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.

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.

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.”

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?

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.

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.

Don’t mind me, I know there’s nobody here. I’m catching up and I just can’t resist.

hey HotFlash -

I’m catching up too….

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.

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?

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…

I’ll come down with the van to help her move.