Aaron Saunders, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on whether Stevens would stay in the race.

In Alaska, the Democratic Party issued a statement calling for Stevens to resign immediately. "He knew what he was doing was wrong," the party said. "But he did it anyway and lied to Alaskans about it."

Stevens is the sixth senator convicted of criminal charges. The last previous one was Republican David Durenberger of Minnesota, who was indicted in 1993 on charges of conspiring to make fraudulent claims for Senate reimbursement of $3,825 in lodging expenses. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.

The jurors left the court without comment.

Said U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan: "The jurors have unanimously told me that no one has any desire to speak to any member of the media. They have asked to go home and they are en route home."

The jurors had been shuttled to and from the proceedings each day by court officials.

FWD by;
Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Super Precinct Captain, (D33/P710);
Volunteer, 'Mark Begich for U.S. Senate,'
(ALASKANS for BEGICH/ VICTORY '08)
I witnessed something today that made me incredibly proud. Something that gives me hope for a better tomorrow. Those events are few and far between these days.

My mother is seventy-nine years old and is from the coal camps of the great state of WV. She was still in diapers when the Great Depression started in 1929 and, needless to say,
her childhood consisted of a dirt-poor existence during the depression and World War Two. How these people made it through that is beyond me but it speaks volumes as to
the noble and enduring spirit of this generation of Americans. It is that spirit and perservernace that we should all aspire to.

My mother was an ardent supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the Democratic primary. She proudly casted her ballot for Sen. Clinton on 12FEB08 here in VA. When Sen. Clinton conceded, my mother was crushed and took her disappointment out on our nominee, Sen. Obama (D-IL). Furthermore, my mother is from a different
time. She had the old prejudices from a time that should be long forgotten but isn’t. It was the same reservations that Sen. Obama expressed about his ailing grandmother having. In fact, at the behest of my now decease father, she voted for Gov. George
Wallace (I-AL) in the 1968 election.

At first, she stated that she was going to vote for Sen. McCain (R-AZ) out of anger for the way she perceived that Sen. Clinton was treated. For all intents and purposes, she was a de facto PUMA without even knowing what a PUMA was. Slowly, she realized the error
of doing that. After all, people of her generation from WV believe in God, guns, coal, and Robert C. Byrd Democrats. She then thought of casting a write-in ballot for Sen. Clinton. Then she realized the futility of that.

Today, her absentee ballot came in the mail that we requested from VA Board of Elections. Her heart condition and athritis would not her stand in line for hours on Election Day. She stated she would miss the sense of community one feels when they’re standing in line with their neighbors to perform their second most important civic duty as Americans. The most important, of course, is to defend this nation from all enemies foreign and domestic. But today, I am proud to report that after much soul searching, and a bit campaigning from her only child, namely me, that my mother proudly cast her VA
Absentee Ballot for Senator Barack H. Obama, hopefully to be our forty-fourth President of the United States. And now all I can think about are the words of the great Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), “The hope still lives and the dream shall never die.”