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Hinting that she can't take the heat in this "new political environment," Sarah Palin resigns as Governor of Alaska.

The NC Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources is set to vote on revised version of Senate Bill 1068, Permitting Wind Energy Facilities in NC, on Tuesday July 7th that will ban all wind energy projects in the NC mountains, driving away jobs, economic benefits, and clean electricity from the region.

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The following is the summary of the public option from Senate HELP Committee.

A Strong Public Option

The Community Health Insurance Option

A strong majority of Americans believe that a strong public option is an important component of any health reform bill that keeps costs down, expands coverage, and offers American families a wide variety of affordable options. Backed by the government for the public good, not private profit, the HELP Committee’s public option – called the Community Health Insurance Option – will be a strong, effective national plan that provides Americans with a real alternative to traditional, for-profit insurance.

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I have obtained a copy of the letter that Senators Kennedy and Dodd distributed to their colleagues on the HELP committee. It's public information, so will post the entire letter.

Dear HELP Committee Member:

No issue is more important to our constituents - or to our economy - than health care reform. As President Obama has said - and as even those who disagree about the particulars of reform understand - inaction is not an option. The status quo isn't just unacceptable, it's unsustainable.Read more

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 2, 2009

Statement by the President on Health Care Reform Bill Released by Senate HELP Committee TodayRead more

In light of at least three full page ads this week in the N&O by NC Big Pharma companies opposing any public option in health care, along with today’s news about the dismal job loss report,( which, of course, means more people losing medical insurance), it is truly a ray of hope that our wavering Senator Kay Hagan has finally taken a decisive public stand in favor of said option.
( Link to the story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/02/kay-hagan-key-senate-demo_n_225... )

It’s about time. As an independent who not only voted for Hagan, but actually sent her campaign a few bucks, I would have expected her to take a leading role in advocating for healthcare as an inalienable right of every American citizen, as a part of the common good of being a member of this nation. Read more

Cross-posted from Facing South with author Sue Sturgis's permission

There was a cryptic moment in the emotional press conference South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford held last week to apologize for committing adultery.

"C Street," Sanford said, is where men face "hard questions."

Later, in response to a question from a reporter, the Republican governor and former congressman said that he had been to "what we called 'C Street' when I was in Washington."

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Use this thread to keep the conversation going over this welcome long weekend. For those in need of some patriotic festivities, please join us on Saturday from 4 to 7 in Chapel Hill. We'll have barbecue, tea and lemonade, and are asking folks to bring a side dish or dessert. The weather promises to be splendid, and I'm sure turnout will be great. Last year about 130 people attended, and Jane and I always say ... the more the merrier! Our address is 451 Lakeshore Lane.

In the meantime, there will be plenty to talk about. For instance, we might want to talk about why Obama's policies in Afghanistan are almost guaranteed not to work.

Yesterday, in a first for the 5,000 workers at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the employees or the Smithfield plant ratified a contract with Smithfield Foods granting the better benefits, pay increases and working conditions.

The Press Release from UFCW:

WORKERS AT WORLD'S LARGEST PORK PLANT RATIFY FIRST-EVER UNION CONTRACT

Deal raises Tar Heel workers’ wages and brings up benefits and working conditions to union standards

(TAR HEEL NC)—Five Thousand workers at the world’s largest pork processing plant have their first-ever union contract, after a majority of workers ratified the agreement over a two-day vote. Members of UFCW Local 1208 will join more than 10,000 other Smithfield workers, and more than 240,000 others who work in the meat packing and food processing industry who have a UFCW union contract.

The new contract includes:Read more

As some of you may know, I've been a frequent visitor and fan of the Under the Dome blog at the N&O since its inception. Indeed, I doubt there is another person who has done more to promote their site with links and commentary than I have. In recent months, though, the growth of right-wing vitriol there has been both alarming and off-putting. The same thing has been happening at Talking About Politics and WRAL News.

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