Save The Senate

Know your opponents

Mike W — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:53:08 EDT

"Oppo" is a slang term for opposition research. We must all be watching the national convention of that other party this week to be better prepared for the 4-Nov-08 election.

The excerpt below is from The Art of War (Chinese: 孫子兵法; pinyin: Sūn Zǐ Bīng Fǎ), a Chinese military treatise that was written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu.

Sun Tzu on the Art of War:

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Mike W
Tulsa+
Who has done pro-oppo [professional opposition research]

Oklahoma Democratic Party Celebrates 73 years of Social Security

Mike W — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:37:19 EDT

Democratic Party Celebrate 73 years of Social Security
Friday, August 15, 2008 8:16 AM
Ivan Holmes, Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
For Immediate Release
August 14, 2008

Democrats Celebrate 73rd Birthday of Social Security

Democrats in Oklahoma City gathered Thursday at the Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters to cut the cake and celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Social Security. Both present and future recipients of Social Security were present as a reminder of the promise of income security for senior citizens.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice addressed the gathering, saying he would always fight to protect Social Security from the privatization advocated by President Bush and Sen. Jim Inhofe.

"I am running for the U.S. Senate to protect the interests of Oklahomans, and it is in the interest of every retired Oklahoman, every working Oklahoman and every Oklahoma child that we fight those who want to privatize and essentially undercut Social Security," Rice said. "We need to be vigilant in our support for Social Security. It is the most successful social insurance program in history," Rice added.

In addition to Sen. Rice, current and future democratic office holders stood united to remind everyone that Democrats have been the protectors of Social Security since its inception.

"There is a threat to Social Security," Rice said. "But it is the threat of President Bush's fiscal irresponsibility that has led our nation to a $9 trillion debt, and they have borrowed $2 trillion from the Social Security fund because of their debts. It is the threat of Washington complacency seen in Senators like Jim Inhofe who, after 22 years on the East Coast, has forgotten the interests of seniors and retirees in Oklahoma."

---
Oklahoma Democratic Party | George Krumme Center | 4100 N. Lincoln Blvd. | Oklahoma City | OK | 73105

Commemorating 73rd Birthday of Social Security [8-14-08]

Mike W — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:23:53 EDT

REQUIEM FOR A TROLL or TROLL IGNORED

Lincoln Park Dem — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:45:44 EDT

Our campaign has successfully united for CHANGE on BARACKOBAMA.COM and other Democratic websites.

The grass roots efforts are expanding all across AMERICA. As we increase our attention to GOTV, Hosting and attending events and phonebanking,the attacks on our nominee have intensified.The intent is to distract and disrupt.

This tactic will not survive our unified decision to ignore. No Response, No Debate....Ignore.

We can do this,

Yes we can.

Join other Party Builder and Obama bloggers now and sign up for this event:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpg22s

Party Builder Bloggers

Lincoln Park Dem — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:41:11 EDT

In the event some of you don't know we have a group of bloggers from this blog that have created a group at the Obama site called PB Bloggers:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/PartyBuilderBloggers

This is what we have been able to do collectively so far:

Average Individual Activity 0

# of Members 78

Events Hosted 958

Events Attended 2,329

Calls made 3,983

Doors Knocked 16

Number of blog posts 2,989

Amount raised $5,130.23

These numbers include all individual and group efforts.

Our Group is within $125 of meeting our goal form donations.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/PartyBuilderBloggers

Just wanted to extend an invite to any that have not joined as of yet and send a BIG thank you to all who have helped us!

"This is our time, Our moment."

Yes We Can!

Obama '08 and '12

"America's Town Hall" At 2008 Democratic National Convention

Mike W — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:29:56 EDT

Democrats Release Platform

Mike W — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:02:34 EDT

Democrats Release Platform
By Jonathan Weisman
Barack Obama's takeover of the Democratic Party is nearly complete.
Posted at 6:23 PM ET on Aug 7, 2008
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/07/by_jonathan_weisman_barack_oba_1.html

A draft of the Democratic National Committee's 2008 platform was sent this morning to platform committee members, and aside from some nods to the losers, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, the 54-page document reads like a compilation of Sen. Obama's stump speeches. There is a section on fatherhood, a definition of patriotism (not only to declare our love of this nation, but to show it), a section detailing Obama's newly rejiggered economic stimulus plan, a call for more service, through an expanded AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, and a whole lot of hope.

"It is time for a change," declares the draft's preamble.

The Democrats commit themselves to a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, including a commitment to bring illegal immigrants "out of the shadows" and to allow them to "get right with the law." A party at times riven over the issue of abortion will state it "strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of the ability to pay." That piece of the platform appears to favor doing away with restrictions on the use of taxpayer funds to help finance abortions.

And the party promises to turn away from the intrusive police apparatus of the post-9/11 world of President Bush's War on Terror.The platform pledges to "reject illegal wire-tapping of American citizens," so-called national security letters issued by the FBI that leave citizens little legal recourse, and "torture."

"We will restore our constitutional traditions, and recover our nation's founding commitment to liberty under the law," the draft platform states.

For Edwards, who has bigger issues to deal with at the moment, the DNC makes good on Obama's pledge to him to elevate poverty eradication as a policy goal. "Working together," the platform states, "we can cut poverty in half within ten years."

And Clinton is the star of the platform's section on expanded opportunities for women.

""We have produced [the] first woman Secretary of State, the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, in 2008, [with] Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first woman in American history to win presidential primaries in out nation," the platform states.

---
Renewing America’s Promise
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/Platform%208%207%2008%20%282%29.pdf

Making a difference

Lincoln Park Dem — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:34:32 EDT

As some may know, we have a group of bloggers on the Obama site. We are really making a difference there.

Our stats:

Party Builder Bloggers is making a difference together5Activity IndexMore Details Party Builder Bloggers STATSAll 7 Days 30 Days Average Individual Activity 0# of Members 77Events Hosted 952 20 56 Events Attended 2,291 53 312 Calls made 0 0 0 Doors Knocked 12 12 12 Number of blog posts 2,855 182 182 Amount raised $5,130.23 $286.22 $1,067.91

Please join us:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/PartyBuilderBloggers

Action Alert

Lincoln Park Dem — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:06:39 EDT

Please see following:

Subj: FW: Voting Rights
From: Heather Smith, Rock the VoteDear Rock the Vote staff,I was outraged when I found out the other day that the Department of Veterans Affairs has forbidden voter registration drives in its hospitals, rehab centers and other facilities.

This ban hurts thousands of young veterans who have been injured while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We should be helping our veterans register and vote, not making it more difficult.

Last week, the Senate introduced a bill to overturn the ban and allow states to require V.A. hospitals to offer voter registration to their clients.

Will you join me and ask your Senator to co-sponsor the “Veteran Voting Support Act”?

http://action.rockthevote.com/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=107

Banning the most basic act of democracy from Americans who have fought for our democracy just doesn’t make any sense. We need to stand up for our veterans--especially for the thousands of young veterans who are eligible to vote in their first presidential election.

Please contact your senators today.

Sincerely,

Heather Smith

Almost $800

Lincoln Park Dem — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:39:30 EDT

As many of you know, there are a group of Party Builder Bloggers that also blog at the Obama site. We have grown to a group of almost 80 bloggers.

Yesterday was Obama's Birthday. We raised almost $800 on our Obama site, and most of it was raised yesterday. That's Party Building you can take to the bank!

A Big 'Thank You" to all that helped raise money. It is never too late to donate or join us on our blog :-)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/PartyBuilderBloggers

Sen. Ted. Stevens FACES ARRAIGNMENT; Political cancer for Republicans [AP]

Brett A. Encelewski — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:36:57 EDT

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is due in federal court to answer charges that he lied about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from an oil services contractor.

ADVERTISEMENT

Stevens is the Senate's longest-serving Republican and has been a dominant figure in congressional politics for a generation. After being indicted on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms, Stevens was ordered to surrender in federal court and appear before a judge Thursday.

Stevens has said little about the corruption investigation that has dogged him for more than a year. Thursday's court hearing was expected to be no different. He was expected to plead not guilty, but initial appearances are usually brief affairs.

The indictment is a blow to the senator's re-election bid. Once a seemingly invincible political figure, he now faces both Democratic and Republican challengers who hope his legal woes make him vulnerable to defeat.

Though some GOP colleagues have distanced themselves from Stevens, he has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and his campaign has pledged to continue.

To do so, he would have to ask U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan for permission to travel. Stevens was expected to remain free while he campaigns and attends to Senate business, but Sullivan was to decide what rules the senator must abide by while he awaits trial.

Stevens, 84, is accused of concealing more than $250,000 in gifts and home remodeling services he received from VECO Corp., a once powerful contracting firm. Two top VECO executives have pleaded guilty to bribing state lawmakers. The executives cooperated with the FBI and provided information about Stevens.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison on each of seven counts.

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

TED STEVENS Political Fallout (in AK)

Brett A. Encelewski — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:14:22 EDT

[This is not a very good article; but if you read 'in between the lines' you can 'see the writing on the wall']

by Steve MacDonald
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- News of the indictments against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens comes at a time when he was already fighting for his political life.

Many polls prior to Tuesday's indictments show that the race between Stevens and Democrat Mark Begich is already close.

Without a doubt, Tuesday's announcement from the Department of Justice will have its effect on the election. But what effect it will have depends on who you ask.

It was already shaping up to be one of Stevens's toughest political campaigns ever, and the news out of Washington, D.C. could make his reelection bid even more difficult.

"Partisan politics should play no part, either in what charges we bring or in things like the timing of indictment or that type of thing," said Mark Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general. "That policy has been followed to the letter in this case."

Art Hackney, one of Stevens's long time campaign advisors, is questioning the timing of Tuesday's announcement.

"I think like most Alaskans, (I'm) flabbergasted and taken aback," Hackney said. "One cannot help, in this business, but be a little bit jaded to say it's kind of ironic. The one-year anniversary of the raid on the house, and to drop this bomb just a month before a primary election."

One person keeping his distance from the indictment is the man who perhaps could gain the most from it -- Mark Begich, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.

"I think it's a sad day in Alaska, but we're going to keep focused on the future of this great state," Begich said.

Begich refuses to speculate on how Stevens's legal trouble will impact the election.

"It will always be close, at the end of the day I don't think it's really appropriate to talk about the campaign," Begich said. "It's an issue that Sen. Stevens will have to go through and it will go to where it goes."

While Begich is being guarded in his comments, others are not.

"I think he has a chance of winning the primary -- I don't think he has a chance to win the general," said Dave Cuddy, a Republican candidate for Senate running against Stevens in the upcoming primary.

Cuddy believes his chances of wrestling the Republican nomination away from Stevens in next month's primary just went up.

"As Republicans and Independents, as conservatives start to realize that if Sen. Stevens is the nominee, it's likely that Mark Begich will be the ultimate winner in the general," Cuddy said. "They have to start thinking about whether that's a scenario that they want to support."

In a written statement, Stevens says he's vowing to stay in the race. Most polls show Stevens and Begich are running neck and neck.

The question now is this: Can Stevens survive the news out of Washington, or will he become the latest to fall in the ongoing VECO scandal?

Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the Stevens campaign said the senator's reelection bid continues to "move full steam ahead." He said their office was flooded with calls and emails urging Stevens to press on.

None of Stevens' challengers say they picked up any new support as a result of today's indictment, but Cuddy said he expects to begin picking up what he calls "quiet support" from Washington, D.C., in other words, people who wanted to support his campaign but were afraid to anger the incumbent, Stevens.

Contact Steve MacDonald at stevem@ktuu.com

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

TED STEVENS INDICTED on (7) COUNTS of CORRUPTION

Brett A. Encelewski — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:54:19 EDT

by Jason Moore
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Sen. Ted Stevens on seven felony counts Tuesday.

The charges allege that Stevens accepted more than $250,000 in gifts from VECO Corp. and its CEO Bill Allen and deliberately failed to report those gifts on disclosure statements.

"Earlier today, a federal grand jury here in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging United States Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska with seven felony counts of making false statements," said Matthew Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general, announcing the indictments Tuesday.

Most of the gifts concerned the renovation of Stevens' Girdwood home, where the FBI served a search warrant one year ago.

Prosecutors say VECO employees did most of the work, and Allen paid most of the bills.

"These items were not disclosed on Sen. Stevens' financial disclosure forms, which he filed under penalties of perjury, either as gifts or as liabilities," Friedrich said. "And further, that Sen. Stevens did not reimburse or repay VECO or its chief executive officer for these items."

In the past, Stevens said he paid the bill he received for the project. According to the Seattle Times, Stevens says he spent $130,000 on the renovation.

The indictment claims Stevens received more than $250,000 from VECO and Allen.

Reaction to the charges against the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate spanned the country.

"I've known Ted Stevens for 28 years, and I've always found him to be impeccably honest," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania. "I don't know that anything, that any stronger comment could be made, and that's my comment."

Gov. Sarah Palin weighed in.

"The news today rocks the foundation of our state, and I certainly share Alaskans concern and dismay over the turn of events today," Palin said.

Sen. Stevens Tuesday released a statement.

"It saddens me to learn that these charges have been brought against me," Stevens said. "I have never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a U.S. Senator."

"The impact of these charges on my family disturbs me greatly," Stevens said. "I am innocent of these charges and intend to prove that."

"I talked to the senator personally," said Aaron Saunders, Stevens campaign spokesman. "He was upbeat, and the senator's been fighting for Alaska for a long time and this is another fight and he's going to keep at it."

It was eerily quiet at the senator's campaign office Tuesday. One supporter strolled in to write him a note, summing up the feeling of many.

"I was shocked by it," said John Strachan. "It's a great surprise to me. I was here for the earthquake, and I'm here for Ted's indictment, and of the two I'd rather see an earthquake. This is a disaster."

While prosecutors say Stevens did certain actions to help VECO during the time he was receiving the gifts, the indictment does not allege bribery, which would require prosecutors to prove a formal agreement that Stevens would make official acts in exchange for benefits.

Since the federal corruption investigation began in Alaska, there have been seven convictions, including three lawmakers, former Gov. Frank Murkowski's chief of staff, a lobbyist, and two VECO executives.

Prosecutors say Bill Allen is cooperating with the Justice Department in this case.

Contact Jason Moore at jmoore@ktuu.com

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

ADDENDUM (by Brett A. Encelewski):

Can we let this man possibly sit in the U.S. Senate another Decade longer? He has been corrupt for years; this is merely the first time he has been CAUGHT. The F.B.I. and the Federal Grand Jury would not indict him if they had not collated some pretty astonishing evidence against him... what I think is compelling is that they skipped his son (Ben Stevens--who was named in the VECO trials) and went straight for the big man himself) ...the writing is on the wall. Let us Unite, join the 'crusade'; join the United Democrats for the Epic Defeat of Sen. Ted Stevens.

Take It Back!

Lincoln Park Dem — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:46:38 EDT

"This spirit of Woody Guthrie lives on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMSsm_B8iaE

I loved this video. It says it all.

Enjoy!

Obama '08"

I didn't consider the song to be country but I guess it leans that way.
Hope you'll give it a listen and if you dig, pass it on to friends...

Senate's 'Dr. No' Spurs Showdown Over Spending

Mike W — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:21:04 EDT

Senate's 'Dr. No' Spurs Showdown Over Spending
By Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 28, 2008; Page A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/27/AR2008072701441.html

Instead of a keepsake photo of a political hero or his family, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has a large framed picture next to his desk that serves as a constant reminder of his political ideology. Inside the black frame and matting is a single word, in large white letters: "No."

Coburn has become best known as the lawmaker who says no -- no to increased funding for unsolved civil rights crimes, no to creation of a national registry for victims of the disease ALS, no to more money for child pornography prosecutions.

Using every parliamentary tactic at his disposal, Coburn has tied the Senate in so many knots that Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has decided on an extraordinary tactic: He will devote most of the Senate's time this week to breaking the one-man stranglehold.

Rolling 35 bills into one omnibus package, Reid will try to leap all of Coburn's parliamentary hurdles at once and win approval for dozens of programs worth more than $10 billion.

"For those of you who may not know this," Reid told reporters recently, "you cannot negotiate with Coburn. It's just something that you learn over the years... is a waste of time."

Most of the bills, including a child pornography law that passed the House 409 to 0 in November, are so noncontroversial that they would normally sail through on voice votes, with no roll call taken.

But not while "Dr. No" is in the Senate.

---

complete copyrighted story at link above

100 days until 2008 Election Day

Mike W — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:19:10 EDT

US Senate Goal: 60+ seats

Mike W — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:01:12 EDT

BEGICH leads Sen. TED STEVENS (50%-41%)!!!!!

Brett A. Encelewski — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:11:09 EDT

A Rasmussen Reports poll released today shows Mayor Mark Begich with an nine-point lead (50%-41%), up from a two-point deficit last month.

That's an 11 point swing!

We've been on the air in Alaska for two weeks and these ads reminding voters of Mark's strong record of success are clearly paying dividends.

To stay on the air for the month before Alaska's primary election on August 26 we need your help.

Will you help us keep our ads and message of positive change on Alaskans' televisions?

http://www.begich.com/contribute

While this is good news, we know Sen. Stevens, his DC Republican allies, and special interest friends will now throw everything from their bag of tricks at Mark in an attempt to drive down his strong favorability ratings.

Will you donate now to help us fend off this negative onslaught and keep Mark in the lead?

http://www.begich.com/contribute

Thank you for your continued commitment to electing a U.S. Senator from Alaska of whom we can be proud.

Heather Rauch
Campaign Manager
Alaskans for Begich

FWD: from;
Brett A. Encelewski
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate [AK]

Share Resources

Lincoln Park Dem — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:35:54 EDT

I personally love to read my news on the internet. When I post I try to link my source whenever possible.

Thought it would be helful, for me at least, to share some of our sources. I know I would love to have some good sources and reads added to my repitoure.

Here's a few sources I like and are good reads:

http://www.jedreport.com/

Polling...has all the latest polls and poll averages:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/

Love the PBS site for history:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

I belive it would help us all if we shared some of our sources...it would help me.

Lieberman

Lincoln Park Dem — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:05:49 EDT

A few things about Lieberman our 'Independent Democrat'. Saw him this morning on Fox and he said he would speak at the GOP Convention in support of McCain but would not speak out against Obama.

Wondering what people thought.

1. Do you think it would hurt or help McCain if Lieberman was McCains VP?

2. Do think it is appropriate that the Dem caucus boots Lieberman if speaks at the GOP Convention?

I hope we win enough Dem Senate seats to boot his arse and still hold a majority.