Read the text of the E-mail Blast below:

Dear Christopher,

For the first time ever, I am endorsing a candidate in the Alabama Democratic Primary.

I’m proud to join political leaders like Dr. Richard Arlington, Hank Sanders, Joe Reed and the Alabama Democratic Conference and New South Coalition in supporting Ron Sparks for Governor. Why?… because I know Ron’s heart is right.

Ron Sparks wants to create jobs, pay for free college scholarships for our children with our own Educational Lottery and pay for nursing home care for our seniors by taxing casinos. Ron is courageous and the hardest working man I’ve seen, well, since I was a candidate.

That would be enough but I am also disappointed in Artur Davis…Not only because he voted agaist health care and took a bunch of money from insurance companies, but Artur has taken several thousands of dollars in contributions from the very people who had me prosecuted and put in prison.

I just don’t understand who Artur really is deep inside. But I do know who Ron Sparks is and what he stands for, and I like everything I know about Ron Sparks. So, it’s for these reasons that I am supporting Ron Sparks for Governor.

Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama 1999-2003
205-260-3965
siegelmand@gmail.com

Mr. Grimsley,  You just may have my vote so I can see what silly ad you will come up with next…  Call it the entertainment factor.

[sniplet grimsley]

[sniplet TvSpotMitch]

If you enjoyed his video consider donating $5 or more to Mitchell Howie’s Grass Roots Campaign.

As time goes on you are sure to learn more about Mitchell J. Howie for US Congress from me as I will be helping out with his campaign as much as I can.  Mitch sent out a mass e-mail today that I thought you might enjoy:

by Mitchell John Howie, Alabama 5th Congressional District Candidate

For far too long Washington has failed to operate because of gridlock.  Gridlock due to party politics being placed higher than the desires of the American People.  Parker Griffith’s flip to a Republican after campaigning as a Democrat is a good example of this self serving problem.  Washington politicians are far too concerned with winning reelection than serving the people they represent.  The instinct of professional politicians (like Parker Griffith) for self preservation and their perpetual political posturing leads to these sorts of Washington-style games. When Parker Griffith takes a poll and flips parties, he abandons the values and principles he was elected on and betrays the public trust.  This is not what the people deserve. The people deserve someone who is dedicated to service, they deserve a military officer who understands service to this country.

Gridlock leads to our government not getting anything positive accomplished. Instead, we are left with a system of professional politicians attempting to score political points and one party is portrayed as failing and the other succeeding.  But the only folks succeeding are professional politicians.  Service to the country becomes a casualty in these political games and the people are left with each party’s political failures.

I am convinced that the American people, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Liberal, or an angry Tea Partier, you want our government to serve the people and stop playing tired Washington politics.  Just as I joined the military to serve my country, I am dedicated to serving North Alabama and doing what is in the best interest of the people and our country.  I am not going to congress to play political games, I am going for service.

Now I am a Democrat and I will not switch parties.  Not because of partisan politics but I believe folks should campaign on values they believe in and then legislate based on those same values.  It is a matter of my personal integrity and governing based on values I share with the residents of all the communities across North Alabama in District 5.

Those shared values are strength and growth.  I want to strengthen and grow all our communities by growing our economy, by strengthening our education system and ensuring our National Security.  Last week we announced our candidacy in every single county across North Alabama.  Since that time, I have met with seven mayors, 3 university presidents, a board member of the TVA, and countless constituents.

In meetings with the mayors and other local officials I explained my jobs initiative of a Green TVA and received a warm response.  My jobs proposal would replace many manufacturing jobs that have been lost over the years in North Alabama.  Once we implement this proposal, North Alabama will attract companies to North Alabama to manufacture solar panels and wind turbines.  By easing our reliance on foreign oil with this jobs proposal we will simultaneously ensure our national security while strengthening our economy.  When I am in congress I will work with state and local elected officials and private industry to make this vision a reality.  With your help Alabama will become one of the first leaders in this new technology just as we were pioneers with space technology.  It is time for a new day in Washington with a young patriot dedicated to serving this country with innovative ideas.

I need your help.  Will you help me defeat the likes of self-serving politicians like Parker Griffith and implement service oriented representation in congress?  I need you to take the time to donate $25 or more on my website.  This simple act will help elect someone who is dedicated to service and who will get the job done in Washington. You can send a clear message to all politicians that what is important is service to the people, not saving their political career or their next re-election campaign.  This is a message that needs to be sent, please send it with me.

The time is now!  We have our financial reports due at the end of this month, and people are waiting to see who is getting funding to make decisions on who to support.  I disagree with this dynamic but recognize that running a campaign is expensive and without funding, even the best ideas and noble values are lost. For my service oriented campaign to succeed I need your help and your contribution.  If you cannot afford to donate at this time then please go to our website and get involved with the campaign.

Thank you so much for your support and please forward this request to anyone you think wants to send the message to Washington to “stop playing political games in Washington and get to work!”

NY Governor David Paterson has the task of appointing Clinton’s replacement.  If you remember Gov. Paterson replaced the embattled Elliot Spitzer after the prostitution scandal.

Read about Speculation about Caroline Kennedy’s appointment to the US Senate.  It isn’t so far fetched as ABC, the Boston Channel, and CNN are all buzzing about the News.

Langford’s indictment comes as no surprise with the waning hours of the US District Attorney’s office likely to undergo change in January.  The Indictment also includes Langford’s Friends William Blount and Al LaPierre.

Birmingham’s NBC 13 Broke the news story a few hours ago:

Breaking News: Langford, LaPierre, Blount face 101-count federal indictment

Andrea Lindenberg and Rod Carter
Published: December 1, 2008

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford was arrested Monday and the 101-count indictment against him has been unsealed.

This morning, U.S. Attorney Alice Martin announced that Langford, along with friend Al LaPierre and businessman Bill Blount, face charges of conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns.

Langford was taken into custody at his job at Birmingham Budweiser Distributing. LaPierre turned himself in. Blount was expected to do the same.

Martin said Langford, as president of the Jefferson County Commission, steered $7.1 million in business to Bill Blount’s investment banking firm Blount Parrish. Martin said that in exchange, Blount ensured Langford’s “crushing debt” to the tune of $235,000.

During the news conference Martin said Langford received bribes from Blount—through friend Al LaPierre—to buy clothes and jewelry from expensive New York boutiques and high-end stores in Birmingham as well.

Martin said that between 2003 and 2006, Blount paid for about $235,000 in clothing, jewelry and charge account bills for Langford.

The U.S. Attorney also said that Blount gave Langford a $11,000 Rolex watch.

Another accusation is that Bill Blount engineered a personal loan from Colonial Bank for Langford, who defaulted on the loan. Then, Martin said, Blount set up a loan for LaPierre at the same same bank to pay off Langford’s original loan.

Martin said it was all in return for steering Jefferson County bond business to Blount’s Montgomery firm, including the multi-billion dollar sewer bond business.

She said, “He (Langford) sold his public office to a friend.”

Reginald McDanial with the Internal Revenue Service said, it was a “textbook, tax fraud scheme.” He went on to say, “all money is taxable, even money from illegal activity is taxable.”

On Monday morning, Deborah Vance with the mayor’s office released a statement which said in part:

“This is certainly no surprise to us—we anticipated something happening soon especially knowing Alice Martin’s days in office are numbered with the swearing in of a new president in late January—just a little over a month from now.”

Langford was set to make a first appearance Monday morning at 10 a.m.

If you want to talk about politics or anything that is effecting your life in my book you have to vote.  It doesn’t matter so much who you vote for as long as you VOTE.  Every person in America has the right to vote don’t forget that as you enter the poll.  If you get to the poll and they can not find your name then request a provisional ballot.

I voted early or absentee as I will be out of state on election day.  To show you who I voted for in the Presidential election I voted like this:

Notice I did not vote straight party ticket and I did vote in Favor of Alabama’s Rainy Day fund.  I would like to remind everyone in Alabama that tapping into the Alabama Education Fund Rainy Day program will save the Schools.  Many school districts fear that if they do not get funds soon that teachers payroll will be effected.  It is already hard to retain qualified teachers with extremely low salaries but if their checks bounce they will have to seek employment else where.  So Vote Yes on Proposition 1 on the Alabama Ballot to save the Schools.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

GO VOTE!

This Austin Texas voter took things into her own hands:

[sniplet Lawn-Sign]

I wonder if she used environmentally safe spray paint?

The article “Woman paints lawn after sign is stolen“:

Woman paints lawn after sign is stolen

No Obama sign? One woman spraypainted her lawn

AUSTIN (KXAN) – After the Barack Obama sign was stolen from her front yard, Shannon Bennett painted a more permanent one with 12 cans of spray-paint and her front lawn as the canvas. “I just wanted to be able to say who I support, without being censored, which is how I felt when my sign was taken,” said Bennett.

She painted a large, red, white, and blue symbol in the front yard, using her old Obama sign as an inspiration. “The signs cost money and it’s coming into my front yard and taking away my freedom of expression,” said Bennett. She said she has not received any complaints from neighbors and the makeshift sign has been in the yard for a week. In an election year, sometimes driveways and sidewalks become battle lines, but not in Bennett’s Northwest Austin neighborhood.

“I looked out and I was surprised to see it one morning,” said neighbor Elaine Goessling. “And I am a Republican, but I was really impressed with how pretty is it.”

Bennett said the Obama signs have been stolen from the yards of her neighbors, as well. “They might think it’s extreme, but I think it’s extreme to come into my yard and take something that belongs to me, so I wanted to express myself.”

If you didn’t watch it I recommend you watch it now.  It will be the talk of the nation tomorrow and you won’t know what folks are talking about.

[sniplet Barack-Obama-Show]

What did you think of the AD?  Do you belive it was the knock out blow to the McCain Palin bid for the White House

The UK Associated Press article -

Obama ad to delay baseball final

Barack Obama is to become the first presidential candidate in 16 years to air a 30-minute primetime ‘infomercial’ on US television networks.

The rare and expensive move, thought to have cost his campaign about £1.9 million, will even cause the baseball World Series final to be delayed by 15 minutes so NBC, CBS and Fox can air the spot simultaneously.

Mr Obama will highlight his “closing argument” in the infomercial, which underscores his campaign’s financial dominance over Republican rival John McCain with less than a week left in the race for the White House.

Mr McCain, who trails in national polls, mocked the move on the campaign trail, saying: “No-one will delay the World Series game with an infomercial when I’m president.”

ABC will be the only major US network not to run Mr Obama’s message at 8pm ET (midnight GMT), preventing a so-called “roadblock” on the broadcast networks.

Neither network officials nor Obama campaign aides would discuss the cost of the television time, but estimates by the Associated Press put it at about £1.9m. CNN suggested it could reach the £3.1m mark.

The estimates are less than the US TV networks would otherwise get for the 10 or 11 advert “units” they run during that half-hour, but Mr Obama will be charged the “lowest unit cost”, in compliance with federal law.

The Obama campaign, which rose in the polls due to Mr McCain’s mishandling of the economic crisis, is running the infomercial on the 79th anniversary of Black Tuesday, the start of the Great Depression.

Mr Obama is following in the steps of John F Kennedy, who presented a half-hour commercial that featured parts of his speech in Houston about his religion, and Richard M Nixon, who bought two hours of time on the eve of the 1968 election.

The last candidate to use the format was Ross Perot, in 1992, when he detailed his plan to cut the deficit before an audience of 16.5 million people.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE.  Or go vote absentee now to avoid the hassle of going to the poll or the risk something happens that prevents you from voting on Election Day.

If you know me it is no mystery I have been an Obama supporter for sometime now.  I like to call myself an informed open minded voter but the fact is America is ready for a change.  No coincidence that the Campaign for Change is the battle cry for the Barack Obama camp.

Start playing “Hail to the Chief”  President Barack Obama is about to enter the White House.

Thanks to my new Twitter Friend SEOAly I saw the SNL Parody Live.  Alysson is also the owner/operator of Jacksonville, FL based Search Engine Optimization company SEOaly.com.  Because so much of politics is serious business it is nice to have a comic relief segment.  So if you haven’t seen the parody check it out.  If you haven’t seen the debate this is almost everything you need to know.

[sniplet SNL-VP-DEBATE-Parody]

Today Sarah Palin ran out of campaign material when she accused Senator Barack Obama of “Palling Around with Terroist“.  Palin’s speech from a airplane hanger in Denver Colorado was full of political mud slinging in what is sure not to be the last poltical banter going into the last month of presidential election banter.  In what appears to be preparation in a last ditch effort to save the ailing McCain Palin camp is rallying around negative attacks on Barack Obama, read more.

In the world of campaign poltics this is a clear ploy to play on American Fears.  When you are failing in a bid for president you have to through all of your plans out the window and go for your base.  It is clear that McCain campaign has nothing left is appealing to their base.  Sarah Palin was brought into to be vice president to appeal to younger conservative women voters.  When that doesn’t work try a different angel as apparently the Bush/McCain advisors are recommending.  These are the same tactics the Bush re-election team ran with against John Kerry in 2004.  These tactics are old and used up.  America recognizes political rethoric and probably dismisses.  Rhetoric like this will likely persuade many voters and only gets the anti-obama voters energized, a section of the vote the McCain Palin Camp already won.

McCain Palin’s camp is clearly struggling to win the swing vote and trying to associate Terroism with someone that has clearly won the heart and vote of most Americans isn’t going to help.  If they stand a chance to win, what seems to be an unlikely election, they need to craft their message and stratgey around the problems of everyday Americans.

Read more about Palin’s accusation of Obama being a Terroist on:

• New York Times
• CNN.com
• Jerusalem Post
• UK Telegraph

It seems that McCain camp is cutting its loses and regrouping one more time in its last 30 days before the election.  The McCain Palin election team is going dispurse it’s resources to tougher races in Wyoming, Colorado, and Florida.  Thoose three states are “must win states” for him to have a chance in winning what I begining to see as an unlikely bid for president.  John McCain’s Campaign also announced that they were going to cut all media advertisments, mail campaigns, and voter contact stratgey.

Is this an indication that he will likely be conceeding defeate on November 4th?  Possibly, but I myself never viewed Michigan as a true battleground state.  In a state that is riddled with job layoffs and hard hit by the failing economy.  This was never McCain territory because of thousands of layoffs and exporting of jobs during the now lame duck Bush Administration.  McCain’s close ties with the sitting adminstration will likely be the biggest reason for defeat nationwide as I belive the majority of American’s are looking for change.  Change is a message the McCain camp has ineffectively conveyed.

Conceding defeat in Michigan a month early is an indication that the McCain Palin ticket is in serious trouble and they are waking up.  The election is far from over.  It is still anyone’s ball game.  Barack Obama isn’t getting a free ticket to the White House.  It is getting easier…

Stay tuned for more political commentary as the political races are just now heating up.

Third Party candidates have been trying to get in the presidential debates forever.  If they were allowed to debate what else would they have to complain about?

Apparently an organization of Truck Drivers is going to hold a convoy protest in Washington, DC.  Protest or marches on Capital Hill are nothing new and in fact don’t draw that much attention.  But if you have a convoy of big trucks driving from Landover, MD to Capitol Hill during rush hour you are sure to get a few people’s attention.

Though I don’t think they will accomplish their goal it certainly is optimistic.  I like to see that and I support their cause.

Read the Article on Market News

Truckers and Citizens United to Hold Massive Convoy On Capitol Hill; Ask Congress & Pres. Bush to Address Gas Prices

Last update: 2:56 p.m. EDT Sept. 22, 2008

WASHINGTON, Sept 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Truckers and Citizens United (TACU), a nationwide organization that represents the interests of thousands of professional drivers and trucking employees, is gearing up for a massive convoy around Capitol Hill on Tuesday, September 23rd, to ask Congress and President George W. Bush to back energy legislation that would make gas prices more affordable. For months, the volatile shifts in gas prices have led to higher prices for local business operators, including truckers, and consequently almost every type of consumer good they transport.

The convoy, which could slow traffic in the nation’s capital for hours, will start at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, and travel to downtown Washington, DC, where it will parade around the U.S. Capitol by mid-morning. The group wants Congress and the President to pass and sign energy legislation before Congress adjourns that would address the hardships caused by record-high gas prices and curb rampant oil speculation. Hundreds of truckers are expected to participate in the event, with drivers bringing their rigs from New York, West Virginia, Maine, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, and Texas.

The truckers are calling for legislation to reduce high gas prices that are severely hurting the trucking industry and legislative reforms that will stop excessive oil speculation. Specifically, the truckers are asking Congress to close loopholes that allow speculators to manipulate oil prices without ever planning to take delivery of the oil, as well as lift some of the bans on offshore drilling, and allow smaller refineries to be built around the Gulf region.

Ron Wenger, Co-Director of TACU, thinks Congress has been to slow to act. “Truckers are just struggling to get by these days and the high cost of fuel is killing them. Everyday Americans are doing their part to reduce consumption, but our legislators haven’t done anything on their end to remedy these problems,” Wenger said.

Co-Director Mark Kirsch echoed his thoughts. “We need Congress to pass energy legislation today that can reduce gas prices and end rampant oil speculation. These issues aren’t just impacting truckers; the high prices are hurting consumers, too,” Kirsch said.

Following a brief rally at FedEx Field at 8:00AM, the convoy of trucks will depart for Capitol Hill by 9:00AM. The group will take Maryland Interstate 295 South to the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and enter Washington, DC, on South Capitol Street (SW). The convoy is expected to arrive at the corners of 3rd Street and Independence Avenue, SW, by 10:30AM. The convoy will circle the National Mall on Independence Avenue and Constitution Avenue between Third and Fourteenth Streets before heading back to FedEx Field in Landover, MD.

Interviews with leaders from TACU will be available as the convoy parades through the nation’s capital, and members of the group will meet with legislators throughout the week to discuss their energy priorities.

www.truckersandcitizensunited.net

Truckers and Citizens United (TACU) is a national organization dedicated to bringing together and empowering professional drivers and trucking employees. We represent the interests of owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers and their families. TACU actively advocates for the safety and success of its members at the state and federal levels.

The main point of this is to talk about the atrocity in progress.

I happen to live in Alabama one of those Gulf States that already has off-shore drilling wells.  In fact as a kid, growing up in Central, Alabama, I remember playing baseball next to natural gas pumps.  So drilling and natural resource exploitation is nothing new to me.  In fact the oil and gas industry indirectly put the roof over my head and food in my belly.  Many of my friends, family, and neighbors do not agree with me and think I should be burned at the stake.  They don’t agree with me for the same reason why America’s wealthiest still think the economy isn’t in a state of turmoil.  It isn’t in their best interest!

Tonight on ABC News Nightline. The headline story was talking about Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Maine.  In short, and what I got out of the story, drilling shouldn’t apply to Maine and the cost of heating oil is going through the roof.

Look I get it, people are hurting for money, me too. I worked on Wall Street and not many days past the mortgage fall out.  But, is drilling really the answer?  I can tell you, NO it isn’t.  It’s only temporarily fixes the problem for somebody else to fix.  Exactly what the people before US said.  As a youngster that will be paying for the mistakes of the Ronald Reagan and Cold War Era… Lets Fix the problem! Don’t put a Band-Aid on it.

But again this isn’t my purpose of this post.

My purpose is to address the drilling location issue.  Why should we drill in the Southern Coast?  Because people in Maine Fish?  Lobster?  Why should we drill of the coast of Georgia?  (I really dont have anything).

I try to be objective about the issue.  But, it is hard to be when someone is trying to put an oil rig in your back yard.  When I see pictures of Maine I “aww” at the beauty.  When I hear the name Georgia I think sweet tea, hospitality, and golf.  My images of the south are just as beautiful as anything Maine has to offer!  Have you ever seen the fall leaves in the Southern Appalachians?  The sunset from Key West, FL?  Have you ever had Shrimp?

When the logging industry finally gets to clear cut the last few acres of natural forest to build the houses to pay for the people moving from Maine to the South for work… “There goes the fall leaves”.  What will thousands of tourist come to enjoy a romantic sunset on their honeymoon on the piers of Key West think when they find out that the green poof is from the Oil Refinery in Louisiana. Or, how about finishing off the demise of the shrimping industry with toxic waste from oil rigs raising our dependency on Vietnamese seafood?

My interpretation may be a bit extreme…  My point isn’t.  In fact it is simple. Who wants an oil rig in their back yard?

You can form your own opinion when you read the ticker and the following fall-out from another Sarah Palin controversy.  It just goes to show you that e-mail is certainly not secure.  Even the mega secure Yahoo! can be cracked.  Scary, Eh?

McCain camp seeks investigation over reported e-mail hack

(CNN) — John McCain’s campaign said Wednesday it has contacted “appropriate authorities” over a report that Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin’s personal e-mail had been hacked.

“This is a shocking invasion of the Governor’s privacy and a violation of law,” campaign manager Rick Davis said in a statement. “The matter has been turned over to the appropriate authorities and we hope that anyone in possession of these emails will destroy them. We will have no further comment.”

The statement came hours after a user on the Web site WikiLeaks said he had gained access to Palin’s Yahoo e-mail account and gained access.  Screenshots of the e-mail messages and photos of the Alaska governor’s family were published on that Web site and later on gossip Web site gawker.com.

FBI Spokesman Eric Gonzalez in Anchorage, Alaska confirms to CNN an investigation is underway.

“We are aware of the allegations and we are coordinating with Secret Service as far as the allegation that someone has hacked into Governor Palin’s personal e-mail account,” he said. “We are going to be working a joint investigation with Secret Service on this.”

Brian Hale, an FBI spokesman in Washington, also confirms the FBI has been contacted about the incident. Two federal law enforcement sources say the FBI and Secret Service would have concurrent jurisdiction normally on a matter such as this, but it remains to be seen if the Secret Service will take the lead on the investigation because Palin is a protectee.

The e-mails shown include one from July between Palin and Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell and another dated earlier this week from Amy McCorkell, the woman Palin appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in 2007.

Palin has faced criticism for using a private e-mail account to conduct some state business — prompting critics to allege she was attempting to hide information from the public record.