The "Rich People's Election Ransom Request Act" aka "The Bail Out", has been rejected.

Even though the measure was debated by Democrats and Republicans alike, there just weren't enough votes for the proposal but plenty of dislike for the proposal,

What was supposed to be a 15-minute vote stretched past the half-hour mark as leadership scrambled for support.

Investors who had been counting on the rescue plan sent the Dow Jones industrial average down as much as 700 points while watching the measure come up short of the necessary support, before rebounding slightly. The key stock reading was down more than 500 points.

The measure needs 218 votes for passage, but it came up 13 votes short of that target, as the final vote was 228 to 205 against. About 60% of Democrats voted for the measure, but less than a third of Republicans backed it.

President Bush is "very disappointed" by the House vote, his spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Kucinich was, once again, right.
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"Don't leave home without it."

Awesome!

I have to say, Dennis Kucinich is one of the nicest, most authentic politicians I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He's the real deal as a progressive who, quite honestly, I'd rather have in Congress, the Senate or Supreme Court, not so much as President. He's too forthright to be President.

And yes, I'd love to see Congressman Kucinich in the Supreme Court. That would win Obama and the Democrats progessive credentials back with a vengeance.

Kucinich for Supreme Court Justice!

Americans like to complain. Grassroots progressives, myself included, in particular like to complain. Sometimes I have seen the complaints become almost an obsession, to the detrement of actually getting things done. Nader is a perfect example of this. I have seen progressive apathy or even antipathy sink some of the most progressive and honest candidates you could ever imagine. This is the danger of being on the forefront of progress. You can get ahead of yourself, ahead of everything and wind up all alone.

Impeachment, Iraq and winning elections. Right now these really are about the most critical things. And these three things are what we really need to work hard at if we want to be a significant force in politics...and in society. I want to discuss some specific examples of people who really need our help and they deserve it because they are taking strong stands for impeachment and/or against the Iraq war. We need them...but they also need us. They need our time and our money to win so that they can fight for what we think is right.

In 2006 an amazing coalition of mainstream moderates and grassroots progressives created a tidal wave of change in Congress. Many have complained that we didn't get what we expected from our new Congress...but don't let the complaints get in the way of appreciating that what we did was amazing.

It was a damned good effort and I am proud to have been a part of it.
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Today is the very first time candidates from the major parties are in Indian Country to present themselves to Native Americans. Sadly, only three Democratic Candiadtes are attending. Bravo to Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Senator Mike Gravel for recognizing the worth of Native Amercans.

From the Indigenous Democratic Network (INDN):

Watch the historic Prez on the Rez forum presidential forum today via internet at www.prezontherez.org at 3:30pm Pacific time (5:30pm Central).

We are making history with the Prez on the Rez forum with these dedicated candidates -- Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Senator Mike Gravel. This is the first time presidential candidates will assemble on Indian land to lay out their visions for the future of Indian Country.

Mark Trahant, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the editor of the editorial page at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, will moderate the discussion between the candidates and tribal leaders.

Join the proceedings online by watching the forum at www.prezontherez.org. The next President of the United States will realize tribes are a critical voting block and the opportunities and challenges in Indian Country deserve visionary leadership and dialogue with American Indian tribal citizens.
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'Twas a place for political anthropologists.

Last night was great if only because I got to see another glimpse of the innards of the Capitol Hill media and propaganda machine. Inside the innards there is an ecosystem composed of bacteria of all kind, some toxic yet others more akin to a benign flora.

I have identified some of the toxic ones. From the attached ensemble cast, it's up to you to decide who is who.

Here's a breakdown of the photos :

1. Bloggers row #1
That's Andy Carvin and Bob Cox in the foreground. Susan Madrak is blocking Meagan Ortiz with her big head (heh). Michael Sheffield of News Busters infamy is next to her (nice guy, btw) and Earl Dunovant is to his left. But of course.

2. Bloggers row #2
The laptop next to Andy is mine. La Shawn Barber was exactly behind me. That's Faye Anderson next to her.

3. The non-bloggers
And everybody else.

4. La Shawn and Tavis
She asked Tavis why didn't he invite conservative journos ... I guess she was trying to get into the next line up.
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