I was among the first to sign up for Howard Dean's Democracy Bond program. Since July 2005 I have given $20 per month to the DNC. That is four solid years of monthly contributions. Now that isn't by any means the only donations I have made to Democrats, but it felt good to be part of Dean's 50 state strategy that did so well in 2006 and 2008.

I cancelled that monthly contribution today because I cannot believe that the Democrats I have been supporting for so long now want to go on vacation rather than actually enact precisely what America needs to begin fixing our very broken healthcare system. In essence, I will not contribute to people who think their vacation is more valuable than our health.  read more »

Today’s New York Times brings welcome news that the Governor has been making quiet and promising efforts to reshape his bold style. In particular, while the blogs have spent the better part of the past couple of weeks ferreting out Roger Stone and his one man “spam” campaign on behalf of Joe Bruno (btw – well done Daily Gotham and Albany Project) – the Governor has been reaching out to a group of seasoned advisers to help steer him through the current storm – (i.e., “trooper blooper”).

This new “kitchen cabinet” includes Robert E. Rubin, former treasury secretary under President Clinton; Jerry Speyer, a real estate developer who has advised governors since Hugh L. Carey; Abraham M. Lackman, a Republican and former top aide to Joe Bruno; Marc V. Shaw, Mike Bloomberg’s former first deputy mayor; Elizabeth Moore, former counsel to Gov. Mario Cuomo and first head of the Ethics commission; and James R. Tallon, Jr., former majority leader of the State Assembly. Talk about bringing in the “adults.”  read more »

The DSCC is sending out an email from Chuck Schumer expressing outrage over George Bush's latest abuse of power, the pardon of convicted perjurer and Bush-loyalist-with-stories-to-tell Scooter Libby.

I’m outraged. President [sic] Bush commuted Scooter Libby’s prison sentence wiping away two and half years of jail time with the stroke of a pen. President [sic] Bush ignored Libby’s felony conviction for lying to investigators, ignored the jury’s guilty verdict, and ignored the rule of law that governs our nation.

We expect more from our President [sic]. We expect honor and integrity, we expect moral leadership. We expect our President [sic] and his staff to be held to a higher standard.

Tell President [sic] Bush that you are appalled by his actions. Sign our petition today letting President [sic] Bush know that this outrageous conduct won’t be tolerated by the American people.

Sincerely,

Chuck Schumer  read more »