My business phone rang about 15 minutes ago.  The woman on the other end of the line sounded like she was in acute distress.  I could tell she was having trouble keeping her breath.  Her voice was muffled and hard to understand having her sinuses filled with mucus from crying.  I felt myself instantly alert.  Is this someone with a psychosis?  Is this person suicidal?  Is this person going to be OK?  Then practical thought, 'Does this person have insurance?'  Often, people with history of mental illness have SSI of which I am not a provider.  That means I'm going to have to refer a distressed person either to someone who is.  ('And who is?', I asked myself.  Ah yes, I know someone.')

Almost.  Just check out this diary by Vault5151 and I'll tell you the tale of a total unknown who is now one of the most active and, not to mention, controversial figures on New Orleans' new and improved City Council.  Her name is Shelley Midura and you can learn about her here.  Or better yet, just "google" her up and you'll find that she doesn't exactly sit on her butt.

However, if you read my first link, you learned that WSDU, a local radio station in New Orleans was running a bogus, on-line poll, to determine which candidates would be the top two contenders for the seat on the Council.  Once the top two were decided, then they would get to spar it out in a debate over the radio.  

Don't be a chump. Follow along below the jump.

The person introducing me to Gilda Reed, Democratic Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, La. 01, was gesturing to the young woman with the dark hair who had just arrived with a group of people.  My first thought was, "I thought she was older and a blond."  I turned to say "hello" to her but she indicated another person.  I looked to where she had pointed and there stood a middle aged man.  Now I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.  I was really confused.  Isn’t Gilda a woman?  (The man later turned out to be Gilda’s husband, Sam.)  Not wanting to appear dumbstruck, I put out my hand and said, "Gilda"?  He smiled and stepped aside to let the person behind him step through the little circle that had formed.

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I hope you like a good story and I hope my story's good.  Pass across the fold, please to get the rest.
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UPDATE:  I did something, in my haste, that was impolite.  Therefore, I hope it's not too late to credit the wonderfully informed link I published in this diary to it's rightful owner, hilzoy, over on Obsidian Wings.  If you will imagine, hilzoy - an Obama audience of applause headed your way.

I don't know how many of you have caught Tweety, twice now, ask some politician who supports Obama, to name his legislative accomplishments.  Tonight it was a Congressman from Texas.  Sorry, wasn't paying attention to his name.

Tweety asked the magic question and the dude from Texas was suddenly struck dumb on the spot.  Then, Hill's supporter, (all I remember is that she was from Ohio) began bragging about how Hillary has passed all kinds of legislation.  Of course, Tweety neglected to ask her to name one.

More below the fold:

This will be a quick diary but I thought ya'll wouldn't mind a little chuckle at the expense of our, (clears throat), conservative, Republican friends.

Please keep up!

OK.  Many of us have now completed our punishment without writing scathing diaries complaining how it was totally unfair to take away our rating ability.  We have sat quietly and endured the loss of our privileges like good children.

We have trusted that you were going to be a man of your word.  So...

more below the flip

I just read David Mizner's The Sphere Coalescing Behind Edwards in which Sean Casey asks an honest question:

What is it about Obama that is causing people to leave Edwards and move to him? I just can't understand it. Neither Obama or HRC is offering anything impressive, where are they winning the battle against Edwards. After what has happened the last 7 years, are people just that complacent?

I attempted to answer in the diary but was one of the last posters.  I'd like my response to go on the record so...I decided to diary it.

Here it is, below the fold:

Good afternoon, Nola-ese!  (There's a new one).

Sorry but this diary will be brief.

I have been announcing tonight's Dkos MEETUP in other diaries but never in a diary of its own.  So, I'm giving it a diary of it's own.

TONIGHT!!!!

There will be a New Orleans dkos Meetup.  Purpose?  What purpose?  We don't need no stinkin' purpose.  (Lord, do I have to make two sentence paragraphs, too?  Hope not.)

More below the fold

There have been several diaries (referenced at the end of this diary) expressing concern from New Orleanians and others about why Netroots failed to get the convention going in New Orleans.

Rather than condemn Netroots, we'd like to give them an opportunity to explain what happened in more detail.

Nolan has offered to answer questions that we might have
regarding the planning of the convention.  He is very, very busy and may not be able to answer your questions immediately.

More below the fold:

This diary is from a comment I made earlier today that I decided would be put to better use in a diary.  Here goes.

This morning, my buddy Darksyde issued this frontpage diary.

Netroots Nation sounds like it will be a huge success for a town that is currently knowing nothing but success.  In fact, several of our finest musicians, the Neville Brothers and [http://www.iguanas.com/ The Iquanas have relocated there for the time being.

It was a sad day for us when these guys left town.

As many of you know, I am nolalily.  NOLA from New Orleans, Louisiana and LILY as in my favorite flower.  It is also the name I would have given my daughter, had I had one.  I have written a few diaries and a lot more comments about my experiences since Katrina.  I have also refrained from writing more as Katrina is one thing I am still coming to terms with.  In many ways, I have made my peace.  In many ways, I am still not there.

My husband rarely posts here but when he does, he posts under the name, bigbenbob.  He wrote, what many of you considered, a very touching diary back in April of 2006.

I have wondered, for the last few months, if I should write this diary.  But today, I felt that my flip, short comments on dailykos were too much of a contradiction to what is happening in my heart.

I've written a few semi-autobiographical diaries here, but this one is very personal and I have hestitated to share it.  It's not because I fear ya'll won't honor it, but perhaps it's because it seems so very personal to me and I am a little surprised at how much I need others' support right now.

My mother is dying.  So more than anything...I think I want to just write about her, if I might.

continued...

I stumbled across this article over on the Huff Post entitled:

Katrina Aid Goes Toward Football Condos

Here's what's really disturbing about these condos...

THEY'RE IN ALABAMA, 200 MILES AWAY FROM THE MAJOR DISTRUCTION IN MOBILE.

Follow me across the great divide.

I just came back in from off the porch.  A friend of mine is driving in from Houston.  Came back and Obama is on the stream.

I'll make this short but I thought I'd provide this thread to discuss Obama and his campaign in general.

More after the flip:

I will make this short as I’d like to be done with this mess.  

Someone has made an entire diary out of an undisciplined and out-of-disgust comment I made.  The diary produced over 200 comments making it well-known to many kossians.  It is hard to know when to speak up and when to sit down.  However, due to the number of people now involved, I need to speak up and hopefully, move on.  I understand that there are a few people here who have probably closed their minds to me.  This hurts me but such is the way of humans sometimes and that is a consequence I must live with.

The rest of the matter...

Am I the only one, or is there a problem with the format of this debate?  I mean, except for the debate itself, the before and after report is being done very differently than it was for the Dem debate.

For instance:  After the Dem debate, Tweety immediately launched into who won and what did every think about the debate.  Olbermann, only had one talking head comment on the debate and then, almost immediately, as if the candidates were aready lined up, began interviewing the candidates.  This gives them a chance to continue the damned debate, clarify their stands, clear up and correct gaffes and, in general, make free brownie points.

More below the flip

Of his film entitled, "Experience Like No Other", by filmmaker Stephen Ives, yesterday's New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

The combination of history and culture, edification and empathy, puts this project at the top of the pile of documentaries that have been done about this town since the big soak.  It's the one to show first to someone who's never been here, or, for that matter, a lot of lifers.  Not to mention every member of Congress.

Many of you have taken an interest in the continuing saga, the major battle of New Orleans, taking place right here and in real time.  This film, however, covers what is truly important for you to know about this place that is, for any who truly know her, their muse.

I just read Bronte17's diary.  I am outraged and disgusted.  A few week's ago I responded to a fellow kossack who wanted to get into a pissing match over the Yearly kos convention being held in Denver because the snow they've been getting equalled Katrina.

Let me tell you.  Denver does NOT equal Katrina.  I am disgusted that I even have to make that point.  Katrina ain't over.  It's still here.  It's still going on in the lives on New Orleanians on a daily basis.

Check this out.  Go ahead.  Just read the headlines.  It's enough to make your head spin.

Earlier today, I made some comments in another diary.  One of the things I said was that I'd like to diary about what's happening in New Orleans but that I am still just shell shocked.  After reading some of my comments, AmericanRiverCanyon suggested I simply make these into a diary.  So, here are some of what I posted.

More after the jump.