October 15, 2004
Special Issue: Election Countdown
Welcome to this special pre-election edition of @Stake. With just 18 days before an election James Carville termed "perhaps the most important since the Civil War," we will focus on ways that each of us can make a significant difference. (We also have developments about some races we've been watching, as well as blog links to other stories).
@Stake launched one year ago this month with this explanation: "In 1948, President Harry S. Truman, underdog to GOP candidate Thomas Dewey, faced a small crowd of voters in Massachusetts: 'You have a stake in this election. It will affect your job, your chance to get a raise, your chance to get a better home...It will mean the difference between moving ahead and moving backward.' The focus of his speech was condemning the "Do Nothing Congress," coincidentally the last time that Republicans controlled the U.S. House of Representatives. "
In that same Inaugural issue we reported: "Welcome to American government with Republicans like George W. Bush and Tom DeLay in control. In just one week, key reports revealed that median household incomes have gone down, the poverty rate has gone up, and the number of uninsured Americans has risen dramatically."
Between now and November 2nd, we should remember a quote favored by another Democratic president, John F. Kennedy: Don't Get Mad, Get Even! We'll show you how to do just that so that we can celebrate Democratic victories on November 2nd.
Million for a Majority
In the last two weeks, Congressional Republicans have been shocked as the DCCC brought the fight to them on an even larger scale, unveiling new TV and radio ads, launching direct mail campaigns, and unleashing phone banks and grassroots organizers in states like Texas, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Washington, South Dakota, Georgia, Connecticut, Arizona, Kentucky, Washington, Minnesota, North Carolina and more.
Our "Million for a Majority" campaign will put even more races into play in these final days. We have already raised more than $632,000 - so we have less than $400,000 to go. But we are out of time. We need your help TODAY!
There are a number of ways you can help.
Make a secure donation towards that million dollar mark. It takes a gain of 12 seats to restore a Democratic majority. Whether you can give just $1 per seat ($12), $3 per seat ($36), or more every dollar that you contribute is urgently needed.
Host a House Party on October 24th, and get your friends and family to help us make the mark. It's as easy as inviting a handful of friends over to watch a movie. But instead, you will take part in a conference call and last pre-election briefing with Nancy Pelosi and Al Gore.
Become a Majority Maker by inviting your own friends, family, and associates to contribute through your own personalized fundraising webpage. It's really easy. Just take a few minutes to sign-up and write your introductory greeting. We will provide you with the information updates and appeals you need to email interested people in your address book. You can use, edit, or add to what we send (or write your own messages entirely). Give your friends a chance to get involved in a way that only you can. We really need them.
Time is almost up, and the Majority is ripe for the picking. Don't look back and regret what else you could have done in these last days!
Road Trip for a New Majority
You may have heard the buzz about our "Million for a Majority" campaign, but what does this money go to? Aside from television ads and working directly with candidates, we also seal the deal with aggressive Get Out the Vote efforts (GOTV).
This weekend, we took around 40 people up to help Lois Murphy in Pennsylvania's 6th, who has been endorsed by the Sierra Club amongst many others. She is going to win, with our help.
If you want to get involved with these GOTV trips, head on over to Road Trip for a New Majority and sign up. If you would like to help us keep funding more of these, please give here.
In case you were worried, we pay for food, lodging and transportation. Please note the cheesesteak on the people below.
Here is a shot of everybody - Lois Murphy is in the center.
Here is some of the crew putting packets together at the hotel on Friday night.
These trips are happening in districts across the country, and make no mistake - they make the difference. We cleaned the Republicans' clocks in South Dakota, and in a race that was decided by only a couple thousand votes, the efforts of our hundreds of volunteers were an absolute necessity.
You can sign up at http://www.democraticaction.org/roadtrip/index.php.
If you can't go, please tell your friends by using this form: http://www.democraticaction.org/roadtrip/ftaf.php
Races to Watch: On the Cusp of Victory
GA-12: GA-12: The Max Tax... What's sillier than co-sponsoring a national sales tax of 30% (which still not enough to sustain current revenues) with 19 days left before an election? Doing so when your name fits so nicely into an easy-to-remember jingle. As you read this, Republican Max Burns, one of the most vulnerable in the country is being hammered for supporting Tom DeLay's pet obsession, a national sales tax to shift the tax burden even further from wealth to work. Burns was also compassionate enough to copy his AARP survey answers from the national talking points - sounds like a good fit for this Democratic district, right? Help us make sure Georgia families don't get burned by the Max Tax!
WA-08: Dave Ross Pulling Away... The popular radio and print journalist racked up his second key endorsement, this time from the Seattle Times, citing his "moderation and his broad sophistication on wider world issues." With a recent poll showing him 10 points up against and opponent who has never truly gotten off the ground, and endorsements from the districts two key papers, this seat is looking like a golden pick-up opportunity from the retiring Republican, Jennifer Dunn.
TX-17: Chet Edwards Endorsed... In a race that typifies the unexpected Republican headaches resulting from the Texas redistricting, Chet Edwards is teaching his opponent what it means to be a serious candidate, and The Star Telegram, which happens to be the dominant paper in Arlene Wohlgemuth's home area in the 17th District, recognized it: "At this time in history, Texas needs Edwards in Congress. His experience in national defense issues is important to the entire state, not just District 17."
CT-04: Shays Learning the Price of Loyalty... As GOP Leader Tom DeLay continues to be pummeled nationwide for his habitual ethics problems, Republicans have closed ranks around him hoping to stifle the damage. But that's a bit of a problem for faux-moderates like Chris Shays, who has spent the past year rebutting accusations from Democrat Dianne Farrell that he was a rubberstamp for DeLay. Shays was the first out of the box to call DeLay "a great majority leader" and then had to choke down a vote not to have an independent investigation. Between that and his complete lack of questioning of Bush's handling of Iraq, the "moderate" label could be a pretty hard sell this time around.
VA-02: Surprise Opportunity, Shameless Attacks... While Republicans attempt to squelch dissent by insisting that any criticism of their president or their party undermines our troops, it is they who consistently seem to produce stories like this one, written about in an editorial from the Virginia Pilot: "Anyone who doesn't back President Bush is soft on terror. Even a U.S. Marine who has put his life on the line in Iraq. So says 2nd District Republican congressional candidate Thelma Drake. In a flier that landed in mailboxes across Virginia Beach and Norfolk recently, Drake attacks her opponent, Democrat David Ashe, as 'weakening the war on terror,' because of his support for the man at the top of his ticket, presidential candidate John Kerry." This seat opened up unexpectedly when Republican Ed Schrock suddenly resigned, and Ashe has pounced on the opportunity, piercing through his opponent's typical Republican rhetoric and showing that simple Democratic message of fairness still resonates, even in Republican-leaning districts.
NE-01: The Return of Fiscal Sanity... After four years of Republicans screaming for tax cuts for the super-wealthy at any cost, a development in this Nebraska race gives a sign that voters and disinterested parties have had enough. When the NRCC tried to attack Democrat Matt Connealy on behalf of Republican Jeff Fortenberry for raising taxes to balance the budget in the state, Republican State Senate Speaker Curt Bromm stepped in to denounce the attacks as "disingenuous and unfair," noting that the Nebraska legislature did more budget cutting than it did tax increases. Voters across the country will be performing this kind of gut-check in a few weeks, and we're betting it won't be good news for the GOPers.
NC-11: Dead Heat... A new poll has this race within the margin of error, with 6% undecided who could easily break for Patsy Keever, a teacher and all-around admirable candidate who is challenging one of the most ethically troubling Members of the House, Charles Taylor.
KS-03: Dennis Moore Fends off Extremism Personified... Democrat Dennis Moore, always a top target of Republicans in this conservative district continues to stand on principle against Kris Kobach, a hero of extremists ranging from Jerry Falwell to anti-immigration nuts. Unfortunately, the Republicans have had this dream before, in which a right-wing zealot emerges from the primaries only to find himself well outside the mainstream and go down to defeat. So it was déjà vu all over again when a local columnist and leading moderate Republican, Steve Rose of The Sun endorsed Moore even as he endorsed Bush for President.
TX-22: Under the Radar, DeLay faces his Toughest Race in Years... Amidst a seemingly endless string of ethics problems, Tom DeLay is in unexpected danger. A local television station reports, "He may come across a scattering of other political signs of the times such as Bush-Cheney signs coexisting with Richard Morrison signs. Democrat Morrison has worked what is often considered the heartland of Republican voters, and some Bush voters say they will cross over. 'It's a fresh start and I think he can add a lot of new blood. He believes in bi-partisan working together. It's kind of an answer as to why there's two different representations in the signs,' says voter Tom Suter." The Morrison campaign has said that they have distributed a full 6,000 signs, in contrast to 600 from DeLay. He may find that Republican voters care more about ethics than do Republican politicians.
News From the Blog
House Dems Fight for Sinclair Investigation
Fighting back against right wing propaganda on the public airwaves.
Less Verbiage in DeLay Rebuke?
DeLay's fellow Republicans "threaten" GOP Member of the Ethics Committee.
Your FDA
...Is working against you.
Above the Law
More "illegal" "covert propaganda" from the Bush administration.
Unfinished Business
A cartoon from Roll Call that tells you all you need to know about the GOP's legislative accomplishments.
Streakin' Pete
Republican anti-Janet Jackson crusader found to have a streaky past.
DeLay Editorial Round-up
DeLay's corruption condemned nationwide.
