The Bridge

Jurydutyoptionsapprovedforpeopleage72andaboveInKYHouse

   Turningage72wouldbereasonenoughtogetoutofjurydutyunderlegislationwhichpassedtheKentuckyHousebyan85-0voteyesterday.

   HouseBill593,sponsoredbyRep.EddieBallard,D-Madisonville,wouldallowanyonewhohasreachedage72tohavetheirnamesremovedfromalistofprospectivejurors.Oncethenamehasbeenremoved,theindividualwouldbeautomaticallyexemptedfromjuryduty.

  "It(willnolonger)bemandatorythattheyserveonajury,"Balladsaid,whenexplainingthebillbeforetheHousevote."Theycan,iftheywantto,theycanvolunteertodoit,butitjustsaystheycanoptoutiftheywanttoafterthey'vereached72."

  ThebillnowgoestotheSenateforitsconsideration.

--KYLRCPublicInformationOffice;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

IsSenatorJohnKerryalso“Bush/CheneyLite”?

byPanMetron,TheDemocraticDaily:

Earlyinthispresidentialrace,SenatorBarackObamaabandonedhispromisetorunapositivecampaignbylabellingSenatorHillaryClintonwiththeultimateinsulttoaDemocrat:hecalledher“Bush/CheneyLite”.Thereason?Onlyoneissue,whichhehasrepeatedoverandover(inlieuofarealforeignpolicydebate):thatshevotedfortheauthorizationofforcein2002,anauthorizationwhichwaspromisedasleveragetogetUNinspectorsbackintoIraq,butwhichwashijackedbytheBushadministrationtowageaunilateralwar.

In2004,Democratsralliedaroundourownparty’sheroinwarandpeace:SenatorJohnKerry.MuchhasbeenmadeofKerry’ssupportforObamathiselectionseason(supportwhich,evenwithTedKennedythrownin,didnotwinthestateofMassachussetsforObama).Butthere’sapuzzlingdouble-standardhere.

JohnKerryvotedforthewarauthorizationin2002.Notonlythat;accordingtothestatisticalrankingsatProgressivePunch.org,KerryhasvotedwithRepublicansagainstDemocratsmoreoftenthanSenatorClintononissuesofwarandpeace-heranks45thof100senatorsinthatcategorywheresheranksamoreprogressive34th.Andthat’shermostconservativeranking;onmanydomesticcategoriesshe’stiedwiththemostprogressivemembersoftheSenate.

IsupportedandvotedforJohnKerryin2004,asdidallprogressivesandDemocrats.SomyquestiontoSenatorObamais:whydon’tyoucallhimBush/CheneyLiteaswell?AndtoallofyouDemocratswhohavetakenthebaitandvilifiedClintonwithoutevenreadingherSenatefloorremarksorexaminingherveryprogressivevotingrecord:areyoureadytothrowKerry,Biden,Edwards,andeveryoneelsewhovotedfortheauthorizationunderthebusaswell,andlabelthemasliteRepublicans,whenclearlythefaultofthiswarliesnotwiththembutwiththerecklessBushadministration?

Orcoulditbethatthetransparentlycynicalexploitationofthisasawedgeissuemightactuallywearalittlethinifyoustopsloganeering,andthinkaboutit?Afterall,beforesheresigned,Obama’sowntopforeignpolicyadvisorSamanthaPowerbasicallyadmittedthateverythinghe’ssaidaboutIraqasapresidentialcandidatemayneveractuallyhappen.

I’lltakeHillary’sconsistentlystrongandrealisticstanceonIraqtodayoverObama’shypocriticalwafflingandpolarizationofourparty.AndI’llcontinuetosupportHillary,amoreprogressiveSenatorthanJohnKerry,withallmyheartin2008.

--TheDemocraticDaily;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

ThinkProgress:McCainCourtsSecretRadicalReligiousConservativeGroupForSupportInPresidentialBid

Lastmonth,hard-lineconservativePastorJohnHagee,founderofChristiansUnitedforIsrael,announcedhissupportforSen.JohnMcCain’s(R-AZ)candidacyforpresident.DespiteHagee’snumerousbigotedremarks—includinghisclaimthattheCatholicchurchis“theGreatWhore”anda“falsecultsystem”—McCainsaidthathewas“veryhonored”bytheendorsement.

McCainiscontinuinghistraditionofcourtingthebigotedright-wingfringe.Thisafternoon,McCainaddressedtheCouncilforNationalPolicy(CNP)inNewOrleansina“make-or-breakpitch”forsupportfromthesecretive,ultra-conservativegroupthatdescribesitselfasa“self-selected,conservativecounterweight”against“liberaldominationoftheAmericanagenda.”McCainadvisorCharlieBlacksaidMcCain“wasanxioustoappear”infrontofthegroup.

CNPwasfoundedin1981byRev.TimLaHaye,“anearlyChristianconservativeorganizerandthebest-sellingauthorofthe‘LeftBehind’novelsaboutanapocalypticSecondComing,”andfellowChristianconservativePaulWeyrich.LikeHagee,thegroupanditsmembershaveattimesexpressedandencouragedradicalandintolerantviews:

–LeHayeoncesaidthatCatholicismisa“falsereligion”andcalledpopes“antichrists.”

–WeyrichhasclaimedthatCNPisagroupof“radicalsworkingtooverturnthepresentpowerstructureinthiscountry.”

–AspeakerreceivedastandingovationatoneCNPmeetingwhenhesuggestedthatAIDSwasasignfromGodthathomosexualitywasan“abomination.”

Becausethegroupisshroudedinsecrecy,itsofficialrosterisunknown.However,in1998,theInstituteforFirstAmendmentStudiesobtainedaCNPmemberlist,whichcontainedmanyright-wingChristianleaderswhohaveahistoryofextremistremarks,includingPatRobertson,JamesDobsonandthelateJerryFalwell.

McCainisnostrangertopanderingtotheextremereligiousrightwhenitsuitshispoliticalneeds.Ina2000speech,hereferredtoFalwellandRobertsonas“agentsofintolerance.”Yetherepudiatedthatremarkin2006andlaterdeliveredacommencementaddressatFalwell’sLibertyUniversity.

UPDATE:McCainhasnow“repudiate[d]”Hagee’spastremarksaboutCatholicsbutstillseeminglyacceptshisendorsement.

--ThinkProgress;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

MeetGregFischer,DemocraticCandidateforU.S.Senator

BornandraisedinLouisville,Gregandhisthreebrothersandsisterwerebroughtuponthevaluesofhardwork,responsibility,andservicetochurchandcommunity.Greg’sparents,GeorgeandMaryLee,instilledaloveofKentuckyintheirchildrenthroughtheirinvolvementinpublicandcommunityservice.GeorgeFischerservedassecretaryofthecabinetinDemocraticGovernorJohnY.Brown’sadministration.AftergraduatingfromTrinityHighSchoolin1976,GregattendedVanderbiltUniversity.GregspenthissummersworkingonthefishingdocksofKodiak,Alaskatohelppayforcollege.Followinghiscollegegraduation,GregusedthemoneyheearnedinAlaskatobackpacksoloaroundtheworldforayear.

Greg’sformalbusinesscareerstartedintheearly1980’swithhisfatherandbrotherMark. Atage25,workinginalocalgarage,Gregco-inventedthecombinationice/beveragedispenser. Thissmallfamilybusiness,SerVend,eventuallybecamealargeglobalcompany.Currently,GregisthechairmanandfounderofIcebergVentures,aninvestmentfirm,andCEOofDantClaytonCorporation.GreghashelpedcreatethousandsofAmericanjobsandhasfoundedorinvestedinovertwentyfirmsincludingVogtIce,aSteelworkersUnionLocal1693signatory. 

Greg’sbusinesssuccesshasallowedhimtosharehispassionintheareasthataremostimportanttohim:family,education,andcommunityservice.AsboardmemberandpastchairmanoftheLouisvilleScienceCenter,Greghelpedraise$25milliontomodernizetheCenterandcreateinteractivechildren’sprograms.AsmemberandpastchairmanoftheBluegrassYoungPresident’sOrganization(YPO),GregledYPOcommunityoutreachwiththeHabitatforHumanityandthedevelopmentofalongtermpartnershipwiththeCenterforInterfaithRelationstobringglobalthoughtleaderstoLouisvilleforcommunitylearning.GreghasendowedscholarshipsatTrinityHighSchoolandtheUniversityofLouisvilletocreateeducationalopportunitiesfortheyouthofKentucky.Ontheinternationalstage,GregledthedevelopmentofacollaborationbetweenYPOandtheWorldConferenceofReligionsforPeace.

PastactivitiesincludethefoundingofRoadstoYouLouisville,across-culturalexchangeofyoungmusiciansfromaroundtheworld;boardpositionsattheCraneHouse,anAsianculturalandeducationcenter,GreaterLouisvilleInc,theUniversityofLouisvilleBoardofOverseersandmanycompaniesGreg’sproudestaccomplishmentsarethatofbeingahusbandandafather.GregandhiswifeAlex,aphysician,havebeenmarriedtwentyyearsandhavefourteenagechildren.

---GregFischerforU.S.SenatorCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

MIKECASSAROSPEAKINGOUTONTHECHALLENGESCONFRONTINGKENTUCKY

ThesearechallengingtimesforKentuckians. Weareworriedaboutthesinkingeconomyandsoaringhealthcarecosts.Weareunhappywithasenselesswar.Wehaveseriousissueswithoureducationalsystemsanddeterioratingenvironment.

AsyourU.S.Senator,Ipledgetoworkhardeverydaytohelpusthroughthesechallengingeconomictimes.Thefederalgovernmentneedstogetsitsfinancialhouseinorder,withoutovertaxingmanyKentuckyfamiliesandsmallbusinesses.Inaddition,weneedfederallegislationthathelpskeepgood-payingjobsinKentuckyandAmerica.

Alltoooften,thecareerWashingtonpoliticiansproposesimplepoliticalsolutionstocomplexproblems. Forthreedecades,Washingtonhasthrownpoliticalfixesatourhealthcareproblems. Forthreedecades,healthcareformostKentuckianshasgottencostlier.

Asapracticingphysician,Iunderstandthecomplexitiesinvolvedinmendingourhealthcareills.  ProvidingKentuckianswithaffordablehealthcareinvolvesacomprehensiveprogramthatcontainsnewguidelinesforinsurancecompaniesandhealthcareproviders.

MyhealthcareremediesinvolvegivingKentuckiansthepowerindecidingtheirinsuranceplans. Sixty-year-oldwomenormendonotneedhealthinsurancepoliciesthatcoverlaboranddelivery. Suchpoliciesbenefittheinsurancecompaniesbutnotus.Healthinsurancepoliciesneedtobeportable,whichallowsyoutokeepthesamepolicieswhenyouchangejobs.

Ipledgetofightforgovernmentspendingthatmosteffectivelyhelpsteachersandstudents.Thefederalgovernmentneedstofundeducationalprogramsthathelpourcitizensdevelopthenecessarytoolsforasuccessfullife. Toomuchoffederalfundingforeducationisnotreachingoureducationalsystems.Forexample,alargeportionofthefundsforthefederal NoChildLeftBehind Programbenefitsfourofthelargesttestingcorporations.     

                                             

Iamgoingtoworkhardforyou,becausehelpingothersisamoralact.Ibecameaphysiciantoaidothers.Inmypractice,Icanserveafewdozenpatientsaweek.IntheU.S.Senate,IcanservethousandsofKentuckiansaweek.

MikeCassaro

DemocratforU.S.Senator

--CassaroforU.S.SenatorCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

CourierJournalEditorial:Stalwartsandwimps

Whatadifferenceanewadministrationmakes.DoesanyonedoubtthatErnieFletcherwouldhavesignedsomethinglikeSenateBill1,ifMajorityLeaderDanKellyandSenatePresidentDavidWilliamshadmanagedtogetthethingpassed?

It'ssupposedtobetheSenateGOPhonchos'toppriority,althoughtheyhavetreateditlikejustanotheropportunitytograndstandagainstschoolreform.It'safavoriteofthosewhowouldliketodiscreditthepublicschoolsandde-legitimizeteacherorganizations,inordertoopenthewayforpubliclyfinancedprivateschoolvouchers.

ThegoodnewsisthatSteveBeshear,notErnieFletcher,isgovernornow,andhepromisedtovetoanysuchbill.HecouldhavedoneaDavidWilliamsnumberandsniffedthathe"foundlittleinterest"inSB1.Instead,helaidoutthespecificreasons--sharedbroadlyintheeducationcommunity--foropposingthisverybadbill.

TakingastandwithhimwasHousebudgetchairmanHarryMoberly,D-Richmond,whopredictedaftertheGovernor'spressconferencethatthelegislationwon'tmakeitoutoftheHouse.

GototheCourierJournalLinkfortheentireeditorial: 

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/OPINION01/803070395

--CourierJournal;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

HowClintonWoninOhio

byPamelaLeavey,TheDemocraticDaily

TheClevelandPlainDealerhasapiecethatgivesmoredetailsonhowHillaryClintonwonOhiobytargetingvotersinruralOhio:

Itcamedowntoplaceslike“TheLittleSmokies,”thehillyregionwheretheSciotoandOhioriversmeet,morethan200milessouthofCleveland.

There,81percentofSciotoCounty’sDemocraticvoters,nearlyallwhite,stoodwithHillaryRodhamClinton,whosecampaignwasrebornTuesdayafterbeatingrivalBarackObama,54percentto44percentinOhio.

VotersinTheLittleSmokiesfiguredbig.Thecountyproducedanearly10,000-votemarginforClinton-equaltoObama’smarginofvictoryinthemorepopulousurbanMontgomeryCounty,whichincludesDayton.

Inanutshell,Clinton“overwhelminglyattractedwhitevoters,women,oldervoters,ruralvotersandunionmembers”andshecutintoObama’sgrowingbaseofthewhitemalevote.Helpinghercampaign’seffortonthegroundwereGov.TedStrickland,whowaselectedbya“landslide”in‘06andBillClinton“whoserootsinArkansasmadehimpopularamongOhio’sruralvoters.”

--TheDemocraticDaily;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

StatementbyAFL-CIOPresidentJohnSweeneyonSen.McCain'sEmbraceofFailedBushSocialSecurityPlan

WhileworkingfamiliesacrossthecountryarefocusedonturningaroundAmericaaftersevenyearsoffailedeconomicpolicyunderPresidentBush,itseemsSen.McCainisstuckinatimewarp.

Justyesterday,theWallStreetJournalreportedSen.McCainfavorstakinganotherstabatBush’sfailedplantoprivatizeSocialSecurityfunds,eventhoughworkingfamiliesroundlyrejectedplanstorisktheirSocialSecuritychecksonprivatizationschemes.

Sen.McCain’sproposaltogamblewithSocialSecurityisevidencethathe’sdangerouslyoutoftouchwithworkingpeople'severydaylives.Sen.McCain’sSocialSecurityprivatizationschemewasabaddealforAmerica’sworkerswhenhepusheditin2000andit’sanevenworsedealnow.Workingfamiliesneedfreshvisionandaneweconomicdirection,notmoreofthesamefailedBush-McCaineconomicagenda.

--AFL-CIO;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

Newsmax:Obama,HillaryinCivilWar

By:NewsmaxAnalysis

WithSen.HillaryRodhamClinton'sdecisiontostayintheDemocraticracetothebitterend,shehassignaledadelegatefightallthewaytotheparty'sconventioninDenverthisAugust.

Bothcandidatesappearinsomethingofastalemate.

PoliticalstrategistshaveconcludedthatClintoncannotovercomeSen.BarackObama'spledgeddelegateleadbywinningadditionalprimaries.

Anddespitehisleadinelectoralanddelegatewins,Obamacannotsealhisnominationwithoutthesupportoftheparty'ssuperdelegates.

Clinton'sdecision,afterwinninginTexas,OhioandRhodeIslandthisweekthatshewouldnotcapitulatehasopenedupthefirstskirmishesinaloomingDemocraticcivilwar.

GotoNewsmax.comtoreadrestofthestory:http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Obama_Hillary_Civil_War/2008/03/06/78521.html

--Newsmax;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

ThinkProgress:Wilkerson:McCainis‘arrogant,’hisadvisers’scareme.’

Inanarticletitled“HotheadMcCain,”fortheupcomingissueofTheNation,RobertDreyfussquotesCol.LarryWilkerson(Ret.)—formerchiefofstafftoSecretaryofStateColinPowell—sayingthatwithSen.JohnMcCain(R-AZ)“[n]odissent,noopiniontothecontrary,howeverreasonable,willbeentertained.”WilkersonaddedthatMcCainis“hardheaded,”“arrogant,”“hubristic,”and“tooproudforhisowngood.”ReferringtoMcCain’sforeignpolicyadvisers,Wilkersonsaid:They“scareme.”“Scareme.”

UPDATE:InanarticleinSalon,MarkBenjaminwritesthatsomemilitaryofficialsareworriedaboutMcCain:

“IlikeMcCain.IrespectMcCain.ButIamalittleworriedbyhisknee-jerkresponsefactor,”saidretiredMaj.Gen.PaulEaton,whowasinchargeoftrainingtheIraqimilitaryfrom2003to2004andisnowcampaigningforClinton.“Ithinkitisalittlescary.Ithinkthisguy’sfirstreactionsarenotnecessarilythebestreactions.Ibelievethatheactsonimpulse.”

--ThinkProgress;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor