It is no big secret that we need real solutions to our energy crises. We need to end our dependence on oil from nations that hate us. Our energy costs are skyrocketing and Americans need real relief, not failed solutions. We could be creating millions of new clean-energy jobs, and we need to deal with the emerging climate crises.

The south is known as a Republican stronghold in the last few years after long Democratic traditions, and Democrats are once again standing up to fight for the South. NC and VA are springing up to be swing-states, and Democrats are fighting all over the South for House and Senate seats.

It is no secret we need our Congress to move in a more Progressive direction. We not only need to elect more Democrats to Congress, but we need to elect Democrats to Congress that will remember who got them elected and what they are supposed to fight for once they are there. On a myriad of issues, we need Demcrats that will go to Washington and fight for the real change that we need in this country.

I know this mere title is probably flamable here right now. I have been watching the steady stream of John Edwards diaries the last week or so here, and have put my two-cents worth in several. Most long-time supporters will know that I was an Edwards supporter, and one of those so-called disgraced contributors. That said, I am not here to defend any of his actions.

There are many reasons to support Heather Ryan. Heather is a wife, veteran, and citizen of our district who has been active in politics for quite some time. She is educated, compassionate and smart. She represents the ideals Democrats espouse quite nicely. Most of all, she is not afraid to fight the Republicans for what we all believe in.

Here in Kentucky's First Congressional District, our candidate Heather Ryan is really beginning to turn some heads. It all started at the Ruby Laffoon Dinner a couple of months ago, and has been building through to Fancy Farm weekend, where she fired up Democrats at the breakfast, and then took it to Republicans in the heat of Fancy Farm.

We all remember Hurricane Katrina, and the devestation it left in its wake on the Gulf Coast. In the aftermath, it seemed like everyone wanted to blame everyone else. Local and State Government wanted to blame the national goverment, while the Bush Administration and it's Republican apolegists sought to blame state and local governments to exonerate President Bush's Administration.

A funny thing is happening all across America. With the cost of Gas, and Energy, and correspodingly high prices of everything because of it, the Republicans seem to be forgetting exactly who caused this mess, and who was running our Country when this mess came down. It was the REPUBLICANS, a Republican Congress, rubber-stamping the failed Republican, Bush/Cheney-Enron policies that led to Energy prices skyrocketing this decade.

Exxon Ed Whitfield's Hypocrisy knows no bounds. We have already seen how he and his campaign believe that theft and vandalism is a Christian Value. However, on no issue does Exxon Eddie seem to be more Hypocritical than on the issue of Healthcare.

House Republicans are making much adeu about demanding that Nancy Pelosi allow a vote to "drill here, drill now". They try to link Democrats with the rising price of gasoline, and say that blocking the vote is causing Americans to pay more at the pump. In a hypocritical move, they are staying at the capital giving speeches to try and support their Big Oil donors, in giving more Corporate Welfare to those who have gouged the American Consumer producing record profits in a time of distress and war.

We have a lot to be excited about here at Ryan for Kentucky. Our campaign just experienced one great week!! It started at Fancy Farm, and our campaign has been building momentum every since!! The best part is that our opposition has noticed our momentum, and will even break the law to try and stop it!!

It is an election year, and Exxon Ed Whitfield has been trying to clean up the stains on his terrible record of representing the First Congressional District of Kentucky. First, we had him bragging in our "impartial" newsrag, the Paducah Sun about voting for the G.I. Bill for the Twenty First Century, when acutally he had  voted against Veteran's Benefits three times previous.

Kentucky Republicans live in a fantasy world that puts anything dreamed up by J.R. Tolkien to shame. Where else in this country do you find people who believe that the suppression of Free Speech by theft and vandalism is a "Christian Value? Where else do you find people who are invested in, and profiting from our pain at the pump seeking to lecture all of us on the high price of gas, while voting against a windfall tax on Big Oil? Indeed, where else will you find a Congressman who refuses to return the blood money of a convicted terrorist seek to lecture the rest of us on the "War on Terror"?

Down here in Kentucky our political season pretty much kicks into gear in the hot, humid late days of summer. In Western Kentucky, our season kicked into high gear with the Fancy Farm Picnic. Kentucky has an excellent chance this year of turning the corner, and electing a strong Democratic delegation to our Congress next year. Democrats here have fielded an amazingly strong and diverse lineup of candiates, all ready to heat their races up!!

Saturday in Fancy Farm, Kentucky, St. Jerome's Parish held the 128th annual Fancy Picnic. Besides a great place to sample Western Kentucky Bar-B-Que, and get a tan in the sweltering heat, the Fancy Farm Picnic officially kicks off the political season in Western Kentucky. Any politician that is anyone makes it there. Past speakers of note include Vice-President Al Gore, and Wendell Ford, Kentucky's last great Senator.

For someone that talks so tough on Terror, Ed Whitfield sure doesn't care much about it when money is involved. We have already seen how Ed Whitfield won't let suspected terrorist ties, and criminal activity get in the way of his investments, and now we get another look inside the twisted, hypocritical world of this Kentucky Republican.

The hypocrisy of the modern Republican Party never ceases to amaze me. The Republican Party leadership is, and always will be the party of the mighty Greenback. Despite this they try to lecture all of us on things like moral values, and being tough on terrorists. However, if these things ever interrupt their endless quest for profits, they are easily forgotten if those profits are threatened.

Like millions of my fellow Democrats across this great nation of ours, I have always regarded George W. Bush as a complete imbecile. I felt he was the spoiled-rotten black sheep of an elitist, possibly neo-facist family, that used his daddy's money, and his name to over-achieve, and get in over his head. I never thought there would even be a prayer of him being elected in 2000, and again in 2004 because I felt his luck would eventually run out.