Well, it's that time of the week again. I updated the campaign blog and you guys get to look at it here, without even having to go to
http://blog.bruderly06.com !
Lucky you
Senior Staff and Dave had a big meeting today at the office. We were basically planning what is going to happen in the next 11 months, and I think we're on the right track. We've got five house parties planned this month. If you would like to host one, we'd love to come out! Just click here and let us know!
We have been working on coalescing our volunteer database, making sure everyone knows what is going on. Also, we have managed to lock up a few people to work as county coordinators, though we DEFINITELY need to get all eight counties locked up as soon as possible.
We discussed how important it is to speak to all the voters in the Sixth District, not just Democrats or those we think will vote for Dave. Part of being a New Voice and representing REAL people is representing ALL the real people, not just the ones who agreed that you should do the job.
As well, we will be getting new t-shirts and buttons soon, as well as potentially some new bumper stickers and magnets, with my new designs. I, of course, like to hear that :)
We are also working on the planning stages of several volunteer-supported rallies and demonstrations that will show how important it is to put someone in office who is not wedded to big business and a one-party rule system. It was nice to see Cliff Stearns, hurting our troops morale and reputation, openly supporting torture in one of the last votes before Congress broke session for the holidays.
The St. Pete Times wrote a great editorial on those who hate American ideals like honor, dignity and our historical revulsion at torture:
An affirmation of American values
A Times Editorial
Published December 16, 2005
It was a proud moment for the nation - but, sad to say, not for Florida's senior congressman, C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores - when the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in support of Sen. John McCain's amendment to ban the torture of detainees in American custody. The vote, 308-122, was an emphatic affirmation of true American values and brought the White House to terms with McCain.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., spoke a simple but eloquent truth in support of his motion to instruct House conferees to accept McCain's Senate language in the defense appropriations bill.
"The words "torture,' "cruelty' and "abuse' elicit images of draconian and brutal dictatorship," Murtha said. "They should never include the United States of America."
Young, who led the opposition to the Murtha motion, contends that the Senate language, even with Thursday's compromise, would extend the protections of the U.S. Constitution to terror suspects anywhere in the world. That is a strained interpretation with which few if any constitutional scholars would agree. Moreover, even if it did apply, how could it be wrong? Among the fundamental human rights protected by the Constitution is that people accused of any crime, however hideous, are innocent until proven guilty. Yes, even suspected terrorists deserve that presumption; if not, what differentiates us from them?
Overall, the Florida delegation rose to the moment, voting 15 to 9 with one absence in support of Murtha. It is noteworthy that eight Republicans joined all seven Democrats to part company with Young on that issue: Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville, Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami, Mark Foley of West Palm Beach, Katherine Harris of Sarasota, Ric Keller of Orlando, Connie Mack of Fort Myers, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami, and Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale. Congratulations to them, and shame on those who opposed it: Mike Bilirakis of Tarpon Springs, Ander Crenshaw of Jacksonville, Tom Feeney of Oviedo, John Mica of Winter Park, Jeff Miller of Chumuckla, Adam Putnam of Bartow, Cliff Stearns of Ocala and Dave Weldon of Palm Bay."
OK, so that's it for now. We're getting organized and Cliff Stearns supports torture. That should get us to the New Year.
-PK
Make it a great 2006! Go Gators and Vote Democratic!