Interest intensifying in Hart-Altmire race for Congress
Nationally prominent Democrats from Al Franken to Sen. John F. Kerry have flown in to help Mr. Altmire; the National Republican Congressional Committee has bought television ads to support Ms. Hart; and polling seems to support -- in Democrats' minds -- the possibility that the anti-incumbent, anti-Republican sentiment arising in much of the country could undo even a female political powerhouse untouched by scandal. That prospect seemed unthinkable a half-year ago.

On Friday, former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, who lost his legs from Vietnam War battle wounds, attracted 100 cheering veterans to a rally at Ambridge VFW Post 165 after a fund-raiser beforehand that garnered $12,000. The Kerry fund-raiser Wednesday will be a private, $500-a-head event at a Fox Chapel home. A private fund-raiser in the Strip District featuring comedian Franken raised $24,000, according to the campaign.

So now Mr. Altmire is counting on reaching an eventual campaign goal of $1 million, only half of what Ms. Hart expects to raise but enough to run TV ads through the rest of the campaign. That's aside from whatever commercials the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee may air separately on his behalf. The national committee is not allowed to coordinate its plans with the candidate, but Mr. Altmire believes commercials from it are imminent.

In fact, he and his supporters say their optimism has been buoyed more than anything by the National Republican Congressional Committee's spending of at least $160,000 starting last week on commercials that name Mr. Altmire and attack his stance to let national tax cuts expire. If the GOP did not have its own information that Ms. Hart was in jeopardy, they reason, the national committee would spend its money in races it deemed more at risk.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06295/732044...

Recent GOP Spending in Pa. 4 Shows Hart May Be At-risk

Eastern Pennsylvania is recognized as a key battleground in this year’s campaign for House control. There are three highly competitive races in suburban Philadelphia and one in northeastern Pennsylvania. The populous, Democratic-leaning Philadelphia area is key to Democrats’ hopes of electing Edward G. Rendell to a second term as governor and state Treasurer Bob Casey to the Senate over Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.

But western Pennsylvania, or at least the Pittsburgh-area 4th District, is getting into the act as well. The contest between three-term Republican Rep. Melissa A. Hart and Democrat Jason Altmire, a former hospital association executive and congressional aide, now appears sufficiently competitive to merit a change to CQPolitics.com’s rating of the race, to Leans Republican from Republican Favored.

While the “Leans” rating means Hart still maintains an edge in the race, it also means that Altmire is waging a tougher fight than earlier expected and that an upset is a more plausible possibility. The previous “Favored” rating suggested that Altmire was a more distinct underdog.

As in many House districts in this difficult election year for the Republicans, national GOP officials unintentionally signaled the more uncertain outcome by rushing in resources and airing television advertisements in the 4th District, which takes in suburbs and exurbs of Pittsburgh — and which backed President Bush in 2004 by 54 percent to 45 percent.

http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/10/18/cq_16...

Hart-Altmire race draws national attention

Republican U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart has made a career out of crushing Democrats in their backyards.
Now Hart, 44, of Bradford Woods, is fighting for her political survival as she faces her first formidable challenger in years in a district that favors Democrats and at a time when a series of Republican scandals and the war in Iraq threaten to depress GOP turnout in congressional races nationwide.

"The cumulative weight of these problems is turning races that were never thought to be competitive into tight and possibly losing contests for Republicans," said Mike Young, a former Penn State political science professor.

Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, said "clear signs of a Democratic wave" are developing.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...

If you're considering a DEM-o-brasion treatment to Ex-Foley-ate Congress...
DEM-o-brasion helps to "refinish" the Congress’ through a method of controlled Election Day voting. The treatment removes the corrupt and unethical GOP politicians causing distress.
DEM-o-brasion is most often used to improve the health of our country left scarred by GOP control.

CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES
Sorry, there are none. Uniform DEM-o-brasion is the only cure for GOP scandals.

THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR DEM-o-brasion
Any Congressional candidate running for office in your area with a (D) after their name deserves your vote.

ALL SURGERY CARRIES SOME UNCERTAINTY AND RISK
DEM-o-brasion is normally safe when a qualified, experienced voter performs them. The most common risk is a DINO getting elected but, a DINO is a vast improvement over any GOP lesion.

PLANNING YOUR SURGERY
Make sure you are registered to vote. Know your polling place.

THE SURGERY
DEMO-o-brasion shall be performed on November 7, 2006 by all registered voters disgusted with the corruption, lack of oversight, and scandal-ridden rule of the GOP majority.

AFTER YOUR SURGERY
You and the country will breathe a sigh of relief.

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
DEM-o-brasion creates an immediate and positive effect: Democrats take control of both the House and Senate guaranteeing investigations and accountability from the former GOP lesions.

YOUR NEW LOOK
DEM-o-brasion returns DEMOCRACY to all of us.

A list of seven sins that God hates is found in Proverbs 6:16-19:

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (New International Version)

Sins are not considered in a structured manner in the Bible, and works referencing the sins were gradually considered sources for others to base their definitions on. The second section of the Divine Comedy, Purgatorio, is the most well known source for defining the sins, though modern interpretations often show those guilty of the Sins suffering in Hell, not purifying themselves in Purgatory.

Lust (undesired love)- Lust is best described as depraved thought, unwholesome morality, desire for excitement, or need to be accepted or recognized by others. Lust and love are two different things; while love involves mutual appreciation, trust, and deep friendship, lust is little more than extreme sexual arousal.

Gluttony (overindulgence) - Modern views identify Gluttony as being associated with an overindulgence of food and drink, though in the past any form of thoughtless excess could fall within the definition of this sin. Marked by a refusal to share resources and unreasonable or unnecessary consumption.

Greed (avarice)- Greed is, like Lust and Gluttony, a sin of excess. However, Greed particularly applies to the acquisition of wealth.

Sloth (laziness) - More than other sins, the definition of Sloth has changed considerably since its original inclusion in the list. Modern interpretations differ from either of these, and portray Sloth as being simply a sin of laziness, of an unwillingness to act, and of an unwillingness to care.

Wrath (anger) - Inappropriate feelings of hatred and anger. Denial of the truth, both to others and in the form of self-denial. Impatience with the law, or seeking revenge outside of justice, such as with unnecessary vigilantism. Wishing to do evil or harm to others. A modern definition would also include anger towards others for no good reason, such as their race or religion, leading to discrimination.

Envy (jealousy) - Like Greed, Envy is characterized by an insatiable desire, however the two sins differ for two main reasons. Firstly, Greed is normally associated with material wealth, whereas Envy can apply to other concepts, like love or success. Secondly, those who commit the sin of Envy desire something that someone else has. Dante defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs."

Pride (vanity)- In almost every list Pride is considered the original or most serious sin. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive to others, failing to give credit due to others, or excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_...

A Pox on Stem Cell Research


By DEBORAH BLUM
Published: August 1, 2006
Madison, Wis.

IN vetoing legislation that would have supported medical research using embryonic stem cells, President Bush described his decision as moral rather than scientific, an act of conscience opposed to the taking of the “innocent human life” represented by embryonic stem cells. The potential of using these cells to develop life-saving medical cures, Mr. Bush said, was a temptation to be resisted.

The president’s veto appears to create an intractable problem for stem cell researchers and their advocates. How is the research to advance from hopeful to helpful when national policy inhibits the work from being done? Discouraged proponents have suggested that the president’s decision, which was applauded by conservative religious groups, has the potential to keep American science locked in the past.

The past, however, seems to encourage a more optimistic outlook. Medical progress has stirred religious and moral objections throughout history — objections that were overcome as the benefits of medical advances became overwhelmingly obvious. In the 11th century, European church leaders warned monks that treating illness with medicine showed such a lack of faith in God that it violated holy orders. When 19th-century doctors began using chloroform to alleviate the pain of childbirth, the Scottish Calvinist church declared it a “Satanic invention” intended to frustrate the Lord’s design.

An illuminating case study is the late 18th-century controversy over inoculation against smallpox. Condemned by clerics as both immoral and blasphemous, smallpox inoculation offers some surprising parallels to our current impasse over research using embryonic stem cells.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/opinion/...

Santorum makes pitch to female voters
Some Pa. women at his D.C. conference were not so taken with his views on working women.
By Steve Goldstein
Inquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Facing a stiff reelection challenge, Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) reached out yesterday to a vital constituency: female voters.

Santorum was host to a "Professional Women's Conference on the Hill" and invited 3,000 community leaders, university officials, and other women from Pennsylvania. About 90 women attended.

The daylong forum featured speakers such as Education Secretary Margaret Spellings; Lynne Cheney, a conservative commentator and wife of the vice president; and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R., Texas).

The conference was closed to the news media except for the 35 minutes during which Santorum spoke and answered questions on Iraq, health care, and medical-liability legislation.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/1442811...