This week the town of Potrero, CA (pop. about 850) held a special election in which Blackwater was symbolically defeated by more than 2-to-1 margins.

Blackwater wants to build a mercenary training base in Potrero. The base would cover over 800 acres of ecologically sensitive land and include several firing ranges, a helicopter pad and facilities to house several hundred students and staff. The planning commission members who voted in favor (with no citizen input) were all recalled this week. Citizens voted overwhelmingly--with all members receiving at least 60% recall votes, and with the loudest Blackwater defender having 71.4% voting in favor of recalling him. (For reference, this is a town that supported Bush over Kerry by 25 percentage points.) The new planning commission will promptly hold votes rejecting the building of the Blackwater mercenary base. However, their votes are only advisory to the county Board of Supervisors, who have the final say and seem to be in favor of the Blackwater mercenary training camp.

Rep. Bob Filner, whose district includes Potrero, is introducing legislation that would limit training of mercenaries to federal lands (i.e. military bases), so they can be under closer official supervision. Also, this would effectively prohibit Blackwater from building the Potrero training base. This is the best hope for saving Potrero, but the bill needs nationwide support, not just one local rep. Please, contract your reps and encourage them to support Rep. Filner's legislation. You can read more at http://blockblackwater.com/. Thanks!

There is a common assumption, particularly among passionate supporters of front-runner Barack Obama, that the unelected superdelegates to the Democratic Convention are waiting for an excuse to defy the wishes of rank-and-file voters and install Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee. In truth, there is scant evidence that

I think you meant this instead:

In truth, there is scant evidence that There is a common assumption, particularly among passionate supporters of front-runner Barack Obama, that the unelected superdelegates to the Democratic Convention are waiting for an excuse to defy the wishes of rank-and-file voters and install Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee.

Seriously, I'm a passionate Obama supporter, I hang out on DailyKos constantly, and I haven't really seen this assumption having much currency.