nc-13

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…

True story.

I just got to work and was restocking the kitchen for the workday. So I put on a lil SportsCenter and start my job. About 5 to 7 minutes in, a Vernon Robinson commerical comes on ESPN, and I noticed I haven't seen this one yet. So I watch it.

The commerical was about how he served in the Air Force, and so did his father as a Tuskgee. Okay cool. Fine ad, tell the voters who you are.

More below...

Vernon Robinson is apparently hemorrhaging money because, like a pyramid scheme, his fear-factor business model has to spend more to take in more. In pre-election reports he declared $274,932.99 cash on hand while Brad Miller reported $379,831.37 cash on hand.

Of 252 reportable transactions recorded by Robinson only 28 were from North Carolina and less than half of those from within District 13.

Of 210 reportable transactions recorded by Brad Miller 194 were from North Carolina and most of those from within District 13.
         .....more below the fold.....

For those who may have missed it, there will be a fundraiser for Brad TODAY in Raleigh. Hopefully, I may get to meet some of you fine folks from BlueNC! From Brad's site:

Please Join Members of the Council of State

In support of

Congressman Brad MIller

Monday, October 23, 2006
5:30 to 7:30pm

at the home of

Betsy & Leonard Jernigan
1206 Marlowe Rd.
Raleigh NC

Host - $1000 Patron - $500 Sponsor - $250
Tickets: $100

Please RSVP by calling (919) 834-2343.

This just popped into my mailbox:

I'm sure it's not your normal habit to watch television on Saturday night, but tonight you may want to make an exception. WRAL will air Brad's debate with Vern at 7:30 tonight.

The debate was taped on Friday morning. Among the highlights, Vern takes on the Episcopal Church and is challenged to explain some of his wild distortions of Brad's votes. By all accounts, it's worth the time to watch him squirm.

In addition, Brad participated in two other debates this week, WXII (Winston-Salem) and WTVD (Durham). The distinction between the candidates couldn't be more clear. It's painfully obvious that Brad knows the issues and takes a thoughtful approach to analyzing challenging policy questions. On the other side Vern has established a handful of prepared quips that he somehow works in for almost every question.

The prize for the furthest traveled to this reunion goes to an octogenarian couple in Beijing, China who retired there from Illinois in 1988 and haven’t looked back since. As the husband writes in his website:

China living is easy, a slower-paced living. It's a lot like turning the clock back a number of years.

No kidding! Turning the clock back is what Vernon wants to do with a number of issues here in NC on the other side of the globe from Beijing, literally and figuratively. They have given money to Vernon before, giving them reunion status. Why would they want to give money to a Congressional race in NC? Well, clue number 1. is this quote, below the fold:

www.newsobserver.com/102/story/499394.html

Money piles up in hotly contested congressional race

Robinson, Miller each raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in a matter of months - but from divergent sources

Totals per Congressional Quarterly.

Notes: Being an incumbent usually gives you a huge $ advantage. We have 3 challengers doing quite well. Brad Miller and Mel Watt both have challengers who have raised a considerable amount of money.

2 & 7-Etheridge and McIntire are sitting on a lot of cash. Except compared to Taylor and Hayes, who each have more than $1 million on hand. Look for the airwaves to get real ugly very soon.

5-Foxx outspent Sharpe 4 to 1.

8-Hayes outspent Kissell 2 to 1.

11-Taylor outspent Shuler 4 to 1.

13-Robinson outspent Miller 2 to 1, but Miller has more cash on hand.

Vernon Robinson's campaign has failed to respond to a Federal Elections Commission letter issued August 29th, with a response due date of September 29th, requesting additional information regarding Robinson's Amended July Quarterly Report to the FEC.

Robinson has been too busy running a dirty campaign against Democratic Congressman Brad Miller to fulfill his responsibilities to the Federal government. Robinson's MBA appears to be of little use in managing his accounts. Let's hope he never gets near a Federal Budget or the House seat for NC-13 because he has failed the test for "No Contribution Left Behind".