Betsy Muse's blog

There's an interesting conversation going on around the internet surrounding an article about the Obamas that appeared in New York Magazine titled, Black and Blacker. Despite the truly idiotic headline, the article has some interesting tidbits that provide some food for thought. I'm not going to analyze the entire piece, but will use one passage as a jumping off point for a bit of discussion.

As much as any political campaign is an extended meditation on authenticity, the question of just how black the Obamas are has become particularly loaded.

Some of you already know about our annual beach trip - the one we take with my husband's college buddies and their wives. They are all Republicans. Rabid, Bill O'Reilly worshipping, Fox News believing, don't tax me, Christians rule, Bush is God Republicans. It can get a bit dicey to say the least.

I have been able to get out of the trip for the past two years. I tried to stay home this year with the excuse that getting ready for Denver had me slammed, but my husband wasn't buying it.

So, here I sit tucked away in my bedroom with my computer plugged in and my bottle of rum at the ready. One bottle may not be enough.

Immediately after the news came out that the bullying bill was facing complications, I jumped on BlueNC to encourage everyone to contact their state legislators. I was pretty angry, as were many here, and in my rush to get folks activated I got careless and said some things that apparently aren't true.

According to a woman from the NC Family Policy Council, the organization has never endorsed bullying of children and instead supports legislation to protect all children and teachers. She also said the NCFPC believes that no child should be bullied at any time.

I apologize for these statements.

I woke up this morning to read one of the best editorials I've read in a long time. It is well-reasoned and well-written with the author taking a friendly tone and style. The author is our friend and co-hort, Phillip Gilfus.

This officially lands in the "gross me out" category.

First, Ted Stevens gives Elizabeth Dole $10,000 for her campaign. Second, Ted Stevens gets indicted. Third, Kay Hagan calls on Elizabeth Dole to return the tainted money she received from Ted Stevens. Fourth, Elizabeth Dole returned part of the money she received from Ted Stevens....and then......

What happened next should not be viewed by those with frail digestive systems. However, it's hard for most humans to turn away from a train wreck.....soooo...here ya go.

That's all. That's all I had to say. Let that sink in. There are 257,000 new registered voters in this state since January and only 17,000 of them registered as Republicans.

Wow. Warms the cockles of your heart, doesn't it?

Here's the article from the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Is Elizabeth Hanford Dole a qualified registered voter with a permanent residence in North Carolina or is Elizabeth Dole's permanent primary residence at the Watergate in our nation's capital?

The Watergate is much more than the name of a famous hotel where an even more famous burglary took place in the early 70’s.

"Watergate is a cooperative apartment complex located in North West Washington, D.C.. The complex includes three apartment buildings (East, West & South), two office buildings, a hotel, and a shopping mall.
"

The Watergate has been described as a “city within a city.” Most apartments are extravagant and have a price tag to match with many two-bedroom units going for well over $2 million. Winston and Winston Real Estate have several listings at 700 New Hampshire Avenue NW offering virtual tours. There are even a few listed that are down the hall from some of the Watergate’s most famous residents, Bob and Elizabeth Hanford Dole.

The Doles have been residents of The Watergate since their marriage in 1975. Bob Dole has owned apartment #112 – a first-floor, one-bedroom since before the Republicans burglarized the Watergate Hotel in 1972.

More than a quarter century later, the Doles found themselves neighbors with Monica Lewinsky and her mother during the famous blow job and blue dress scandal. After the Lewinsky duo vacated their apartment, the Doles purchased it to enlarge their living quarters.

The rest of the story......

For those of us who worked on the ground to help Larry Kissell bring in as many volunteers as possible in order to reach out to as many voters as possible, this wait to see if Larry Kissell won the DCCC's National Day of Action challenge is agonizing. Here's a bit of background on the competition and more can be found here.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had announced that it is sponsoring Mobilize for Change: A National Day of Action on July 26, 2008 -- marking 100 days until Election Day. Mobilize for Change: A National Day of Action will boost House Democratic campaigns' efforts to recruit additional volunteers to phone bank and canvass congressional districts across the country.

Who knew Ada Fisher was running against Mel Watt again? I sure didn't. I have got to climb out from under this rock every now and then. What's even more surprising for me is that I found this out at Wonkette of all places.

According to Wonkette, Fisher is a McCain surrogate. Say, what?

I must admit I read Republican Congressman Robin Hayes' whine-fest in the Fayetteville Observer yesterday and my jaw hit the floor. Could the man sound any more like he knows he is losing? Wow.

Let's break it down:

Robin Hayes says the No. 1 issue this election is not Iraq. It’s the skyrocketing cost of gasoline.

The Republican from Concord says one way to begin lowering energy costs is to open more areas in the U.S. to drilling. The five-term incumbent agrees with President Bush and this year’s presumptive GOP nominee, John McCain, who are calling for more drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.