Last Sane Man's proposal

A modest proposal from Last Sane Man--who still posts anonymously.

Constitutional Amendment that would eliminate the elected offices of Secretary of State, Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture. The functions of these three offices would be assumed by the other executive branch offices under the governor.

These three constitutional offices are used primarily for politicians on the way up to the test the political waters at a statewide level. Or they are occupied by politicians on the way down as a political award. The holders of these offices provide a minimum of service for the citizens of the Commonwealth and their duties could be done as well, or better, by appointed administrators.

Currently we have three young men sitting in these offices. None have done anything particularly offensive. Jonathan Miller’s KAPT program being the most positive accomplishment among the three and Richie Farmer's AWOL record at the Dept. of Agriculture being the worst, at least if he's not there he can't screw up anything.

I take issue with this as I like the KAPT program and Jonathan's leadership capabilities (I think he's gonna make a fine Governor or Senator someday if he runs!), Farmer was a good ball player but never got my vote and Trey Grayson voted to not certify Dana Seum Stephenson. Thoughts? Comments? I expect better from Last Sane Man.

Quote of the Week: Dick Cheney on Iran

Dick Cheney on Iran: "We don't want a war in the Middle East, if we can avoid it"

Excuse me, Mr. Vice President but we're already at war in Iran's neighbors Afghanistan and Iraq so your statement is false at best. Next time, don't talk to Vice President Dan Quayle's advisors for cue cards. They make you look worse than him.

What Television Needs

Since the passing of Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, I have done much reflection on the direction of the television networks. The direction the networks are heading in is wrong. We don't need any reality television programming. The only reality programming on television that we need are sports and the news. None of this "Look what song I can sing badly" or "Watch me do stand-up and bomb" or "I know I'm not the same religion but I'm living here whether you like it or not" helps the networks. Ratings are what they want. Well, guess what, the networks truly do not care about the customers. Good Morning, Miami was one of my favorite shows. Mark Feuerstein and Ashley Williams starred in it. It sort of reminds you of of WKRP in Cincinnati with how a big name comes into town to help ratings. Look at the trivia for Good Morning, Miami:

The character of Jake Silver (a hotshot who comes to a dying morning show to re-vamp it) is based on the real-life NBC producer Jeff Zucker who re-vitalized "The Today Show".

The "Good Morning, Miami" morning news-show format itself was inspired by Max and David Kohan's personal experience producing a morning talk-show called "Mike & Matty".

After 9 episodes were aired in the 2nd season this show was canceled and didn't get to finish airing the rest of the 18 episodes that were ordered for the 2nd season.

Why did NBC cancel it? It was one of my favorite shows to watch. It wasn't a bad show but it certainly was a good show.

Another show to watch this season and hope it doesn't suffer from the same wrath is Committed starring Josh Cooke and Jennifer Finnigan. Finnigan played the character of Devan Maguire on Crossing Jordan.

I was not a fan of Last Comic Standing and that show had to go. Sorry, Tina, if you disagree! That show is not the show for comedians to make it big. I want to make it big and I'm going to do it the right way, performing in clubs and then getting the guest spots on the late night comedy shows. I'm off to a perfect start as a sidekick on a late night comedy show at NKU which will be picked up locally and not just in the dorms (as soon as the deal is finalized)!

I have connections to actors, comedians, and politicians. I've gotten replies from all with regards to advice for either field. The older comedians show generosity to the aspiring comics and Johnny Carson showed that. He started careers. I've just got to hone my craft. I've got some great ideas too. Get my own sitcom or sketch comedy show. I might even bring back the weekly variety hour that is missing from the networks.

First Madonna, now Britney?

What happened to her quitting music and going into science?

It turns out that Britney Spears is into Kabbalah, the study of Jewish mysticism. So is she following Jewish law now and not eating pork or sea fish? I just don't see anyone from Louisiana that is not Jewish doing such things. IMDB reports:

Britney Spears is taking her secret Kabbalah lessons seriously - she's had a Hebrew symbol tattooed on the back of her neck. The pop superstar, who has dabbled with the mystical offshoot of Judaism after being introduced to it by pal Madonna, seems to be getting serious about all things Kabbalah. Her new Hebrew symbol, which represents "the power of healing," is one of two new tattoos Britney has had inked on her...

Now, here is where the turn of events happen. She gets a tattoo which is a violation of Jewish law. This is text that appears on My Jewish Learning:

The prohibition of tattooing is found in the Torah: "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the L-RD" (Leviticus 19:28).

It is the second part of this verse from which we derive the general prohibition against tattooing.

If you are curious about body piercings, click here now.

Wildcats Role to Victory

Kentucky Wildcats 84
Tennessee Volunteers 62

And to think that they were playing on Wednesday? Shame on me!

For the record, I came up with Air Rondo!

The Sunday Mail

Nope, you will not be getting mail on Sunday. However, the Sunday Mail are located in Washington, DC, and so if you need a band, check them out.

Great band. I should know. My friend is in it.

Visit the Sunday Mail

Statement on the Academy Nominations

I'm including my predictions as well but I believe that Kevin Spacey deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance in Beyond the Sea. However, I could care less about Michael Moore and Mel Gibson not getting nominations.

Golden Globe nominee Paul Giamatti (news) was not nominated for his lead role as a grumpy oenophile in Sideways.[...]

While "Finding Neverland" tied with "Ray" for second place among nominees with seven nods, its Swiss director, Marc Forster, did not make the cut. Forster and "Closer" Director Mike Nichols were the only Golden Globe nominees shut out of the Oscar race.

Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey had campaigned aggressively for his Bobby Darin movie, "Beyond the Sea," a labor of love he directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in. But Oscar was deaf to Spacey this time.

Now for my predictions of the winners in the 77th Annual Acaedmy Awards airing on ABC come February 27, 2005, at 8 ET/5 PT:
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Jamie Foxx - RAY
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Morgan Freeman- MILLION DOLLAR BABY
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Natalie Portman - CLOSER
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: SHREK 2
ART DIRECTION: FINDING NEVERLAND
CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE AVIATOR
COSTUME DESIGN: THE AVIATOR
DIRECTING: MILLION DOLLAR BABY
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: SUPER SIZE ME
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY
FILM EDITING: THE AVIATOR
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: YESTERDAY
MAKEUP: LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
MUSIC (SCORE): FINDING NEVERLAND
MUSIC (SONG): "Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2
BEST PICTURE: MILLION DOLLAR BABY
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): GUARD DOG
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): 7:35 IN THE MORNING
SOUND EDITING: SPIDER-MAN 2
SOUND MIXING: SPIDER-MAN 2
VISUAL EFFECTS: SPIDER-MAN 2
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): FINDING NEVERLAND
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): THE AVIATOR

If you haven't voted yet

Have you voted for Best New Blog yet? Then head over to vote the Kentucky Democrat for Best New Blog and show why this is the Best New Blog!

Aside from my own vote, who else voted for the Kentucky Democrat as the Best New Blog?

The Kentucky Democrat. Excellently maintained resource for political news. Often hours, or days, ahead of the big blog curve.

Posted by: Federalist X at January 18, 2005 04:12 PM

Count me in on this one

I do not endorse torture. I am against the nomination of Al Gonzales for Attorney General even if he is pro-choice. Therefore, I sign this.

Talking Points Memo

Talking Points Memo links to Blogging for Bayh today. That explains why I've been getting some hits today. Links on Liberal Oasis, MyDD, and now Talking Points Memo?

Now, the big question is, when will Kos link to me? I've been at it since July with a hiatus and I've proven to be credible and when Ron linked, Site Meter (link at bottom) went crazy. It's still going crazy. When you post breaking news, or even news broken earlier, you land the hits. I saw a search for Johnny Carson that led to my blog on Sunday. This was before I had learned that he passed.

The audition's went well. I played Freedom by Paul McCartney. I hope I passed the audition. We start taping the late night show (similar to Johnny Carson's format) next Monday so I'll be busy this week with class writing monologue jokes. Heck, we'll take freelance jokes. We do not have the budget to where we or our guests get paid--sadly.

Speaking of income, you can help support the Kentucky Democrat by signing up to get paid to read email, or donating via PayPal and Amazon.com.

EVAN BAYH WILL VOTE NO ON RICE

Maybe he does read this blog? The AP via Yahoo reports that Democrats are taking a charge.

On what was shaping up as a long day for the nominee and the president who promoted her to chief U.S. diplomat, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) said "we have a moral obligation to provide better leadership."

"Those in charge must be held accountable for mistakes," Bayh said, even while saying the administration was attempting to do the right thing in Iraq.

In other news, Natalie Portman has been nominated for a Best-Supporting Actress Oscar. She's going to win! Her statement:

This is, like, crazy. My mom called and said, ‘I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe it,’ I ask, how did I get so lucky to have an amazing experience – have a film I’m really proud of – and then also get recognised by our own community?

Joe Lieberman is not voting the way that I would have preferred.

"I've always believed that our responsibility to advise and consent does not mean that we have to agree with every opinion or every action that the nominee has ever taken," Lieberman said in his opening remarks.

"Our responsibility is to determine whether the nominee is fit for the position ... and whether the nominee, in our judgment, will serve in the national interest. And of course I conclude that Dr. Condoleezza Rice meets that standard at least and much more."

Jay Leno paid tribute last night on the Tonight Show to Johnny Carson.

RFK, Jr., Blog ethics

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. is not running for Attorney General any more.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and son of slain New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, said he will not run for state attorney general, a move that takes him out of a race that could have pitted him against his estranged brother-in-law, Andrew Cuomo.

Kennedy, 51, told The New York Times in Tuesday editions that running for the office now held Eliot Spitzer by would have forced him to sacrifice significant time with his wife and children.

"I talked about it a lot with my wife, with my kids, my uncle and my brothers and sisters," he said. "It's funny, all the family members who had not been in political office urged me to run and the ones who had served in office urged me not to."

He told the newspaper that his decision had nothing to do with the possibility of running against Cuomo, housing secretary under President Clinton.

Kennedy is chief attorney for the environmental group Riverkeeper and has been a leading state environmental activist for more than two decades.

He has also been active in New York politics and briefly considered running for the Senate seat won by Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000. At that time, as well, he said that family commitments kept him from making the bid.

Widely urged to run by political figures and others, Kennedy did say he would seek elected office at some point in the future.

There's a curveball!

Rick Heller writes on blog ethics dealing with a blog who has taken the blog named used by our good friend, Max Burns.

Dustin Hoffman is not moving

Didn't refer to the word "cut" in an interview once? When I was growing up, "cut" meant something indeed. It still does.

Relocating? I don't think so!

"I was doing some publicity for this movie in the states, and one of the things they asked was don't I have a place in London? I said, `Yes, for 25 years, but we haven't been able to use it as much as we want because we didn't like to separate from the kids. So with five kids over the past 35 years, I've lived my life scheduled around the school year. The last kid is in the house, she graduates in five months and I'm going to get to London as soon as I can and finally make use of the place.'

"That turned into: `I'm moving to get away from (President) Bush,'" Hoffman said.

He added: "That's silly. You can't go anywhere in the world to get away from Bush."

Yea, I guess that's true. Where could you go to get away from the President? I haven't the foggiest idea...

I made the Washington Post?!?

A press release by Simon Rosenberg has caught the eye of the Washington Post. I am one of the bloggers mentioned in the press release most likely.

It's not uncommon for political candidates to trumpet their endorsements from fellow politicians, civic leaders and celebrities. But bloggers?

Simon Rosenberg, one of half a dozen candidates running for chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued a news release yesterday touting his support from a number of the online pundits. "Dozens of influential bloggers endorse Rosenberg one day before DNC Western caucus in Sacramento," it said, referring to a party meeting today in California.

"We want to show that, in the running of this campaign, we are competently managing the new kind of [technological] tools we'll need to get our values and ideas out to the American people," Rosenberg said.

Experts said that as blogs -- which are, essentially, online journals -- grow in popularity, the individual bloggers' endorsements have become increasingly valuable. Their support not only lends candidates a certain amount of buzz, credibility and name recognition, it can also prove a gold mine. Some bloggers have been able to raise big money for candidates on their sites, which often attract the parties' most die-hard supporters. Conversely, some candidates have been able to raise significant sums by advertising on politically oriented blogs.[...]

A Rosenberg aide said none of the bloggers mentioned in his release is on the payroll, except for one the statement says was hired as an Internet strategist

It is important to note that the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade is this year. I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose. I also believe abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. Our party should not have an anti-choice platform. We must reframe the debate and articulate our values. I am a progressive moderate-to-liberal Democrat and I am affiliated with the DLC.

Open Thread

I'm torn between the Beatles' I'm Down and Paul McCartney's Freedom for a talent show audition.

Bill Frist wants to stop filibusters?

Leno plans tribute to Carson tonight

NBC and "Tonight" host Jay Leno planned a tribute to Carson on Monday's show, with McMahon, who remains active in entertainment, among the guests.

McMahon, who introduced Carson with the trademark "Heeeeere's Johnny!" and serving as erstwhile foil for three decades, said he was shocked when his wife, Pam, took the sad call Sunday morning.

"I saw the blood leave her face. It was the same look you get when a relative dies," said McMahon, who said Carson was "like a brother to me."

The rest of Sunday swung from "tears to laughter," he said.

"Every time I saw something (on TV) we did and remembered how good it was and how much better it looks now," McMahon said, he felt proud.

He treasures memories of meeting Carson's high standards for "Tonight," the show which became the focus of all Carson's energies and talents from 1962 to 1992.

McMahon painted a picture of one such moment: Carson is doing his monologue and it isn't going over with the audience. For the first and only time in the show's history, McMahon says, he walks over to interrupt.

"I give him a spin like I'm a coach and say, 'You're better than this. Don't let the audience get to you,'" McMahon said — followed by a slap that parodied a popular commercial.

"Thanks, I needed that," Carson replied, in perfect synch with McMahon for the unrehearsed moment.

The joy was doing "something that helped the show," which was what mattered to Carson, McMahon said.

He seemed fine when they last spoke, a phone call about three weeks ago, McMahon said.

"I thought they were treating the emphysema problem with medication. It was a total shock and surprise to me," he said.

Some bad news for Ed

Ed Turlington has got some bad news today if he reads the News Observer. It's that bad, he didn't return phone calls for comment. I endorse Ed Turlington in this race. He's a nice guy. Really, he is!!

Jerry Meek, the party's first vice-chair, said Monday that 53 percent of the 570 members of the party's executive committee are committed to him. The remainder either plan to vote for Raleigh attorney Ed Turlington, are undecided or haven't been reached by phone, Meek said.

Turlington, who once worked with former Gov. Jim Hunt and U.S. Sens. Terry Sanford and John Edwards, didn't return phone calls seeking comment Monday evening. Turlington said earlier this month he was confident he would win.[...]

Gov. Mike Easley and several Council of State members are backing Turlington, who has been praised by Democratic observers as a great fund-raiser and campaigner who would give the state party prominence nationwide. Easley said Turlington could help the national party field national candidates for federal offices who could win North Carolina and other Southern states.

Meek said if elected he would run a party machinery that was attentive to the needs of county and precinct leaders.

More on Lieberman, Carson

Here are excerpts from out in Arizona from the Arizona Republic:

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., interviewed Thursday on Comedy Central's Daily Show With Jon Stewart, pointed out that he had been sitting next to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., during the presidential inauguration earlier that day.

Stewart couldn't help but ask, "Now, underneath, was he (McCain) muttering at all during it?"

Responded Lieberman, "Well, ah...funny you should ask. Cause when the president took the oath, John and I were lip-syncing."

McCain and Lieberman are former presidential candidates who failed to win their respective political parties' nomination. McCain lost to President Bush in the GOP's 2000 primaries.

But now that he and Lieberman have taken the oath as president, albeit only by lip-syncing with Bush, Lieberman joked, "We're both prepared to take office whenever necessary."

The site also suggests that Rep. J.D. Hayworth is currently planning to run for governorship in Arizona when the office is up for election. He has spoken to Mississippi Congressman Chip Pickering about a run.

Cable channels did a better job then the networks. CNN, what do you have to say for yourself?

Kyrie O'Connor article comparing Stewart and Carson:

Compare/contrast Johnny Carson/Jon Stewart. Of course both Letterman (who seemed to get the mantle in the final days) and Leno (the technical heir) can claim their share of Johnny Carson's legacy, but MeMo thinks you could make a real case that Stewart is the true heir of Carson. Every intoner has intoned that Carson was the person America went to to find out what to think about the news and pop culture. These days, that's not Letterman or Leno. It's Stewart. He doesn't have the huge Carson audience, but he has the younger audience (just as it was never uncool early on to watch Carson). He takes it over the edge more than Carson ever did, but that's partly a function of the cable mentality and the changed times. It seems pretty evident to MeMo that Stewart literally studied Carson -- the tics, the looks, the expressions. The only other person who comes close is Conan O'Brien.

[look of confusion]Really? Is that so?!?

The New Democrat

The New Democrat started on Blogdrive in 2004, a good three months before this one with the same name. The New Democrat is the official one and he is not a Zell Miller Democrat like this one with the same name.

Senator Barbara Boxer's PAC for a Change: Hold Condoleezza Rice Accountable!

UPDATE: I had the links wrong!!

60 Years since Auschwitz

It's been 60 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. As a Jew, I am grateful to the American troops our allies for liberating the dreaded concentration camps. I hope this type of mass murder never takes place again!

In Kentucky political news, Jerry Lundergan makes a bad attempt to debunk the critics. Compare what he said in this article:

Lundergan said he has told Richards and other possible Democratic candidates for governor in 2007 that he is not supporting his personal friend, Attorney General Greg Stumbo, or anyone else to be governor.

to what he said in this articlementioned yesterday.

On election night, state Rep. Susan Westrom, the state Democratic chairwoman, said Stumbo is the party's new leader. Yesterday, Stumbo adviser Jerry Lundergan said, "I don't think there's any doubt about who is going to run the party, starting today — Mr. Greg Stumbo."

I don't buy what he said the other day at all. It's utter bull. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Liberal Oasis has linked to the original blog entry where the deals that caused Lundergan to be named chair. They also link to Last Sane Man, and BlueGrass Roots.

Interview with Dr. Chuck Pennacchio

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Chuck Pennacchio, the only announced Democratic candidate in the 2006 US Senate race in Pennsylvania, via email.

DS: You're a college professor, did your students try and get you to run or was it something you've been thinking of for a while?
CP: Many of my Pennsylvania students over the years have suggested I think about running for United States Senate. However, my old business party, Jim Toomey, was the first to make the suggestion into a formal proposal. We then talked about the idea over a beer and later followed up with a third friend, Julian Palmer, who has since served as my political director. Jim's role has been far less formal than in the beginning. Returning to my students, I hastily add that they-along with my children (Sophia, 8; Ben, 6) continue to inspire me forward and provide the driving force behind our citizen-based campaign.

DS: Since you have a Ph.D. in Foreign diplomacy, do you see that as an asset in the race to defeat Senator Rick Santorum?
CP: Absolutely. Not only does my 15 years of training and teaching in foreign policy and national security affairs, but my 25-year practice of citizen diplomacy based on my studies and organizing principles clearly set me apart-and above-our ideologically-challenged junior senator.

As we all know, the Bush-Santorum foreign policy approach rejects history, facts, and the model by which the United States prevailed in the Cold War.

As an American historian, Cold War specialist, and national security expert, I will shred the Bush preemptive war doctrine as illogical, reckless, and feckless. It's application in Iraq alone is a devastating indictment of the neoconservative, corporatist approach that destroys America's moral leadership, America's economic interests, American lives, American trade, and American goodwill.

For America to be become strong once again in each of these areas, we must return to a sound diplomatic-economic-military strategy based on common sense, the lessons of history, and mental toughness. The people of Pennsylvania will soon understand the need to reject the weak-kneed and ineffective Bush-Santorum policies in favor of approaches that not only work, but have a proven track record.

DS: Blogs have become something big and you have hired Tim Tagaris of the Swing State Project to deal with internet outreach and it seems that users of both the Daily Kos and MyDD.com are warming up to your candidacy, do you see that as a positive mark for your campaign?
CP: Without question, hiring Tim puts us on the Internet map, centers us in the on-line community, and places us at the heart of the pro-democracy movement. Those are all extremely positive developments for not only my candidacy and our campaign, but also for the future of our fragile democracy.

Perhaps no community comprehends better the stakes involved in this campaign-beating Santorum, electing a citizen-candidate and a new progressive, revolutionizing the netroots/grassroots organizing approach, changing the face of Pennsylvania politics, and, of course inspiring a rebirth of democracy.

While those may sound like (and they are) heady and ambitious goals, we owe ourselves, our children, and their children nothing less than a full-tilt effort to reassert our rights, duties, and obligations as American citizens.

DS: What prior candidates will influence the way that you will run your campaign?
CP: Having worked for Congressman Ron Dellums, Lieutenant Governor S.B. Woo, Sens. Alan Cranston, Tom Harkin, Tim Wirth, Paul Simon, John Kerry, and John Edwards, I will borrow the best from the best: Dellums' passion, Woo's overcoming long odds, Cranston's perseverance, Harkin's populism, Wirth's introspection, Simon's honesty, Kerry's belief in service, and Edwards clarity on the right's class war against working Americans.

DS: Do you have a campaign song yet? If yes, what is it? If not, I play guitar.
CP: We're considering Bob Marley's "Get up, Stand up."

DS: Do you expect there to be a bloody primary?
CP: No. And if one comes, it won't be by my initiation.

DS: I'm in Kentucky and have taken notice of the campaign, do you think that many Democrats across the nation will embrace your candidacy and donate because of who the incumbent is?
CP: Certainly Rick Santorum is a lightning rod for any number of constituencies, and we expect to get our fair share of support statewide and nationally from groups and individuals he is attacking: older Americans, consumer rights, workers, GLBT community, conservationists, public school educators, women, scientists...The list goes on and on.

DS: I know someone who headed up Students for Gore in 1988 named Jonathan Miller. Did you ever meet Al Gore while working for Senator Paul Simon? Congressman Gephardt?
CP: Yes, I met them all.

DS: What makes you feel qualified to be a United States Senator?
CP: I am the only 2006 U.S. Senate candidate officially in the race. There is lots of speculation about different candidates, but I am likely to be the only citizen-candidate (non-career politician); the only one with expertise in history, national security, and international diplomacy (Ph.D.,history/political science teacher at University of the Arts in Philly); the only one to have organized and managed winning U.S. Senate campaigns (Tom Harkin [IA, 1984], Tim Wirth [CO, 1986], S.B. Woo [DE, 1988 primary], as well as statewide presidential victories (Paul Simon [IL, 1988], and Kerry/Edwards[PA, 2004]); the only one with working experience on both sides of Congress (Military Caseworker for Cong. Ron Dellums, and Personal Aide to Sen. Alan Cranston); and the only one with roots in rural (live in Bucks), suburban (born in DelCo), and urban (work in Philly) Pennsylvania.

Considering that Democrats have lost the last 13 straight, full-term U.S. Senate races here in Pennsylvania--why? because candidates "run not to lose," muddle their message, fail to start early, prove unwilling (or unable) to raise the necessary resources and to build a serious statewide organization--we have launched an informed campaign to WIN back OUR Senate seat. By combining "old" (grassroots) and "new" (netroots) technologies, by forging a bold and clear message (We The People; Brilliant Past, Brighter Future) around solid progressive values (Opportunity, Unity, Responsibility, and Security, aka O.U.R.S.), and by tapping the mental toughness that characterizes my past and recent successes, we will triumph in April and November 2006.

Beyond that, however, I would add (or underscore) the fact that I have worked in, and continue to study, the institution; I am an expert on issues central to the U.S. Senate's unique constitutional role (Questions of war and peace, international law, nuclear proliferation, federal judiciary), as well as other national legislative issues (energy, environment, health care, education). As a citizen-candidate who has lived and worked in rural, suburban, and urban Pennsylvania, not only do I understand the needs of our diverse commonwealth, I can actually represent and promote those interests without having to answer to monied interests. Moreover, as a parent, historian, educator, former business owner, and lifelong community-builder, I can help restore to the Congress (Senate and House) a collegiality and bipartisan spirit that has sufferent from the divisive and partisan politics of President Bush, Senator Santorum and House Majority Leader Delay. In other words, I can remind my colleagues of, and encourage their return to, the citizen-legislator tradition central to American history and American greatness.

DS: Do you want the first national press interview you have to be with Jon Stewart of the Daily Show?
CP: Maybe, I'd like to warm up first with Leno and Letterman.

DS: Was I the first blogger from out of state to email you?
CP: No.

DS: First to do an interview for my blog?
CP: Yes.

DS: What are your thoughts on the current image of the national party?
CP: The prevailing images of weakness can, must, and will be overcome with campaigns and candidates such as ours, and with victories based on the same principles imbedded in ours: Trust the American people, listen to the American people, unite the American people, and then, forge great success with the American people.

DS: Have you made an endorsement for chairman or do you feel that it is being over-hyped this year?
CP: First, I'm not a big "party" guy. I'm more of an outsider. Still, I have not endorsed anyone and, yes, the choice of chairman is being over-hyped. It's certainly important that we Democrats have a unifying and smart leader, but ultimately it's on us--you and me--to make our Democracy succeed. Something that Democrats.

In this state having not seemingly figured out since 1962 (when they last won a full-term U.S. Senate Race), is that the path to victory does not tread through Harrisbirh or Washington, D.C. The path to triumph is locked up in each and every one of us. The trick is figuring out how to unlock that power in enough of our citizens to win on Election Day and every day in between.

DS: Thank you for your time and keep fighting the good fight! Also, thanks to Tim Tagaris of the Swing State Project for posting the 6 steps to netroots success on MyDD.com, otherwise, I would have never found out about Dr. Chuck Pennacchio.

You can visit Dr. Chuck Pennacchio's campaign website at http://www.chuckforsenate2006.com/.