Perhaps most people think I have it in for the Republicans. That was would be an understatement as I see them manipulate American democracy for their own good. Those means don't justify the ends. The voter takes precedent in our democracy not a party. Maybe it is time to call in the U.N. to monitor our elections because it seems like we are becoming a banana republic.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Republicans in Ohio filed another lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court. The suit came from a Republican who lives in New Albany, Ohio which is a suburb  of Columbus.  This really is becoming ridiculous. 

Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman gives a shout out to TPM in the "War and Peace Report."  It is 3:40 into the broadcast.

I can't wait to go see this documentary.

When I click on this link, I immediately understand how Ohio is divided into five distinct regions. I understand it because I've been doing research in Ohio and this is the grid used by researchers in that particular field. The two regions I am most familiar with is Central and Southeastern Ohio. I have worked with local archivist, courthouses and libraries to find the information I need. I hope this article explains a little bit more about the cultural make-up of Ohio.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Secretary of State , Jennifer Brunner will appeal the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision about voter registration to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Moments ago the Columbus Dispatch reported that the Ohio GOP is probing (is scrubbing) the absentee voters list in Franklin County. 

This was my second "campaign event" within seven days. It was extremely exciting to see people of all persuasions at these two events. The first event was a "Debate Party" at Temple.  The floor was full and I was trying to snap a few photographs for posterity. Suddenly the Mayor of San Francisco appeared in the thick crowd. He pressed the flesh and flashed a his big toothy grin. I told him he had to be still--the lighting was dim--so that I could take his picture. He worked the crowd just before the main event. The crowd moaned and groaned at some of Senator McCain's statements and cheered at some of Senator Obama's pronouncements. Some where in the middle of the debate, I stopped shooting and started listening to the townhall meeting.

The second event was at Mezzanine. First of all it was difficult to find this place. I read the invite as 44 Jessie Street in San Francisco which is near Golden Gate University. I mapped it out from my door and it looked like it was between 1st and 2nd Streets. Forty Jessie is the address to one of the buildings belonging to the school. I was lost in my own city. I called a friend and asked him to look up Mezzanine on the web and he told me that address 444 and it was between 5th and 6th Streets; parallel Mission and Market Streets. It gets even more confusing.

Triple four Jessie Street is between 5th and 6th Streets. It splits into two parts. One part of Jessie is a straight shot between 5th and 6th Streets. I walked down this dark street-alley and there was no 444 Jessie. As I walked toward 5th Street I saw 410 Jessie, so I knew I was close. The second part of Jessie is behind the Old U.S. Mint in San Francisco. The Old Mint has a plaza next to it and the street lets out to Mission from Jessie.  There was a wine tasting gala at the Old U.S. Mint and I thought this was the event to which I was invited.  The red carpet laid on the steps of the old building all the way down to the curb. There were two greeters at the entrance. I thought, wow, they are going all out. They told me that the place holding the Obama event was behind the Old Mint.

I walked across the plaza to the street behind the old vault and magically there was 444 Jessie. Mezzanine seems like a nice place to go clubbing. I missed the first part of the event---spending quality time with the Mayor of San Francisco, the District Attorney of San Francisco and Representative Barbara Lee of Oakland--because it was just out of my price range. I so admire Barbara Lee because she had the courage to send in the U.S. Capitol and say NO! to the Iraq War. I also admire her because she was one of the few people who stood up in 2004 when there was questions about the vote in Ohio, This  event was put on by a coalition of Asian American groups. I was very impressed with their enthusiasm. It was great to be around such a friendly group.