40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even though these races aren't in Texas, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
As many of you know, over the last five days, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in partnership with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, asked those in the netroots, "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?"
The results are in and they are overwhelming. 85% of Pennsylvanian respondents and 86% of respondents nationally want Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary. The poll has even gotten the attention of Congressman Sestak, as the PCCC points out:
"I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll. Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you. Until I and my family make that decision, please accept my thanks and my best wishes as you continue be active participants in our people-powered democracy. Thank you so very much!"
Due to such an overwhelming response, a Draft Sestak Fund has been created on ActBlue. To contribute and further encourage Congressman Sestak to enter the race, click on the image below:
If you need any additional motivation to contribute to this effort to draft a real Democrat to oppose Specter in the primary, consider Specter's actions since announcing his Party switch:
1) Specter opposed the Obama budget.
2) Specter opposed the "cramdown" mortgage/bankruptcy reform, siding with banks over families.
3) Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
4) Specter reiterated his opposition to President Obama's nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Office of Legal Counsel.
5) Specter announced his support for Republican Norm Coleman over Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
6) Specter promoted a website that appeared to raise money for cancer research but, in actuality, simply raised money for his campaign.
7) Specter denied reports that he told President Obama that he would be a "loyal Democrat" despite multiple reporters sticking to their story.
The netroots have displayed overwhelming support for Congressman Sestak to take on recently-Republican Arlen Specter. Help the effort by contributing to the Draft Sestak Fund.
I ran across a column last night by one of the columnists at the E-N who has always had a Republican slant. Jonathan Gurwitz slammed Obama's voting record and tried assert that Obama not as bipartisan as McCain. Reviewing the data showed that Gurwitz had only told part of the story. In reality Obama has reached across the aisle more times on key votes than McCain. The record also shows that McCain has the worst voting record in the Senate, even with a shorter campaign schedule than Obama.
However no one in the San Antonio Obama team, namely Alamobama, even responded with some truth. That shocked me and bothered me. For all the action and drive of this group someone has to respond with truth and facts. The opposition has been spewing even more untruths that needed to be countered. I have been trying to but we need more.
If we're going to own this election we have to own it on ALL channels. I challenge netrooters to watch the local papers and push forward the facts. Make sure no column, story, or opinion that does not show the truth go unanswered. We need to get out of the "echo chamber" and get in to the open if we really want to make a difference.
Members of the online community at TalkingPointsMemo.com are hosting a nationwide houseparty fundraiser for Obama the evening of Saturday, July 19th. The Austin party will take place at Tom & Amanda's house, across from Fiesta Gardens. There will be drinks, snacks, music, raucous political discussion and unscripted revelry.
All Obama supporters are welcome. Suggested minimum donation $25.
Sure, you've seen Slacker twelve times, you've played the bongos naked with Matthew McConaughey and you've burned a joint with the Dell Dude, but as a native Austinite (legally defined as a resident of the city for six or more years) I wanted to give a great big 'Howdy, Y'all' to everyone headed our way and offer a few insider tips on how to fully enjoy your stay in the Live Music (and Dead Turn Signal) Capital of the World.
This weekend, we interviewed Nate from his Virginia home about the book.
Burnt Orange Report: What inspired you to write the book?
Nate Wilcox: We had been talking to the 2006 campaigns on instant messenger and, after the campaigns were over, we had been watching the [Jim] Webb campaign with an eye to recruit talent, and had been impressed with Lowell's blogging. He was by far the best campaign blogger of 2006. There were a lot of liberal national bloggers that weren't comfortable with Webb. Matt Stoller was an early opponent, Blue America didn't think he was liberal enough but he [Lowell] managed to get DailyKos diaries recommended over and over.
I was talking to Lowell, and had some time on my hands, and he had some time on his hands and we talked a lot about campaigns and the way blogs and the internet as a whole had changed campaigns were going. So, Lowell ended up deciding he wanted to tell the story of the people of the Draft Jim Webb campaign, and he went to publishers. One was interested, but wanted to widen the scope. He invited me in to widen the scope of the history of the internet and campaigns from 2002 through 2006.
[Note: Although Amazon.com indicates it is presently sold out of pre-release copies of Netroots Rising, you can still place your order. They are working with the publisher to obtain more copies and will ship yours as soon as they get them in. ]
Since 2002, there has been a cosmic shift in the way political campaigns use the Internet and the way citizens interact with campaigns on the World Wide Web.
In Netroots Rising, Nate Wilcox and Lowell Feld provide an insider's view of important watershed moments in the history of American politics and the Netroots.
For Democrats and progressives (and regular students of politics) who want to understand how the online movement has begun to eclipse television as a the "key" force in American politics, this book is a must-read. From using the internet to organize opposition to mid-decade Congressional redistricting in Texas to the Howard Dean campaign, the Draft Clark movement, and 2006 campaigns like that of Jim Webb, the authors explore the history and growing pains of the Netroots movement in a way that keeps you turning the pages.
Today, Rick Noriega was endorsed by the Blue Majority National Netroots community. For me, this is hugely exciting as both a Texas blogger and someone who has the pleasure of supporting Rick.
But aside from that, Noriega is the face of a our modern Democratic Party -- pluralistic and multicultural, committed to national service, and competent. There's a reason that Republican Texas chose Noriega (a Democrat) to run the Katrina relief effort at the Houston Convention Center.
These are the races that define us as a movement. We can shy away from tough challenges, or we can meet them head on and build for a future in which the Democratic Party doesn't just govern, but that it reflects the values all Americans hold dear -- values forgotten by not just Republicans in DC, but the Democrats currently in charge of Congress. In 2006, we took out the frontrunner to the GOP presidential nomination (George Allen) as well as delivered a Democratic Senator from blood Red Montana. We kicked out the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee out of the Democratic Party.
There's no doubt that Texas is our biggest challenge yet, but we don't gain anything by sitting back and looking for the easy calls. We didn't get this far by being timid, and we won't advance by retreating into caution and tenuousness. And the Texas progressive community is working their ass for Noriega. Let's give them moral and material support, no matter where we might live.
Donate towards the effort and help give Rick an impressive end of quarter fundraising total. Having the support of Blue Majority and the Blue America national blogging community is a huge plus for putting Texas on the national stage (in a good way this time!).
Back in January when Nate Wilcox and I launched our BlogTalkRadio Show, “Heading Left,” one of our first guests was Steve Gilliard, founder of The News Blog and DailyKos alum. Like so many online who knew Steve and his work, we were saddened this past week when Steve lost his battle with heart issues and passed away at the age of 42.
Today at Noon eastern, we will have a special edition of “Heading Left” - “A Show For Steve.” Please call in 646-652-4803 and share your memories of Steve or thoughts about how the media has covered his passing. We hope you will join us.
You can listen live by clicking here or you can also listen to the show archived at your convenience.
People are at the heart of TrueBlueAction. People united in action change the direction of a country, or a school board, and maybe some policy along the way. Need to organize a precinct? or county? or state? Need to let the local editors know? About 1100 people signed-up to use TBA tools for the Nov election. Now, let's add a little info about ourselves so we find each other and get organized. Join TrueBlueAction. Use TrueBlueAction.com
Tags, also called keywords or labels, describe elements of a person, a group, an issue or area in an open way. Like a grassroots dictionary and dynamic thesarus hybrid. Passionate about 'energy independence', also called 'alternate energy', 'solar', 'wind power', 'peak oil', and 'hybrids'. Hit the Tags page and find your like-minded citizens. Join TrueBlueAction. Use TrueBlueAction.com
Groups connect people to issues, interests, geographies, candidates, and more. Need to connect to others against the war? Need to connect to others in Tarrant county? Texans for Obama? Stop The Coal Rush activists in Texas? Its fast, its free, it helps people organize themselves. Join TrueBlueAction. Use TrueBlueAction.com
