Morning News Roundup

Capitol Hill members are getting into the blogosphere including Senators Bayh, Feingold, Obama, etc.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) caught some attention on the site last month, when he posted a 2,000-word response there to bloggers' complaints about Democrats who had supported John G. Roberts Jr.'s nomination to the Supreme Court. "How can we ask Republican senators to resist pressure from their right wing and vote against flawed appointees like John Bolton, if we engage in similar rhetoric against Democrats who dissent from our own party line?" Obama wrote. Readers posted 800 comments in response.

"It was a good opportunity to engage an activist community in a forum that is rapidly growing," Obama said in an interview. "If you take these blogs seriously, they'll take you seriously."

I will say that, sometimes, it is hard to take some sites seriously because they will flame republicans at no expense, including a true American hero--Senator John McCain. Plus, one mention of the abbreviation DLC, and you get troll-rated.

Speaking of Senator John MCCain, he appeared at a rally with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After the rally, he dissed the idea of staged events.

At a subsequent news conference, McCain, a possible candidate for U.S. president in 2008, said he had always favored town hall meetings open to the public, adding that some especially noisy dissenters had occasionally been ejected.

"The benefit of an open town hall meeting is one that you get to hear a lot of different views, and two it has credibility," said McCain.

At the Oakland event, the crowd appeared as enthusiastic as an audience at a game show, frequently nodding their head in agreement, applauding at all the right spots, and chanting "four more years" as Schwarzenegger arrived.

I support Evan Bayh in the prevention of another pandemic. Sadly, Senator Ted Stevens wants to kill this bill in committee. We, as Americans, cannot and will not let that happen.

For U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., the flu has been something he has been thinking about quite a bit since last year when there was a shortage of flu vaccine due to one of the two only manufacturers of the drug shutting down its flu vaccine operation.

Since that time, Bayh has worked to remove disincentives to the production of flu vaccine with the goal of our nation being able to provide ample supplies to those who wish to protect themselves. Bayh’s original plan also works toward educating people on the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine.

Now Bayh is working to try to protect the United States from a possible influx of the avian flu, or bird flu, that has proven deadly to humans, particularly in Asia. Currently the only way humans can contract avian flu is to come in contact with a bird that has it.

“Avian flu is one of the critically important issues of our time,” Bayh said in a press release issued on Wednesday. "Leading experts say it is only a matter of time before this deadly disease becomes more efficient in moving from person to person. We should not await that dreadful day, but work proactively to protect the national security interests and the health interests of the American people."

In response, Bayh has authored the "Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act," which offers a comprehensive plan to make sure the country is prepared for a possible avian or other flu outbreak.[...]

"Right now, we are currently woefully unprepared, with only enough antivirals to cover one percent of the American people," Bayh said. "Other nations are way ahead of us in preparing their countries for this grave health threat. When it comes to dealing with avian flu, let us not repeat the mistakes of Hurricane Katrina. We must be prepared for the worst, while we pray for the best."

The United States currently has only 2.3 million doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral used to treat avian flu, and 2 million doses of an experimental vaccine. This is only enough to protect less than two percent of the population. Since January 2004, at least 115 people have contracted avian flu, and 59 of those people died, Bayh said.

Does anybody want to honor Theodore Roosevelt Heller's last request. The obituary states that in lieu of flowers, to please send acerbic letters to Republicans. He was a military veteran who, after being discharged to service-related injuries, according to the obituary "forced his way back into the Illinois National Guard insisting no one tells him when to serve his country." May Ted Heller rest in peace.

Let's see, the other day it was former state Representative and state party chairman Terry McBrayer. Today, the name being drafted is former Representative Ken Lucas.

A well-known business leader and former local elected official, Lucas confirmed Monday that he has been approached ab- out running for governor by past supporters and some De- mocratic Party leaders.

But as of now, Lucas said he has no plans to get back into politics.

"It's flattering that numerous people wh- ose political judgment you trust think you would be a good candidate," Lucas said Monday.

"My years in public service were very fulfilling, but I have not seriously considered running for governor.

"This wasn't something that was on my radar screen," he said.

"I've never particularly felt that I would be all that attractive of a candidate."

Some Northern Kentucky Democrats disagree.

They point to Lucas' ability to win three terms in the heavily Republican district.

They also point to the moderate-to-conservative voting record he amassed while in Washington representing the 4th Congressional District.

Lucas was not planning on running for Congress when he was convinced by local Democrats to get in the 1998 race. Lucas ended up defeating Gex "Jay" Williams, a Republican state lawmaker who was expected to win that election.

"Sure, he would be a good candidate," said retired state lawmaker Jim Callahan, a Wilder Democrat. "Ken has a lot of credentials. He's very accomplished and very intelligent. And he proved as a member of Congress that he can work with people in the other party."

Lucas would not identify who has talked to him about the race. But some of his past supporters are floating his name as a potential candidate. And a Lucas candidacy was a topic of conversation at a statehouse lobbyists retreat last month at Dale Hollow Lake in southern Kentucky.

Northern Kentucky is a very Republican area. Trust me, I know. Rep. Lucas attended his first DNC convention only last year.

Dr. Paul Weber died this past week to cancer.