Thank You Howie Klein!

Zero?

That’s a first!

Howie!
McNerney!
Tester!
Webb!
C. Murphy!
Hall!
Gillibrand!
Hodes!
Sestak, Carney, P. Murphy!
Walz!

Howie !!

You so rock our new blue America.

Thanks for all you do.

Are there plans to continue raising money under the Blue America banner, or was it just for this election?

We HAVE Had Enough!

========
Who’s Next?
========

now, that’s a double submission I do not have to say oops for! :)

You guys rock with your dedication and passion! We have to keep this up and not let the old entrenched “influential losers” hijack what we have just begun to build. We also have to allow our own to fail if and when they turn out to be as corrupt as the other side. We must remain true to the vision of an America we can be proud of.

Thanks for all your efforts, Howie.

PeteCO at 5 — we’re talking about how best to proceed with this, and we haven’t firmly decided on any one possibility as yet. But there will definitely be something going forward with Blue America, count on that. :)

P.S. Howie, my husband was a little worried when I started getting CD’s in the mail from a stranger.

Howie had to take care of something so I’m filling in — if you have particular questions for Howie, I’m sure you can leave them in the thread and he’ll get to them as he can.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 11

PeteCO at 5 — we’re talking about how best to proceed with this, and we haven’t firmly decided on any one possibility as yet. But there will definitely be something going forward with Blue America, count on that. :)

It would be nice to have a pot of money ready for ‘08.

When you reverse the momentum on any large object, it requires sapping amounts of energy.

I’m going running through the hills and autumn splendor of Portland, OR.

Fill my cells,

Then rejoin the other shoulders at the wheel.

PeteCO at 14 — that’s the thought. We’re definitely going to keep the PAC going. The thought is that there are still several Congresspeople under investigation, and there may be resignations and special elections to be covered in the next two years, along with early retirements. And we certainly want to have something ready for that when and if it comes.

Thank you Howie, Jane amd John. As a “shareholder” I am most satisfied with the return on investment. Ned’s loss was a gut check, but the overall result is heartening. McNerney’s victory is particularly sweet.

For those candidates who prevailed, we can follow their new careers with great interest. For those who came up short, they are now familiar names and faces and can count on a jump-start next time around. 2008 will be here in a blink of an eye.

(Remember: ten or twenty years from now when Robert Rodriguez is elected governor of CA, Jane called it here first).

Great election Howie- Congratulations.

By the way—goopers are noticing that gas prices are goin up the day after the election. Dems could do a nice bit of voter re-inforcent with this little gem. The goopers are REALLY PISSED– feel that they just voted for the guy who’s givin them the shaft.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 16

PeteCO at 14 — that’s the thought. We’re definitely going to keep the PAC going. The thought is that there are still several Congresspeople under investigation, and there may be resignations and special elections to be covered in the next two years, along with early retirements. And we certainly want to have something ready for that when and if it comes.

Charlie Brown (CA-04) is waiting in the wings for that Doolittle indictment to fall!

Punaise- what happens if Do Little gets indicted? Does Arnie name a replacement? Oh- probably a special election like for the Dukester?

If the Doolittle scandal heats up more, we might have another shot at helping Charlie Brown take over CA-04. It’s the same scandal as Pombo, who is now gonzo.

pun I didn’t see your 11:21.

rwcole @ 18

Great election Howie- Congratulations.

By the way—goopers are noticing that gas prices are goin up the day after the election. Dems could do a nice bit of voter re-inforcent with this little gem. The goopers are REALLY PISSED– feel that they just voted for the guy who’s givin them the shaft.

But, but…it’s the heating oil! Yeah, that’s it.

Heating oil.

I’d lvoe to see Doolittle indicted – he deserves it! Charlie Brown seems like a wonderful man and candidate, what were those voters thinking?

rizbiz, you must have a break in the rain, got snow on the mts. down to about 3000 ft. here in Ashland this morning.

Nice report! Is this a shareholders meeting? If so I vote to retain the same slate of officers!

WE.KICKED.ASS

rwcole @ 20

Punaise- what happens if Do Little gets indicted? Does Arnie name a replacement? Oh- probably a special election like for the Dukester?

IIRC, special election. Gov. appointments are for Senate seats?

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

I recall Nate saying that Charlie Brown was going to keep his organization in place for 30-60 days…just in case something were to come up regarding Doolittle.

We do need to be ready, like Emily’s list is, to step in immediately when a special election pops up. We should have a few of them soon. We also have Ciro Rodriguez to support next month in his bid to knock off Henry Bonilla in Texas, as well as William Jefferson’s opponent in Louisiana.

Cozumel @ 24

Nice report! Is this a shareholders meeting? If so I vote to retain the same slate of officers!

WE.KICKED.ASS

I’ll send in my proxy to support the current board!

Howie – you and Blue America rawk!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Happy Shareholder here!

I really had never given money to individual candidates before; only $ to pro-choice groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood.

This year I spent about $700, mostly through Act Blue bc of this site, Ameriblog and DKos. It was a financial sacrifice, but well worth it and I DO feel like a shareholder. Happy days are here again! And I will continue to give because my country is worth it.

To see the influence of BlueAmerica you also need to count your spinoffs, such as egregiousBlue and B.Muse. We supported people like Kissell [Muse], Webb, Walz, and Benson. Alaska in ‘08! Just waiting for the FBI investigation and subpoenas.

speaking of financial support, let’s not forget FDL…

PeteCO @ 23

rwcole @ 18

Great election Howie- Congratulations.

By the way—goopers are noticing that gas prices are goin up the day after the election. Dems could do a nice bit of voter re-inforcent with this little gem. The goopers are REALLY PISSED– feel that they just voted for the guy who’s givin them the shaft.

But, but…it’s the heating oil! Yeah, that’s it.

Heating oil.

I hope Hugh keeps giving us his gas price reports. Would be interesting to see at what rate prices increase now.

punaise @ 27

I recall Nate saying that Charlie Brown was going to keep his organization in place for 30-60 days…just in case something were to come up regarding Doolittle.

We stand at the ready. Keep us posted.

Newsweek reporting that in the last weeks- americans have shunned hybrids and are buyin SUVs again- apparently convinced that the days of high priced gasoline are OVER.

Just when I regain some respect for the american public- I see something like THIS!

Gas at one nearby station on Tuesday was $2.35, on Wednesday, $2.43. I thought they’d hold steady through the holidays, then start creeping back up. I believe that’s what happened in 2004.

So many races to keep track of! I’m so sorry Colleen Rowley didn’t win. Is she planning to run again?

punaise at 33 — thanks — you and egregious are so great about mentioning that. Wanted to let you both know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. :)

punaise @ 26

rwcole @ 20

Punaise- what happens if Do Little gets indicted? Does Arnie name a replacement? Oh- probably a special election like for the Dukester?

IIRC, special election. Gov. appointments are for Senate seats?

You got it exactly right, punaise.

punaise @ 33

speaking of financial support, let’s not forget FDL…

Great idea. I’d like us to have a discussion or two about how to set up a better financial infrastructure for fdl. What we have right now is a problem.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 38

punaise at 33 — thanks — you and egregious are so great about mentioning that. Wanted to let you both know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. :)

It would help us to know approximately what the monthly costs are. Then we can set up some options to reach those targets. Is this information you are willing to share with us?

OT – Contessa Brewer on MSNBC just came real close to calling Mitt Romney a Moron! LOL

Is there a complete list of the candidates who got support and whether they won or not? (Audited by Arthur Anderson of course). Thanks

rwcole @ 26

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

Jeez, would that be funny.

It meant a lot to be able to meet the candidates online here at FDL when one can’t meet them in person. For me it was a surprise how clearly the enthusiasm and dedication shone through in the online exchanges. And, it has been amazing to watch as “Had Enough” was at first a mere seed of an idea from Tommy Yum to Howie, and then, and then… “our song”- that’s what it feels like.

It’s great to feel a personal connection to candidates and their campaigns. TRex’s late nite party with Robert R (CA-25) and his amazing band was a highlight for me. A great opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes, and to see the enthusiasm and hope in action.

Blue America just kept growing and evolving. More! More!

egregious at 41 — that’s something you should e-mail Jane about, truly. She’s the official bookkeeper of our little enterprise, and the one who keeps us floating along, so to speak.

rw at 43 — we have a complete tally, but because there are still 10 or so outstanding races yet to be called, we’ve been holding off on a full account on that. Wulsin and Kissell and several others are still awaiting an official count.

Ned changing the national conversation on Iraq may well have saved America. At least the America I know and love.

Thanks Ned!

And Thank You Howie!

Check this out from our daily newspaper (according to the person who sent it, it is the 1st US Newspaper To Call For A Complete
Independent Council of 9/11):

Dateline: Sat. Nov, 11, 2006 Ashland, Oregon, USA
The Daily Tidings, Editorial, Page A4

Online link to editorial to be posted later today, thus the full posting.

“In honor or our veterans, we call for truth

Anniversaries cause us to instinctively pause and reflect, just as our leg jolts forward after a well-positioned tap on the knee. In honor of our veterans – to whom we owe a debt we can never repay – the least we can do on this Veteran’s Day is look back at the decisions made that sent our troops into battle, and the roles we played in those decisions. Perhaps upon reflection, our reaction may change.

The fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 served as the reflex hammer touch to the knee of American conscience. As the country attended memorials and revisited painful memories of 9/11, the reflection also opened our collective mind once again to the many unanswered questions, legitimate concerns and conflicting evidence in the official description of those
events.

For us at the Daily Tidings the event served to open discussion among us about this complex subject, about the conspiracy theories that abound in Internet chats, blogs and so-called investigative reports and most importantly, the questions regarding the media’s role in this ongoing issue.

A month later we have found very little we all agree on. We especially disagree on the role of the media. Since the Tidings doesn’t cover New York City, Washington, D.C., or the federal government, the ambiguity is shaded with absolution.

Nevertheless we are each members of the fourth estate, an essential conglomeration of individuals who adhere to professional guidelines, and who care passionately about this demanding and often thankless opus. With that membership – we can all agree on some level – comes a responsibility to giving the public the accuracte information it needs to make informed decisions. Thus, somewhere in all the banter, we stumbled on one thing we at the Tidings’ truly can agree on.

Apparently, we are not alone. Based on the results of this hallmark 2006 election, the American people are finally asking for change. They don’t like our involvement in Iraq. They voted out many members of the party that put us there. Perhaps they are also ready to question the events and decisions that put us there as well. Perhaps they are ready to ask what really happened on Sept. 11.

We think so. And we call on our colleagues to join us in asking questions.

Every single American daily newspaper must demand of our congressional leaders and those in the executive branch that an independant council be formed to completely and thoroughly investigate the deaths of nearly 3,000 American citizens in the attack of 9/11 – an attack that took place on American soil.

Forget the conspiracy theories for a minute and set aside the political gamesmanship. We are a country that spent five years and $100 million
investigating President Clinton. We probed the depths of the Iran-Contra scandal – a debacle that would have never come fully into the public eye had a special investigator not been appointed.

This administration has spent far more energy and time seeking the leak of Valerie Plame’s identity and Barry Bonds’ use of steroids than it has in fully explaining how three skyscrapers crumbled in an instant and nearly
3,000 people were killed. While an independent investigation may never fully answer every question, it will help to heal the wounds of this nation and widespread distrust of our leaders this atack has caused.

This historic tragedy ranks among the worst days in American history. We owe it to every American – but especially those who do battle on our behalf at the behest of our leaders – to spare no expense and allow no party loyalty to dissuade us. The government works for us. If it failed us, either in malfeasance or incompetence, then we must know that. If our
current actions around the world are shaped by misinformation, we must know that too. Finally, if what we now believe to be true is only further proven, we would do well to hear the evidence that confirms it. If the government’s version of the events of that day are absolutely true, then scrutiny will amplify that truth and lay to rest the skepticism that remains to this day.

If, however, the questions that remain serve to shed light on new information, that too serves the public. And it is the responsibility of
this trusted media industry to dig, probe, investigate and uncover the truth behind government events and decisions that impact the public. On this Veterans Day, we can do no less on behalf of the brave men and women who
have been sent to the Middle East based on rationale that stems directly from the events of 9/11. While we pay homage to all veterans of the Armed Forces today, we are reminded of our duty to watch closely those leaders in the White House and Congress who make the decisions to send our troops to war.

We invite every single American daily newspaper to join us in our demand for an independent council to completely and thoroughly investigate the deaths of nearly 3,000 American citizens in the attacks of 9/11.

America will be better informed, and this is our job.”

I disagree with the part about Plame, but otherwise…Bravo!

rwcole @ 26

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

From our pool a couple of months back, I’m in for 23% before he leaves office, either through waiting out his term or being politely asked to leave by Congress.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 38

punaise at 33 — thanks — you and egregious are so great about mentioning that. Wanted to let you both know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. :)

Whatever you and Jane glean from this site, I doubt it is anywhere near adequate compensation for the huge impact you have (and the time and effort you invest). Lately I’ve modestly invested in FDL projects (emptywheel’s book, TRex travels..) but the next one will go straight to the general fund!

Thinking ahead to the process of nominating the Democratic candidate for the Presidency in 2008, the netroots need to start a campaign now to forestall the nomination of Hillary Clinton.

Democrats have just won the Congressional elections by attracting the support of moderate Republicans and Independents. We need to maintain this support by nominating a candidate who can unite the country in a positive and optimistic way. Whatever her qualities, Clinton is a tremendously polarizing figure.

Wes Clark is a solid progressive Democrat who has had a hugely effective role in the campaign for the Congressional elections. He can and has attracted moderate Republican and Independent support. He can attract support from people in the South and Mid-west who would never vote for Hillary Clinton.

The netroots should start campaigning now for Hillary Clinton to stand aside from the Presidential race for the good of the Country and Party and throw her support and campaign war chest to Wes Clark.

I’d say – open the books- define the problem- and let us help.

when I win the lotto I’ll establish an FDL endowment…

Christy Hardin Smith @ 47

rw at 43 — we have a complete tally, but because there are still 10 or so outstanding races yet to be called, we’ve been holding off on a full account on that. Wulsin and Kissell and several others are still awaiting an official count.

Unless something weird happens–always a possibility in electoral politics–only 3 more seats will resolve as Dem: Georgia–the incumbent; Louisiana–runoff between 2 Dems; and probably CT but that’s awfully close, like 150 apart. I can give one line summaries of the others if you like.

egregious @ 50

rwcole @ 26

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

From our pool a couple of months back, I’m in for 23% before he leaves office, either through waiting out his term or being politely asked to leave by Congress.

If I could put in a bet on that pool, I’d go out on a limb. If investigations turn up something really dreadful, and I’m guessing they will, I’d say he could hit single digits. 8 percent.

OT – correction re TPM’s Murtha hitpiece.

Hey pups – the relevant thread is closed, so I’m placing the correction here (just found error).

Yesterday I wrote about the right-wing journal used as the sole source for stale allegations about Murtha that were long ago investigated.

In the second (of three) posts on the matter, the first time I mentioned the right-wing journal, I blew the name.

My big bad.

I stated:

Rood’s article falsely implies Murtha could be the target of FBI investigation regarding tapes of shady dealing. Rood’s sole source for this allegation is a hit piece on a right wing screed – the American Prospect. The hit piece – written by one David Holman – actually discusses videotapes from the Abscam investigation of the early 1980’s – tapes made by the investigators.

The right-wing screed I intended to name (and did name correctly in the rest of my comments) is the American Spectator.

Nothing I wrote about the Spectator pertains to the American Prospect, and I apologize for my error.

The intended statement was:

Rood’s article falsely implies Murtha could be the target of FBI investigation regarding tapes of shady dealing. Rood’s sole source for this allegation is a hit piece on a right wing screed – the American Spectator. The hit piece – written by one David Holman – actually discusses videotapes from the Abscam investigation of the early 1980’s – tapes made by the investigators.

Again, I apologize for the error.

I also apologize for posting this here. My intent is NOT to divert the thread, but simply to acknowledge and correct the error I made here as soon as I caught it. Were the original thread still open, I would not have intruded this topic here.

I very much hope this correction does not disrupt the celebration of Blue America and Howie Klein’s amazing effort and success!

1,332 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Klein:

You are indeed a patriot, a citizen-soldier for democracy. Bless you and your incredible intelligence and creativity…we will certainly win this fight with talent like yours on our side.

KEEP THE FAITH AND DON’T LET THE BASTARDS TAKE ANY OF THE CREDIT!!!

punaise @ 51

Christy Hardin Smith @ 38

punaise at 33 — thanks — you and egregious are so great about mentioning that. Wanted to let you both know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. :)

Whatever you and Jane glean from this site, I doubt it is anywhere near adequate compensation for the huge impact you have (and the time and effort you invest). Lately I’ve modestly invested in FDL projects (emptywheel’s book, TRex travels..) but the next one will go straight to the general fund!

You are making the assumption that there is sufficient income to cover costs.

Frances Perkins @ 52

Thinking ahead to the process of nominating the Democratic candidate for the Presidency in 2008, the netroots need to start a campaign now to forestall the nomination of Hillary Clinton.

Democrats have just won the Congressional elections by attracting the support of moderate Republicans and Independents. We need to maintain this support by nominating a candidate who can unite the country in a positive and optimistic way. Whatever her qualities, Clinton is a tremendously polarizing figure.

Wes Clark is a solid progressive Democrat who has had a hugely effective role in the campaign for the Congressional elections. He can and has attracted moderate Republican and Independent support. He can attract support from people in the South and Mid-west who would never vote for Hillary Clinton.

The netroots should start campaigning now for Hillary Clinton to stand aside from the Presidential race for the good of the Country and Party and throw her support and campaign war chest to Wes Clark.

Draft Gore! Gore/Clark/Edwards/Feingold in 08!

Say no to the hereditary principle & nepotism in presidential politics!

Boy WV sure is taking it out on Cincinnati today. 42-10 with lots of time left on the clock.

punaise @ 54

when I win the lotto I’ll establish an FDL endowment…

My plan for any lotto winnings would be to make sure Marcy’s book gets published. I’ll add FDL and ActBlue to the list. ;)

shooogarp at 61 — yes, and Louisville lost to Rutgers on Thursday, which makes it a very interesting time in the Big East this week. :)

We really need to have a permanent “Act Blue” type fund raising organization that provides both the mechanism to deal with the money and the vetting of candidates. We also need a small exec committee, like Howie,Jane, and John who have funds and influence and can go toe to toe with Rahm, Chuck, and Steny and bust their balls. It would be a real shame to go back to Dem. bidness as usual with K-street.

Please nag the shit out of us to raise money; with two years of fund raising, ‘08 will be really good.

egregious @ 59

You are making the assumption that there is sufficient income to cover costs.

an assumption that betrays my ignorance on the matter.

Interesting info to be gleaned from the latest Newsweek poll. Just FYI for everyone.

Here’s my to-do list for this weekend:
1. Up my monthly DNC Democracy Bond by $20.08
2. Contribute to FDL
3. Write to James Carville: STFU
4. Read the wonderful Thank You emails from Blue American candidates from far and wide
5. Respond to #4: Thank YOU!

With regard to going forward, let’s not forget campaign debt-retirement, the most difficult part of fundraising, especially for those not victorious. I hope Howie can point us to the areas of special need — while the upcoming Runoff Elections, Indictment-Triggered Special Elections, and 2008 Rematches are critically important, I don’t want to see any of our Blue Americans struggling with 2006 campaign debt. Part of my concern stems from my paid-operative experience almost thirty years ago — the operatives go unpaid sometimes at the end of the campaign trail, leaving bitterness in the candidates’ wakes. We don’t want our candidates leaving anyone who worked and supported them uncompensated where compensation was promised. Let’s ensure our Blue Americans’ campaigns are solvent when they shutter the doors….
.
.
Plus, of course, we need to push Senators-Elect Tester, Webb, Whitehouse, Casey, McCaskill, Cardin, and Brown to have a fundraiser to retire Mr. Lamont’s last loan to his campaign — it was the $19,000,000 in GOP money that went to Connecticut instead of their opponents’ races that enabled their victories!

========
Who’s Next?
========

Christy Hardin Smith @ 63

shooogarp at 61 — yes, and Louisville lost to Rutgers on Thursday, which makes it a very interesting time in the Big East this week. :)

I actually caught the tail-end of the LV Rutgers game, what a finish!

My 5-4 Utes are up 7-0 over Colorado State. Go Utes!

egregious @
41

It would help us to know approximately what the monthly costs are. Then we can set up some options to reach those targets. Is this information you are willing to share with us?

A lot depends on whether you include full benefits and paid vacations for guest posters. (Jordan Barab is organizing us into a union.)

I might end up saying a few things here at FDL, but there’s one thing which absolutely must be said, right at the top. Whoever, and i mean that plural, is responsible for getting Jerry McNerney on the roadmap to congress deserves more than a few kudos.

Let me ’splain. I’ve been fighting for renewable energy for more than three decades. All the current arguments about about the pluses of renewables, like energy security, boost local economies, stop expensive pollution, eliminating international hot spots based on control of resources, not to mention the problem of calculating the present value of 20,000 years of nuclear wast storage (we don’t even bring up depleted uranium weapons) were actually made way back when the first renewable wave broke.

In the course of those three decades, i realized that actually producing clean kwh’s was far more important than all the public posturing, so i went and co-developed the world’s first utility-scale windplant. Yet, i could never ignore politics, because the tax and financing measures upon which we built our industry only came through effective use of political capital.

Fate or synchronicity gave me two invites to the reagan White House to argue energy policy. Though i never gave a dime. Actually, i didn’t argue, i threatened. Those were the days of heady deregulation, while at the same time the rayguns were threatening the solar tax credit. (From which we built the renewable technological foundation.) i simply met with Danny Boggs (of the Louisiana oil’n’gas Boggs) and threatened to go public with the administration’s unwillingness to move to energy deregulation while spewing so much other deregulation around the country.

Because i was a reasonably public face for windpower in California, they stopped their attack on the solar credit, and let it die at its appointed time, something industry forces had not been able to achieve. But the same fookin arguments from those days are still being fought two decades later!

I watched in horror as america started oil wars, let kennyboy and chainey pour over iraqmaps out of public view, while the world warmed in the not nice kind of way.

Over those three decades, we had supporters in congress, but mostly in theory only. Suddenly the landscape has changed. I have nothing against lawyers that can’t be worked out with fists, but suddenly there is an engineer in congress. A Windpower Engineer.

Jerry and i come from the Altamont Pass, the world’s first wind development area. I’ve known and worked with him a bit for two decades. Seems to me america will soon come to respect the development of a coherent energy policy for the first time, which will stop plunging the world into chaos. (Was i subtle enough?)

And the center of this rapidly developing energy policy turnaround will be centered in two offices in DC. One, a rookie congressman who understands exactly what’s at stake down to the gearbox bolt torgueing… and the other, a neighbor congresswoman who will soon answer to the name Madame Speaker, who knows the renewable advantage since she watched us make it happen near her home.

A long screed post, perhaps not permitted here. But i thought it valuable to give some detail, as to why what BlueAmerica and the crew here did to kick Jerry up a level is so important. You can’t imagine, if i ever return to the US, what it will mean to me that i have someone to talk to on the hill, if we want to be serious about stopping the carbon poison and returning to a sustainable world.

And you guys helped make it happen, for sure more than i understand. I am so fookin grateful. Let’s not stop here.

Swopa at 69 — Mwahahahaha! You slay me… (Seriously, don’t go on strike…I beg you.)

Ciro Rodriguez is in a runoff vs Henry Bonilla and could use some firepup love http://www.cirodrodriguez.com/

TeddySanFran @ 67

With regard to going forward, let’s not forget campaign debt-retirement, the most difficult part of fundraising, especially for those not victorious.

Good point. I got an email from the Diane Benson campaign (Alaska) asking for help to retire their $8000 left-over debt. Perhaps Ed*ard Teller can fill us in on that.

pun–for my own work, I volunteer, work ridiculous hours, and also put my own funds in. I think that’s what we’re working with here. That’s an acceptable model if it’s sustainable. Maybe we can do better.

JH, CHS–If blog finances are none of our business just say the word! I just feel there are several of us with some senior finance and accounting backgrounds that could free up our wonderful hosts to go forth and do great works.

Heh. Swopa, you get the same bennies I get.

Deal?

[note: forgot to add the /snark tag.]

Swopa @ 69

egregious @
41

It would help us to know approximately what the monthly costs are. Then we can set up some options to reach those targets. Is this information you are willing to share with us?

A lot depends on whether you include full benefits and paid vacations for guest posters. (Jordan Barab is organizing us into a union.)

If benefits are paid as a percentage of salary, absolutely. Then you make the same as I do in Russia.

egregious @ 74

pun–for my own work, I volunteer, work ridiculous hours, and also put my own funds in. I think that’s what we’re working with here. That’s an acceptable model if it’s sustainable. Maybe we can do better.

as a sole proprietor I can only match you on the “ridiculous hours” part. but then again, I’m not saving kids’ lives like you are…

punaise — you know, that would be a worthwhile effort, if we knew whether any of our adopted Blue America folks also had debt to retire along with Diane Benson.

Glenn got a great post up today (sorry if someone has already linked to this today)

How myth gets built into conventional wisdom

James Carville tells The New Republic’s Ryan Lizza that he thinks Harold Ford should replace Howard Dean as DNC Chair. Lizza turns that into a claim that “some big name Democrats want to oust DNC Chairman Howard Dean, arguing that his stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities.”

That in turn leads Anne Kornblut in her article today in The New York Times — identifying the “winners and losers” in the midterm elections — to assert that “the jury is still out on Howard Dean” because:

With rumblings of a movement

[snip]

It’s a “movement” of one, because all of this comes from James Carville’s stray comment placed in TNR (and he’s also the only one Kornblut quotes). But now this will be conventional wisdom — tacitly accepted everywhere and never examined — that Dean is in trouble, that a major faction of the Democratic Party wants Dean out as DNC Chair, that there is a war among various Democratic factions over Dean.

Swopa – you trying to get this place Walmartized?

Randy, I saw what got started in the Carter Administration, all those wonderful demonstration projects in every single federal department, only to be completely dismantled by the Actor’s Asshats.

Every Congressional seat we take from a “lawyer” by electing a real person, be she an engineer, a social worker, or an organic farmer, is a victory for common-sense, forward-thinking solutions.

Here’s a toast to The Engineers, in honor of my late Dad, a Marine Corps Veteran of Tinian in WW2!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 71

Swopa at 69 — Mwahahahaha! You slay me… (Seriously, don’t go on strike…I beg you.)

You’ll have to take that up with our appointed negotiator, Mr. Gilliard.

Rayne @ 78

punaise — you know, that would be a worthwhile effort, if we knew whether any of our adopted Blue America folks also had debt to retire along with Diane Benson.

I’d like to see an extension of the MyDD project to get Dems who are sitting on gigantic piles of cash to cough up to cover some of these debts.

FP@52..re:Hillary..It may have been on Countdown that someone said the Hillary spent $29 million on her non-race in NY. It was the opinion that the money was a psy-op against possible Dem. candidates in ‘08. The message being,”fuck you..I can throw away more money than you could raise in your dreams.” If that conjecture is anywhere near reality..it’s sickening. A fraction of that money put into House races could have added ten more seats.

Commenters, unite! The “little people” have their rights, too, y’know…..

TeddySanFran — ooooh, I like it…might be the makings of the 2008 Blue America campaign taglines:

“Practical people with practical solutions.”

“Real people with real solutions.”

“Plain talk, straight walk.”

shooogarp @ 79

Glenn got a great post up today (sorry if someone has already linked to this today)

How myth gets built into conventional wisdom

James Carville tells The New Republic’s Ryan Lizza that he thinks Harold Ford should replace Howard Dean as DNC Chair. Lizza turns that into a claim that “some big name Democrats want to oust DNC Chairman Howard Dean, arguing that his stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities.”

That in turn leads Anne Kornblut in her article today in The New York Times — identifying the “winners and losers” in the midterm elections — to assert that “the jury is still out on Howard Dean” because:

With rumblings of a movement

[snip]

It’s a “movement” of one, because all of this comes from James Carville’s stray comment placed in TNR (and he’s also the only one Kornblut quotes). But now this will be conventional wisdom — tacitly accepted everywhere and never examined — that Dean is in trouble, that a major faction of the Democratic Party wants Dean out as DNC Chair, that there is a war among various Democratic factions over Dean.

What is good is that everyone jumped all over this nonsense as soon as it was aired. Thanks again for the tubes, Al!

Randy at 70–screed away, we like it. Yeah, McNerney was a sweet win for the netroots. Hope you kick some butt in Washington. Keep us posted.

1. Howie can’t be thanked enough for his project. The money, the organization, the total open honesty of approach. The way this fairly small amount of political funding was levereged was historical. Blue America and ActBlue need to be EXPANDED. And SOON – like before the lame duck congress convenes.

2. Others were thanked by Howie above. Christy and Jane get my thanks. But, especially, egregious is our special hero in Alaska!

3. Howie handled the Sherrod Brown dilemma real well when it happened, and I’m pretty sure the courts will deal with that awful piece of legislation. ALL my legislators voted for it. In reality, maybe voting FOR the legislation helped immunize Brown enough from attacks by DeWine that his vote for torture was the difference for him between defeat and victory.

4. Sestak won, but we need to remember – he’s in favor of collective punishment of the Palestinian people and wants to invade Iran. We didn’t back a bunch of leftie robots, we backed a bunch of humans with individual strengths and weaknesses.

Go Blue America. Go ActBlue!

Rayne @ 78

punaise — you know, that would be a worthwhile effort, if we knew whether any of our adopted Blue America folks also had debt to retire along with Diane Benson.

This sounds like a nice sized project, anyone interested in pulling this info together?

Unfortunately, carrying the “Hillary won no House seats for Dems” logic carries one right to: Evan Bayh, who’s being credited by Chris Cillizza with the election of Democratic House candidates in his home state of Indiana. I am not sure centrists will follow that wind-y road, but it gets blander and blander the more you ride.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com……html#more

I just saw a great comment on Kos for a little something to do between now and 2008: watchdog groups for each subcommittee of the House.

Follow the legislation. Babysit until they get the job done. Watchdog over the trust and the investments made so far!

It’s a job for the truly geeky. But wouldn’t it be great to know what was really happening? And not happening?

Wouldn’t it be a way to get the backs of the ambitious progrssives that Howie and the gang just got elected? Wouldn’t you love John Tester to get the support he needs to work on agricultural policy in the house?

Instead of politicizing elections, we could make legislation a grass roots political issue.

Also, MyDD just asked for money to make some improvements to take them forward into 2007. They got what they asked for in a day.

Gloom and doom : )

http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=st…..te&r=5

Thanks to all at FDL, Blue America really came through with the goal it started with. Howard Dean, Ned Lamont and the list goes on and on, have shown what can work against what some called all and really bad odds. Ned Lamont really deserves mucho thanks for speaking out against the status quo, bravo Ned!!! The Dean 50 state plan was so spot on we must do everything possible to fight back efforts to replace him with Ford or anyone. Thanks Howie from an old SF native, from promoting great and important music to promoting important alternatives to some really bad apples. The world is a better place because of all of the above!!!! THANKS

rwcole @
26

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

I’m hoping, with some exposure of what this administration has really been doing all these past six years, that we’ll see single digits by late summer.

Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove have been positively vile. I want them remembered that way, by the entire nation, the entire world.

Alison @ 92

I just saw a great comment on Kos for a little something to do between now and 2008: watchdog groups for each subcommittee of the House.

Follow the legislation. Babysit until they get the job done. Watchdog over the trust and the investments made so far!

It’s a job for the truly geeky. But wouldn’t it be great to know what was really happening? And not happening?

Wouldn’t it be a way to get the backs of the ambitious progrssives that Howie and the gang just got elected? Wouldn’t you love John Tester to get the support he needs to work on agricultural policy in the house?

Instead of politicizing elections, we could make legislation a grass roots political issue.

On the California legislature’s web site, there is an option for automatic tracking of bills. I haven’t noticed anything like this at Thomas for federal level bills. Anyone know about this?

ET– I seem to have misplaced your addy, and would like to forward same to a concerned citizen (my brother) in AK who is interested in “talking” to you about Diane.

TeddySanFran @ 81

Randy, I saw what got started in the Carter Administration, all those wonderful demonstration projects in every single federal department, only to be completely dismantled by the Actor’s Asshats.

TeddySanFran, boy do i miss my town of two decades, i must tell you a story. On my first visit to the Weissen Haus, i never thought i’d get through the fbi security check, from previous misdeeds related to…

But i did, and as i walked to the west wing, i saw the Carter solar collectors on the roof. Then i thought, wholly sheet, i smoked dope with the guy who put those up there, i’m not alone, it’s going to be ok.

i remembered what was behind my visit, and all the people in all walks of life who had preceeded me, and damn if the confidence of doing what was right didn’t overcome the fear.

That said, here we go again. (Sideline, it was Gordon Liddy who got me arrested back then. As i walked to the westwing, he was in jail. Instant Karma!

Alison @ 92

Follow the legislation. Babysit until they get the job done. Watchdog over the trust and the investments made so far!

chez digby:

The Democratic congressman who will investigate the Bush administration’s running of the government says there are so many areas of possible wrongdoing, his biggest problem will be deciding which ones to pursue.

There’s the response to Hurricane Katrina, government contracting in Iraq and on homeland security, political interference in regulatory decisions by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, and allegations of war profiteering, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., told the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m going to have an interesting time because the Government Reform Committee has jurisdiction over everything,” Waxman said Friday, three days after his party’s capture of Congress put him in line to chair the panel. “The most difficult thing will be to pick and choose.”

[…]

Waxman is savvy and will run investigations with focus and flair. He’s very, very good at these things. I think he will find a way to do this without appearing to be exacting revenge or wasting the congress’s time. And the fact is that it’s his duty to do it, regardless.
…

I really appreciate the role Blue America played in this election. I enjoyed the opportunity to (a) be introduced to some good candidates I might not otherwise have heard of;
(2) ask them questions and receive thoughtful answers; and (3)follow up those discussions by making contributions,which was made so easy with the ActBlue page. Thanks, Howie, Jane, Christy and others.

omg — W keeping a rather late appointment, traveling to Vietnam next week. LOL

“Waxman is savvy and will run investigations with focus and flair. He’s very, very good at these things. I think he will find a way to do this without appearing to be exacting revenge or wasting the congress’s time. And the fact is that it’s his duty to do it, regardless.”

I think war profiteering and corruption would be a good place to start. Democrats could make the point that money wasted on no-bid, excess-profits contracts to the likes of Halliburton (with appalling results in some cases, e.g. drinking water) could have been better spent getting the body armor and armored humvees to the troops sooner and saving some lives.

The progressives are doing so well that the DLC wants Dean out….as Dean says: We have the power…and only a few of these politicians get it….thanks for providing a site to help us bond to support worthy candidates…Tony Trupiano sent out handwritten thank you notes….WOW

I’m done canning. And I’m still trying not to discuss Hillary this weekend. I did fall off the wagon though. Briefly. Once or twice. Now I know what junkies go through.

neurophius @ 103

“Waxman is savvy and will run investigations with focus and flair. He’s very, very good at these things. I think he will find a way to do this without appearing to be exacting revenge or wasting the congress’s time. And the fact is that it’s his duty to do it, regardless.”

I think war profiteering and corruption would be a good place to start. Democrats could make the point that money wasted on no-bid, excess-profits contracts to the likes of Halliburton (with appalling results in some cases, e.g. drinking water) could have been better spent getting the body armor and armored humvees to the troops sooner and saving some lives.

Per the Newsweek poll article, 60% of America wants the Dems to investigate war contracts. Sweet music to my ears! Waxman!

Oklahoma kiddo @ 105

I’m done canning. And I’m still trying not to discuss Hillary this weekend. I did fall off the wagon though. Briefly. Once or twice. Now I know what junkies go through.

Hillary who? *g*

Harold Ford apparently didn’t get the Carville memo:

So what’s next for Harold Ford, Jr., now that his surprisingly strong challenge to GOP Senator-elect Bob Corker earned him national attention?

Sources tell Election Central that Ford is mulling a range of options, from a challenge to GOP Senator Lamar Alexander in 2008 to a possible talk show on CNN. The network has contacted Ford to discuss a possible on-air role, a source says.

A senior adviser to Ford says an Alexander challenge is “unlikely,” because it would be a massive uphill struggle, but says it remains possible.
…

Oklahoma kiddo @ 105

I’m done canning. And I’m still trying not to discuss Hillary this weekend. I did fall off the wagon though. Briefly. Once or twice. Now I know what junkies go through.

LOL. Enjoy your victory party!

punaise @ 108

Harold Ford apparently didn’t get the Carville memo:

So what’s next for Harold Ford, Jr., now that his surprisingly strong challenge to GOP Senator-elect Bob Corker earned him national attention?

Sources tell Election Central that Ford is mulling a range of options, from a challenge to GOP Senator Lamar Alexander in 2008 to a possible talk show on CNN. The network has contacted Ford to discuss a possible on-air role, a source says.

A senior adviser to Ford says an Alexander challenge is “unlikely,” because it would be a massive uphill struggle, but says it remains possible.
…

I hope it’s not CNN. I am afraid they would treat him as “THE” Democratic commentator, thus satisfying any obligation they might feel to provide “balance.” And the Democrats who actually won on Tuesday would be ignored.

At the risk of being EPU’d: Blue America deserves to become institutionalized. I would hope the PAC can be left open to serve as a sort of “general fund PAC” for progressive values of the Howie Klein variety.

When I donate to Blue America, I know the candidates chosen will be vetted in aligment with those values, and the general PAC money will be fluid, able to flow where and when it is most effective.

Also, keeping the PAC going and accumulating fundage creates a money magnet attached to a set of principles. That then draws the camera and the microphone to the discussion of those principles.

The Blue America PAC makes us all players. Why would we want to lose that?

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the electoral repudiation of the Bush-Rove polarization strategy with their own version of the same thing.”

From the DLC homepage. Is this code for don’t f*** w/us?

angie @
98

ET– I seem to have misplaced your addy, and would like to forward same to a concerned citizen (my brother) in AK who is interested in “talking” to you about Diane.

Oh, Darn!

I just sent an e-mail to egregious by accident!

angie, you teach at ??? I AM the original absent-minded professor! trying to find your e-mail in my address book, and it is probably on my other laptop which is 50 miles away…

[Mod Note;edited to remove personal information]

It’s off-topic, but not by a great deal. I just wanted to thank Vermonters for having so much damned common sense. They’ve kept Pat Leahy on doing yeoman work against Abu Gonzales, and now, they have put Bernie Sanders in the Senate.

Now, if that other small-population state, Wyoming, would just wise up. :)

Maybe Carville thinks his CNN gig is threatened by their overtures to Ford, so James is looking for someone else to hire Harold….

Oklahoma kiddo @ 112

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the electoral repudiation of the Bush-Rove polarization strategy with their own version of the same thing.”

From the DLC homepage. Is this code for don’t f*** w/us?

Any bets Marshall Wittman wrote that?

I’d love to stay and discuss this, but I have to go do something that involves physical objects in the non-Internet part of the world. Just a couple of points:

- I wrote this in an earlier post-mortem thread. It bears repeating. Just being able to do this for good candidates in other parts of the country is reason for hope. Hope makes many things possible. Without it, you might as well stay home and spend your money on Internet gambling or whatever numbs your consciousness.

- Considering the circumstances, the nine to eleven winners out of those 42 candidates isn’t a bad average. Most were admittedly long shots to begin with. Reigning political genius Rahm Emanuel doesn’t seem to have done much better by targetting competitive races with uninspiring candidates and truckloads of cash.

- Next time, the other side will have their own version of netroots. It probably won’t be as effective, but they’ll have something. The logic of this is just too compelling. That means that we have to get better at this, too. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re idiots. They’re not, and they’ll eventually figure out how to make this medium work for them.

- I’m especially pleased about Jerry McNerney. He’s an engineer, and if there’s one thing missing from Congress, it’s technical people. The Net Neutrality debates should have made that clear.

Anyway, thanks again Howie for doing this.

what’s he building in there?

(a delightful, if creepy, Tom Waits spoken word piece)

My 15-year-old son, who volunteered with me on the Rodriguez campaign was certain that he would win. “But he’s so much better!” he said.

I talked with him about laying down a marker, building for the future and working for what you believe, even if it has no chance of wining – now.

He understands, but still thinks Rodriguez should have won. Who doesn’t?

Being part of Blue America is one of the most significant and fulfilling things I’ve ever done.

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the DLC’s attempted Republicanization of the Democratic Party with their own version of the same thing.”

–neurophius

Christy Hardin Smith @
63

shooogarp at 61 — yes, and Louisville lost to Rutgers on Thursday, which makes it a very interesting time in the Big East this week. :)

When is the last time you could say “Rutgers” and “national championship implications” in the same sentence without laughing?

Let me just report lots of enthusiasm on the ground on Tuesday for Paul Hodes! Blue America has great instincts, I am so impressed. As you say, the DCCC is the heavy hitter, $-wise, but Blue America is an amazing “signaling” mechanism–when Blue America picks, it’s going to be a good one.

ET don’t panic. I think I’ve got angie’s email and will send it.

edit, well, looks like I don’t have it after all, sorry.

had problems commenting on wednesday after election day couldnt get them on anyhoo – a big THANKS to BLUE AMERICA!!! we lost some but we elected more progressives to congress i dont think it’d have happened w/o blue’s support. again i say THANK YOU ALL so very much! now on to 2008!

O’glakers. Last screed as it’s late Samstag here in Germany. About the relation of politics to energy policy:

We assume that western civilization on the skin of this planet is a closed system, and scientists do. The civilization is based on energy flow for all transactions. When that system is based on poison, carbon, the civilization is by definition poison.

When that civilization switches to energy emanating from the same source as which gives us life, well we’re not so poison anymore, are we?

And the politics follow. Energy is the reason for the cheney cabal, and another, more wholesome form of energy is the way out. That’s why we need to make people understand that energy is at the center of all other societal issues.

Wholesome politics begins with a wholesome foundation. As we know, Dean knows that.

Methinks i better cut out, the Bordeaux is making me wish i could have 10 minutes in the ring with Carville, just to feel how a jaw breaking in slow motion feels like to my still strong fists.

ok, mebbe this will work ET– can I forward your contact addy at the U?

Howie has an VA-Sen addendum to this at DWT:

http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..-howd.html

You probably remember the original rubber stamp TV spot that Lars, our pal in Virginia, did to remind people there about what Felix Macacawitz had been doing for the last 6 years in the U.S. Senate. After Lars had so graciously redone the ad for our campaign to help Tony Trupiano beat another Republican rubber stamp, Thaddeus McCotter, he asked if the Blue America PAC would run the original spot once, “in the middle of the night” in Virginia, thereby qualifying Lars for an ad industry award like the Oscars or Grammys. How could we say no?

So after Macacwitz’s concession speech the other day, I e-mailed Lars and asked him if he got any feedback from the ad. He just wrote back:

Hi Howie!

Yes, the ad did run. In fact I do have a small confession to make. I called in a few favors, and negotiated a miraculous buy on some extra cable runs on the Sunday and Monday before election day. In fact, the airbuy was researched to be viewed by an estimated 2,252,550 households, 14 times in the Fairfax County, VA area during peak timeframes. In case you weren’t watching the returns, Fairfax County was the last county counted, which put Jim Webb from behind, to over the top by the thin margin that he won by. Okay, it was probably just a coincidence, but I know a few people who don’t think so. I am really grateful that Blue America PAC decided to let the ad fly a few times. So congratulations! The generosity of your PAC may have helped to change the balance of power in the Senate of the United States. And just so you can put a face to the name, I have attached a photo that represents the gratefulness of Virginians and Macacas everywhere!

Warmest regards,

Lars Sandvik

So next time you hear some Inside the Beltway ass refer to bloggers as a bunch of commie anarchists just think about our own little part of electing Ronald Reagan’s former Secretary of the Navy to the U.S. Senate (and keep your fingers crossed that he doesn’t morph into another Zeller Miller or Joe Lieberman or Harold Ford).

angie @ 109

Oklahoma kiddo @ 105

I’m done canning. And I’m still trying not to discuss Hillary this weekend. I did fall off the wagon though. Briefly. Once or twice. Now I know what junkies go through.

LOL. Enjoy your victory party!

Thanks angie. We are going to have a little focus group down around Otter Creek after supper tomorrow. Subject: local action and what we can do to return our state to major blueness. We are going to discuss ways of ridding ourselves of Tom Cole (R) and Tom Coburn (R).

angie @
126

ok, mebbe this will work ET– can I forward your contact addy at the U?

angie – niklake at mtaonline dot net

Personally, I’d like to see BlueAmerica use some of it’s influence to keep wayward Dems in line. Perhaps listing all Dems coming up for reelection in 2008 and giving them a “Lamont Score” based on degree of support for progressive causes, avoidance of K Street coziness, and perhaps one other measure. Those with low scores would be targeted for a primary challenge with funding from BlueAmerica. Of course there may not be a progressive candidate to take the incumbent on but the threat alone might induce some behavior modification. See http://preview.tinyurl.com/y6vat3 for one politician’s reaction….

Almost forgot …

Joe Conason wrote an astute article in Salon today called Howard Dean, Vindicated. Thankfully, there’s a little pushback on the “Rahm and Chuck, the geniuses behind the victory” meme.

One temptation to resist as BlueAmerica grows in power: not backing longshots. Tim Walz was the first House candidate our family contributed to this year — Tim’s personal story is so compelling and true. The idea of supporting a coach in far-away Minnesota seemed far-fetched, but clearcut at the same time. The incumbent is odious.

Let’s not ever decide that there are places we can have some impact but races we cannot win. Winning may not be the result, but on the other hand, Congressman-elect Walz will always be our exemplar: it can happen here.

========
Who’s Next?
========

neurophius @ 121

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the DLC’s attempted Republicanization of the Democratic Party with their own version of the same thing.”

–neurophius

I like it!

thank you ET @ 129! ;)

montag @ 116

Oklahoma kiddo @ 112

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the electoral repudiation of the Bush-Rove polarization strategy with their own version of the same thing.”

From the DLC homepage. Is this code for don’t f*** w/us?

Any bets Marshall Wittman wrote that?

Marshall Whittman: A sufficient condition for disliking the DLC? I think so.

Brownandserve @ 130

Personally, I’d like to see BlueAmerica use some of it’s influence to keep wayward Dems in line. Perhaps listing all Dems coming up for reelection in 2008 and giving them a “Lamont Score” based on degree of support for progressive causes, avoidance of K Street coziness, and perhaps one other measure. Those with low scores would be targeted for a primary challenge with funding from BlueAmerica. Of course there may not be a progressive candidate to take the incumbent on but the threat alone might induce some behavior modification. See http://preview.tinyurl.com/y6vat3 for one politician’s reaction….

Wow, is that a good idea — the deterrent effect of letting it be known that we’re watching is the key.

And I love the idea of calling it a “Lamont score.”

Randy Tinkerman @ 125

Methinks i better cut out, the Bordeaux is making me wish i could have 10 minutes in the ring with Carville, just to feel how a jaw breaking in slow motion feels like to my still strong fists.

Ah, well, that just makes people mean. For long-lasting results, it’s much better to trivialize the arrogant, and humiliate the bullies. :)

Carville’s a little of both, so…. :)

Agree TSF (re: Walz). Blue America’s influence in this household was profound, we had never given to candidates outside our own sphere.

It feels so good to tak part in victories like Tester’s, McNerney’s, Hall’s, etc.

And of course, I’ll never forget the incredible time and effort put in by Howie et al for Carol Voisin’s campaign, even though we lost.

THANK YOU!

Oklahoma kiddo @
112

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the electoral repudiation of the Bush-Rove polarization strategy with their own version of the same thing.”

From the DLC homepage. Is this code for don’t f*** w/us?

No, it’s “even though the progressive wing clearly won where the ‘centrist’ cabal has been failing for years, the Dems shoudn’t actually act progressive because, er, um, well, they just shouldn’t!”

Too bad they didn’t openly threaten to take their ball and go home — I’d say “bring it on!” to that!

Redshift @ 139

Oklahoma kiddo @
112

“Democrats must avoid the temptation to follow up the electoral repudiation of the Bush-Rove polarization strategy with their own version of the same thing.”

From the DLC homepage. Is this code for don’t f*** w/us?

No, it’s “even though the progressive wing clearly won where the ‘centrist’ cabal has been failing for years, the Dems shoudn’t actually act progressive because, er, um, well, they just shouldn’t!”

Too bad they didn’t openly threaten to take their ball and go home — I’d say “bring it on!” to that!

DLC: this is war! You guys will not force us and the Democratic Party to maintain business as you like it.

Swopa @ 136

Brownandserve @ 130

Personally, I’d like to see BlueAmerica use some of it’s influence to keep wayward Dems in line. Perhaps listing all Dems coming up for reelection in 2008 and giving them a “Lamont Score” based on degree of support for progressive causes, avoidance of K Street coziness, and perhaps one other measure. Those with low scores would be targeted for a primary challenge with funding from BlueAmerica. Of course there may not be a progressive candidate to take the incumbent on but the threat alone might induce some behavior modification. See http://preview.tinyurl.com/y6vat3 for one politician’s reaction….

Wow, is that a good idea — the deterrent effect of letting it be known that we’re watching is the key.

And I love the idea of calling it a “Lamont score.”

everything they said!

Howie,

Great Nick Lamson article at DWT!

http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..nning.html

Bolton just vetoed the Gaza Resolution put forth by Qatar.

in the category of “maintaining the momentum and keeping the infrastructure in place”:

ATTN: Out-of-Work Dem Campaign Staff
by mcjoan

First, congratulations and thank you on behalf of Democrats everywhere. It was your long hours, lack of sleep, over-caffeination, and too much fried food that got us to victory. You have the thanks of us all, even though you’re now probably unemployed.

Democratic GAIN wants to hear from you. They’ve launched a staff tracking and recruitment program to record the permanent contact information for every campaign worker nationwide. Signing up will make it easier for campaigns to find you, and vice versa, in ‘08.

The national Democratic Party chairs have endorsed the program
[…]

shiny novel fibres midheaven

(nearly novel…)

Swopa @ 136

Brownandserve @ 130

Personally, I’d like to see BlueAmerica use some of it’s influence to keep wayward Dems in line. Perhaps listing all Dems coming up for reelection in 2008 and giving them a “Lamont Score” based on degree of support for progressive causes, avoidance of K Street coziness, and perhaps one other measure. Those with low scores would be targeted for a primary challenge with funding from BlueAmerica. Of course there may not be a progressive candidate to take the incumbent on but the threat alone might induce some behavior modification. See http://preview.tinyurl.com/y6vat3 for one politician’s reaction….

Wow, is that a good idea — the deterrent effect of letting it be known that we’re watching is the key.

And I love the idea of calling it a “Lamont score.”

Maryland’s Albert Wynn would get a low score and in my scheme the fact that he was on the House subcommittee handing Net Neutrality legislation and voted against it would add to his poor score. Donna Edwards (a Blue America candidate) nearly won the Democratic primary and might be willing to run again in two years. I say Wynn should understand NOW that his behavior better improve or BlueAmerica will be looking to challenge his seat.

Just thinking ahead…. One place where progressives didn’t make many inroads (and I know people will groan when I say this) is Texas.

Now, I know Texas is a hard case (just like Jebby says of his brother), but, it’s still got possibilities. Over the next couple of years, in part because Shrub has chosen to identify so closely with Texas–instead of with his northeastern elite roots–Texans are going to be doing some psychological flip-flops the more that Bush is revealed for what he is and the more comes out about what he’s done.

Helping Ciro Rodriguez nail Henry Bonilla’s hide to the barn would be an excellent start. Local Dallas government went much more strongly Democratic in this election, so there are opportunities in that region. Hispanics broke about 3:1 nationally for Dems.

I think it would be a worthy task poking around for candidates that could, at the very least, undo the five-seat advantage DeLay created with redistricting.

Texas is like that mule–gotta whack it between the eyes with a 2×4 first, to sorta get its attention…. :)

The Guardian

Labour hires Dean as election advisor

“The Welsh, Scottish and local elections next year are our midterms,” said Hazel Blears, Labour’s chair. “It has to be done differently for us to carry on being successful … We’re looking at how [the Democrats] have upped their game.”

Labour is particularly interested in the Democrats’ style of targeting grassroots voters through low-key meetings in homes. “We want to look at their experience in campaigning, getting out the vote, holding house meetings where people can come together … You don’t want to transplant American politics, but there’s a lot we can share,” said Ms Blears.

Funny. They don’t seem to have hired Carville. Or Emanuel.

Ed*ard Teller @ 143

Bolton just vetoed the Gaza Resolution put forth by Qatar.

That’s a bit brazen, considering that Qatar is playing host to the US and letting the US use their land and airspace to bomb other Arabs….

punaise @ 144 — thanks for that. I sent the link to a staffer on the Charlie Brown campaign. Infrastructure is so lovely!

montag @ 147

Just thinking ahead…. One place where progressives didn’t make many inroads (and I know people will groan when I say this) is Texas.

Now, I know Texas is a hard case (just like Jebby says of his brother), but, it’s still got possibilities. Over the next couple of years, in part because Shrub has chosen to identify so closely with Texas–instead of with his northeastern elite roots–Texans are going to be doing some psychological flip-flops the more that Bush is revealed for what he is and the more comes out about what he’s done.

Helping Ciro Rodriguez nail Henry Bonilla’s hide to the barn would be an excellent start. Local Dallas government went much more strongly Democratic in this election, so there are opportunities in that region. Hispanics broke about 3:1 nationally for Dems.

I think it would be a worthy task poking around for candidates that could, at the very least, undo the five-seat advantage DeLay created with redistricting.

Texas is like that mule–gotta whack it between the eyes with a 2×4 first, to sorta get its attention…. :)

I don’t entirely buy that. The Dems took 42 judgeships in Dallas county. That’s a Tsunami!

And our moron governor won with just 39% of the vote

Patrick 4/4 — thanks for sharing that! Sure puts Carville’s comments in a completely different light, yes?

Bet you Ragin’ knew about this before he spouted off — because the Welsh and Scots don’t act hastily, they take their time.

And I’ll bet you Ragin’s p*ssed ‘cuz his consultancy didn’t get the nod.

Heh.

Rayne @ 152

Patrick 4/4 — thanks for sharing that! Sure puts Carville’s comments in a completely different light, yes?

Bet you Ragin’ knew about this before he spouted off — because the Welsh and Scots don’t act hastily, they take their time.

And I’ll bet you Ragin’s p*ssed ‘cuz his consultancy didn’t get the nod.

Heh.

Don’t worry about James. There are plenty of Latin American countries looking for “centrists.”

Ed*ard Teller @ 143

Bolton just vetoed the Gaza Resolution put forth by Qatar.

No suprise there, ET.

Thank you Lincoln Chafee for standing up for humanity and objecting to this monster.

Now, on to a fair and sane foreign policy.

Jennifer Loewenstein wrote a heartbreaking article about recent events in Gaza. (warning, it is graphic writing but real and I’ve spared you the pictures)

http://www.informationclearing…..e15561.htm

Patrick 4/4 @ 148

The Guardian

Labour hires Dean as election advisor

“The Welsh, Scottish and local elections next year are our midterms,” said Hazel Blears, Labour’s chair. “It has to be done differently for us to carry on being successful … We’re looking at how [the Democrats] have upped their game.”

Labour is particularly interested in the Democrats’ style of targeting grassroots voters through low-key meetings in homes. “We want to look at their experience in campaigning, getting out the vote, holding house meetings where people can come together … You don’t want to transplant American politics, but there’s a lot we can share,” said Ms Blears.

Funny. They don’t seem to have hired Carville. Or Emanuel.

They should hire Howie Klein. As well as Dean.

And just one more thing, a couple of days ago the democratically elected Hamas PM said he would leave if killing sanctions against his people would end.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com…..al/Africa/

and the other democratically elected Hezbollah in Lebanon:

Hezbollah ministers quit Lebanese government

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200…..n_talks_dc

what did all of this democracy spreading accomplish anyway?

so many dead and so much grief.

(I want to hear from Jimmy Carter.)

TeddySanFran @ 85

Commenters, unite! The “little people” have their rights, too, y’know…..

up with pixels….

kirk murphy @ 157

TeddySanFran @ 85

Commenters, unite! The “little people” have their rights, too, y’know…..

up with pixels….

If you amortize over all commenters, I think we each owe a sawbuck…

with my typos alone, I owe extra…. :)

After reading through this entire thread (whew!), I discovered ActBlue and Blue America didn’t give themselves adequate credit: for the countless individual ActBlue pages put up by folks like me. My little page raised $5000, with donations to Andrew Duck [MD-06 “my” candidate], Webb, Carter, Tester, Sestak, Lamont, Laesch, Lampson, Wulsin & Massa.

I’m sure there are countless other “little” pages out there, drawn from the same inspiration.

That $5K isn’t included in the Blue America total, but it went to a lot of the same folks BA supported, and BA should get credit for it.

Now that my “pals” have gotten used to my dunning e-mails linking to my ActBlue page, I think they’ll be more receptive the next time around.

I sure hope so. No one’s completely blown me off — yet.

Montag,

Your 147 post hit the nail on the head.

Texas is the state BlueAmerica should target.

I’d love to see Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn out of office. Better yet I’d love to see them at The Hague being prosecuted for supporting war crimes.

And as you stated: “Texas is like that mule–gotta whack it between the eyes with a 24 first, to sorta get its attention…. :)”

We may be a little slow but we do come around.

Troubled

A Second on keeping the same board…

“We know Angie Paccione, Marcy Winograd, Tony Trupiano, John Laesch, Coleen Rowley, Charlie Brown, Dave Roth, Jay Fawcett, Dave Mejias, and several of our other candidates will continue actively fighting against reactionary policies and may well run for office again. We plan on being there for them.”

What a great group of second place winners!

I want to share a little John Laesch story….

The Laesch Campaign sent out an email to supporters Thursday thanking people for their support for John (in a solidly conservative IL 14th CD) and asking them to YES please take those camp signs down but to NOT throw them away just in case Hastert would resign before Jan 07 and there would be a special election. They are still planning to win!!!

Do Little, Hastert….Who’s else is on THIS list?

Thanks for all you did and please keep act blue going. It shouldn’t just be for election cycles.

egregious @
50

rwcole @ 26

Clusterfuck hits 31% JAR and gas prices on their way back up.

I must admit to a morbid fascination with the question of “How deep can american’s hatred for this intellectual slob go?”

It can CERTAINLY go down to the 20s.

From our pool a couple of months back, I’m in for 23% before he leaves office, either through waiting out his term or being politely asked to leave by Congress.

My better half is saying “teens”, so I’d like to say that Arlene has 19% if someone is keeping a pool. I’m suprised that the Wingnuts allowed his support to fall to this level. I didn’t believe he’d go this low with the American Taliban, even if you showed them pictures of Bush, molesting their kids (which he is doing in sooo many metamorphic ways).