The story of Chrysler dealerships slated for closing may turn out to have a serious political component. Doug Ross is tracking down the political contributions of the majority owners of the dealerships on the list and is finding both anecdotal and factual indications that many of the marked businesses being Republican contributors.

To quickly review the situation, I took all dealer owners whose names appeared more than once in the list. And, of those who contributed to political campaigns, every single one had donated almost exclusively to GOP candidates. While this isn’t an exhaustive review, it does have some ominous implications if it can be verified.

Doug has a link to the lists of dealerships scheduled to close and those that will remain open. He is looking for any help that can be given to sift through the lists.

The examination is very much on going, and the possibility exists that a different conclusion can be reached. However, the early examination points to some very troubling correlations. In any case, this is a story that deserves watching.

If you can…

Here’s why.

Driving into work this morning I saw a radiator shop’s truck. On the tailgate was their slogan:
“The Best Place to Take a Leak”

Well, it made me laugh.

Please take my Blog Reader Project survey.

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Welcome to bRight & Early and a great big thank you to Gaius, Sis, Debbie, The guys at Justbarkingmad and Chris. If you’re looking for information on the dastardly act of covert surveillance and illegal entry just scroll down. But while you’re here I’d like to point out a few things.

If you are a blogger, please consider entering your site information into the Blogiversary Database. By completing the process you will automatically be entered into the Blogiversary Database Contest. (Follow the link for more information on the contest. That post will be bumped back to the top later today.)

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Quite a few folks today have participated in the “24″ poll in the right sidebar. Why don’t you?

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But mostly, thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful Christmas.

The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks. ~ Sir James Mackintosh

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Could Ahmadinejad Be In Serious Trouble?

For a man who came out of near-oblivion to the presidency of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appears to face serious restlessness among his subjects. Despite having the backing of the hardliners in the Guardian Council who arranged his victory, or perhaps because of that support, Ahmadinejad has become the center of widespread scorn and dissastisfaction among Iranian students, a volatile and powerful force for radical change in the nation.

Blue Crab boulevard (Gaius) The Poor Family Farmer

The Washington Post points out that the massive amounts of Federal money being spent to subsidize the “family farmer” turn out to be going to larger and larger farm operations. Instead of protecting family-owned farms, the subsidies are effectively destroying that way of life.

Although I didn’t get any comments when I asked about running my new ad, I did get some private correspondence. I do appreciate that very much. As you can tell, I decided to run the ad.

There were two main factors:

1) I’m a capitalist. Their money is good, and there isn’t anything offensive about the ad that would cause me to reject it. I don’t agree with their politics, but they should have known that when they purchased the ad.

2) I believe the readers here are smart and won’t be pulled away to the “other side” by a simple ad.

With those two thoughts in mind it was an easy decision. I thank them, and you, for your support.

Here are a few things for you to do this evening:

• Set your clocks back. (And don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detector)
• Vote for your favorite season of 24 (Over there >>. In the right sidebar
• Add your blog to the Blogiversary Database. We have 143 blogs now. Let’s pass 150 this weekend.
• Sign up and participate in the bRight & Early Forum
• WordPress users — Upgrade to 2.0.5 It’s easy to do and there are several security fixes
• Advertise on bRight & Early. Better your conservative blog or business than the DCCC

That should do it for now. Enjoy.

I just received an email letting me know that a new blogad has been submitted to run here. Here. By the DCCC. Do they read this blog, or did they just search by Florida?

Should I take the money and laugh?

Your input is appreciated.

I have (finally) updated my blogads to be compatible with the most recent update.

Advertising on bRight & Early is a bargin! Why not advertise today.

Thanks.

The drink that comforteth the brain and heart and helpeth digestion. ~ Sir Francis Bacon

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) There’s Gotta Be Irony In Here Somewhere — “Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has told an interviewer that he wants German troops in any international force protecting the Jewish state.”

Iowa Voice (Brian) Senate Dems Block Minimum Wage Bill — “Over the next day or so, they’re going to be in the news, patting themselves on the back for “screwing the rich”. But in reality, the only one who got screwed here was the poor. The rich already pay those taxes, so not getting them cut isn’t going to affect them in the least.”

Blue Crab Boulevard Another Day Of Waiting For Fidel — “Weird pronouncements are coming from Cuba, the US government admits they really do not know what is going on, either and we’ll just have to wait. Hard, isn’t it? Cuban government spokesmen are warning the the communist party will “defend the revolution”. Now that sounds almost as if it were a backhanded admission that Castro will not come back to power, but we’ll have to see.”

Babalu Blog (Val Prieto) Pa’ la calle! — “I would have given anything to have seen the expression on the faces of all of these reporters, most of whom have showered fidel castro and la revolucion with praise and adulation for so many years. Their utter shock! Their utter dismay! How could the glorious revolution turn its back on such staunch supporters!”

The Strata-Sphere (A.J. Strata) Petulent Democrats — “Family owned small businesses once again take a hit from Democrats who cannot abide anyone succeeding in life and passing the fruits of their efforts to their children. Their petulance has blocked a compromise on the infamous death tax where greedy bureacrats take the hard earned poperty built over a lifetime for their own wasteful uses.”

The first cup is for the guest, the second for enjoyment, the third for the sword. ~ An old Arabic saying

Right Wing News (John Hawkins) 9 Pieces Of Free Advice For 2008 Candidates On How To Play The Blogosphere — “So, is this how candidates should try to woo bloggers? No way! What a waste of money. Here’s a free suggestion for candidates who want to try to work the blogosphere: Buy ads instead of having a party.” [You can purchase an ad at bRight & Early here. Jim ]

The news about Karl Rove has sent this morning’s First Cup in a different direction. Here is a roundup of blogs talking about this story:

Pirate’s Cove (William Teach) Fitzmas Cancelled (plus linkfest) — “There will be no joy in Liberalville today. No fitzmas pudding, no cute wrapping paper, no bright bows, no pithy Fitzmas cards. The tofu turkey has been overcooked, the cranberries are almost liquid, and the gravy is curdled.”

Confederate Yankee Truthout.org: Fresh Out Of Truth — “I’m not too emotionally invested in the Plamegate story and so I’m probably not enjoying this as much as others, but anytime the Democratic Underground-types have their conspiracy theories crushed and their frog-marching cancelled, I must admit that I find it highly amusing.”

Sister Toldjah Rove won’t be indicted — “They’ll be some cryin’ liberals today – call the wahmbulance! I’m especially eager to hear/read Joe Wilson’s response

*grabs a bag of popcorn, wait’s for the show to start*”

Iowa Voice (Brian) Liberals React To Rove Story — “And it’s begun already. As I just wrote a little while ago, Karl Rove will not be indicted. The liberals over at the Democratic Underground are starting to go nuts over the news:”

The Jawa Report (Good Lieutenant) NYT: No Rove Frogmarch; Democrats, Press Devastated — “Watch for exploding heads and ripped tinfoil hats. Sombody make sure Jason Leopold is on suicide watch. Drudge is noting that the nutroots and internet “indictment pushers” who have for months been huffing and puffing (including disgraceful “anchor” Keith Olberman’s pathetic assurances on 26 different programs), are dragging their collective behinds reporting the actual truth today.”

The Volokh Conspiracy (Jim Lindgren) Rove Won’t be Charged With Leaking CIA Information — “It would be interesting to compare the false statements made by Rove and Libby to the investigators with the false statements made by Joe Wilson to the press and the public.”

You are probably already familiar with the story of Joey Vento, Owner of Geno’s in South Philly. Michelle Malkin posted on it here and here.

Now (AP via Yahoo News) Philadelphia’s Commission on Human Relations,

alleges that the policy at Geno’s Steaks discourages customers of certain backgrounds from eating there, said Rachel Lawton, acting executive director.

Geno’s owner Joseph Vento posted two small signs at his shop in South Philadelphia proclaiming: “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH.’”

Lawton said that violates the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing. “It’s discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers because of their national origin or ancestry,” she said.

I couldn’t find a clear image on the web, so I did my best to make a duplicate. I think Joey should take down his current sign . . .

. . . and post a much bigger one!

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let us know at what level you would like to participate.