Democratic Edge

The recall efforts against Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) have officially fizzled. The Dean campaign was notified early this afternoon that the Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility / Taxpayers to Recall Robert Dean have given up on their failed recall efforts.

As I predicted publicly at last months Kent County Democratic Party meeting, the recall would end shortly after April 14th. April 14th falls 90 days after the Jan. 15th Primary Election day… the day in which the Recall effort paid big money to recruit and hire petition gatherers.

While Jeff Steinport of the KCFFR would not release the numbers on how many signatures they collected during their 90 day window… the Dean campaign has it on good authority that the Recall effort collected nearly 1000 signatures - a far cry from the 8700+ needed. In fact, 700 of those signatures were acquired on Jan. 15th. Since the 90 day window has extended beyond Jan. 15th, the KCFFR was left with less than 200 usable signatures.

As for Steinport’s comments to the GR Press,

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to suspend the campaign,” Steinport said. “It was too difficult in the winter. We didn’t have enough time to collect the signatures we needed.”

Get real… it was cold for us too. We didn’t whine and complain that we couldn’t get our job done. Nope… we were out there in the same cold as Steinports folks. And guess what, Dean’s supporters weren’t getting paid to be there like the signature gatherers. They were out fighting for what they believe in.

As for Steinport’s claim that they didn’t have enough time. Maybe the Taxpayers to Recall Robert Dean organization was not very organized.
Get real… it was cold for us too. We didn’t whine and complain that we couldn’t get our job done. Nope… we were out there in the same cold as Steinport’s folks. And guess what, Dean’s supporters weren’t getting paid to be there like the signature gatherers. They were out fighting for what they believe in.

As for Steinport’s claim that they didn’t have enough time. Maybe the Taxpayers to Recall Robert Dean organization was not very organized.

This failed Recall effort has done little more than solidify the strength of Representative Robert Dean.

Welcome back from another exciting Spring Break. We hope everyone was safe and returned in good health.
You may recall that on April 1st the 5 major oil executives went before congress to explain, for lack of a better term, why oil prices are so high and to further explain the gross profiteering of over $120 billion this past year alone. In addition, they were quizzed on the lack of renewable energy investment to which they stated they had reinvested over “$3.5 billion.

Interesting that General Motors has been in financial difficulty for the past decade, however their commitment to hydrogen fuel-cell technology has brought them to the forefront of new energy self-sufficiency. They promised a hydrogen fuel-cell to be on the market by 2010 and it appears they will be successful.

It is also interesting that the oil companies have been spending a great deal of time advertising how much they are doing to bring renewable energy sources to market. I have observed over 15 of these commercials each evening during prime time over the past week alone.

“Our earnings, although high in absolute terms, need to be viewed in the context of the scale and cyclical, long-term nature of our industry as well as the huge investment requirements,” said J.S. Simon, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp., which made a record $40 billion last year.”

I also noticed that gas prices spiked after the hearings and continued to rise through spring break. Is this to “be viewed in the context of the scale and cyclical, long-term nature of our industry” or simply “price gouging/profiteering” at the expense of the American Public?

The Masters begins today. The Masters is the first of four Major golf events of the year. Visit www.masters.org for live scoring. Gary Player is participating in his 51st Masters. You can also watch on ESPN and CBS TV stations. Consult your local listings for times.

10 Facts Michigan Citizens Need to Know About Michigan’s Fiscal Crisis was provided earlier this year. We hope you will review and recall the last ordeal.

The Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Coalition believes that
the more facts people have, the better they will understand the decisions
being made in Lansing by their elected representatives.

Follow up:

1. Michigan has cut its general fund budget by 40% over the last six years.
The state’s general fund budget - the only piece that the Governor and
Legislature have any real control over - today is 39 percent smaller,
adjusted for inflation, than it was in 2000, when John Engler was Governor.
It’s 41 percent smaller than in 1989; it’s 47 percent smaller than in 1978.
This despite a steady increase in Michigan’s population.

2. Michigan’s political leaders don’t control a $40 billion budget. In
reality, the discretionary part of the state’s budget is $8.27 billion -
after inflation, that’s lower than it was in 1973. The rest of the budget
includes spending on roads (gasoline taxes are automatically earmarked for
roads), on Medicaid (federal pass through money primarily) and the school
aid fund (set in the constitution). When people say the state’s overall
budget has increased, they are right - but that entire increase has been
driven by an increase in Medicaid spending financed by federal tax dollars
to care for the poor.

3. Michigan is not a high-tax state. Michigan’s state and local taxes -
business and individual combined - are below the national average.

4. Low-tax states tend to be poor states. Of the 10 poorest states,
measured by per capita income, all have lower taxes than Michigan, according
to U.S. Census data. Of the 10 most prosperous states, only two have lower
taxes than Michigan - and one of those, Colorado, recently approved revenue
enhancements.

5. College education = prosperity. States with the highest percentage of
their population with college degrees are the states with the highest per
capita income. That includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and
Maryland. States with the lowest percentage of their population with
degrees have the lowest income. Those include West Virginia, Arkansas,
Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Louisiana. Michigan is 34th in the
percentage of its population with a degree.

6. Cutting state spending means cutting local government services such as
police and fire protection. Michigan’s revenue sharing system means local
governments suffer when the state budget is cut - and they have limited
ability to raise taxes to make up those losses. In recent years, state
government has cut payments to local governments by more than $2 billion.
As a result, Michigan today has 1,600 fewer law enforcement officers and
2,398 fewer fire fighters than in 2001 - when terrorists reminded us of the
need for vigilance and preparedness.

7. Cutting state health care funding doesn’t really save the state of its
families’ money - it just drives up health insurance premiums, eliminates
good jobs, and worsens the health of Michigan’s residents. Today about $730
of the health insurance premium paid by a family of four covers expenses run
up at hospitals by uninsured persons. Every time the state cuts payments to
hospitals and doctors, that figure increases.

8. Michigan’s budget problems are largely due to tax cuts, not economic
problems. State government today takes a far smaller piece of each Michigan
family’s budget than in 2000. That year, state government expenditures were
right at the Headlee constitutional limitation, which says the state cannot
spend more than 9.49 percent of the state’s personal income. Today, after
adjusting for Proposal A, we are $5.2 billion below that limit, thanks to
tax cuts, and we are spending just [an amount equivalent to] 8.0 percent of
the state’s personal income on state government.

9. Michigan state government employment today is far smaller than it was
just six years ago. Today state government has 52,259 employees. In 2000,
under Gov. John Engler, we had 61,493 employees. We have fewer workers
today than in 1978.

10. Michigan citizens believe investment is the key to economic growth. A
recent poll conducted for the Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Project found
61% of respondents agreeing that after four years of cuts to police, fire,
roads, higher education and health care, we can’t afford to cut taxes more.

For more information, visit www.mitaxtruth.com

I normally do not cross post stories, however, in the defense of fellow educators, students and parents, I believe each and everyone of you should read for yourself the rantings of one of our State Senators, his beliefs and the impact he carries in chairing the Senate Education Committee.
I for one am throughly appalled.

This post has been removed. The post was an attempt at satire from another blog that failed miserably. We were unaware that this purported writing was satirical in nature.
We at DemEdge apologize to our readers for sharing this information.

by- Al Abbasse

I have argued for many years that our public school system has been under attack. I have written many articles addressing the shortage of funding and poorly written legislation that was to supposedly improve our Public Schools. The Republican dominated house forced legislation upon Michigan citizens and allowing our public treasury to fund in essences private schools of choice, (just my opinion) to the tune of over $500,000.00 per year.

Which leads us to “All Children Matter”, a Michigan based PAC (political action committee) which has roots to Dickie DeVos and his wife Betsy. Mr. DeVos one of the founders (2003) had to drop all ties when he chose to run for the Governors office in 2006. It appears that Mr. DeVos appointed Mrs. DeVos (former Michigan Republican Party Chair) to take over the reins of the National PAC.

Why do you care about this? Let me share what happened yesterday; The Columbus Dispatch reported, “A record $5.2 million fine was levied yesterday by the Ohio Elections Commission against a pro-charter-school group that helped elect Republicans across Ohio in 2006.”

The Bi-Partisan O.E.C. voted 5-0 to levy the fine for contributions that exceeded the maximum of $10,000.00 by a PAC. The O.E.C. went on to say that, “..normal cases don’t exceed campaign contribution limits by $870,000. Commission members said the fine had to be triple the amount of the illegal contribution, and they fined All Children twice – $2.6 million for making the contribution in Virginia, and $2.6 million for accepting it in Ohio.” Virginia law allows unlimited contributions and also allows corporate contributions.

The PAC portends to have a winning record of seating 121 candidates against 60 losses in 10 different states. Those candidates being pro-charter of course.

All Children Matter (ACM), is managed by Executive Director Greg BROCK. They are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and by design to support public officials throughout the country who are focused upon the issue of expanding Charter schools throughout our nation.

One of the looming questions to the citizens of Michigan is, were any Michigan Candidates compromised by the leadership of this organization?

We have a Housing crisis, credit crisis, job crisis, Michigan continues to be in a budget crisis (even though they are claiming to be playing nice),our Michigan primary votes do not count, Secretary Paulson wants to relax the financial oversight by congress, re-write the rules of “accounting standards” (in essence) and place that responsibility under the control of the Federal Reserve and on top of that, the Unemployment numbers are climbing again.
Unemployment filings are over 400,000 for March. The national unemployment rate is anticipated to exceed 5.0% which very well could push Michigan over the top. Michigan is highest in nation at a current 7.1%. The current trend could put Michigan at 8.0% by mid year if we do not start selling the virtues of Michigan and get our taxing issues under control. We must have a better taxing system, a more equitable taxing system in partnership with commerce not on the backs of Michigan citizens. Fair and just taxation means all parties sharing in resolution, and equality of taxation methods. It does not mean JUST the states citizens as one of the parties implies.
How is that for a synopsis of what is going on? I have not even gotten to the multitude of other state and national matters, let alone the global issues yet. Doesn’t this sound insurmountable?
I have been paying close attention to our legislators. I keep hearing, “we are exploring that issue, we are investigating, we are evaluating". I for one am tired of hearing “we are” and nothing of value being accomplished all the while watching our state flounder. The Governor has provided many options but the Republican legislators continue to battle her every effort. It is time for them to step up to the plate with something other than “cut, cut, cut". Michigan’s legislators should be worrying more about the state and her citizens rather than their political parties agenda.
So which Crisis? Working the old fashion way works for me. Finding a solution to the biggest problem will cure the most ills and demonstrate progress. How about getting Michigan citizens back to work! A working community has less crime, more economic resources, supports the local economy and provides a better education. Think about it, working societies have stronger economies, less crime and working budgets…..

The oil “Executives really put on a show for Congress. Our congressional investigators really gave them “a what for”. There was no give on the part of the “Big five” however. The opening comment was,

“On April Fool’s Day, the biggest joke of all is being played on American families by Big Oil,” said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass…”.

When quizzed on reinvestment to other power sources, the Big Five stated that they have made a joint $3.5 billion investment into other renewable sources. $3.5 billion and last year Exxon/Mobile profited by over $39 billion and the industry total was over $120 billion. They are really trying to forge new venues for renewable energy. Such an insult to the American population.
When asked about earnings, the response was,

“Our earnings, although high in absolute terms, need to be viewed in the context of the scale and cyclical, long-term nature of our industry as well as the huge investment requirements,” said J.S. Simon, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp., which made a record $40 billion last year.”

Right, absolute terms, they have used the cyclical statement since I was a kid in the “60’s” pumping gas, washing windshields and checking oil, farcical is what this was. They were not quizzed on policy for padding “Their pocket book”. CEO salary was not discussed in this hearing from, my observation. The leadership dropped the ball on that important topic.
The one question that made absolute sense was, “What would bring lower prices? asked Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin?”
Response,

“We need access to all kinds of energy supply,” replied Robert Malone, chairman of BP America, adding that 85 percent of the country’s coastal waters are off limits to drilling.”

Nothing here mentions discussion of renewable resource, or a halt to the financial raping of the American Public, just further damaging of our earth and potential serious damage to our Water resources and Eco System.
I applaud the hearings and hope we as the American Public will see and focus our attention on hearings. This is congress’s job and they should be able to develop policy that resolves such issues. To bad for the American Public that we have had to wait for over 8 years to have a real hearing. I wonder where President Bush has his blind trust investments and what oil companies comprise that blind trust portfolio?

The administration claims that the Paulson Plan has been in the works for over one year now. Here is nuts and bolts of the Paulson.."plan would also eliminate the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, merging their functions into other agencies.

In auditing, everything MUST balance, if it does not, then either an error was made or something is being hidden.

This administration has been ALL ABOUT, “changing the rules". If they would have followed and played by the rules, we would not be suffering the calamity-taking place. (See previous story)

For those of you that believe in “Voting Irregularities” and changing the way the election laws are handled, you should have a field day with this.

Or for those of you that oppose the war in Iraq, you should also, remember the V.P. ("..they (Iraqi’s) will greet us with flowers and…", that list is long and storied so I will not provide more dribble.

Bait and switch, cover up of massive proportions Blah, Blah, Blah and the American public is buying it. Our nation is in financial ruin, with these proposed changes, (should the voting public allow them) will devastate our future and the United States of America.

It has become the “norm” of the Bush Administration to propose and manipulate legislation to the way we operate our nation’s ability to regulate American Economic Policy and even wage war.
This administration has purposely usurped power from our elected legislators and our constitution in efforts to provide protections and that have weakened economic policy oversight of our financial markets, thus debasing the balance of powers between the three branches of the American government.
On Monday, the Bush Administration will provide an executive summary in another effort to violate the system of checks and balances by consolidating oversight and giving the Federal Reserve sole, sweeping major powers over not only the banking industry, but also the myriad of segmented so-called “private” financial institutions.
The plan, as proposed by Secretary of the Treasury Paulson, will consolidate to the Office of the Comptroller and Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision. This would thereby “Eliminate” any formal difference between a bank and other (inclusive of “private”) financial institutions and by appearance any true distinction. This also places the opportunity for coagulation of funding between competing arenas to one another, such as Insurance operations, Investment firms, Health Care Providers, and our National Banking system. This will be denied, but by reading the language of the proposal, it is very much implied.
The Federal Reserve as mentioned above, will be given virtually un-controllable power that could, (even by every stretch of the imagination) to conceivably mint more money upon self-determined demand, if they so would chose. Understand that only the Treasury has the authority to “mint” more funds not the Federal Reserve, however, it appears that the proposed consolidation could usurp that constitutional provision as the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department would be virtually joined at the hip as opposed to providing an economic system of governmental and private system of checks and balance.

“In broad outlines, we agree with large parts of Secretary Paulson’s plan,” Schumer, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, said in a statement. “He is on the money when he calls for a more unified regulatory structure, although we would prefer a single regulator to the three he proposes.”

But, the three that he proposes will all be working in tandem as opposed to “oversight” of the individual, thus providing the opportunity for the above mentioned coagulation or elimination of the competitive natures that allow for “Free Enterprise” or for a free unfettered market that drives a capitalistic society. What the Secretary will propose is a “fraudulent scheme / shell game” on the American Public.
Senator Shumer almost has it correct. The problem here is that we already have sufficient auditing structures in place and have had for over the past 50 years. The FDIC, which has long been the auditing voice of this nations banking system for example, has been so compromised with budgetary reductions and loss of sufficiently qualified personnel, that allowance of “unacceptable” financial accounting practices and disclosure of that reporting system is in failure mode. In other words, the appropriate legislative committee is perpetuating a fraud with the American Public thus violating the public trust by not holding accountable financial intuitions and their boards of directors that violate their charters and / or federal laws along with associated penalties.
Another real issue is that, our elected congressional leaders “ARE NOT” upholding their constitutional duties by providing the “Oversight Hearings, investigations” and providing the funds needed as required by “Existing Laws” that are in place. Financial institutions have lobbied for and received so many amendment changes to those laws that the American public is now, for the first time, getting a serious look at just how powerful those lobbies have been in violating the public trust and the “sacking the public treasury” to benefit “private institution at the publics expense”.
What must the American Public do?
The American Public must demand the Executive Branch to do its job, which is; “to enforce the laws of the land”, not to change existing law to provide consolidated power to that executive branch by; offering supposed improved legislation that in truth is removing our constitutional right to a true system of checks and balances and does not enhance our American Economic Institutions.

Continuing with the March 28, 2008 story of the three candidates, Thursday’s Wall Street carried a very good article that puts the Bear Sterns story in a well-written format that is concise, clear, and retrospective.
When the opposition throws out terminology like “free market”, “Capitalism” etc, just tell them to remember the following:
If we had “free markets”, or true “capitalism”, governments would never “bailout” or “provide intervention”.
Those that have bandied these words in defense of “free markets, etc” ask to leave profits alone, and little if any, regulation to assure fair and honest transactions, but they are the first to attack and protect “Their” special interest with federal treasury revenues collected for the greater good. This, is known as your tax dollars at work.
Legislators should beware. It is their responsibility to protect our nation from within as well as from abroad.
What happened at Bear Sterns is nothing new, an earlier instance occurred with a group called the Keating 5 as discussed briefly yesterday.

Ten Days That Changed Capitalism
Wall Street Journal by David Wessel

“..To induce J.P. Morgan to do the deal, the Fed agreed to take losses or gains, if any, on up to $29 billion of securities in Bear Stearns’s portfolio. The outcome will influence the sum the Fed turns over to the Treasury, so this is taxpayer money; that’s why the Fed sought Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s OK.
Then the Fed lent directly to Wall Street securities firms for the first time. Until now, the Fed has lent directly only to Main Street banks, those that take deposits from ordinary folks. That’s because banks were viewed as playing a unique economic role and, supposedly, were more closely regulated than other types of lenders. In the first three days of this new era, securities firms borrowed an average of $31.3 billion a day from the Fed. That’s not small change, and it’s why Mr. Paulson, after the fact, is endorsing changes to give the Fed more access to these firms’ books.”

Read more »

We are suppose to accept that our President and his Secretary of the Treasury are correct and proper in allowing Bear Sterns an opportunity for escape by providing government funding and assistance to bail them out in their effort to protect Shareholders losses.
However, when Former Governor Elliot Spitzer was calling for more oversight and investigations into poor lending practices to protect his states homeowners and thus all American homeowners, he was wisked from office quicker than y’all can blink.

The current top stories are, JC Penny’s is forecasting /reducing projections for the 1st quarter from $0.75 per share to about $0.50 per share. That is a chunk of change. This is what retailers fear, “Loss of Discretionary Spending” by the public.

AP Business Writer, TIM PARADIS,
NEW YORK - “Stocks fluctuated Friday after a government report confirmed that personal spending came in at its weakest level in 17 months …”

Moreover, my favorite and the point of this writing:

“The Federal Reserve announced Friday it will auction another $100 billion in April to cash-strapped banks…”

The point is this, yesterday the three leading contenders for the Office of the President released statements about our economy and banking system.

Mrs. Clinton provided very little regarding the current crisis and believe me, we are in a financial crisis.
Mr. Obama was the most eloquent and provided very interesting points, which I will get to in another story.
Mr. McCain, the focus of today’s discussion is.., remember the “Keating 5”? That was the end of the Savings and Loan Industry. Mr. McCain was one of five involved in helping his friend, confidant, and long time campaign contributor, Charles Keating. “At Mr. Keating’s request, he (Senator John McCain) wrote several letters to regulators, introduced legislation and helped secure the nomination of a Keating associate to a banking regulatory board.” (New York Times, February 21, 2008).
When the current President and Treasury Secretary supported the current bailout of Bear Stearns, Senator McCain did not call upon history and experience to call for investigations, oversight committee hearings or anything. He just said in a simple matter of fact tone that, OK, “let em go”. The good Senator did not call for more oversight, more statutory regulation, not even to convene hearings on more robust auditing procedures or improved modifications to protect American Taxpayers in the future.
What took place with the Keating 5..
“When Lincoln went bankrupt in 1989 — one of the biggest collapses of the savings and loan crisis, costing taxpayers $3.4 billion — the Keating Five became infamous. The scandal sent Mr. Keating to prison and ended the careers of three senators, who were rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee in 1991 for intervening.” It is also interesting that the 3 Senators whose careers ended were Democrats and the 2 that survived were Republicans.
By the way, what did Mr. Keating do for the Good Senator McCain you might ask? How about:
“..McCain’s four years in the House, Mr. Keating, his family and his business associates contributed heavily to his political campaigns. The banker gave Mr. McCain free rides on his private jet, a violation of Congressional ethics rules (he later said it was an oversight…).
They vacationed together in the Bahamas. And, in 1986, the year Mr. McCain was elected to the Senate, his wife joined Mr. Keating in investing in an Arizona Shopping Mall.”
William Black, one of the banking regulators the senator met with, argued that Mrs. McCain’s investment with Mr. Keating created an obvious conflict of interest for her husband. (Mr. McCain had said a prenuptial agreement divided the couple’s assets.) He should not be able to “put this behind him,” Mr. Black said. “It sullied his integrity.” (New York Times, February 21, 2008)
Then there is the infamous McCain Temperament:
“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine,” Senator Thad Cochran ® of Mississippi…
Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said in an interview that he was so upset by a McCain tirade that he did not speak to him for two years.

My discussion and future discussions related to financial dealing with our banking system will follow this line of thought. I fully intend to vote for a Presidential candidate and congressional leaders that will work specifically toward congressional oversight and proper regulation to protect our tax dollars and stop these corrupt politicians from protecting corporate raiders of the public treasury.
I hope you agree and will share your comments. Oil, Prescription Costs, food, Un-audited State Insurance funds et.al must be dealt with. We need leadership without baggage.
Watch for more on the individual candidate information.

I have just now received this survey for the on-line 2008 Health Survey. More details below. I really believe this is in your best interest to read. It is very sobering.
We at DemocraticEdge.com wish to thank WorkingAmerica for sharing this important information with us.

Click here to view entire survey:
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/survey/

“Over a period of seven weeks, more than 26,000 people took the online 2008 Health Care for America Survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America. Most are insured and employed…

These are the people, it would seem, most likely to have positive experiences with America’s health care system. Instead, their responses tell a sobering story about the breadth of the problems with health care in America…

The survey exposes a health care system that costs too much, covers too little, leaves too many behind and is getting worse. The results deliver a mandate for health care reform to everyone who wants the support of working families in this year’s elections.”

click here to view entire survey:
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/survey/

House plan would provide free tuition in areas with high poverty, unemployment

As the Kalamazoo Promise continues to prove successful, State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) today called on Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop to pass the Michigan Promise Zone Act, which will ensure access to higher education for thousands of students throughout the state who want to go to college.

“No student should ever have to forgo higher education because they can’t afford it,” Dean said. “To build a strong workforce that will roll out the welcome mat for new investment, new businesses and new jobs, we must open the doors of opportunity. The House has shown its commitment to increasing access to higher education, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same.”

Modeled after the privately funded Kalamazoo Promise, which guarantees graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools free tuition at any university or community college in Michigan, the Michigan Promise Zone Act would authorize the creation of Promise Zones in areas that have a high rate of poverty and unemployment. During the first two years of the program, the Promise Zones would be required to raise funds through private donations.

Michigan Promise Zones could be created in qualifying cities, townships, counties, local school districts or intermediate school districts. Participating communities would need to show a significant local financial commitment to become Promise Zones, and students would have to live within a designated Promise Zone to take advantage of this initiative. The House passed the plan in December.

According to the Upjohn Institute, there were 745 students using the Kalamazoo Promise to attend Michigan colleges and universities as of January 2008[1]. The Kalamazoo Promise has spent about $3.2 million since it was first made available to the graduating class of 2006.

“We must give all our citizens the education and training they will need to compete in today’s economy,” Dean said. “An educated workforce is a magnet for high-tech, good-paying jobs. This plan will open the doors of higher education and high-skilled training to the residents of Grand Rapids and all of Michigan.”

I want to thank Al for keeping things going here at Dem Edge! I have been very busy fighting the good fight to Stop the Recall efforts against 75th district Rep. Robert Dean. Sadly, things have kept me busy enough that I have completely neglected DemEdge for quite awhile. Keep up the good work Al… As for everyone else, don’t be shy… chime in! Anyone wanting to post a story up to the front page, just send me an email and I will set you up with front page access.

Thanks,

Jeff