urbinato's blog

Movement to fight the Chamber of Commerce comes to NC

Submitted by urbinato on

The US Chamber of Commerce has launched an all out public campaign and lobbying effort to stop federal climate and clean energy legislation from passing Congress.

But there's a growing backlash from companies large and small who are making sure that legislators and the public know that the Chamber does not speak for all businesses.

North Carolina business owners announced their support today for a clean energy jobs bill and joined the growing number of businesses in America criticizing the United States Chamber of Commerce on the issue.

Sign the Petition to Congress and Pres. Obama!

Submitted by urbinato on

Dear Democrats in Congress and President Obama,

We, the undersigned, vehemently oppose the health care and clean energy legislation you are considering this year. This is a democracy and you must to listen to us, your constituents, the everyday people of this great nation.

Let us be clear: if you continue to pursue passage of this legislation, there will be consequences at the ballot box. We remind you that in the last election we were the ones knocking on doors, making phone calls, attending the political rallies, and giving campaign contributions to the Republican party and Republican candidates. Therefore, you cannot ignore us.

In 2008, we worked tirelessly to support candidates such as Senator Norm Coleman in Minnesota, Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, and John McCain for President. Your vote on these matters will dramatically affect whether we return to participate in next year's election.

Brad Miller receives death threat on health care reform

Submitted by urbinato on

The right wingers and the health care mob have hit again. This time going after my member of Congress, Brad Miller. Talking Points Memo has the scoop:

The threatening call in question happened earlier this week.

"The call to the D.C. office was, 'Miller could lose his life over this,'" said Canipe. "Our staffer took it so seriously, he confirmed what the guy was saying. He said, 'Sir is that a threat?' and at that time our staffer was getting the phone number off caller ID and turning it over to the Capitol Police."

They haven't heard anything back from the police yet, but they did get the caller's number. So this could develop into something soon enough.

Canipe explained that Miller had no plans for a town hall before and won't be holding any now, due to this event and the examples he's already seem from the around the country: "Our point is, we're not gonna be bullied into having a town hall so it can then be interrupted by the fake grassroots folks."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/dem-congressmans-office-his-life-has-been-threatened-over...

In opposition to dumb wars

Submitted by urbinato on

The fact that Barack Obama was opposed to the Iraq invasion from the start (back when many Democrats were giving Bush the authority to invade) was a major reason that I was first attracted to his campaign. I just came across this speech he gave in October 2002 at a rally to stop the invasion.

The best line he gives: "I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars."

And then there's this paragraph:

"You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn’t simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil.

Richard Moore opposes Cliffside!

Submitted by urbinato on

This just in from the News & Observer's Under the Dome:

Richard Moore says the Cliffside coal plant can wait.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate said today that state air quality regulators should wait to issue a permit for a new coal-fire plant.

"North Carolina should focus on new, efficient energy choices and conservation rather than building more high polluting, coal fired power plants,” he said in a statement. "This type of plant should be a last resort, not a first option."

Moore argued that carbon dioxide emissions from the plant could contribute to global warming and damage air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Kay Hagan seriously thinking about challenging Dole

Submitted by urbinato on

I just hope someone competent (both Grier and Kay Hagan fit that category) will make it official soon so I can volunteer for a campaign to oust Liddy.

State Sen. Kay Hagan said Tuesday she is "looking into" a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Elizabeth Dole.

The Greensboro Democrat's name has been raised frequently by political analysts in the past nine months as a potential contender. However, this is the first time Hagan herself has directly addressed the possibility of challenging Dole, who faces re-election in 2008.

Why Howard Dean stopped NC's electoral college reform bill

Submitted by urbinato on

From the upcoming edition of Newsweek. Seems pretty clear that California or national Democratic Party will be suing to stop California effort to pass a ballot initiative to award electoral votes by Congressional district. So having NC do this could hurt the legal arguments I imagine. However, if you read the article, there appears to be a significant difference between the legality of a ballot referendum and legislative action.

Nonetheless, perhaps Mr. Dean was right to put the brakes on our reform, as disappointing as that is for us in NC.

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