The reason for everything
Dick Morris offers an
explanation for why things are as they are:
"Because George W. Bush is attracting moderates
with his forthright stand against terrorism, his
willingness to go to war to defend our security,
and his relatively compassionate social agenda, he
is winning over Democrats and independents who
might once have voted against him," Dick Morris
writes in the New York Post.
"Those moderates who remain Democrats find
themselves weakened by the defection of these
moderates and become outvoted in the Democratic
primaries," Mr. Morris said.
"This
phenomenon is precisely why Joseph Lieberman is
losing to Howard Dean in the Democratic race for
president. His constituency is voting for Bush and
has left his party.
"But
Bush's strong Republican stands on the war in
Iraq, defense spending, intrusive measures to
fight domestic terrorism, support for conservative
judges and opposition to powerful environmental
measures leads the Democratic left to oppose him
in ever-stronger terms.
"The
increase in their vitriol, donations, activism,
and primary-election turnout that this anger
generates swamps the outnumbered moderates and
leads to the nomination of an extremist like
Howard Dean as the party nominee."
Democrats’ brawl
The
Associated Press has a story carried in the
Manchester Union Leader that reports Republicans
like the spectacle of Democrats brawling away:
Republican strategists, meanwhile, are watching it
all with barely contained glee.
"They
are beginning to really gouge this guy,"
Republican pollster Bill McInturff said about
Dean, chuckling. "Look at Howard Dean and, as a
Republican, think about the advertising we're
going to run."
McInturff said Republicans could use John Kerry's
quotes about Dean wanting to tax the middle class,
or the "wonderful attack" from Wesley Clark about
Dean's draft status or the "terrific comments"
from Joe Lieberman about Dean's stance on Saddam
Hussein's capture.
Dean campaign raises stink
The
Des Moines Register reports on Howard Dean’s
latest campaign claims and opponents’ reactions --
from Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Dick Gephardt:
Kerry
complained that Dean put out false information
about his congressional record… Other sparks over
Democratic candidates' farm stances flew Tuesday
when Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt accused
Dean, a former Vermont governor, of making an
"absurd" claim in a Wisconsin newspaper that Dean
was the only candidate from a farm state. Gephardt
said Missouri has 110,000 farms, and Vermont has
6,600.
Problems and conflicting
statements arose when Dean's campaign released a
statement from Chris Petersen, vice president of
the Iowa Farmers Union, to members of the group,
praising Dean's stance on agricultural issues and
finding fault with Kerry. Petersen accused Kerry
of failing to support Iowa farmers flood relief
and support for Republican’s Freedom to Farm Act
of 1996. Kerry said the accusations were not true.
Dean trying in S. Carolina
The
Charlotte Observer reports that Dean doesn’t
attract many Blacks in his latest foray into S.
Carolina:
As in
Iowa and New Hampshire, whose Democratic contests
come before South Carolina's, Dean's S.C. support
is concentrated among white upper-middle class
voters, few of whom have been active in Democratic
Party politics previously. The crowd Tuesday in
Georgetown appeared to be largely made up of that
demographic group.
But
political observers say that won't be enough for
Dean to win South Carolina; between 50 percent and
65 percent of the S.C. primary turnout is expected
to be African American. The big majority of voters
will also be party regulars, Democratic leaders
say. Tuesday's campaign trip showed that Dean is
working on broadening his bases, but it also
showed that he has a long way to go.
Al Gore: send Dean money
The
Des Moines Register reports on Al Gore’s
participation in Howard Dean’s conference call to
1,400 gatherings across America. Gore offered the
following comment before introducing Dean:
“People can participate not just by voting, which
is crucially important, but also by being active
and not just feeling frustration or anger or
whatever, but turning it into positive action and
creating hope for change," Gore said.
The Dean campaign said that they
were talking to Gore regarding his coming to Iowa.
Gore also urged supporters to send Dean more
money. Dean’s Democratic presidential campaign
raised an estimated $500,000 at more than 1,400
house parties across the country in a drive to
swell his thriving campaign account.
Campaign aides said Wednesday
that an estimated 22,000 people attended the
parties, and an additional 1,675 people dialed in
to hear Dean's conference call to the events. By
midmorning, the Dean campaign had raised $14.7
million in the final quarter of the year.
Gephardt: Dean not ready for prime time
Dick Gephardt today released the
following statement in response to Howard Dean's
claim that he is the only candidate in the race
for president "from a farm state."
"Howard Dean's assertion that he is the only
candidate who comes from a farm state is just as
absurd as it sounds. First, to imply that because
you are from a 'farm state,' does not mean that
you are committed to farm issues. George Bush is
from a 'farm state,' and I think that all the
candidates in the race agree that he has failed
rural America miserably.
"No
candidate in this race can hold a candle to my
record on agriculture issues, especially not
Howard Dean. I have been fighting side-by-side
with Tom Harkin and others since I came to
Congress for fairness for family farmers, for
ethanol, for country-of-origin-labeling and other
policies that strengthen rural America and make
family farming an economically viable option for
young people.
"In
the race against George Bush, our party cannot
afford a nominee who makes reckless, inaccurate
statements. We have to run on our record, our
vision and our steadiness as a candidate to prove
to the American people that we can be a stronger
leader than the president. Howard Dean has shown
again that he is much less ready for that task
than others in this race," said Gephardt.
Gephardt hammers NAFTA
The
Des Moines Register covers Rep. Dick
Gephardt’s hammering of his opponents as
"Johnny-come-lately" to the opposition to free
trade. Gephardt touted his prescient stance
against free trade polices. He blames America’s
woes on his opponents’ support of NAFTA and
opening China trade.
"I've been amazed to hear the
other candidates. Now they sound just like me,"
the Missouri congressman said Tuesday during a
conference call with reporters. "Everything I
predicted would happen (because of trade policies)
is now happening."
Gephardt was also in New
Hampshire where he was covered by the Manchester
Union Leader meeting in solidarity with 550
workers facing permanent layoff when their
employer, Tyson JacPac, closes Feb. 3.
Gephardt, whose South St. Louis district includes
the neighborhood where he was born in 1941, said
his own family struggled financially in his youth.
“I know what it is to be in a household where your
father loses his job,” he said.
Gephardt also commented on what
is beginning to be a pushed issue over
immigration. A Washington group has begun running
TV ads in Iowa that oppose immigration. The ad
shows a person in a suite punching away at a
plastic tilting punching toy that is to represent
American workers. The voiceover talks about how
American workers have lost their jobs because of
immigration. In the Union Leader article Gephardt
says he favors earned immigration:
Gephardt said he favors “earned legalization” for
illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. for
at least five years, worked for two years and paid
taxes.
Noting
that $3.5 billion people in the world today live
on less than $1 a day, he said American jobs will
continue to flee offshore and poor people from
around the world will keep trying to come to the
United States until there is some improvement in
their standards of living at home.
“They
can’t survive in Mexico; they can’t survive in
Central America,” he said. He said illegal Mexican
workers send back $9 billion a year trying to help
their families survive in Mexico.
Labor’s push for Gephardt
The
Boston Globe
reports more than a dozen international unions
will airlift a combined several hundred full-time
political organizers to Iowa, starting Friday, in
the final push for Democratic presidential
candidate rep. Dick Gephardt before the Jan. 19
delegate-selection caucuses.
One of the great stories of this
campaign cycle is labor’s civil war between the
industrial unions supporting Gephardt and the
service unions supporting Howard Dean. Much of the
conflict centers around industrial unions
opposition to free trade. The Globe reports:
"They're coming in to work 24-seven, right up to
caucus day," said Brett Voorhies, the Iowa state
director of the Alliance for Economic Justice, a
17-union organization created in the fall to
promote an agenda of jobs, health care, fair
trade, and the candidacy of the Missouri
congressman.
"There
are several hundred coming in from different
international unions, including iron workers,
steel workers, Teamsters, laborers, even
seafarers," said Voorhies, who, as national
legislative and political mobilization coordinator
of the United Steel Workers of America, has been
working full time in Iowa since Labor Day with a
staff that has grown to about 30.
Gephardt’s panels
Politics New Hampshire.com reports on Rep.
Dick Gephardt’s love of panels to get his various
points across:
The
idea of the panel with everyday voters discussing
how the latest issue deals with their lives is
nothing new. This cycle alone in New Hampshire ,
at least John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Bob Graham,
Wesley Clark have all used them. But no candidate
has used them to the frequency that Gephardt has.
To be
sure, Gephardt also employs many traditional
methods of campaign style this past year from the
house party, to walking door to door, to throwing
out the first pitch at a Nashua Pride baseball
game.
The
panel format puts pressure on his staff to find
perfect examples of local people facing the
problems he hopes to solve. In Nashua , where the
unemployment level is the highest in the state,
finding those looking for work and health care
should be easier than in other parts of the state.
Yet, when the three person panel had to be put in
place it takes calls the night before to a local
doctor with an invitation to tell her story.
Gephardt continues Oklahoma push
Rep. Dick Gephardt continues to
push for a victory in Oklahoma to go with a
victory in Missouri on Feb. 3. His visit to the
state was a good showing and resulted in another
round of endorsements.
On a whirlwind tour through
Oklahoma this weekend, presidential hopeful Rep.
Dick Gephardt drew applause from packed crowds at
political rallies in Enid, Oklahoma City, and
Tulsa. Unaffected by the holiday slowdown,
supporters filled local union halls and town halls
to hear Gephardt speak.
Gephardt told voters about his
plan to strengthen the economy, create jobs and
highlighted his opposition to unfair trade
policies such as NAFTA that have sent thousands of
American jobs abroad. "We have to stop the race to
the bottom," Gephardt declared before an
enthusiastic crowd. "We need trade policies that
work for everyone, especially American workers."
Gephardt also reiterated his
commitment to providing health care coverage to
the nation's 41 million uninsured and told voters
that he was the only candidate that could beat
George Bush in November because he could win the
crucial Midwest where many expect the presidential
election will be decided.
Following a string of events
including a town hall meeting on trade in Bristow,
the Missouri Congressman picked up additional key
endorsements including Oklahoma State
Representative Gary Taylor and Mayes County
Democratic Chair Marsha Whalen.
Additional Sooner State
Supporters will be announced every week until
Oklahoma's Presidential Primary on February 3rd.
Sooner State Supporters for the
week of December 30th:
Kenneth W. Arinwine - Retired
School Principal, Oklahoma City; Amy Bibby -
Democratic Activist, Tulsa; Jim Blouch - Rogers
County Delegate, Catoosa; Wayne Bryant -
Democratic Activist, Sand Springs; Liz Campbell -
Democratic Activist and Precinct Chair, Tulsa;
Darlene Clayborn - Democratic Activist and
Delegate, Grove; Wayne Clayborn - Democratic
Activist, Grove; Jim Darst - social worker, Enid;
Dennis Dorigan - TWU Local 514 Treasurer, Tulsa;
Miami Flowers - Retiree and Democratic Activist,
Wynnewood; Justin Frazier - Tonkawa High School
Student, Tonkawa; Shawn Freeman - Democratic
Activist, Claremore; Betty Glasgow - Retired from
County Assessor office, Newkirk; Linda Gerster -
Okmulgee County Co-Chair, Henryetta; Chris Gibson
- Democratic Activist, Broken Arrow; Nick
Guagliardo - Vice President TWU Retirees, Tulsa;
Jack Henderson - North Tulsa Community Leader and
Chairman of the Board of Leroy K. Jordan Plaza,
Tulsa; Charles Holler - Retired Businessman, Enid;
Glenneth Holler - Retired Southwestern Bell, Enid;
Steven Jeffrey - Student, Weatherford; Ron
Johnston - President, United Steelworkers of
America Local 4800, Enid;Al Jones - member
Teamsters Local 886, Oklahoma City; Ashley Ketchum
- Democratic Activist, Tulsa; Paul Lamar - Retired
Chemist, Enid; Eddie Landers - Teamsters Local
886, Oklahoma City; Kim McClelland - Democratic
Activist, Moore; Bernie Mead - Democratic
Activist, Tulsa; Ralph Meade - Farmer, Deer Creek;
Janie Meade - Farmer, Deer Creek; David Moore -
Tonkawa High School student, Tonkawa; Ralph Morita
- Tulsa County Democratic Secretary, Tulsa; Kara
Muskrat - Community volunteer, Tulsa; Carol Rowe -
Democratic Activist and Delegate, Tulsa; Helen
Swanda - Democratic Activist, Oklahoma City;
Patricia Sawyer - Student/Hospital Professional,
Oklahoma City; Darrell Smith - Banker, Enid;
Representative Gary Taylor – Dewey; Ronnie Trindle
- Democratic Activist, Moore ;Floretta Wallgren -
Democratic Activist, Tecumseh; Kenneth Wallgren -
Democratic Activist, Tecumseh; Marsha Whalen –
Maye; County Democratic Chair, Locust Grove; Kate
Wilde - Democratic Activist, Oklahoma City;
Sharron Williams - School Supervisor, Enid; Robert
Young - Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local
886, Oklahoma City.
Clark opposes parental notification
Wesley Clark expressed his
support for yesterday's U.S. District Court for
New Hampshire ruling striking down a law requiring
parental notice before a minor could get an
abortion. The law was overturned because it failed
to provide an exception to protect the minor's
health. It required that parents be notified at
least 48 hours before medical care could be
provided. Clark strongly supported the New
Hampshire Court's decision:
“Women's health should never be endangered by laws
that prevent doctors from providing medically
necessary care. I applaud the court for protecting
the young women of New Hampshire.
“I
would hope that a young woman could talk with her
family about medical decisions. But I recognize
that, unfortunately, in some extreme cases, it is
not possible for young women to have that
conversation. That's why I believe that, in
addition to providing exceptions for a woman's
health, any law requiring parental notification
must have an exception providing judicial bypass
or notification of another responsible adult.
“As
the court rightly found, parental notice laws must
also include an exception to protect young women's
health, which must be our paramount concern. A
woman's health should never be put in jeopardy for
political reasons."
Clark will spend New Years in New Hampshire
Clark will join New Hampshire
families on a cruise aboard the Thomas Laighton
Ship in Portsmouth on New Year's Eve in an event
complete with fireworks and light refreshments,
spokeswoman Kristina Saunders said. The early
evening New Year's Eve cruise will be the first
event in the General's 11-day tour through New
Hampshire, which will include a house party later
on New Year's Eve and town hall meetings
throughout the week.
"General Clark loves New
Hampshire, and he can't wait to kick off the new
year on the ground there," said Clark's spokesman,
Mo Elleithee. "He really enjoys the opportunity to
talk to people one on one and engage the voter in
a very direct way."
Democrat Chairs criticize Dean
Sen. John Kerry’s website
carries the following statement of Democrat State
Party Chairs critical of Howard Dean:
“As
current and past Chairs of state Democratic
Parties, in states where Republicans have recently
done well in Presidential elections, we know how
quickly ill-considered statements by national
Democrats can impact our state elections. As
chairs, we also know that full and vigorous debate
between our candidates leads to the nomination of
our best and strongest candidates.
“With
this in mind, we must express our strong
disappointment in the recent statements of Howard
Dean. Over the past few weeks, Gov. Dean has
spoken before he thought, been forced to retract,
apologize for and “clarify” many of his remarks.
In addition to ill-considered statements on
critical subjects, such as reserving judgment on
what punishment should be meted out to Osama bin
Laden, he has attacked our party leaders and the
policies of President Bill Clinton that produced
the most sustained period of economic growth in
our country’s history. Rather than welcome full
debate on his policy positions he has called on
Party leaders to intervene in the nominating
process to stifle debate between our candidates.
Gov. Dean has gone so far as to suggest that he
and his supporters may have an agenda other than
insuring the defeat of George Bush if he isn't the
nominee of our party.
“As
current and former chairs of our state parties, in
states where Republicans have recently done well
in Presidential elections, we need a nominee who
can neutralize the traditional GOP strengths on
taxes and national security. And we know that
regardless of the intensity in our primary fight,
it will not compare to the onslaught that George
Bush and the Republicans will dish out. That's why
we support John Kerry for President; a combat
veteran who supports middle class tax cuts and
knows as Harry Truman once said, "if you can't
take the heat get out of the kitchen". We suggest
that Governor Dean should take his temperature
now.”
Mike Gireau, Chairman Montana
Democratic Party
Redding Pitt, Chairman Alabama
Democratic Party
Larry Framme, Former Chair of
Virginia Democratic Party
Dan Hannaher, Former Chair of
North Dakota Democratic Party
David Worley, Former Chair of
Georgia Democratic Party
Kerry: revamp farm subsidies
At the farm of Doug and Barbara
Thompson in Hancock County, John Kerry discussed
his plan to improve income for America’s family
farms. During his talk with a group of local
farmers, Kerry pledged to strengthen conservation
programs and better target federal farm subsidies
to family farmers—rather than corporate interests.
"As President, I will stand up
for family farmers and good conservation
practices. Unfortunately, George Bush has chosen
to reward the big corporate farms that pollute our
air and water and threaten family farming,” said
John Kerry. “Instead, I will make sure we get
moving on Senator Tom Harkin’s Conservation
Security Program. It rewards family farmers for
being strong environmental stewards, it helps our
rural communities thrive, and it makes sure our
family farms are a source of opportunity and hope
for the next generation. The Bush Administration
has fought this program every step of the way. The
cause of conservation and our family farmers
deserve better.”
Kerry highlighted the fact that
Iowa’s growing land conservation needs are
under-funded. There is currently over $104 million
in unfilled applications from Iowa farmers who
want to implement conservation practices on their
land. Although soil loss is declining, Iowa still
loses approximately 134 million tons of soil per
year from cropland.
“I have fought to make sure that
family farms have a fair shot to compete against
large corporations and that farmers have the
support they need. Today, four firms control 81
percent of the beef packing market and we’ve lost
38 percent of our hog producers. When you consider
that two-thirds of all our agriculture support
payments go to the largest ten percent of firms,
it’s no surprise. But it is a call to action. And
I intend to answer that call,” said Kerry.
Kerry also underscored his plan
to stand up to the big corporate farms that have
resisted putting in place safeguards to protect
against mad cow disease. This past weekend, Kerry
proposed a five-point plan to respond to the
problems in the food safety and inspection system
underscored by the current mad cow investigation.
“If you want a clear example of
the cost we’re paying for President Bush’s
decision to do the bidding of corporate
agriculture, just look at the current mad cow
investigation. We need better testing – more
inspectors – and we need a President who will
stand up to big ag lobbyists who try to block
these kinds of improvements every step of the
way,” said Kerry.
John Kerry’s plan to support
America’s family farmers will:
·
Enhance Conservation
Security: There is currently over $104
million in unfilled applications from Iowa farmers
who want to implement conservation practices on
their land. John Kerry will provide full funding
for technical assistance but he won’t do it by
robbing other important conservation programs to
pay for it, as President Bush has done.
·
Better Target Federal
Subsides to Family Farmers Rather Than
Corporations: John Kerry believes that
the structure for providing farm subsidies is
unfairly tilted toward corporate farms -- that too
many of the resources go to too few of the
producers. As President, Kerry is committed to
ensuring that Federal farm subsidies are better
targeted to family farmers.
·
Stand Up to Powerful
Agriculture Interests: John Kerry will
stand up to the powerful large cattle businesses
and meatpacking industry to assure that the
American beef market will be safe and strong.
The Thompson family farms corn
and soybeans on about 1,100 acres of land. The
family farm dates back to 1896, when Doug’s
great-great grandfather Ole Thompson arrived from
Norway and purchased the land.
Lieberman files in S. Carolina
Filing today for the South
Carolina primary, Joe Lieberman said the state's
voters face a clear choice between a candidate who
would build on the gains of the Clinton years, as
Lieberman would, and a candidate who would take
the country and the Democratic party back to where
it was before 1992 - soft on defense, hard on the
middle class, and out of power.
Later, in a visit to Carolinas
Hospital System in Florence, Lieberman touted his
plans to extend affordable health care to all
children, through his new "MediKids" program and
by expanding the network of school-based health
centers.
"America is only as strong as
its middle class -- and today, all across the
country, middle class families are squeezed
something terrible," Lieberman said as he filed
for the primary. "I'm the only candidate in this
race who will build on what worked when Bill
Clinton was President -- by giving a new tax cut
to 98 percent of taxpayers. Here in South
Carolina, that would mean a tax cut for more than
1.3 million individuals and families--and the vast
majority of the state's small businesses."
In contrast, Lieberman said that
if Howard Dean gets his way, a South Carolina
family of four would pay $2,200 a year more than
under Lieberman's plan. In practical terms, that's
close to a full semester of in-state tuition at
the University of South Carolina.
Lieberman added that South
Carolina voters face a clear choice on who will
keep America safe, saying, "I know how to fight
terrorism around the world--with the might of our
military when necessary, and the power of our
ideals. I know we can win this war without losing
our allies or our values."
In comparison, "Howard Dean said
America's no safer now that Saddam Hussein's in
U.S. custody. And he's not sure whether Osama bin
Laden is guilty or not. And even Wesley Clark --
whose military record I deeply respect -- has
waffled and wavered on whether it was right to go
to war in Iraq."
"If we're going to beat George
Bush and lead America forward again, we need to
offer a message that's clear, consistent, and
strong," he said.
On his visit to Carolinas
Hospital System's pediatric unit, Lieberman vowed
to help the 100,000 children in South Carolina
have no health insurance. He would tackle the
problem through two programs:
·
MediKids -- a new, flexible,
high-quality health plan in which every baby will
automatically be enrolled at birth or during any
lapse in coverage. The plan -- which parents are
free to decline -- would offer affordable and
reliable care to all children through young
adulthood, up to age 25. MediKids will be phased
in over 5 years, and children with existing
coverage, including Medicaid and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP),
would be welcome but not required to change. It
will start with the youngest children and,
beginning on day one, every baby will leave the
hospital with a birth certificate, a car seat, and
health insurance.
MediKids would provided through the same approach
that now covers Members of Congress -- a network
of federally-coordinated private insurance plans
will provide choice and flexibility, and all plans
will be required to offer a standard package of
benefits so children would receive comprehensive
coverage for preventive care, hospitalizations,
prescription drugs, long-term care, all
recommended vaccines, and other health care
services.
·
Building A National Network of
School-Based Health Centers -- Lieberman will
provide accessible health care to children in
elementary grades by building a new network of
school-based health centers. Currently, there are
more than 1,500 school-based health centers, which
serve 2 million students in 45 states. However,
despite the popularity of these centers and the
growing need for these services, the federal
government barely provides enough funding for two
school centers in every state, let alone the
66,000 public elementary and rural schools
nationwide. Lieberman will help create
partnerships between states, local school
districts, parents and clinicians to support and
expand access to these convenient centers.
Lieberman energy investigation
Sen. Joe Lieberman asked the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to
investigate if market manipulation had contributed
to a surge in natural gas prices. In a letter sent
yesterday to the commodity commission's chairman,
James Newsome, and to the energy commission's
chairman, Pat Wood III, Mr. Lieberman said there
was no reason for spot-market and futures prices
to soar 55 percent, given the amount of fuel
stored underground to supplement fresh supplies
from pipelines during cold weather. Inventories
for winter peaked at 3.187 trillion cubic feet on
Nov. 7, up 2.9 percent from a year ago and were
the third-largest pre-winter stockpile on record,
Energy Department figures show.
"Manipulation of the natural gas
and energy markets has been rampant,'' said the
letter from Mr. Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat
who is seeking his party's presidential
nomination. "Given the public statistics and
recent history, it does not appear that prices
seen in the market can be fully explained by
actual supply and demand conditions.''
Lieberman: Mad Cow
Joe Lieberman released the
following statement on the discovery of mad cow in
Washington state:
"The
discovery of mad cow creates two potential crises:
a public health crisis for our people and an
economic crisis for our cattle industry.
"Here
are five immediate steps I would take as president
to protect the safety of the American people and
restore confidence in our food inspection system.
"To
start, it is absurd that our inspection system
would allow meat from a suspicious cow to get into
the food supply. We must remove all downer cows
from the food supply -- both animal and human --
for testing. We know this disease spreads when
animals eat infected meat and we know paralysis in
cows is one of the warning signs of BSE. We should
not expose Americans to meat from the 160,000
suspect cows that are slaughtered every year.
"Second, we must test all suspicious animals for
BSE. This includes downer cows and animals
imported from countries where mad cow already may
exist. These animals should not be used for any
other purpose before their test results are known.
"Third, we have to follow through more effectively
in banning cow parts in cattle feed -- which
targets one of the primary means for transmission
of the disease. A 2002 report found serious
shortcomings in enforcing the ban. We must do
more.
"Fourth, we need a better tracking system for
animals. If an animal comes down with mad cow, we
need to instantly know where that animal has been
so that we can act quickly to minimize the spread
of the disease. We must follow the example of
other countries and insist upon country of origin
labeling so we can track all imported and exported
meats.
"Finally, we have to provide our cattle farmers
with emergency aid to transition to a new testing
and inspection regime. Making food and water
healthier and safer in America -- whether from
this public health threat or from the possibility
of a terrorist attack -- need not overly burden
industry."
Edwards: Ashcroft too late
Sen. John Edwards released the
following statement today in response to the news
that Attorney General John Ashcroft excused
himself from the White House CIA leak
investigation:
"Today's decision comes far too late,” said
Edwards. “President Bush knows how to get what he
wants inside his White House, yet for months, his
administration has somehow failed to find the
person responsible for this dangerous and
destructive leak.
"This
is completely unacceptable. Until the person
responsible for this leak is found and punished,
America's security will be compromised, and
courageous American intelligence officers around
the world will not be able to rest. This
administration cannot be allowed to rest until it
finishes this job," said Edwards.
Edwards on OSHA
The
NY Times reports that Sen. John Edwards is
accusing the Bush administration of failing to
protect workers. Edwards announced a plan to
decrease workplace deaths and injuries by
strengthening laws and hiring more federal safety
personnel, his campaign said Tuesday.
Taking a look at Edwards
The
Waterloo Courier reports on Sen. John Edwards
stop in their city. Some in the audience liked
what they saw:
Scott
Hudson, an undecided voter, was impressed by
Edwards' skill answering the crowd's questions.
"He'd
probably be strong in debates," Hudson said. "His
opening was a little stifled, but he spoke very
authentically and was informed about every issue.
... He didn't give any squishy answers."
Edwards: Bush failed
From the SonuvaMillWukuh
Campaign website comes yet another wordy (--
sigh --), detailed (– double sigh --)
plan…
“Family farmers in Iowa have been badly hurt by
the discovery of mad cow disease in Washington
State. But the infected meat might never have
reached American consumers if this administration
supported simple steps to protect our food supply.
President Bush opposed these steps after taking
more than $1 million from big beef and dairy
interests. John Edwards has never taken a dime
from federal lobbyists or PACs, and he would ban
federal candidates from taking lobbyists'
donations. Today, John Edwards outlined his agenda
to put food safety first.
BUSH BOWED TO AGRIBUSINESS
DONORS AT THE EXPENSE OF SAFETY
PRESIDENT BUSH TOOK MORE THAN
$1 MILLION FROM THE LIVESTOCK, DAIRY, AND MEAT
PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.
·
More than $750,000 from Livestock
Producers. Bush is the top recipient of
donations from livestock producers. He has taken
$253,550 during the 2004 cycle, and $507,085
during the 2000 election cycle. Top livestock
producer contributors include the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Pork
Producers Council.
·
Almost $150,000 from Dairy
Industry. For 2004, Bush has taken $42,000
from the dairy industry. During the 2000 cycle, he
received $107,450 from the industry. In both
cycles, Bush was the top recipient of dairy
donations. Top contributors include Dairy Farmers
of America, Suiza Foods, Dean Foods, and Agri-Mark
Inc.
·
Almost $120,000 from Meat
Processing Industry. In 2000, Bush received
$76,500 from the meat processing and products
industry. He was the top recipient for the
industry. For the 2004 cycle, Bush has received
$42,500 from the industry. Top contributors
include the American Meat Institute, Smithfield
Foods and Hormel Foods.
BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS
REFUSED SIMPLE FOOD SAFETY MEASURES.
·
Failure to Act on Downed Cattle.
The infected cow was a "downer" unable to
walk. Because downed cattle are more likely to be
sick, food safety advocates have long opposed the
slaughter of downed cows for human consumption, at
least until the cows are proven to be
disease-free. The Bush administration refused to
adopt regulations to keep these potentially sick
animals out of the food supply. [Associated Press,
12/17/03]
·
Limited Enforcement of Feed Ban.
In 1997, the Clinton administration enacted
new regulations banning most cow proteins from
ruminant feeds. Yet in 2002 the General Accounting
Office found that FDA had "not placed a priority
on oversight of the feed ban"; many firms that
"were out of compliance in repeated inspections,
yet FDA had not issued a warning letter." A recent
review found 300 firms out of compliance. A Bush
official admitted: "we don't have good tests to
take the feed itself and determine whether it's in
compliance." [AP, 12/28/03; GAO 2002, Chicago
Tribune, 12/25/03]
·
Underfunded Food Safety at FDA.
The FDA is responsible for critical testing of
cattle for mad cow disease, yet the 2004 Bush
budget did not even keep pace with inflation. Bush
allies have also repeatedly blocked efforts to
increase funding for the Food Safety and
Inspection Service and the Animal Plant Health
Inspection Service. [USDA, 2/03; Congress Daily,
5/11/02; House Appropriations Committee Vote,
6/13/01]
THE EDWARDS AGENDA
·
Test More Cattle, Test Them More
Quickly, and Track Them Through Their Lives.
Last year, Western European nations tested 10
million cows for mad cow disease. The Agriculture
Department tested about 20,000. Test results often
are not returned for more than two weeks. Edwards
would sharply increase testing levels, including
mandatory testing of all downed cattle. He would
require use of much faster tests now available.
And he would institute a system for mandatory
tracing of cattle from birth. It should not take
so long to determine the location of other cattle
from the infected cow's herd.
·
Ban Use of Downed Cattle for Food
Until Proven Disease-Free. Edwards would ban
the slaughter of downed cattle for human
consumption unless and until the cattle have been
shown by testing to be disease-free. Had this rule
been in place a month ago, the infected Washington
cow would not have been turned into meat sold to
consumers.
·
Strengthen Enforcement of Feed
Ban. Edwards would require FDA to examine not
only company records, as presently occurs, but
feed itself. He would work with states to increase
the frequency of inspections at rendering
plants-North Carolina, for example, inspects these
plans twice per year, while many states conduct
tests only once. And he would establish new
penalties for violation of the feed ban.
·
Bar Importation of Canadian
Cattle Until Canada's Food Safety Protections Are
Certified As Adequate. While the U.S. now bars
the importation of any Canadian cattle, a
regulation is pending that would lift this ban for
live cattle older than 30 months. Edwards would
maintain the full ban until the current crisis is
resolved and the adequacy of Canada's food safety
protections is established.
·
Keep Spinal Columns And Other
Dangerous Tissue Out of the Food Supply. A few
beef parts, such as spinal columns, are the prime
sources of risk to humans for mad cow disease.
Companies like Burger King, Pizza Hut, and ConAgra
keep such items out of their food. Edwards would
keep spinal column and other dangerous tissue out
of food.
·
Help Farmers Injured by the Mad
Cow Outbreak. Farmers who have played by the
rules should not bear a heavy burden due to the
current mad cow crisis. Edwards would provide
financial assistance to compensate farmers injured
by the crisis.
Edwards missed in S. C.
The
Charlotte Observer reports Sen. John Edwards
is not spending much time in their fair state:
Although U.S. Sen. John Edwards has described the
Feb. 3 Democratic primary in South Carolina as
essential to his presidential hopes, S.C. voters
will hardly see him between now and the last few
days of January.
Instead, he'll devote almost all of his efforts to
Iowa and New Hampshire, two states with earlier
balloting where polls show his support registering
only in single digits.
"What's really important now is that he do well
enough in New Hampshire and Iowa that he shows he
can be a national candidate, and then come back
down here," said Jennifer Palmieri, campaign
spokeswoman for the N.C. senator.
New Willie Nelson song performed for Kucinich
Willie Nelson, who has endorsed
Dennis Kucinich for President and will lead a
fundraising concert for Kucinich's campaign in
Austin, Texas, on Jan. 3rd, wrote a new song on
Christmas that he will perform in public for the
first time at the Austin concert. The lyrics:
What Ever Happened To Peace On Earth
There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying, mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth
We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us, so we gotta' kill them
first
But I remember a commandment, Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do
(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so
inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Kucinich has planned various events in Austin,
Texas, January 2nd and 3rd, including:
A
fundraising concert at the Austin Music Hall with
Kucinich Endorsers Willie Nelson, Tim Reynolds,
Michelle Shocked, and the Doobie Brothers' Pat
Simmons, along with Jim Hightower, Bonnie Raitt,
Tish Hinojosa, and Michael McDonald. Following the
show there will be an artist's reception at La
Zona Rosa, 4th St. and Rio Grande.
Kucinich meets with alternative media
Rep. Dennis Kucinich continues
to be shunned by mainstream media but finds a
welcome review in alternative media. The Kucinich
campaign recently registered complaints with CNN
regarding lack of coverage of Kucinich in the file
archives. However, Black media is willing to sit
down with the Kucinich campaign, according to a
release on his website. Democratic Presidential
Candidate Dennis J. Kucinich will host a meeting
with the African-American media on Wednesday, Dec.
31, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Ben's Chili Bowl,
1213 U Street NW, Washington, D.C. Following the
meeting, Kucinich will meet with residents of
Campbell Heights Senior Citizens apartment complex
at 2001 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C., to
discuss their concerns and interests, including
affordable housing, universal health coverage, and
Social Security. Campbell Heights contains 175
apartments and an additional 48 family units of
senior independent living quarters. The center is
managed by Dr. Butler-Truesdale, a former member
of the Washington D.C. Board of Education.
Kucinich: war reparations
The
Concord Monitor reports on Dennis Kucinich
campaigning in New Hampshire:
Dennis
Kucinich slipped off his black shoes on a chilly
front porch last night and stepped into the foyer
of a Beacon Street home. Inside, a vegetable
buffet and nearly 100 people were waiting for him.
Kucinich sounded his strong
theme of anti-war at the potluck:
"This
administration wants to drum up this war as a
perverted triumph," Kucinich said. "We have to
address the issue of reparations for the families
of innocent Iraqi people who have died."
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