bob etheridge

Update: Still no word from McIntyre or Etheridge. Please call them and see if we can get them to take a position on the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169.) Thanks!

The Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169) would reverse the Bush Administration’s 2002 decision that the toxic “waste” created by mountaintop removal could be defined as “fill material,” and recklessly dumped into our water ways. This practice has already destroyed over 1200 miles of American headwater streams, and eliminated access to safe, clean potable water for many communities. The CWPA (HR 2169) currently has 107 co-sponsors, and a lot of momentum. But we need more to get out of committee and onto the floor.

We have 5 of 7 Democrats from NC onboard, and we need to know if Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre are “wit’ us” or “ginst us” on HR 2169. Please ask.

If you have a moment, please see if your Congressman is a co-sponsor, and take a moment to call Etheridge (202-225-2731) and McIntyre (202-225-2731), politely but forcefully asking that they co-sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169), and take a stand against mountaintop removal.

A quick report on our NC Dems and mountaintop removal below…

I just received the below press release from my congressman, Rep. Etheridge, and he is going to vote for S-CHIP. What a great turn of events. Congrats to everyone who wrote, called, emailed, and railed. Here is the press release:

Etheridge to Vote for S-CHIP Veto Override

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today announced that he will vote to override the President’s veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. Etheridge strongly supports the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but voted against the legislation on September 24 because it would be funded by a 61-cent tobacco tax increase.

Apparently everyone.

I continue to be distressed that no suitable Democrat has stepped up to challenge Liddy Dole for the US Senate. I won't highlight the names right now, but it's a crying shame that so many good potential candidates have failed so far to rise to the occasion.

What I really don't understand, though, is what they're afraid of. A serial incompetent who has done nothing of note in her entire career? A cheer-leading Bushbot chickenhawk who believes in staying the disastrous course in Iraq? An old-school politician who puts party over country at every turn?

More to the point, we're now getting a few rare glimpses of the very senior Senator in person, (she is conducting a statewide dog-and-pony show to shore up her anti-immigrant credentials with the xenophobic fringe) and it ain't a pretty sight. Just look at what the woman has to say!

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Senator Elizabeth Dole's tour of the state came through Salisbury on Wednesday and she spent her time talking to local leaders about immigration reform.
Sheriffs from across the Charlotte area met with Dole at the Rowan County Sheriff's Office and told her their concerns about immigration.

The senator said she's pushing for legislation to secure our borders and enforce laws already on the books. "It's how you weed out the criminal element here. In other words, we want to enforce the law because there's no real system," she said.

Over the past four years, it has been excruciatingly painful to watch the machinations of our Congress inaction. With Republicans in charge in 2004 and 2005, there was nothing the Democrats could do in the House, and what little they could do in the Senate, they didn't. Instead of filibustering to stop the fascist takeover of the Supreme Court, the Senate Democrats chose to keep their "powder dry" for some unspecified battle in the future.

With the 2006 elections, the dynamics shifted completely. Now the Senate can accomplish almost nothing because of obstructionist Republicans like Liddy Dole and Dick Burr. Whereas the House has a workable majority that, in theory, could act decisively on the most important issues of the day.

To be sure, some of that action is happening. Representatives Price and Miller, in particular, are pushing forward to bring some modicum of accountability through their committee work. I appreciate those good efforts.

Unfortunately, those efforts have been met with an increasingly belligerent White House which has no intention of being held accountable for anything. From the outrageous claims of executive privilege around the politicization of the Justice Department to continuing White House involvement in covering for war-profiteers to the new executive order making torture of detainees legal, we have reached a tipping point. Indeed, we have reached the point where all our dry powder must be put to good use.

It is time for the reasonable and reasoned voices of the North Carolina Democratic Congressional delegation to unite in clear and serious action for impeachment of both the President and the Vice President. The integrity of our democracy is at grave risk.

Not sure how I missed posting this, but better late than never.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – The John Edwards for President campaign announced today that all seven members of North Carolina's Democratic Congressional delegation are endorsing Senator John Edwards for President.

The seven North Carolina congressmen endorsing Edwards are Congressman G.K Butterfield (D-1st), Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-2nd), Congressman David Price (D-4th), Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-7th), Congressman Heath Shuler (D-11th), Congressman Mel Watt (D-12th) and Congressman Brad Miller (D-13th).

"I am proud to have the support of these outstanding members of Congress," said Edwards. "They work each and every day to bring North Carolina common sense to Washington and to represent the people of our great state with dignity and honor. I value both their ideas and their friendship and thank them for their support."

A new poll has been released by Public Policy Polling. Following closely on the heels of this earlier poll, Elizabeth Dole is in big trouble.

For this poll, respondents were asked to choose between Dole and Etheridge. Etheridge has little name ID outside of his district. He is known mostly as a strong voice for his district, and for being a good run of the mill Democrat. However, very few people know him west of Raleigh.

And yet, he only loses to Elizabeth Dole 45-30.

Regardless if one terms the President's announced change in policy a surge or an escalation or an augmentation, the so-called new plan can be summed up in four words: more of the same.

Congressman Bob Etheridge has had it! He's mad, y'all, and rightfully so. He's a rock solid pro-military Democrat but he has had all the b.s. he can take from W. He got his snark on in the House Tuesday.

Remember June Atkinson? She was the Democratic candidate in 2004 for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. You might also remember she won that election, but her opponent, a Republican creature named Bill Fletcher, contested her victory and mounted a long drawn out legal fight.

The election was close, but the decision was clear. Never-the-less, Fletcher refused to give up and the battle through the courts cost both political parties a fortune and prevented June Atkinson from taking office until late in 2005.

You might assume all of that would be frustration enough for someone like Dr. Atkinson who has terrific qualifications and a strong desire to serve. After all, she campaigned all across the state and enjoyed high hopes for her aggressive agenda to improve the schools.

In the wake of the November 7 election, attention has already turned to 2008. Specifically, many folks are wondering how the races for Governor and US Senate will most likely shape up. Jerry Meek, who leads the NC Democratic Party, even came by BlueNC to ask for ideas on whom he should recruit to take Elizabeth Dole's seat. His entry received more than 150 comments, an all-time high for a BlueNC post.

Over the Thanksgiving break I had the chance to talk with four people who work inside the beltline in Raleigh. These people personally know each of the individuals being discussed for various seats - and they are almost unanimous in their conclusions. Here's what they told me:

www.wral.com/news/10094766/detail.html

SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- A Republican congressional candidate who has advocated elimination of the federal income tax owes the federal government more than $220,000 in unpaid taxes, according to liens filed in Johnston County.