The Democrats are about two steps away from the Reality TV business.

The 2006 elections will be an opportunity for Democrats. For the first time in many years, Democrats have a strong chance to win majorities in both houses of Congress. Forward Together PAC has already contributed to more than 50 campaigns in more than 30 states. Now we are opening up the process.

You can help us choose the next group of candidates we’ll support. We are looking for fresh faces with fresh ideas - and for solutions-oriented Democrats with a focus on the future - candidates who will help us change the political map. Which candidates are you supporting? Register below and tell us who your Map Changers are!

The first round of voting runs through June 13. The top votegetters thee will advance to a second round (voting from June 14-25), where the top ten will receive a $5K contribution from the PAC. Finally, there will be a third election (June 26-July 4)to determine two final winners, each of whom will get a fundraiser thrown by Gov. Warner.

And the winner is the guy running against Tom Tancredo:

“After an exciting few weeks the MapChangers contest has come to a close. More than 9,000 people voted over the course of the contest, casting 18,500 votes. In a very close third round and after hard-fought final day of voting, Forward Together PAC is excited to declare Colorado’s Bill Winter the winner of our MapChangers Grand Prize.”

“A Fighting Dem, Bill is running in Colorado’s 6th district against controversial Republican Tom Tancredo. The Winter campaign ran a spirited campaign and had tremendous success in turning out their online supporters to bring them to victory. Governor Warner congratulates all eleven MapChangers: Chris Bell (TX-Gov), John Courage (TX-21), Diane Farrell (CT-04), John Laesch (IL-14), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Patrick Murphy (PA-08), Nancy Skinner (MI-09), Stephanie Studebaker (OH-03), Jon Tester (MT-Sen), Jim Webb (VA-Sen), Bill Winter (CO-06). The online mobilization skills those campaigns developed for the contest will be helpful all the way to election day.”

I’m reading down a bit further, and I see this gem:

Last Friday night I attended a benefit for the Douglas County Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center. It was a dinner called “The Empty Bowl” at the Douglas County Events Center. There were several hundred people there to raise money to help protect women from domestic violence. It turns out that domestic violence against women is rampant in Douglas County, which suggests to me that it is likely a problem all over Congressional District Six and America.

Santa Fe County suffers from outbreaks of bubonic plague; you remember, that “Black Death” thing. This suggests to me that it is likely a problem all over Congressional District 3 (NM) and America. But I digress. . .

As the program for the evening said, “Domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a national, state, and foremost, a community issue. Domestic violence affects not just victims, but neighbors, coworkers, relatives, partners and friends. It crosses all age groups, all ethnic groups, all socio-economic groups, and all genders. The consequences of domestic violence know no boundaries.” Surely domestic violence is something we could all agree is a bad thing that we should fight against.

So I looked around to see if Congressman Tancredo was in attendance. He was not, but then that’s not surprising. Did you know that Mr. Tancredo was one of only FOUR members of the U.S. House of Representatives, out of 435, to vote AGAINST re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act? This act is designed to reduce violence against women and contains important laws that protect women. What kind of man would vote against something like that? He can’t even say he voted a party line, because with 431 House members voting yes, and only 4 saying no, it’s clear that this was a non-partisan issue.

I don’t read minds, so I can’t say why Mr. Tancredo voted against this bill. Does he SUPPORT violence against women? That may be going too far, but I do think it’s safe to say that he isn’t particularly bothered by violence against women. I don’t think he really cares about violence against women. And I don’t think that really reflects how the people of Congressional District Six really feel about this important issue!

I am bothered by violence against anyone, and I will stand up for the right of women to be free from violence in their lives. If you agree with me on this important issue, I hope you will support my campaign and make a donation of whatever size you can afford right now!

So Bill Winters is against domestic violence, violence against anyone in fact? Maybe he could get in touch with one of his fellow “Mapchanger” contestants, Stephanie Studebaker. I’m certain that Bill could help out Steph and her husband, it’s a moral imperative almost.

Help me, Bill Winters!

Yup, it seems ol’ Steph and her husband enjoy going a few rounds now and again.

“This is Jim Studebaker. I’m in Union Ohio. I just got an emergency call from my son. Whose wife Stephanie is attacking him at the moment.” Studebaker then gives the couple’s address.

“There is a history of her breaking a rib once. She has a history of alcohol abuse and domestic violence.”

“She’s very physical.”

“He called me…(unintelligible)..She was attacking him and I didn’t think he would be able to get on the phone to you. He asked us to call you.”

“Send someone to go right away because she is extremely violent.”

Maybe Bill can find out for us how Steph would have voted on the Violence Against Men act?

After an inspiring speech to a crowd of rowdy activists, Congressman Peter DeFazio, a champion against the MAI in Congress, delivers a blow to the “Corporate Fat Cat!”

Um, power to the people, or something.

Now you know

Primus

And you know

Secundus

Now meet. . .

Quarta
8-12-2006

She shares a birthday with:

Father Michael J. McGivney
Founder of the Knights of Columbus

There’s a reason I’ve not been posting. I’ll tell you about it later.

What possible purpose did that serve besides smacking conservatives and Traditionalists? San Miguel is where the conservative refugees in Santa Fe attend Mass, and San Ignacio is the parish where the Archdiocese holds the indult (someone mentioned to me once, “Did you know San Ignacio is the smallest parish in the Archdiocese?” Of course it is, why do you think they sent us here?)

I guess this is why the Archdiocese has had two priests leave, one to join the FSSP and one to join the “schismatics” (I can only assume that means the SSPX). I guess that’s why the SSPX has enough people supporting them in Albuquerque to build an impressive new church for their Masses.

Like his predecessor, it seems the current Archbishop needs to realize that while some of us are former altar boys, we’re not going to keep bending over without protest.