Where's Ben Chandler?

Where is my Rep. Ben Chandler(D, Corporate bluedog)?

I just made it through my Channel 18(NBC) local news. Survived the Andy Barr and Megamillions lottery ads. Barr(R, Wingnut) has pretty much every other commercial. Soon to be every commercial I'm sure, so brace yourselves. The slick ads(some with a not very well photoshopped pic of Rep. Chandler with Pres. Obama's arm around him) call Chandler everything from evil Obama Toady, to eviiil Liberal, and worse.

I realize that Koch Bros and lot's of elite Republicans are sinking tons of money in these races. By far prefering a Republican(can't blame 'em for that), to even a right of center corporate toady like ol' Ben.

But where's Ben Chandler? I didn't see or hear one Chandler ad. Is he broke? Are they waiting till October? Is he locked away somewhere? Can't he do something to get himself some air time? Inquisitive minds want to know.

Ben, it's slipping away from you!

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Unemployment And Ben Chandler Updates, Nothing Either Way

Unemployment search News: Job search still going nowhere. Obviously I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week which I SO HOPED I'd get, haven't heard anything. It would have been a GREAT job. Even made all that I've gone through(and my family) worth it. Not for the likes of me I guess(sob).. Took an exam today for a Water Plant job in Danville...$8.50 hr., about half what i was making before, at twice the drive away(SIGH). If I was religious I'd say pray for me..but I'm not, so I'll say, think of me and wish me just a little bit of good luck(for a change). The last year has been the worst(by far) of my life. We lost Daisy, I got shingles & then Neuralgia, and to top it off lost my job of 23 years, and just can't seem to get another... Unemployed is horror, with humiliation and anger thrown in. What can I do, I keep plugging away and hoping, and hoping. I'm not a stupid guy there just seems to be no jobs for me. Dammit, make 55 the new retirement age. I'm even trapped with ads on my page(Geoff Davis, R, Never?) that never pay me anything.
Oooon a lighter note, I FINALLY got a new computer installed(just the processor), probably shouldn't have gotten it since I paid out of my dwindling 401k money. But I HAD to replace the antique.
OH, more news! I Finally got a reply from my congressman, "invisible" Ben Chandler. Well, it actually appears to be a "form" email that some underling there pasted my name at the top of. It has about 5-6 chapters and ends up taking NO stand on anything. Not my "public option" questions, my out of work questions, not my bailout funds questions...nothing..doesn't even address most of them. Oh, and my questions to him were perfectly somber and courteous, I even said I'd Blog his answers if he wanted. Nothing, nada, vanilla invisible...That's Ben..It's so NICE his wife got that new job with the state, funny how that works isn't it..?
Anyway here's invisible man's mail to me, the whole glorious, insipid, spineless drivel:

Dear Mr. Dean:
Thank you for contacting me about healthcare reform. Due to the enormous volume of phone calls, emails and letters on this subject, I am unable to respond to each individually. However, it is important that you know that your opinions have not gone unheard. I have been traveling throughout the district during the August recess and have been meeting with constituents of all ages and walks of life who have different viewpoints and concerns on this important issue. I have been listening to my constituents and having meaningful dialogue with people both for and against current proposals for healthcare reform. I review the comments from people who call and read the emails and letters you send me. These outlets continue to be a good way for me to be aware of your concerns.

There are many sides to the healthcare debate. While I have yet to vote on any such legislation in the House, I will continue to carefully review the legislation and get input from my constituents. It is important to me that any proposed legislation maintains and enhances quality health care for the people of Central Kentucky. It is also important that any reform proposal retains the benefits of our current system, supports rural healthcare, protects our small businesses, and continues to allow patients to keep their coverage and choose their doctors.

There is no question our healthcare system needs to be fixed-the cost of the system is already too high for our nation and our citizens to bear. Premiums have been skyrocketing for years, patients are having coverage denied once they get sick, and many folks are just one job loss away from losing coverage entirely.

There are no easy answers to America's healthcare problem. We need to find the balance between expanding coverage, securing consumer choice, maintaining quality care, and controlling costs. Thank you again for expressing your opinions about this very important issue.

Sincerely, Ben Chandler
Member of Congress

Oh, and he says he's been "traveling about the district". I keep up with the news fairly well, if "gentle Ben" has been appearing much at all around Central KY it's been a pretty big secret.

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Ben Chandler Gets An Open Letter

I came across an open letter in the paper version of the Lexington Herald-Leader's city/state this morning. The open letter to my Representative Ben Chandler. From a group calling itself the "Consumer Alliance For Energy Security" which is basically(as you've probably guessed) a conglomerate of corporate gas, oil, and affiliated companies, a Front Company if you will. I scanned their list of members and I can't see one actual consumer group represented.
The agenda for Ben Chandler and all the other politicians these ads will be aimed at by good old CAFES? Why nothing but the opening up of unlimited drilling and exploration for gas and oil in offshore areas. I didn't see it stated but I'm sure that Wilderness and wildlife areas are tucked into their corporate front group agendas somewhere.
I assume Ben Chandler and all our other officeholders keep a handy list of front groups and who those groups are actually representing. As a hint here's a few "Front Group" names and who they ACTUALLY represent:

Consumer Alliance for Energy Security....oil, gas, chemical corporations

Center for Consumer Freedom....Tobacco, restaurant and alcoholic beverage industries

Global Climate Coalition....Oil and coal companies

National Wetlands Coalition....Utilities and major industrial companies, oil and gas

This has been another episode of "know who you're dealing with" presented as a public service to Rep. Ben Chandler and others who should be in the know.

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Chandler endorses Obama

Squealing is heard from both the Clinton and McCranky camps. I wish Rep. Chandler had endorsed Greg Fischer for Senate while he was at it.

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Chandler endorses Obama

LOUISVILLE --Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler said he's ignoring potential political risks to back U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president -- a decision made after months of mounting and intense pressure.

Continue.

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Ben Chandler | My Democratic Surrender Monkey

Yep.. Ben swooned at President 25%'s threats and kissed his ring along with 40 other surrender monkey Democrats. Can we just vote out ALL of these Lieberman Dems along with a few more Repubs next election and start again? How pitiful it is to be made ashamed of my own political party? These "Democrats" are making me more and more ashamed to be a Democrat. With a Democratic Bush rubber stamp Congress.
I actually made it almost all the way up the list before finding his name, but knowing my Ben Chandler I was pretty sure his wimpy ass would be right there and sure enough there it is, Ben Chandler(6th, KY-Surrender monkey). I hope his granddaddy Happy Chandler is enough of a Democrat to be spinning in his grave.

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41 House Dems Tremble Before the Mighty Bush

Of the 41 House Democrats who voted today to roll over on the eavesdropping amendment that the White House demanded be added to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, 26 30 were Blue Dogs. The bill, Orwellianly named the Protect America Act, passed 227-183, with 181 Democrats and two Republicans opposed.

These are the Dems who ... failed us. Who failed our country.
Go here for the whole sorry bunch.
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Also by all means read Glen Greenwald, he has the time and is far more eloquent than I on Democratic capitulation and participation in the assault on this country from the inside.

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Representative Ben Chandler Gets it Right

I wanted to make a quick note that my Representative Ben Chandler gets it right on Iraq. Here's his comments before the House vote regarding Bushco's escalation plans in Iraq. I certainly disagree with Ben Chandler at times(here for example) but also agree with him more often than not. He say's it pretty well here:
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"..Mr. Speaker, as we debate this resolution on Iraq, we are reminded of the uncertain world in which we live. While the 5-year anniversary of 9/11 has passed, the memories of that day are still with us, as are the actions of this administration that led us into this war.
Following 9/11, our country missed an important opportunity that will forever change our history. Instead of building coalitions and using that support to maximize our strength, we alienated much of the world. We lost sight of the simple truth: A respected America is a more secure America.
But this administration insisted on going it alone in Iraq. They refused to let U.N. inspectors complete their work, and they launched an invasion without the support of the international community. We are now faced with lasting repercussions of that decision. And it appears the President still has not learned from that mistake.
Once again, the President is going it alone with his call for more than 20,000 additional troops in Iraq. He does not have the support of the international community, and he has lost the support of many in the military, the Congress, and, most importantly, the American people.
I fear, Mr. Speaker, the President is once again missing an important opportunity. He is missing his chance to send a strong message to the Iraqi people that we will no longer police their civil war, and that it is time for them to assume responsibility for their own country so that our troops can be removed from harm's way.
In my judgment, this war is beyond the scope of our men and women in uniform. The situation in Iraq is in dire need of a diplomatic solution. Sure, we need to be ready to take down al Qaeda training camps in the region, but we do not need to be refereeing age-old religious disputes.
This is an untenable situation and unfair to our brave troops who have become targets of insurgents. If we are going to support our troops in every way possible, it is vital that we not only support them with the supplies and armor that they need, we must also ensure that they are being deployed in such a way that they have a realistic chance of success. We must make certain that the funds we are sending to Iraq are going to our troops and not into the pockets of no-bid contractors and war profiteers.
Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, because I support our men and women in uniform. I have heard speakers on the other side say that this debate will demoralize our troops. Well, I submit that nothing can demoralize our troops more than having them police a civil war. And that is what this administration is asking them to do.
All of us in this body believe in the spread of democracy and freedom. But that grand responsibility cannot solely rest on the shoulders of our troops. It must rest on the shoulders of free nations across this world. And it must rest on the shared sacrifice of all citizens of this country.
No doubt we have real enemies. They are the Islamist jihadists, and they must be opposed. These same enemies are shared by all free nations. But escalating the war in Iraq is not the right approach to defeat the jihadists. It is an approach that will cost more American lives and mire us even further in the Iraqi civil war.
We can win the long-term struggle if we are smart, if we focus on the real enemy, if we build our alliances properly, and if we do not let our own pride get in the way.."