Here is a letter written in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch by political activist and military veteran Mike Stark. Stark was physically assaulted by George Allen’s thugs at a campaign event in Virginia.

Here’s the full text of the letter:

My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.

I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.

George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator’s constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen’s campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault.

I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, “This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man.” He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I’ll be damned if I’ll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.

It just isn’t the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now.

It’s late in the evening and we’re still recording, but this one’s too important to let slide for even a moment. Via Josh Marshall and dKos, the Washington Post has this article:

U.S. Senate candidate James Webb’s last name has been cut off on part of the electronic ballot used by voters in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville because of a computer glitch that also affects other candidates with long names, city officials said yesterday . . . Election officials attribute the mistake to an increase in the type size on the ballot. Although the larger type is easier to read, it also unintentionally shortens the longer names on the summary page of the ballot.

Thus, Democratic candidate Webb will appear with his first name and nickname only — or “James H. ‘Jim’ ” — on summary pages in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville, the only jurisdictions in Virginia that use balloting machines manufactured by Hart InterCivic of Austin.

Yes, that’s right. With two weeks to go before the election we learn that Jim “My Name Is Really Long” Webb will not have his name appear everywhere on the ballot in the three areas that make up his primary base of support. Meanwhile George Felix Allen, whose name is so much shorter, will be clearly identified. And sadly, Jean Jensen, secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, says that it will only be fixed in time for the 2007 statewide elections.

While we eschew profanity on this site, I think Trapper John over at Kos summed it up correctly:

Is is too much to ask for voting machines that work as well as, I don’t know, a fucking toaster?

There’s blood in the water for Republicans. Adam Nagourney of the New York Times has a piece this morning outlining the Republicans’ new strategy for 2006: stop the bleeding! Republicans have historically had the financial advantage leading up to elections and this has allowed them to stay competitive and fight for all seats throughout the country.

While they still have the financial edge, it seems that the GOP is looking to cut its losses and and stop the Democratic onslaught. This strategy will most likely have a significant impact on Sherrod Brown in Ohio where he is beginning to pull away from Senator Mike DeWine.

From the NYTimes:

Senior Republican leaders have concluded that Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio, a pivotal state in this year’s fierce midterm election battles, is likely to be heading for defeat and are moving to reduce financial support for his race and divert party money to other embattled Republican senators, party officials said.

The decision to effectively write off Mr. DeWine’s seat, after a series of internal Republican polls showed him falling behind his Democratic challenger, is part of a fluid series of choices by top leaders in both parties as they set the strategic framework of the campaign’s final three weeks, signaling, by where they are spending television money and other resources, the Senate and House races where they believe they have the best chances of success.

Republicans are now pinning their hopes of holding the Senate on three states — Missouri, Tennessee and, with Ohio off the table, probably Virginia — while trying to hold on to the House by pouring money into districts where Republicans have a strong historical or registration advantage, party officials said Sunday. Republicans also said they would run advertisements in New Jersey this week to test the vulnerability of Senator Robert Menendez, one of the few Democrats who appear endangered.

To read the rest of the NYTimes article click here.

This thing is FAR from over and now is the time to get to work to ensure that Democrats capitalize on this momentum.

Below is a large portion of the email that Mark Warner sent to supporters this morning. Very odd if you ask me, but I’m sure we’ll get all the details soon as to why he’s decided not to run. One thing is for sure- this shakes up ‘08 in a major way.

I love this game called politics.

From Mark Warner:

Nine months ago, I left the office of Governor in Virginia. I was immensely proud of what we had accomplished. We faced historic challenges and got real results.

Upon leaving office, I committed all my time and energy to Forward Together because we need a new direction in America.

Everywhere I’ve traveled, I found hope that we could turn this country around. That Americans are looking for leaders who at this moment of enormous challenge for our country can actually bring us together and get things done.

I’ve heard that regardless of the depth of dismay at the direction President Bush has taken our country, rank and file Democrats are energized, and want ours to be a party of hope, not of anger.

I am especially proud of the work we’ve done in supporting those kinds of candidates throughout America…

…But this has also been another kind of journey—one that would lead to a decision as to whether I would seek the Democratic nomination for President.

Late last year, I said to Lisa and my girls, “Let’s go down this path and make a decision around Election Day.”

But there were hiring decisions and people who’ve put their lives on hold waiting to join this effort.

So about a month ago, I told my family and people who know me best that I would make a final decision after Columbus Day weekend, which I was spending with my family. After 67 trips to 28 states and five foreign countries, I have made that decision.

I have decided not to run for President.

More after the jump.

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From Think Progress. This is huge.

Larry Sabato, who is one of the most respected political observers and professors in Virginia has confirmed that when he was a student with Sen. George Allen (R-VA) in the 1970’s, he heard Sen. Allen use a racial slur to refer to blacks. George Allen has repeatedly denied that he has ever used the “N” word.

George Allen is a liar, a bigot and a racist. He is going to go down for this. Vote Jim Webb.

This scandal has been brewing for a couple weeks now, ever since Sen. George Allen (R-VA) called a young staffer working for his opponent Macaca.

According to Salon and as reported by Political Wire:

“Three former college football teammates of Sen. George Allen say that the Virginia Republican repeatedly used an inflammatory racial epithet and demonstrated racist attitudes toward blacks during the early 1970s.”

I had to post.

Sen. George Allen (R-VA) is a verified racist. He was caught hurling racial slurs at a young campaign volunteer for his opponent and his popularity and poll numbers are tanking.

This morning Max Blumenthal at The Nation released a very telling piece on Sen. Allen’s racist past and his embracement of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a hate group descended from the Klan. Allen will lose this race, because overt racism transcends party labels. Allen is un-American and he should be punished by the voters for his un-American, bigoted views. George Allen might just be the stupidest, empty-suit politician alive today.

Well, maybe not.

If you read one article today, read this piece.