Reads : Approval of the amendment to the Rhode Island Constitution will provide that no person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction shall be permitted to vote until such person is discharged from the facility, at which point that person's right to vote shall be restored.

I think this is another important issue that should make the ballot in more states.  Not only is it morally correct to re-enfranchise released felons, but also I've heard statistics that those given their voting rights back are less likely to end up back in jail (anyone got those stats?).

Darcy Burner will debate Dave Reichert in their first public debate on Tuesday, October 10th. The debate is sponsored by the Seattle Times and is open to the public. There is no charge for admission.

WHO: Darcy Burner, Democrat vs. Republican Rep. Dave Reichert.
WHAT: Seattle Times debate
WHEN: Tuesday, October 10th. Debate begins at 7pm; doors open at 6:30pm. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.
WHERE: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004. For directions and parking information, click here.
COST: Free.

Direction and parking information:
http://www.meydenbauer.com/...
Show your $upport here:
https://www.darcyburner.com/contribute.php

Goodbye Dubai

Port foes' chance to mitigate terror misses the boat

Editor, The Times:

I am saddened at the collapse of the Dubai port deal ["Dubai port deal off; Arab firm will sell its U.S. operations," Times page one, March 10]. This was the first time that President Bush's strategy in the war on terror has been rebuffed.

It gets much better.

Finkbeiner's U-turn boosts gay rights bid

Bill Finkbeiner, Republican Senator from Kirkland, WA, stated his change in position today.  I wonder what changed his mind?  

"That said, it is important to remember that fewer than 400 have been reported dead. This event ranks around 25th in U.S. history for fatalities caused by a natural disaster. Predictably, however, the ubiquitous and overblown media reports are shamelessly manipulating our perception of this tragedy -- presumably so that we all buy tickets for the train of manufactured outrage."

Fucking twit, they're still finding the bodies!
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/240521_youngs14.html

Wow, great start!!  I'm lucky to get fabulous representation with Kline in Washington state and Jim McDermott in DC.

Do you feel guilty about driving while thinking of the 22lbs of CO2 per gallon of gasoline you're contributing to the atmosphere?

I know that I do.  There is a way to alleviate your guilt by doing good, and at a reasonable cost.

I went to a Social Security Town Hall in Seattle today.  When the speakers finally took the stage nearly an hour late, I recognized Senators Murray, Cantwell and Landrieu.

So when's the next alert, now that the election is over?  Better question, what event will prompt the Administration to "raise awareness"?  Has the system been exhausted by overuse?  If things get too touchy in Ohio, will they ratchet up the meter?

Betray your cynicism: take the poll.

Taking the estimates of ballots outstanding per each county, we assume that the ballots will come in at the same ratio as the already counted ballots.  (Got to start somewhere).

Based on that, the final results are...here:

That's why I'm thinking that voter initiatives may be the way to go for real electoral reform.  For me, this is an issue of paramount importance, as each of the past two presidential (and who knows how many other) elections may well have ended differently were the voting systems fairer.

My dad and I made a bet sometime in the middle of 2003.  I was a Dean supporter and my dad was for Kerry.  We made a pact that we would support the eventual nominee.  At the time, Dean was on the rise but he was still considered a long shot.  I think my dad feared I might do something rash like vote for a third party candidate should Dean not win.  For me, that was not an issue: we both would support the Democratic nominee because we both agreed that Bush was terrible.

So when it became obvious that Kerry would win the nomination, I asked my dad to tell me a little more about Kerry.  They were classmates at Yale and have remained friends, so he has some special insight.  Historically, we don't talk much about anything.  We're two, typical non-communicative males.  So this information was new to me.

Wow, am I glad to have her on our side!  They can take Ron Silver any day of the week.

Director'S NOTE:
"I decided to make Stranded Republican in the hope that I might be able to sway undecided voters in the swing states. The ad points out that Bush is neither a Republican or a Democrat, and that this administration is in fact un-American in their policies. In today's climate of character assassination advertising, I felt it would be effective to try an approach using honey instead of vinegar. Growing up in the Midwest I understand that the people are real and need to be reasoned with, rather than being made to feel abject fear. Everyone must realize that this is the most important election of any of our lifetimes, and I pray that the efforts of all of these talented musicians and filmmakers can actually make a difference".

-- Marty Callner

Gene Autry was a cowboy.  He enumerated the Cowboy Code.  How many of these rules has W broken?

Story : www.villagevoice.com/issues/0439/baard.php

I'm only a casual observer and had assumed that of course Sam would win in Orange County, this is the West Wing for chrissakes.

What really happened?  Come on, you West Wing-ers.  Poll below.

Who is your choice for Governor?