Long Day ahead

The annual alumni lecture is tonight so don't expect the next entry until late tonight except for maybe right after lunch.

This years election in Virginia has shattered previous fundraising records. Tim Kaine needs your help. Contact Terrell Renfro at trenfro@kydemocrat.com if you can travel to Virginia to volunteer this weekend. Unfortunately, I have to work. I wish I was able to go though.

Former Congressman Martin Frost reminds us of American greatness during these troubled times. I realize my Wildcats are mentioned in there for the 1966 championship team. With that movie coming out (not sure of exact date), do I root for the Cats even though I know the result? It should be an interesting movie regardless.

In 1963, the only two Hispanic members of Congress, Ed Roybal and Henry B. Gonzalez, were from California and Texas, states with the largest Hispanic population in the country. Today, there are several dozen Hispanics in Congress. Bob Menendez of New Jersey serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the third ranking leadership position for House Democrats.[...]

In 1984, when Democrats nominated Geraldine Ferraro for vice president, she became the first woman to be nominated by either major political party for either president or vice president. In 2000, Joe Lieberman became the first person of the Jewish faith on a major party ticket when he was nominated for vice president. Today, it is a foregone conclusion that a woman, a Jew, a black or a Hispanic could well be elected president or vice president in the near future.

Until 1992, no black had been elected to Congress (other than during reconstruction) from five Southern states with large black populations: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. Now a total of eight blacks serve in Congress from those states.

Until 1997, no woman or black had ever served as secretary of state. Now, the last three Secretaries of State include a white woman, a black man, and now a black woman.

Russ Feingold is the only Jew whose name is actively coming up for 2008. Blogger just crashed on me and is running very slowly today.

Graduation rates at IU are falling for the 21st Century Scholars program.

The coordinator for the Office of 21st Century Scholars at IU-Bloomington, Jeanetta Nelms, said the Bloomington campus has 851 undergraduates currently enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars Program. The average grade point average for the scholars is 2.89, and the most recent graduation rate from 2003 was 44 percent.

The entire Bloomington campus had a 71 percent graduation rate based on a six-year retention rate. The statewide college graduation rate was 63 percent.

"Without the program, we would have a larger number of students not going to college," Nelms said.

The program was implemented in 1990 under then-Gov. Evan Bayh -- currently a U.S. senator from Indiana -- and the Indiana General Assembly. Students enroll in the program as seventh- and eighth-graders. The program offers resources and workshops to enrolled students to keep them on the track toward higher education. Students who graduate with an Indiana high school diploma and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average can then attend any Indiana college, university or technical school. The scholarship is based on financial need and covers the costs of tuition and mandatory fees.

In an e-mail, Bayh's spokeswoman Meghan Keck said the senator believes the program has helped thousands of students but believes those involved in the program's administration can do more to help the program.

"It's something we all need to work on together," she said.

Senators Lieberman and Hatch have introduced the Faircare Bill legislation.

Their FairCare bill would standardize data collection and offer incentives for health care providers to improve standards for all patients. Lieberman introduced a similar bill in the last Congress.

An update on Bayh's position on Judge Alito:

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, a Democrat, voted against Roberts, a Long Beach native, so it is expected that Bayh, who could run for president in 2008, will not support Alito, who is seen as even more conservative than Roberts.

Such a vote would soothe the Democratic base, as Bayh courts Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats, but for now, Bayh’s office is holding off on opposing Alito.

"Sen. Bayh will reserve judgment on this nominee until after the hearing, where he hopes to learn more about Judge Alito’s beliefs," said Meg Keck, Bayh’s spokeswoman.

That's it for now