According to the Jefferson Post:

Turnout is expected to be heavy for tonight’s forum with U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and her Democratic challenger Billy Kennedy, both from Watauga County. The forum takes place at Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the 90-minute forum is open to the public and will be moderated by three panelists: Lonnie Adamson, editor and general manager of the Jefferson Post, Ron Fitzwater, editor of the Ashe Mountain Times, and Scott Nicholson, senior political writer for the Watauga Democrat. Questions were invited to be sent in by the public.

The forum is expected to be broadcast live on radio station WMMY ‘My Country’ ‘Highway’ 106.1 FM broadcasting from Boone and serving the counties of Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Wilkes, Catawba and Caldwell.

The National Organization for Marriage, an anti-marriage equality organization, bussed into Raleigh from out of state today for a summer afternoon protest. I imagine they were surprised to find they were in the minority here in NC when they held a rally that almost no one showed up to. The counter-demonstration however had a little over 200 people.

Great news! Charlotte has been name as one of the final four in contention for the Democratic National Convention for 2012. We could certainly use all the help we can get from the national party to stay blue in that next big election, and this would certainly bring the national party's eye here.

In addition to bragging rights, the economic impact could tremendous. Denver reported earning $266 million when it hosted the 2008 Democratic convention. That's a lot of money and a lot of jobs created at a time when we're working to get our economy back on track.

You can aid in our efforts to getting the convention to the Queen City by signing this petition or you can upload a video or personal story here stating why you think the Democratic National Convention should come to North Carolina.

-from a NCDP e-mail

Call to action/petition link:
http://action.ncdp.org/page/s/Charlottein2010

For those fans of West Wing out there, you may recall that President Bartlett, when finishing a contentious issue or rallying the troops for a hard vote, would follow it up with those ominous words: "What's Next?" Right now and until that vote is cast and the legislation is signed into law we need to give health care reform our all. But the moment it is signed, we also need to look at what's next. And I'm asking for your help to make sure that is Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal. The time has come to take this next step towards equality, but it'll only happen if we take it together.

Make sure Kay Hagan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, knows where you stand on DADT repeal:
Please give her a call: 202-224-6342. And shoot her a message: http://hagan.senate.gov/contact/

News coverage, many pictures, and civil disobedience beyond the fold...