Background: I live in Peoria, IL (IL-18 House) and I have been involved; I walked one route and will walk another one this Sunday. I've also given money to the DCCC, OFA, the Illinois Coordinated Campaign, Alexi Giannoulias, Pat Quinn, DK Hirner (IL-18 Democratic candidate taking on GOP wonderboy Aaron Schock).
In non-local races, I've given money to Barbara Boxer and Alan Grayson.
I am also going to work with GOTV operations on Tuesday and serve as a poll-watcher (no classes that day).
Locally: IL-gov, Quinn trails Brady by 5 points. That is bad, but there is about 15 percent undecided out there.
In the Senate race, Giannoulias is in a statistical dead heat with Kirk (aka "serial liar") and Giannoulias has momentum. I think that a big Chicago turn out will tip this one our way.
In the IL-18 race, we are getting creamed; then again Schock has over one million dollars where Hirner has just under TWELVE THOUSAND. Oh well...
Now to the main points of this diary
Mr. Grayson is trailing in the polls and is a heavy underdog in FL-8. He knows that. So do you know what he did? He sent e-mail messages to those who gave him money asking us to support a Democrat who has a better chance:
Dear Ollie,
Congressman Ron Klein and I have a lot in common. We both represent districts in Florida. We both represent gerrymandered "swing" districts. We both beat incumbent Republicans.
But only one of us has an opponent who says that we will be shot if we dare to leave our own home.
Not long ago, Ron Klein’s Republican opponent told his hatred-filled followers to make sure that Ron was "scared to come out of his house." He told them to "get your musket, fix your bayonet."
This "hate speech" is intolerable! Help Ron Klein fight back.
That, IMHO shows class. Anyone can be honorable when they are the front runner; it takes something special to be selfless when one is a big underdog.
Mr. Grayson: win or lose, I am proud to have supported you.
One final comment
I admit that I was a bit naive. When this country elected Barack Obama, I thought "see, this country is FINALLY over President Ronald "Forrest Gump" Reagan" and is supporting an intellectual."
I even said that "I hope that Barack Obama does for intellectuals what Reagan did for dumbasses".
Now that I see what sort of Republican might take office, I am back to being depressed.
Barack Obama got elected in spite of his intellect, not because of it.
Evidently "average is good enough."
Ok, my whining is over...back to work this weekend.