I have nothing to add to the discussion of Tom DeLay's ethical problems other to say that I am gleeful today.
I have nothing to say about Mike "heck of a job" Brown other than I know 16 year old who are less angsty and obnoxious and probably more capable with a cell phone.
I have said all I intend to say about the protests this past weekend. I gave up trying to win this argument long ago, but like all things where you agree to disagree it's too damn tempting to jump into the debate now and again.
But I do have a purpose for this diary. It is the end of the quarter this Friday, which means that the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC (D-trip), will meet their filing deadlines on September 30th, and there will be a flurry of news stories published on how much each committee and campaign has raised. Following these results, many representatives and undeclared candidates will make their final decisions about whether to throw their hat into the ring or not.
You want a revolution? Well, encourage your guys to fight, and donate to the campaign committees and coffers of vulnerable districts and seats.
Links below....
Donate to the DSCC Charlie Cook in the National Journal gives an excellent analysis on why a turn of leadership in the Senate is not so insurmountable, and while I disagree with him about his analysis for the House, and rather suspect he was too lazy to research all the necessary districts, I think he had a reasonably good dissection of what is needed to take back the Senate.
Subscription only, excerpted below:
In the Senate, though, Democrats need a net gain of six seats to win the majority, so logically they need to put six GOP seats in play.
They have accomplished that; in fact, seven Republican-held seats are now in play. They are the seats held by Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, Jim Talent of Missouri, Conrad Burns of Montana, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.
Democrats have credible candidates in all but one of those states, Ohio.
<snippy snip>
At this point, no doubt, Republicans are pointing in dismay at this column and asking, "But what about all the vulnerable Democratic-held Senate seats like open seats in Minnesota, Vermont and to a lesser extent, Maryland, plus endangered incumbents like Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan, Ben Nelson in Nebraska and Maria Cantwell in Washington state, and to a lesser extent Bill Nelson in Florida and Kent Conrad in North Dakota?"
And they are absolutely right. But when the seats start tumbling, as they did in the last four elections, then it's time to watch out.
<snippy snip snip>
The point of all of this is to serve as a reminder that while Democrats certainly need a political equivalent of a tsunami to take control of the House, it is possible.
But the size and power of the wave necessary to flip the Senate might be substantially less than commonly believed.
A reminder for those of you who may have forgotten: Charlie Cook is the same guy who said that if Paul Hackett came within 5%, it would be a political tsunami of the Ohio GOP of epic proportions. I think he was being conservative there, and he is here, but Paul Hackett got 4%. So, wave away!
Furthermore, I will include links to donate to a couple of Senate races that I think would especially appreciate your help to scare the living daylights out of their challenger or potential challenger:
Senator Robert Byrd Mary Shelley Capito has been under intense pressure to run. She has already indicated that she is inclined to sit the race out if Byrd is in, because she fears he is an institution in this state who has served the citizens of West Virginia since before she could drive. A donation now will help keep her out of the race once and for all.
Harold Ford, Jr. Frist's stock troubles are the perfect opportunity for this up and comer to turn this race into a nailbiter. Tennessee is one of the seats we are going to have to put up a fight in if we plan on taking back the Senate. We need six seats. This is seat six. Don't forget it in your rush to claim the first five.
Claire McCaskill To not support Claire after she took the noble step up to the plate and challenged Jim Talent in another must win for the team, putting her current job of State Auditor on the line, would be a shame of the base. We wanted her in this race. Let's say thank you.
These are not the only Senate races I find worthy. I would love to include Ohio's race on this list, which in all liklihood will be Paul Hackett, but as there is not an official candidate, I can't directly link it. If you would like to give to another Senate race, Go through ActBlue's Senate Page, which is a comprehensive and remarkably easy site to donate through.
Donate to the GOP's listed 10 most vulnerable House incumbants. These are seats that we ought win. What better way to convince qualified candidates to step up than to dangle a bundle of fundraising in their face like a carrot on a stick?
Donate to the DCCC! Start the drive for Speaker Pelosi. A year ago, if you had told me I would be think this even remotely realistic, I would laugh you off the stage. But seriously, guys, Tom DeLay just got indicted. Pelosi has gotten biting soundbites in the media the past few weeks. And my friends who do opposition research all have stupid grins on their faces like they just got laid. And here are some of the reasons why. Of all the branches of government, the House is the one that needs the most cleaning and work. It therefore demands you utmost support.
There are too many House races and it is still early, but a couple of high-profile ones I thought deserved links:
Nick Lampson Our hero who is going to beat Tom DeLay.
Lois Murphy Back, with a vengeance.
A personal note, if you want to help defeat Tom Davis, you will be doing me a personal favor by removing a thorn that has been in my side for years. I know, I know, he brings home the pork, but goddammit. He shouldn't be there! Fairfax deserves better! Feel free to include links to other house races, and why they're important, below.
Donate through ActBlue.org
And last of all, the stat that really matters, because it will be the lead in roll call next Monday, I promise you, https:/www.democrats.org/page/contribute>Donate the DNC. This is our party. We own it. Therefore, we're responsible for its upkeep and have a duty to ensure that it's spending it's time getting the word out about our awesomeness and not sitting in backrooms with big funders. Dean has put the faith the small donation. Prove him right. Buy a Democracy Bond. Hang it all pretty like on the fridge.
If there are any races that you feel I have excluded, I'm willing to update my diary to include them.
If we can rock out and out-raise them, the retirements will start to be announced for the House, and candidates will politely decline to run. They are running out of recruiting time. The people left are already on the fence. It's less sexy and glamourous than a post on ethics and what bad people they are, but hell, implementation is always less sexy than looking at the big picture and advising on message. We've done a great job all year keeping up with Republicans, something that was impossible as of recently. If we can't outraise them with approval ratings as they are and events as they've happened, when in hell are we going to get off our asses and do it?
Update [2005-9-28 17:3:12 by VirginiaBelle]: I thought I'd include a link to this diary By Chris Carney running against Don Sherwood in PA-10. Tough district. But Sherwood is a grade-A asshole, and hasn't had such great press.
Update [2005-9-28 17:8:38 by VirginiaBelle]: I have a link to MoveOn.org for giving to Paul Hackett's Ohio Senatorial Campaign