In places like Idaho, Nebraska, Alaska, Kansas, and even Mississippi, that have in the past been Republican strongholds, the Democratic Party has successfully recruited strong and progressive Democratic candidates who have better than just even odds of winning Republican Senate seats. But we need to try to increase our majority to 60+ seats to produce a Veto-proof Senate.
Think about it, whomever is President, there will be a Veto proof Senate that can withdraw our troops from Iraq, pass the Human Rights Amendment, get Universal Health Care, etc. In the realm of probability the chances are much greater with a Veto-Proof Senate.
In Alabama there is a chance to defeat a Rubber Stamp Republican, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, but it will take someone more well-known and financially secure than State Senator Vivian Figures. Also theres a progressive Democrat in office who could raise the money to be competitive, who has already shown a desire to serve in the U.S. Senate, and who has an elective office history that gives him a well-known name and a positive reaction to his record - Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.
Jim Folsom, Jr., was born May 14, 1949, the oldest son of Governor James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, Sr. (one of the first Southern governors to support civil rights and integration) and Jamelle Folsom. Jim Jr. was raised in Montgomery and Cullman with his eight brothers and sisters. Governor Folsom graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1974, having paid his way by working at the yarn mill and post office. Following graduation, Folsom worked with the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations and Reynolds Metals.
In 1978, Folsom was elected to the Public Service Commission, where he served two terms. In 1980 Folsom ran for the U.S. Senate and defeated incumbent Senator Donald W. Stewart in the Democratic Primary, but in the year of one of the Ronald Reagan landslides, narrowly lost the general election to Republican Admiral Jeremiah Denton. In 1986 and 1990, he was elected Lt. Governor, each time with overwhelming majorities. In April 1993, hours after his predecessor was removed from office, Jim Folsom, Jr. was sworn in as Alabama's 50th Governor. After a narrow loss for election as Governor in the very Republican year of 1994, Folsom went onto return to elective office, winning the Lt. Governor's office in November of 2006, after a 12 yr. absence from office.
Folsom demonstrated an ability to bring people together, building diverse coalitions to get things done. As a result, many effective and ground-breaking pieces of legislation were adopted during his tenures as Lt. Governor and Governor. Lauded for creating Alabama's most diverse cabinet and staff by appointing many women and African-Americans to key posts statewide, Governor Folsom also directed that the Confederate flag be moved from the Capitol dome to war memorials. In what was the longest lasting impact of his administration - despite being told it could not be done - Governor Folsom personally directed Alabama's efforts to attract the first Mercedes-Benz automobile manufacturing plant outside of Germany. Alabama beat out 30 other states for the coveted industry, opening the door for future automotive opportunities in Alabama. Some 150,000 Alabama jobs have been created and over one million automobiles have been built in Alabama through the successful recruitment of Mercedes and the other international automobile manufacturers that followed.
Politically, Folsom has always stood up for progressive candidates like Al Gore, Jr. and Howard Dean for President. Folsom is a man of deep convictions who can win and the sheer force of his name, record, and personality can defeat U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R).
We need to DRAFT Jim Folsom, Jr. for the U.S. Senate.
You can email Folsom at :
http://www.ltgov.alabama.gov/...
You can also call or mail at :
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.
11 South Union Street, Suite 725
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7900
Fax: (334) 242-4661
WE HAVE UNTIL APRIL 4, 2008!