by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of Blog for America]

Well, I will say that the government trucks did get up here to Iowa. Lets just say that even though there were passable roads it took some time for them to get here.  Their excuse?  Well, they had no where to unload the stuff they were bringing, so ALL of the trucks had to sit and wait until there was a free building...uhhhh why couldn't they bring the trucks full of water up and just open the back door? Mason City had no drinkable water.  The old saying "water as far as the eye can see, but none to drink"worked mighty fine in this situation.As the days dragged on my friends in Mason City who were heading up the Red Cross efforts were saddend and upset by the promises of "trucks coming soon". Thank God for the surrounding area stores and resturants for providing much needed supplies.  A lot of those places were next on the hit list for the 500 year flood!  But they stuck around as long as they could.

People from all over Iowa came to help. It was a wonderful thing.  But once again goverment assistance was the last on the scene. People were in each others basements and yards helping with the hard work of trying to save the things that were important to thier neighboors.  There were broken ankles, wounded hands, feet, knees and faces.  Mud everywhere.  Tears and frustration.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today's primary is one of those elections where you never knowwhat might happen but nobody can predict who's going to show up.There's some buzz on the national scene about Sen. Hillary Clintonending her campaign (though as I write this that's beingdisputed) and Sen. Obama winning enough delegates to put it away, butthere's plenty of news to be made on California issues as well.(Shameless self-promotion plug: I'll be on KCRA-3 tonight in Sacramentoanalyzing trends.)

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Former President Bill Clinton told those California Democrats urging his wife to quit the presidential race to "chill" and let the process play out. And in today's Wall Street Journal, political columnist Gerald Seib echoes the "silver lining" that could result from a continued spirited contest.
 
"It may be better for them to get controversies such as the one about Sen. Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jermiah Wright, aired now rather than waiting for Republicans to raise them. By showing where Sen. Clinton is strongest -- among rural, small-town, working-class women and Southern white Democrats -- the primaries are showing where Sen. Obama would need to do the most work. By showing where Sen. Obama is strongest -- among independents -- the primaries are showing his best path to win a general election.
 
"And it may be that the party's best chance of unifying itself is to let all camps leave its convention this summer in Denver feeling that the process has played itself out fairly."
 
Works for me, as does Speaker Willie Brown's remarks about the Florida and Michigan delegations: let them be seated, but not give them votes for president.

by Jessica Falker [courtesy of Blog for America]

IRV stands for Instant Runoff Voting. Here is a good explanation, using the Muppets, of how IRV works:

http://www.fairvote.org/irv/muppets/muppets.htm

Last year, the Vermont Senate passed a bill to use IRV in Vermont's election of our US Senators and US Representative. Yesterday, the Vermont House passed the Instant Runoff Bill by a vote of 81-60.  A comfortable margin, but not veto-proof. You can read the bill here:

 http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/senate/S-108.HTM

Please contact Gov. Douglas and encourage him to sign this bill (S.108):

- Phone: 802-828-3333
- Snail Mail: Governor Jim Douglas, 109 State Street, Pavilion, Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
- Through his website (less effective): http://governor.vermont.gov/contact.html 

Talking Points provided by the League of Women Voters:

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

McClatchy reporter David Lightman takes a look at the difference of supporters of Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama in Ohio:

The outcome of Tuesday's Ohio presidential primary will come down to whether the Vickie Smiths will turn out in bigger numbers than the Sina Ingolds.

Smith, a 53-year-old nurse from Waverly, barely paid attention to politics before Barack Obama exploded into the national consciousness. Today, she's so taken with the Illinois senator that one of her birthday presents was a ticket to a Democratic fundraiser where Obama spoke.

Ingold, 71, has struggled all her life. The Malaga caregiver grew up in a house that had no electricity until she was 21, and later worked milking cows and in an aluminum plant and a sewing factory to make a living. She's a Hillary Clinton fan, saying that the New York senator understands why and how government will help those who need it.

Ingold wants experience. Smith wants change. Ohio is torn.

Danny
Communications Director