Guys, I'm still not feeling well (another bad day), but I have a load of links that I compiled today and I want to push them out before I go rest some more. So consider this a bonus linky open thread.
- First an update on me: I still don't have any answers to my abdominal pain, but renal failure was ruled out at the hospital -- which was my biggest fear and reason I decided to subject myself to the hassle of the emergency room (I spent the night in serious pain, vomiting). I'm now being treated for GERD, which is like glorified heartburn (acid reflux disease), but could lead to ulcers. Gall stones haven't been ruled out either.
Part of the problem is that my symptoms don't seem to neatly fit any diagnosis well (including GERD), so there's no obvious answer to the problem. They're going to go down the list and treat the possibilities until something finally works. In the meantime, hopefully that CT Scan will be approved by Blue Shield, and can get me closer to a final diagnosis and treatment.
If I seem more cranky than usual, it's because this pain (and lack of sleep because of it) is really starting to wear me down.
- Jerome has written an updated "Engage the Netroots" memo for campaigns over at the New Politics Institute. My favorite rule:
- Take the first step with outreach to local bloggers:
This is something that should already have been done, but it’s never too late start. If the relationship doesn’t exist, reach out today. Rather than focusing on national bloggers, focus on those within your state first, as many of the national bloggers look to the state-based blogs for identifying which races to target as highly competitive. Have the leaders of your organization or campaign touch base with local bloggers,. Set up a conference call with local bloggers asking for feedback, encouraging coordination, and providing updates.
Pitch-perfect advice.
- The following Republicans are now in the crossfire of a $1.5 million campaign funded by Americans United for Change, SEIU, AFSCME, and True Majority/USAction;
AFSCME: Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Sam Graves (MO-6), John “Randy” Kuhl (NY-29), Thomas Reynolds (NY-26), Timothy Walberg (MI-7), Joe Knollenberg (MI-9), Steve Chabot (OH-1), and Tom Feeney (FL-24).
SEIU: Reps. Greg Walden (OR-2), Rodney Alexander (LA-5), John Boozman (AR-3), Kay Granger (TX-12), Thelma Drake (VA-2), Robin Hayes (NC-8), Barbara Cubin (WY-AL) John “Randy” Kuhl (NY-29), Thomas Reynolds (NY-26) and radio ads targeting Reps. Michele Bachmann (MN-6) and Robert Aderholt (AL-4).
AUFC: Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5), Michele Bachmann (MN-6), Ric Keller (FL-8), and Dean Heller (NV-2).
And True Majority/USAction: Rep. John Peterson (PA-5).
- VA-01: Tim Kaine will apparently announce a December special election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who recently passed away from breast cancer. This is an R+7 district, but Virignia Dems, pumped from their current winning streak, plan on a spirited challenge to the seat.
- TX-Sen: Burnt Orange Report interviews Mikail Watts and Rick Noriega.
- Malkin versus Malkin. Hilarious! Like all Bush Republicans, she'll chuck aside her previous beliefs in order to get Bush's back. Every. Single. Time.
She was right the first time. The health care system -- and the HMOs -- are broken. Any politician that thinks a solution to the problem is sending more people to the unaccountable HMOs is crazy.
- KY-Gov: SUSA says the race is tightening. But it's still a 16-point lead (56-40) for the good guy, with less than a month to go to the election.
- Satire is dead, and it's killing destroying poor political cartoonists.