I was interviewed by NPR this morning about the state of the Democratic Party from a grassroots perspective and one of the topics we discussed was how the recent controversy at the state party was going to affect fundraising. I think turnout at the Jefferson/Jackson dinner next month will be telling. There is no way the dinner will bring in the numbers from four years ago but I think it will be a good gauge on what should be expected over the next few months.

This dinner has traditionally been one of if not the largest fundraiser for the state party each year and who shows should be pretty interesting.

Thoughts?

And it's not a happy tale:

The state currently lists all water bodies in the state as contaminated by mercury. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is drafting a plan to quantify sources of mercury such as power plants and sewage treatment plants and propose steps to reduce mercury in North Carolina waterways. Having such a plan will make it easier to press other states that contribute to North Carolina’s pollution problem to cut mercury pollution, officials say.

If DENR is really serious about reducing mercury emissions, refusing Titan Cement's permits would be a no-brainer. That one plant alone will increase atmospheric mercury releases in the state by over 10%. A short list of fish not to eat:

Stepping up to fight undue influence by corporations:

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia are backing Montana in its fight to prevent the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision from being used to strike down state laws restricting corporate campaign spending.

The entity behind this attack on states' rights is (of course) a Republican-approved, oil & gas-funded, astroturf-carpeted organization called the American Tradition Partnership, which has been waging war against clean, renewable energy for some time now. I'll let Sue Sturgis from Facing South elucidate further:

When the truth begins to hurt too much, send in the lawyers:

In the memo to stations, Foley & Lardner, a Washington law firm representing the McCrory campaign, said the ad is filled with “egregious and false statements” about the former Charlotte mayor. “Unless you stop airing the ad immediately,” the firm wrote, “we will seek all legal remedies to force the ad off the air.”

The ad is centered around Myers Park Pat's association with foreclosure specialist Tree.com while he served as Mayor of Charlotte:

Big government Republicans put the squeeze on cities over annexation:

Both bills are aimed directly at five cities, one of which is Wilmington, that challenged last year's bill that made it virtually impossible for cities to take in territory that has developed around the outskirts. They also impose long waiting periods – one of the bills would make it 12 years – before a city can attempt another involuntary annexation of the same area.

These unincorporated developments sort of remind me of a tick on a dog's back: The tick couldn't survive without the dog, but the dog gets nothing in return except a sore neck.

Watch the courageous acts of civil disobedience by everyone who stood up and demanded to be served at marriage license counters across the state, especially those who were arrested sitting in waiting for service that would never come.

So, the leader of our State House, who is the number 3 person in the line of succession to Governor, is citing Wikipedia and UK law?

I have seen some BS come out of his mouth but this takes the cake:

Asked why employees who resigned would receive a month of additional pay, Tillis said: “I would hope people would think of these two who were in devastating personal situations.”

What about the teachers and other state employees who have been laid off because of YOU Speaker Tillis?

Read more: Charlotte Observer

Probably not. Pennsylvania didn't have access to a clear record of water contamination before the state sold it soul to frackers. They didn't understand the potential for destruction, a potential that is being played out today with people moving away from toxic towns in search of clean water.

That record in Pennsylvania stands before us as a testament to human stupidity and greed. Which is apparently all the reason North Carolina Republicans need to charge forward into the abyss.

I think that it is important to note that even though this amendment passed, those of us fighting for LGBT equality aren't going away. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I have 5000 words on the eastern North Carolina experience that you might want to see, if you'll kindly follow me below the fold.