Tony Trupiano is one of our Blue America candidates running for a House seat in MI-11, and he's someone that we'd very much like to help. He visited with Howie Klein here during a Blue America chat recently, and he cites his wife and John Amato (Crooka & Liars) as the reason he decided to run in the first place.
The intrepid Howie Klein is working with the people who did this ad to adapt it for a cable buy in Tony's district, but we need your help. For those who can afford to contribute to our Blue America PAC, that would help us to extend the buy and really give it some impact in the district. But people often tell us they're on fixed incomes and would like to find another way to help, so we also need some opposition research done on Tony's opponent, Thadeus McCotter. They're looking for the following:
- The number of times he voted with the President's legislation (percentage), and where he ranks in terms of House members who have voted with the President
- Specific negative legislation annotations (issues that people will be responsive to in the district)
Anyone who can take the time to collect this information on McCotter and leave it in the comments would really helpiful. We'd love to get the information to the ad folks tonight so we could get it done and on the air soon, in time to help Tony out. So if you've got some cash to spare, or you're good with the Google, please pitch in — the Blue America project has been amazingly successful and it's all because people have contributed their time and energy to it.
We're also excited about Ricki Lee Jones and the Maxwell/Mosher band going to Connecticut to perform "Have You Had Enough" on Ned Lamont's bus tour from November 2-4. We've had some incredible successes this election season, and we hope the ad for Tony will be another home run.
Related posts:
- What We Learned from the Supplemental: If Obama Wants a Public Plan, the Blue Dogs Will Do It
- Tony Coelho Lobbies for Drug Industry Self Regulation
- Blue America Launches New TV Initiative in Arkansas — And We Need You
- Supplemental: Why Must Progressive Members of Congress Grovel For the Blue Dogs?
- Whipping Blue Dogs on Single Payer
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Dixie Chicks playing Hardball now.
Tony!
Kobe!
Ws buds (via Steve G.)
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/…..op-on.html
Go TONY!!!
EPU’d but this is some of the most imporant news on the US House today:
OT, but imprtant:
Diane Benson’s campaign is announcing at this hour the results of a poll taken October 24-25 by Hays Research Group which shows the following results in the Don Young-Diane Benson Congressional race for Alask’s sole seat. A poll on October 15 by Cracium and Associates, using the same methodology as HRG, showed Benson 16 points behind Young.
HRG results:
Don Young 43%
Diane Benson 34%
OPther candidates 7%
Undecided 15%
Refused to answer 2%
Benson has gone from 30 points behind in mid-September to 16 points in mid-October to less than ten points behind with 12 days left in the race.
In yesterday’s sole debate, the Green Party candidate publicly threw his support to Benson. The Green Party usually polls between 4 and 8% in the Alaska House race. The poll was aken before the debate.
Additionally, the Alaska press is finally asking Young’s campaign serious questions about his ties to Jack Abramoff, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay that the media should have been asking months ago.
The Benson campaign is hoping this momentum to within ten points of Young will finally bring in Democratic Party funds for the charismatic candidate. So far, she has received no Democratic Party money and has relied on places like firedoglake, ActBlue and other internet donations for virtually all her out-of-state campaign funds.
Kris Pierce, Benson’s campaign manager asked me to especially thank fdl readers and egregious for their help in keeping the campaign bouyed and advancing!
I’ll see your Hillary, and raise you three Dixie Chicks.
Not trying to be rude, but he needs to fire the photographer that suggested that camera angle.
Does this mean Trex will not be joining them? I think that is a wise decision.
Yay Tony and thanks Jane!
OT–
Rove: the math
Boosh: the google
Rethugs: creating their own reality– fools rooling and drooling until the elections.
Well, the first thing I found out is that Tony’s opponents name – Thaddeus (McCotter) – is spelled with two “d”s.
“Vietnam’s Roaring Economy Is Set for World Stage”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10…..p;emc=eta1
Just wanted to remind everyone what can happen when the U.S cuts and runs as we did in Vietnam.
Some shekels to Tony… he was great on Ed Schultz today…and what the hell… another toss of some funds to Victoria Wulsin… just because Mean Jean Schmidt is so very full of Schidt…
Tripiano or
Trupiano ?
McCotter’s record of support for Bush 2005-2006, per CQ.
Any guide to issues in his district that he/we would focus on?
OT and I think very important. Katie Couric apparently just did an amazing interview (15 minutes) with Michael J. Fox on Parkinsons. Very very supportive, and critical of Limbaugh’s take on this. Than E.T. picked up on it. This (stem cell research) may be one of the issues (October surprise again) that sinks the Repubs in Missouri and elsewhere.
And also OT (but perhaps less so)Can’t Lamont (and his people) go after Lieberman in a strong way on the Terry Shiavo (sp) decision. I think a hard hitting tv ad on this would impact Connecticut voters in a serious way, especially if also linked to stem cell research and the Michael J. Fox incident.
OT also -
Volunteers for Election Day/Nov 8th Voter Protection may sign up with the Ruckus society.
FDL’ers who want to head up non-violent voter protection actions in their area may contact to volunteer.
http://www.progressivepunch.or…..&y=11
This is McCotter’s scorecard at pp
Progressive Score (%)All issues 8.18 Rank 270/433
Richmond @
17
Apparently JL voted in favor of the stem cell research bill both times. I’ve thought of that before.
immanentize @
8
I luv you, but you are being harsh here, imm.
Valley Girl @ 20
But, then go after him on Terry S. – privacy and of life issues. That was as bad if not worse!
MarkH @
13
fixed. thx
OT– KO : Rush makes it to the worst person in the world (again) with Mean Jean coming in second.
lovely.
kirk murphy @ 18
sorry for goofing email pointer in 18…
Valley Girl @ 21
Tyrannosaurs are celebrated for many things, but truth be told, their singing voices are not among those things.
In fact, I think I remember one particular mass-extinction theory mentioning something about a rehearsal of the “Tyrannosaurus Chorus”…
I just pitched in for Tony Trupiano and added a tip for ActBlue. wooT !
“Tony’s is one of the clearest and strongest progressive voices anywhere in America. The opportunity to replace a rubber stamp ZERO like McCotter with someone of Tony’s calibre is mind-boggling, not just for Michigan, but for the whole country.”
Go get ‘em Tony !
Scarborough talking about Michael J. Fox firing back at Rush. Limbaugh, ‘King of Hate’.
Fox is doing heavy lifting here.
Does this mean Trex will not be joining them? I think that is a wise decision.
no comprendo
I feel fortunate that I missed the Limbaugh segment, but saw the Michael J. Fox segment – really powerful.
You know how Bush is always talking about how our intelligence agencies have to have the tools they need to fight the war on terror? And over and over again, people have just rolled over while he slashed and burned at the Constitution? And stood by while thousands of American military have been killed and injured?
Why don’t those people see stem-cell research as being one of the important tools needed in the war on disease?
I really just don’t get it.
Fox: “I don’t give a damn about Rush.”
The cure for Limbaugh in the pipes? Drano.
I just made another donation. Did earlier because I was so impressed by the discussion Tony had with us FDLers.
Good luck Tony. I have my fingers crossed for all of our terrific ActBlue candidates across the U.S.
Wish I could give all of our ActBlue candidates thousands of dollars, each.
punaise @ 29
I don’t get it either. I appreciate the work Trex does here, and there.
Dab, sent you another note.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 28
Sadly, his partners in this were christopher and Dana reeves, who have both passed.
I’d like to see ron reagan, Jr. step up.
OT: Fitzgerald grills witness in leak case.
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor…..90489.html
Apparently he’s taken Libby’s expert witness on memory to the woodshed….
Anne @ 30
Only because it hasn’t been framed that way. Hopefully when there is a sane resident of the White House that will change.
Better late than never.
punaise @ 30
Punaise!! All is explained at 27 — currently in moderation….
Meanwhile, I have great personal news: I have been asked to write an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in a death penalty case this term. Regardless what happens in the election — which I am beginning to allow myself to believe will be good — the fight on the ground continues.
Scarborough poses the question: “Is the RNC racist?” (this is not a difficult question) YES.
UptownNYChick @ 35
I like Ron Reagan Jr, a lot. Probably the only thing I’ve ever agreed with his mother on is stem cell research.
Congrats Imm!
Michael J. Fox is one great human, indeed.
Kudos to him and his family. Christopher and Dana must be beaming upon him from up above.
Wow – imm! An amicus brief for the Supremes – how cool and impressive is that? Am so happy for you – please keep us updated and maybe, eventually, a link or something so we can read it (she asked, hopefully)???
immanentize @ 38
imm – congrats on your opportunity with the amicus brief and props for your advocacy.
i’m assuming your paleophilia as a matter of course. :)
immanentize @ 38
okee-doke, then. I figured there was some snark or joshing involved…
re Court – congrats. can you keep it brief, amiga?
Mean Jean Gone Wild
Love the part about
Projecting much?
immanentize –
Congratulations on the amicus brief!
Thanks Anne!
Kirk, HA! Nervous activity, certainly — but no qualitative value should be attached!
Hey, congrats imm!
Bowers gone wild:
Don’t want to tempt fate, but this is feeling better and better . . . fingers and toes crossed while we do the door to door and phone bank like there’s no tomorrow.
immanentize @ 47
ROTFLMAO
Walk softly, then, and carry a big brief.
Hey imm- that is very great news about your brief- and very good timing indeed! Go for it!
oh and imm,
GREAT news. Good luck with this, and if you are going to crawl into a hole and disappear to do this, please check in once in a while so we know you are OK.
RevDeb @ 49
me to me will be contacting you shortly…
Valley — thanks, a lot {wink and hug}. Indeed, it cannot hurt!
PS (am I in permanent limbo?)
Valley Girl @ 51
I thought I had until Late-Nite to be subjected to posts about briefs.
immanentize @ 54
Depends. How low can you go?
immanentize @ 54
I don’t know. Not mine to make the call. I’ve stepped back from limbo land.
Congrats, imm. Keep fighting the good fight.
My oldest daughter is really into The Innocence Project.
Twisted – I think there’s several hours lag time between sending & receiving. Must be something about Yahoo.
No worries Dab.
So, Imm- what does writing a brief involve, and who made the request? And, hehe, have you spread the word around at your other fav. place?
Balrog @ 53
LOL
dab,
will you be volunteering this Sunday? and if so out of what office? a couple of us may be coming down. And at least 2 of us will be in Meriden for the final push.
dab.
Good on your daughter! When I was younger and more militant about criminal defense work, I was very suspicious of the innocence projects. I feared that they were projecting an idea that only innocent people deserve representation. Back then 10 years ago), some of us were famous for saying, “I prefer to work fo the guilty project.”
But in the end, I was wrong. Innocence projects have done much to educate the people about how “beyond a reasonable doubt” works (or doesn’t) in real peoples’ lives. Add those projects’ works to the increase in DNA exonerations and all told, the criminal justice system is a better place today than it was fifteen years ago.
Give your daughter a big love hug for her work.
Oooh, it looks like the WaPo has a wealth of information on how he voted:
Click HERE for every vote of Thad’s!
SharonW @ 64
All right Sharon! Talk about Hanging Thad.
Balrog @ 55
Balrog, I appreciate so many of your posts here. I also greatly appreciate and respect Trex, and I like his work.
Your choice to insert reminders of whatever conflict or quarrel you may perceive with Trex into other discussions here is not flattering. I would be happy for your sake if you chose to stop.
The next two weeks will demand a lot. Gratutitous personal sniping detracts from the community. Daily gratutitous personal sniping disrupts community.
Qui bono? Not fdl, and not progressive efforts.
I trust you will not find a need to continue behaviors which serve a disruptive function.
These are my views only; I do not speak for anyone formally associated with fdl.
re Trex and singing and Lamont –
1- Trex was in CT pre-primary and worked his butt off, spelled staffers on the phone, no job too mundane – and was a great asset.
2- Trex has one of the loveliest singing voices I have heard … you’ve all missed out so far
While our dear Trex may be a wild man late night, he was certainly the only Lamont HQ volunteer who always had a nicely ironed shirt.
imm and dab- I’d be interested to know more about the Innocence project. A law student here took on a case (not sure if it was part of that project) and got someone exonerated. In the best of worlds, I thought that lawyers who took on defense were not meant to make a pre-judgement about guilt or innocence- that was for the legal process in the court. Hope this makes sense.
Siun @ 67
Good! I like it.
Valley Girl @ 68
Here’s the home page for The Innocence Project:
http://www.innocenceproject.org/
It’s great work that’s being done…
Valley at 61 –
Let me get some more of the nature/details nailed down. This place is not exactly a whispered conversation :~)
But for people who are interested, I will put up some (probably too detailed) info in a couple of weeks.
If you mean by my other “favorite place” you mean my job — I have let it be known quietly and slowly. My idea is to do a faculty presentation on the issue in the Spring just pre-vote time. Fingers crossed.
OT– ooh just saw a (new?) Deval Patrick ad advocating stem cell research and alternative energy– “reaching for the future”.
Just him talking sense.
yay.
Marion in Savannah @ 70
Thanks for that link. This quote is important: This Project only handles cases where postconviction DNA testing can yield conclusive proof of innocence.
good with the Google
i luv it when Jane talks dirty
immanentize @ 71
Yes, that is what I meant. But, I wouldn’t keep it a secret for that long, unless there is some aspect of worry re: this. At the very least I would make sure that your known strong advocates, both locally and nationally know about this. Locally, that’s easy. Nationally, it might be…”I have been asked to do this… I value your opinion, so I welcome any counsel…etc.” Flattery, in short.
Valley,
That is not true of every local Innocence Project. Certainly Barry Scheck’s place has that limitation, but many other projects will help people who do not have DNA evidence lurking in some police locker somewhere. Those are the programs I really respect.
RevDeb @ 62
I’m phone banking tomorrow night in Bethel – and canvassing out of the Danbury office on Saturday.
Definitely want to meet up with you all and would be happy to drive up to Meriden. Unfortunately I have a committment this Sunday.
Are you planning to be there next weekend as well, i.e. when TRex, Tummy Yum and gang are there? If we could get an FDL get-together going – CT Bob, Kirby, xyz, miu, selise, scarecrow, whom ever is around – it would be a blast.
I’m taking the 6th & 7th off from work so I can do whatever needs to be done for Ned the last four days before the election
I’m in MI-11, which used to be solid Dem territory until the early 90’s (primarily though not entirely due to an aging demographic). McCotter’s a former city councilman, then was state rep. Catholic Central grad, real button-polisher – I don’t get the attraction for voters in this district. Livonia is the whitest city in the US with population over 100K though, and ol’ Thaddeus IS lily white…
Valley Girl @ 6:50,
That’s why I think it’s so important. Imagine spending years in jail for something you didn’t do….
Leader
Thursday October 26, 2006
The Guardian
Olmert’s dangerous choice
“Avigdor Lieberman is a bad advertisement for Israel. The latest member of Ehud Olmert’s coalition is a rightwinger who advocates a hard line against the Palestinians – and in a way that borders on the racist.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lead…..12,00.html
Hello firepups from, wait for it, Midland, TX, home of Presidents!!
Germanating idea for a good post for fdl. I like it over here. Hopefully the ladies of the lake will approve.
Balrog.
Seen something you posted about not being a favorite over here! C’mon, bullshit. Balrogs are supposed to walk around and swing blunt objects indiscriminately, and occasionally step on their dicks in the process. Rock on dude!
Jane is a businesslady and you are a customer. Sometimes customers have incontinence. *ilson called me down once, but oh well. Swing that mallet and bite them throats cause that’s what Balrogs do.
kirk murphy @ 66
Why you dirty….
You’re right. I’m wrong. I get crabby after a long day of roller-coaster news and tend to lose it when other FDL’ers are letting off steam in Late-Nite.
TRex, I apologize. I’ve been petty. FDL, likewise.
Now back to Balrog Snark Hour. You asked for it!
Oilfieldguy @ 81
I just can’t understand why it is you spend so much time in the Baja. Must have something to do with oil.
Balrog @ 82
GO Balrog Snark Hour – and thanks for sharing your wit and fire!
(and putting up with me)
Balrog, welcome back! My guess is we’re all a LEETLE tense and cranky and overworked… All the more reason to snark in a safe place! (Lord knows I can’t snark at work…!)
dab from CT @ 77
I’ll be volunteering in Stamford from November 3rd or 4th through the election (I think Urban Pirate is going to be in Stamford also).
I really look forward to meeting everyone!
I think the best time to really socialize will be after 8pm on November 7. Up until then, I think we’re all going to be really focused on doing whatever the Lamont campaign needs, wherever they need us. Good luck to all, and godspeed!
Oilfieldguy @ 81
OFG, I hate to do this, but are you mistaking me for a Cave Troll?
If so, expect a visit through the next Gusher.
Thanks pal. ;)
But I don’t want to smote your ruin on the mountainside!
Valley 76 –
Thanks, as ever, for the good advice. Now all I have to do is write the damn thing!
Boy, this IS time consumming work, but here’s a possibility. He voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, HR 810.
“When it came Fitzgerald’s turn, the veteran prosecutor launched into a nearly three-hour cross-examination of the witness _ psychologist Elizabeth Loftus _ that had some members of the audience shaking their heads.
It was the first public courtroom confrontation between Fitzgerald and Libby’s defense team and foreshadowed a contentious trial.
***
Loftus testified that many jurors don’t understand how memory works and how unreliable it can be.
Fitzgerald challenged the validity of memory research. Citing footnotes in her publications, presenting conflicting statements and questioning her methodology, Fitzgerald got Loftus to acknowledge that a statement in one of her research papers was taken out of context and that a figure in one of her books was incorrect.“
Guaw. Sounds like the expert witness psychologist had some workings of her mind revealed to her by Fitz that she’d rather forget.
.
VG – Marion beat me to it.
There ws a great documentary out a few years ago – don’t know if it’s available on DVD.
http://www.thecurrentonline.co…..online.com
RevDeb @ 62
RevDeb – by the way, I really enjoyed reading about your conversation with Kerry. You folks have been communicating with him for a while now and it seems to be really working.
Oh Christ.
Somebody’s got excerpts from Jim Webb’s novel, Lost Soldiers, and posted them. One scene has a grown man performing oral sex on his young son.
Dammit to hell. Hadn’t anybody read any of this guy’s books before having him run for office?
Yeah, there are the pervo weirdo screeds of Scoots and Lynbot and OFally, but Jiminy Xmas, we all know they can write any raunchy trash they want but a Dem can’t even scribble “ankle” without having that hashed out as seriously pervo for ages.
Damn.
Editied to include link: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c…..010601.php
It’s a linkup to Drudge. Anybody know if this is really in the book.
dab from CT @ 77
Hey, keep me abreast, too. It’s going to be a busy weekend as my son is coming home from college for his birthday, but I’d love to squeeze in a get together if possible.
BTW, dab, I hear good things on internals. hehe
Twisted Martini @ 88
I long ago learned that Martinis are ‘Loud-Mouth Soup’. Love ‘em to death, but I always seem to dish ‘Loud-Mouth Soup’ when I partake.
Ah, what the hell!!!
Balrog @ 96
The trick is no more than 2 in a sitting. And I resemble that remark!
LJ/Aquaria @ 94
I saw that too. People at Kos are saying that those novels are fictionalized accounts that are based on things that Webb actually saw while he was serving in the military – not things that he made up out of an abundance of imagination.
*xyz @ 94
Very true — kuddos to RevDeb and the Mass. Roots folks. They are amazing. I have not always had th ebest impression of Kerry as Senator, but RevDeb has put that negativity aside and has really engaged someone who might one day be a powerful ally of the netroots. She has taught me humility in this respect. Criticism of guys like Kerry is, as my father used to say, “booing from the cheap seats.” Our challenge is to engage, educate, and energize these politicians. RevDeb is the master.
{{bows to the sensei}}
Twisted Martini @ 97
But they keep evaporating!
Here’s another possibility considering the job situation in Michigan. Thad voted for the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement .
It might be worth looking into.
Hey Felix, let’s talk about reality shall we? Like the fact that you are a fuckin racist pig empty suit who couldn’t find you ass with both hands and a flashlight?
Poll: Middle class favoring Democrats
WASHINGTON – Middle-class voters who deserted the Democratic Party a dozen years ago are now giving the party its best chance to reclaim the House since the GOP swept Democrats from power in 1994.
Motivated by anger at President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, 56 percent of likely voters said they would vote on Nov. 7 to send a Democrat to the House and 37 percent said they would vote Republican. Voters in the latest Associated Press-AOL News poll rated Iraq and the economy as their top issues.
“I don’t care if I vote for Happy the Clown, just so it’s not who’s there now,” said Mary Nyilas, 51, an independent voter from Cologne, N.J., who said she would do everything she could to “vote against the powers that put us in this situation” in Iraq.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..on_ap_poll
*xyz @ 98
Well, that’s a lot better than Libby’s child and bear sex book or O’Reilly’s crack ho and pimp sex then.
It is really the end of the world. Dennis Hopper is on the teevee selling retirement services.
a dingo ate the baby @ 78
So do you think our man Tony has a shot?
So now the Allen campaign has resorted to mining Jim Webb’s novels for sex scenes.
If Allen really wants to play rough, maybe it’s time for some Democrats to start going on the shows and asking about that sealed divorce records of Allen’s. All those reporters have a pretty good idea of what’s in there. But Sen. Allen (R-VA) just won’t agree to let them see it.
It’s almost like he’s spitting in their face.
– Josh Marshall
Twisted Martini @ 106
With or without nitros tank?
Twisted Martini @
105
Harley training wheels?
immanentize @ 108
707
SharonW @
104
check out the dust cover endorsements. I guess St. McCain didn’t read it before he praised it.
via Atrios
ruffian @ 107
Anything to change the subject voters care about, that being IRAQ!
immanentize @ 108
Acutally, the quintessential Hopper performance for me is the whacked out journalist in Apocalypse Now. Never saw Blue Velvet.
SharonW @ 95
That’s great news, Sharon. (I’m sure they are doing 24 turn around polling)
It feels like there are good things in the air.
xyz – I agree we’re going to be working flat out. But we can’t canvass or phone bank after 8:30. Don’t know if Urban will have a car – but I’d be happy to make some arrangement to pick you up and drive you up to Meriden if there is some sort of get together.
And, of course, win or lose most of us will be in Meridan on the 7th.
Webb should simply say, that writing about is better than Repugs, who are actually doing it.
LJ/Aquaria,
I went to Amazon and looked at reviews, which seemed to be positive. The reviews of Scooter’s opus, on the other hand, were pretty much devastating. If this is the best that their “let’s attack on personal grounds” strategy for the last 2 weeks can come up with we may be okay.
UptownNYChick @ 115
we have a winner!
So which is worse Felix, the fictional sex that I wrote, or the actual violence and death that you enabled?
Here’s a link to a post on Democratic Underground that gives some cultural context to the scene in Webb’s book that is under discussion.
http://www.democraticundergrou…..15;2491792
50 Quatloos to the SharpTooth via PayPal.
Please accept apology.
Cuz Balrogs can so kick ass on Dinosuars…
So Sen. Allen is now a book reviewer?
Let’s start quoting his sister’s book about what freaking bully he is.
It’s pretty sad when they have to reach into fiction to make an argument.
What about Lynn Cheney’s lesbian shower scenes in her book?
This is ridiculous. He’s writing fiction – no doubt about some depraved character.
It’s not like he’s Big Dog with lots of skeletons in his closet.
And I’m sure Webb didn’t keep his writing secret.
On my honeymoon, I was sitting in Harry’s American Bar in Venice and who should sit down next to me but Dennis Hopper. My wife and I were just leaving, but I was start struck and had to tell him how big a fan I was of his. He was really kind and gracious. My first thought after we left was, “What an Idiot I am.” My second thought was, “Damn, he’s short.”
Twisted Martini @
113
Sorry then Loud-Mouth Soup, you haven’t seen the pinnacle of Hopper. IMHO, of course.
Twisted Martini @
97
Twisted Martini @ 118
psst – TM – i can’t actually see Felix on this thread.
as i live with five cats, i may be inured…
Balrog @ 120
Are you kidding? You got a whip AND a sword!
“Viguerie is commonly considered the father of direct mail marketing. He is one of “the” gurus of the entire conservative movement, going back decades.
Note that in this email he just sent to his list he not only blasts the Republicans, in shockingly harsh language, as offering voters nothing, he also says that it would probably be better if the Dems wont back one house of Congress.
And one final, very telling point. Viguerie provides a list of issues the GOP must focus on in order to win back ec economic and social conservatives – yet he doesn’t mention one single social issue of concern to those who are commonly considered “social conservatives,” the religious right. Abortion and gays are missing totally from his list. So are school prayer, the Ten Commandments, flag burning and pretty much every other issue the religious right cares and screams about.
We are witnessing the beginnings of a Republican civil war that is very much at odds with the current GOP leadership and the religious right.”
Story linked at Raw Story about the bloodletting about to happen in the gooper party. Pretty interesting.
Kirk: Felix is Allen’s middle name, which he hates.
Hopper in Blue Velvet- fuckin incredible movie- one of the best ever.
If that link to cultural information about Webb’s book didn’t work, try this:
http://digbig.com/4nmyg
I wonder if Foley tipped Allen off to these passages.
Twisted Martini @ 128
thanks! and apologies for my referential ignorance….
i am so sick of these freaking people.
rwcole @ 129
Yep. But check out Mulholland Drive. It is.
dab from CT @ 114
dab – sounds good – we’ll have to see how the schedule develops – thanks and keep up the great work!
Balrog, kirk murphy, and TRex… what a marvelous and varied trio you three are. I heart you all for your wildly different online personalities, and for what you have in common: gentlemanly behavior in the best sense of the phrase… and stompin’ on the bad guys.
EPU alert, new thread upstairs
UptownNYChick @ 133
Yeah, well it’s not so fun freaking all the time…
Uh, actually it is. Onward! (through the night)
kirk murphy @ 132
No worries, it’s hard to keep up with this stuff sometimes!
Balrog– Yeah I own both movies. I’ve got a friend from grad school who loves movies and we’ve spent hours watching and discussing both.
NICE map! ; )
http://www.pollster.com/house.php
TRex is going to Connecticut. And anyone who wants to insult him had better find another place to do it, because this is his home.
dab from CT @ 77
Can’t do the 2-4th thing, but I will be going down to Meriden the afternoon of the 5th through the election. Got the hotel room booked. scarecrow is also coming, I think on the 4th through the 8th. Don’t know about anyone else from MA yet. You have my e-mail. Lets do the rest off thread.
Swordswoman @ 136
aw, shucks..now I havta’ go put on shoes so I can look down and while I scuff the toes…
thanks Swordswoman … :)
(SF is having a heat wave.
Thanks, Exxon!)
Jane Hamsher @
142
I only hope that you have enough room for many. This is a large family.
immanentize @ 99
now you are making me blush. Master, NOT. I’m learning my way through this along with the rest of you. The 10 minutes with Kerry was a start. There’s a long way to go and we know it and I think he and his staff know it.
What was strange was the hit and run nature of it all. I was not in a position on Tues or most of Wed. to follow up on the threads so it all just took off wherever it was going to go. To be honest, I still haven’t read all of the thread here and didn’t even attempt to read the 600 comment Kos diary. No time. Too much to do.
But thank you for your confidence in our Rootz group. It is a fine collaborative enterprise born from these very threads.
rwcole @ 129
Great movie, but so freakin’ creepy. That movie unnerved me, totally. Lynch is the master of creepy, dark, perverse.
I don’t think I could ever watch that movie again.
I Gave.
Good luck Tony!
Oh nuts, I missed this thread!! Tony T’s downstate from my district here in Michigan, but I’d really love it if Tony could kick that slimey McCotter out the door.
There’s another resource for dirt on McCotter; the DCCC already did a workup on him. Ugh, what a whore McCotter is!
– $20,000 from DeLay’s ARMPAC
– $1,000 from Bob Ney
– voted 92% of the time with DeLay (and we’re a loooong f*cking way from Texas, mind you)
– $5,000 from Duck Cunningham
Dirty, dirty hands, this one.
Sic ‘em, Tony!!
Balrog @ 124
For all that is holy, Blue Velvet is the quintessential Hopper! Can’t stand the guy as a person, but as an actor… Hoo boy.
That scene of him chasing after Isabella Rossellini calling her “mommy” is permanently burned into my memory banks.
As for the Webb thing, I mentioned Libby (Scoots) Mrs. Darth Cheney (LynBot) and O Reilly and their books. But, like I said, it’s one thing when THEY do it. It’s entirely another when our side does it. You know how these people are.
Don’t know if the book is any good or not. Haven’t read it myself. Not my style, anyway. Just putting out the info, and my first reaction, upon seeing it. Gave me a really bad feeling. The difference between Scoots and LynBot and OFalafel is that they didn’t run for elected office. In VA. Yikes.
It makes a difference, folks.
Sparcatus @ 15
He is willing to impeach! Was one of the first out of the box. Tony is a true liberal. He is not just another conservative D in a red state. He is a blue liberal in a blue state. He if knocks off his Republican thug, we do gain big time for his victory. Please support Tony.
Try http://www.vote-smart.org for user-friendly information on votes, positions, and ratings by various interest groups.
I searched for criminal/civil court records in WI. According to the database, he’s clear.
http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl
McCotter voted with President Bush 85% of the time.
McCotter voted the GOP party line 92% of the time.
(http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/members/ThaddeusMcCotterMI-11.html)
if anyone has a job working for the democrats or a liberal group, please let me know!
Rep. McCotter voted against cracking down on the oil and gas industries price gouging.
Rep. McCotter voted for the GOP energy bill that gave billions to oil, gas and nuclear industries.
Big oil and gas industries have given Rep. McCotter $12,950. Any surprise?
Rep. McCotter voted to strip overtime protection from millions of workers.
Rep. McCotter voted for the GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Bill that will give billions to businesses and the health care industry, while forcing seniors to accept annual increases in premiums and deductibles and a growing gap in coverage for the prescription drugs they buy.
Rep. McCotter voted against allowing millions of Americans to save their hard-earned dollars on prescription drugs by re-importing them from Canada, even though these were U.S. made and patient safety was ensured.
$20,000 from Tom DeLay’s ARMPAC.
$1,000 from Bob Ney, the first congressman to plead guilty in the Jack Abramoff investigation.
Voted to weaken House ethics rules when DeLay proposed doing so as GOP Majority Leader.
Voted to allow the GOP House Leader to continue to serve after an indictment, an apparent tactic to protect DeLay.
Voted with Tom DeLay 92% of the time (through 3/31/2006)
Rep. McCotter voted to continue awarding contracts to Halliburton even if the Pentagon’s own audit processes found that more than $100 million of their contractor’s costs in Iraq were unreasonable.
Rep. McCotter opposed expanding access to the military’s TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of Reservist and National Guard members, even though 20 percent of all Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage.
Rep. McCotter voted against granting a bonus to grant a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and Reserve forces.
1,861 water systems in 29 states have been contaminated with MTBE, exposing as many as 45 million Americans to this potential carcinogen, but Rep. McCotter voted to protect the companies responsible from lawsuits by communities that need their help to clean up these systems.
Rep. McCotter voted against bipartisan reform of the Endangered Species Act.
While tuition costs are rising for ordinary Americans, Rep. McCotter voted to cut Federal student aid by $12.7 billion — the biggest such cuts in history.
Rep. McCotter sided with social conservatives against patients with debilitating diseases and voted against expanding Federal funding of stem cell research.
(http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/members/ThaddeusMcCotterMI-11.html)
Twelve days out and only now the national media is asking for oppo research on McCotter…
Thankfully, Tony’s own site and his intrepid battalion of volunteers (and I use that in the literal sense since there’s more than 700 of us, equivalent to an full Army battalion) has already done the work…
Here’s the CORRUPTION Stuff — basically, McCotter can’t be proven to be PERSONALLY corrupt, but he is very “corruption-adjacent” and his votes show a high degree of “corruption tolerance:”
The McCotter Record on Money & Ethics
Thaddeus McCotter’s Tainted Donations
2002:
$1,000 American Liberty PAC (outgoing U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-OH)
$5,000 American Prosperity PAC (former U.S. Rep Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-CA)
$10,000 Americans for a Republican Majority PAC (former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX)
2004:
$10,000 Americans for a Republican Majority PAC (DeLay)
McCotter’s “Corruption-Tolerant” Votes:
McCotter voted to weaken the ethics rules in a move that many say served only to protect Tom DeLay. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll006.xml]
Then he flip-flopped when Republicans realized it was “impossible to win the communications battle” over the gutted ethics rules. He voted to put the old rules back into place. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll145.xml]
When Democrats offered a solution to clean up the House by strengthening ethics rules, Thaddeus McCotter voted not once, but twice to make sure it never even came to an up or down vote. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll070.xml AND
Reply
olo @ 153
We’re in Michigan, not Wisconsin. Unfortunately, he’s clear here, too. A criminal record would be too much of a “low-hanging fruit” to miss…
This is the press release (followed by some letters to the editor) that caused McCotter to become unhinged at the one-and-only debate on October 12:
McCotter misuses taxpayer money for campaign literature
Congressman’s ‘abuse of official mail’ is offensive: Tony Trupiano
Friday, August 18, 2006
Dearborn Heights, MI – Residents of Michigan’s 11th Congressional District saw some of their hard-earned tax dollars in their mailboxes this week, in the form of campaign literature sent out from the office of Congressman Thaddeus McCotter.
“This is misuse of taxpayer funds at its most basic level,” said Tony Trupiano, the Democratic candidate challenging McCotter in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District. “As a taxpayer and a constituent, I am personally offended by this abuse of official mail.”
The document in question, a slick full-color brochure entitled “Ensuring Opportunity for All Americans,” includes McCotter’s Congressional office in Livonia as a return address. Below that is the legally-required statement “Public Document – Official Business” and the disclaimer “This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.”
Members of Congress are allowed to send mail to constituents, a privilege called “franking” that dates back to the founding of the nation. “But there has always been, and needs to be, a dividing line between communicating official matters to constituents and brazenly touting your reelection bid,” Trupiano said.
“Since when is a laundry list of supposed accomplishments, describing legislation Thaddeus McCotter supported but had no hand in crafting, serving the hard-working voters of the 11th District?” Trupiano asked. “What’s being communicated beyond ‘vote for me?’ Nothing, that’s what.”
“If McCotter wants to send campaign flyers, he needs to do it on his own nickel,” Trupiano insisted, adding that his office is investigating the legality of the mailing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). “As your Congressman, you can be sure I’ll never send out anything so self-serving and wasteful.”
-30-
McCotter has gone ballistic on this matter, stating that his use of franking is legal and was approved by the House Franking Commission. Now, seeing he’s a lawyer, I actually don’t doubt that the mailer was TECHNICALLY legal. That said, it is still an abuse of the privilege and an abuse of taxpayer money.
And the kicker? The Chairman of the House Franking Commission at the time (until he resigned from the position in September)…was BOB NEY.
Chew on that, folks…
On stem-cell research, McCotter has a big target on him.
Every time it’s come up, he has voted against federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. He even voted to affirm Bush’s only veto (of the stem-cell bill). And he has tied it to his Catholicism and opposition to abortion.
That Michael J. Fox ad would be wonderful here in Michigan…
By the way, Tony’s campaign will be making their final purchase decisions this weekend (extra lit, more radio time, that sort of thing).
Here’s a direct link to pitch in…
Ten 4 Tony