Yup, you read that right: at the beginning of today's Veterans Day parade in downtown Hartford, Joe smiled and shook Ned's hand, and then quickly sent his folks out to try physically bar Ned from marching with Congressman John Larson and other Democrats who invited him to march. It was one of those moments where all you could think of saying was wow, stay classy Joe Lieberman.
Ned decided not to listen, and jogged around the Lieberman folks while we distracted them, and caught back up to the Democrats. When the Lieberman people again tried to physically remove Ned from the parade, Larson backed them off once and for all telling them simply: "Ned's with us." That could be the bumper sticker slogan of this campaign, as it perfectly sums up how in more and more people's minds, Ned represents standing up for regular people, and Joe represents standing up for the status quo.
Nice picture of Joe with Republican Nancy Johnson, too. But they weren't campaigning together. They were…uh…swapping chili recipies.
Can anyone explain why, in a year when the GOP is struggling to finance all those house races, all their donors have maxed out to Lieberman (to the tune of about $20 million now)? It's awfully important to them that he retain this Senate seat. If that smells funny to you, you can find ways to help right here.
(thanks to CTBlogger for the MikeinCT video tip)
Related posts:
- Lieberman’s Filibuster Threats Run Counter to 2006 Campaign Rhetoric
- Same old story from the same old jerk
- George Bush Personally Sent Card, Gonzales to Thug Up Ashcroft
- Nevada Phone Bank Tool for Harry Reid and Public Option Now Live
- FDL Action Launches 40,000 Call Phone Bank to Nevada Democrats Targeting Harry Reid and the Public Option
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Hi everyone… Keith’s thread was great. I finally finished editing my BlueAmerica Interview with Paul Hackett. (still editing my interview with Charlie Brown)
Paul Hackett Interview!
Sorry I’m such a rank amateur at this. But Paul’s a handfull. Be sure and watch for the shoutout he gives to FDL and C&L. :)
Keith!
Since I was out doing campaign work and missed Keith’s appearance (see how dedicated I am?), I figured I’d get my licks in on this thread.
Get Out The Vote!!!!
I love that YouTube.
Folks worried about server issues: Looks like when we switched to a bigger server last week we didn’t make some appropriate changes to the settings. Tweaks should make us okay for election night.
Guess everybody’s still working their way thru the 400 comments on the Keith thread.
Either that or they are sitting motionless in front of their computers with shell shock from the unbelievable combination of posters and commenters.
Happy Birthday Nate (one day late)!!!
Thanks ember… It was a good birthday. It ended with an interview of Charlie Brown so it was a wonderful way to spend the day.
A few troublesome polls out there. Pew and WP Show the generic ballot advantage for dems dropping- Mason Dixon shows Rhode Island and Maryland goin the gooper way. May be nothing- anyone here with a read on it?
Hey Jane, no problem, it’s just growing pains with the server burps. That’s a great problem to have. Probably just as well with the KO thread that there were burps slowing things down a bit; can you imagine what it would have been like full throttle?
Jeepers, what’ll it be like election night???
;-)
MikeinCT did such a fantastic job with that video that I’m thinking about taking up fly-fishing; he’s perfected the art of the parody!
Well done, Mike!
Jane, congrats on the Olbermann thread. What a rush!
rw, no, I have no clue.
I hope that Keith goes away knowing how much — too much? — we place on his shoulders.
Now are the nervous days, the days when you hear of the outrageous ‘tactics’ and hope that enough people will compensate for those deceived into thinking they got a 5am robocall from a Democrat.
It’s too important for another one to be stolen. Because this one breaks the republic.
Joe, Joe, Joe…
Do you think his mama’s proud of him?
rwcole @ 10
My business partner told me last week the gap would close. I hate it when that happens. Still though, it’s a 1994 size gap favorable to OUR side ; )
LOL egregious, wasn’t that such a great Book Salon? Love his sense of humor. And the big scoop (thanks FDL!) of perhaps a Special Comments book in the works, yowza oh yeaaaaa.
Jane, I’m sure your tekkies will get the bugs worked out before Tuesday. I do agree with VG that trying to cut down on quoted comments that night or asking people to please refrain from nesting them may help?
I still haven’t had a chance to look at the Olbermann thread. Big fun, huh?
Completely agree CT Bob.
TRex, did Jane forward you the picture I took of you and Tommy Yum last night? If she didn’t get around to it, email me.
Jesus’ General, Swopa, Ambassador Wilson, Mr. ReddHedd, along with the usual suspects. Olbermann is scary smart.
TRex @ 18
Keith got a slap in at Coulter that you’ll just have to read for yourself.
The level of pushing and shoving — sheer physicality — in the GOP defense this year is astonishing, from Macaca Allen to RGJoe. It’s shocking that this happens in America. I doubt Nutmeggers will permit thuggery to define their Senate choice. While I understand that Republics don’t want to vote for a “liberal Democrat,” maybe this RGJoe behavior will lead them to Alan. Here’s hoping!
Nate, I was EPU’ed on the last thread. That was a good interview! Thanks very much for putting it together for us. I STILL think Paul Hackett would make a good senator.
Pop quiz, Joe: who is the Democratic candidate for Senate in Connecticut…and for extra credit, who is not?
TRex it was fabulous. And Pach gave you a shoutout, told Keith you would make a perfect fill in for Musto. I heartily agree.
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..ent-364290
OfT, for TRex: don’t miss the gayface photos from New Life Church’s staff roster.
http://www.toiletpaperonline.t….._new_.html
Connecticut Bob @
20
I haven’t seen it yet.
I just got to the computer after a really busy day of travel and hanging out with my dad.
Getting:
ERROR!
There was a connection problem with the server. Please try again
Haven’t seen this one before.
Great Olbermann thread. I’m way to slow typing to keep up. Just sat with a smile and an occasional explanation of my giggle eruptions so my spouse wouldn’t think I was losing it.
I am sure this will be a big surprise. In addition to overwhelming incompetence and neo-enabling liar, Joe as a person disgusts me.
Just a little observation from the southern MO television market. Last night during Saturday Night Live the RNC put out a horrific ad against McCaskill. They picked up on a old Talent ad with nursing home attack angles and went to full tilt shrill. Might as well have said McCaskill will break into nursing homes and off your parents in the night, again.
Did anyone else notice that when Keith referred to his co-workers, he used their full names or first names with one exception? He referred to Tweety as “Matthews” – twice.
OT, but I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Andrew Duck’s daughter today on a plane. Duck is running as a Fightin’ Dem (he served in Iraq) against Roscoe Bartlett in Maryland. I had heard of him somewhere in the blogosphere, and I whipped around and wished her and her father well when she said her father was running for Congress. We chatted about the time for change in DC and health care and schtuff. It was a small thing, but very, very cool.
Of course, I missed the Keith Olbermann thread because of the travel!
Shez @
26
Ooooooooh. That would be great. I think.
Did you expect anything different? He’s a celebrity, this is a public forum (quotable), and those are his co workers
You forgot the spew warning! EvilDrPuma @ 22
A number of readers have written in to ask what if any effective response there is to these robocalls we’ve been writing about.
First, let’s address our definitions. Automated political campaign calls are a staple of modern politics. Both sides put in millions of them every election year. That’s because they’re very cheap, fairly effective and they get less scrutiny than ‘public’ ads on tv and radio.
To the extent that’s what we’re talking about, there’s nothing ‘to do’ about them any more than there is anything to do about nasty or unfair 30 second tv spots.
What we’re talking about is something a bit different. What we’re seeing is an apparent coordinated effort from the NRCC — the House GOP committee — to place calls that appear to be from the local Democratic candidate and then automatically call the same number back as many as seven or eight times each time the caller hang-ups. If the caller listens to the whole message it goes on to bash the Democratic candidate. But if the caller hangs up prematurely, the computer calls right back. Hang-ups are the achilles heal of robo-calls. So this seems to be an attempt to cover for that weakness by making those who hang up think the Democratic candidate is basically harassing them with phone calls. The GOP wins either way.
What is there to do about it. As described, the calls appear to be in violation of federal regulations which mandate that these calls clearly identify their origin. The repetitive call back may also be a violation in different states. The New Hampshire AG apparently just intervened to force the NRCC to stop the calls in that state. But frankly, none of that matters. Because the folks placing the calls factor in the price of whatever fines might be meted out after the election when the damage is already done.
Truthfully, I don’t think there’s really much to do but publicize it and then get out and vote.
A lot of these races remain inside the MOE, the margin of error. And that means the MOT, the margin of theft. If Dems want to pick up seats on Tuesday they’ll have to get a lot of these races out of the MOT. Because as long as they’re inside, the Republicans can still grab them with a mix of voter suppression, dirty tricks and election fraud.
– Josh Marshall
THIS IS WORKING_WE NEED TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE_NOW
TeddySanFran — OMG. All of them set off alarms. Yeesh.
Lindy @
24
Thanks Lindy… It was a lot of fun. Sitting at a kitchen table at 11 oclock at night on my birthday interviewing Charlie and Paul was a blast. I gotta get back to editing my interview with Charlie. It’s longer and won’t fit on YouTube so I’ll probably get it up to Google or iFilm.
Another great MikeinCT video.
…and thanks for sending TRex to CT!
Yeah Rayne, had I a sister who was dating any of those lads, I’d have to say to her, “uhhhh….”
spazeboy !!
EvilDrPuma @
22
Link, please? Can’t find it.
Rayne @ 37
Amy: So what do you think of that guy by the bar?
Leela: I don’t know. Maybe.
Bender: Forget it! He’s gay.
Leela: What? How can you tell?
Bender: I just know these things. I’ve got what they call ‘gaydar.’
Leela: There’s no such thing.
Bender: No?
(Bender pulls a device with an antenna dish out of his torso compartment)
….Ok, I’ve got a lock on him.
(The gaydar machine beeps)
Yep, he’s gay!
Amy: Are you sure?
Bender: Definitely! Unless I’m getting interference from a gay weather balloon.
Colleen daily luker @ 35
Some things are worth a spit take.
TRex @
42
Heh. He is our hero, isn’t he?
TRex @ 42
Read ‘em and spew.
Weren’t y’all proud of me for not getting on my trannie soapbox during the KO thread? Such self-restraint….
Teddy — yah, was thinking along the same lines. I’ve never worked in a company that looked so cohesively, consistently, umm, homogenous in appearance, a little too scrubbed for lack of a better word. I’ve worked for an insurance firm that was 75% Catholic, female and white, but there was still an enormous diversity in that population by comparison.
Enough with the Lieberman obsession right now guys. You need to jump on the robo-calling story like right now (if you don’t know what I’m talking about visit Josh or Kos). We have like a twelve hour window to fight back against what might be the most repugnant, anti-democratic tactics of my lifetime. My God, we thought Nixon was bad?
egregious @
7
Wow is all I can say. Lately I feel like I am always on catch-up!
TeddySanFran @ 48
Yes! Fortunately it did not last long.
omigod- that is a great video.
If any laywers out there need something to illustrate “stalking by phone”, this would be it.
ruffian @ 36
I ran into an extremely irate former Dem supporter while canvassing today. It was exactly this “robo-harrassing” by the RNC. One voter has volunteered to sue the RNC. This problem definitely needs to get out there to the Dem boots on the ground.
Wilbur @ 50
Hey Wilbur, new around here aren’t you? Stick around, and you will learn (as we all have) that the blogmistresses at the ‘lake don’t take kindly to orders with regard to what to talk, post, or comment about. It’s great to know that other blogs are on this illegality, and I’m sure they are where you’ll find the action….
Wilbur @ 50
Uh, Wilbur, you will find that there’s no faster way to get your cause ignored (and possibly opendly ridiculed) around here than to come in and start telling people what they need to think and talk about.
Unplugged my phone weeks ago.
HI TREX!
TeddySanFran @ 55
Hey Wilbur, new around here aren’t you? Stick around, and you will learn (as we all have) that the blogmistresses at the ‘lake don’t take kindly to orders with regard to what to talk, post, or comment about. It’s great to know that other blogs are on this illegality, and I’m sure they are where you’ll find the action….
I’m glad I let you come up with a kinder, gentler STFU than I would have bothered with.
Both Digby and Glenn Greenwald have had some nice posts up recently concerning yet more neocons (Perle, Adelman, Ledeen) who have waken up and realized that they were never for the war in the Iraq. Rats meet sinking ship.
Wilbur @ 50
THANK YOU_BIG TIME NOW
Hugh @ 60
Oh, the rats are swimming, all right. Trouble is, they’re trying to take enough money with ‘em to buy a new boat. The moral of the story is, don’t take money from rats.
Quote of the week:
“There is no place in the Republican Party anymore for those who support the legal rights of homosexuals or the reproductive rights of women. The Big Tent has become the Big Top and the clowns have taken over.” (Judy Daniels, letter to the editor, Austin American-Statesman, Saturday, November 4th, 2006).
I agree. But the clowns who’ve subverted and poisoned the formerly staid and responsible Republican Party are Killer Klowns.
And as far as taxes, all the Killer Klowns leading the “culture of corruption” Republican Party have done is 1) shift the tax burden from the wealthy elitists to the working middle class and the working poor, 2) shift the tax burden from the federal level to state and local levels, and 3) shift the tax burden from today’s generation to the children of tomorrow.
And then when one combines this tax-burden-shift away from the wealthy greedmongers in our society to everyone else with Bush and the Republicans essentially making the Unied States a “debtor nation” in relation to Communist Red China, which is funding much of our growing national debt, then the only word that comes to mind is TREASON.
Thus, if we are to save our nation, taxes MUST be increased on the top 1 to 10 percent of wealthiest U.S. citizens…but I’m not holding my breath. Even though this would relieve much of the economic pressure forced on the working middle class and working poor, relieve the economic pressure on our nation’s state budgets and relieve the economic pressure on our nation’s children and grand-children.
Otherwise, kiss our democracy good-bye.
The Republicans have raped and plundered our nation’s treasury. Voters on November 7th can put a stop to this, but Democrats must be willing to put back some of what the Republicans stole, by immediately raising taxes on those who perpetrated this evil stunt on our society, or even seizing the assets of the criminals responsible for this.
The Republicans have become nothing more than a criminal gang running the White House and Congress…and ruining our beloved democratic nation.
And Joe Lieberman, a faux Democrat, is part of this criminal gang.
Vote Democrat on November 7th. Save our democracy.
TeddySanFran @ 58
Hey, Teddy!
I wonder what I’m going to write about tonight. Sooooooo much has happened over the last 48 hours.
And I’m so tired. Yeesh. I think tomorrow I’m going to be really, really lazy to get ready for Tuesday.
re: robocalls
http://murphyforcongress.org/index.php?id=375
~~~New Britain- Today, Chris Murphy, candidate for Congress in Connecticut’s Fifth District debunked the false claims which Nancy Johnson and her Washington allies have been making in this campaign, most recently in mailings and in robocalls. Meanwhile, Fifth District resident Aleta Wenger filed a complaint with the FCC because the robocalls appear to violate their regulations. Murphy demanded – again –an end to the relentless harassment of Fifth District voters by automated calls.~~~
Eureka Springs — heh. I found there are a few things that will nip the calls without interfering with my personal rights and contracted access to my phone line.
1) Do Not Call registry
2) Unlisted phone number
3) Minor Democratic Party official
No Repugs calling. Worth every cent of the unlisted number, too.
I keep thinking that there are some ‘X’ factors that will help Ned Lamont pull off a win.
First, Schlesinger surprised everyone with a strong performance in the debates, and the votes of people who found him appealing will come at Lieberman’s expense.
Second, some % of the Democratic voters are going to reflexively pull the lever for the candidate on the Democratic line (Ned).
Third, some % of the registered Republican voters are going to reflexively pull the lever for the Republican candidate, which hurts Lieberman.
Fourth, Lieberman is positioned at the bottom of the ballot under an obscure party name which is not familiar to voters. They will have to make a real effort to locate him on the ballot.
Fifth, Lamont’s ground operation is vastly superior to Lieberman’s.
All of these add up to some structural advantages for Lamont which might make the difference, regardless of the polls.
Really TRex, take as many shots at me as you like. It’s worth it if all the progressive communities can get organized around this robo-calling and at least make an attempt to do something against it. I won’t say I’ve been humiliated by better than you – I’ve read your stuff and its pretty good. But maybe just as good.
Hugh @
60
Wolcott piles on the dopes;
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/blogs/wolcott
So does the good Roger Ailes;
http://rogerailes.blogspot.com/
There’s not enough Purell to wash the blood of the hands of these complicit fcuks.
Rayne, the Do Not Call Registry specifically exempts political calls and calls from folks you do business with (like banks soliciting charge cards, etc.). I’ve gotten banks to stop by asking to be put on their “do not call” list, but I’m at a loss about what to do with the 5 or 6 calls a day from Odious Max Burns. At least Mr. Marion in Savannah answers the phone! I have e-mailed him asking him to stop. (God, I’m SO naive!)
Wilbur, first, Jane and Christy are not “guys.”
Second, apologize to Jane and Christy for the “obsession” remark about Lieberman4Lieberman. Have you looked at the YouTube for this post?
Third, you use “Spotlight” to send the Josh or Kos posts to the TM. Tell us which ones you have done, so we can hit those you haven’t. Wilbur, leading by example is not a “new” idea.
Wilbur @ 68
If you call that a “shot,” you have a thinner skin than most Republicans. Now run along and start your own blog where you can set the priorities any way you want them.
http://nedlamont.com/blog/2151…..dorses-ned
Danbury News-Times Endorses Ned
They endorsed Joe in the primary. It’s a good read:
As he pursued his national political ambitions, Lieberman too often ignored Connecticut. He also pursued policies that left longtime supporters on the sidelines, wondering about his judgment….
His unquestioning support of Bush administration policies on Iraq, even as American military casualties mounted and Iraq spiraled out of control toward civil war, was a failure of duty and he should be held accountable.
It took the Lamont challenge to get Lieberman back to Connecticut to explain some of the choices he has made in Washington….
The News-Times Editorial Board has twice endorsed Lieberman for election to the Senate, citing his experience, intelligence and hard work. The Editorial Board also endorsed Lieberman in the August primary. After he lost, the Editorial Board suggested he withdraw from the campaign.
In Tuesday’s election, the Editorial Board endorses Ned Lamont….
Lieberman dismisses Lamont as someone who wouldn’t be able to match his presence in the Senate. Lieberman summons the same attitude toward voters who disagree with him on the war.
The problem for Lieberman is that all of his experience, all of his knowledge, didn’t help him recognize what the Bush war policies were doing and now American military personnel are in the middle of a civil war in Iraq.
If the most experienced members of Congress didn’t exercise oversight responsibilities on Iraq, have they really earned re-election?
Wilbur @ 68
I was just telling you that your tone isn’t doing your cause any favors.
children-play nice. There are many issues we need to deal with and this is an important one.
Wilbur @ 68
Wilbur, a large part of the reason FDL isn’t on more on top of this is because so many people are “engaged” in various campaigns. I appreciate you bringing this to everyone’s attention. It’s the manner in which you did it that pissed everybody off. Instead of ordering Jane and Christy around like you paid them, you could have asked what you could do to help.
How about starting with a link to the Kos and Josh posts you mentioned. Is this going on in every election or just a few, like MO, VA, TN?
The more we know, the more we can focus our resources, which are depleted, because so many are out working.
Rayne @ 66
I am on the do not call registry. I have an unlisted phone number. Yesterday I got 16 yes 16 robocalls.
Hey, so, flame me, but Wilbur has a good point, in general. The problem is with the presentation- i.e. YOU NEED TO DO THIS NOW.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed, Wilbur, but it is not the most pressing issue right now. GOTV is the most pressing thing. But, I have been reading about robocalls in CT, and there are other stories out there, and I hope that this is an issue that can be addressed- later. People in CT were truly pissed off by the volume of robocalls way back at Primary time.
How can I copy that video to send to my friends?
karen allen @ 79
Karen- this is the You Tube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..#038;eurl=
you can send that around
Politicians are exempt from the “do not call” list. I will try to find the link.
TPM is down for some reason but here’s the synopsis about robocalls. You complain to the FEC, and after Tuesday it’s settled, and that’s the point. The damage is done.
Shez @ 17
I wonder whether it would be worth disabling the “quoting” feature for Tuesday evening. . . . .
Hey Oddball, you still here?
Nate @
1
You did GREAT Nate! And clearly Paul’s a handfull. ;~D
The robocalls are swaying people from Massa to Kuhl.
This is not a nextr week issue-this is part of the GOTV issue. Sorry if I am in monority and if you don’t agree fine but I am seeing a race that we should have slipping away and its making me a bit nuts
Coz, I haven’t given up hope that we can get at least some local news outlets to broadcast that these are GOP calls made to appear as though they are coming from Democrats. I know it’s a longshot, akin to the Demon Deacons leading the ACC in football.
Cozumel @ 82
Yeah, but spotlighting the info to news sources may get it into the papers by Monday afternoon. If people know that it’s not the Dem candidates doing this, but an RNCC campaign, it changes people’s minds, especially if it goes to local TV stations.
We know that none of the election dirty tricks coming up at the last minute are going to be decided by the FEC in hours, but getting some notice of them out is essential. Not much time to make it backfire on the RNCC, and getting the story to the media may make it do that.
Valley Girl: That link doesn’t seem to work.
John Casper @ 71
Hi John, I didn’t know you can spotlight a TPM post.
Rayne – I have a lot of company (folks from the city during the fall season, so I love to flip them out with the very idea of no phone.*g* You should see all of the folks who will walk a mile for a cel signal! When I plug in the phone it takes about ten minutes for unidentified (auto?) caller to appear on my id! My number has always been unlisted for sixty bucks a year. When I get sat internet, att/ nsa can kiss my arse.
Cozumel @ 82
Yeah, it’s late now. However, if we all screech like Banshees about it, particularly after the new Congress is seated, we might be able to get something done in time for 2008 when it will be even MORE important. Scream. Scream loudly, but politely. And don’t stop until we see some action from the FEC or the FCC or whichever bowl of alphabet soup should be the target.
John Casper @ 87
Good point, John ; )
moeman #69,
Thanks for those links re Iraq and the fleeing neocons. I especially like Ailes’s title: Success Has A Thousand Fathers, Failure Just Has These Bastards.
heres some of the TPM stuff
This is also happening in Eric Massa’s district race against Randy Kuhl.
Harrassing and continous robo calling pretending to be from Massa.
November 05, 2006 — 01:33 PM EST // link)
More GOP dirty phone tricks in New Hampshire, scene of the 2002 phone-jamming incident that led to criminal prosecutions of Republican operatives:
For the second straight day yesterday, Democratic field offices received dozens of phone calls and e-mails from frustrated voters upset about repeated automated phone calls they thought were coming from Democratic candidate Paul Hodes – though the calls were paid for by a Republican group instead.
The National Republican Congressional Committee spent nearly $20,000 on the calls last week. Depending on the rate, that could mean more than 300,000 automated phone calls into the Second Congressional District.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Charlie Bass denounced the calls yesterday and said he tried to get the NRCC to put a stop to them. But a spokesman for the NRCC said the automated phone calls would continue indefinitely.
“The calls will continue as planned,” said Alex Burgos, a spokesman for the NRCC, the national group charged with electing Republicans to the House. “They are done independently of Charlie Bass’s campaign. He has nothing to do with them.”
The only surprising thing here is that the NRCC has essentially admitted this is one of its tricks. We have a report that a similar effort is underway in the New York 19th Congressional District, where Democrat John Hall is trying to unseat Republican Sue Kelly.
November 05, 2006 — 02:49 PM EST // link)
More on what we’re hearing about GOP dirty phone tricks in the New York 19th Congressional District.
Three TPM readers have reported a phone scam with a double whammy. The call purports to be for John Hall, the Democratic challenger, but makes negative assertions about Hall. If the caller hangs up, they are called again and again, as many as seven times, according to one report.
So either the recipient hears a negative message about Hall, or they think Hall is harrassing them with repeated phone calls. Either way it’s a win for Hall’s opponent, Republican incumbent Sue Kelly.
If you’re in the NY-19, let us know what you’re hearing.
– TPM Reader DK
November 05, 2006 — 03:40 PM EST // link)
We’re getting reports from a number of congressional districts that one or another of the GOP committees is sponsoring robocalls that begin with “I’m calling with information about [fill in name of Democratic candidate].” Apparently, many voters, irate with the flood of calls, assume that the Democrat is the one sponsoring the call.
In addition to the New Hampshire 2nd and New York 19th, which we covered below, TPM readers report such calls in the Illinos 6th (Roskam v. Duckworth), Illinois 8th (McSweeney v. Bean), and California 4th (Doolittle v. Brown). However, we do not have reports from those district of repeated callbacks after the recipient hangs up, as has been reported in the New York 19th.
– TPM Reader DK
(November 05, 2006 — 05:37 PM EST // link)
More from NY-19 on the robo-calls from TPM Reader VO …
I was handing out leaflets for John Hall yesterday at a grocery store. There were two tables, a democratic one and a Republican one.
When I was handing out palm cards, several people said to me something like, “I WAS going to vote for John Hall, until I got all those phone calls. I got seven or eight, right at dinner time.”
The guy from the Republican table, who was a local district leader– friendly and chatty, actually came over to me and said, “You know, most of those are coming from Sue’s office, but don’t tell anybody.”
I don’t know how high his connections are to the Kelly campaign, but that’s the information he volunteered.
– Josh Marshall
November 05, 2006 — 05:48 PM EST // link)
More of the scam calls from the NRCC, from TPM Reader PS …
I was canvassing in Stamford, CT for Lamont and Farrel yesterday… some of the canvassers were talking about a nasty robocall hit on Farrell, which they said people at the doors had talked about. I didn’t hear that at the door personally, but I wasn’t focusing on the congressional race – i was talking about Lamont primarily.
Apparently the call starts with something along the lines of “Diane Farrell has some information for you,” then pauses, waiting for annoyed people to hang up, and then delivers a negative message about Farrell. The canvassers say the call has hit some people as much as 6 times, and at 5 – 6am as well. Presumably, the intent is to annoy people and stick Farrell with the negative name ID as somebody who keeps robo-calling them.
We won’t be able to get to the bottom of this operation until after Tuesday, which is the point. They’ll happily pay the fines for breaking the federal regs on misidentifying calls.
– Josh Marshall
AP: Republicans Heart Robo Calls
By Paul Kiel – November 1, 2006, 11:14 AM
From the Associated Press:
In at least 53 competitive House races, the National Republican Campaign Committee has launched hundreds of thousands of automated telephone calls, known as “robo calls.”….
Bruce Jacobson, a software engineer from Ardmore, Pa., received three prerecorded messages in four hours. Each began, “Hello, I’m calling with information about Lois Murphy,” the Democrat running against two-term incumbent Rep. Jim Gerlach in the Philadelphia-area district.
“Basically, they go on to slam Lois,” said Jacobson, who has filed a complaint with the FCC because the source of the call isn’t immediately known.
FCC rules say all prerecorded messages must “at the beginning of the message, state clearly the identity of the business, individual, or other entity that is responsible for initiating the call.” During or after the message, they must give the telephone number of the caller.
“The way they’re sent is deceptive. The number of calls is harassing. The way her stances are presented in these stories is deliberately misleading and deceptive,” said Karlyn Messinger, another Murphy supporter from Penn Valley, Pa., who filed a complaint with the FCC.
NRCC spokesman Ed Patru denied any illegal intent.
“All of our political calls are in compliance with the law,” Patru said.
Not so, said the Democrats.
“They are violating the regulations that were set up,” said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who said the DCCC employed one robocall this cycle and paid $500 for it.
Keep in mind that these robo calls sound far less nasty than the push polls going out from the independent conservative attack groups.
Permalink | TOPICS
TPM is working for me.
TRex!
This is an electric piece at You Tube- ned opening New Haven rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..#038;eurl=
Investigators: Political Phone Messages May Be Illegal In N.H.
(November 05, 2006 — 07:04 PM EDT)
From Josh:
Bold is mine.
karen allen @ 89
Karen- it works for me- I clicked on it in my comment. Browser issue?
ember @
8
Better Nate than lever.
hello mommybrain!
Okay, guys, I have no pictures of the Saturday night rally in New Haven. I was hoping to get some from a friend, but I haven’t gotten them yet. If you have any, send them to me at:
df530[at]bellsouth[dot]net
Thank you!!
on robo calls_I am sending out info to anyone I can think of who might know some others etc. I sent to editors of loacl papers and even to local DA (whose email I stumbled accross). He might even be a Republican but I am hoping there is some decency in him….these guys are liars and thieves-and we need to show everyone whats behind the curtain
please contact whomever..
Per Daily Kos, the Repubs have fessed up to 200,000 robocalls in NH-02 over this past week, which is illegal. Calculating a 5K fine per call, the Repubs have chalked up a total fine in NH as high as $100 million clams. That should bankroll a few Dem campaigns in 08.
So the fine money goes to the opposition?
Lady Bug @ 104
TRex- hope you saw the You Tube link I posted above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..#038;eurl=
Ned at intro to New Haven rally- electrifying.
raven @ 105
Plugging in my phone now!
Wilbur @ 50
I tend to agree with that. We all want Ned to crush JoeL, and hope that GOTV does the trick, but the real threat to our democracy right now is multi-state.
First, the fake robocalls.
Next, . . . . ? ? ? ?
Then, intimidation of voters.
Finally, fraud in the machines.
Let us not forget the PHYSICAL intimidation of ballot-counters in Florida in 2000.
I do think that we need to play up the shenanigans, in hopes that some in the media check in at FDL and can give it all a wider airing.
“Politics is not bean-bag,” as they say. But with the current crop of Republicans, it is something much darker and more sinister, tearing at the very fabric of our democracy. If this election is stolen from us, will we have another serious opportunity to stop the downward slide?
Would it help to record these things???
karen allen,
to add to VG’s help, you can click anywhere on the YouTube other than the Start arrow (like the frame for instance) which will take you to the YouTube page it is originally on and that will give you the URL address. Also while there, under the video where it says “Rate this video” with the red stars, is an email icon with “Share Video”.
Edit: Easier way is to click on “Share” on the video here..duh I forgot about that! LOL
Hey all, if you post info about robo calls, please make sure to include a link to info- copy and paste linky- quite easy.
Prof, I’ve already told my husband that if this election is stolen I’m getting a gun, and I mean it. I’m crowding 61 and I’ve never allowed such a thing in my house, but if this election goes the way of the last 2 I’m arming myself. And trust me, NOBODY wants to mess with this cranky old broad when she’s got a gun…
NPR has Andrew Kohut on with the news that Republicans are making strong gains in polling.
This is just what the playbook would call for to prepare the ground for a massive vote theft on Tuesday.
Oh man, I love the you tube Jane posted by CT Bob! Excellent!
oregondave @ 113
Not in Ohio, the Goopers are getting their butts kicked.
Twisted Martini @
84
Yeah Twisted….
It was another BLUE weekend, and I am hoping for a BLUE Tuesday!
On another note, I really want to thank Jane and company for giving me the opportunity to ask KO a question, and get a response.
This man is my hero. I am verklempt.
Many thanks FDL, this community ROCKS!
Easy now, make sure you take a firearms safety course. . .and lay in some hollow points.
Marion in Savannah @ 112
dang, that is one hell of a video. (nice pad, too.)
oregondave @ 113
Are they quoting the ABC/WaPo polls? Because DemfromCT at Next Hurrah says that those are, um, not real solid polls. (My comment when they were brought up on CNN this afternoon was that ABC and WaPo lean GOP.)
punaise @ 118
Looked like new drapes.
Marion in Savannah @ 109
Absolutely! Great Catch!
Let me add, you probably need a recorder that plug into your phone jack for adequate audio quality. If people can’t get that, what Josh suggests about will work too.
I saw this ten minutes ago on AmericaBlog ITS REALLY IMPORTANT –
From The American Conservative, a magazine founded by Pat Buchanan. I can’t believe I agree with this editorial. But it’s rather brilliant.
GOP MUST GO
….It should surprise few readers that we think a vote that is seen—in America and the world at large—as a decisive “No” vote on the Bush presidency is the best outcome….
Faced on Sept. 11, 2001 with a great challenge, President Bush made little effort to understand who had attacked us and why—thus ignoring the prerequisite for crafting an effective response. He seemingly did not want to find out, and he had staffed his national-security team with people who either did not want to know or were committed to a prefabricated answer.
As a consequence, he rushed America into a war against Iraq, a war we are now losing and cannot win, one that has done far more to strengthen Islamist terrorists than anything they could possibly have done for themselves. Bush’s decision to seize Iraq will almost surely leave behind a broken state divided into warring ethnic enclaves, with hundreds of thousands killed and maimed and thousands more thirsting for revenge against the country that crossed the ocean to attack them. The invasion failed at every level…
The war will continue as long as Bush is in office, for no other reason than the feckless president can’t face the embarrassment of admitting defeat. The chain of events is not complete: Bush, having learned little from his mistakes, may yet seek to embroil America in new wars against Iran and Syria.
Meanwhile, America’s image in the world, its capacity to persuade others that its interests are common interests, is lower than it has been in memory. All over the world people look at Bush and yearn for this country—which once symbolized hope and justice—to be humbled….
There may be little Americans can do to atone for this presidency, which will stain our country’s reputation for a long time. But the process of recovering our good name must begin somewhere, and the logical place is in the voting booth this Nov. 7. If we are fortunate, we can produce a result that is seen—in Washington, in Peoria, and in world capitals from Prague to Kuala Lumpur—as a repudiation of George W. Bush and the war of aggression he launched against Iraq….
On Nov. 7, the world will be watching as we go to the polls, seeking to ascertain whether the American people have the wisdom to try to correct a disastrous course. Posterity will note too if their collective decision is one that captured the attention of historians—that of a people voting, again and again, to endorse a leader taking a country in a catastrophic direction. The choice is in our han
Eureka Springs, AR @ 120
drawn to cover the glass that Joe-bird, drunk on power-can’t-thus berries, goes hurtling into.
and here is how to record them for email!
http://mathewgross.com/community/node/1284
I almost never post but this is one of those times I must add my 2 sense (HA HA). The robo calls are also happening in Cruella’s old district in Sarasota. By blasting it everywhere and anywhere, on the tubes and off, we have done EVERYTHING we can!
Clearly, after lurking with awe and pride while both KO and Joe Wilson were posting over at the last thread, I realize how important FDL is and that we have a voice. Let’s use it!
P J Evans @
119
Most of them are quoting the Pew polls, and they’re usually done well.
Prof @ 108
Just to be clear, I should have edited the blockquote before hitting send.
I don’t agree with telling Christie and Jane what to do (or TRex, or Pach, or even me!).
But I agree that the robo calls are a significant issue — one or probably many last-minute dirty tricks.
I found more information on this on Chris Murphy’s web page (running against Republitard Nancy Johnson in CT).
Am I in denial or delusional? Have I become a faith-based voter?
Because I abso-fuckin’-lutely refuse to believe the ‘polls’ in CT.
Political Wire has one just up from SurveyUSA with NoMOJoe still supposedly up 11 points over Lamont.
WTF?
What’s goin’ on?
Marion, LindaR — I think what’s required is all of these things at the same time. Companies sell their marketing lists, so if you permit one to call you, chances are good they’ll sell what they have on you to some other company, who’ll sell it in turn to a marketer that specializes in political outreach. Have to nip this in the bud with Do Not Call list regardless of the exemptions since the Repugs use micro-targeting based on commercially produced marketing data to contact you.
The unlisted number also kills off a bunch of calls. And contacting the party to ensure accurate records in the party’s database will also help; I know I’ve had my own record checked to show “Strong Dem”. I don’t know that this info ever bleeds over to the Repugs, but it changes the kinds of calls I get from Dems as well.
We’re also privacy freaks here in my house; I deny every company with which we have an account the ability to sell or share data, and I renew it every year.
I’ve gotten – 0 – robocalls from Repugs. And I get calls from Dems and progressive organizations, but only from groups that already have my phone number or have access to the Dem Party database.
What I’d suggest doing is working on changing legislation in your state on how your DMV data is shared, hammer away on your state legislators; if enough people have gotten the numbers of calls you two have received, they’ll be angry enough to support such a bill and helo with hammering on the same legislators. It can be done — and your chances will be better in a few short days.
From the Chris Murphy web page:
Oddball-It was a little too close for comfort, but I understand Lloyd kept the second team D in until the end of the game. They better not pull that shit against the Hoosiers or I will have to move!
bbuster — if there’s thin polling data, you’re right to simply ignore it. Just vote. One way to manipulate the vote is to manage the expectations of voters by mis-reporting or under/overreporting polling, in order to discourage opposing voters.
Don’t be discouraged, just vote.
maybe if we all hold our breath until Tuesday the country will turn blue
Dems will win BIG.
Republican claims the polls are closing are nonsense.
Report any election irregularities to 1-800-our-vote
GOTV!
Aravosis has another race with robo-GOP-faux calling:
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..ffort.html
Rayne @ 129
I’d also get them to hammer away at how your housing information is shared. A lot of people troll the public records for homeowners, and people end up on junk mail lists for this reason. If you want to know how to get around the junk mail issue, ask me. I know lots of tricks to make junk mailers pay.
Happy birthday Nate!
now I’m off to go check out the KO thread that I missed.
Oh, I’m not discouraged. Just the cognitive dissonance is clanging and I’m beginning to doubt my instincts.
I also just lost it on MyDD and told someone to shut the fuck up because of blathering on about his read of the polls says only a 3-4 win in Senate – giving ‘perspective on the Senate Race’in stentorian tones. Gave him the Imus quote to John Kerry, about please for the love of God stop talking and go away. Bowers usually knows what he’s talking about and writes beautifully but keerist talk about poor timing and besides nobody really knows what the poop is at this late date, imho.
Prof @ 130
Prof, these folks are going over the top. What’s a few fines after the elections, compared to holding the House? PRICELESS.
If you recall, Katherine Harris and company stole the election in Florida primarily through abuse of the felons list. They paid a small fine afterwards, the rest of us have been paying an unimaginable price ever since.
http://www.courant.com/news/po…..s-politics
~~~Robo Calls’ Raise Hackles
Automated Intrusions Torture For Some
November 1, 2006
By ELIZABETH HAMILTON, Courant Staff Writer
Alyce Knapp was facing a diagnosis of breast cancer when the calls started flooding her phone line last July. Not calls of support or calls from her doctors – although those came, too.
These were robo calls, primarily from U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman and the two Democrats running for the gubernatorial endorsement, Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. []
Knapp’s experience with robo calls is worse than most, but her anger about the way she was treated and her inability to get the calls to stop are instructive for a few reasons.
First, like many people, Knapp is on the federal “Do Not Call” registry, but that didn’t do her any good. Why? Because politicians are exempt from that list.
“The legal justification relates to the First Amendment, but the political justification relates to politicians wanting to make calls on their own behalf,” said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, whose office can enforce “Do Not Call” regulations.
Second, despite begging the three campaigns, Knapp couldn’t seem to get them to stop calling her. That’s probably because the campaigns themselves don’t make the calls – they hire an outside company to do it for them, for about five cents a call, and then don’t think about it anymore….~~~
The is a Nov. 1 Associated Press story on the deceptive robocalls.
The full FCC regulations on this can be found in my link. But the specific sections are already quoted above.
Some questions for election lawyers to ponder:
(1) Is there a legal theory under which an injunction may be sought against the NRCC and others for violation of the FCC regulations?
(2) Or on other grounds?
(3) Would such an injunction get past a no-prior-restraint First Amendment test? (I doubt it.)
In short, I doubt very much that there is any legal remedy to stop this.
And so this leaves us needing to use political/media/screams-of-outrage solutions instead.
Our democracy truly is in fragile shape, for this and other reasons, in this election.
raven @
105
I really don’t know. I was being a smartass, but 8, 9 figures out of their pockets makes all the money in our pockets all that more effective.
Hugh @ 60
They were for the war before they were against it.
2,828 deaths as of this morning, 103 in October and 13 so far this month. As they are swimming in the water someone should throw them a lead weight and be done with them.
Sorry, I know that is a tacky comment, but having attended a military funeral on Friday for a WW II vet, I cannot help but think of all the lives that have been thrown away by this useless war. At least my uncle was able to live to the age of 85 before he died.
These are young people, lives ahead of them, with a full range of potential that is now denied them and their families.
End of rant.
punaise @ 123
Alderberries in the world can’t replace the panes Joe has caused for our troops.
end zig
there is a new thread
Huh. I thought I was the norm but after reading this thread I guess not. I hang up on robo calls almost immediately. I even hang up on George Clooney. Who in the heck even listens to that stuff?
The Veep’s homestaters have a message for him:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/5/204949/485
Marion @ 4:57 pm and Valley Girl @ 5:06 pm -
South Carolina’s law pertaining to robocalls reads as follows:
As you see from the foregoing excerpt from the South Carolina Code of Laws, South Carolina’s law does not grant an exemption for robocalls delivering unsolicited political messages.
Those of you who live in other states, please do this: look for comparable laws in your states and share what you find on whatever thread is current at the time you post your comments.
I wouldn’t hang up on Clooney if he actually, um, called me though.
Jenny from the Blog @ 149
LOL
The robocalls have also targeted Charlie Brown, pretending to be from him.
http://www.sierrasun.com/artic…..N/61029007
Charlie Brown’s campaign website has a story on it:
The “here” link takes you to an Oct. 20 press release from Charlie Brown’s campaign (CA-04).
The press release cites some examples.
Oh yeah, document any election irregularities that you can. Courts love documents, pictures, audio tapes, etc.
Over at bradblog.com where they’re very very interested in electronic voting machines and the election process there has already been reports of problems in New Mexico. It seems the Republicans are calling certain Dems and telling them their voting place has changed to xxxx. But, it’s just lies.
Anyway, there they’ve gotten a court order (an injunction) for the state Republican party to stop. Perhaps that would also work in the case of the robo-phone calls.
Use the Law, don’t violate it the way Republicans have.
Jane dahling,
I hope you realize that the only way you can top that Olberman thing is by inviting this man called Fitzgerald (whoever he is) for a casual Q and A.
And if you must, please promise him that there will be no mention of that horrible “case” he’s working on, what’s it called…”Us vs Biddy” or some such.
Prof @
130
Prof -
Please look at what 47 USC 227 (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) says about automatically dialed telephone calls.
Jenny from the Blog @ 146
Jenny, the insidious thing about these calls is they only mention the Democrat they are designed to attack, right at the beginning. So people hang up, and are mad at the wrong candidate. It is fraud.
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 155
Hi, not to be contrary and I do understand how misleading and annoying these calls are, but honestly, if I got 100 calls with the first two words being *ned lamont*, and even if they bugged the crap out of me, it still wouldn’t make me pull the lever for Lieberman or stay home on election day.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 154
SP, I like this part:
but why in the world would the US Congress try to authorize suit in state court — and not in federal court?
And this:
Same question.
There is, however, a provision for a federal court suit if brought by a State Attorney General:
So in theory a Democratic AG could file a federal suit tomorrow for injunction. The question that such an AG would have to ask him/herself is how that would play in the media.
The Republicans would immediately blast back that the Democratic Party was trying to disrupt democracy, was going after only Republicans, etc., etc.
Cozumel @ 150
I’m still kicking myself for hanging up on Scarlett Johansen
LJ/Aquaria @136:
Tricks to make junk mailers pay??? REALLY??? We refer to what comes in the mailbox as “the daily ration of shit” because it’s 98% junk. Please… tricks… {sits up and begs, wags tail, rolls over…}
egregious @
7
Shell shock, yes, that would be me. What a thread. Everybody was there except Jesus Christ, and he sent the General instead. Oh. My. God. Jane, Christy, you have done an amazing thing making this blog. You are amazing. You are amazing. You are amazing. A thousand thanks.
bbuster @ 128
Don’t believe it.
People in CT are no longer answering their phones. None of these polls are accurate in the least
The Republicans are playing head games. And pollsters are part of the process. It’s easy to over poll Republicans, do wacky samples – there are many ways to skew and distort polls. It’s ridiculous for people to obsess and focus on polls.
These robocalls are despicable and if this issue gets enough publicity in the next 24 hours, it will backfire on Rove, big time. People have HAD ENOUGH.
I think we should laser focus on this issue like we did with the Path to 9/11 movie.
This is why Rove was so sure the Republicans would win. This is Rove’s MO – nasty campaign ads and dirty tricks. We can’t let him get away with it.
Pelosi, not a brave woman
In the Courant
Why did Pelosi not stump for the Democratic Senate candidate as well?
Let’s put together an army and confront the Lieberthugs. We’ll bring bats and smash their faces to pulp…
Thanks to everyone for your kind words about my video above! I had a lot of fun making it. Here’s my original write-up about it on My Left Nutmeg. (And you can see Joe Lieberman sing!)
I have a better idea, malcontent; let’s not.
um, that might be the best political ad I’ve ever seen.
Good Morning,
I would think one good way to get publicity immediately is to report these robo-calls to:
Report any election irregularities to 1-800-our-vote
If they start getting thousands of calls now the “press?” just might start reporting it today. Just a thought.