The latest buzz spin seems to be that Barack Obama and Ron Paul ought to be running mates, in one fashion or another. Let's do a comparison and see how that might work out.

Lobbyists
Paul voted NO to H.R. 437, to require lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations, May 2007.
Barack Obama has spoken out against such bundling.

Rob Miller posted Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland's remarks to the Committee on Education and Labor regarding the recent tragedy at the Crandall Canyon Mine. As I read through it, I couldn't help but think that Wayne represented the best of what the Democratic Party is all about. He is standing up for people who can't do it themselves, making a way for them to be able to in the future. Sometimes we (Democrats) are accused of wanting to support people who just won't do it for themselves, but this is part of why I think that view is skewed.

This morning as I was cooking bacon, and had time to myself without the hustle and bustle of life, I wondered how I'd gotten to this point in my life. The point where I'm the Chair of this group, Utah for Obama, as well as Field Director for an area of Salt Lake for our county Democratic Party. Barely more than a year ago, my life seemed plenty full, between children, my boyfriend and work. How have I found the ability to add in the responsibility of helping out the county Democratic Party, as well as the one of leading a group dedicated to getting Barack Obama the Democratic Nomination this coming February?

More importantly, why am I doing this? It would be so much easier to throw myself into work, make some more money on the side to support my family and pursue my own interests, of reading, computers and living the good life. And it occurred to me that I felt threatened by our government. My children, and the life I'm living, are at risk because America chose poorly in the last two presidential elections.

I just got off the phone from a conference call with Senator Obama, who I fully believe not just can but will be our next President. I am the Chair of the Grassroots group, Utah for Obama. This weekend, there is a nationwide event called Walk for Change, and I am organizing the one in Salt Lake City. Because of that, I was invited, along with several other members of Utah for Obama, and leaders of groups from other States, to participate in a conference call with the Senator. It was a very uplifting experience, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it.

Follow me in for the summary.

The Leahy-Specter "Restoring Habeas Corpus Act of 2007" is coming up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee in a few days. We all know how important this is.

I challenge each of you to make 1 - 2 phone calls, depending on whether your Senator is on that committee. Follow me in.

Marriage is a religious institution, and to extend it to gays would take something from the religious values that marriage holds.

So, keep marriage to the churches, and out of government.

Need some dirt on Giuliani, Mitt Romney, or even John McCain? Democrats.org has collected it all for you in one place.

There's even a PDF of an in-depth report on all of the Top 3.

MoveOn.org is organizing a national effort to hold rallies tomorrow against Bush's veto of the will of the American people. We'll be having a rally here in Salt Lake City. I confirmed with the group organizing it that they are indeed working on it. I will update this with the details as soon as they announce it. In the meantime, clear your schedule tomorrow (probably in the evening is my guess). It will be at 5:00 PM at the Federal Building, and is being organized by The People for Peace and Justice.

As of now, MoveOn.org does not have an event finder for this rally, but they usually do has an event finder up. They put the call out less than 30 minutes ago, though. I will update this with a link as soon as there is one. In the meantime, please post comments like "Salt Lake City Rally Details" if you know of an event like this in your own area. Let's get the word out, so that attendance at these events will be as high as possible. Make our voice heard.

Almost two months ago, I watched as Ben and Jerry, of Ben & Jerry's, visited Stephen Colbert's Report to unveil a new flavor of ice cream:

I'm pretty sure that the above title is what Faux News would print, in this story about at least 160 people who died today from a car bomb in Baghdad. France 24 has the sub-headline as "An avalanche of car bomb attacks on Shiite districts of Baghdad slaughtered over 160 people in all and delivered a savage blow to the credibility of two-month-old US security plan."

The Gavel today has this statement from Nancy Pelosi, regarding the First 100 Days of the new Democratic Congress:

Pelosi: End of First 100 Days Is Only the Beginning of a New Direction for All Americans

"From the first hours Democrats held the majority in Congress, we have worked to provide a new direction for the American people.

"Beginning with the first 100 hours, the House passed, with broad bipartisan support, legislation to make America safer at home; make our economy stronger and fairer; make college more accessible; make health care more affordable; advance embryonic stem cell research; and bring us closer to our goal of energy independence. We restored openness and accountability to our government with tough ethical reforms.

Follow me over the fold to see the rest, and to see what Madame Speaker says will be tackled next.

When I first heard the rumor that Utah Senator Orrin Hatch (R) might be in line for Attorney General, my reaction was probably much like yours (if you know anything about him). I was most definitely against the idea of such a blithering idiot becoming Attorney General.

I've come to have a change of heart though. Orrin Hatch is the best possible candidate for the position. I hope that you will all support his nomination, especially if you live in Utah.

I was very excited when I saw this headline in my RSS news feed:

O'Malley Signs Bill to Bypass Electoral College

Personally, I am very frustrated with the electoral college, because it means my vote doesn't count. I have long said that there are two reasons for me to vote for president. The first is to give myself a little pat on the back for at least trying. The second is to prove to this country that we need to get rid of the Electoral College.

ABC News has published a story that should shock me, but somehow it just doesn't.

A Pakistani tribal militant group responsible for a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran has been secretly encouraged and advised by American officials since 2005, U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources tell ABC News.

I just figured out what I'm doing tonight at 8! I received this as the preview of tonight's Countdown:

President Bush expressed frustration on Tuesday with the congressional debate on Iraq war spending and accused majority-party Democrats of being "more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need."  He also chided the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for visiting Syria, saying it sent mixed signals to the government of President Bashar Assad. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Syria on Tuesday, leading a congressional delegation.  Pelosi, who was met at Damascus airport by Syria's foreign minister, is the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate in 2003. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

Senator Russ Feingold joins Keith.

Hussein Hayal al Zaidi's story is saddening, and not the only one like it that I've heard. Reading the first paragraph of the MSNBC article sickens me.

Hussein Hayal al Zaidi says he spent nearly four years in jail in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, once in a 13-by-13-foot cell with 20 other men. His captors blindfolded him and pummeled his eyes, detaching one of his retinas. He has scars on his ankles, feet and hands from where they strung him up with ropes and beat him. His genitalia bear the marks of electric shock burns.

This man was smuggled from Iraq and eventually wound up at an airport in Newark, asking for asylum. He was granted that asylum. But, 10 days after September 11, 2001, the immigration judge who heard the final arguments in his case ordered him deported.

According to the Army Times, Walter Reed seems to be trying to punish soldiers recovering there for the recent news attention to the problems at the facility.

They've been told that they have to wake up at 6 am, and be ready for inspection by 7 am. Daily. Oh, and they're not allowed to speak to the media.

There have been many diaries with Divine Strake as a topic here on Kos. Many of you know that Divine Strake has been cancelled.

But did you know about the fallout from Divine Strake?

Follow me over the fold and see.