sam spencer

Though it feels like I just got back to North Carolina and the world wide web, it's not time to go back to blogging quite yet. Duty calls.

As a few of you learned this past Saturday at the State Executive Committee meeting in Hamlet, I have taken a job as the Statewide Political Director for the Neal for Senate campaign. This was not a decision I made lightly, or without a few weeks of consideration - but it was the right decision. Though many campaigns were quick to send job offers to those of us that became unemployed after Iowa, I chose the Neal campaign for many reasons - our strong grassroots support, our impressive volunteers, the historic nature of the race, and our very real chance to get rid of Dole.

Crossposted from Daily Kos.

I've been in Iowa for a week, doing whatever it takes to win Iowa and the Democratic Nomination for Senator Joe Biden. As everybody here at BlueNC knows, I believe in Joe.

I'm beyond talking about Chuck Grassley and Tom Carper's Bankruptcy Bill, or the Clarence Thomas hearings that were cut short by Anita Hill's team. I'm beyond pedantic enucleations of back-door bureaucratic negotiations. I'm way beyond Hillary bashing. I'm not even asking for money. Instead, I'm going to tell you a story that in some ways goes back to a young college student in his small town's only diner, and in other ways goes back to a young man growing up in Delaware. Hopefully, you will indulge me as I go back in to my past, our past, and Joe Biden's past with some of my recollections and a few quotes that help tell the story. To those enamored with brevity, I apologize for the commodious topics covered in this diary. I think it's a rewarding read, but it's not for the faint of heart. Perhaps it will tell you more about a great Democratic Senator and a little about ourselves. And so it begins ...

A jewel from the N&O:

In a vote of 85-8, the U.S. Senate voted to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission ...

Thank God the Senate, in a bipartisan, veto-proof vote, is finally implementing measures to protect our country after much stonewalling by the Bush administration.

Astonishingly, North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole was one of the eight senators to vote against these vital protections. We, the citizens of North Carolina, have heard no explanation for this lapse in judgment But thanks to The News & Observer for informing us in Dome on Aug. 2 that the senator loves her some Bojangles!

Dave Parnell
Raleigh

Is it a socially-conscious sense of humor (Franken)? Is it how we frequent blogs, or how we have a North Carolina voter registration card (Miller)?

It could be a strong dislike for our current White House leadership, but that's something most of America has in common now. So I'll cut the bull and get straight to the point - we all have birthdays this week!

... and there's nothing I'd like more that to help out my fellow birthday boys through ActBlue.