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It sure did show an amazing amount of foresight on the part of Rahm Emmanuel and the DCCC to make sure all all the Republican crooks of the House who were under investigation for their roles in myriad K Street scandals had good stong opponents for November. You never knew when another one was going to fall, right?
The latest casualty seems to be John Doolittle, who made the front page of the Washington Post this morning for a $29,400 vacation he took with his daughter paid for by non-profit groups fronting for the lobbying firm Alexander Strategy:
Doolittle, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, told The Washington Post this year that from 2002 to 2005 he sponsored $37 million in spending-bill earmarks that went to a firm controlled by a key Alexander Strategy client. The client, Brent R. Wilkes, is a target of the federal investigation stemming from the bribery case and guilty plea of former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.). Doolittle's wife, Julie Doolittle, was hired by Alexander Strategy to help keep the books for the Korean nonprofit.
Sure is good to know that Rahm had the superb judgment to recruit one of those fabulous sexist, homophobic business-friendly "centrists" who won't mention the war that the country is so hungry for to run against Doolittle, right? Oh sorry, that's progressive Charlie Brown fighting to defeat Doolittle, one of our Blue America candidates.
Well what can you say. At least Rahm recruited someone to run against he equally crooked Jerry Lewis — oh wait, my bad. Lewis is running virtually unopposed. Well, Rahm probably wasn't aware that Lewis was so crooked he had to screw his pants on in the morning and under investigation by the Justice Department. I mean, just because it was all over the headlines, who knew?
At the very least we've got to give him credit for finding someone to run against Richard Pombo, though. That was a good move. [EDITOR'S NOTE: THAT GUY GOT HIS ASS KICKED BY BLUE AMERICA CANDIDATE JERRY MCNERNEY. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR.]
Looking forward to all those "centrists" Rahm recruited like Heath Shuler and…um, he's the only one who ever gets mentioned in all those insightful pro-Rahm press releaases investigative journalism pieces but I'm sure there must be more, and…um…Heath Shuler…going to the House so they can save us all from the progressives that nobody (well, except for the people voting for them) seem to want.
Moderator note: Nate has an interesting comment ~#86: Three months ago the DCCC had the CA-04th in the “when hell freezes over” category in terms of funding and support. They weren’t even interested in putting up a fight. The gutless wonders…
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Jane!
GOTV!
Charlie!!!
Anyone know if this story is being hammered home in the Doo-little district today and if Charlie has enough dough to get his message of change out?
whew! I can’t keep up today. Wonder what the Talking heads will spin this weekend?
4 days to go. I want my country back.
Hee!
Hee-Hee!
Mwahahahahaha!
Jane!
I can’t recall, but who was the Rahm chosen “D” to run against Doolittle? If there was one…
50 states
365 days in a year
435 House districts
100 Senate seats
How hard can it be?
Howie’s Blue America vs. Rahm’s Purple America.
Are there enough Blue America candidates for the Democrats to take the House? ‘Cuz I kinda want all the DLC/DCCC candidates to lose and all the Blue America candidates to win, just to send a message.
I thought the ‘dead enders’ were all washed up?
Missing US soldier in hands of Baathists.
I hope that there is a contingency plan for him when the verdict against Saddam is delivered.
-GSD
FLD ROCKS! Thanks so much for helping to get this out Jane!
On another note, I’m interviewing Charlie’s Communications Director tomorrow and he’s trying to get me some time with Paul Hackett who will be out here campaigning for Charlie tomorrow. I’ll try and have the video up by Sunday. If all goes well with it, I’ll be doing a BlueAmerica Update piece and interviewing Charlie on Sunday. I’ll get that video out as soon as it’s done too!
But why is Rahm still there? Who hires and fires at this level? Guess it’s time to hit Google. Maybe a new direction for us mean nasty (but surprisingly effective) bloggers after the election…
marksb @ 11
Well, until they can move him into the Speaker or Majority Leader spot…
Here’s something from Drudge that shows that paranoia about e-voting is not exclusively a leftist avocation:
MEMPHIS — Tennessee’s Republican Party chairman complained to Shelby County election officials that electronic voting machine cards were missing in Memphis, the hometown of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Harold Ford Jr.
“It has come to our attention that several smart cards used in early voting are missing from at least one early voting site in Memphis, Tenn.,” Bob Davis said in a later dated Thursday. “The lack of oversight and control over these smartcards has created a situation which could allow for voter fraud.”
The letter called on the commission to “locate these missing smart cards as soon as possible.”
Tennessee Election Coordinator Brook Thompson said Friday that even if the cards aren’t recovered by officials there is no danger of fraud because they can’t be used again.
Funny as hell
Goopers seem to be about to get their asses kicked. It would be great if someone spread the word that it was because of the “machines”.
It’s stuff like this that makes life worth living.
In Meriden, CT, tonight across the street from Lamont HG. To meet with others from MA tomorrow morning, to go out for more canvassing. About a dozen folks over at HQ this evening, several doing phone banking, with Megan working away to get ready for the volunteers tomorrow. If you can come to CT tomorrow, please do it. The weather looks good.
Any further word from TRex re the Liebermob earlier today?
Seems I read somewhere that Rahm and Howard Dean don’t like each other. Speaking for myself, I think Emmanuel is politically horrible.
As to Doolittle, his wife and daughter? They remind of the DeLay outfit. Crooks, all. There are, however a lot of No. California sophisticated red-necks who like Doolittle. But I think this criminal, Doolittle, will lose next Tuesday.
Nate @ 10
Thanks, Nate. We’re all pulling for Charlie. If it wasn’t for the commitment shown by him and others in the face of “DC wisdom” that said places like CA-ll couldn’t be taken, we’d be in a lot worse shape right now.
scarecrow @ 14
Thanks so much, scarecrow. TRex is taking a nap and will have more tonight on Late Nite.
I think Trex better watch out, he could lose his title of Chief of Snark to Jane! That was biting commentary! ;>)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 15
I would be shocked if they liked each other. Dean gets it, and Rahm is addicted to the DLC Kool-Aid.
And just parenthetically, I agree with Matt Stoller that the Democratic establishment has been infiltrated and infested by “consultants” who are literally working for the other side.
That was awfully sweet of the Washington Post to run the article on Doolittle’s Pacific Destination Vacation today. I hope he got a great tan cuz he won’t see the sun very often in Folsom Prison. But he will have lotsa of boyfriends.
Jon Weisman on Rahm today:
more here
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00855.html
AZ Matt @ 21
Maybe Boehner can lend him some of his.
I wouldn’t be surprised if on Wednesday following the election, Rahm is on all of the morning shows and the cable shows grabbing the credit for the big Democratic win in the House for the “centrists” in the Democratic party.
He might succeed. The way these things usually work is the echo chamber media decides on a story early on and it is almost impossible to get them to revisit it even if the story is wrong. And we also know that there are a lot of Washington, DC pundits & journalists who are more than willing to accept a “centrist” version of why the Democrats won the election.
Count Dickula heading straight for an iceberg.
“Full speed ahead” he yells.
The Shadow of Darkness.
Says Deadeye:
“It may not be popular with the public — it doesn’t matter in the sense that we have to continue the mission and do what we think is right.”
-GSD
Jane is the undisputed queen of snark! God I hope someone actually puts this one under Rahm’s nose…
scarecrow @ 14
Wish I could get there before Sun. but can’t. Almost made it tomorrow, but though the boiler in the church went out, we found an alternate place to hold services in Sunday so I will be there talking about how good it feels to be a liberal! Our values can’t be beat. Then on to Meriden. See you Sun. afternoon.
$29,000 for a $37 million earmark?
Man, these folks aren’t just crooks, they’re cheap crooks.
Good thing they’re not in charge of the national budg…
Never mind.
Patrick Kennedy @ 24
Would it be too much to hope for that the Blue America winners tell the world that Rahm didn’t do shit for ‘em?
My timing sucks again. Gotta repost this, though.
First female Presiding Bishop will be “invested” this weekend
I think it’s cool that my daughter could grow up to be bishop if she wanted to. Having grown up Catholic, that’s kind of a big deal. Plus, Katharine Jefferts Schori is very cool. She’s a pilot and an oceanographer, and in many ways the total *opposite* of the disgraced leaders we are hearing so much about these days.
Jane you rip them a new one without even putting up your dukes.
ab initio @
3
I got a letter from his campaign asking if I had a few dollars lying around.
carolyn urban @ 31
Yes, the Dukes have been put away, and the Doolittles are next.
That’s the writing skills and attitude that drew me, and keeps me coming back, to FDL!
Jane, after we kick Repug ass, we’re going to have to make the DLC an offer they can’t refuse – represent your constituents, or we’ll find somebody who will.
Outstanding post.
percy @ 28
Jus’ good bidness. Great ROI. The cheaper you can buy your very own congresscritter, the better.
Who lost Iraq?: neocons now blaming Bush’s incompetence, not their own policies. The King Rats who had the helm now leaving Titanic.
Neocons point finger at Bush for Iraq fiasco: Vanity Fair
WRKO in Boston cans douchebaggy host for calling Green-Rainbow candidate Grace Ross a “fat lesbian”.
The downward spiral.
-GSD
Damn, Jane, I was just ranting a blue streak here about that f*cker Rahm only a few minutes ago. Tried explaining the nature of the Dem Party and Howard Dean and entrenched corporatist-centrist power gods like Rahm…futile.
Rahm just needs to go. We need to field a better candidate that meets the needs of the constituents in his district. Maybe Christine Cegelis could be persuaded to move west from the IL-05 district to IL-06…
scarecrow @ 36
Maybe they shouldn’t have chosen an incompetent to execute their brilliant plan.
Or else come up with a plan so brilliant that even an incompetent like Bush couldn’t fuck it up. I don’t think even God is that smart, though.
The thing is, if there is a big wave that sweeps Democrats into Congress, it is going to be predominantly “moderate” Republicans who are swept out and a lot of progressive Democrats who are swept in. The Heath Schulers are going to be fairly lonely in a blue sea of progressives and Rahm will stand no chance of replacing Pelosi and becoming Speaker, even though he will see that such a trial balloon is floated.
Better yet, the Dean/Netroots 50-State, Challenge-Them-All Strategy will be recognized by anyone thinking of 2008 as the sine qua non of success in Democratic politics. Let Rahm claim all the credit he wants. It won’t stick.
On PBS Jim Lehrer, Shields (and Brook) — Mark gives credit to Dean’s 50 state strategy for having the structure there to have candidates in places outside districts where “other party leaders who cricized him” thought money should be focused. Did not mention DCCC or Rahm, but insiders will know.
ArthurKC @ 40
One of the big reasons I want Blue America candidates to do well, and DLC candidates to do… just well enough to secure a House majority, is that the sole justification for the Democratic establishment’s morbid embrace of the DLC is that they supposedly win elections.
Kick that out from under them, and they have nothing left (so to speak). It’s not like they have any connection to Democratic values.
Who lost the Middle East? It wasn’t Carter or Clinton.
I interrupt this thread to bring you an important announcement on voter suppression.
The scene begins with OFG entering the home office.
OFG: I don’t care if it hairlips the pope, I have got to be in town Nov. 7th to vote. Just be sure this guy and that guy (points) are out of the country that day so they can’t vote. They’re rightards you see.
(Huge eyerolls all around)
Dispatcher: Well, you will be if I put you with the right load.
OFG: (with an immaculate safety record and eight years of pecuniary gain with the company) Put me with the right load.
Dispatcher: But me and him and him share close views politically.
OFG: I apologize you are so confused.
Dispatcher: (with fire in eyes) No, you are confused.
OFG: I will let you bask in my brilliance as you are filled with “shock and awe” when I remind you of a conversation we had nearly five years ago when I told you America would not win in Afghanistan. Have you read a paper lately? You looked at me like I was stupid.
Dispatcher: (shuffling through papers on desk) I have a load for you, it loads Friday here in OKC and delivers Monday south of Canadian TX.
OFG: That’ll work. I can vote on Tuesday.
(Flash to 7pm Friday Night)
Phone: Ring Ring
OFG: Hello?
Dispatcher: You need to take your booster with you because from Canadian TX I need to send you to Farmington, NM (700 miles away from my precinct) to load Tuesday morning.
OFG: Not gonna happen. I will be voting on Tuesday.
Dispatcher: But this is your job.
OFG: This is my country. I can find another job in 5 seconds. Another country, not so easy.
Ya see the shit I have to put up with?
I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
*looks under the desk to thunderous applause and laughter*
Well, Rahm probably wasn’t aware that Lewis was so crooked he had to screw his pants on in the morning and under investigation by the Justice Department.
Mwahahahahaha!
My grandfather had a similar phrase: “That man is so crooked, if he swallowed a nail, he’d spit out a corkscrew.”
Nate @ 10
Nate, you rock! I’m glad there’s still some people at the Washington Post who are doing their jobs, instead of just pondering the Paris Hilton tax.
OFG, you rock!
Darth is ’stumped’ by neocon defections:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._1103.html
Vanity Fair: http://www.vanityfair.com/poli…..cons200612
And, like the Titanic, there will be a shortage of lifeboats. Screw the women and children, the GOP will take the first boats.
Patrick 4/4 @
7
Obvioiusly more hardness than Rahm can manage.
His eyes give me the creeps. They always look like they’re about to wash away in a trail of slime.
Eli @ 39
Yeah, I can’t wait for Glenn Greenwald to do his thing: show all the times these same people praised the vision and competence and courage of George W. Bush when they thought they were winning. He’s been systematically destorying their brand just by quoting them back to themselves. I love spotlighting those posts.
I sent over 100 spotlight e-mails out today of Christy’s post on the posting of iraq nuclear secrets, but saw it mentioned only briefly on CNN and, surprisingly, FOX. Nothing on NBC or CBS, though I was switching back and forth. Fox hid the facts that (1) Bush personally approved this (2) over objections of Negroponte and (3) they didn’t shut down the site until it went public in NYT, even after UN experts warned them this was dangerous intelligence to put out there. Then they ended with a quote from Condi Rice saying the story showed that Saddam had a lot of information on how to build a bomb. The woman is not honest.
What is Rahm’s district?
ccmask @
50
Frum, Perle, and Adelman are putting on woman’s clothes as we write.
-GSD
GSD @ 25
GSD @ 54
Owmybrain.
Rahm Emmanuel is giving ballet dancers a bad name.
Jane Hamsher @ 16
I’ve had enough “DC Wisdom” to last me a lifetime. This election and my work here has really been an eye opener. I will live and die by the Grassroots and Netroots from now until a true government Of the People, By the People and For THE PEOPLE is restored to DC!
scarecrow @ 52
NPR mentioned Bush’s approval of the posting of documents. Good listening on the drive home.
Twisted Martini @ 53
IL-05.
Badly in need of a real American.
Hang on to your hats, firepups. It’s about to get a whole lot more interesting come Monday.
November Surprise!
Here’s a piece of happy late night news for y’all. The paper in Glens Falls, NY has just withdrawn its endorsement of GOP Congressman John Sweeney. Check it out-
http://www.poststar.com/articl…..26428988.t
Greetings and well wishes Nate!!! Did Rahm have a chosen candidate for the Doolittle challenge?
prostratedragon @ 57
Still pales beside what Condi has done to figure skaters and pianists…
Deadeye Dick shoots another friend (TeeVee) in the face:
Living in their own world, they are. Crazy as bedbugs.
Patrick Kennedy @ 24
We can undermine this by SPOTLIGHTING this and other posts by Jane to “panelist” “political” reporter, and others who regulary show up on these shows.
marksb @ 64
Why doesn’t the media ever report on all the people who *are* employed???
Twisted Martini @ 53
Doesn’t his district include chicago?
I heard on NPR today that the cops rounded up 11,000 felons in Charlotte County. My first thought was that it was a voting purge (were the felons Dem voters?) or they needed 22,000 fresh hands in the prison factory.
—-
More than 10,700 snared in fugitive roundup
The sweep, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, ”has made our nation’s neighborhoods and children safer by taking off the streets some of the worst sex offenders, violent felons and gang members,” Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in a prepared statement.
Gonzales discussed the roundup, code-named Operation Falcon III, at a news conference Thursday.
The operation was done in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, including Sheriff’s Offices in Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office made no arrests.
“They were working with us in task-force style,” said Robert Pastula, a supervisory U.S. Marshal in the agency’s Fort Myers office.
Pastula said the operation required a significant amount of manpower to track down the fugitives.
“It gets all these wanted people off the street and in jail, where they belong,” Pastula said. “We could have done better, but we could have done worse, too. Anytime you’re looking for someone who doesn’t want to be caught, you have a tougher time.”
http://www.sun-herald.com/News…..ry=ew6.htm
global yokel @ 61
~~~The congressman’s staff first responded to the police report on Wednesday by claiming the document was “fabricated” and “concocted” by an unnamed operative in the campaign of his opponent, Kirsten Gillibrand.~~~
ab initio @
3
You and EVERYONE here can help by spotlighting this story to local news and papers for the CA-04th district. The Sacramento Bee, The Auburn Journal, The Modoc Record, The Oroville Mercury-Register, The Tahoe Daily Tribune and the Sacramento News & Review to name just a few. Also local TV News at KCRA, News10.net and CBS13-Sacramento.
EVERYONE can help Charlie get this word out to the CA-04th this way!
global yokel @ 61
Fabulous!! That’s big. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
global yokel@61: The best lines from that story are these:
On Friday, as the citizens waited a third day for Sweeney to finally disclose the truth, again there was nothing from the congressman to support his claims as to what really happened. Instead, the congressman had himself seen with Governor Pataki and 9/11 hero Rudy Giuliani, telling reporters who questioned him about the waiver as he walked away, “Talk to my lawyer.”
Perhaps by appearing with these two political giants, Sweeney was hoping their aura would overshadow a newspaper report published Friday in which he was quoted in the Times-Union as saying he thought the whole domestic violence matter was a “non-issue.”
“It is a non-issue, and only you people made it an issue because it’s salacious,” the congressman told Times-Union editors.
We don’t think it’s a non-issue. And we’re sure many of our readers don’t either.
AZ Matt — thanks for the note on NPR. I listened to NPR on the way down to CT, but missed that. I thought there other stories were incredibly “tepid” to put it gently.
The worst interview I heard tonight was Margaret Warner on PBS letting Ken I-can’t-stop-lying-every-sentence Mehlman. She didn’t contradict a single misstatement. The man is evil.
Well, as a CA-04 voter I just hope this revelation didn’t come out too late. I do think Brown has a very good chance to pull this off, but … it’s a very, very, very red district. It’s gonna be down to the wire. I really hope the word gets out, I really hope the CA-04 voters learn definitively that Doolittle actually is under investigation – something he’s always denied (deny, deny, deny … facts be damned – that’s the Doolittle way).
Valley Girl @ 69
The congressman is beginning an investimagation.
All these hypocrites are imploding so fast, I wonder if they will all get the coverage they so richly deserve.
Doolittle was already below 50%, so he was in trouble. This polling, prior to this announcement, shows what a good campaign Charlie has been running.
pollster.com for CA04
LMAO
Scarecrow: That’s great that you are there already. Good luck tomorrow.
John Casper @ 77
He’s Mehlmendacious.
ccmask @ 50
Those boats are probably already stocked to last all the way to the Caymans.
Nate — thanks for the list of local media. off to spotlight.
Or Paraguay…
This news may help Busby in CA50 and it won’t help Kyl fighting for his life in AZ.
Of course, Keith had the whole story on the Iraqi documents; it was quite complete
“Beyond the tipping point
Question now is how big will House Democratic majority be”
By Amy Walter, Cook Political Report
Updated: 4:13 p.m. CT Nov 3, 2006
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15549907/
Valley Girl @ 62
Hiya VG… Not that I know of. Three months ago the DCCC had the CA-04th in the “when hell freezes over” category in terms of funding and support. They weren’t even interested in putting up a fight. The gutless wonders…
LindyH at 67:
Yes, it is the Gold Coast on the northside of Chicago and he is very well liked there, after the displaced a machine Democrat some years ago and became a darling of the Administration during the Clinton years.
Kelven @ 26
You can — spotlight to local media in Rahm’s district.
OFG,
Great story, you are to be admired for your willingness to face these Republican enablers down. Stay safe on the road.
new video up from CTBob- same event that TRex was escorted out of… GO CTBob!!!!!
http://ctbob.blogspot.com/2006…..again.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..#038;eurl=
Anyone who is interested, Christy had a great post about this, this am. nuke-u-lar-moh-rons
Nate @ 86
Nate- thanks for info- if I had the courage I would edit Jane’s post to ad that comment… hmmm… “when hell freezes over”… haha
Jane, are you reading?
TrueBlue @ 89
Oh, God, don’t do that to me. I thought you might mean “interesting” in the Chinese sense. This is the other kind of interesting.
Army Times via Countdown will call for Rumsfailed’s head in the Monday editions :
http://thank-you-keith-olbermann.blogspot.com/
ccmask @
82
Landlocked. One of only two such S.A. countries (Bolivia). I think both lost their outlets in wars. Suspect there are some really bitchin’ jokes told down there to this day about that.
Patrick 4/4 @ 5:49 pm (#7)
Sounds bloody exhausting.
This is definitely a supporting argument for the 50-state strategy, though. We might very well pick up two of the seats Jane refered to. Maybe McNerney will win, too. I sure hope so, we don’t have anywhere near enough engineers and scientists in Congress. The best we seem to be able to do is PR types who worked for tech companies.
It also supports the idea that investing in the “small” campaigns, the ones that have good candidates but don’t need much money, is a great way to get good people elected.
Nate- I added a moderator note to Jane’s post with your comment.
Gwen Ifill just flubbed up with the word – kerfluffle. *snicker* (h/t and a bow for *ilson)
AP – Aggressive to the end, Democrats opened two new fronts Friday in the battle for control of Congress, unleashing a costly televised attack against a Colorado Republican and airing radio ads on Christian stations favored by Republican listeners.
The rumors are that Rahm Emmanuel will be rewarded with the speakers job if it Dems win majority and Howard Deam will be blaimed if we don’t because he was hogging the money.
Emmanuel wants it, either the majority leader or speaker spots. He thinks he is owed and because Pelosi polls at 36% over on the kos polls he thinks the netroots will like him. Talk about inflated egos…
Kyl… the man has been in office and has NEVER had to campaign, he was appointed and never had a serious opponent until this year. He cannot debate with a damn and really looks stupid repeating the repug talking points. Kyl is the one who has wanted to repeal habeus corpus for years.
Too bad about that stupid Howard Dean 50-state theory…
scarecrow @ 6:29 pm (#73)
I’ve mostly stopped watching The NewsHour. It’s clearly not meant for people who want serious questions asked of these people.
Isn’t Paraguay where dear leader just purchased some land?
From myleftnutmeg, a commenter says:
“Why not join the “Lieberyouth” and campaign for Ned? It’s the perfect job. You get to soak up money from Lieberman AND still support the candidate who really fights for the young. After all, how is Joe going to know what you really do with that clipboard? Do you think he can run some sort of check on you to confirm your loyalty? Is he going to record your every move and word so he’s sure that you’ve said the right thing to each person you visit? Is he going to pair you up with another “Lieberyouth party member” to make sure you’re doing the right thing?
The perfect thing to thwart this tactic is to embrace it. All you thousands of high school and college Nedheads – join this Lieberyouth and destroy it from within.
Even better, you could take that Liebermoney and give it to Ned.
But seriously, money can buy a lot of things, but I doubt there’s enough money in the world to generate enthusiasm and excitement for Joe Lieberman in teenagers. Even if this mass hiring succeeds, what you’ll get is the broken-voiced fry guy at your door. That isn’t going to inspire a lot of voters.
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/sh…..aryId=2411
ccmask @ 104
Yup. Too bad it wasn’t Bolivia–they know how to treat banditos Yanquis. Just ask Butch and Sundance.
I actually live in IL-05 (which does encompass a chunk of Chicago proper), where I will hold my nose and vote for Rahm on Tuesday to avoid voting for the (R) on the ticket.
Anyone else out there want to own up to living in this district? I’d support a primary challenger in ‘08 but it’s not something I could spearhead myself at this point. Would love to fire a broadside across Rahm’s desk just to make him sweat.
Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something. —Pancho Villa
Valley Girl @ 98
Thanks VG. I feel like “Wayne”… “I’m not worthy!” The Snark is strong in that one! She and TRex are Jedi Masters of The Snark!
darylj @ 6:52 pm (#106)
I don’t live there, but it’s at least been rumored that Christine Cegelis may run for the nomination next time. She was running for the district Tammy Duckworth is now trying to win, and then Rahm screwed her by parachuting Duckworth into the race and shoveling a buttload of DCCC money into Duckworth’s primary campaign.
darylj @ 107
Keep us posted, Darylj. It’s not something we can do right now, but if someone with a fantastic resume is thinking about doing the right thing (aka Ned Lamont in CT), the sooner we can get on board, the better.
Just checking in from CT. I’m in Stamford right now volunteering for the Lamont campaign. Things are going great!
There is going to a very large canvassing event tomorrow, Saturday, November 4. If any FDL folk are in the area, I encourage you to come to the Stamford Democratic Headquarters tomorrow at either 10:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to participate!
Headquarters are at 840 East Main Street in Stamford. The phone number is 203-708-9278.
It is going to be a lot of fun walking the neighborhoods of Stamford in the crisp fall weather.
And when we finish canvassing, there will be a concert by Black 47 that should be fun and festive.
I am not going to have much time to spend on FDL or the internet in the next several days, but I will try to check in once in a while to touch base.
In the meantime, I want to leave you with a suggestion – please volunteer this weekend for Democratic candidates, and please do everything in your power to take the day off on Tuesday to volunteer as well.
Thanks to everyone here for all you are doing right now across the country.
For those on the east coast, I urge you to come to Connecticut to fight for Ned!!!
My husband and I attended a fundraising event for Charlie Brown in Marin County a couple of weeks ago. Ambassador Joseph Wilson was there with him. We took a check for Charlie Brown and turned it in when we first arrived. Mr. Brown began his talk with “We, The People” and was really impressive. He said he finally became so completely furious at Doolittle that he decided he had to try and defeat him. He was articulate, very real and sounded like my friends and I sound when we are just amazed at what a mess this country is in.
Then his wife, Jan, got up and spoke. Their son is a pilot in Iraq, and soon headed back for his 3rd deployment. She told a story of Doolittle, while touring Iraq, insisting on riding in the cockpit instead of in the less comfortable seats of an Air Force transport plane, and then never once asking the soldiers what they needed, what it was like being there, or who they were and where they were from.
After the Browns spoke, I wrote them another, larger check. You could tell they were the real thing!!!
On thing Brown said was “Vote for me now to save the cost of a special election when they send Doolittle to jail.”
Here is an excerpt from a Brown email from Wednesday:
“With just six days to go, the Republican attack machine is in high gear. Shadowy “Robo” calls are keeping our voters up at night. Mailboxes are full of attacks from both Doolittle and outside interest groups. And now, the worst of all, John Doolittle’s new attack ad is questioning my support for the troops overseas, just as our son Jeff is about to go back again to Iraq as an Air Force captain.
I can tell you one thing – we will not let these vicious attacks go unanswered. Some of you have seen the response ad we have prepared. It starting running yesterday – and it already has Doolittle on the run. Please take a look now.
If you like what you see – I need your help to keep this response on the air. Will you help sponsor the truth by making the most generous contribution you can afford right now?”
Having met Brown and hear him speak in person, I feel he’ll be great and hope everyone supports him these last few days. His website is: http://www.charliebrownforcongress.org
scarecrow @ 41
Sorry, I haven’t read the whole thread. But I just read that interview with Shields and Brook and have the link. It really sounds good for Dean!
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb…..11-03.html
I thought about sending Shields a thumbs-up.
*xyz-Seriously, my folks live down by Gartner HQ. Ping me at dan AT twisted martini point com and I’ll give you their address. Tell ‘em I said vote for Ned!
ArthurKC @
40
Ugh, I was telling folks it would be the frosting on the cake.
I really like your phrase better, but I gasped. My last Latin class was too many years (and too many grandchildrens’ birthday cakes) ago.
Agree, what he tells folks won’t stick.
I’m looking forward to some grand primaries ahead of 2008. Can we catch our breath in only eighteen months?
ccmask @ 78
Thanks. The local tv stations are saturated with ads, every 8 minutes, and they’re nasty; and just making a few calls tonight, it was clear the voters are saturated too, and a little annoyed with all the calling. Few want to hear anymore at this point. The thinking is they may be more receptive to door to door than phoning, so we’ll see tomorrow. This cake may be in the oven, and the ever more dreadful news will just reenforce minds already made up. We’ll see.
Selise, RevDeb, Kathryn and one or two others from our MA group will be here by tomorrow a.m. or Sunday. We’ll see TRex tomorrow night, if he’s still alive.
So I found this local site, called Oklahoma Political News, and took the site owner to the woodshed for being an undisclosed partisan hack.
He invited me to bring “balance” to his blog (an obvious effort to stir up traffic) so I waded into the middle of the one of the reddest states reddest blogs with my opening salvo involving the hottest topic available–reproductive rights.
It may get nasty over there, so if I need reinforcements, I’ll sound off. I have been reading Digby on this issue for some time, and think I know my way around. Bottom line is when is a womans body not her body?
*xyz @ 7:00 pm (#111)
Can’t be there, but many of us will be watching from out here on the other coast. Good luck.
ccmask @
103
eeee-Yup. Actually, there’s some ambiguity as to which George Bush just bought big hectarage down there, but none as to which Moon bought even bigger hectarage down there a year or so ago. Can’t get there in a lifeboat, though. Actually, come to think of it, you could sail up Rio de la Plata to the Paraguay or Paraná. It’s almost like Iraq, you know, two rivers …
But fwiw, Paraguay is a member of the International Court of Justice, and that in the long run might matter more than some thought it would.
BTW, Blue America has raised almost $25,000 for Charlie Brown.
Link here:
http://www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica#9075
Hi xyz,
Can’t get there tomorrow but I’m coming down on Sunday. Where is everyone going to be? I see Ned will be at Rocky Hill on 11:45, and then something else at 1:00 I thought I could do. I’ve contacted Ned’s website, but I’d love to join up with some firepups as well.
Oilfieldguy @ 118
I leave such matters to the professional exorcists.
*xyz — will you be at the final rally tomorrow night? dab from CT? others?
When the Right Went Wrong. On CNN, now. Good stuff!
OT – I don’t drink Champagne but will be on Tuesday evening. What’s a good but not too expensive one? Thanks in advance ; )
I suspect CT voters were worn out with phone calls long ago. At least Ned doesn’t leave robocalls. About the only productive question I can think of at this point for a phone call (if they are voting for Ned or undecided) is “do you need help getting to the polls?” Maybe while driving undecided to the polls there could be a Ned pitch….
That reminds me. So great that Rahm cleaned out his other suit and sent the money to Diane Benson that helped jumpstart her campaign. Oh, wait, that was Ed*ard Teller and egregious who raised that money.
Word’s up by Jane…
Korbel is a relatively inexpensive one. Asti is another.
Cozumel: Tatingers?
Oilfieldguy @ 118
When some hypocrite thinks he can make money/gain power off the rubes by lying about the issue.
There is nothing better than drinking Tatinger Rose out of a paper cup.
ccmask @ 129
Thanks, ccmask! I’ll look for it ; )
Cujo359 @ 126
Here, here! Over $7000 for Benson on egregious’s ActBlue page. IIRC correctly, today is ET’s birthday… (or was that yesterday? losing track of time…)
ET keeps saying that $10 to the Benson campaign equals $100 in a lot of other campaigns. So, if you are so inclined, you can leave a small birthday present for ET over at:
http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious#11475
a little OT but is this a joke?
Here’s our plan:
1. win congress
2. impeach bush/cheney
3. pull out 100% of troops ASAP, preferably before christmas.
4. public hangings of those responsible for starting the war in the first place
ccmask @ 131
Not even sex? After electing a Democratic majority?
Hartford Courant op-ed takes on Joe:
Op-ed by Rick Green, Hartford Courant
smiley @ 134
Ask Der Shrubbenfuhrer whether he’s seen the “Seinfeld” episode where George turns his life around by doing the opposite of whatever he would normally do.
That’s all the plan we need, baby.
new thread by Jane
Twisted Martini @ 128
Thanks, Twisted! I’ll check them out!
Hmmmnnnnnn. I must be getting old. I’d rather have the Tatingers. Although my son has nicknamed me cozmo because I’m hooked on Cosmopolitans. I don’t drink very often but Cosmo’s definitely do the trick. But, Cozumel, Tatingers is rather pricey if you can get it. But what a special occasion this will be!!
ccmask @ 140
True, thanks all!
Generally my views fall pretty left of center. Of that I do not apologize to anyone. But, I do see the wisdom of running some people who are centrists.
I live in Illinois and in a conservative area. I know how the average person thinks in this area as far as what canidates stand for and what people believe. We’ve had the fundies pushing thier way in and once got ahold of the school borad in one of the towns for awhile. Most drive the SUVs and live in cookie cutter homes.
A moderate or centrist dem has a much better change than a real progressive. The point right now is to get the republicans out and get the dems in. Show the country what good government is. To do this we must have canidates to appeal to a particular area. Someone like a Harold Ford Jr. will do better than a progressive any day around here. sad but true.
Rayne @
38
I’ll come down with the van to help her move.
Oilfieldguy @
44
OFG, that is truly inspiring. Not only are you a true patriot but you are a wonderful writer. You have such an ear for dialogue. I will remember that scene as if I were there. May I quote you?
Don’t mind me, I know there’s nobody here. I’m catching up and I just can’t resist.
HotFlash @ 145
hey HotFlash -
I’m catching up too….
Hi, says another one sneaking around in the dark corners …..
Despite the fact the Dem plans are written all over the place it shouldn’t surprise us that somebody like Dubya (who doesn’t read) doesn’t realize there’s a very good plan in store for him.
I hate to dispute the plan cited above, but it’s only a small difference:
1 Fix voting machines problem!
2 Win Congress.
3 Get rid of Bush administration.
4 Get on with governing and fixing the problems of our nation.
George, don’t ask what our plan is. It’s a secret and if we told you then you’d just go and blab it all over and spoil things.
I pray we have enough votes to override cheating, paper ballots and exit polling to prove the votes were there and individuals with video cell phones recording vote flipping to challenge rigged voting.
Step 2 seems clearly to be on track.
ab initio @
3
It was on page one of the Sacramento Bee today, below the fold. Note: It pushed the fact that Laura Bush campaigned for him locally the day before, to the inside of the front section. NOT what Doolittle intended, I am sure.
The Leadership of the DCCC is a one election cycle only position. Come next January or Feb., Nancy Pelosi (Speaker Pelosi) will appoint someone for the 2008 cycle. The position usually goes to someone in perhaps their 4th or 5th term, and who is ripe for being advanced into leadership, assuming they are successful. The DCCC leader gets much national exposure beyond particular districts and particular issue sets. It might be wise to get word to Pelosi that one criteria for selection in 2008 cycle ought to be an interest in building alliances with the Blogger world.
The DCCC and the DSCC play a critical though totally unofficial role in candidate selection, in large measure because they have their fingers on the big money buttons. What we’ve seen this cycle of the conflict between Rahm and Howard Dean is part and parcel of a fight that has been going on for years between the Hill Establishment, and the DNC — understand that the DNC is the property of the fifty State Democratic Parties all of which have the “franchise” but are independently incorporated. The DNC is a large board made up of State Chairs and Co-Chairs, and elected delegates from each state party. Over the years, the DNC has been very much eclipsed by the DSCC and the DCCC based on the power of money — and Howard Dean’s 50 State Strategy is about claiming back some of that power. This is not a short-term fight by any matter of means. It really is about the ability of state and local party structures to participate in critical ways in the candidate selection process. With few exceptions, local and state parties have been starved for resources, underorganized, and frozen out unless they have strong rules in place that actually govern candidate selection, endorsements and nominations. By rebuilding these, and resourcing them, Dean is making it possible for them to take back some of that power. We need to understand selection of the next leader of DCCC as an aspect of this.
We also need to look ahead a bit more than two years, or just the next Presidential Race. One of the best pieces of news in the present polls is those Governor’s races, because the new Governors will be serving in 2010, when we do the next Congressional Redistricting. The other part of that is State Legislatures, and I suspect we may be doing OK on that score this year too — but it is the two houses of the State Leg and the Governor who do the redistricting in 2010 — and that should very much interest us. It is one reason we need strong state parties capable of electing good legislators, and thus acting in our overall interest with regard to redistricting. The Governors being elected this fall will be players, as will the State Senates with 4 year terms. In 2008 the generally 2 year termed Houses will be selected. This is something to comprehend now — not four years from now. Believe me, the Republicans understand it well, it is how they built their system in the 70’s and 80’s.
What probably will happen on Tuesday is just the beginning of any “take back.”
Rahm is too busy screwing over Lamont and the Democratic base to be bothered winning elections. Jeez!
Y’know, since it appears the Dems are going to have a comfortable majority in taking back the House, couldn’t we afford to “lose” Rahm’s seat? Might be the most efficient way of getting him –and his evil fuck-ups — out of our hair.