Jotting

I heard Dick Day was in town recently tryng to muster up support from the small business folks. So now that he is out on the campaign trail driving all over the First District one has to wonder if he has finally noticed just how bad the roads are in the state.

Do You Think?
With the July 3rd parade just days away, will the Freeborn County Republican party be welcoming Dick to town with open arms?

Next

While I'm writing about our local republican party, I was checking out their website recently and noticed they have a little write up on Norm Coleman. well since Sen Coleman has been senator for the last 6 years I for one would think that they would be able to spell his name right. So here is a little heads up to my republican friends Norms last name is spelled Coleman not "Colman" hope that helps.

I also notice that Erik Larson said on his website that he give back to the community as a part of the Bayside Skiers water show. Ok so is showing off ones water skiing skills really giving back to the community? I think not.

What has Erik really done for the citizens here? Looks like "Nothing."

Lastly

I have always wondered why the Chamber of Commerce holds the Independence Day parade on the evening of July 3?

By doing so they are excluding the men and women of the community and the area who work the night shift at our local business and factories from taking part in or enjoying this event.

These are young to middle age working class citizens with families, why would we want to exclude these hard working people and their families from attending? The committee that plans this parade need to at least look into planing this event in the future so the working class citizens that work the night shift can also enjoy this wonderful event.

Walz fight for Us

The high gas prices are inflicting some real pain on the citizens of the first district. Rep. Tim Walz also feels the pain and is doing something about it.

As Minnesotans are preparing their travel plans for the 4th of July, Congressman
Walz took steps today to stop price gouging at the pumps. Walz joined 275
of his colleagues in voting for the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act (HR
6346). This legislation will allow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to
investigate and punish individuals and companies taking advantage of American
consumers and will help families and businesses that are struggling with record
gas prices.“Our summer driving season is well underway and hard working families
are paying a heavy price for this Administration’s failure to hold Big Oil
accountable,” said Walz. “In Mankato, gas costs $3.93 a gallon, which is more
than double the cost when Bush took office. Enough is enough.”Walz continued,
“This bill will allow the FTC to investigate and punish those who artificially
inflate the price of gasoline and diesel fuel to greedily make more money. Under
the bill, the Justice Department could impose criminal penalties of up to $150
million on corporations and fines of up to $2 million and jail sentences of up
to 10 years for individuals who are found guilty of gas price gouging


Rep. Walz understands that the high cost of fuel has a ripple effect on us all. Beside costing us more at the pump it also drives up the cost of food, goods and services which in turns takes more money out of the pockets of hard working citizens. It's time to stand up for the citizens that are feeling the pinch.

Thanks Rep Walz

John McCain: Energy and Global Warming

Where does John McCain really stand on the issue of Energy and Global Warming?

On the Environment

In 2007, Mr McCain had a voter rating of 0 of the 15 critical votes taken on the Environment. John McCain missed them all. Mr. McCain only has a lifetime rating of 26% in supporting environmental issues.

Big Oil

It is well known that John McCain is a huge supporter of Big Oil.
Did you know that:

In 2007, John McCain received $291,658.00 from big oil and gas industries.

Sen. McCain was the only senator to miss a vote to end tax breaks for big oil and to invest in clean energy, according to Forbes.com, and would have voted in support of big Oil if he had been there.

Sen. McCain has proposed to cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. By doing so, he would have lowered Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips taxes by $1.2 billion each in 2007.

Sen. McCain voted against temporarily taxing oil company profits so consumers could receive a tax credit.

Sen. McCain has said that America dependency to foreign oil is a threat to our Security. Yet Sen McCain voted against a plan that would have reduced imports of foreign oil .

Renewable Energy

With wind energy becoming a part of life here, it's interesting to note that in 2002 and again in 2005, Sen. McCain voted 4 times against funding for wind and solar energy He has vote against requiring utilities nationwide to generate 10 percent to 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources.

Sen. McCain wants to greatly increase the use of nuclear energy to solve our energy problem and would cut ethanol subsidies.

It is becoming clear that a President McCain would be another four years of Bush Policies towards the environmental and global warming issues. Can the world really stand four years of John McCain?

I think NOT!

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Have You Heard?

The Republican smear machine has been working overtime for a while now on putting out false accusations on the air waves and in cyberspace about Sen. Barack Obama

Like, have you received an e-mail lately telling that Sen. Obama won't pledge allegiance to the flag?

How about the one that says he took the Senate oath of office with his hand on the Qur'an?

Well folks, these rumors are nothing more then lies and mistruths that have been circling around the Internet, spread by the GOP Sleaze machine. Republicans seem to care less if a smear has any truth to it or not.

To think this type of false information is being spread by the Party that says it stands up for family values. I never knew that lying was a positive family value. .

One would think that the religious right would be up in arms over this type of conduct of spreading lies and mistruths, since it is breaking one of the 10 commandments.

Remember number nine?

'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'

Why haven't we heard a word from them over these tactics???


The Obama campaign has started a new website called Fight the Smears. This new site is an effort to fight back against damaging rumors being spread about him.

Check this cite out and find out the truth. Then stop and think for a few minutes, then ask your self,
if all the republicans can do do is spread rumors, lies and mistruths to avoid answering the real issues that is affecting all Americans, how can we really trust them?

Sophomores Take Action

I read with interest the article written by guest columnist Abbey Arends about the violence that is being perpetrated on the people of Darfur by its own government that was in the Albert Lea Tribune

It is truly a noble cause theses students have taken by standing up and condemning the genocide that is happening there.

What a great idea Sam Sickels, and her group members had in writing a letter along with sending a petition with 152 signatures to Rep. Tim Walz urging him to spread awareness about the genocide taking place on the Darfurian peoples.

It make me proud to see our young people taking part in such a noble cause. Keep up the good work and let your voices be be heard.

If anyone would like to write Rep Walz on this issue you can e-mail him by clicking on
his name below

Rep. Tim Walz

Unite

Howard Dean kicked off the State DFL convention yesterday by telling democrats to unite.

"Our goal is to end the Bush presidency and not allow a third term for George W. Bush. Mr. Dean added " We honor John McCain's service to America, but he has served enough,"

Dean went to to say that John McCain is

"badly out of touch with what the American people want"

and added that McCain is

"the wrong choice for America's future

Mr. Dean received a ovation when he said:

"Anybody who believes that the American people want to stay in Iraq for another 100 years under any circumstances is badly out of touch with what the American people want"

in a interesting side note,

58 percent of voters under 30 now identify themselves as Democratic or leaning Democratic.

Mr. Dean wrote wrote in a e-mailing earlier this week that:

As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you're a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won't be accepting your contribution

Think the Republicans will join this stance?

Not a chance.

History

I have seen many changes in our country over the last fifty years:

• Political activists being murdered in the south because for their attempts to register blacks to vote.
• The assassinations of a president, a civil rights leader and a candidate running for president.
• Men walked on the moon.
• Spacecrafts sent to outerspace and Mars
• Mars landing and pictures sent back of Mars surface
• The end of the cold war
• Women running for and being elected to public office
• The first black, Barack Obama, claimed the nomination of the Democratic Party to run for President.

Our nation has come a long way in the last fifty years in the quest for equality. But we still have a long way to go - especially with equal rights for women, civil rights, and affordable health care for all Americans.