Left In Lowell

The Democrats are doing what I’ve been hoping for - if the Republicans want to filibuster a sane change of course in Iraq (as opposed to a few cowardly “moderate” Republican proposals to send an unbinding gentle nudge to President Religious Megalomaniac to maybe sort of think about changing course you know if he thinks it’s swell), they better be prepared to stop the Senate and goddamned filibuster the thing.

Go tell Kerry and Kennedy that we got their back. If you are in another state and have a spineless Republican backpeddler as your Senator, say, like Sen. Snow, or something, go tell them not to vote to continue the filibuster already. Hey, they’re already likely to lose their seats anyway, they might as well for once become a moral politician who finally made the right choice for our troops before the door hit them on the ass on the way out - bringing our kids the hell home.

And yeah, hell yeah, I’m using some harsh language. It’s our very democracy at stake with these Republicans - they want to knuckle under and do whatever King Bush and Chancellor Cheney want them to do. We want a sound and more perfect union? We need to fight. These’s fightin’ words.

You got two days to watch the spineless “Iraq-moderate” Republicans attempt to explain their cowardly support of their Overlord…oh, and of Bush, too.

Kristin Ross-Sitcawich is holding a campaign fundraiser this Wednesday, July 18th, 6pm-8pm at her home on 31 Elene St. There will be wine, food, and music by Mike Asquino, not to mention good company and yours truly.

Don’t forget, you can ask Kristin a question on her website, probably the coolest feature we’ve rolled out (besides the video, of course!). There’s no substitute for the sort of direct interaction you can have with your local candidates, and this is your chance to know more about Kristin in a very direct way.

Irony, thy name is Republican.

Update: On a serious…seriously disturbing note, you cannot miss this Glenn Greenwald post. Read the Third Religious Awakening part. *shudder*

I grow tired of trying to find real actual non-platitude answers from Niki Tsongas. And I’m angry.

On health care, I’ll admit that I admire Jamie’s position, sympathize with Eileen’s, and scratch my head over Finegold’s. But no one’s health care position frustrates me more than Niki Tsongas’.

In the Lowell Sun’s article on the MA-05 Carlisle candidates’ forum, Niki is paraphrased as stating: “Tsongas said the Massachusetts Health Care ‘Connector’ Plan, while not perfect, would be ‘a great place to start.’”

Really, Niki? Just exactly where, with fine detail please, do you think the MA reform plan is not perfect, and where would you propose to adjust the plan to cover the gaps that imperfection would create? You are no longer allowed to talk about the Connector plan, until you actually understand the underlying issues and consequences of the plan. Oh, wait, the marketplace will take care of everything. Isn’t that your position? Then say it like a real candidate instead of using this dodging, non-answer bullshit. But…you know you can’t use that line about the marketplace because no one who struggles with their HMO on a regular basis will ever believe it…yet you offer nothing else in its stead.

Feh. It’s like talking to a wall, anyway. She can’t come out and have a real position (market-based or otherwise) because as far as I can tell, she hasn’t once yet demonstrated a deep understanding of the current state of health care in the United States. I don’t care what board she’s on.

Well, Niki? Are you going to actually do some homework or not? The voters, I think, deserve a true and specific answer to what you will do if elected. It’s only our health, after all.

[Hat tip to BMG.]

I’m hoping for some very good news very shortly…which will have me running around a lot. Plus I have lots of work to do. Amuseth thyselves in whatever manner (appropriately of course) that you see fit.

Oh, and Left Ahead tonight. I might actually be in the position to join Mike and Ryan for the first time in three weeks.