However, in what some may find strange and odd, I WILL be supporting Blanche Lincoln over Bill Halter for U.S. Senate in Arkansas.

First of all, Bill Halter is suddenly the “darling of the left” as Roll Call called him. The fact is, when Bill Halter ran for Lt. Governor in 2006, it was as a centrist. He also blatantly opposed marriage equality and he opposed adoption rights for GLBT Parents. In a debate with his Republican opponent, State Senator Jim Holt, Halter was very clear that he stood in opposition to the GLBT Community. Its in the state newspapers.

Second of all, Bill Halter says “card check” is off the table in his interviews. What an insult to an unelected member of the U.S. Senate towards Senators like Tom Harkin, Al Franken, and others who have fought hard for The Employee Free Choice Act. But Halter has played into the hands of big business and nullified this measure.

Third of all, Bill Halter says he cannot guarantee Public Option for Health Care. Thats sad that Senator Roland Burris of Illinois, who was villified for his association with Rod Bladgojevich, shows more courage in threatening to filibuster if Public Option is not in the final plan, while Halter takes the progressives money and says, “Sorry can’t do it.”

The truth is I have followed Bill Halter’s career since he returned to Arkansas. I was no mere citizen, but a candidate for Arkansas Lt. Governor in 2006. I was earning votes the old fashioned way. I got out and worked hard and travelled county to county. Halter was a multi-millionaire who lived away from Arkansas for 25 years. He didn’t do anything but buy the Lt. Governor’s office. Then he used that office to try to run for higher office.

When he moved back and ran for office, 50% of his contributions were from out of state. And what about that business sense he claimed when he ran that he had? That was a myth. In addition, four out of five business ventures that Bill Halter took part in were failures, losing over half a billion dollars of investors money. His one major business success was with Akami Technologies, one whose board that Halter serves. This company is a huge server of porn and gambling sites and they purposely infiltrate into public school servers.

The sad truth is, Halter didn’t start promoting the lottery till others like myself had proposed and worked hard on the plan. The final version he touted gives a significant, over half, of the revenue to an out of state company. In short, another corporate tax break for Halter’s corporate buddies.

Bill Halter is not what you think he really makes himself out to be. He is a phony and speaking on behalf of many Arkansas Democrats, he has endangered our state’s U.S. Senate seat to the point that we will lose this seat to the Republicans.

Yes, the fact is I considered a primary challenge against Blanche Lincoln. I disagree with her on issues, but her opposition to what I strongly believe in, is genuine. And she IS a Democrat who will listen and work towards a resolution. Blanche Lincoln may not be the best Democrat in some liberal eyes, but I rather have a Senator who votes 75% of the time with our party than a Republican who will not vote with our party, or a Democrat who says one thing to get your money and votes another way in Washington, D.C.

Bill Halter represents all that is wrong with politics.

I fully expect he and some of his supporters, most likely staff, will trash and belittle my post. They will try to spin, but ask yourself, why it is that so many Arkansas Democrats do not like Bill Halter. Why is it that there are too many cases and written evidence to show where Halter says one thing and does another. Most of all, why has it been till now that Bill Halter suddenly discovered being a liberal? The answer is, Bill Halter and his “progressive views” are a myth.

I implore my fellow progressives….DON’T DRINK THE KOOL-AID.

****

1.) Halter ran against who the netroots in Arkansas supported for Governor (Mike Beebe) who has created jobs. It was only when he polled bad consistently against Beebe did Halter join a race with Wooldridge, Mike Hathorn, a State Representative, Speaker of the House Jay Martin, and myself after he had raised $1 million for the Governor’s race. There was even legitimate questions raised by Hathorn about that and it lead to a serious questioning of Halter and how he financed his campaign.

(Source : http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2006/04/26/news/news14.txt)

2.) Bill Halter supported the ban and did not fight for it. The source, which is the ArkTimes blog clearly states Halter’s position. In fact what he said was : “I would support this type of legislation if, after thorough research and deliberation, it is found to be constitutional and in the best interests of Arkansas’ foster children,” Halter said :

(Source : http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/08/halter_supports_gay_foster_par.aspx)

3.) Today Halter repudiated both Public Option & Card Check in an interview with ROLL CALL :

“If you ask 100 Arkansans what the “public option” means they are going to give you 100 different answers. People don’t understand what that truly means,” Halter said. “I would be supportive of giving the public the option to voluntarily buy into a medical program like medicare. … People are going to understand what that means more than just the two word phrase, public option.”

As for the union organizing bill, Halter said it wouldn’t be productive to discuss the version of the legislation that caused so much tension between Lincoln and labor unions last year. “As you know, the the previous legislation that was labeled as ‘card check,’ it’s no longer on the table,” he said.

(Source : http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003301878)

4.) Campaign Contributions and the lie there isn’t much money in Arkansas. Really now, you think we are a bunch of poor, backward hillbillies huh? This year alone, Arkansans have donated almost $14 million dollars to candidates.

(Source : http://www.followthemoney.org/database/state_overview.phtml?y=2008&s=AR)

Not to mention we are home of Dillards, Wal-Mart, Tysons, and many, many more Fortune 500 Companies.

5.) The porn site information originated with Mike Hathorn’s campaign and Mike is not right wing, but a loyal Democrat in Arkansas.

6.) Over 50% of the profit goes to the company that administrates the lottery, NOT THE STATE.

LOTTERY INFO LINKS :

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/25788816/Opinion-No

http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?s=4460521&clienttype=printable

http://chronicle.com/article/Assignment-Run-for-Office/15012/

http://www.loislaw.com/ogpc/login.htp?WSRet=12&dockey=18860019@ARAGOP&OLDURL=/gpc/index.htp&OLDREFURL=http%3A//news.google.com/archivesearch%3Fum%3D1%26cf%3Dall%26ned%3Dus%26hl%3Den%26q%3D%2522Drew%2BPritt%2522

http://thecabin.net/stories/071608/loc_0716080009.shtml

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5214378/Lottery-not-a-winner-Editorial.html

In the words of the late Admiral James Stockdale, “WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE?“

It must seem either courageous or stupid for someone who has not finished their Bachelor’s Degree yet to run for office. Yes, I have sought public office a couple of times. I ran for Warren City Council. I ran for Bradley County Judge. I ran for Lt. Governor, before withdrawing on the day of the deadline, because quite honestly I was tapped out, in terms of funding. I mulled races for Mayor, U.S. Senator, and then ran for Little Rock School Board, where I got beat. Thrashed would be the word and I got only 8 votes.

Also, it seems to be the topic du’ jour anymore to remind voters in any written piece about me about my sins and shortcomings. There is a small clique of people who literally hate me and spend their short time on this earth hating on me. But I have moved beyond them and say to them as the song says, “Hate On Me, Haters.” You know, at least you know with me you are getting someone who admits his faults, does what he can to be accountable for my wrongs, and tries to move beyond. I wonder how anyone else would feel if all you ever did was to hold their face to what they did wrong while ignoring a lot of what they did right. How would you feel? And it dehumanizes the whole thing to say….well thats how it is for politicians. Why? Who made that rule because its not in the Constitution and up until the days of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, it wasn’t part of politics. The Revolution of 1994, as the Republicans call it, unleashed many demons on the political process that have not bettered the lives of who they were elected to represent. And Democrats are just as guilty. It’s a cancer on the soul of democracy.

So the smart people say….sit back, wait awhile, go for a lower office, etc.

Maybe that is the smart money. But I don’t want to be Justice of the Peace. I don’t want to serve right now in the State House of Representatives or State Senator, as I like both who are there. I want to be Lt. Governor because this is an office that excels and provides the means for me to do what I do best….advocate.

I don’t like to sit back and wait. I have faced death before. When you are diagnosed with cancer, the first time, before you are 30, it makes you think and makes you want to live life to the fullest. Ever since I have been a little kid, all I really wanted to be was a politician. And not so I can better myself but so I can really live the American Ideal of serving others in elective office. Some may think thats homey, quaint, and a bit idealistic. For me, it’s the truth.

So I am running for Lt. Governor. I can’t buy my way there, but I can try to work my way there, and along the way hopefully enough of you will get to know me and see I am just a guy….someone who really wants the chance to serve. I am no Bill Clinton or Mike Beebe….never claimed to be….just me, a regular guy, wanting to do an super-regular task. That is to be elected and serve in office by the people, representing and speaking for the people, and be accountable of the people and their interest.

With me as Lt. Governor, I will spend every waking day, making the people’s business, my business.

http://www.PrittForArkansas.com/

One who meets this is Jason Tolbert of the Tolbert Report. He’s a legend in his own mind. Below is an exchange we had this evening after he wrote that no one is paying attention to me.

Check out Ryan Saylor at Arkansas Tonight after tomorrow to see a good reporter who is fair.

Here’s my exchange with Jason Tolbert who will not be receiving any awards for fair journalism lately. Maybe I will win or lose, but it doesn’t change the fact that reporting should be more fair, and Blake Rutherford I believe is correct that Jason Tolbert is ”bought and paid for“ by the Rethuglicans that continue to sulk over loss after loss after loss at the polls. 

Onto our “discussion” :

But all that ended this week. With Robert Novak battling a strong disease he has not been able to do the job. To his credit, Novak left the blog to Tim Carney. Carney did a good, less biased job, but the absence of Evans and Novak have removed the flavor of the tip sheet.

So….Novak pulled the plug. We sure will miss this source and pray for healing mercy from God for Robert Novak….both of his current affliction and his recurrent conservatism.

You betcha!

But one has to wonder, would history have been different, and could John McCain’s campaign have been in a better position if he selected another female running mate.

But did the McCain camp have another female Governor with some added benefits who could have benefitted McCain’s campaign?

You betcha!

Meet Governor Linda Lingle, a two term Republican who has been Governor from Hawai’i since 2002. Prior to that, she was Mayor of Maui from 1990-1998 and prior to that, City Councilwoman from 1980-1990.

In 2002, Lingle, who had narrowly lost a race for Governor in 1998, ran on her “Agenda for New Beginnings,” a campaign platform developed to promote Republican leadership and highlight the perceived failures of the previous forty years of Democratic administration of the state. It also cited differences between Lingle’s message and the previous, more conservative platforms which Hawaiʻi Republicans had advocated. Focusing less on her Mayoral accomplishments and more on the message of reform. It worked and Lingle defeated U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D), who was then Lt. Governor, narrowly in a major upset.

In her first term, she created a record surplus of $730 million, coming from the budget’s previous deficit of $250 million. In her two terms, she signed many bills into law, including the Three Strikes Law and Sex Offender Registry Website Law. One of the more controversial issues Lingle has championed is the practice of sending prisoners to the mainland, as opposed to building a new prison in Hawai’i.

In 2007 because of the arrests of four teachers for substance abuse, Lingle pushed a drug-testing clause into the teacher’s contract just days before the union was set to vote. The clause caused quite a stir among teachers, mostly because many were torn between their civil right to privacy and a pay raise. The drug testing was approved by a margin of 62% to 38%; still the issue met more obstacles.

But her popularity has remained high, with approval ratings in the 70%. She won reelection with 62%-38% in the largest margin in the state’s history.

Lingle is also Jewish. She has been married and divorced twice and has no children. True there are no stories of Lingle wrestling a moose to the ground. All she can see from her house is pristine beaches and clear blue water. In fact the only dude of significance for her would have been had she campaigned with Duane “THE DOG” Chapman and his crew of law enforcers.

But she is a good debater and has a record of experience that far outweighs Obama’s and nearly equal, sans 8 years, of Joe Biden’s career. In fact, Lingle’s elective office experience, was two years longer than McCain’s length in office. Also, she is not as sexxy as Palin….but is that really what was needed was sex appeal.

Imagine a campaign in which both nominees talked about substance over style, experience over flashiness, and programs successfully executed over proposals suggested but untested. It would have been a much different campaign.

Lingle is not as flashy as Palin, but McCain and his supporters have just got to ask….what would have happened had it been McCain-Lingle?

Would she have been a better running-mate than Sarah Palin?

YOU BETCHA!!!!

U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey ruled without a trial in December, in a case involving a of a boy born in Shreveport, Louisiana and adopted by a gay couple from out-of-state, that the facts were so clear that none was needed. He ordered the State of Louisiana’s Office of Vital Records to put the names of both Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith on the amended birth certificate that is standard for adoptions. Now the state Attorney General, Buddy Cardwell….A DEMOCRAT….has asked Judge Zainey to reconsider.

I mean, REALLY?

The child is going to live in a less zealous and ideologue-led state. A FEDERAL Judge has made the ruling. And yet, the fundamentalists….sadly a DEMOCRAT this time, still fights this issue.

Under Louisiana law, a single person or a married couple may adopt a child, but two single people may not. However, Judge Zainey ruled that because the adoption became formal in New York, the State of Louisiana’s Office of Vital Records must recognize that state’s adoption law on this matter.

Then in what only seems Keystone cop, if it wasn’t so serious, developed the following pertinent problems. Smith and Adar have reported to the media that because they didn’t have a birth certificate for their son, they had problems getting him insured through Smith’s health insurance and were detained at an airport because a security guard thought they had kidnapped the boy. The baby boy is black, while Smith and Adar are white.

The State of Louisiana has made the argument that Adar and Smith don’t have any legal right to sue, because they could get a birth certificate with either Adar’s or Smith’s name on it. Problems they say have been caused by lack of a birth certificate wouldn’t exist if they accepted the certificate offered. The mother gave them custody of the boy, identified in court papers as “J.C. A.-S.” and “Infant J,” shortly after his birth in late 2005.

How is that different from the rascists like the late Governor of George C. Wallace, Jr. saying that there was no “transportation problem” in Alabama during the bus boycotts and then the attacks on the Freedom Riders later, when Wallace said, “All they (Civil Rights Demonstrators and African-Americans) have to do is just sit in the back of the bus.”

Or more close to home, I am reminded of another Democrat who was Attorney General in Arkansas. In 1960, he revealed his much touted PLAN FOR PEACE for the American South, concerning Civil Rights. The basis of the plan was that there would be peace when African-Americans stopped asking for their rights!

As Sir William Shakespere so eloquently wrote centuries ago, “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Let us pray that this goes to a U.S. Supreme Court who values the law over social ideologues who have intolerance bred into their moral DNA!

Governor Wilder has always been a visonary and a fighter for the constitutional liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. But Wilder has worked within the existing power structures to bring about change. He has accomplished more than most. Most of all, he’s been a good example of what a good citizen is and should be. He has been an inspiration for many young people and is a statesman, not a politician.

In 1951, he graduated from Virginia Union University with a degree in chemistry. He served in the army during the Korean War, during which he won the Bronze Star for heroism in combat. After the war, Wilder returned to Richmond and worked as a chemist in the state medical examiner’s office. Using the benefits provided under the G.I. Bill of Rights, he studied law at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He received his degree in 1959 and after passing the bar in Virginia established his own law firm.

In 1969, Wilder entered politics, running in a special election for the Virginia state senate. He won and became the first African American state senator in Virginia since Reconstruction. Wilder spent ten years in the General Assembly and was recognized as one of its most effective legislators.

In 1985, Wilder was elected lieutenant governor. Four years later, he ran for statewide office again, and, on January 13, 1990, L. Douglas Wilder became Virginia’s sixty-sixth governor. He was the first elected African American governor in United States history. During his administration, Wilder was praised for his sound fiscal management and his ability to balance the state budget during difficult economic times. He sponsored new construction projects at many of Virginia’s colleges and universities, mental health facilities, and state parks.

After promoting the idea of a popularly elected mayor for Richmond, Wilder was overwhelmingly elected to the post in November 2004 with 79%.

He easily through the years dispatched significant opposition. In 1966, it was former General Ruth M. Briggs. In 1972, then-Governor (and future Senate colleague) John Chafee. In 1978, it was James G. Reynolds, a future State Sentor, and in 1984, Barbara Leonard, a future Secretary of State, both who would use runs against Pell to get their start in electoral politics.

In 1990, his last election, he drew the opposition of U.S. Congresswoman Claudine Schneider. Initially polls showed it to be a close race. In the end, Pell won in his usual 60% of the vote range, banishing the once up and coming Schneider to the sidelines of politics.

Pell had a simple rule in politics. Don’t attack the other fellow. Keep a sense of humor. Do the unexpected.

When former Governor Roberts in their 1960 primary campaign, called Pell a “carpetbagger,” Pell fired back with full-page newspaper ads featuring his grand-uncle Duncan Pell, Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor in 1865.

In 1966 when retired General Briggs, a woman who had scaled a male-dominated institution to earn her status, decided to demonstrate her strength and called him a “creampuff,” Pell disarmed her attack and trumpeted the endorsement of the bakers union.

In 1978, Reynolds sneered that little Claiborne had been raised by a nanny. As a result, Pell trotted out a very nice old lady who made a very nice impression on voters.

Pell’s appeal with the voters was based as it was on the simple tool with which Pell disarmed opponents for decades, humility, humor, and honesty.

In the 1972 race with Chafee, the race was a more patrician affair. Both men were from wealthy New England families. Both were supporters of the arts and sciences. Chafee, in the year of the Nixon landslide, came the closest to knocking off Pell, winning 47%. Years later, as Pell’s colleague in the Senate,  Chafee had a story he roasted Pell with teasingly, and told with relish about Pell, that came  from that very ’72 campaign between the two of them.

Pell was campaigning in Providence when it began raining. Pell, who had a formal evening engagement, had forgotten his galoshes. An aide was dispatched and returned with a pair. In his very formal manner of speech, Pell asked the aide, “To whom am I indebted for these fine rubbers?”

Once the Senator was asked why the Pell Grant, a collegiate funding source that has been utilized by millions of college students, was named after Pell. The Senator retorted, “Because my dear man….there is no Senator BEOG!” For those less aware, the Pell Grant’s formal title is the Basic Education Opportunity Grant. In his tenure, Pell also worked to create and fund the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities. He was also active as an advocate for mass transportation initiatives, especially AMTRAK, and domestic legislation that was progressive.

In 1993, during the bitter confirmation battle over Roberta Achtenberg, a lesbian, as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Pell stated that his daughter, Dallas, was a lesbian, and that he hoped that it would not be a barrier to federal employment for her.

Achtenberg became the first open member of the GLBT Community to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

When death finally came peacefully to this gentle giant, he was surrounded by his devoted wife of 64 years, Nuala, as well as his son Christopher, his daughter Dallas, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

In seems as if Saint Matthew 25:23 was written specifically about Pell : “His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Eternal rest grant unto thy good and faithful servant, Claiborne Pell, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him forever.