Here in California, Dianne Feinstein will be running for re-election in 2006. I just got off the phone with her San Francisco office and they confirmed it. While I was on the phone, I gave them my contact information as a campaign volunteer.
Why? Two reasons: Barbara Boxer and Joe Biden.
Senators Boxer and Biden showed us this week what it means to stand up with integrity and call the ruling party to account for their disgusting reign of torture, conquest, and lies. They did it knowing full well that the lying, mean-spirited woman before them was going to be confirmed as our nation's spokesperson no matter what. And still they stood and delivered.
Just think what we could accomplish with a Senate majority.
The American public was led to believe pernicious things about Bill Clinton precisely because he was the target of Congressional action. Nixon went down under the pressure of strong Congressional scrutiny. When we win in 2006 -- and we WILL -- the stage is set for the American people's Day of Reckoning with the Bush cadre.
Think of Senator Kerry, the dogged investigator, going BCCI on Halliburton. Think of Senator Edwards marching his prosecutorial butt over to Rice's State Department with a Congressional subpoena in hand. Think of Barbara Boxer and Joe Biden chairing Senate hearings on high crimes and misdemeanors.
America will wake up. We will recover. We will restore our good name in the world by showing just how the preeminent democracy on the planet deals with corrupt autocrats.
My charge to you today is:
- Find out who your local senator is. You should know already, but if you don't, it's right here. If your Senator is listed as "Class I," then his or her seat will be contested in 2006. If so, find out if your Senator is running for re-election. The Senator's website should tell you, or if it doesn't, you can at least find contact info there. Then call and ask.
- No Senator running? Is your Senate race a lock? Then find the closest House race to you. Go to the House of Representatives web site and find out who your Representative is. Call his or her office and find out whether that seat is contested in 2006, and whether he or she is running for re-election. Your seat isn't up for election in 2006? Punch in some zip codes near you and find the closest contested seat.
- Volunteer NOW. If your Senator or Representative is an incumbent Democrat running for re-election, contact his or her office and volunteer NOW. Get into the process. Start walking precincts, tabling, phone banking -- whatever the campaign needs of you. Start NOW.
- Help the challengers. If your Senator or Representative is an incumbent Republican running for re-election, or if the seat will be open, find out who is running to fill that seat on the Democratic ticket. Call your local Democratic party headquarters and ask them who is running. Look in the masthead of your local paper and find out who the political editor is. Call him or her and ask who the leading contenders are. Choose a challenger and get in on the ground floor of his or her campaign NOW.
- Remember: every seat counts! No matter how hopeless your chosen race may be, or how certain, they ALL COUNT. So play to win. Do what it takes. The best revenge on this corrupt, morally bankrupt administration is a good firm Congressional spanking. And the Senate's the place to make that happen.
One step at a time. This is serious business. We will only get there if we act. So get off your butt and get on the phone, and be ready to give whatever time and money you can to this. We have the will, we have the energy, we have the tools, and we have the goal.
2006. The Year of Reckoning.