This sounded awfully final.
More reporting tomorrow. It's late, we've had a long day.
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If you voted in the Democratic Primary, YOU have made a stand:
"By casting this ballot, I do pledge myself to abide by the result of this Primary Election and to aid and support all the Nominees thereof in the ensuing General Election."
We will be watching to see if YOU have the character and honor we seek and expect in our candidates!
Because if YOU don't have it, then YOU shouldn't expect it!
Keep on watching, but don't strain your eyes. I seriously doubt that anyone here needs to reminded or threatened about character.
Artur Davis displayed grace and character throughout his campaign, including his concession speach. It's a damned shame the same can't be said about everyone.
Artur Davis displayed grace and character throughout his campaign, including his concession speech. It's a damned shame the same can't be said about everyone.
I will abide by the result of the primary, and I'll support the nominees' right to run in the general election, but I will only support those nominees I voted for and any other nominees that I happen to like.
Like hell does casting a primary ballot automagically obligate me to vote a straight Dem ticket, but that's a nice try there.
Achtung!
And who is we? What great and powerful wizard will be displeased if we don't comply?
Memo to Sparks & company: if you want enthusiastic work and effort rather than a grudging vote at the polls, it would be a good idea not to act like a jerk. Unless, as the recent election seems to show, you just can't yourselves.
I saw your recommendations/ednorsments too late in the day.
Personally, here is what I think did Artur in -- and why me and my wife did not vote for him:
He voted against the Health Care Bill. If he had not that, I would had voted for him, hands down. Simple as that. I know Ron Sparks is not the best choice, but Artur lost my vote, right there.
It stings when you are beaten badly.
Been there, done that, still have the T-shirt.
He needs to decompress, then go back to Washington and use his remaining time to reconnect to what it means to be a Democrat.
He got a serious spanking last night but he can learn from it. He has the skills to be a good governor, but he lacks the political savvy. Too often in this state we end up with savvy governors who have skills.
He may end up with a job in the Obama Administration, despite his health-care vote. Or he'll go back to private life and make a pile of money. And maybe we'll see him one day running against Jeff Sessions.
Maybe we'll even see him running against Charles Barkley. I'd pay cash money to see that!
"vote like a republican"? Yep. As we can tell from that Stimulus vote, Lilly Ledbetter vote, CHiP vote, pro-Constitution reform, ethics reform, etc. etc. platform. Republican? who knew?
Just wait until the fall or even the summer when the glitter falls off Sparks and that one-note gambling/lottery platform is seen for what it is: a sellout to MacGregor and the Indian tribes.
It appears that some in the party traded health care purism for Constitution reform, ethics reform, and real economic development instead of a bingo parlor/casino on every corner. Now, the ADP expects AEA, ADC, and again the gambling PACs to muscle him over the finish line.
They may well do so, but no meaningful progressive change will take place in Alabama. Only the people pulling the strings will get richer and richer.
And I'll ask... "how's that protest vote working out for ya?"
for how "black men" have to vote on particular issues.
I'm sure it will come in handly later.
It is about neither race nor political party. When Artur Davis cast a vote against health care reform, quite likely the most historic vote that any current legislator will ever take, he failed his constituents. His sole duty as a representative for the seventh Congressional district is to be a voice for his fellow residents. He failed.
When he so brazenly opposed a piece of legislation that would offer medical treatment to hundreds if not thousands of his constituents, he lost my support. Sure, his handlers quickly manufactured a weak excuse for the 'nay' vote, but his real intention was clear: he was willing to sacrifice the well-being of his constituents for his own political gain.
I'm glad the health care bill passed -- although it's not anything like I hoped it would be -- but I don't care that some Democrats voted against it. And that's all Davis did -- he didn't try to kill it procedurally or fill it up with poison pill garbage, he voted against it. And it passed anyway. With a few votes to spare. It's going to be a negative issue for Democrats in the fall because it took too long and the positive changes won't be showing up soon enough. What's the point in demanding that more Democrats should have hurt themselves in the fall in order to pass it by a larger margin?
Check that piece of kind of progressive legislation off the list and move on to try and get something else done. In this case, the something else might have been consitutional reform and campaign financing reform -- which I don't think anyone else on the ticket is going to champion.
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