Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

The Trail this morning leads to Fargo, where our State Convention kicks off at 2:30 p.m. today.

Here are some highlights of the next three days:

Today

We’ll endorse Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson for another term, and Brent Edison for Tax Commissioner in nominating sessions starting at about 3 p.m. Chairman Tex Hall of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations will address the convention at 4:45 p.m.

Saturday

The day beings with a special tribute to the military and military families, featuring former Senator Max Cleland. This may be the most moving event of the convention. That will be followed by the endorsement of Senator Kent Conrad at 9:45 a.m. An hour later, General Wesley Clark will deliver the convention’s keynote address.

We’ll endorse Congressman Earl Pomeroy at 1:30 p.m., and Senator Byron Dorgan will address the Convention at 2:30 p.m. Then at 3:15 p.m. we’ll present a special video tribute to our three former Governors, Art Link, Bill Guy and George Sinner, and their wives. How marvelous it is to have three former First Families with us for yet another convention! The Convention banquet featuring Max Cleland ends the day at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday

We’ll begin endorsing our final three candidates at 9:15 a.m., starting with a surprise candidate for Secretary of State, followed by the endorsement of Cheryl Bergian for Public Service Commissioner and Bill Brudvik for Attorney General. Adoption of the platform and resolutions concludes the convention’s business, which is expected to wrap up about noon.
There’s still time to get here. Come and join us!

See you on the Trail,

Jim

Democratic-NPL State Convention

Our State Convention starts tomorrow at the Fargo Civic Center. A special thank you goes out to our volunteers!

Tomorrow's big events include the endorsements for Agriculture Commissioner and Tax Commissioner.

Also, the public is invited to see former presidential candidate General Wesley Clark speak at 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Clark is a national hero, and the Democratic-NPL Party is proud to host someone of his stature.

See you there!

Edison Cautions Taxpayers About Signing Away Privacy Rights

At a news conference today, Tax Commissioner candidate Brent Edison warned taxpayers to carefully read tax forms prepared by commercial tax return preparers to avoid having their tax return information sold to data marketers.

Edison said the Internal Revenue Service has proposed changes that consumer groups say lessen privacy protections for taxpayers’ tax return information.

“The backlash from consumer groups has shed light on a potential problem North Dakota taxpayers need to be aware of,” he said. “The problem is that by signing the wrong form without reading it, taxpayers can inadvertently sign away their privacy protections, allowing tax return information to be sold for a profit.”

Edison said that when confusing tax forms are spread out before taxpayers, there may be a tendency to “sign on the dotted line” without reading the forms or asking questions.

“Taxpayers want to avoid the hassle of reading through all the forms,” he said. “That’s why they use a commercial tax preparer in the first place. Unfortunately, that can create a situation where people unwittingly consent to the release of their tax return information.”

Edison said he is concerned about the erosion of privacy rights of taxpayers and will make that an issue in his campaign.

“Any time there is a profitable market for this kind of data, there will be those who try to dupe people so they can sell it,” he said. “When I am elected Tax Commissioner, I will make privacy protection for taxpayers a top priority.”

A Republican retreats

Via the GF Herald Online...

GOP candidate for Congress drops out
DALE WETZEL
Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. - Ian Karvo, one of three candidates seeking the Republican endorsement to run for North Dakota's U.S. House seat, has dropped out of the race, a statement on his campaign blog says.

"I appreciate the support that I have received from all involved, but I have realized just why so few people get involved in politics, and feel it's better left to the professionals who can play the game without regret," the statement says.

Karvo, a Bismarck counselor and substitute teacher, did not immediately respond to an e-mail message and messages left on his cell phone for comment.

Good news from The Forum's political notebook

Here's an excerpt from the column...

Popularity contest
by Janell Cole and Don Davis
The Forum
3/27/06

North Dakota Democrats have a happy number to take into their state convention this coming weekend. A Survey USA poll shows Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., as the most approved-of senator in the country.

Conrad is approved of by 72 percent of North Dakotans, while 22 percent disapprove, giving him a 50 percent “net approval.” Tied for second in popularity among their constituents were Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, with net approval of 48 percent.

North Dakota's Senator Kent Conrad nation's most popular senator, poll finds

SurveyUSA has released it's newest report on the nation's 100 senators, and Senator Conrad -- fresh off a widely-covered floor debate on the federal budget -- is now ranked as the nation's most popular senator. He has the highest job approval rating of 72 percent, according to the SurveyUSA poll conducted from March 10-12 of 600 adults in the state.

Click here to check it out!

Senator Conrad is the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee, and also serves on the Senate's Finance, Agriculture and Indian Affairs committees. He is a champion of family farmers and was one of the four congressional authors of the current Farm Bill, which has been spotlighted by North Dakota's opinion leaders as a model for future agriculture policy. Senator Conrad's provisions in the Energy Bill encourage greater production of biodiesel and ethanol, and boost research into the development of commercially-viable coal-to-liquid fuel manufacturing. He forged a bipartisan working group with Governor Hoeven and local leadership in North Dakota to preserve our military bases in Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot. Senator Conrad's agriculture disaster legislation, introduced last week, has drawn bipartisan support for his effort to help farmers and ranchers defray losses due to weather, including drought, frost and floods.

Dwight who?

Sanborn, N.D. farmer Dwight Grotberg is supposedly announcing his intention to run for U.S. Senate on Friday.

Apparently, Grotberg is friends with former U.S. Senate candidate Mike Liffrig who lost to Senator Byron Dorgan in 2004.

Comments, questions...concerns...

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

We are pleased to tell you about an addition to our State Convention program that will make you even more proud to be a Democrat in North Dakota. Senator Kent Conrad told us yesterday that Max Cleland has accepted his invitation to attend our convention and be the speaker at the Convention banquet Saturday night, April 1.

Max Cleland is a former United States Senator, Vietnam Veteran and U.S. Veterans Affairs Administrator. Cleland volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1967, and was serving as an Army captain in 1968 when a grenade explosion cost him both legs and his right arm. He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Silver Star for meritorious service in Vietnam.

Senator Conrad praised Senator Cleland's service to the nation, particularly his record serving military veterans. Cleland was the first Vietnam veteran to head the U.S. Veterans Administration when President Jimmy Carter appointed him in 1977.

"When our military veterans had Max Cleland in Washington, D.C., they had a friend and advocate who knows better than almost any the trials of veterans who have returned from war," Senator Conrad said. "We are honored as a party to have Senator Cleland join us in North Dakota."

One of Cleland's first acts as VA administrator was to create the Veteran Center Program, the first effort by the VA to offer psychological counseling to combat veterans. There are now more than 200 Veteran Centers across the country.

Cleland ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Sam Nunn, and won despite being outspent three-to-one. He lost his bid for re-election in 2002 to then-Rep. Saxby Chambliss.

Senator Cleland won numerous awards in recognition of his service to military families during his time in the Senate, including the "Minute Man of the Year" Award from the Reserve Officers' Association, its highest award. Past recipients include President George H. W. Bush, Reagan and Ford.

"Max Cleland's advocacy on behalf of our military families is a noble reminder to everyone that military service is a sacrifice," Senator Conrad said. "Everyone who knows Max understands his deep commitment to our country. He is one of America's finest."

Senator Cleland joins General Wesley Clark on our State Convention agenda. Gen. Clark will deliver the keynote address to the Convention Saturday morning.

Talk Radio

Tune in to Joel Heitkamp’s “News and Views” show Friday morning to hear a little Republican bloodletting. Joel is devoting a full two hours to a debate between Republican Agriculture Commissioner candidates Jim Lee and Doug Goehring. There’s no love lost between these two, stemming for a dispute over board membership the Farm Bureau’s Nodak Mutual Insurance Company, of which Goehring is chairman. The two will take calls from listeners. Call in and ask a question or two.

From Those Wonderful People Who Brought You The Swift Boat Ads

The same people who smeared John Kerry with the false and hate-filled swift boat ads have decided to use those tactics in their effort to dismantle Social Security. This time their target is the AARP, a group that millions of seniors rely on to defend their interests.

They started their campaign with a ridiculous, bigoted ad, and they're gearing up for more. If you want to register your protest over this kind of hateful campaign, you can go to the Democracy For America website to sign a petition to television stations protesting the airing of these ads.


See you on the Trail,

Jim

Rick Gion's News from Headquarters

Fellow Democrats and bloggers,

As you probably have already heard, we have a new Public Service Commission candidate. Cheryl Bergian, of Fargo, has decided to run against the current Republican Commissioner, Tony Clark. Join me in welcoming her to the 2006 Democratic-NPL ticket (and giving her some campaign dollars).

Bergian has a great resume and is a well-rounded individual. Not only does she hold a law degree from the University of North Dakota, but she has a long history of social and educational service.

Here are some highlights from her biography:

Cheryl is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, a position she has held since 2002. She graduated from the University of North Dakota, ’85, and University of North Dakota School of Law, ’88, as a member of the Order of the Coif. She worked for Legal Services programs in North Dakota and Minnesota for 14 years. She has taught as a Visiting Clinical Instructor at the University of North Dakota and as an Adjunct Professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Also, she has been active as a community leader, serving as the President of the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley, Chair of the Fargo Human Relations Commission, President of Quota International of Fargo/Moorhead, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dakota Chapter, and the President of her church board.

All of this great experience demonstrates that when she is elected to the Public Service Commission, she will definitely be a progressive fighter for North Dakota. The Public Service Commission tackles everything from energy issues to phone service. I know Cheryl will be a proponent for bolstering our renewable energy sector. Hopefully, she will also work on getting us some cell phone coverage in the southwest area of the state (I was in Regent last weekend and no one could “hear me now.”)

Stay tuned

We have another candidate announcing next Monday. This time it’s for Attorney General. He is a lawyer from the Red River Valley, and has a great vision for the Attorney General’s office. From discussing issues with him, he has a solid idea of what it will take to clean up the state’s methamphetamine problem and to tackle underage drinking.

These two fine candidates would really appreciate your support. Please try to attend their press conferences and events. Stay tuned for future announcements.

Rick

Candidate announcements

There have been a lot of candidates that have announced lately. So, I'm making today's post an open thread on the subject. Just hit comment if you want to put in your two cents.

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

Today, we will spend a little time getting acquainted with the North Dakota Republican Party’s choice for its keynote speaker at their State Convention next week. Fellow Democrats, Fellow North Dakotans, get ready to welcome to North Dakota (drum roll) . . . God’s Senator, Sam Brownback. Who would Jesus vote for? Surely Sam Brownback.

This, Fellow Democrats, is one scary dude. Let me quote from Jeff Sharlet’s recent article in Rolling Stone: “In his (Brownback’s) dream America, the one he believes both the Bible and the Constitution promise, the state will simply wither away. In its place will be a country so suffused with God and the free market that the social fabric of the last hundred years -- schools, Social Security, welfare -- will be privatized or simply done away with. There will be no abortions; sex will be confined to heterosexual marriage. Men will lead families, mothers will tend children, and big business and the church will take care of all.”

Get prepared to meet the man - right here in Minot, North Dakota - who has been anointed by Rev. Pat Robertson as his choice for the next President of the United States. Yes, Brownback’s chief theological backer is the same Pat Robertson who said recently that Ariel Sharon’s stroke was retribution for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza; that Hurricane Katrina was Louisiana’s punishment for being the home town of lesbian comedienne Ellen DeGeneres; and that we need to just go ahead and make the world a better place by assassinating Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. And the Pat Robertson who says "I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period."

Okay, back to Robertson’s protégé, Brownback, the North Dakota GOP’s choice to headline their convention. Brownback is so conservative that when he came to Congress in 1994 he refused to sign Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America because it was too tame. He was a Methodist when he came to Congress, became an evangelical in Washington, and not so long ago was baptized Catholic in a chapel run by Opus Dei located between two lobbyists offices on K Street in Washington, DC. Now there’s a real mainstream North Dakota-style religious history, eh?

His source of support is his participation in a network of God-led “cells” known as the Fellowship. He meets with his prayer cell each week, part of an organization which, its leader envisions, is “a government led by Christ’s will alone, in which everything—sex and taxes, war and the price of oil-- will be decided upon not according to democracy or the church or even Scripture. The Bible itself is for the masses; in The Fellowship, Christ reveals a higher set of commands to the anointed few,” according to Sharlet’s article.

Brownback has introduced the Constitution Restoration Act. If passed it will strip the Supreme Court of the ability to even HEAR cases in which citizens protest faith-based abuses of power. “Say the mayor of your town decides to declare Jesus Lord and fire anyone who refuses to do so; or the principal of your local high school decides to read a fundamentalist prayer over the PA every morning; or the president declares the United States a Christian nation. Under the Constitution Restoration Act, that'll all be just fine.”

To accomplish all this, of course, Brownback needs a patron. He found one at the home of one of the nation’s worst polluting companies, Koch Industries. They’ve been slapped with the largest environmental civil penalty in U.S. history for illegally discharging 3 million gallons of oil in six states, and indicted for benzene emissions, which cost them a $20 million settlement in lieu of criminal charges. The company’s principals dumped $410,000 into a last minute ad campaign for Brownback’s Senate race, a Senate investigative committee revealed.

He also needed a mentor. He chose Charles Colson, the former Nixon aide who did prison time for his coverup role in the Watergate scandal before being reborn into a Christian right leadership role. "When I came to the Senate," says Brownback in a recent interview, "I sought him out. I had been listening to his thoughts for years, and wanted to get to know him some."

Brownback "is from the Midwest, and ... shares the values of a majority of North Dakotans," North Dakota Republican State Chairman Ken Karls told the Grand Forks Herald Thursday.

Hey, Ken, you been locked up for a while, or what? This guy is as far out there on the fringe of American politics as you can find. I don’t think “a majority of North Dakotans” are anywhere near this guy. This might be the best example yet of how far to the right the leadership of the North Dakota Republican Party has drifted.

As for me, I’ll take Wesley Clark at my convention.

You can read lots about Sam Brownback by Googling him, or you can read the long, interesting story from Rolling Stone by clicking here.

See you on the Trail,

Jim

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

And a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you. I’ve never known a Republican Irishman. Well, Reagan, but I didn’t know him. I think about my old friend John Maher every St. Patrick’s day. John’s been gone about 4 years now, but he was as Irish as they get. John served as a State Senator in the 1970’s and was our State Party Chairman as well. I once saw him call a fellow Senator out after a particularly heated debate. Asked him to step outside the Capitol and settle things right there. No need to vote—we can settle this thing between us! His Irish eyes are smiling on all of us Democrats today.

How Low Can You Go?

John would be pleased at how smart North Dakotans have gotten. We know incompetence when we see it. Well, at least more than half of us do. According to Survey USA, President Bush’s approval rating in North Dakota has sunk to 44 per cent, while 52 per cent say they disapprove of the way he is handling the country.

How do we rank with other states out west? Well, in Idaho, 50 per cent still approve of the President, while 47 per cent disapprove. In Wyoming, it’s 52-45 in favor of the President. In Nebraska, it’s 49-48. People get smarter as we move east. Montana’s numbers are similar to ours, with 44 per cent approve and 49 per cent disapprove. South Dakotans don’t like him much, with 42 per cent approving and 55 per cent disapproving. In Minnesota, 39 per cent approve and 58 per cent say thumbs down.

If we can’t elect Democrats out here in the west this year, there’s something wrong.

Paging All Pages

If you know a young person who’d like to get in the thick of politics in the next couple of weeks, sign them up to be a Page at the State Convention in Fargo March 31-April 2. Pages are usually junior high and high school students who can talk their way out of a day of school to run errands for the district delegations during the convention. The job includes seats right up front with U.S. Senators and presidential candidates. Call Pat at 255-0460 if you know someone who wants to be a page.

Salute To The Irish

I’m heading north to Grand Forks today where District 42 has its annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner tonight at the Grand Forks Ramada Inn, starting with a social hour at 5:30. I looked up the list of district officers to see how many Irish names I could find. Well, I found Weisenberger, Kvasager, Sanford and Polovitz at the top of the list. The guest speaker tonight is Heidi Heitkamp, she of the red hair. I think that qualifies. Call 772-3190 if you want a ticket. There are still a few left, I think.

Johnson For Ag

Check out Roger Johnson’s new campaign website. Fresh, clean, and a really easy place to make a campaign contribution. Just click here.

See you on the Trail,

Jim

Another Duane to run against Rep. Earl Pomeroy?

Via the Forum...

State lawmaker prepares bid for Congress
Associated Press
3/16/06

A North Dakota state lawmaker is preparing to run for Congress, giving Republicans two potential challengers to incumbent Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.

State Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone, has scheduled news conferences in Bismarck and Fargo on Friday to discuss his campaign plans.

Two new interesting polls

1) A new PEW Poll has found that President George W. Bush's approval rating is 33 percent. That's not good news for Republicans! To see the poll, click here.

2) A NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll has found that the majority of Americans prefer a Congress with a Democratic majority. The stats are 50 percent pro-Dem, 37 percent pro-Republican. For the details, click here.

Rick Gion's News from Headquarters

Fellow Democrats,

Two recent polls have chastised President George W. Bush, giving him the lowest numbers of his presidential reign. His numbers are flying south, and compass needles point to a lame-duck second term.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released on Monday gave our president a 36 percent approval rating. That’s the lowest approval for him released by Gallup ever.

In that poll, 55 percent of registered voters said they will be voting Democratic in November as opposed to 39 percent Republican. I like the sound of that!

This poll also gave Democrats a 53 to 38 percent lead concerning who would better manage the economy.

Last week, Associated Press-Ipsos released a poll giving Bush a 37 percent approval rating. It seems his approval is going down week by week.

The AP article written about the poll said by comparison Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had approval ratings in the 60’s at this time in their second terms.

Another interesting figure from this poll is 70 percent said our country is moving in the wrong direction. The public is starting to see through Republican fancy talk and is realizing GOP leadership is not strong.

Like the Forum described in an editorial from Sunday, Bush isn’t quite a lame duck yet, but he may soon be. And that my friends leads to Democrats winning elections this year!


Rick Gion, Communications Director

President Bush close to being a lame duck?

Excerpt via Sunday's Forum...

The Forum editorial
3/12/06

It might be too soon to declare George W. Bush a lame-duck president, but trends suggest he soon will be.

The president’s job approval ratings, which were in the stratosphere just a couple of years ago, are in the cellar today. The latest polls, including last week’s AP-Ipsos poll, pegged his job approval number at an extraordinarily low 37 percent. That number is slightly lower in some polls, slightly higher in others. His Republican allies and supporters – and GOP incumbents – should be worried.

Click here to read the whole article...

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

Everybody here at Party Headquarters is excited about the announcement that General Wesley Clark is going to be our keynote speaker at the State Democratic-NPL Convention in Fargo.

A Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, General Clark served in the United States Army for more than 30 years. During his service, he held various posts around the world including Commander in Chief of the U.S. Southern Command, and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO — a position once held by President Eisenhower. As Supreme Allied Commander, Clark led NATO forces in the conflict in the Balkans, where the United States was able to halt ethnic cleansing in Kosovo without the loss of a single American life.

General Clark was a presidential candidate in 2004, and was the speaker at our Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner that year, so some of you got a chance to meet him then. He is a dynamic speaker and one of our country’s great leaders.

Clark’s visit is a result of his respect for the three members of North Dakota’s Congressional delegation, who announced his visit here yesterday.

"This year the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Convention will host a lifelong soldier and public servant," the delegation said in a joint statement. "General Clark's dedicated service to our nation is an inspiration for all North Dakotans. He believes in, and fought for, the democratic values that America was founded upon — the values of honesty and hard work. These are the values so many of us in North Dakota share."

"The people of North Dakota have a lot at stake in what happens in Washington, DC," Clark said yesterday. "The war in Iraq and the veterans it's producing demand attention. Healthcare, education, trade and agriculture policy impact our lives everyday and we need to make sure that the politicians are serving our common interests not the special interests. I trust the North Dakota delegation — Kent, Byron and Earl have earned that trust with their hard work and integrity."

Nice words of praise for our delegation from a national hero.

New Generation, Part 2

A few weeks ago, we told you about the nomination for the Legislature this year of Jasper Schneider, son of former House Minority Leader John Schneider of Fargo. Now, another second generation product of that famous “Class of 1982” –only the second time in state history Democrats won a majority in the House- -has been endorsed to run for the Legislature. Ben Vig, son of former Representative Dean Vig, was endorsed at the District 23 convention last weekend. Dean was one of our great surprises in that 1982 election. Little known in his district before the election, he knocked off an incumbent Republican Legislator to take a seat in the House. As I recall, Dean‘s wife Ann was pregnant during the 1983 Legislative Session, and Ben was born later that year. Now he’s ready to follow in his father’s footsteps this year.

Congratulations, Ben. We look forward to seeing you in Bismarck in January!

Go Ahead, Make My Day

Did you see that vote in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on President Bush’s plan to turn over our ports to the United Arab Emirates? 62- 2 against the plan. Veto THAT, Mr. President!

No Questions Asked

We’re getting ready for the State Convention, and we’re missing something. Someone borrowed our big party podium sign—a big, expensive, circular sign that says Democratic-NPL Party on it. It’s a nice sign, and we lend it out to people for press conferences and fundraisers. Usually we get it back. But it’s missing. And we really need it for the convention. Making a new one will be expensive. My best guess is that someone who reads these daily e-mails has it in their basement or garage. So if you borrowed it and forgot to bring it back, please drop it off at the Kennedy Center. You can prop it against the door in the dead of night if you want, and we won’t even know who you are. Just bring it back.

See you on the Trail,

Jim

Can it get any worse for President Bush?

Via the Associated Press...

Bush's Approval Rating Falls to New Low
By RON FOURNIERAP
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More and more people, particularly Republicans, disapprove of President Bush's performance, question his character and no longer consider him a strong leader against terrorism, according to an AP-Ipsos poll documenting one of the bleakest points of his presidency.

Nearly four out of five Americans, including 70 percent of Republicans, believe civil war will break out in Iraq - the bloody hot spot upon which Bush has staked his presidency. Nearly 70 percent of people say the U.S. is on the wrong track, a 6-point jump since February.

Interesting article from the NY Times about Wal-Mart and the blogosphere

Via the NY Times...

Wal-Mart Enlists Bloggers in P.R. Campaign
By MICHAEL BARBARO

Brian Pickrell, a blogger, recently posted a note on his Web site attacking state legislation that would force Wal-Mart Stores to spend more on employee health insurance. "All across the country, newspaper editorial boards — no great friends of business — are ripping the bills," he wrote.

It was the kind of pro-Wal-Mart comment the giant retailer might write itself. And, in fact, it did.

Several sentences in Mr. Pickrell's Jan. 20 posting — and others from different days — are identical to those written by an employee at one of Wal-Mart's public relations firms and distributed by e-mail to bloggers.

Under assault as never before, Wal-Mart is increasingly looking beyond the mainstream media and working directly with bloggers, feeding them exclusive nuggets of news, suggesting topics for postings and even inviting them to visit its corporate headquarters.

But the strategy raises questions about what bloggers, who pride themselves on independence, should disclose to readers. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, has been forthright with bloggers about the origins of its communications, and the company and its public relations firm, Edelman, say they do not compensate the bloggers.

But some bloggers have posted information from Wal-Mart, at times word for word, without revealing where it came from.

More bad poll numbers for Bush

Via CNN Online...

Bush's approval rating near his record low
3/3/06

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's approval rating is mired near its record low amid concerns about his ability to manage the government and pessimism over the war in Iraq, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Thursday.

The poll, conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, found Bush's approval rating at 38 percent -- down a percentage point from a mid-February survey and just a point above his record low of 37 percent in November. His disapproval rating was 60 percent, tying November's worst-ever mark.

Of the 1,020 adults surveyed, 59 percent of those interviewed said Bush can't manage the government effectively, and 58 percent said he is not paying enough attention to what his administration is doing.

Rick Gion's News from Headquarters

Fellow Democrats,

Republicans always seem to be spending their time getting a message out in front of people. Democrats often get caught up just trying to make a living, share time with our families and pray for better times. It’s time we started fighting back.

Case in point: we can’t let the president’s latest proposal to turn over management of our ports to a foreign country associated with terrorists go by without comment. Here are some talking points on that issue. Try to spend some time discussing this issue over coffee or lunch, e-mailing a non-believing friend, calling a talk show or writing a letter to the editor.

-Why should we let Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates, manage some of our country's major sea ports? They were one of five countries who recognized the Taliban regime as a government in Afghanistan. This is not good post- 9/11 policy.

-Millions of shipping containers pass through our seaports every year, but only 5 percent of them are inspected. Does it make sense to let a country with ties to terrorists run some of our ports?

-Since 9/11, the Bush Administration has consistently opposed Democratic efforts to increase funding for port security by nearly $2.4 billion.

-Senator Byron Dorgan introduced legislation Wednesday to prevent the Bush administration from proceeding with the deal, in the event Bush won't reverse his decision. The deal would let Dubai Ports World, owned by the United Arab Emirates, manage many of America's major sea ports.

-There's now been a 45 day investigation approved by Dubai Ports World that will be conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment. That committee initially approved the deal. There's no indication that the review will do better in 45 days than what it failed to do in a few weeks before.

-A recent Rasmussen poll says that just 17 percent of those polled believe Dubai Ports World should be allowed to purchase operating rights to several U.S. ports. They also found that 64 percent of those polled said the sale should not be permitted.

-The Rasmussen poll also found that more people trust Democrats in Congress on national security issues. Forty-three percent said they trusted Democrats, opposed to 41 percent who trust President Bush.

-According to a new CBS News poll, “seven in 10 Americans, including 58 percent of Republicans, say they're opposed to the agreement.”

Take this issue and run with it. It’s time to start the campaign!

Rick Gion, Communications Director

Dorgan Bill Would Block Plan for United Arab Emirates to Operate Major U.S. Seaports

3/1/06

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said in a hearing this week he will move to block a proposal that would allow a company owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to manage some of America’s busiest seaports.

Dorgan has introduced legislation to halt the sale of P&O Ports to Dubai Ports World, a port management company owned by the government of the UAE. Dorgan, speaking at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing to examine the ports deal, said the decision to allow the sale is an example of "pre-9/11 thinking if there ever was one." He said he rejects the Bush Administration Homeland Security chief’s view that we must "balance security threats with our desire for robust global trading."

"Our national security must be paramount in these decisions," Dorgan said.

Click here to read the whole article...