Hi all,
There's 20 days to go until E-day, and I'm excited to be a part of this campaign season. For the first time since 2001 (when I got into politics), the possibility exists that the country will have actual opposition to the Bush Administration and their castration of the country I love so much. Let's keep the pressure up, and send the world a message on November 7th - help has arrived!
Anyway, I wanted to type out some news from the campaign trail, including a rumor soon to be resolved on national radio. Idaho readers, stay tuned...
Alaska - A new poll from Rasmussen shows former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles closing the gap against Republican Sarah Palin. Palin, who ousted Governor Frank Murkowski in the primary (after Murkowski raised taxes and appointed his daughter to the US Senate) leads Knowles 47-40%, down from 49-37% a few weeks ago. While the race is getting closer, Palin's personal charisma and the state's GOP lean should be enough to carry her across the finish line. LEAN GOP
Ohio - Apart from the Blackwell/Strickland residency dispute, there's good news aplenty in the Buckeye State. Congressional Quarterly has just released new reports on the state. They make the following moves:
Senator - Leans Democratic (from Tossup)
Governor - Democrat Favored (from Leans) *
*OH-02: Leans Republican (from Republican favored)
OH-12: Republican Favored (from Safe GOP)
The Democrats are Sherrod Brown, Ted Strickland, Vic Wulsin and Bob Shamansky in that order. You can find their websites at http://www.politics1.com/...
Texas - The GOP has thrown in the towel in the TX-17 house races against Chet Edwards (a moderate, but not DINO Democrat) in this 68% Bush district (Bush's ranch is in the area). Edwards was recently ringingly endorsed by the Dallas Morning News against his lackluster opponent, Van Taylor. According to the Burnt Orange Report, the NRCC has withdrawn $1.5 million in planned advertising from the area's TV outlets, and are sending the money elsewhere. At this rate, they might as well spend it all in on hiring lawyers, once the Democratic House starts investigating them!
In addition, TX-19 nominee Robert Ricketts (http://robertricketts.com/)won two strong endorsements from local papers against Congressman Randy Neugabauer, as did Shane Sklar in TX-14 against Ron Paul.(http://www.shanesklar.com/) You can read their excellent endorsements at their sites. Finally, Barbara Ann Radnofsky (http://www.radnofsky.com) has released her planned TV ads against Kay Bailey Hutchison in the race for the US Senate. They feature Barbara Ann attacking Bush and KBH as "his puppet" while a sock puppet twirls around in the background.
Illinois - In IL-08, a new poll released by Democrat Melissa Bean's campaign shows her leading Republican David McSweeney 49-33%, up from a 10-point lead three weeks ago. 3rd party candidate Bill Scheurer drew 7% in the poll. The RNC is throwing millions of dollars into this race, which may be the toughest one to hold for the Democrats in 2006 (and that's saying a lot).
New Jersey - Finally, I'd like to share with all of you a LTE sent to a local newspaper of mine about my Congressman, Mike Ferguson (http://www.whymikewhy.com). The letter was sent by a young lady who has diabetes, who Ferguson refused to listen to on stem-cell research because he's pro-life.
http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com/...
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Congressman says he's for life; what about mine?
Home News Tribune Online 10/15/06
I am 14 years old and, like most kids my age, I have dreams. Most kids dream of being an astronaut, actor or sports star. I dream of a cure for juvenile diabetes, a disease I have had since I was 6 years old. For the last eight years of my life, I have spoken out about juvenile diabetes, how it has robbed me of my carefree childhood. I have raised both awareness and funds. I have petitioned politicians to support medical research for a cure. One of the best avenues for a cure is embryonic stem-cell research. I personally have met with Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-7th Dist., three times over the past four years, and his aides told our family that we cannot even discuss this issue with him because it is against "pro life."
Am I not a life?
These embryos that scientists want to use get thrown away if they are not used for research. How is that pro life, Congressman Ferguson? When I recently met with Linda Stender, his Democratic Party opponent in this fall's election, she told me that she would help me achieve my dream, that my dream could actually become a reality. Stender has the ability to change my dreams, and the dreams of everyone who has a disease; you just have to give her a chance.
Vote for Stender. Vote for life.
Lindsey Rosenthal
BELLE MEAD
Oops...forgot to mention she's 14. Damn, Mr. Liberal, you'd better move over for the younger crowds! :)
Seriously, it is a moving statement of just how much Ferguson is out of touch. I am confident that if elected, Linda Stender will do me, Lindsey and her entire district proud. (http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com)
Finally, there is this from Wonkette as of 1 hour ago:
http://www.wonkette.com/...
According to activist Mike Rogers, one of the two gentlemen on the right is a gay. They are Sens. Mike Crapo and Larry Craig, and if you didn't even know they were in the Senate, that's because they're from Idaho.
We get excited about massive witch hunts too, but jeez, can't the [GLBT] agenda recruit some more exciting candidates?
Anyway, Craig was in that [expletive] Babershop Quartet with Jeffords, Lott, and Ashcroft, so we're pretty sure it's him.
Rogers will announce this at 5:30 eastern on something called "The Ed Schultz Show."
I don't know what to make of it. Regardless of whether it's Craig or Crapo, the "outed" individual has voted against gay rights at virtually every opportunity. Hypocrisy in government on this human scale is not endearing, to say the least. But is a public outing the solution? I really don't think so, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Oh, and today was the voter registration deadline in New Jersey. As of today, a friend and I had registered 30 new Democrats at Drew University. The applications were all mailed in this morning, and it's an accomplishment I'm very, very proud of.