OBAMA CABINET

A June 23 Newsweek article notes that three senators are interested in the Secretary of State position in an Obama administration: John Kerry, Christopher Dodd, and Joe Biden.
All serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden as Chairman.

Rarely have we seen more qualified candidates, and ones with such language skills. Kerry speaks fluent French, Dodd speaks fluent Spanish, and Biden speaks effluent English.

homer   www.altara.blogspot.com

Since day one, we have, for the most part; all assumed that it was the Vice Presidents office that leaked the information about Valarie Plame, violating the federal law that bars the "outing" of intelligence operatives.

Vice President Dick Cheney wrote a memo that effectively confirms his intimate involvement in strategizing about how to counter the inquiry into the Bush administration's politically motivated outing of CIA operative Valarie Plame. This was revealed in the former vice presidential chief of staff "Scooter" Libby's trial on charges of obstructing a federal investigation.

This blatant conspiracy to punish a critic of the Bush administration is just like one of the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon in the seventies, who by the way was Dick Cheney's boss at the time. One could say he learned at the knee of the master.

Well, it was a landslide in Congress and in the Governor's mansions, but how did the 2006 elections affect downballot races? I've put together a rundown of the statewide races aside from Senator and Governor: Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Comptroller, Agriculture Commissioner, Superintendant of Education, Mine Inspector (seriously, Arizona elects this)...

Just a quick note, I'm only covering races in which the party control has changed. Also, I'm only covering Lt. Governor seats that are elected independently of the Governor. If I've missed anything, be sure to tell me.

Broken up into regions, it looks something like this...

I am thrilled with the election of Chet Culver and Patty Judge as Governor and Lt. Governor and our victories in Iowa's General Assembly.  Through so many months of hard work on the campaign trail, Iowa made history last night.

Iowans have ensured that the progress we have made together will continue long after my term as governor is up. Confident in the abilities of newly elected leaders, I know our children will have access to ever-improving schools.  And under Governor Culver's administration, Iowa will continue to create good-paying jobs, ensure access to healthcare and maintain our status as a renewable fuels leader.

Nationally, the vote today was a mandate for change in Washington.  It was a call to get our country back on track with common sense ideas and Heartland values.  That mandate of responsibility spreads across our great country.

Democratic candidate and voting rights advocate Senator Debra Bowen was officially endorsed by the San Francisco Chronicle this morning after an extensive public debate before their editorial board last Wednesday.

The Chronicle advocates:

"In Bowen, California would have a secretary of state who is asking the right questions and has the grounding to know when she is getting straight answers. She recognizes that a conversion to electronic voting systems must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards -- such as paper trails and open source software -- that maintain public confidence in the electoral process."

Update [2006-9-30 19:44:13 by jsw]: OK, as of 4:30 today, Bowen, Brown, and McNerney are all over their caps and I've made my matching contribution up to the cap amounts. Here are the numbers as of right now:

Debra Bowen:  $1,008.35
Charlie Brown:  $638.34
Jerry McNerney: $843.34

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I may do another one of these next month before the elections.

Wednesday, I offered a proposal: I will do a dollar for dollar match for every dollar given to Debra Bowen (running for CA Secretary of State), Charlie Brown (running against John 15% Doolittle), and Jerry McNerney (running against Richard "Paid-For" Pombo) using the Calitics ActBlue page through 5.00 pm on Saturday, September 30, up to the following limits:

Debra Bowen:  $1,000
Charlie Brown:  $500
Jerry McNerney: $500

Well, here's what's been raised through 7:00 this morning:

Debra Bowen:  $665.01
Charlie Brown:  $460.01
Jerry McNerney:  $330.01

Charlie Brown is very close to meeting the goal. Come on, McNerney & Bowen Fans! You're not gonna let the Charlie Brown people do that to you, are you?

I matched yesterday's contributions over coffee this morning. Make me give away the rest tomorrow morning.

Once again, don't forget to tip ActBlue. 

Yesterday, I offered a proposal: I will do a dollar for dollar match for every dollar given to Debra Bowen (running for CA Secretary of State), Charlie Brown (running against John 15% Doolittle), and Jerry McNerney (running against Richard "Paid-For" Pombo) using the Calitics ActBlue page through 5.00 pm on Saturday, September 30, up to the following limits:

Debra Bowen:  $1,000
Charlie Brown:  $500
Jerry McNerney: $500

Well, here's what's been raised through 10.00 today:

Debra Bowen:  $575.01
Charlie Brown:  $210.01
Jerry McNerney: $140.01

And because it's so doggone easy to give through ActBlue, I've already made my matching contributions. It took me three whole minutes this morning. Make me give away some more money tomorrow morning.

And again, don't forget to tip ActBlue.  More tips means less time they have to spend raising money, more time they can spend improving the service and helping turn our country a pretty blue.