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West Virginia Blue Democratic politics, progressive policies, the good life and free living in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. West Virginia Democrats and Independents. Vote Tuesday, May 13 in the Democratic primary.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Mother's Day celebrations as we now know it. What better time to reflect on its origins of a day of peace and reconciliation, origins here in the mountains of West Virginia.
Julia Ward Howe wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870, as a call for peace and disarmament. An excerpt follows:
"From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace..."
Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.
When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the Andrews Methodist Episcopal (now United Methodist) Church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. The 1912 General Conference of The Methodist Episcopal Church, at the suggestion of delegates from Andrews M.E. Church, recognized Jarvis as the founder and advocated the celebration of the holiday. From there, the custom caught on - spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honour of those mothers whose sons had died in war. Nine years after the first official Mother's Day holiday, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. holidays.
The Secretary of State's office is reminding first-time voters that the deadline to register to vote in Tuesday's primary already has passed.
Betty Ireland said she's worried that a mass mailing aimed at getting young women in West Virginia to register to vote might cause confusion.
A group called "Women's Voices. Women Vote" sent out more than 16,000 mailers to unmarried women in the state after April 22, the last day to register in time to vote Tuesday.
People who've never voted can still register, but they won't be eligible to cast a ballot in the primary.
But as Jane pointed out in a May 1 post at Fire Dog Lake, the organization has a great history of registering voters.
John McCain has chosen a real class act to run the GOP convention in St. Paul.
Meet Doug Goodyear, the CEO of consulting firm DCI Group. Last year, the firm earned $3 million lobbying for clients including General Motors and everyone's favorite company as we approach 4 bucks a gallon, ExxonMobil.
But it gets better.
Six years ago, DCI was paid $348,000 to represent the totalitarian miltary junta ruling Burma/Myanmar.
As Newsweek puts it:
Justice Department lobbying records show DCI pushed to "begin a dialogue of political reconciliation" with the regime. It also led a PR campaign to burnish the junta's image, drafting releases praising Burma's efforts to curb the drug trade and denouncing "falsehoods" by the Bush administration that the regime engaged in rape and other abuses.
UPDATE: Goodyear resigned today, after the story broke. So now we're not supposed to question McMaverick's judgment for hiring him in the first place.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...
OBAMA TO VISIT CHARLESTON ON MONDAY, SPEAK AT CIVIC CENTER
CHARLESTON, WV - Senator Barack Obama will return to the Mountain State on Monday, May 12. Obama will campaign in Charleston, West Virginia and will hold a campaign event at the Charleston Civic Center. The event open to the public, however, seating is limited and tickets are required. Tickets are free and will be distributed tomorrow, Sunday, May 11 at three Obama for America locations in Charleston.
Details of Obama's campaign event in West Virginia:
MONDAY, MAY 12
Charleston Civic Center
200 Civic Center Dr.
Charleston, WV 25301
Doors Open: 10:30 AM
Program Begins: 12:15 PM
Media Coverage: This event is open to the press. For credentials, please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp
Tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis. Members of the public are invited to pick up free tickets at the locations listed below. For more information, please call our Charleston HQ at 304-346-2616.
Pickup Locations for Tickets
Obama for America Charleston HQ
1021 Quarrier St.
Charleston, WV
Tickets are available Sunday, 9:00am-9:00pm
2nd Ave. Community Center
2nd Floor Obama for America Table
1411 2nd Ave.
Charleston, WV
Tickets are available Sunday, 9:00am-9:00pm
South Charleston Office
325 6th Ave. SW
South Charleston, WV
Tickets are available Sunday, 9:00am-9:00pm
***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted.***
Further details to be announced as they become available.
CHARLESTON, WV - Senator Barack Obama's Presidential campaign will begin airing its final ad in West Virginia today. In the thirty-second spot, entitled "Service" Obama talks about the life experiences that inspired him to pursue public service and how his two decades in public life have been dedicated to fighting for families who struggle. Obama will be make a visit to the Mountain State on Monday, May 12.
SCRIPT - "Service
VO: His grandfather fought in World War Two.
Raised by a single mom and his grandparents, he learned the value of hard work.
Through his service as a community organizer and his Christian faith, he came to believe in something larger than himself.
For two decades in public life, he's fought for families who struggle.
Now he's running for president to honor the America he loves, to unite a divided nation, to meet the challenges we face.
Barack Obama for President.
Barack Obama: I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.
With the West Virginia primary election a few days away, we thought you might want to know how your Delegates and Senators voted on environmental issues during the 2008 Legislative Session.
This report highlights how elected members of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates voted on legislation dealing with important environmental issues during the 2008 session.
For a variety of logistical reasons, this report is not an actual "Environmental Scorecard" that gives legislators a percentage rating or letter score (like the League of Conservation Voters produces for Congress).
Instead, this report shows how individual members of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates voted on a set of important, and sometimes complicated, environmental bills. By looking at all the results, it is hoped that you will be able to get a clearer picture of a member's support, or lack of support as the case may be, for the environment.
We hope you find this report helpful, and we urge you to "Vote Green" in the primary on May 13th.
(Bumped back onto the front page. - promoted by Clem Guttata)
It pains me, I feel the need to write this diary... but after reading the coverage of the West Virginia primary around the blogosphere this needs to be said.
When I voted for Barack Obama last week, I was voting for Barack Obama, not against Hillary Clinton and not against John Edwards (also on the W.Va. ballot).
I happen to think Barack Obama will make an even better president than Hillary Clinton. Just because I prefer Obama over Clinton doesn't make make me anti-woman, anti-white people, or anti-anything else. I voted for Obama, it's as simple as that.
So, for the love of God, why do some people insist a West Virginia vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote against Barack Obama? Further, why do so many insist it's a vote against Obama just because of the color of his skin?
Yes, there are some West Virginia Democrats and Independents who will vote in the Democratic primary next week who will vote for McCain in November. Unlike other states to our south, a generation of the most conservative Democrats have not left the party in droves. Even so, President Bush has an astoundingly high 85% disapproval rating in West Virginia*, so there's no telling where those votes will end up in November.
Indeed, the vast percentage of Clinton voters will turn out in November for Obama -- right now they prefer Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. That doesn't make them racist, misandrist, or prejudiced against people from Illinois.
You know, that vote for Hillary Clinton is probably just that: a vote for Hillary Clinton.
* Correction: 85% disapproval rating is among those planning to vote in Democratic primary.
Obama Supporters and Surrogates to Spend Final Weekend Rallying Voters for Change
Surrogate Visits and Canvass Events Held All Across West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV - The Obama for America campaign will mark the final weekend before the primary with a with activity throughout the state.
The following events will be open to the media. Contact the Obama press office for further details. PLEASE NOTE TIMES, DATES AND LOCATION.
Surrogates for SATURDAY, MAY 10 and SUNDAY MAY 11
Who: Film Star Kal Penn
What: Canvass Kickoff
Where: Morgantown HQ 433 Beehurst Avenue Morgantown, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00AM
Who: Film Star Kal Penn
What: Canvass Kickoff
Where: Fairmont HQ 307 Cleveland Ave Fairmont, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 12:00PM
Who: Melinda Rahall, Wife of Congressman Nick Rahall
What: Canvass Kickoff
Where: Beckley Staging Location 327 Prince St., Beckley, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
Who: Congressman Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI)
What: Phonebank
Where: Obama for America West Charleston 2nd Avenue Community Center 1411 2nd Ave Charleston, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 7:15PM
Who: Congressman Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI)
What: Canvass Kickoff
Where: Buckhannon GOTV Staging Location 5 ½ Main St Buckhannon , WV
When: SUNDAY, MAY 11 11:00AM
Who: Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D-MD)
What: Canvass Kickoff
Where: Shepherdstown Staging Location 213 Washington Street Shepherdstown, WV
When: SUNDAY, MAY 11 2:00 PM
Campaign Events ALL SATURDAY EVENTS
What: Canvass event - with Melinda Rahall
Where: Beckley Staging Location 327 Prince St., Beckley, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
What: Canvass event
Where: Charleston HQ 1041 Quarrier Street Charleston, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 2:00 PM
What: Obama Region 3Z Staging Location
Where: 1508 Winchester Ave. Martinsburg, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00AM
What: Canvass event - with Kal Penn
Where: Morgantown HQ 433 BeechurstAvenue Morgantown, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
What: Canvass event
Where: Huntington HQ 801 4th Avenue Huntington, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 9:00 AM
AND WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 10 2:00 PM canvass launch
What: Canvass event
Where: Parkersburg HQ 219 4th Street, Parkersburg, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
What: Obama Region 3B Staging Location Canvass
Where: 213 W. Washington Street Shepherdstown, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00AM
What: Canvass event
Where: Wheeling HQ 96 14th Street Wheeling, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
What: Canvass event
Where: Manna Restaurant; 3001 Main St. Weirton, WV
When: SATURDAY, MAY 10 10:00 AM
From the home office in Paw Paw, West Virginia, here's the Top 10 reasons on why you should support Anne Barth.
No. 10 - Anne's been "Getting the Job Done" for West Virginia for the past 21 years working for Senator Byrd unlike Shelley Moore Capito, who after 8 years in Congress can't list a single accomplishment.
No. 9 - Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan endorsed Anne because they want someone who is hard working and effective to serve with them because whenever they call Shelley she's busy serving as president of the George W. Bush Fan Club.
No. 8 - Anne is for "pay-as-you-go" balanced budgets while Shelley helped George W. Bush run up record federal deficits, blowing through money faster than Powerball winners on a road trip to casinos and strip clubs.
No. 7 - Anne wants our veterans to be able to go to high quality VA hospitals for their healthcare needs. Shelley wants them to go deploy on yet another tour of duty in Iraq.
No. 6 - Anne wants tax breaks for working families of West Virginia so they can take care of their children and send them to college. Shelley looks out for a special class of minorities, the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans who are millionaires. Hey, someone's got to look after their interests so they can buy all the caviar, yachts and multiple vacation homes they want.
No. 5 - Anne believes in improving West Virginia's highways and bridges so they don't fall down like in Minnesota. Shelley's for spending money for new roads and bridges too - in Iraq.
No. 4 - Anne graduated from West Virginia University and her daughters are now Mountaineers too. Shelley attended Duke University just like her daughter now. Duke, possibly the most evil school in the NCAA during basketball season, appropriately is represented by a Satanic symbol*.
No. 3 - West Virginia currently ranks 46** out of 50 in the Cutest Congressional Caucus Category. Anne's election would singlehandledly put West Virginia in 1st Place.
No. 2 - Anne is for healthcare access for all. Shelley's healthcare policy is healthcare for the rich, aspirins for everyone else.
No. 1 - Iraq.
Click "Read More" for the rest... Read More...
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