For those interested in the inside scoop on the GOP's plans for November, one of the newest Puppets lays it out for all to see. The gameplan comes to us via Willie Ray Starling, hand-picked by Republicans for a Legislative Majority, Inc., in the 10th district (Kinston). This is from his website.

Here are the four points the Republicans will hammer home starting after Labor Day:

Two days ago, I had the amazing privilege of watching loggerhead turtle hatchlings scramble from a nest on Emerald Isle into the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Ninety turtles made the trip in all, but I only saw the last four. They were helped out of their nest and scootched along, sort of, by the Turtle Rescue people.

Three of the four came out of their nest and charged ahead like hell on wheels, heading straight for the ocean without even the hint of distraction. But then there was the fourth one, the one that spent half its time heading the wrong way and wandering around like a lost soul. The first three made it to the ocean (not the safety of the ocean, just the ocean) in less than five minutes. The fourth took twenty minutes. It was exhausting.

Friday, Meredith Norris, Jim Black's former political director, pled no-contest to charges of unregistered lobbying. Jim Black had a legal setback Monday when a judge ruled that certain contributions funneled through the Optometry PAC were illegal and must be forfeited. This follows Michael Decker's August 1st guilty plea to conspiracy to extort, mail fraud and money laundering and a clandestine meeting at a Salisbury IHOP, widely considered to be with Black.

Last Sunday NBC17's At Issue local political panel had Nelson Dollar, Joe Sinsheimer and Bill Faison discussing the Black & Decker events. Dollar had little to add to the discussion.

I was recently invited to write a piece for The Freedom Group based out of Charlotte as an introduction to their Peace Vigil planned for tomorrow. I am including it here for those who might like to attend the vigil in Charlotte.

On April 21, 2005, under the cover of darkness the Bush administration completed a secret mission. No, it wasn't a flight by Bush, Rice or Rumsfeld into dangerous territory, it was the unloading of Steven Sirko's body from the cargo hold of a commercial aircraft. Luggage, animals and other cargo were all prioritized over the remains of a young man who had given his life for his country in a war that should have never been. Under the cover of darkness, Steven Sirko's body was returned to his mother.

On Saturday August 12 at 6:00pm, the Freedom Group will hold a candlelight peace vigil to shed light on the human cost of the U.S. War in Iraq. Summer Lipford, Steven Sirko's mother will be there to speak about her personal battle to get answers from the government about what actually happened to her son.

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