Those were the words that my mom said to me last night, when we knew the Democrats had won. "I haven't felt that in awhile" she continued. She's right she hasn't. She is about to hit the Medicare Part D doughnut-hole in addition to the cost of her premiums and drug prices increasing. It really has been despair for the poor and lower middle class who have been punished and shunned by Republicans these many past years.

I felt the emotion last night and I still do today about those words that there is hope now.

I cannot stand to keep hearing Curt Weldon lying by saying that he did nothing wrong or that the House Ethics committee did not find that he did anything wrong (that's a joke in itself). Even Michael Smerconish is having a hard time believing this when he interviewed him yesterday. More below.

I must admit that I never thought I would write a diary about Bob Casey, who is running for the Senate from PA against Rick Santorum. I am supporting Bob Casey because he is a Democrat, and a big improvement over Santorum - but I will always be disappointed that Casey will not support some of the issues that are important to me.

I had to write about this because this really galls me, and it should really annoy every voter in PA. Everyone now knows that Rick Santorum does not live in PA, but he seems to be very concerned about who is looking into his so-called "residence" in Penn Hills, outside of Pittsburgh and has asked police to keep an extra eye on the empty "home."

What started off  with a Cheers and Jeers yesterday ended with a tale of toxic dumping, corporate irresponsibility, the mob, and a corrupt or inept EPA. I clicked on BiPM's jeers link to the 10 Worst Corporations of 2005 and although all of the companies on the list are on there for good reason, the entry for Ford shocked and appalled me, and struck really close to home.

Keep reading for this incredible story of environmental devastation.

I am so mad that even though I just commented on this in someone else's diary, I have to rant more about this. I am so upset that the House budget reconciliation bill passed yesterday. It contains horrible cuts for the poor especially for Medicaid.

But I am most outraged because it did not get any front page mention here on DKos in the last few days - in time for people to call and email their reps. It was such a close vote 216-214 that I bet a little more attention could have changed the outcome. That's right WE could've changed the outcome. So what happened? Why wasn't there more outrage from Kossacks?

Yesterday was a rough day, disappointing to be sure. But today is a new day with a new fight. The House will vote tomorrow on the Budget bill which once again cuts aid for the poor and contains big breaks for corporate interests, especially for the health insurance industry.

So it's a new day and a new fight. Join me after the flip for the new fight.

This is a plea to get out and vote in your local elections and here's why. First my confession - I haven't always participated in local politics, only occasionally voting in a town council or school board election.

But the case of Intelligent Design in Dover, PA has taught me a valuable lesson. What happens in local politics can affect all of us.

This is my first diary and its short but I am writing it to show that we can change how our government works, especially when it does the wrong thing. We just need to stand up and shout "we are not going to take it anymore!"

State legislators, heeding a loud outcry from an angry public, last night voted overwhelmingly to repeal the 16 percent to 34 percent pay raise they approved in July. [Update] "But the two chambers could not agree on one key provision and passed differing versions of the bill, meaning the legislation is still in limbo. " PA we need to keep shouting!