US Congress

NC Congressmen, Price, Watt and Miller all stood up today for the American people and the Fourth Amendment by voting against, FISA, the illegal wiring taping bill.

FISA, which passed the House on a 293 to 129 vote, has been called a “compromise” by supporters when in fact, it’s merely a capitulation to Republicans and Telecom Companies.

Just hours before the bill passed, George W. Bush praised the bill stating, “The enemy who attacked us on 9-11 will attack again is determined to strike this country again. It’s vita thatl our intelligence community has the ability to learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying and what they are planning.” and what they are saying.”

I don't know if I moderated or liberalized the debate in Asheboro tonight, but at least I can say I didn't 'conserve' it.

I've been worrying about controlling the chaos as moderator of the 6th District debate tomorrow night, so here are some groundrules I'm proposing after a night's research.

They're based on the usual "Presidential Debate" procedures established in 1988 when the League of Women Voters revived national political debating. No debate this year has really followed any standard format, mainly because they started out with large numbers of candidates which diminished through the process, so the time for responses has grown proportionately.

Any one is welcome to give me feed back here- these Ground Rules aren't carved in stone, and I haven't emailed them to the candidates or journalists yet (read it here first!)

At least one thing I saw from last night's Blue NC Democratic gubernatorial candidate 'debate' is that these innertube-type debates are really self-generating and self-replicating. It happens in real time, in black and white (or whatever the electronic equivalent is), and then traditional media types (tip o' the hat to Laura Leslie and Ryan Beckwith) come out of the lurkosphere to participate, elaborate and pontificate. Does that have a bigger impact than a "live" debate, even one where the questioners are newspaper reporters, but their employers don't deem the event sufficiently newsworthy for next-day coverage?

I want to thank the BlueNC family of bloggers for their support and encouragement.

The Reception/Fundraiser in Raleigh was a great time and I got to see a lot of my friends. It was a mixed blessing of successes, some greater than others, but I am glad we did it and look forward to the now several others being planned on my behalf within the NC-03.

NC Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, Jim Neal, Mayor Don Davis, Beth Wood, Ronnie Ansley, Ed Ridpath, Kristin Ruth, and Roy Lucas all said some pretty nice things which I very much appreicate and thank them for.

Special thanks to......

Vote Roy Carter on Democracy For America.

Looks like Pat might have a contested primary. And after all that work just last month trying to convinced us resistance to his incumbency would be futile.

Former military judge, retired Lieutenant Colonel Lance Sigmon told the Hickory Daily Record his primary challenge to Big Pat is "very likely."

Here's Sigmon's law practice website.

Many have excitedly embraced the chance to extend to Bryan Greene his constitutional freedom to run for public office and to have his name printed on the ballot, although the state has wrongfully restricted him. Yet, unlike most individuals, such as the Spruce Pine candidate for Town Council who signed Mr. Greene’s petition, who support the right to the ballot as a basic freedom, there are those who refuse to support Bryan’s right to be on the ballot. The most notable of these very few individuals, is the mayor of Spruce Pine, Mr. Wes Foy, who refused to sign Mr. Greene’s petition

NC Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek wants to know. And so do I. Tel Opinion Research is known for push polling which is asking questions that are designed to dish dirt on the opposition. As well, many pollsters stay in business by designing polls that will tell their candidate (the customer) what he wants to hear.

Let's see the science behind that absurd poll whose results you released yesterday, Mr. Man.