Don't forget to look down-ballot, too
By Steve Benen Tuesday Jun 03, 2008 7:30amAfter a long and arduous process, the Democratic Party finally has a presidential nominee, and this will no doubt capture the attention of the nation.
But it's probably worth keeping in mind that the Dems have reason to be excited about congressional races, too.
Democratic pollsters released what they characterized as a “dramatic” survey showing the possibility of a Democratic wave in Republican congressional districts this fall.
The poll of 1600 voters in 45 Republican congressional districts showed on average a 33% approval rating for President Bush, a 38% approval rating for the incumbent Republican and a strong desire for change.
In the 45 Republican districts the poll found 55% of people said they wanted to vote for a Democrat for Congress, compared to 49% in January. Just 37% of respondents said they would vote for their Republican incumbents, who were named.
“What’s stunning about this is not just that the race has moved over the last three months,” said Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg. “There’s no reason to believe this won’t continue to move.” He is a founder of Democracy Corps, a non-profit that conducted the poll.
A wave started rolling in 2006 ... and it's not done yet.
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I don't think that many republicans want to go from a smirking chimp to a grinning gorilla.
McCain speaks of all the changes he wants to make, but why, in his many years in the Senate , did he not stand for any of those changes? He voted for Bush 85% over 7 years, 100% last year
THE DEMOCRATIC ? PARTY DOES NOT HAVE A NOMINEE UNTIL AUGUST!
Tell the Truth.
With the sheer volume of money that changes hands in Washington DC, how long before the new wave becomes just like the old wave?
Not saying change can't happen, just saying that a wave of new congress critters is only addressing one side of the problem. Nothing will change as long as lobbyists are allowed to conduct business as usual.
Integrity knows no politics, whereas politics rarely knows integrity.
The wave isn't done by a long shot. But we have to learn from our mistakes and be vigilant on voting day. Make sure all polling stations have enough voting machines. Fight tooth and nail to get rid of electronic voting without a paper trail. Video tape everything you can at the polling stations. Keep registering new voters and remind registered voters to show up with current photo ID and to double check their registered status now.
The dirty tricks are already starting, and they won't end.
I agree that a focus on the Presidency alone is insufficient. Clearly President Obama will need a majority that supports his vision in the House and Senate. Where I live, in the 10th district of Florida, I am working on the campaign of Samm Simpson (www.sammsimpsonforcongress.com), a progressive woman who is attempting to unseat Republican Congressman Bill Young, a task that in any other year might seem quixotic. This year it only seems herculean.
Mark Harris
St. Petersburg, FL
Truth @ 2:
In your line of thought neither do the Repubs. What is your point?
Truth @ 2:
That's okay, progressives know who the candidate is already.
Mark Harris @ 5:
Good for you. Have you noticed how the Repubs are deathly afraid of Progressives? Blue Dog Democrats should be too!
How great would that be - a decisive Dem sweep in November? Imagine getting a fillibuster-proof majority in the House/Senate...! One of the things that concerns me about Obama is that, in the name of bi-partisanship and comity, he may offer top positions to Republicans. They've done nothing in the last 16 years to show they deserve this sort of treatment and, actually, for the next 4 years at least, they should be scorned not rewarded.
Support Act Blue....and support Al Franken! That might be the most exciting senate race of the year!
Dan-in-PA @ 3:
I venture to say that Obama has an idea where the newfound political power may be and that he is more beholden to the small donors that have transformed campaign fundraising. If the donors continue to be involved by pushing for real change, maybe this country has a real chance to avoid the death of democracy that the greed of the Republican super rich and their mindless minions were foretelling.
So is C&L ready to get behind Obama now, or will it play wait and see with the Clintons's?
For the record, the Dems do not have a candidate until Denver.
Truth @ 2:
You can't handle the truth. Otherwise you'd realize that the GOP is no longer viable as a major political force in this country. It has been undone by its courting of fringe groups that are outside of the mainstream, by the embracing of economic and business processes that are anti worker, by following a foreign policy of xenophobia, greed and megalomania and by embracing a strategy of devisiveness that has split this nation in two.
I posted this on another thread. I would be interested in what you think:
John Edwards - Vice President (2nd Choice - Dennis Kucinich)
General Wesley Clark - Secretary of Defense
Jeffrey Feiger (Michigan) - Attorney General (2nd Choice - John Conyers)
Thomas Daschle - Secretary of State
Gov Bill Richardson - Secretary of Energy or Secretary of Homeland Security
Barbara Boxer - Secretary of Health & Human Services
Hillary Clinton - U.N. Ambassador
Right on Steve.
I would like to see a discussion here of how we might best expend our resources to maximize the increase in Democratic representation. How do folks feel about the DNC, DSCC, DCCC and any other organizations for making donations. Personally, I have not been very happy with the DCCC in prior elections. Have they changed their ways? I was definitely a fan of the DNC's 50-state strategy in 2006.
My husband and I work the polls at every election. We put together a list of candidates down ticket and some quotes from the candidates. Voters often stop by and ask us "who else is on the ticket?" We give them the list of names and positions. It is really helpful. We also have an extensive email list that we gathered at the polls after people voted in the Primary and we send out an email with the list of candidates along with links to the candidates websites a few days prior to the general election so that voters are informed. So far, it's been working well. We have managed to change a "red" precinct to "blue". Volunteer on election day. It is the only way to keep the vote honest.
JustSickOfIt @ 4:
Yes, you got it and you understand it. We must be vigilant.
sciguy @ 16:
After helping with the Lois Murphy campaign, PA 6th Congressional District, I became really frustrated with the DCCC. They had the Murphy campaign making numerous phone calls which Jim Gerlach used to his advantage with a robo-call right before the election in which the RNCC did NOT disclose who was sending the call until the very end of the message which is illegal, btw. What happened next is when volunteers made GOTV calls, that is, "Tuesday is election day etc..." people hung up the phone or got nasty. It was a disaster and I blame the DCCC for this.
Howard Dean's 50 State Plan is brilliant and it is working. It starts at the local level and blossoms out and upward.
That may be true, but the Democrats need to avoid one key major Republican flaw.
They need to elect people who ARE NOT crooks and liars.
They need to elect progressive people who genuinely have the best interests of their PEOPLE at heart.
Not corporations. Not lobbyists. Not fellow-cronies.
If the Democrats can't do that, then all we're doing is replacing the Bloods with the Crips.
chicano2nd @ 11:
Obama may very well be, and that is a good thing. My comment, however, was not directed at the presidential race, rather at the point where true power resides in Washington. The holders of the purse strings in Congress.
Congress, both the house and senate, are the point where funding decisions are made, and where lobbyists employ their most underhanded techniques.
It is also, sadly, the only branch of government that had any duty to reign in the imperial presidnet, and they failed miserably.
Read Steve's article again. It speaks of a wave begun in 2006, this was congressional. It speaks of that wave continuing in 2008. Encompassing a broader congressional wave.
My point, which you missed because you're focused on the presidency, is...
What is to keep this expected overwhelming wave of democratic congress critters from falling victim to the exact same financial temptations that corrupted so many well meaning members of congress already and led to congress usurping their oversight authority over the executive branch? (both sides of the aisle have already been corrupted by the way)
Nothing will change in Washington in any significant fashion, unless lobbyist business as usual is brought to an end.
Hopefully they will/would do something this time.
Dan-in-PA @ 3:
Looks at watch. 2.2 seconds and....3.3434343 milliseconds.
The system's broken, it needs reform, whether by the ballot box or the...ahem alternative.
DITCH MITCH 08 !!
You've been sleeping on the congressional races too long because of the presidential primary. 18 republicans have to defend their seats in the senate and we need those votes.
wooohooo lets take back america
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
Sheila @ 15:
I like Edwards(Kucinich), Clark and Feiger (what's he doing here?) but the rest are useless.
Cats r Flyfishn @ 17:
I'm curious as to what state you live in. You are to be applauded for all your hard work. I didn't know you could do all that you listed!!! It is highly impressive. In Florida, you have to go through fifteen hours of traning in order to becom a volunteer at the polls........at least in the county where I live.
Again, thanks for being of service to others, and stay well..........hope you can pass that on to the next generation somehow.
Don’t forget to look down-ballot, too
For something dangling?
You naughty boy.
If you want to help out vote for Progressive Lt Col. Charlie Brown in both the online polls.
http://www.dailykos.com/tag/Fighting%20Dems
brokenarrow @ 29:
In Pennsylvania, you have to go to one day's training to become a paid poll worker, non partisan. The Democratic Party committee is always looking for volunteers to work outside the polls to hand out flyers etc... Each campaign can also have volunteers work inside the polls as 'poll watchers'. A certificate is needed for this. My husband and I are Democratic party precinct committee people so we decided to organize our precinct. It sounds like more work than it really is. We have been able to recruit volunteers to help on election day so that no one has to stay at the polls for 13 hours. It actually becomes a "party", we set up a table and some chairs, we have candy and snacks and people stop by and chat after they vote. It is a great way to meet people and build our local Democratic party. The DNC offers training within the each State and County/Township/Town. The good thing about having a presence at the polls is that if there is any funny business going on, we can contact the authorities and lawyers right away.
Truth @ 2:
Sorry. In an effort to tell the truth, I will henceforth refer to Sen Obama as "The Democratic Candidate Who Holds The Most Delegates With No Contests Remaining And Will Be Officially Named The Nominee August 28th Unless Cataclysmic, Unforeseen, Earth-Shattering Events Transpire Before That Time" Just so there's no confusion.
I will also be referring to "tomorrow" as "A Human Construct Based On The Rotation of the Earth To Measure Time Which Might Possibly Follow Today, Unless The Universe Implodes Spontaneously Sometime Before 11:59 EST"
The Dems have absolutely no reason to be excited in Vermont unless they;ve got some one lined up to be on the primary ballot in Sept. Because Welch is a light weight who rubber stamped to much of the rethugs worst bills. He's changed his ways these last few months getting ready for the election but who would ever trust him again?
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