Hi. John Sidney McCain III, here. I know a lot of you Daily Kossacks aren't of a mind to listen to my straight talk, but being the original maverick that I am, I am going to very publicly and proudly cross the aisle and tell you just how, in my own words (more or less, with the help of one of your regular contributors) share with you over the next several days how my experiences as a prisoner of war for seven years in Vietnam shaped my life, my character, my resolve, my views and my candidacy to become the next President of the United States who, despite sharing the same party, the same views, the same talking point and the same most wonderful special mancrush of a hug, will in no way be like the previous administration.

So, I'd like to start off this first part of what I think will be a five part series with the easiest, least controversial topic in American politics: Abortion.

As you hip netroots types like to say: More below the break. Heh!

The suspect has been identified as Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy, Arkansas.

Per earlier reports, he was quoted as saying "I lost my job."

Which he did, if this is the same man....

A Workmen's Comp Claim Case dating back to 2003, and still under legal review in 2007

Rather noble mission statement from the firm that represented him, very progressive. Dem contributors.

Administrative Law judge in case relatively new and an appointee by Governor Mike Beebe, who just happens to be a Democrat and was cited as a friend of the victim.

However, something clearly did not please Mr. Johnson by the time he woke up this morning.

I have a feeling this is Google monkey territory.

A little help?

Sorry for the short start but I will add as I find more.

Short form: After my folks split up, for a while my own economic fate was unhappy and uncertain. I had something happen today to bring those memories back with a flourish.

Wherein an overnight trip with the kids to see their grandmother turned into a bit of an unexpected adventure surveying a rental property after its tenant was evicted. It was not even an extreme case, and it was still a hard thing to see...and even harder one, as my boys were there for the experience.

The original plan was to drive down this morning to visit my mother, who is recovering (rather well, thank you) from orthoscopic knee surgery to repair torn cartilage. She had a walker, which was more notable in how intermittently she used it than her having it. Alas, she is under doctor's orders not to drive for another week...is which the boys (a.k.a. The Pods) and I come into the equation.

Continuing below....

Well this was special

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday unveiled an overhaul of intelligence powers that concentrates power in the national intelligence director and drew immediate criticism from Congress for failing to consult on the changes.

Fire! It drew fire, I tell you!

I find it good to revisit this topic every year. This is more a note to myself than anything else.

So often, we talk of hope in very general, well-meaning, global terms. Hope, though, is far more personal than that. Hope is borne not so much of strength but a last stand against succumbing to despair. And that is the paradox; for the thing that is strongest when we are not is what so often carries the day.

Perhaps this is not your day to be strong. Perhaps someone you know has that shadow of despair on their brow. Stronger than they ever have been, they must become. Some called on to be strong for them. Some will have the liberty to persevere, to support, to lend care and comfort to the suffering. Some will just walk away. After all, it is a choice.

When it is easy to walk away, so much greater is the responsibility to hope, and to help others to do so again.

Hope is the combination of yearning for remedy and the faith that it will be delivered.

Today is one of those days that hope is due to be delivered. Not because it is a good day, but because for many, right this moment, it most certainly is not.

Every Tuesday night(usually) is DIDS, when folks gather together to share their triumphs, great and small, or the triumphs of others, great and small, or the triumphs they really are gonna do. .real soon (honest!), great and small.

After all, what's life without a few victory laps? :)

Wow.. it's been one DIDS of a week for yours truly, but on consultation with the lovely and wise mkkendrick I have opted to focus on activities I have undertaken to raise money for one congressional candidate and encourage votes for another.

More below the break.

Short form: Yesterday we got more than a third of the way toward our $1,000 goal to help Harry Taylor defeat Sue Myrick in the NC-09 Congressional Race. Please visit yesterday's diary, which is chock full 'o' videos and explanations why Bush's most loyal fan in Congress (if she's not I will let her campaign explain in what ways she isn't) needs to come back home to Charlotte to stay.

And the beauty of it is Sue Myrick's own words raised close to $400 for Harry Harry Taylor in a day, just from one l'il old blog. All I did was link her own news releases and video statements for you to examine and compare with the vastly more mainstream American views of Harry Taylor, who will do the Ninth District of North Carolina proud as its next Representative.

Since yesterday worked so nicely, we will continue to yield the floor to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, as she's doing great raising money for Harry. :)

Short form: I need $10 from 100 kossacks (or the equivalent) to help Harry Taylor send Sue Myrick into retirement from Congress.

While I will of course have links (and video!) to introduce Harry Taylor to you, most of this diary will not be about Harry, but rather his opponent, who I believe can raise just as much money on his behalf as I ever could.

So I am giving her that opportunity. :)

With the help of ActBlue, YouTube and a lot of wonderful video help from my fellow North Carolinians, I am here to help Harry Taylor introduce Sue Myrick to her retirement from Congress.

And you are invited to participate in any way you can to help turn another district in North Carolina blue in November. (Waves to Larry Kissell people who I will see tomorrow morning.)

Since yesterday's Live Blogging "Vote for Change at Netroots Nation!" YAY!!! went over so well...

...and since you guys (some sampling of you, more accurately) have been asking for more live-blogging of convention events...

...and since I am light a meaningful live-blogging event at the moment..

...I figured I would live-blog a meaningful place at Netroots Nation 2008.

The Hilton Hotel Lobby.

More below the break.

If you are in Austin for Netroots Nation, you are invited to stop by the coffee shop and hang out and participate in the fun and joy that is live blogging...

...and/or get properly sworn in as a deputized registrar as we help turn Texas blue(bluer/blue-ier) as thoroughly described in casperr's Vote for Change at Netroots Nation -- you know you want to! diary.

here are the event specs, compliments of my.barackobama.com...

We're at the Hilton Hotel Lobby Coffee Shop*,  (500 E. 4th Street) already (3PM CST) and getting geared up for deputization and training, and heading out to register new Texas Democrats!  The plan is to finish up at 6:00. If you want to join us later in the afternoon, drop a message here.

We're treating this as live news coverage! Offer support to the team! Or just give us some cheers and yays and woots woots! It's all good.

Besides, what beats live-blogging? :)

Yep, it's Tuesday this must be DIDS. :)

Tonight's adventure is simply declaring that I have just confirmed my flight is still in existence for tomorrow and just about lunchtime tomorrow local time I shall (barring some mortal or morbid event) be hanging out, being cool, with cool peeps at Netroots Nation!

Woot!

More below the break.

Quick Disclaimer - This story has a happy ending!

It'd be nice if we could sort all our associations into two groups, one with white hats and the other with black hats.

Gosh, then when I am pissed off at my friends I could remember very easily.

Oh, yeah. White hat. It's no big deal.

And likewise, when they are pissed off at me, they could go. Oh, yeah. White hat. Ain't nothin' but a thing.

The problem, of course is, as in recent political dust-ups, it ain't that easy, is it?

Regrettably, if there is one way the Obama netroots contingent could make more effort emulating the Democratic candidate, it would be in the area of conducting relations with people who disagree with them.

Quite frankly, it's not been a hearts-and-minds winner. In point of fact, it has encouraged obstinacy in people who, like me, would like to come back to the fold but are not inclined to concede away our right to speak and think freely as the price of doing so.

So, maybe, just maybe, if you leave me in charge of talking myself back into line, I might just go there and help you hook back the rest of the strays from the flock.

UPDATE 1: Someone finally voted NO. Yay! I have arrived. :)

Netroots Nation is a week away.

You've got your travel arrangements.

You got your registration.

You either have your bod in top-fit condition or your love-me-because-I-am-hot-as-I-am body language ready to go.

You have your wardrobe.

You have your schedule of events.

BUT

You have no idea where you are going to stay, where to meet the peeps you want to hang with, what you are going to do when the convention sessions are done for the day.

Eep!

I offer this diary as a public service for people who

1. need roomies to help defray expenses

2. need roomies to help defray the risk of sleep outside in the hot Austin night

3. want to know where the parties and dinners are gonna be that aren't on NN radar.

4. want to know where the cool watering-holes and hangouts are gonna be.

5. Opportunities for local activism

6. just want to wave hi to their convention-going peeps, even if they themselves are not going.

A bit more below the break.

I am fired up about the Constitution, and perhaps my reverence for it qualifies as a secular religion, and as such might cast haze over my eyes when it comes to more immediate, pressing considerations in the realpolitik of American politics in general and advancing the progressive agenda in detail.

I have, sometimes nicely, received this hint from quite a few persons the past few weeks.

The short form: CSK, you need to look at the big picture.

I answered, not always nicely, that what was bigger than the Constitution?

Let me be up front and apologize for that belligerence. Sorry, guys.

So I took the advice and revisited my thoughts on this election for the past several months...and here is what I came up with.

The Constitution is a framework for resolving domestic political contests in a peaceful, lawful and orderly fashion even among the most diametrically opposed of ideological factions.

In fact, the Constitution thrives in this circumstance.

The Constitution prevails when compromise is made strenuous and unjustifiable deviation from the wishes of one's constituents is made political perilous to the representative of the people who forgets his or her duty - to represent their will, not her or his own.

There is no intellectually, morally or political honest conflation of support for the Constitution and self-destructive ideological zeal.

In occurred to me over the weekend that the Framers of the Constitution would not have been surprised by the current FISA debate at all.

The basic doctrine of the constitution is that human nature is largely constant, and certain assumptions can be made of the behavior of ambitious persons.

In a nutshell, that it is not in the nature of politicians of any stripe to honor the law, where it does not honor their ambition.

Which is why constitutionalist appeals fall on deaf ears when those ears either hold great power or are in the midst of a contest for same.

Back in the day, back in the political wilderness, liberals and progressives were free to imagine the Democratic leadership to be different, better creatures.

Granted, they are sufficiently different and better in their choices and public policy proposals to merit preference over the alternatives.

However, they are not significantly different and better by their nature and their adherence to higher principle.

The same standard holds for all politicians: they will not honor the law, where it does not honor their ambition.

And right now, honoring the Constitution is just not good politics.

Every week it's time to do the DIDS...to crow about what perfectly ordinary little victory we or someone we care about or know about has wrested from the grubby fingers of mundance workaday existence.

Sure, we could blog about the 2008 election..or the latest race to build a better battery....but why?

We want to write about our achievements. They rock!

This is the week I get to guard the house while the family is off in Michigan.