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October 31, 2006

Tuesday Evening Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 05:16 PM | Comments (379)

50-State Strategy: The State Houses

The New York Times discusses the 50-state strategy in an article today about state legislatures and their potential to go Democrat in next week's election.

More than 6,000 state legislative seats in 46 states are on the Nov. 7 ballot, and like the seismic state elections in 1994 and 1974 the cumulative impact of the outcomes could be immense, with Democrats possibly gaining control of a majority of state capitols for the first time in a decade.

And our press team connects the dots on why this is important:

These gains are important because they will affect the redrawing of Congressional maps, increase the number of women in leadership positions, and influence the outcomes on important state legislative issues such as the minimum wage and stem cell research. These elections have been bolstered by the DNC's 50 state strategy, which is building the infrastructure and grass roots capacity we need to elect Democrats up and down the ballot across the country.

Good news indeed. Contact your state party for more information about races in your area.

Posted by at 12:50 PM | Comments (21)

New Poll Numbers in Key Senate Races

Below are the results of the CNN State Polls, percentages given are likely voters.

Missouri - Senate
Claire McCaskill (D) 49%
Jim Talent (R) 49%

New Jersey - Senate
Bob Menendez (D) 51%
Thomas Kean, Jr. (R) 44%

Ohio - Senate
Sherrod Brown (D) 54%
Mike DeWine (R) 43%

Tennessee - Senate
Harold Ford (D) 44%
Bob Corker (R) 52%

Virginia - Senate
Jim Webb (D) 50%
George Allen (R) 46%

*These polls were conducted October 26-29, and have a 3% margin of error.

It's not too late to make a difference in your state. Our action of the day is all about getting your friends to the polls. If you'd like to do even more, give your state party a call. We all know that these last few days before the election are critical, and that a poll doesn't dictate election results.

Federal support for stem cell research, a minimum wage increase, and the enactment of the 9/11 commission recommendations. Three reasons to vote for Democrats. Three reasons to hope for the future. And in these last seven days, three reasons to take action.

Posted by at 11:33 AM | Comments (21)

One Week Out Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 08:36 AM | Comments (184)

October 30, 2006

MN-01: Fighting Dem Tim Walz: "Let's change this country and let's do it together"

The Wall Street Journal looks at Fighting Dem Tim Walz and his campaign to unseat the GOP incumbent in Minnesota's 1st District:

If there is one House race that captures the struggle between Republican power in Congress and a grass-roots demand for change, it is here in Minnesota's First District.
Twelve-year incumbent Rep. Gil Gutknecht is a political survivor and force for the dairy industry as a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. But in a district President Bush carried twice, the Republican Party and corporate allies are spending heavily to fend off Democrat Tim Walz, a high-school teacher and political newcomer...

"It's been, 'Holy smokes, the First District can elect a guy who woke up one morning and said let's change this country and let's do this together,' " Mr. Walz laughs.

The heart of his campaign is just that: Everyman running for Congress. With his former National Guard artillery unit deployed in Iraq, Mr. Walz emphasizes the need for change in the war's strategy. But most of all, given the House's low standing in opinion polls and voter anxiety about America losing its way, he sees his candidacy as a wake-up call for Congress and the nation.

"When you wake up Nov. 8, it can be a brand new world," he told supporters last week in Owatonna. "It's not vindictiveness. It's not us saying all our Republican neighbors are wrong. It's us saying this Congress is broken. This rubber-stamp Congress is not giving this country the ability to move forward and compromise."

"If you know how good we are going to feel, picture for a moment how the rest of the world is going to feel. When they wake up Nov. 8, they're going to look and say, 'The Americans are back.'"...

I had a chance to talk with Tim months ago about his race and I can confirm what the WSJ is saying - he definitely had no sense of pretense when we chatted - he was just a guy running for office because like so many other decisions he had made in his life, he felt it was the right thing to do, and he felt he had to step up to the plate and serve his country. Again.

More WSJ:

Mr. Walz began running a new Iraq war TV ad last week, showing him standing before empty football bleachers intended to represent the number of dead U.S. troops, now approaching 3,000. "Serving right now are kids I taught, coached and trained to be soldiers," he says to the camera. "They deserve a plan for Iraq to govern itself so they can come home."

I called over to the Walz campaign to check-in with them after reading this article - and if the sound I heard in the background is any indication - they are going strong. Tim was at a rally with Senate nominee Amy Klobuchar and Senator Obama. The noise I heard, about 2500 Minnesota Democrats cheering in the background.

Posted by at 06:52 PM | Comments (5)

Monday Night Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 06:44 PM | Comments (186)

A Week in Ohio

So I've been on the ground in Ohio for a week. I'm in Columbus, stationed at the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters and working with the Ohio Coordinated campaign. It's a crazy place - the offices seem huge and are constantly teaming with people - staff hurrying in and out, volunteers rotating between shifts on the phones or door-to-door canvasses. In every corner someone is on the phone trying to schedule something or someone, most likely trying to rangle another few hours out of a volunteer for GOTV. In short, it's a cacophony of campaign sounds, and it's wonderful.

So how did I end up here and what am I doing? I'm sure you're all dying to know. So here's the deal... Every campaign cycle the DNC works to send as many staffers out into the field as possible to help our campaigns in any way possible. In my case, I got an e-mail asking if I would like to go campaign, and of course, I said yes. We were asked to name places we would be interested in going and then the powers-that-be matched us up with what the needs were out in the field. I requested a number of places, but Ohio was my 1st choice, and luckily it all worked out. So now I'm here until Election Day.

Last week I spent most of the week working on putting together lists of polling locations (the Ohio Secretary of State does not maintain one, so you need to gather a list from each of Ohio's 88 counties) and also worked on the absentee ballot request program that the ODP has organized. It's good basic field work - something I haven't done for a while, and it feels good to get back to it.

I'm trying to keep you guys filled in on anything super exciting that happens - like President Clinton's visit on my 1st day here or Michael J. Fox's rally with Sherrod Brown, but for the most part I am not here as a blogger - but as another set of hands to help paint Ohio blue!

If you, for reasons I could not possibly comprehend, have not yet made your way to your local campaign office, there is no time like the present! Every hour from now until Election Day is precious time and even if you can only donate a few - it will be worth it.

Posted by at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)

Rally in Columbus: Michael J. Fox and Sherrod Brown

When Claire McCaskill debuted her newest ad, featuring the familiar face of Michael J. Fox speaking plainly and honestly to the camera about the importance of electing McCaskill, a supporter of stem cell research, over her opponent, Senator Jim Talent, who had voted against expanding federal funding for the research, it made news.

When right-wing pundits seized on the ad to personally attack Michael J. Fox, who was visibly exhibiting the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, (one of the many diseases that stem cell research has the potential to cure) it was appalling, desperate and despicable. Fox, a vocal proponent of medical research became the target of ugly attacks. It was suggested that he should have waited until his symptoms abated to film the ad, or that he was exaggerating for dramatic effect.

Their attacks backfired. Michel J. Fox stood up to these bullies and he has continued to speak out about the critical need for this research. As election day approaches he has traveled around the country to campaign for candidates who support stem cell research. Today, he made his way to Columbus, Ohio where he was joined by Sherrod Brown and a packed room of Ohio Democrats, for a rally in support of Brown's Senate campaign.

The event was scheduled to start around 11 am - but as these things often do - it started at about 11:30. The Ohio State Law School Auditorium was packed - every seat was filled - and many students and supporters had to be crowded into the aisles to find a place to sit or stand.

On the stage Sherrod was joined by a number of supporters, including some very impressive children who were there with their parents to show their support for the issue. Sherrod got things started by welcoming everyone for coming out to show their support. After his opening remarks we got a brief primer on stem cell research from a doctor and professor from Case Western University. Although the crowd seemed was pretty well versed on the issue, the doctor's speech served as a reminder of just how critical this issue is to medical advancements - and how many people could be helped by this science. Millions of Americans - boys, girls, moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas - suffer from diseases that could be cured by advances in stem cell research. This is why it is so unfathomable that President Bush used his first and only veto of his Presidency to block an expansion of federal funding for this life-saving science, standing in the way of hope for millions of Americans.

Sherrod:

Several years ago I was speaking with Dr. Copeland, Jeffrey Copeland, who ran the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta…he was outlining to me what he considers to be the milestones in public health...He said both the public health achievements and the medical health achievements that save lives don’t come easy. Getting from the problem to the solution is hard enough without any obstacles in the way, and that is why embryonic stem cell research is so important.
Stem cell research is obviously worth fighting for, and that is why what Michael J. Fox is doing is so very important – he has shown great courage and great passion...

Then Michal J. Fox took the stage. He had to wait a moment for the crowd to quiet down before beginning to speak, and he seemed almost embarrassed by the applause. He opened by thanking everyone for being there, including an earlier speaker, Tanner, a local six grade student, who shared his personal experience of living with juvenile diabetes. Fox emphasized how important it is to share stories of everyday survival, noting how even in his 40s he has to share his own experiences. He called Tanner an "inspiration".

Fox said being in Columbus was a homecoming of sorts. He reminded us that his popular character, Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties had called Columbus home, He joked that Keaton would be happy that Fox had worn a tie.

Then he got more serious - explaining his decision to campaign for Sherrod, and for other candidates like him, who were running against opponents who had voted against stem cell research.

Fox:

It's not secret I am a vocal advocate for medical research - but I am not alone - the majority of the House of Representatives, the United States Senate and over 70 percent of Americans support stem cell research - but Senator DeWine stood with the President and voted against stem cell research...
As you may know, I had a run-in with a less than compassionate conservative. I guess I'm not supposed to speak with you until my symptoms go away, or maybe I'm supposed to go away, but I'm not going to go away and neither are the millions of Americans and their families who live with these diseases...

The stem cell policy of President Bush that was supported by Senator DeWine is a rejection of the future of medical research. Well, forgive me for this, but it's time we get back to our future...a vote for Sherrod Brown for Senate is a vote for hope and for a better quality of life for millions of Americans...

I'm asking you as an advocate, and a husband and a father to all get active and to stand up for what is right -- what is right for the future of hundreds of millions of Americans who have or are touched by debilitating diseases.

After the brief speeches the event morphed into a meet and greet. On stage, Michael J. Fox talked to the children and their parents who had come out. Sherrod and his wife, Connie, talked with the supporters who swarmed the stage.

All in all, it was a short, yet inspiring event. It was amazing to see the variety of people who have banded together to campaign on this issue - from sixth-grade student Tanner, to a mother who brought along a hand-written sign that said, "My Dad has Parkinson's - Support Stem Cell Research", to the medical students in the audience who were clad in scrubs. Then there are people like me. People who just believe that this potentially life-saving medical research should be supported to the fullest extent possible by our government. People who believe millions of Americans should live everyday with hope for a cure, and who believe that our country should be leading the way forward in this fight.

On the web:

Michael J. Fox Foundation
Brown for Senate

Posted by at 01:06 PM | Comments (11)

50-State Strategy: Idaho Races Tied

The Idaho Statesman reports two major races in Idaho are in a statistical dead heat:

Republican and Democratic candidates in a few major Idaho political races are separated by just a few percentage points and virtually tied, according to a new statewide poll of 625 voters who said they were likely to cast a ballot Nov. 7.

U.S. Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter, the GOP candidate for governor, is tied with Democrat Jerry Brady, according to the poll conducted Oct. 23-25 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington, D.C., for KIVI-TV and the Idaho Statesman, which published it Sunday.

...

The 1st District congressional race on the west side of the state - for the seat Otter is vacating - also is tied, the survey found. Republican Bill Sali, an eight-term state legislator, was supported by 39 percent of those polled, compared to 37 percent for Democrat Larry Grant, a former Micron Technology Inc. executive.

Idaho voters, early voting has started in your state. Call your state party for more information about where and when. You can also sign up to volunteer while you are on the phone. Their phone number is 208-334-2852. If you live in the first congressional district, you can click here for a list of early voting locations.

Posted by at 12:08 PM | Comments (4)

50-State Strategy: Wyoming Turning Blue?

Wyoming's At Large U.S. House seat is now in play. The Billings Gazette explains:

The race between Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., and Democratic challenger Gary Trauner is about even, according to a new poll commissioned by the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle of Cheyenne.

However, Cubin's lead falls within the poll's margin of error, and the data suggest Cubin's support dropped sharply - and Trauner's rose sharply - after her confrontation with Libertarian candidate Thomas Rankin, when Cubin told the wheelchair-bound Libertarian that she wanted to "smack" him.

...

But among people contacted Oct. 23-25, Trauner took the lead with 47 percent; Cubin polled at 35 percent, with Rankin pulling 8 percent and another 8 percent undecided.

Apparently, last week Cubin's stock tumbled when she threatened to slap one of her opponents.

If you live in Wyoming and would like to volunteer in these last eight days before the election, you can contact your state party at 1-800-729-3367.

Posted by at 11:50 AM | Comments (18)

Monday Morning Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 08:22 AM | Comments (159)

October 29, 2006

Sunday Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 12:21 PM | Comments (297)

October 28, 2006

Saturday Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 12:19 PM | Comments (527)

October 27, 2006

Friday Evening Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 06:16 PM | Comments (190)

50-State Strategy: More Nebraska

The Nebraska Democratic Party was featured on Kos today:

Much has been said about the DNC's 50 state strategy under Chairman Howard Dean, but in order to truly grasp this major shift in the way Democrats are doing business, one only has to look as far as the great state of Nebraska to get the real story.
...

Following Governor Dean's election as DNC Chairman, the Nebraska Democratic Party was one of the first to enter into a partnership with the national organization. The 50 State Strategy has been critical in our efforts to rebuild the party from the ground up. A communications director, campaign/field director and two field organizers were hired by the DNC to facilitate party building and campaign activities.

...

There is no doubt - the Nebraska Democratic Party is stronger than ever and our best days are ahead of us. When we look at the DNC's 50 State Strategy, we know that if Nebraska is any indication of what's happening in the rest of the country, then the future of the national party is looking bright.

Folks in Nebraska that need election related information can find it here.

Posted by at 05:27 PM | Comments (4)

50-State Strategy Puts Faith In Action in Oregon

Yesterday, Blue Oregon highlighted Democratic Party-funded ads that are airing on Oregon radio stations. A full time faith outreach staff person was also funded with Democratic Party money.

There's been a lot of attention paid here at BlueOregon to the growing sector of "Faithful Democrats" nationally and in Oregon. Jim Wallis visited in September, and contributors Jeff Alworth and Steve Bucknum have explored the role of religion in politics. At the DPO Convention this summer, a religious outreach workshop was organized and there is now a faith caucus in the state party.

Now it seems that House Democratic candidates Rob Brading and Chuck Lee have both been running radio ads on Christian radio stations - discussing their own faith and how it informs their values.

You can go to the Oregon Democratic Party's website to listen to the ads.

Posted by Leslie Brown at 10:46 AM | Comments (4)

Friday Morning Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 08:12 AM | Comments (177)

October 26, 2006

Thursday Evening Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 06:24 PM | Comments (198)

"Stay the Course" Gets a Make-Over

The Washington Post reports on the President's news conference yesterday and his interestingly hollow rhetoric...

The text of President Bush's news conference yesterday ran to nearly 10,000 words, but what may have been more significant were the things he did not say.
The president talked repeatedly about "benchmarks" for progress in Iraq, using that word 13 times. But he did not discuss the consequences of the Iraqi government missing those targets. Such a question, he said, was "hypothetical."

That response left unclear how the benchmarks would be different from previous times when the United States has set out intentions, only to back down. For example, the original war plan envisioned the U.S. troop presence in Iraq being cut to 30,000 by the fall of 2003. Last year, some top U.S. commanders thought they would be able to significantly cut the U.S. troop level in Iraq this year -- a hope now officially abandoned. More recently, the U.S. military all but withdrew from Baghdad, only to have to have to reenter the capital as security evaporated from its streets and Iraqi forces proved unable to restore calm by themselves.

So basically, we're going to "stay the course", but with spiffy new "benchmarks" that, if unmet ("hypothetically") will result in nothing except more "staying the course"? I'm confused...What exactly is the President basing this whole "new" approach on? Clearly he's a flexible guy - willing to listen facts and make decisions accordingly, right? Ummm....

"Our goals are unchanging," he emphasized in his opening remarks. "We are flexible in our methods to achieving those goals." His bottom line was that "we'll work as fast as we can get the job done." That open-ended commitment to an unchanging goal doesn't seem different from the answer being given by Bush administration officials three years and 2,802 U.S. military deaths ago -- that the U.S. effort in Iraq would last "as long as it takes."...
...Under a barrage of sharp questions from reporters, pointing again and again to contradictions and problems in his stance on Iraq, President Bush clung to his most basic line of defense -- his own faith and confidence in his approach. He used the word "believe" 21 times in the course of the hour-long news conference. "I believe that the military strategy we have is going to work, that's what I believe," he said to one reporter.

Well, I'm glad that's settled...

We need a new direction in Iraq, not just new rhetoric...

[Update/CM: Watch the Democratic Party's web ad on the subject.]

Posted by at 11:16 AM | Comments (20)

TN-Sen: The Latest Low for the GOP

Over at DailyKos, Georgia10 has a good update on the GOP's latest stunts in Tennessee, where their candidate is in a tight race with Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. Of course, rather than running on the issues, the GOP is running a campaign based on a combination personal attacks and divisive wedge issues meant to appeal to the worst in people.

MSNBC:

The Republican National Committee said Wednesday it was taking off the air an attack ad that critics said was a racial slur against Democratic Tennessee Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., one day after the party's chairman said he saw nothing wrong with it.

I wouldn't necessarily view the fact the ad is no longer airing as a victory; after all, the RNC got exactly what it wanted. As it did with the Daisy-double "vote republican or die" ad, it shelled out a limited amount of money for a limited ad buy while relying on an all-too-willing press to provide hours and hours of free exposure for its lies. And so, the RNC got its racist message out to the voters of Tennessee, and unfortunately, that message will resonate with some voters.

Dirty tricks. Cheap tricks. Nothing new from a cornered GOP.

Over the next 12 days, things are likely to only get worse.

Posted by Tracy Russo at 11:07 AM | Comments (29)

50-State Strategy: Pennsylvania Paper Tells it Like it Is

Call me biased, but I think the New Castle News folks have it right when they title their endorsement piece "Our Endorsements: We urge you to vote for Democrats -- period". Here's what they said:

If you think President Bush is doing a fine job managing the war on terror, controlling the cost of government and generally making America and its people more secure and prosperous, you can re-elect the incumbents.

But if you -- like this newspaper -- are horrified at the incompetent, arrogant and downright delusional behavior of the Bush administration, change is absolutely crucial.

(snip)

By any objective measure, the Bush administration has made a mess of things. And contrary to its claims, the world will be a far more dangerous place when this president's term ends in two years. The administration has failed miserably to unify the world against Islamic radicals, undercut the efforts of Islamic moderates and stood by as the real threat of nuclear proliferation has mushroomed in North Korea.

Meanwhile, the administration's true abilities were on display last year in the days leading up to -- and following -- Hurricane Katrina. And although the White House is now touting its economic success, its main claim to fame is a ballooning of the federal deficit.

It's easy to boost the economy in the short term when you're borrowing on future generations. What happens when the bill comes due? Despite some short-term success in trimming the deficit, the long-range figures are a looming disaster. And the Bush administration is doing nothing to address them.

But the administration is not alone in its manhandling of American domestic and foreign policy. A compliant, Republican-controlled Congress has gone along, with barely a peep of protest.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Twelve days until the election - vote early if you can, send in those absentee ballots, and volunteer with your local campaign.

Posted by at 10:56 AM | Comments (11)

Thursday Morning Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 08:32 AM | Comments (128)

October 25, 2006

Wednesday Evening Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 06:35 PM | Comments (156)

New Jersey Rules for Equal Rights for All

From Bluejersey.com:

The NJ Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in the marriage equality case, finding that New Jersey's State Constitution requires equal rights for all - but, left it to the legislature to decide what to call it.

The ruling on the case, Lewis v. Harris, amends the state's marriage law to either include same sex couples, or to create a similar legal category for gay couples.

Posted by at 05:10 PM | Comments (13)

Watch "Stay the Course?" Web Ad

The President is holding a news conference this morning, where, if recent talking points are any indication, he will try and say he was never all about a "Stay the Course" strategy for Iraq. You and I know that is a flat-out lie.

Republicans in Washington have clung desperately to the President's failed rhetoric, and it has failed them. Now, with just two weeks until Election Day, the Bush Administration has attempted to change their tune. It's not going to work.

Watch the new DNC web ad, here.

Posted by at 10:19 AM | Comments (26)

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 08:27 AM | Comments (178)

October 24, 2006

Tuesday Evening Open Thread

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Posted by Christy McConville at 06:30 PM | Comments (191)

Sound Science, Stem Cell Research and 2006

It still boggles my mind that anyone can oppose the life-saving possibilities that stem cell research offers. Ideology standing in the way of public policy. Religion in the way of science. It's outrageous.

Michael J. Fox has been a tireless advocate for the cause - putting a very public and well-recognized face on the issue. The American people overwhelmingly support expanding federal funding of stem cell research, and yet, the Republicans in Washington, bowing to the pressure from their extreme right-wing base, have prevented the passage of this legislation. Their actions have consequences for the millions of Americans living with diseases that scientists believe can treated or cured based on stem cell research. They are standing in the way of discovering cures for some of the worst ailments. And it has got to stop.

Democrats support this life saving research. And, this year Americans have a choice between those who believe in crafting public policy based on extreme idealogical beliefs, and those who believe in making decisions based on the best evidence available and the advice of experts.

Voters in Maryland can elect Ben Cardin over Michael Steele. Voters in Missouri can elect Claire McCaskill over Jim Talent.

Michael J. Fox explains how that decision, while it may seem like a local issue, is a decision that will effect every American, in a powerful new ad. His message is really a message from the millions of Americans who suffer from diseases that could be cured by this research. And he's right - sometimes, politics isn't local.

Posted by at 03:33 PM | Comments (98)

WY-AL: Reprehensible

This report from the Jackson Hole Star Tribune is truly disturbing. GOP Congresswoman Cubin needs to go:

The Libertarian challenger for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat says Rep. Barbara Cubin offended him by uttering a slur related to his physical disability.
Thomas Rankin said Cubin approached him after a campaign debate on Sunday and said, "If you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you across the face."

The Cubin campaign did not deny the remark, but a spokesman for the six-term congresswoman said Rankin started the exchange.

So what happened? According to the Star Tribune:

After the cameras and lights were shut off, Cubin walked on the stage behind Trauner and then to Rankin, who was still sitting at the table, Rankin said.
Rankin, who is disabled with multiple sclerosis and uses an electric wheelchair, had not moved yet.

While his aide Jeremy Moniz was helping him, Moniz heard Cubin's comment, too.

"She came right up and said it," Moniz said.

Rankin didn't say anything to Cubin before she confronted him, he said.

"It took me totally off guard," he said. "I said, 'Barbara, if you feel the need to slap me, go right ahead.'"

Cubin then turned around and walked away.

Rankin called her comment an inappropriate slur to the disabled.

This is just another, in a long line, of desperate moves by the GOP - who is so scared of losing power that they will resort to personal attacks, lies and smears every time.

Luckily, for Wyoming and for the United States Congress, Democrat Gary Trauner, who is running against Cubin, is an honorable man who will represent all the people of Wyoming with dignity.

Posted by at 03:20 PM | Comments (2)

50-State Strategy: Idaho is in Play

Idaho continues to make news as the National Republican Congressional Committee is planning to drop over $500,000 a Congressional race that NO ONE thought was going to be close.

The WaPost summarizes the race:

It is, perhaps, the political equivalent of hell freezing over in the interior West.
This red state where conservative Republicans routinely wipe the floor with hapless Democrats has a Republican running for Congress who just might lose.

The suddenly competitive race is a delicious development for Larry Grant, a Democratic candidate for the House who finds himself transformed from sacrificial lamb to reason for worry among national Republican strategists.

His Republican opponent is Bill Sali, an eight-term state representative with a corrosive reputation for irking his fellow Republicans. The Republican speaker of the Idaho House, Bruce Newcomb, said this spring of Sali: "That idiot is just an absolute idiot."

The Idaho Statesman, in its endorsement of Larry Grant, described Republican Sali like this:

Sali has spent 16 years in a GOP-dominated Legislature fixated on hot-button issues such as abortion, alienating fellow Republicans in the process. We doubt he will be effective in a sharply divided U.S. House, whether Republicans maintain a majority or not. We've seen nothing in this fall's campaign that demonstrates a commitment to advance anything but another divisive social agenda, including a constitutional amendment banning flag burning and a bill making English the nation's official language.

Check out Democrat Grant's new ad.

And: tonight is the final debate between Grant and Sali, more information at Grassroots for Grant.

Idaho residents can request absentee ballots until November 1.

Posted by at 02:01 PM | Comments (4)

On the Ground in Ohio

I landed in Columbus, Ohio yesterday, where, for the next two weeks, I will be assisting the Ohio Democratic Party and their coordinated campaign effort in any way I can. I actually have no idea yet what that will mean, but I’m up for anything. This is the sprint to the finish line and I am thrilled to be able to help out such a great slate of candidates – from Sherrod Brown, who will be the Buckeye state’s next senator – to down-ballot candidates like Jennifer Brunner who is going to restore integrity to the election process in Ohio as Secretary of State – to the myriad of Congressional candidates who are going to make up the newly restored Democratic majority in Congress.

After a long day of traveling yesterday, I landed in Columbus and arrived at the Ohio Democratic Party offices around 4 o’clock. The offices were strangely quiet, and I soon realized why – President Clinton was scheduled to arrive later that evening for an event and everyone was getting ready for that. Sarah, one of your DNC-funded field organizers, suggested I head over to the event as well. Well, that wasn’t something I was going to pass up…

The event was sold-out – standing room only – I managed to squeeze into the Press section and grab a spot to listen. Chris Redfern, Chairman of the ODP welcomed everyone and got the evening underway:

"We have a dynamic slate of candidates, perhaps the best in a political generation. We are not only going to make history on the state level, we are also going to win Congressional seats and take control of the Congress.

Obviously that was followed by thunderous applause.

Later, Ted Strickland took the stage. Although I have met him at events in the past, this was the first time I heard him speak to a crowd and he was amazing. My favorite quotes:

”We do believe that love is more powerful than hate…”

and

“The current political leadership has underestimated the people of Ohio – in fact, Just as the President has “misunderestimated” the American people, the Republican administration in Ohio has underestimated the people of Ohio…”

Ted emphasized his commitment to creating living wage jobs, fully funding education and making college affordable and making high quality health care accessible for all. He then turned the stage over to Sherrod Brown.

Congressman Brown’s theme was crystal clear: Change is coming.

He talked about the steps a Democratic Congress would take – noting first that Democrats are committed to making our country safer and passing the bipartisan recommendations of the 9/11 commission, something the Republicans have failed to do. He noted the failure of the Republican Congress to raise the minimum wage for the past 10 years, even though Congress has seen fit to raise their own pay 6 different times in that same period. And Congressman Brown also called for an end to the “strangle-hold” drug companies have on our Congress – the result of which has been legislation that benefits the pharmaceutical country more than it benefits the American people.

Sherrod introduced President Clinton and the room went crazy. The applause was loud and long, and well-deserved. President Clinton spoke softly, as if he was having a one-on-one conversation with each person in the room, instead of addressing a crowd where standing room was precious.

President Clinton touched on so many things during his speech – he noted the number of Republicans fleeing the GOP because of their extreme-right agenda. He noted the number of veterans and former intelligence officials running for office as Democrats (He had just come from an appearance with Tammy Duckworth in Chicago). He noted the way our dependence on foreign oil is costing the American people.

But most importantly, he noted that the current government is run by ideologues who are dedicated to three things that don’t work: concentrating maximum wealth and special interest power, an arbitrary unaccountable government and an ideological divide that creates exclusive communities that look down on people.

In talking about investing in alternative energies:

“We could be making our future together. This is not rocket science, but no ideologue will give it to you because it requires thinking and knowing…”

And referrencing the appropriate title of Bob Woodward’s look at the Bush Administration, State of Denial:

Denial is an essential strategy for an ideologue – evidence is irrelevant and argument is a waste of time…

Finally, President Clinton closed by evoking the words of our founding fathers, whose goal was not to create a nation divided, but a “more perfect union”.

”We are not perfect, we will never be perfect, but we can always be better…whenever we forget it we get in trouble, whenever we embrace it we shine…

And with that, the night was over. I left inspired and a bit awed. Hearing President Clinton speak last night was unlike any political event I have ever been to – usually the pep rally type atmosphere is fun, but it’s superficial. In contrast, last night was thought provoking. I left last night thinking about the President's words, about the ideas he shared and about the message he conveyed. It was one of hope – to be sure – but one that was a reminder of how great American can truly be when we have a government that believes in, not just the power America can yield, but in its potential for greatness.

Paint Ohio Blue has some photos. I'll have some up later.

Posted by at 10:21 AM | Comments (5)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread

This is an open thread...

[Update: Chairman Dean will appear on MSNBC's "Decision 2006" at 10:00 AM and on CNN's "Newsroom" at 10:15 AM this morning.]

Posted by Christy McConville at 08:30 AM | Comments (132)

October 23, 2006

Monday Night Open Thread

This is an open thread...

Posted by Christy McConville at 06:30 PM | Comments (185)

50-State Strategy: Florida

A Quinnipiac poll released today shows the race for governor in Florida is in a statistical dead heat:

Entering Tuesday's first Florida gubernatorial debate, the race has tightened to a statistical dead heat, with 46 percent of likely voters for State Attorney General Charlie Crist, the Republican, and 44 percent for U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, the Democrat, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Eight percent of voters are undecided and 11 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind before Election Day.

Florida voters: you can still request an absentee ballot or vote early. Check out our Florida page for more information.

Posted by at 02:34 PM | Comments (4)

Stay the Course

President Bush shocked Americans over the weekend when he claimed the Republican strategy for the war in Iraq was not "stay the course." White House Counselor Dan Bartlett made a similar statement this morning.

Think Progress has videos and the full scoop. Here's a sample:

BUSH: We will stay the course, we will complete the job in Iraq. [8/4/05]
SNOW: The second thing you do is you stay the course. [7/10/06]

SNOW: But on the other hand, you also cannot be a President in a wartime and not realize that you’ve got to stay the course. [8/17/06]

BUSH: We will stay the course. [8/30/06]

BUSH: We will stay the course until the job is done, Steve. And the temptation is to try to get the President or somebody to put a timetable on the definition of getting the job done. We’re just going to stay the course. [12/15/03]

BUSH: And my message today to those in Iraq is: We’ll stay the course. [4/13/04]

SNOW: People are going to want more of it, and that’s why the President is determined to stay the course. April. [8/16/06]

BUSH: And that’s why we’re going to stay the course in Iraq. And that’s why when we say something in Iraq, we’re going to do it. [4/16/04]

BUSH: And so we’ve got tough action in Iraq. But we will stay the course. [4/5/04]

Unbelievable.

Posted by at 02:13 PM | Comments (14)

Time Magazine Praises Howard Dean

Time Magazine says "Dean Leaves No State Behind" in this week's issue.

But following the Mark Foley scandal, Democrats are talking about not just winning the House but piling up as many as 40 new seats and also capturing the Senate. And some of the places where they are now competing lie in the blood-red states where Dean has been on his lonely crusade to find blue voters. In Idaho, where President Bush won 68.4% of the vote in 2004, Democrat Larry Grant is close enough to winning a House seat that Vice President Dick Cheney and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert have made visits to campaign for Grant's opponent. In Kansas, G.O.P. incumbent Jim Ryun had Cheney in town to raise money in his race against Democrat Nancy Boyda. Democrats are holding out hope in two House districts in another Republican stronghold, Nebraska.

Go 50-State Strategy!

Posted by at 10:52 AM | Comments (14)

Monday Morning Open Thread

This is an open thread...

Posted by at 09:11 AM | Comments (185)

October 21, 2006

Open Thread

You can post comments here, but only is you've already put in your volunteer hours for the weekend!

The election is 17 days away! Volunteer!

Posted by at 03:46 PM | Comments (308)

October 20, 2006

Governer Dean Does Connecticut

Because CT Bloggers are so awesome, you can check out Governor Dean campaigning with CT Dems, like Congressional candidates Chris Murphy, Joe Courtney and Diane Farrell and Democratic Senate nominee, Ned Lamont.

Thanks, Spazeboy, for the video!

Posted by at 07:30 PM | Comments (18)

That Well Dried Up

A friend sent me over a link to the RNC site. Curious about what kind of propaganda was so amusing that it would be worthy of sharing, I went to check it out. The section, "Posts on Good News From Iraq" popped up.

While that category, in itself, is laughable, even more noteworthy for the GOP should be the fact that they haven't been able to find something to spin into a post for that category since August.

Posted by at 03:45 PM | Comments (9)

A New Direction for Iraq

Because we have all known that "Stay the Course" is not a strategy for success:

The growing doubts among GOP lawmakers about the administration's Iraq strategy, coupled with the prospect of Democratic wins in next month's midterm elections, will soon force the Bush administration to abandon its open-ended commitment to the war, according to lawmakers in both parties, foreign policy experts and others involved in policymaking.
Senior figures in both parties are coming to the conclusion that the Bush administration will be unable to achieve its goal of a stable, democratic Iraq within a politically feasible time frame. Agitation is growing in Congress for alternatives to the administration's strategy of keeping Iraq in one piece and getting its security forces up and running while 140,000 U.S. troops try to keep a lid on rapidly spreading sectarian violence.

On the campaign trail, Democratic candidates are hammering Republican candidates for backing a failed Iraq policy, and GOP defense of the war is growing muted. A new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll released this week showed that voters are more confident in Democrats' ability to handle the Iraq war than the Republicans' -- a reversal from the last election.

Public opinion has clearly shifted far away from the President as his "strategy" of "Stay the Course" has failed to win the peace and has continued to put our troops in harms way.

Richard N. Haass, a former Bush administration foreign policy official, told reporters yesterday that the situation is reaching a "tipping point" both in Iraq and in U.S. politics. "More of essentially the same is going to be a policy that very few people are going to be able to support," said Haass, now the president of the Council on Foreign Relations. He added that the administration's current Iraq strategy "has virtually no chance of succeeding" and predicted that "change will come."

Furthermore, the people who the Administration counted on in the past to keep the public on their side - from Party leaders to security experts - continue to offer dim forecasts for the future of the country.

Along with the political debate, there also is growing frustration inside the U.S. military over Iraq, with some officers debating privately whether the situation there is salvageable. In recent weeks, senior military officers have offered a torrent of negative comments, a sharp contrast to the official optimism of the past three years.
"We're obviously very concerned about what we're seeing" in Baghdad, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said yesterday. He indicated that changes to a plan to restore security to the capital are being considered. "We find the insurgent elements, the extremists, are in fact punching back hard," Caldwell said.

In recent days, the demand for change on Iraq has been especially notable from inside the president's party: Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, returned from a trip to Iraq saying that country was adrift and all options should be considered. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a conservative Republican from Texas, said this week that she is willing to consider the wisdom of somehow breaking up Iraq.

Read the full article, here.

Posted by at 02:05 PM | Comments (8)

What are your weekend plans?

Christy over at FireDogLake, is spot on:

In every state, in every district — somewhere near you, a Democratic candidate could use a hand.
It's Friday — campaign staffs and local Democratic party groups are planning the weekend's canvassing and phone calls. Why not take a few minutes today and contact a local campaign office or Democratic headquarters and sign up to do something. Find a candidate whose values match up with yours, and give them a hand. Go and vote in the early voting — lock in your choices now, and then take election day to hold signs for your candidate. Whatever it takes. Where ever you are needed.

Because whatever progress we are going to make in this nation of ours, it is up to us — all of us — to do the hard work toward it. We can't sit back and hope someone else will do it for us — the time is now.

There are just 18 days left until Election Day. On Monday morning, that number will be down to 15. Time is quickly running out to get out there and help your local Democratic candidates.

Sign up to volunteer now! Or, even better, just walk over to your local campaign office and get right to work. In these final days, an extra pair of hands, or an extra set of feet of the street, will not go to waste.

Posted by at 11:51 AM | Comments (6)

Morning Open Thread

More Grassroots Donor Match goodness today.

From Tracy's Kos Diary, a few more heart warming stories.

I'm a Democracy Bonds owner who made a Very Special Pledge to participate in this program, which I think is pure genius...Within a few hours, I got an email that my pledge was matched, along with a nice note from the donor, a woman from Iowa... and so I immediately logged on to fulfill my pledge. All in all, this was a really gratifying experience.

Kudos to the DNC - and Chairman Dean - for their progressive and innovative programs to finance the party from the grassroots! - Malacandra

This whole idea of matching small donations from others around the country relates to that theme of re-building our community - where human beings are connected to others and we care not just about our neighborhood, but others as well. For me, it was the single most important theme of Howard Dean's presidential campaign and the reason I was so hooked.

So.. I had to play a small part in this program. - TheC

More information on the match here.

This is an open thread...

[Update: Two articles worth reading this morning:
1. Confident Democrats Draft Broad Health Care Agenda - Stem cell research and government negotiation with drug companies anyone?
2. Former Clerk Tells Panel He Alerted Speaker's Office to Foley Concerns - Did the Republican Speaker of the House or his staff know about the Foley complaints...]

Posted by at 08:43 AM | Comments (300)

October 19, 2006

Open Thread

Current Stats for Grassroots Donor Match:

[Update/CM: Grassroots Donor Match is still going strong. We have a bat-like graphic for checking progress, featured to the right. And don't forget the cheese: think about the difference it will make for someone to watch the returns on Election Night knowing that they made victory happen. Imagine what it will feel like to know that a total stranger cared deeply enough about our country to ask them to be a partner in creating that change.]

Posted by at 07:13 PM | Comments (82)

I Just Got My Match!

So exciting!

I just got my match for the day, from Peggy O. in Enfield, CT, she wrote:

All my best to you, Tracy and thank you for the matching contribution.

Woo-hoo!

Current stats:

All because everyday people are stepping up to the plate! Amazing!

You can take part in the 2006 Grassroots Donor Match too! Believe me, you'll be glad that you did!

Posted by at 03:14 PM | Comments (19)

Blocking the Vote

The GOP should be ashamed of disgusting tactics like this designed to supress votes and keep people out of the political process.

From AP

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- State investigators have linked a Republican campaign to letters sent to thousands of Orange County Hispanics warning them they could go to jail or be deported if they vote next month, a spokesman for the attorney general said.
"We have identified where we believe the mailing list was obtained," said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

He declined to identify the specific Republican campaign Wednesday, citing the ongoing investigation. The Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register both reported Thursday that the investigation appeared to be focused on the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

The letter, written in Spanish, tells recipients: "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time."

In fact, immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens can vote.

Complaints about the letters this week prompted state and federal investigations, and Barankin said investigators had been questioning people in Orange County.

The two newspapers reported state investigators had found the location where the letters were printed and mailed to an estimated 14,000 Democratic voters in central Orange County. The Los Angeles Times, citing an unnamed source, said authorities had interviewed Nguyen at his office.

Nguyen did not return messages left by The Associated Press or either newspaper.

Sanchez said in an interview Thursday on Univision that the sender should be punished for stating that immigrants can't vote. It would be unfortunate if the person responsible was another immigrant, she said.

"What a shame, really, that this is still happening in the United States today," Sanchez said.

This is why the Voting Rights Institute and the 50-State Election Protection Strategy is so critical to protecting our votes. Read more, here.

To protect the right to vote this November, the VRI has set up the 1-888-DEMVOTE hotline to provide assistance to voters in all 50 states. Through this hotline, voters will be able to identify their polling location and, most importantly, report Election Day problems as they happen so they can be fixed as soon as possible.

If you have any problems, questions, or concerns, call the Voting Rights Hotline at: 1-888-DEMVOTE.

Posted by at 02:50 PM | Comments (5)

Kansas - Changing Hues

Back in June, we looked at the recent trend in Kansas, that saw more and more Republicans fleeing the GOP and finding a home in the Democratic Party. We heard from Kansas Democratic Party Chairman, Larry Gates, who commented:

These former Republicans are joining the Democratic Party because they recognize that Governor Sebelius and Kansas Democrats are committed to finding commonsense solutions to the issues faced by all Kansans.
Governor Sebelius and Democrats are bringing Kansans together to move our state forward while the Kansas Republican Party is dividing Kansans with the same old partisan bickering. Kansans know our candidates are dedicated to putting progress ahead of partisanship, and the best interests of the people of Kansas ahead of anything else.

Well, today, an article in the Washington Post has people taking another look at Kansas, this time with the 2006 elections around the corner. And, over at MyDD, Jonathan looks the results:

Kansas is a thoroughly Republican state, as it has been since it entered the union nearly 150 years ago. It has been more than 70 years since the state elected a Democratic Senator, something it has only done four times in its history. Yet today, the state appears on track to reelect its Democratic Governor as well as throw out its ultra-conservative Republican Attorney General; polling released Monday by SurveyUSA shows Gov. Kathleen Sebelius holding a 13-point lead over her Republican challenger and Democrat Paul Morrison maintaining a nearly identical lead over the incument Attorney General Phill Kline.

Jonathan also gives the 50-State Stragey some props:

...it is so important that the DNC under Howard Dean has invested in Kansas, as it has in other states. I do not mean to overstate the extent to which the DNC's actions have fostered this potentially changing environment; the hubris and extremeness of Republican politicians in Kansas, as well as the political deftness of Governor Sebelius, have been at the root of these movements. Nonetheless, by putting boots in the field, the DNC is enabling Democrats in Kansas to capitalize on the situation in the state and help woo voters who had not previously even considered voting the Democratic ticket. And, who knows? The investment made today in Kansas by the DNC could make Kansas slightly more purple and enable Democrats to compete in more elections in the state in the future and, more importantly, force the Republicans to play defense in what has historically been a safe state for their party.

Posted by at 01:56 PM | Comments (8)

Updated Numbers

Want an update on where we stand with the person-to-person match? Just keep refreshing this post...

Posted by Josh McConaha at 11:29 AM | Comments (3)

More Polls

Polling continues to look good...

Just 20 days until Election Day, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds approval of the GOP-held Congress is at its lowest mark in 14 years, the Republican Party's favorability rating is at an all-time low and President George W. Bush's approval rating remains mired in the 30s -- all ominous signs for a party trying to maintain control of Congress.
In fact, according to the poll, Republicans are in worse shape on some key measures than Democrats were in 1994, when they lost their congressional majorities.

"There is not a single number in here that would suggest the Democrats will not have their best showing in a decade -- and maybe two decades," says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican Bill McInturff.

...

52 percent say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, compared with 37 percent who want Republicans to maintain power. It is the first time ever in this poll when a majority has sided with one party on this particular question. Earlier this month, Democrats held a nine-point advantage (48-39 percent).

But don't let those numbers fool you, nothing is over until all the votes are counted! We've got loads of hard work to do still! Have you signed up to volunteer?

Posted by at 11:08 AM | Comments (40)

Open Thread

Democrats, apply directly to the problem...

Posted by at 09:26 AM | Comments (157)

October 18, 2006

Wednesday Night Open Thread

Project Runway finale tonight, and we are less than 100 hours from the UCLA/Notre Dame football game.

But more importantly, the election is in 20 days. It's time to go all out. Sign up to volunteer if you haven't already. Even two hours of phone calls can make a difference on Election Day.

This is an open thread...

Posted by at 06:30 PM | Comments (134)

Update: Grassroots Donor Match Needs More Pledges

Yesterday, we sent out an email from Governor Dean asking people who had donated previously to pledge to match a donation of a first time DNC donor. This was a new twist on old school fundraising drives where an anonymous donor matches all donations made within a certain time frame. We wanted to give real people the chance to match donations.

Well, it turns out we're running out of pledges.

We need your help. To keep the Grassroots Donor Match going, we need you to pledge to match another's contribution: http://www.democrats.org/pledge

This wasn't planned and, unlike some fundraising asks, isn't a gimmick. In the last three hours, we've had over 1,500 new contributors to the DNC -- each of them matched with an existing donor. Unfortunately, so many new donors want to have their donation matched that we're running out of matching pledges!

We need your help. If you'd like to make a pledge and be a part of this unique match program, you may do so here: http://www.democrats.org/pledge

Posted by at 02:21 PM | Comments (16)

50-State Strategy: More Competitive Races

It's official: the 50-state strategy has expanded the number of targeted races for the 2006 midterm elections.

WaPost says:

Republicans have tacitly acknowledged that Democrats are right about the expanding field of competitive races. In recent days, for instance, national GOP organizations have pumped money into a race for an open seat in Idaho and into other races that were previously regarded by both parties as out of reach for Democrats.

Think about it - races that no one could have predicted would be even remotely close are now within the margin of error. A race for an at-large U.S. House seat in Idaho is now being flooded with money - on the Republican side - as GOP strategists try to protect what was once considered a safe seat.

This is exactly what the 50-state strategy is all about - not conceding seats when people everywhere are ready for the Democratic Vision.

Something New

Today Governor Dean sent the following e-mail to Democrats across the country. It's the second step in our Grassroots Donor Match program, which focuses on building the Democratic Party, by increasing the amount of people who are participating in the process.

Dear Fellow Democrat,

People have been talking about you.

I've been talking with people who have donated to the Democratic Party in 2006, and over 2,000 people have a message for you:

If you donate before Election Day, one of them will match your contribution -- and you'll get to meet that person online.

You've probably gotten a message from an organization saying that some anonymous, wealthy donor will match your donation. We're going to try something different.

Right now, over 2,000 people who found a few dollars in their budget to support Democrats in this historic election are waiting to match the donation of someone who hasn't given yet this year.

They're people just like you who believe that every Democrat should own a piece of this party -- in contrast to the special interests and lobbyists that own the Republican Party (as if Americans needed another reminder of that, Ohio Republican Congressman Bob Ney pleaded guilty to corruption charges on Friday).

When the people fund our party, that's who we're accountable to when we win. Just choose your amount, make your donation and you'll see the name and town of the person who will match your donation. You'll even see a message from that person, and have the opportunity to reply. Make your donation now:

http://www.democrats.org/match

What will your donation do?

You'll be funding the broadest get-out-the-vote program in our party's history. Our 50-state strategy deployed nearly 200 staff to the field in all 50 states over the last year and a half. They've been building the networks of volunteers and doing the heavy lifting to build our organization everywhere.

When we started, in some states the Democratic Party barely existed as an organization. Now, we're thriving everywhere thanks to the investment of ordinary Democrats like the one who will match your donation.

We're transforming this nationwide operation into an unprecedented 50-State Turnout drive that will elect Democrats up and down the ballot in every state.

Races that no one ever thought we could win, up and down the ballot of every state, are now in play. And it's up to you to seize the opportunity -- by paying for organizers, canvassing materials, vans to drive voters to the polls, and everything else that goes into winning an election.

A donation today is an investment in the future of our country. Someone is waiting to match your donation -- every dollar you give will have twice the impact, and you'll meet the person who's matching your gift:

http://www.democrats.org/match

Here are a few of the messages from the people who have promised to match donations:

"I know that many of us have busy lives -- jobs, children, community groups we participate in. Not everybody is able to devote large amounts of their time or budget to politics. But even a little bit helps, and if all of us who want change chip in just a bit -- the value of one dinner out, one day of phonebanking -- we can make a huge difference to America's future." -- R.M.

"We desperately need to change the direction of our government's policies. Wealthy special interests are pouring millions of dollars into GOP coffers to protect the status quo. The only way to fight back is to encourage millions of Americans to make small donations. I hope this matching pledge helps in that effort." --Jon

"I hope you will join me in making even just a small contribution to help strengthen the Democratic Party and democracy in America. When I make even just small contributions to the DNC, I feel empowered. It's just a small amount, but together we get a chance to change the direction of our country for the better. Just think of how proud you will feel on November 8th, after Democrats have been elected across the nation, and you will think, I helped do this. I made a difference in this world." --Jane

A message like these is waiting for you when you make your donation. You can do it now:

http://www.democrats.org/match

We've changed the way the Democratic Party does business. More Democrats are standing up and fighting back, and more Democrats are poised to win.

And when we do, we're going to have a party in power that is accountable only to the people.

The only piece missing is you.

Please make your donation today:

http://www.democrats.org/match

Thank you.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Posted by Tracy Russo at 11:50 AM | Comments (7)

Deadly Days in Iraq

When will it end?

Ten U.S. troops were killed in Iraq on Tuesday, one of the bloodiest days of the war for American forces outside of major combat operations. With nearly two full weeks to go until the end of October, the month is proving to be devastatingly lethal for both U.S. forces and Iraq's military and civilian populations.
At least 68 U.S. troops were killed in the first 2 1/2 weeks of October, according to independent databases and wire service counts; last month, 75 American military personnel were killed.

At the same time, least 767 Iraqis were killed in war-related violence during the first 17 days of this month, according to the Associated Press -- an average of 45 deaths per day, compared to an average daily death toll of about 27 over the last 18 months.

When can our troops come home?

Posted by at 11:43 AM | Comments (16)

Wednesday Open Thread

20 days left until Election Day! Are you signed-up to volunteer in your state?

Posted by at 09:47 AM | Comments (178)

October 17, 2006

Listen Up: Podcasting with the DNC

Check out our new podcast page!

Posted by at 07:04 PM | Comments (4)

Cheney Still in a "State of Denial"

Via ThinkProgress:

Rush Limbaugh interviewed Vice President Cheney on his show today. At one point, Limbaugh asked Cheney to respond to growing frustration over U.S. efforts in Iraq.
Cheney acknowledged there is a “natural level of concern out there” because fighting didn’t end “instantaneously.” (Next month, the war will have lasted longer than U.S. fighting in World War II.) Cheney then pointed to various news items to paint a positive picture of conditions in Iraq and concluded, “If you look at the general overall situation, they’re doing remarkably well."

Posted by at 03:57 PM | Comments (21)

Something New

If you are on any major Democratic mailing list, you've definitely gotten the fundraising e-mails that tell you how some fabulously rich Democrat will match your contribution, so it's like giving double or triple what you would ordinarily give.

That's great and all, seeing a combination of high dollar and low dollar giving happen - but we wanted to try something a little bit different. Governor Dean came to the DNC believing in the awesome stregth of people-powered politics. The belief that growing our party starts, not just by growing our coffers, but by bringing more people into the process of participating in our democracy.

It was out of that belief system, that Grassroots Donor Match 2006 was born.

This unique tool gives an existing donor to the Democratic Party the power to match someone else's donation. If you choose to participate, you will have the opportunity to match the donation of someone who hasn't given yet in 2006, or to make your first contribution this year and have it matched.

In an e-mail today, Governor Dean wrote:

We're transforming this nationwide operation into an unprecedented 50-State Turnout drive that will elect Democrats up and down the ballot in every state. Our organizers have been working on the ground for months -- long before many campaigns even started.
Races that no one ever thought we could win, up and down the ballot of every state, are now in play. And it's up to you to seize the opportunity -- by growing the base of donors to fund more organizers, more canvassing materials, and more vans to drive voters to the polls. That's how we will win this election.

You can be the deciding factor in someone's decision to invest in the future of our country. They will know that every dollar they give will have double the impact.

Whether it's organizing, communicating or fundraising, our party is about ordinary people.

You have the power to make a connection that brings someone new into the political process.

Think about the difference it will make for someone to watch the returns on Election Night knowing that they made victory happen. Imagine what it will feel like to know that a total stranger cared deeply enough about our country to ask them to be a partner in creating that change.

To me, building our party, one person, one precinct, one county, one district, one state at a time is what is going to transform, not just our Party, but our country. And that's what this is all about.

Posted by at 01:48 PM | Comments (1)

Open Thread

Don't forget to check out your voter registration/absentee ballot deadlines.

Posted by at 09:48 AM | Comments (198)

October 16, 2006

Bush DISapproval at All-time High

Something your momma would be proud of...

A new CNN poll shows that public disapproval of President Bush has reached an all-time high. Sixty-one percent of Americans now disapprove of Bush’s handling of his job as President.

ThinkProgress also has some other interesting highlights from the poll.

Posted by at 05:26 PM | Comments (28)

Guess He'll Just Eat Worms

Poor Denny Hastert.

Posted by at 05:23 PM | Comments (5)

Ken Mehlman Just "Can't Recall"

First, Ken Mehlam didn't really know Jack Abramoff:

"Abramoff is someone who we don't know a lot about. We know what we read in the paper."

Now, he says:

"I know Jack," Mehlman said. "I certainly recall that if he and others wanted to meet I would have met with them..."

But, what did they meet about? Ken Mehlman just can't recall...

On CNN this weekend, Mehlman was asked about this Los Angeles Times article which asserted:

For five years, Allen Stayman wondered who ordered his removal from a State Department job negotiating agreements with tiny Pacific island nations — even when his own bosses wanted him to stay.
Now he knows.

Newly disclosed e-mails suggest that the ax fell after intervention by one of the highest officials at the White House: Ken Mehlman, on behalf of one of the most influential lobbyists in town, Jack Abramoff.

The e-mails show that Abramoff, whose client list included the Northern Mariana Islands, had long opposed Stayman's work advocating labor changes in that U.S. commonwealth, and considered what his lobbying team called the "Stayman project" a high priority.

"Mehlman said he would get him fired," an Abramoff associate wrote after meeting with Mehlman, who was then White House political director.

On three different occasions, Abramoff said could not remember the affair:

"I also don't recall the specifics of this matter involving Mr. Stayman. But as a matter of course, and certainly the first term, I had, frequently, people come to see me with political issues they wanted talked about. I don't recall that specific matter that he came to me for, but I had a way of dealing with all these matters, which is to let the policy-makers or the personnel deciders know exactly what people said. And they made the decisions. What's interesting about this, though, Wolf, while I don't recall it specifically..." [CNN, Late Edition, 10/15/06, emphasis added]

Maybe now that he's had some extra time to think about it, he can answer a few questions, like...

What exactly did you do on behalf of Abramoff's clients while you were one of President Bush's top political strategists?

What meetings did you set up for Abramoff's clients?

What, if anything, did you receive in return from Abramoff for your assistance?

Did you authorize or know about the leaking of top secret information relevant to Guam to Jack Abramoff?

Did you free up millions for a jail for Abramoff's clients in return for RNC campaign cash?

Posted by at 04:14 PM | Comments (5)

NE-03: Kleeb's Fundamental Stregth

The Omaha-World Herald endorses Scott Kleeb in NE-03:

Two young men are vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne in Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District. Given the unseasoned nature of both candidates, there is a degree of uncertainty about how either would do in Congress.
One candidate, Scott Kleeb, stands out as the better choice. The reason: his fundamental strength - a strength of intellect, a strength of eloquence, a strength of stability.

When pressed aggressively, Kleeb's opponent, State Sen. Adrian Smith, falls back on sound bites and slogans. When pressed under the same conditions, Kleeb draws on different resources - mental focus, breadth of analytical ability and an unshakeable internal steadiness.

Such strength could serve Kleeb well in Congress. Such strength provides him the potential to be a lawmaker respected for making a constructive difference.

As many 3rd District voters know, Kleeb has an unusual background as a cowboy/scholar - a real-life ranch hand who also earned stellar academic credentials, above all for his study of how the American West and cattle country in particular are connected to the world economy.

A most unusual individual, certainly. But even though he is a Democrat (and no Democrat has represented western Nebraska in Congress since 1961, despite several close general elections), Kleeb has shown himself to be thoroughly familiar and comfortable with the cultures and communities of the district...

...Scott Kleeb deserves election this year. If voters extend him that enormous privilege, from his strength, positive results could arise for the 3rd District. His potential should not be doubted.

Posted by at 03:52 PM | Comments (5)

OH-02: Mean Jean Lags Behind

Good news from the Vic Wulsin Campaign:

The Wulsin for Congress campaign raised more money than the Schmidt for Congress campaign in the third quarter and filed with 17% more cash-on-hand than Schmidt. It is very rare for challengers to out-raise their incumbent opponents.
The Federal Elections Commission fundraising reports come on the heels of an independent poll showing Wulsin with a 3 point lead, an endorsement by EMILY's List of the Wulsin campaign, and a rally with John Murtha that drew over 200 supporters.

Wulsin raised $351,036 between July and September. Schmidt raised $332,863. Wulsin also has more cash-on-hand as of October 1 – she has $263,470 and Schmidt has only $224,357. [Release, 10/16]

Posted by at 03:45 PM | Comments (4)

PA-07: More GOP Family Values

The Culture of Corruption strikes close to home for GOP Rep. Weldon:

Federal agents raided the home of the daughter of U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R., Pa.) and his longtime friend Charlie Sexton this morning.
The agents departed Karen Weldon's three-story brick home on Queen Street in Philadelphia with arms loaded with boxes.

A government car pulled into the alley to the back door of the house and loaded boxes into it. Three agents standing in an alley declined to identify themselves.

"I can confirm that we conducted a number of searches regarding an ongoing investigation," said FBI agent Jerri Williams, a spokeswoman in Philadelphia. "Details regarding those investigation cannot be provided because the accompanying affidavit is sealed."

In Delaware County, FBI agents had blocked off Kelli Lane leading to Charles P. Sexton Jr.'s Springfield house, and were removing at least one box and a bag of material from his home late this morning. Sexton, a long time ally of Weldon and a power in Delaware County GOP politics for more than three decades, is a business associate of Weldon's daughter.

The raids came three days after news broke that the FBI is investigating whether the Delaware County congressman used his influence to help his daughter, a registered lobbyist, win consulting contracts.

Weldon is being challenged by Fighting Dem, Joe Sestak.

Posted by at 02:33 PM | Comments (10)

The Bottom Line

Will the President listen to his own commission if they aren't parroting the things he wants to hear?

A commission backed by President Bush that is exploring U.S. options in Iraq intends to propose significant changes in the administration's strategy by early next year, members say.
Two options under consideration would represent reversals of U.S. policy: withdrawing American troops in phases, and bringing neighboring Iran and Syria into a joint effort to stop the fighting.

While it weighs alternatives, the 10-member commission headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III has agreed on one principle.

"It's not going to be 'stay the course,' " one participant said. "The bottom line is, [current U.S. policy] isn't working…. There's got to be another way."

Will we finally have a strategy for success? A plan to bring our troops home? A new direction?

Posted by at 12:46 PM | Comments (9)

GOP: Winning At Any Cost?

The Washington Post has a profile of GOP Speaker Hastert today. It's an interesting read, portraying Rep. Hastert as the ultimate team leader, which should be endearing. Except, it's not. As Congressman Rahm Emanuel said recently, "When it's come to a choice between the integrity of the House or the Republican majority, he's always put his thumb on the scale to protect the majority."

And in protecting that majority, Rep. Hastert has:

He has always been loyal to team players like Foley, who defied his longtime supporters in the sugar industry last year to help Hastert pass a Central American trade bill. He eviscerated the House ethics committee after it admonished DeLay, and tried to change the House ethics rules to help DeLay stay in power. He didn't pay for a fundraiser he held at disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's restaurant until reporters asked about it two years later; the same month of the fundraiser, he wrote a letter opposing an Indian casino that Abramoff was trying to kill, and received $27,500 from Abramoff and five Indian tribes.
Now Hastert finds himself disputing his leadership team over what he knew about Foley, insisting he did not know about Foley's inappropriate behavior until recently, while others say they warned him last spring. He is also under fire for a multimillion-dollar windfall he earned by buying land and then promoting a federal highway nearby.

Under Hastert's "leadership" this Congress has become one of the most bitterly partisian ever...

Hastert's team has shut House Democrats out of the governing process, refusing to allow their bills on the floor, limiting debate, calling midnight votes on complex bills that few have read. The Hastert Rule decrees that the House will consider only bills approved by the GOP caucus -- "a majority of the majority" -- and the speaker has enforced it with few exceptions.

So how does he manage to keep the Rubberstamp Republican Congress in line?

Republicans say Hastert wins by appealing to party loyalty and taking care of members with earmarks, campaign cash and other goodies. Conservatives aren't happy that earmarks have quadrupled under the GOP Congress, but they recognize that the House has passed almost everything Bush has requested, including his efforts to expand executive power.

Republicans have held our Congress hostage. Under Rep. Hastert they have passed legislation that put millions (maybe billions) of dollars in profits in the pockets of drug companies and left our seniors out in the cold.

Republicans let Big Oil write the "Energy Bill" that gave oil companies huge tax breaks. While the price at the pump has skyrocketed, these corporations have posted record profits.

Republicans in Congress refused to allow a vote on the minimum wage on its own, instead they callously tied it to legislation that would increase the minimum wage only if Democrats would vote to also eliminate the estate tax, in order to benefit the richest of the rich.

And the most egregious offense, Republicans in Congress have failed to hold the President accountable for his War of Choice in Iraq. They have blindly rubberstamped his failed "Stay the Course" strategy and have refused to ask the tough questions Americans want answers to - Why weren't we told the truth about the war from the beginning? What is our plan to succeed in Iraq and at what point can our troops begin to return home?

It is long past time for a new direction, a new Congress and a new Speaker.

Posted by at 11:29 AM | Comments (2)

Just Another Manic Monday Open Thread

22 Days.

Posted by at 09:09 AM | Comments (178)

October 13, 2006

Dems in the Field: Three Stories from MN-01

Tim Walz is running for Congress in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. After months of hard work and tireless campaigning, Tim has built a grassroots-powered campaign that has him in a dead heat with his GOP opponent.

Constituent Dynamics. 10/10. MoE 3.08%
Walz (D): 47
Gutknecht (R): 48

Grassroots campaigning is the true heart of any campaign. It's the feet on the street that make or break you in the final days and it's the inspiring people to come out, day after day, to volunteer for your campaign that is a candidate's truest measure of success, at least in my book.

Here are three stories from the Walz campaign.

Signs of Change

On a Friday night this summer, a volunteer and I were putting up yard signs along a county highway here in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. We decided to stop at a farm house that had both Democratic and Republican lawn signs posted. Some people along this highway will allow anyone to post a sign while others only post signs of candidates they actively support. We knocked on the door and explained the purpose of our visit. The home owner said, “Sure, we’ve been waiting for you guys. Please run out and take the Republican signs down and put up your signs!” When we got out to the bean field we realized the signs we were supposed to take down were Congressman Gutknecht’s. Every time I drive by that bean field I can’t help but smile as I read Tim Walz for U.S. Congress.

"Knock and Drag"

On a morning canvass this summer, I was walking a route in Winona, MN and was walking in a precinct made up primarily of Winona State students. At one door the student who I was looking for had moved but the student currently living there was big supporter and wanted to know what they could do to help. I told them how important canvassing was and they signed up on the spot and came out for the afternoon canvass shift!

Knowledge is Power

At the Rochesterfest festival, an intern I were gathering email addresses for our Walz Wire monthly email update at the same time the Gutknecht team was also gathering signatures. I sent our intern over to see what the Gutknecht team was gathering signatures for and went back to collecting email addresses. When I met back up with our intern she had actually recruited one of the Gutknecht volunteers to work on our campaign. It turns out the Gutknecht volunteer was a high school student who hadn’t heard about Tim and just wanted to get involved in politics but when she heard what Tim was all about, she knew she had to join the Walz team!

Send us your stories and pictures! | Volunteer

Posted by at 02:28 PM | Comments (68)

It's a Beautiful Afternoon...

...to knock on some doors and spread the Democratic message!

Volunteer!

This is an open thread....

Posted by at 02:02 PM | Comments (387)

The "Extent of Their Usefulness"

More Republican values on parade:

A former deputy director of the White House office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is charging that many members of the Bush administration privately dismiss its conservative Christian allies as “boorish” and “nuts.”
The former deputy director, David Kuo, an evangelical Christian conservative, makes the accusations in a newly published memoir, “Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction” (Free Press), about his frustration with what he described as the meager support and political exploitation of the program.

“National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as ‘ridiculous,’ ‘out of control,’ and just plain ‘goofy,’ ” Mr. Kuo writes.

In an interview, Mr. Kuo’s former boss, James Towey, now president of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., said he had never encountered such cynicism or condescension in the White House, and he disputed many of the assertions in Mr. Kuo’s account.

Still, Mr. Kuo’s statements, first reported Wednesday evening on the cable channel MSNBC, come at an awkward time for Republicans in the midst of a midterm election campaign in which polls show little enthusiasm among the party’s conservative Christian base.

While many conservative Christians considered President Bush “a brother in Christ,” Mr. Kuo writes, “for most of the rest of the White House staff, evangelical leaders were people to be tolerated, not people who were truly welcomed.”

The political affairs office headed by Karl Rove was especially “eye-rolling,” Mr. Kuo’s book says. It says staff members in that office “knew ‘the nuts’ were politically invaluable, but that was the extent of their usefulness.”

Without naming names, the book says staff members complained that politically involved Christians were “annoying,” “tiresome” or “boorish.”

This really shouldn't be a surprise, aide to convicted Republican super-lobbyist, Jack Abramboff, Michael Scanlon, already gave us a taste of the GOP disdain for the right-wing base they pander to:

"The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees," Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them." The brilliance of this strategy was twofold: Not only would most voters not know about an initiative to protect Coushatta gambling revenues, but religious "wackos" could be tricked into supporting gambling at the Coushatta casino even as they thought they were opposing it.

Posted by at 11:12 AM | Comments (25)

Expectations

Paul Krugman has an interesting column in today's NYT which he does some "Congressional arithmetic" and considers the Dem chances for 2006.

Here’s what’s happening: a huge Democratic storm surge is heading toward a high Republican levee. It’s still possible that the surge won’t overtop the levee — that is, the Democrats could fail by a small margin to take control of Congress. But if the surge does go over the top, the flooding will almost surely reach well inland — that is, if the Democrats win, they’ll probably win big...

So if Dems take the House, which Krugman seems to think is likely, (I'm not counting any chickens...) does it challenge a whole slew of CW about American politics, elections and the red vs. blue debate?

So if the Democrats win, they’ll probably have a substantial majority. Whether they’ll be able to keep that majority is another question. But be prepared to wake up less than four weeks from now and learn that everything you’ve been told about American politics — liberalism is dead, whoever controls the South controls Washington, only Republicans know “the way to win” — is wrong. (Are we seeing the birth of a new New Deal coalition, in which the solid Northeast takes the place of the solid South?)
The storm may yet weaken. The Iowa Electronic Markets, in which people bet real money on election outcomes, still give Republicans a roughly 40 percent chance of keeping control of both houses of Congress. If that happens, will it mean that Republican control is permanent after all?

No. Bear in mind that the G.O.P. isn’t in trouble because of a string of bad luck. The problems that have caused Americans to turn on the party, from the disaster in Iraq to the botched response to Katrina, from the failed attempt to privatize Social Security to the sudden realization by many voters that the self-proclaimed champions of moral values are hypocrites, are deeply rooted in the whole nature of Republican governance. So even if this surge doesn’t overtop the levee, there will be another surge soon.

All of these predictions, these expectations, are based on "what ifs" and polling that could be great, but could also be not so great. I don't really know. But I do know that we've got a trio of hard weeks of work ahead of us and nothing is over until the polls are closed. So if you haven't already, go to your local campaign office and volunteer to make November 7, 2006 a really good day.

Posted by at 10:20 AM | Comments (2)

Culture of Corruption: Felony Charges and Prison Time

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Rep. Bob Ney is the first congressman to fall in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling case, a controversy that has reached the White House and Capitol Hill.
In his sixth term, Ney is to enter a guilty plea today to two felony charges that could send him to prison for up to 10 years.

Ney agreed to plead guilty a month ago to charges of conspiracy and making false statements, acknowledging that he had deprived the public of his honest services.

The Heath congressman says he took tens of thousands of dollars worth of trips, sports tickets, campaign contributions, meals and casino chips in exchange for legislation and public statements supporting lobbyist Abramoff's clients and a foreign businessman.

With the Justice Department recommending a punishment of 27 months in prison, the congressman might announce his decision to step down when he appears before U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, an appointee of President Clinton.

Longtime Washington lawyer Stephen Ryan said "the most likely event" is that Ney will quit in front of the judge because that would represent acceptance of responsibility for his crimes, a critical issue with regard to the length of his prison term.

Posted by at 10:03 AM | Comments (2)

TGIF Open Thread

Woo-hoo! It's Friday! That means tomorrow and Sunday all of us working stiffs can go get out in the field for some GOTV!

It only works if we all play our parts!

Sign-up to volunteer in your state today!

Check out 100actions.com!

Send in your photos!

Posted by at 09:19 AM | Comments (62)

October 12, 2006

Today In Iraq

A quagmire...

The senior American commander in Iraq said Wednesday that violence in Baghdad had reached its highest levels in recent weeks, despite the assignment of thousands more American and Iraqi troops to the capital in August.

When will this end? Make sure your local papers hear your point of view. Write a letter to the editor about the President's war of choice in Iraq today and share your thoughts.

Posted by at 05:12 PM | Comments (3)

By the Numbers

Chris over at MyDD breaks down the latest poll dump for us. It's looking good, but nothing is in the bag. We've got 26 hard days left, so keep that in mind...

The new Majority Watch from Constituent Dynamics will be released in a few minutes. Based on 63 polls of 48 districts of 1,000 likely voters each, they will show Democrats currently ahead in the House by 19 seats, 224-205, or the exact, 19-seat margin of the Republican Majority after the 2002 elections. It is also a significant increase from the 219-214 seat lead for Democrats found in the Majority Watch polling from late August and early September.
This 19-seat lead will not even include seven competitive, Republican-held districts that are currently being polled, and six districts that are currently tied. In fact, perhaps most stunningly, the districts with "safe" leads outside the margins of error break 217-198 in favor of Democrats. The previous set of polls actually showed Republicans ahead on safe seats, 205-199. Further, since TX-22 was not polled, that means Democrats already have the magic 218, outside the margin of error, with between 19 and 26 more races in the "toss-up" category. This is a looming landslide.

Help Dems close the deal: Volunteer Now!

Posted by at 05:02 PM | Comments (1)

The Truth Shall Set Your Free

A handy guide to the truth, via Media Matters:

The scandal surrounding the sexually explicit electronic communications former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) allegedly sent to underage former congressional pages -- and the House Republican leadership's alleged cover-up of Foley's behavior -- have produced a wave of misinformation. To aid members of the m