urbinato's blog
Two speeches: 8 days and worlds apart
Submitted by urbinato on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 1:22pm.There were two speeches given 8 days apart a few years ago and, at least for me, they shed immeasurable light on which candidate I will support in North Carolina's May 6th primary.
In opposition to dumb wars
Submitted by urbinato on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 1:59am.The fact that Barack Obama was opposed to the Iraq invasion from the start (back when many Democrats were giving Bush the authority to invade) was a major reason that I was first attracted to his campaign. I just came across this speech he gave in October 2002 at a rally to stop the invasion.
The best line he gives: "I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars."
And then there's this paragraph:
"You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn’t simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil.
Wow!
Submitted by urbinato on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 4:16pm.Now this is what I call an inspiring viral video. Apparently, it was put together by some well-known supporters (Black Eyed Peas, Scarlett Johansson, etc) of Barack Obama. They essentially making a song out of Obama's "Yes we can" speech. It's really quite moving, even for the jaded cynics out there.
Richard Moore opposes Cliffside!
Submitted by urbinato on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 2:55pm.This just in from the News & Observer's Under the Dome:
Richard Moore says the Cliffside coal plant can wait.
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate said today that state air quality regulators should wait to issue a permit for a new coal-fire plant.
"North Carolina should focus on new, efficient energy choices and conservation rather than building more high polluting, coal fired power plants,” he said in a statement. "This type of plant should be a last resort, not a first option."
Moore argued that carbon dioxide emissions from the plant could contribute to global warming and damage air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Kay Hagan seriously thinking about challenging Dole
Submitted by urbinato on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 5:47pm.I just hope someone competent (both Grier and Kay Hagan fit that category) will make it official soon so I can volunteer for a campaign to oust Liddy.
State Sen. Kay Hagan said Tuesday she is "looking into" a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Elizabeth Dole.
The Greensboro Democrat's name has been raised frequently by political analysts in the past nine months as a potential contender. However, this is the first time Hagan herself has directly addressed the possibility of challenging Dole, who faces re-election in 2008.
Until now, Hagan has been circumspect in talking about a potential run, saying during this year's legislative term that she was focused on completing the state budget.
On Tuesday, Hagan said Dole is "vulnerable" to a challenge.
Why Howard Dean stopped NC's electoral college reform bill
Submitted by urbinato on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 11:09pm.From the upcoming edition of Newsweek. Seems pretty clear that California or national Democratic Party will be suing to stop California effort to pass a ballot initiative to award electoral votes by Congressional district. So having NC do this could hurt the legal arguments I imagine. However, if you read the article, there appears to be a significant difference between the legality of a ballot referendum and legislative action.
Nonetheless, perhaps Mr. Dean was right to put the brakes on our reform, as disappointing as that is for us in NC.
Some NC Electoral Votes Going Dem in 08
Submitted by urbinato on Thu, 07/26/2007 - 10:44pm.The state House is poised to pass Senate Bill 353 tomorrow, which would revamp the distibution of electoral college votes in NC. Under this new format, a candidate would get one electoral vote for each congressional district he or she carries. The candidate who wins statewide would take the remaining two votes.
