Listening to the Rachel Maddow show, I heard, with a sick feeling, the tape she played from KCBS radio in San Francisco regarding the death of yet another soldier in Iraq.

Another Bay Area soldier has been killed in the Iraq War. The Department of Defense says 22-year-old Army Airborne Sergeant John Aragon of Antioch died Thursday in Kadamiyah, Iraq.

I like to read Bloomberg. All those graphs and colors. So this morning I read

``This is an ugly report on the labor market,'' said Allen Sinai, chief economist at Decision Economics Inc. in New York. ``Most of the economy looks in recession.''

I wasn't surprised...but...

Jim Camden of the Spokesman-Review had the unenviable job of reporting on the State Republican Convention held here in Spokane and he did a commendable job blogging away.

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I write this for the benefit of those who, by the good fortune of geography and decent Congressional representation, are spared exposure to the nakedness of "changing" Republicans in their mailboxes.

I knew I’d be seeing it up close and personal at some point, living, as I do, in the district that threw out Speaker Tom Foley, had the 5-term- term-limited-turned lobbyist, George Nethercutt, and currently enjoys the "service" of our very own cute (39 year old) Cathy McMorris Rodgers.  I have now received a fourth glossy  mailer from my misRep since the announcement of her re-election campaign around St. Patrick’s Day 2008.  And with that the new "Agenda"!

So below the fold ...behold!

Back in July noweasels wrote this. Today a new decision has been handed down.

Update: On Monday, March 17, 2008, the Georgia Supreme Court decided 4-3 to deny a new trial for Troy Anthony Davis, despite significant concerns regarding his innocence. Today’s stunning decision by the Georgia Supreme Court to let Mr. Davis’ death sentence stand means that the state of Georgia might soon execute a man who well may be innocent.

Thomas Paine-Lordy Lordy Look Who’s 271!

(with thanks to Robert Zeller for the photos)

Due to the none-stop primary talk and the closeness of this event to our Washington state caucuses, I delayed posting this, concerned it would be lost in the noise. May still be, but here goes.  
The Spokane Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America came together on a cold, cold night in January to celebrate the 271st anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest minds that’s come to American shores.

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No question the turnout was big. The first caucus I went to in 2000 had under 30 people and that turnout was a suprise to the organizers. This one had 68 people in attendance.

Both candidates seem to think not only is Washington state important, but they are giving Spokane attention

Like the clouds parting at the beginning of the Simpsons, my decision has done been decided. Struggling, I’ve read diaries and comments by people that I knew were wrestling with who to support after John Edwards suspended his campaign. I’ve talked with friends and family...

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I realize that this is just my view from my small corner, but intense times can bring  stark moments.
One of my parents is in the last days. When I am there, I am there and do what needs doing, sometimes it is just being present.  So I find things hit me when I am away, either back at my home or when I am running an errand. Today I was out to buy some nice twin flat sheets for the newly arrived hospital bed from Hospice.

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From Politico.com Senator Patrick Leahy has set a vote for Thursday on contempt resolutions for Josh Bolton and Karl Rove. Think Progess also has the story.

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote this diary regarding John Conyers remarks on impeachment in the spring of 2006. After this comment was posted on that diary, I came to the conclusion that a Select Committee, just like the good old days of Watergate, is what is necessary.

Prompted by reading Carnacki's, "A putrid stench" diary and Demfem's diary, I immediately wrote to my senator, Patty Murray, with a link and a couple of quotes from the Vanity Fair article wondering what I should do about this outrage and letting her know that the time has come for a Senate Select Committee....

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Sharing the frustration and the sense of impotence over the state of our country and Constitution, I've called a number of members of Congress. My converstion with Rep. Wasserman-Schultz's office was especially frustrating. Additionally the interview on Ed Shultz's show with the Congresswoman was troubling. I have heard many repeat that Rep. Conyers lead people to believe he would take up and lead an impeachment process if he became Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Likely many already know what he actually said. For myself and others who do not, here is what I found.

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Getting gas yesterday before the price goes up again, I decided to take a little walk down memory lane (especially since I'm doing more walking anyway) remembering those days, oh so long ago, when those oil men were running for the White House. Back in those days, a local talk show host asked who people were to going vote for. One call to the show was unforgetable. The man said, "I'm going to vote for George Bush (W), 'cause he's an oil man and he'll be able to do something about these gas prices." I've wondered so often how that worked out for him. The talk show host has long since gone back to his DJ gig.

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From yesterdays Spokesman Review:

"I won’t deny anything, but it’s Dino’s announcement to make," his campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait said Tuesday. The Associated Press, citing anonymous GOP sources, reported late Monday that Rossi will run.

So today the story is:

Speaking in Issaquah a few minutes ago, former GOP candidate for governor Dino Rossi said, yes, he'll run again against Democratic incumbent Chris Gregoire.

So I avoided seeing or hearing "the speech" last night, but did not avoid educating myself on the finer points.  And I read, as I often do, the IGTNT diary last evening.  So it was, in spite of myself, that I called my misrepresentative’s office. Raised blood pressure being the result, I got on the old treadmill to work off my ..what should we call it nowadays...fury? I listened to the radio, the local "progressive" Clear Channel station that gives us "the most trusted name in news" every hour on the hour. And it was the hour, so what do I hear after nothing but war talk?  

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I had the great opportunity, like a lot of other folks, to meet both George Fearing and Darcy Burner at YearlyKos.
Unfortunately, we in WA-05 have no candidate as yet.  We are hopeful that we will soon, as many folks in our district have worked hard to get organized to recruit a congressional candidate.  Nevertheless, we strongly support these candidates and hope to see them join the rest of the state’s Democratic delegation. Our really fabulous misRepresentive, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, here in our district, WA-05, has some terrific plans for her fundraising, and I hope they will motivate folks out there to contribute to the campaigns of WA-04, George Fearing and  WA-08, Darcy Burner.  

more about Cathy’s plans below..

With the excellent analysis today here and the story about Talon here, I wanted to share my little bit of research regarding what John Poindexter has been doing lately. I posted this diary back on June 17th but it got little notice. So with that, I am posting it again with a few additions.