Have You Voted?! Can You Vote?

If you have not voted yet, then Please Do So Now!

If you must wait until the polls open, then get there early!

If you are voting by mail then please get it in the mail NOW or better yet, take it to your local elections office.

Protect your right to vote. We have included some useful information below.
The following is taken from a diary at DailyKos.

Time Off to Vote for Employees — A State by State Survey

Most states require employers to provide time for employees to vote on election day. While these laws vary in each state, they generally require employers to give employees time off to vote if the polls aren’t open two or three hours outside of the employee’s regular shift.

Much more here:
http://employmentlawpost.com/theword/2008/10/15/time-off-to-vote-for-employees-a-state-by-state-survey-2/

Find your state and see what the law says. If you don't like it, then put it on your list of things to CHANGE in future local elections!

Sure you're registered? Check at www.CanIVote.org

ACLU Voter Protection Hotline (1-877-523-2792)

Lawyers' Committe Hotline (1-800-OUR-VOTE / 1-800-687-8683)

or go to www.OurVoteLive.org to report or follow irregularities.

Some additional information from RFK Jr.:

Heads up!!!!! RFK, Jr. Sends another warning!
http://www.progressiveblue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3012

"The Ad"

And what a great "ad" it is!



This is not about I, me or you, it is about we.

Often when you see great images and speeches that pull at your heart, they are laced with words and images that speak to a scary form nationalism and militarism.

With Barack Obama you feel the pride of being an American and fighting for what is right and good about this country but you also feel the pride of being a citizen of this planet.

More Lies and More of the Same

Lies and Flip Flops.



Do we really want to continue down the path of 4 more years of George Bush and Dick Cheney?

More of the Same?



John McCain is proud of voting with George Bush over 90% of the time. No.. really, these are his words. See and hear him speak them in the video above.

Just in case you have forgotten

Lies.

Barack Obama chooses Joe Biden

I know we are not even close to being the first, but I wanted to make sure that we mentioned Barack Obama's choice for VP. It is Joe Biden.

I think this is a good choice, there are others that I would have chosen over Joe Biden but after giving it some thought, I think Barack Obama made a good and wise choice.

Washington Woman will have more to say on this later.

For now, let us give a big THUMBS UP to the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden!

Obama/Biden 08

"A cookout with some bastards" - by johnny venom @ MyDD

A friend of mine just turned me on to a diary written over at MyD called: A cookout with some bastards.

This is one of the funniest and scariest diaries I have read in some time. His experiences with his conservative/republican friends and family are just amazing. I wonder how many of you have had the same experiences?

It amazes me how dense people can be about the truths that stare them in the face. How ill informed so many people in the country are. What dittoheads and lock steppers the republican base is. It is like they do not have a original, true and genuine thought in their head.

I will give you a taste of "johnny venom's" diary, but for the full experiance, you must visit A cookout with some bastards at MyDD.

Every year I attend a BBQ held by a friend of the family. Her name is Deborah and sadly is a big-time Republican, though oddly enough not so much a conservative (well socially at least). Now her late father and my father go way back, fought together in North Africa in WW2, so these people are practically family. Well, as mentioned, she holds an Independence Day BBQ cook out every year, and my father goes out of respect... and a free meal. Outside of me, sometimes, he's the only other non-Republican at these things.

Now, since 2000, since I started finding myself parting ever farther from Republican politics, my appearances at this cook out have been on and off. The reason being was that many of the folks there are die hard conservatives, and arguments tended to be twenty to one. You can probably guess who was that 'one.' Its a real turn about, considering, that Debbie was the person that got me into politics (particularly the GOP) when I was a young Johnny Venom. The folks at the BBQ were my political kin for a long time, and when I turned the other way, it came to them as a shock.
You'd be amazed, once you change parties, how fast your "friends" can quickly become your enemies. Well, it's not like they wish me ill will, well most of them don't, just that they find it much better if I weren't voting ...
.....

Now conversations ebb and flow on all sorts of things. So, instead, I'm just gonna break them down by topics. You don't really have to know their names, they're conservatives. And, for the most part, you've probably already got an idea on what they are going say for the most part. Still, allow me to irritate your senses a bit just to show you what kind of assholes we're dealing with who want more power or at least keep what they got ...
.....

"Barack Obama"

Deborah finally came to our table. She saw my Obama button (fuck it, I wear that everywhere!) and she gave a sour face to me. Suddenly, she rubbed her forearm and then pointed at my button.

Deborah: You see this John? Whit skin. You think he likes that? No way. I wouldn't vote for an anti-Semite, he hates Jews John. You know he's really a Muslim, don't you?

Me: Deb, that's a bunch of crap, and you know it. There is no way in hell I'm going to believe all that. Besides, the man's half white, for crying out loud!

Female Plastics Lady: But still a Muslim.

Me: No, he's not!

Deborah: How do you know? The media? They want a black person in so they can feel better about themselves.

Me: Because he isn't. And as for the media...huh?

Old Male Conservative Engineer: And how about that reverend? You telling me, for twenty years he didn't know what kind of church that was.

Me: Wait a minute, if you're admitting he went to church, then you are in agreement he isn't a Muslim?

Old Male Conservative Engineer: No, because they can hide their faith very well.

Me: I think you're crazier than Janis (Middle Age Female Conservative)!

............

This is just a taste, so please give yourself a treat and a headache and read the rest for yourself.

Next on Meet the Press

While still basking in the afterglow of our very special interview with Rep. Dennis Kucinich, I learned of the sad news of the passing of NBC commentator, Tim Russert. Many of us felt a connection to Tim as we had our weekly Sunday rendezvous with him during Meet the Press. I know I certainly did. I was shocked to hear that, at the young age of 58, he had suffered from an apparent heart attack while in studio recording voiceovers for his show. It certainly gives pause for thought.

The media and the American audience has been dealt a great loss today.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/13/ST2008061302497.html

Afflicted by Manifest Injury

On Monday Rep. Dennis Kucinich delivered a riveting, concise soliloquy that would rival a closing argument by Vincent Bugliosi. For nearly five hours Rep.Kucinich cited 35 articles of impeachment against George W. Bush on the floor of the House. It was nearly midnight in D.C. when he wrapped up. He had previously authored H.R 333 calling for the impeachment of Dick Cheney which passed in November but has since had no action taken. While it is doubtful that we will actually witness the impeachment of those who have committed the most impeachable of offenses, it is of great importance that Kucinich has documented this administration's numerous crimes and has them on the record. Perhaps it will open the door for action at a later time. It is refreshing to know that not only is someone who has been elected to represent We The People willing to stand up to those who have failed to uphold their Constitutional oath and who have committed crimes upon us and upon others in our name, but has been relentless in his perseverance to expose the emperor's lack of clothing - even if it would seem that his suit is made of Teflon.

On Friday at noon Rep. Kucinich is expected to join us on Equal Time Radio to discuss his bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003087.html

To read his bill and to contact him to give thanks:

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=93581

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - The Fall Out

I have been thinking about the fall out of the long Democratic primary race. Has this primary harmed the Democratic party and our primary system or has it helped.

I looked at this through many different angles, I talked to others in person and online, I read what others had to say and what others screamed about. Some thought Hillary Clinton was "destroying the party" by continuing in this primary long after they and some in the media thought she should drop out. Others came to the same conclusion that I did, they thought it was a good thing for the Democratic party and for politics in general in this country.

The following comes from a friend and fellow blogger.
From Associated Content

The Democratic primary, for all of its faults--such as the use of the undemocratic and under representing caucuses and the infamous super-delegates--has finally brought out two of the Democratic parties biggest base of supporters in large and vocal numbers. Women and African-Americans have finally broken into the top tier of presidential politics because of two worthy and credible candidates in Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. These two candidates have done more to energize, educate and activate the citizens of the United States to become involved in the politics of choosing the president. They have allowed more people to understand that their voice and their collective voices can and will be heard. For this, they are both winners in my book.

[snip]

These two candidates have brought out over 17 million people each to vote for them, for a combined total of over 35 million and rising. Every state that has voted in this primary cycle, has had record turnouts in activism, at rallies and on voting day. The numbers of people that have joined the democratic party is one of the highest ever if not the highest ever, with more joining the party and the process every day. The amount of money that has been raised by small donors, for each candidate, is staggering and historical. Even tho many would like to see money and its influence taken out of politics, the fact that the Democrats have been able to out raise the Republicans at all levels, is simply a huge show of support by the American people for these two candidates and the Democratic party

[snip]

... This presidential primary has reinvigorated the people and the process for the better. I believe this change will last for decades.

Thank you Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and all of their supporters. You have brought back my faith in the American people to do what is right.

More at Associated Content

After last Tuesdays (6-2-08) final primary elections, some thought Hillary Clinton should have conceded right then, I disagreed. That was not the time or the place to properly thank her thousands of volunteers and millions of supporters. It also would not have done justice to her upcoming endorsement of Barack Obama (come on, we all knew she would). She had also won one of the two states that night.

So that Saturday (6-7-08) she gave the speech and the endorsement that I knew she would give.


Read the transcript here.

Hillary Clinton showed that she is an American first, a Democrat second and always a fighter for what is just and right! In that speech she showed why this primary needed to happen. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama brought out the fight and the spirit that has been lacking in this country for much too long. We owe them our thanks and our votes!

Having been a John Edwards supporter first, I believe that it was he who first showed both Obama and Clinton that they must fight. That fight, is for the people and for our constitution.

Tim Garon, R.I.P.

Another loss to the inequity and absurd workings of the medical system of the United States. Here, in the only industrialized nation that does not consider health care a right to its people, the question must be asked - who merits the right to live? Should one be denied the right to life due to what is considered to be unacceptable extracurricular activity? If participation is prescribed from a doctor to relieve the pain and nausea from a hideous disease, is it still unacceptable? And if a person is of means to simply purchase any medical treatment necessary, would they still be denied? When does the withholding of such treatment to the person without means become unacceptable?



Tim Garon will never know the answers to theses questions. He died awaiting hope, only to be treated like a criminal. The world has lost a talented musical artist. May his death, and of others like him taken unnecessarily too soon, be a reminder of what's wrong within our borders. May it also propel others to work for what's right.

http://www.komotv.com/news/health/18475224.html

Tim's website.

Tim's MySpace Page.

Tim's CDs at CD Baby. There are links to other locations, to get his music, on the lower left of his CD Baby pages.

The Sick and Tragic - A Call For Help

This is in regards to an acquaintance of mine and a friend of my dear, late friend Rose. Rose suffered terribly due to diabetes. She was followed in death by another close friend, Billie Jean, who died because she had no health insurance and wasn't able to afford her insulin and other diabetic supplies. She was in otherwise good health, but was unable to balance her blood sugar levels one fateful day.



You may be as upset as I was to find out why Tim can't get the help he needs:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080426/ap_on_re_us/medical_marijuana_transplants

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/27/03629/6602/250/504192

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=204896115

http://www.rocketnews.com/topic/world/Timothy-Garon/

Earth Hour 2008 - What are you doing?

I hope everyone that see this posting will or has participated in Earth Hour 2008.

It is only an hour from 8pm to 9pm YOUR Local time.

For further information on Earth Hour, go HERE

Check out the Earth Hour video.

Is Green Energy Killing Us?

Today as I was cruising the internet, I came across this unsettling story about Green Energy production that is killing areas of China.

A Dark Side Of Solar Power

The growth of the solar power industry is poisoning land in China, according to the Washington Post.

In the rush to make polysilicon cheaply for use in solar panels, a Chinese company reportedly is dumping toxic waste into the ground, killing wildlife and endangering human health.

The newspaper describes green fields in the nation's eastern central Henan Province that have turned snow-white from the powdery waste of silicon tetrachloride, four tons of which result from every ton of polysilicon created. Toxic hydrogen chloride gas and acids waft from the waste.

To blame is Chinese polysilicon maker Luoyang Zhonggui High-Technology, which supplies to rising solar power star Suntech Power Holdings, according to the Washington Post.

To read more about this problem, follow the link:
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9889848-54.html

I have had reservations about some other versions of so called Green Energy, especially BioFuels and Ethanol. Both of these products, as of right now, rely way to much on "new crops" to make fuel. Much like using new trees for paper making instead of using 100% recycled paper or some mix of new and recycled.

Using land to grow fuel instead of food seems short sighted and morally wrong to me. Cutting down diverse forest, such as the Amazon to grow a select plant for fuel or to raise cattle, also comes across as short sighted and morally wrong.

Besides the stupidity of growing fuel on land that could and should be used to grow food, we also have this potential problem. Since they would be growing fuel instead of food, why bother trying to grow it organically? Why bother with doing things environmentally correct and sound? I feel they will, if they have not already done so, start using as many chemicals as possible to try and get the highest yield at the lowest cost with no regard to the environment or our safety. Thus polluting the ground, the water and the air all for the profit of making fuel.

I believe that all commercially made biodiesel should ONLY be used for big rigs and other types of vehicles that typically use diesel as their fuel. If we increase the demand for consumer biodiesel, then we will be unwittingly increasing the negative environmental impacts causes by the production of these fuels.

The only viable alternative fuels that I believe should be used for cars and light trucks, is hydrogen and electricity. Yes, these all need to be produced by something, but we have a wide array of choices in ways to produce these if we choose to make it happen. Such as, Solar (made cleanly), Geothermal (done with little environmental impact), Wind (with careful placement to diminish visual and noise pollution), Wave and Tide energy (new and looking promising) and many others.

As much as I hate nuclear plants, I could see very very limited use of them (maybe by using the plants that exist) to help produce the hydrogen needed for cars and trucks (fuel cells, etc).

Geothermal is the one energy source that I believe has the biggest potential to make the biggest positive impact, in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest cost.

When it comes to Solar Cell production, I believe that this company is far ahead and looking in the right direction.

NanoSolar - http://www.nanosolar.com

The Progressive 'Sphere' Grows with EENR

Recently I came across a new Progressive Blog called EENR Progressive Blog.

Our acronym, "Edwards Evolution, Next Revolution," reflects the formation of the EENR group originally as Edwards Evening News Roundup for supporters of John Edwards during the 2008 presidential primary.

Now I might have called it "EENR Progressives Blog" or maybe "EENR Progressive Revolution" (partially playing on what EENR stands for that I quoted above), but that is just me.

What strikes me as a positive, for this new place in the progressive 'sphere', is that they are encouraging more diaries to be written about issues, causes and local races rather than the presidential candidates. It is these presidential 'candidate' diaries that have taken over and ruined so many of the best progressive/liberal/Democratic blogs out there, mainly because of all the mean spirited infighting by supporters of candidates, trolls and freepers.

This little place here, called Washington Woman, would like to one day achieve what EENR is and hopefully will continue to be. A sane place for discussion and action on important issues, causes, events and yes... candidates.

One of the better diaries written at EENR, in my opinion, would be this diary:

Women's History Month: The 19th Amendment

The author of this diary plans on doing a series for the month that are relevant to Women's History Month.

Go ahead and check out the new EENR blog and let us know what you think.

...

As always, one of our FAVORITE places will always be the blog and website for Equal Time Radio.

Martin Luther King, III Praises John Edwards

Martin Luther King, III Praises Edwards For Leading The Fight For Economic Justice In America.

Following a meeting at the King Center in Atlanta on the afternoon of Saturday, January 19th, 2008, Martin Luther King, III sent John Edwards a letter praising Edwards' commitment to fighting poverty and speaking out for those without a voice. King, the first son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the President and CEO of Realizing the Dream, said his father was a fighter and urged Edwards to continue the fight for justice and equality. He also urged the other candidates to follow Edwards' lead.

January 20, 2008

The Honorable John R. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Dear Senator Edwards:

It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father's legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.

[snip]

So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horse race, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father's words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.

Sincerely,

Martin L. King, III

The entire text of the letter is Here at John Edwards site.

A PDF copy of the actual letter is Here at John Edwards site.

We are also having another grassroots fund raiser.
By using the link from the graphic below, it will take you to a donation page from one of the grassroots supporters. It is a legit page on the John Edwards website.
The link is also here: https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/mygrassroots/?page_id=MjkxNTg

You can also donate by going to http://johnedwards.com and clicking on the DONATE link.

Need something more to do? Need more ways that you can help John Edwards to help all of us?

Please help out if you can.

Look for the links at the top of the phone banking page, here:
http://www.johnedwardsphonebank.com/

Here is a great tool to use for contacting the media and congress.

Congress.org
http://congress.org

Media:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

On This Day We Remember... MLK and more.

On this day we remember Martin Luther King Jr.

Our thoughts are drawn to the fight for racial and economic equality, but some of us may forget the other great things that Martin Luther king Jr. stood for and against, fought for and died for.

He spoke out against the tragedy of the Vietnam War. The comparisons of the Vietnam War and the current tragedy known as the Iraq War, can be seen and heard in his words concerning the Vietnam War and our responsibilities as humans and as citizens of the United States.

He died while fighting for the poor, the disenfranchised and the rights of all workers to unionize for the good of all not just the good of the few, the greedy and the powerful.

This video gets to the heart of his feelings concerning the Vietnam War. These words can and should be used in our opposition to the current tragedy in Iraq.

For a more complete version of Martin Luther Kings Jr's speech about the Vietnam War, please check here:

Martin Luther King, "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam"

Text of his entire speech can be found here.

Real Audio of his entire speech can be found here.

The following video is very haunting and sobering...

Great minds, Great speeches, Great men, Bad times


On this day and for all days to come, I wish you Peace.

John Edwards Money Bomb! Can it Be Done?

I totally agree with the grassroots putting together this "money bomb". I hope that we are not reaching to high, but what the heck, if you don't try you fail! So anything that helps encourage people to donate to John Edwards is a good thing.

This idea was originally put together by KingOneEye at DailyKos and it being kept alive across the blogosphere. Here is an example from today.

Can we make this happen? Who knows. Will it succeed in raising a large amount of money in one day? I really think it will.


Click on the picture or go here:
https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/

Challenge the system: Why John Edwards Is Right.

This Video Hits The Point Why Edwards is Right!

This video speaks to the heart of why I support John Edwards. After reading the diaries about the Chamber Of Commerce coming to attack Edwards and Obama, there is no doubt that John Edwards is EXACTLY right on this!

See the diaries here and here.