National Leadership
What elected Tester? (how to win in the West)
Jay over at 4&20 blackbirds points to a Hill article that gets into the ongoing debate (which we all for sure wish would stop) of who can really take credit for the Democratic win in the Senate, especially for Tester winning in Montana.
Of course, Sen. Schumer of New York is saying that it was the great database they helped build, but Jay has other thoughts:
Here’s what I know. I wouldn’t have joined the Missoula Democrats, volunteered for Tester, or started blogging without Dean’s infrastructure.The voter lists were nice… but about a gazillion organizations had similar lists. How many of you Democratic-leaning Montana voters received phone calls this election, raise your hands! And how many of you received like a gajillion phone calls?
...
Jon won that race. Montanans won that race. Thanks for all the money, though.
There's something to be said for DC based power types taking too much credit for wins in the West. Conrad Burns would still be a Senator had not Tester decided to run (at least I'm convinced of that). Tester was the right guy at the right time, and no amount of really great data would have put a bad candidate over the top.
If anyone is going to take credit, the organization that put the race in the well trained hands of Montanan Democrats deserves some credit. But, Montanans deserve the most.
Emmett O'Connell | May 12, 2007 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
Moving money from Big Oil to the Big Future
This could be a huge development for America's energy future and a large step in the right direction for renewable energy projects across the West:
House Democrats in the first weeks of the new Congress plan to establish a dedicated fund to promote renewable energy and conservation, using money from oil companies.That's only one legislative hit the oil industry is expected to take next year as a Congress run by Democrats is likely to show little sympathy to the cash-rich, high-profile business.
Whether the issue is rolling back tax breaks - some approved by Congress only 18 months ago - pushing for more use of ethanol and other biofuels instead of gasoline, or investigations into shortfalls in royalty payments to the government, oil industry lobbyists will spend most of their time playing defense.
Details of a renewable fuels fund have yet to be worked out.
Nonetheless, it's one of the initiatives the House will take up during its first 100 hours in session in January, according to aides to Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi. At least some of the money - revenue gained by rolling back some tax breaks - will go to a program to support research into making ethanol from sources other than corn.
This article goes into some other length about improperly written lease agreements with oil and gas companies that will end up (if properly modified) to return almost 10 billion dollars to the Federal Government. That's money that can be spend on the future of our country, not the past.
When I read articles like these I think about all the perceptual changes that will start to come about now that the Democrats control both Houses of Congress. When average hard working Americans see the minimum wage increase, see ethics reforms and see their government investing money in the future than we can start to build on the progressive gains made this year out here in the West or anywhere where hard working Americans want a government that works for them.
Landon Mascareñaz | December 29, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Hillary may save us from a New York convention
2008 Democratic Convention Watch points to an interesting tale told by Novak, in which he lays bare a badly kept secret about a convention in New York and Hillary Clinton:
Denver lacks sufficient hotel facilities, a suitable arena and labor union support, not to mention adequate financing. But when New York was leaked as the site, the reaction was so negative that Dean delayed a decision. Party members complained that it would be the fourth out of the last nine Democratic conventions scheduled for New York. Backers of Hillary Clinton don't want her nominated in her place of residence. George H.W. Bush and John Kerry lost elections when nominated in their respective hometowns of Houston and Boston.
2008 Democratic Convention watch points out that Hillary is publicly backing New York, but that going back to the 1950s, Presidential candidates who are nominated too close to home have a hard go at it.
Wouldn't it be ironic that Clinton's pre-primary inside the party power -- before she fizzles out in front of voters and caucus goers -- could put the convention out West?
Emmett O'Connell | December 24, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
"It's about time."
I like seeing positive coverage of the West's man in 2008, Bill Richardson:
Richardson would have to be considered a serious contender, no matter what his ethnicity. He's got the goods. Having served as a member of Congress, a Cabinet secretary and U.N. ambassador, Richardson also has the benefit of being a governor -- in a Democratic field likely to be chock-full of senators, in a country where voters haven't elected a senator to the presidency since 1960. He won re-election this year with 69 percent of the vote.
This just isn't any blogger - this is Ruben Navarette, nationally syndicated columnist and CNN politics opinion writer. After the deluge of positive "Western Democrat" coverage after the election, people are starting to see Richardson for what he is - the Democrats best chanced for an experienced executive with foreign policy experience that can solidify and build on the Western gains seen with this last election.
Mr. Navarette sees even more (some hope) for our country in a Richardson candidacy:
That's Richardson. His mother was born in Mexico, and his father was an American businessman. Richardson was raised in Mexico City before going off to prep school in Massachusetts and then earning college and graduate degrees at Tufts University. Being of two worlds -- bilingual, bicultural and binational -- he is well-suited to introduce one to the other.
One of the biggest thing holding our country back is not reconciling our true place within the Americas - our hemispheric neighbors that should be our natural allies and friends. Some of the greatest of our leaders - FDR and JFK - realized that by pursuing a fairer and more just policy with our southern neighbors and northern neighbor that we would become safer and greater nation overall.
Out here in the west, we've been getting used to the idea of being closer to our southern neighbors for a long time with many of us even tracing our lineage that way. Having someone in a leadership role facilitate a broader dialogue between all peoples of the Americas could be an enormous challenge and also offer a large potential for hope.
But, before all that it's nice to see Bill Richardson getting some positive national coverage this early in the race. The talking heads saying this race is Barack vs Hillary more than a year before the first votes are extremely premature.
Don't discount the western governor with the experience that matters most.
Landon Mascareñaz | December 17, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
The New West Project
This is wonderful:
The New West Project, headquartered in Denver, will conduct research and develop strategies to secure and exploit recent Democratic gains in the Western states, party sources said.At least four Western governors - Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Bill Ritter, Colorado's governor-elect - are expected to lead the group's advisory council, the sources said. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado and other members of Congress will provide "strategic guidance."
Reid confirmed the creation of the new organization, which he said would "build upon the leadership of people such as governors Napolitano, Richardson and Schweitzer" and "work to focus attention on the West."
This is a high level group. Consider the Western Strategy in play, my friends. It is wonderful to see this sort of institutional arrangement that will only benefit our local, state and national candidates long term. It looks like part think tank, part strategy firm, part communications development - all aspects that will be welcome by the plethora of candidates that will be running these next few cycles to take advantage of our our new promise out here in the west.
The best part of the article? The quote from an unnamed "Western Democrat":
As an example of what the new organization may do, the Western Democrat said that political professionals would analyze such questions as "the difference between first- and second-generation Hispanic voters, ... what motivates them and how we communicate with them," as well as "why a recent transplant from California, who has voted Republican all her life, is now voting for Democrats."
Good question, "Western Democrat" - it just leaves me amazed to see our namesake invoked so strikingly in an article. Methinks the author of the article, John Aloysius Farrell , might just be an reader of our humble site. If so, thanks for the article John - we'll be watching for you in the future.
It's great to have a new project designed for this express purpose and examining the multitude of new questions that are arising from the new political climate in the West. Now, if any of those people involved in the project are paying attention it would behoove them greatly to include netroots and blog outreach as an element of the project. You see, since major political focus has been absent from the West for awhile the netroots and blogosphere have been proliferating and recruiting top candidates all over the place. It would be an essential element of any plan that you should put together.
I'm excited.
Here's the The New West Project!
Landon Mascareñaz | December 6, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Denver Convention petition
Progress Now has set up a petition that you can sign to support the Democratic Nation Convention in Denver (hat tip Coyote Gulch).
Boo NYC, Go Denver!
Emmett O'Connell | November 29, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Denver Convention Watch
There is a lot going on right now in terms of choosing the site of the 2008 Democratic Nation Convention.
Here are two good places that I seemed to have totally missed (hat tip to DemNotes, a great blog written by the Colorado Democratic vice chair):
2008 Democratic Convention Watch
Denver 2008 official site
At least symbolically, the choice is clear. We can either go back east, from Boston to New York City and reaffirm our Northeast roots as a party. Or, strike out West.
Here is a nice development that I (again) didn't notice. State chairs are for Denver (hat tip to the convention watch blog):
An overwhelming majority of the Democratic Party’s state leaders believe their party should make a statement about its Western resurgence and national aspirations by selecting Denver over New York for the 2008 convention.Of 36 state party chairs who gave a preference when surveyed by The Denver Post, 31 chose Denver and five New York. Hawaii did not respond; the rest had no clear favorite.
...
“Colorado is a great venue to talk about winning the heartland of America and the West,” said Alabama state chairman Joe Turnham.
“I prefer Denver. That’s where our future lies, quite frankly,” said California chairman Art Torres. “It’s the Rocky Mountain strategy that is going to bring the Democratic Party to the White House.”
That's awful nice coming from California.
Emmett O'Connell | November 16, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
Trent Lott in Senate Minority Leadership, good for the West
...and good for Democrats.
The Senate Majority Leader is from Nevada.
The Senate Minority Leader is from Kentucky, the minority whip is from Mississippi. There is nothing that could be better.
For decades the schism between the south and the west has been pulling at the seams of the Republican Party. Conservatives from both regions approach their conservatism is drastically different ways.
The South is an authoritarian region that certainly isn't the West.
Lott being reelected as the Republican leader in the Senate is a solid example of where the GOP is running after their very regionally based defeat last week. Has anyone else noticed that the one house seat the GOP came to picking up was in Georgia?
The Republicans are running home, to the south. As they abandon the West, we have a chance to increase our gains already made.
Emmett O'Connell | November 15, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
In 2008, Nevada is the new Iowa.
A couple of days ago, Tom Vilsack threw his hat into the ring for the 2008 presidential contest:
"Americans sent a clear message on Tuesday. They want leaders who will take this country in a new direction," Vilsack, Iowa's two-term governor, said in a statement. "They want leaders who share their values, understand their needs, and respect their intelligence. That's what I've done as governor of Iowa, and that's what I intend to do as president."
Well Tom, you also clearly intend to invalidate your home state caucuses. Like Tom Harkin ran in 1992, when an Iowan runs for president, your caucuses matter little to everyone else. Iowans aren't going to punish a favorite son and no other big name Democratic candidate is truly going to ask them to.
Which means the next caucus up is Nevada. Tom Vilsack, by running for president has made Nevada the Iowa of 2008 - great news for Western Democrats. Not just because the issues being discussed in a western state matter to us out here, it means our chances of nominating a westerner in 2008 are much improved. Nevada will be a natural spot for someone like Richardson to campaign (given his sky high re-election rate and majority support among all sub-groups - important in a diverse western state like Nevada).
Can you really see Hillary winning Nevada? Or Tom Vilsack for that matter?
Western Democrats have just indirectly made incredible progress because of the aspirtation of one Iowan. Thanks Tom, much appreciated.
Landon Mascareñaz | November 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
Victory, my friends.
We won big last night. We've gained a solid majority in the House and we stand on the verge of taking the Senate. We have a woman Speaker of the House and Democratic control for the first time in 12 years.
That is all fine and good, but let's look at where we won out here in the West (minute snipping occurred):
Arizona's 5th: Harry Mitchell (D) 51 percent, J.D. Hayworth (R) 46 percentCalifornia's 11th: Jerry McNerney (D) 53 percent, Richard Pombo (R) 47 percent
Arizona's 8th: Gabrielle Giffords (D) 54 percent, Randy Graf (R) 42 percent
Colorado's 7th: Ed Perlmutter (D) 55 percent, Rick O'Donnell (R) 42 percent
That's just races that are already decided. Here in New Mexico, we're still waiting on the Madrid-Wilson dead heat, among others across the nation.
But let's not forget what also happened last night:
Democrats made solid gains in governorships across the country, taking Republican posts in Colorado, Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio and retaining every seat they held in 14 states...
Who was the chair of the Democratic Governors Association? Oh that's right: Mr. 68%, Governor Bill Richardson:
Richardson was clobbering challenger John Dendahl with nearly all of the votes counted. He was leading with 68 percent, well on his way to passing the mark of 60.2 percent of the vote posted by Democrat Jack Campbell in 1964. This gives him a place in history as New Mexico's winningest governor.
What a day, what a year. I'm excited for the future of our party and our country. As Madam Speaker Pelosi said last night:
"From sea to shining sea, the American people voted for change," declared Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the hard-charging California Democrat in line to become the nation's first female House speaker."Today we have made history," she said, "now let us make progress."
Here, here.
Landon Mascareñaz | November 8, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Cutting Taxes for the Right New Mexicans
Joaquin over at The Plaza (Bill Richardson's campaign blog) showcases some new economic incentives the Governor is proposing. The main focus is tax cuts for working families, veterans and people that invest in New Mexico. Some highlights (I used ellipsis to designate snipping, check the post to read the whole package):
WORKING FAMILIES Working Families Tax Credit - the centerpiece of the Governor's tax-cut package, which is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. This tax credit will reward work, and help working families--who earn between $11,000 and $36,000. As many as 139,000 taxpayers will benefit by an average of $180 per return...MILITARY AND MILITARY RETIREES...
Tax Cuts for active-duty military - exempting military pay from state income taxes, which means an average of $1,340 in tax benefit to 7,000 New Mexicans...BUSINESS-ECONOMY...
Gross Receipts Tax Deduction for Hospitals - Most of the hospitals affected operate in small, rural areas and on the front lines when it comes to caring for those most in need. This tax cut will allow more money that can be invested in local jobs, technology and direct patient care.Gross Receipts Tax Relief for Mutual Funds - an incentive for investment management firms to bring well-paying financial services jobs to New Mexico.
Angel Investment Credit - an incentive for New Mexicans who invest in high-tech, start-up companies.
Now I know that tax cuts aren't the natural red meat for Democrats around the country. But isn't that the point? In Chain Reaction: The impact of Race, Rights, and Taxes on American Politics (Norton, 1991), the authors argue that
The tax revolt was a major turning point in American politics. It provided new muscle and new logic to the formation of a conservative coalition opposed to the liberal welfare state. The division of the electorate along lines of taxpayes versus tax recipients dovetailed with racial divisions...The tax revolt provided conservatism with a powerful internal coherance, shaping an anti-government ethic, and firmly establishing new grounds for the disaffection of white working- and middle-class voters from their traditional Democratic roots.
It is wonderful to see Democratic politicians such as Richardson using the language of taxation to advance a progressive and electorally successful agenda. Since working families have a higher marginal propensity to consume, the state of New Mexico will even see greater rewards from this system. Too often in national or local politics, conservative Republicans use the language of the tax revolt to mobilize white working or middle class, decades after the true revolt occurred. That is because the language is power (your money, your freedom) and Democrats have often neglected to speak the language effectively.
I look forward to the day where national Democratic politicians challenge the GOP along these lines in a highly publicized way and ask them to come out against tax cuts for working families and veterans while supporting those for millionaires.
Landon Mascareñaz | October 18, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
2006 is the year folks.
Great opportunities like this don't come along very often. We live in a time of great moment.
John Stuart Mill, my favorite philosopher-political theorist, once said:
In politics, again, it is almost a commonplace, that a party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.
But we could also add that when a political party becomes so irresponsible, so maligned and corrupt, so blurred by extremists, one party must stand above it all to represent all the people. Because if they don't, the consequences could be disastrous.
"The Democratic Party has become the liberal and conservative party in America. If you want to be fiscally conservative, you've got to be for us. If you want to conserve natural resources, you've got to be for us," he said. "If you want a change of course in Iraq ... you've got to be for us."
I don't long for a day where Democrats occupy every governor's mansion, every state house or are erected in a permanent congressional majority. Honestly, I don't. That's how parties get complacent, that's how they get corrupt and that's how they fail. We saw it with the Democratic Party in the early nineties and now we're seeing it with the GOP in 2006.
The fall of the GOP in 2006 presents a very unique opportunity for the Democratic Party. If we strike while the iron is hot, in this time of great moment, we could recapture the national debate toward a reasonable and responsible tone. The Vital Center needs to be reclaimed - and I believe we represent the only hope currently.
We can create a new progressive center that truly represents a majority of Americans: liberal, conservative, green, libertarian, religious, secular, male, female and all races or ethnicities. I welcome all Republicans to represent the true principles of their party - conservation of government, money and respect for individual liberties.
That's what true leaders do - they lead for all people, not just for their extreme supporters.
We need to win in 2006 to set the stage for the next stage, the next moment, the next triumph. If we are once more relegated to electoral minority, then we can't trumpet our causes with a Congressional bullhorn like the right has been doing for 12 years.
Let's win in 2006, look back at the past, learn from our mistakes and then work toward to a better tomorrow. If we succeed, America could be renewed once more. If we fail, then I expect more bitter partisan nonsense for the foreseeable future.
VOTE DEM IN 06
Landon Mascareñaz | October 13, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Salazar blasts Bush policies
I love saying blast. Here's the skinny:
Sen. Ken Salazar said today President George W. Bush's efforts to legalize trying terror suspects before military tribunals would be a violation of the Geneva Conventions.The international law was ratified in 1949 to protect prisoners of war from abuse and torture.
"It's been the world standard for more than 50 years and for the president to undermine that standard is taking a step back," said Salazar, D-Colorado, at a Denver press conference.
Glad to see Salazar standing up for international treaties and norms. I just can't believe we have senators in this country which take a different view. Salazar is well positioned to be a national leader for decades because of his background and moderate stances on hot button issues. But some things don't fit into the left-moderate-right paradigm and one of those things should be support for the Geneva Conventions.
Take it home Ken:
"What happens when any of our soldiers become a prisoner of war?" Salazar asked. "The moral high ground is we don't accept torture.""The Geneva Conventions abhors torture and we need to send a strong warning to the administration that it needs to change course," Salazar said.
It says a lot about this president that his main issue of concern right now is how to torture people and that he errs on the side of more torture.
Landon Mascareñaz | September 16, 2006 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
Considering 9/11
I never knew anyone who perished on 9/11 but I miss them terribly.
I realized when I woke up this morning that we now stand on the eve of the 5-year anniversary of 9/11. I don't think it really hit me until I saw this picture on the front page of the Denver Post..
I was a week and a half into college when this happened. I remember it clearly. I'm sure everyone has that moment etched into the caverns of their consciousness.
It has colored every single political rumination or discussion I've had since. It is the basis for our 21st century world in this country and in many places around the globe. It's hard to imagine what the world would be like if it didn't happen.
Not based on party, not based on location or ideology - let's just take a second to remember the event for the tragedy it was. It's so easy to politicize the past or use it's darkened lense to color our future perspective.
In the end 9/11 was a horrible atrocity that will be probably remembered until the end of recorded history.
I hope for a future that can see this event for what it truly was and remember those who died with sober recollection instead of partisan bickering about the past.
I believe that future can exist.
I hope all political and social leaders take tomorrow as an opportunity to move toward a better future instead of fighting over who deserves blame or credit. That is a conversation for 9/12, not 9/11.
Landon Mascareñaz | September 10, 2006 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
Asking Congress to get something done
From the Albuquerque Tribune:
AUSTIN - Accusing Congress of abdicating its responsibility to control immigration and secure the U.S.-Mexico border, Gov. Bill Richardson and three other border-state governors have signed a letter urging federal lawmakers to pass comprehensive immigration reform before the end of the year.Richardson, fellow Democrat Janet Napolitano of Arizona, and Republicans Rick Perry of Texas and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed the letter Friday at the close of the two-day Border Governors Conference.
They joined the governors of six Mexican states in signing a joint declaration on issues ranging from tourism and trade to education and border security. They pledged to share information about human, drug and arms trafficking, and to work together to prevent agricultural terrorism and ensure high food safety standards.
In their letter to House and Senate leaders, the governors said: "We urge you to get back to work and pass legislation that puts the interest of taxpayers first and solves this crisis once and for all."
It is interesting how you can get all the border state governors to agree on the framework, along with governors from another country and you can't get elected representatives in Congress to do anything except grandstand and play to special interests.
The chances of anything getting done regarding this issue are next to none before the 2006 election. The GOP will play up the open border as an issue but their credibility on this issue is severely hampered by the fact that even though they controlled both houses and the presidency, they achieved next to nothing for the American people.
Western Governors and politicians may find themselves frustrated by the lack of true concern from D.C. regarding this issue but their recourse is limited. Most national Republicans cater to the elements of nativism or fear and comprehensive solutions are a direct assuault on the ideology of the far right.
I suggest a very simple solution:
VOTE DEM IN 06.
Landon Mascareñaz | August 28, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
Republicans for Ritter
From the Rocky Mountain News:
Last week, dozens of Republican business executives met with Ritter at a breakfast in Denver to discuss economic development. Republican businessman Blair Richardson, former finance chairman for Mark Holtzman's campaign for governor, hosted the breakfast."There were 100 people there, and 75 percent of them were Republicans," Richardson said. "Ritter was very strong. He said he'd create an economic czar and put that person in the governor's office. He gave Bill Richardson of New Mexico as an example of a governor who is always marketing that state."
Richardson said Ritter "won a lot of converts" at the meeting. He has endorsed Ritter himself and now plans to host a series of breakfast meetings to introduce him to other Republicans.
Unlike some Democrats, I'm not turned off by the other side finding our candidate attractive. I think it would worry me if Ritter was bending over backwards to compromise principles in the method of corporate appeasment - but most of this transition has to do with Measure C:
"There's growing discontent in the business community about the position of many Republicans on Referendum C and finding the resources necessary to fund state services," Scott said.That discontent has been a boon to Democrat Bill Ritter in his race for governor against U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez. Ritter endorsed Ref C, while Beauprez opposed it. Ref C was approved by voters last fall and allowed the state to keep billions in tax revenue that otherwise would have been returned to taxpayers.
Colorado business organizations played a key role in the passage of Ref C, fearing that huge cuts in higher education and transportation funding would harm the state's economy. Scott says many executives share Ritter's fear that Colorado is falling behind other states in funding its universities and roads.
If that is what makes Ritter appealing to Republicans, then sign me up. He currently holds a 10 point lead over Both Ways Bob. With this kind of momentum, Ritter will be the next governor of Colorado.
Regional/Ideological Ramifications
Something I yammer on here quite a bit is the ability for Western Democrats to bring both sides to the table. I'm glad to see Ritter bridging the gap in ever-blue trending Colorado. The inability of the state Republican party to build consensus on issues of education and infrastructure development has driven many former Republicans from the party:
"I said, 'That's it, I'm done,'" Kaufman said. "The people who run the Republican Party today don't care about business. What this party is about now is God, guns, gays and abortion. They don't care about education, health care or transportation. They think cutting taxes solves all problems."
In many ways, the futhering of this process in Colorado also stands as a bellweather for the rest of the Rocky Mountain West. With Democrats across the mountain west inheriting or inhabiting the governor's mansions (AZ, NM, CO, WY, MT and more around the corner) the Western Democrat is clearly in the ascendency.
Arthur Schlesinger described the period of post-WWII consensus in our country as "The Vital Center" - is it possible we are seeing a return to the Vital Center out in the West? If we are to establish a new era in policy, with Western Dems leading the way, then it could be possible to have a fundemental re-orientation of issues and politics.
Landon Mascareñaz | August 21, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
"A New Realism"
From the AP:
SANTA FE, N.M. - America needs a "new realism" in its foreign policy and a concerted push for energy independence to safeguard national security, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former U.N. ambassador, said Saturday.
Richardson pointed to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants, escalating violence in Iraq , the stalemate with North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs and rising oil prices as evidence that "the world around us in on the verge of spiraling out of control."
As a student of international relations I appreciate the effort by the Governor to articulate a new strategy to world affairs. For too long have I felt the left was totally incoherant in foreign policy while the right has been totally wrong. Ken Camp posted on this recently, but I thought it would be important to delve farther into the new rhetorical construction offered by Governor Richardson.
For too long the right's mantra has been: "Well, let's just try to beat them to death, torture them (and let the pictures out on Arab media) and botch the reconstruction while fighting proxy wars with regional powers. Did I mention we have to cut taxes and tell homosexuals that they can't adopt children?"
This is an outdated and ineffective way to construct a global security policy. Democrats have routinely called for "strenghthening our alliances" and fail to match the rhetoric of freedom and democracy. What Richardson is talking about with a New Realism is engaging those problems which prevent a peaceful global order from establishing while understanding the need to promote progressive change.
Bill Richardson, himself a student of international relations, understands that the effects of these issues rely on fixing some serious problems with our domestic and regional policy:
He called for direct U.S. talks with North Korea and Iran , objecting that the Bush approach has been to "outsource our diplomacy."...
On the domestic front, Richardson said, "We need a man-on-the-moon effort to reduce our dependency on foreign oil — go from 65 percent to 20 percent by 2015."
He urged Congress to approve immigration legislation that included "a path to legalization for the 11 million immigrants already here."
While this has been the de facto Democratic playbook for awhile now (Kerry kept saying "Energy Independence" but I'm still not sure what he meant) Richardson is articulating a direct contrast with the failed Bush policy.
Also, as a Western Democrat, Bill Richardson provides credibility on two Western issues that have global importance.
Energy Indepedence is a neccessary component take make America a stronger international actor. Richardson, a former Secretary of Energy who has taken the lead in solar production in New Mexico understands this issue and sets a very realistic and credible goal - cutting our foreign oil consumption by two-thirds.
Richardson also points out that regional balance is important by saying we need a path for legalizing immigrants already here. These immigrants come from across the western hemisphere looking for a better life and the fact that we have little policy in place to deal with it causes consternation with our natural allies south of the border. Western governors understand this and know this is another area where our domestic policy intersects directly with foreign policy.
While I've never been a IR realist myself (in the strict IR sense I feel it overassumes the static nature of the state and it's actors) I understand the realist structure of the system. American power is a good thing, and we as Democrats should not shy away from saying that. American power used in a good and meaningful fashion can bring more good in this world than any other power up until now. Richardson has played the diplomatic game before and clearly understands that power is necessary (hence, his preference for realism) but he also understands the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of world affairs (therefore, new realism).
What is next for Richardson is to articulate how his "New Realism" applies to his former base of operations - the United Nations.
As a Western Democrat, Richardson knows the value of working with others to achieve plausible and positive goals. As a former Ambassador to the United Nations, he knows how American power works in the necessary yet flawed world body. I'd like to see Richardson articulate some Western common-sense reforms that don't denigrate the United Nations (ahem...Bolton)but rather respect it's value and prospects for the future.
I hope to see a greater fleshing out of the "New Realism." The Nevada caucuses would make an excellent start...
Landon Mascareñaz | August 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
"His first veto will be a veto that will dash the hopes of tens of millions of Americans"
It is already common knowledge among most parts by this time of the day, that Bush cast his first veto in 5 1/2 years as president today against stem cell legislation.
While this debate has national implications, it is worthwhile noting that the true leader in this debate has been U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (CO-1) - a real Western Democrat.
"This is not just some wedge issue like flag burning. This is medical research that could save millions of lives," she (DeGette) said. (Rocky Mountain News)
Sometimes I feel that we rarely highlight women who exemplify the Western Democrat mindset.
Plainly said, women are not represented in the "talk straight, wear cowboy boots" club nearly as often as they should. But there is a different kind of Western Democrat, still as powerful as the straight-laced, straight-talking Governor or Attorney General: a Western Democrat who gets things done by bringing people together.
A Western Democrat is someone who bridges party-lines and brings sides together to provide common good solution for his/her constituents, state residents or the nation as a whole.
Representative Diana DeGette is a true Western Democrat in this sense. Her stem cell legislation was a work of passion and dedication. In a recent article in the Rocky Mountain News, Diana was highlighted in direct contrast with Marylin Musgrave, that hate-monger from northern Colorado:
Both Colorado congresswomen are watching their issues land on the national agenda right in the middle of a hotly contested, mid-term election season.DeGette, who has formed a political action committee to push for candidates who share her belief in embryonic stem-cell research, believes there is wide, public support for expanding research into deadly conditions like diabetes, spinal cord injuries and others.
She predicts the issue could sway some congressional districts around the country. In Colorado's 7th District, Democratic hopeful Ed Perlmutter already is running television ads (featuring his epileptic daughter) and touting his support for expanded research.
But the stem cell issue also riles opponents of abortion who equate experimentation on embryos as the destruction of human life. That means it also could motivate those voters to turn out in greater numbers.
Musgrave's proposed marriage amendment could have a similar effect, and it's certain to be used in drives to draw religious conservatives to the polls, as it was used to great effect in 2004.
The contrast could not be clearer. DeGette is championing an issue that has wide bipartisan support and could help save the lives of millions of Americans (Bush vetoes it). Musgrave is pushing forward with a hateful agenda that does nothing to help the lives of Americans, but restricts the rights of minorities and pleases his base (Bush supports it).
DeGette had some strong words for Bush and also shed some light on her internal motivation:
"I guess what the president is saying is he thinks it would be better to throw these embryos away as medical waste."She has been inspired in her drive for the legislation by her 12-year-old daughter, Francesca, who has Type 1 diabetes.
The Western Democrat goes beyond the boots or the jeans and works towards a greater politics of inclusion and competance. We need more Western Democrats like DeGette in Congress who have passion for their work and the natural ability to bring people together.
P.S. - Just for kicks, check out DeGette on Colbert. Don't let the creative cutting and splicing fool you, she is a smart lady with a legislative talent to match.
Landon Mascareñaz | July 19, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
50 State Strategy and Wyoming
If WyomingBlueDog doesn't comment on this post, I'll take as a personal insult.
A good example of how the DNC's 50 State Strategy meshes with the Western Democratic Strategy (from Roll Call). The article is subscription only, but here are the good parts about the West:
In 2004, Mike Gierau and other Wyoming Democratic leaders wanted to boost the Kerry-Edwards ticket's local profile by securing some bumper stickers. But helping local Democrats in a state that the ticket was certain to lose in a landslide was not exactly the first priority of either the national party or the presidential campaign. So Gierau, now the state party chairman, was reduced to ordering the items from an online store.What a difference two years - and a new Democratic National Committee chairman, Howard Dean - can make.
As part of Dean's strategy to build up the Democratic Party infrastructure in all 50 states, the DNC has committed $120,000 to Wyoming over two years - enough to hire a field director and a communications director, rather than just an executive director, as in the past.
The DNC also donated $5,000 to jump-start the party's grass-roots organization, said party executive director Kyle DeBeer. The party plans to have teams of 25 volunteers deployed in 57 key precincts on Election Day.
"I don't see that as too much money to create a presence and rattle the boat and win some more seats" in the Republican-dominated Legislature, said Democratic state Rep. Pete Jorgensen, who also serves as a Democratic national committeeman. Jorgensen argued that House challenger Gary Trauner might be able to knock off Rep. Barbara Cubin (R) this fall and that Democrats may be able to defeat some of the weaker Republican legislators. If so, he said, "that would be money well spent."
The idea behind Dean's 50-state strategy is to rebuild the Democratic Party, even in long-forsaken areas, from the ground up. Fundamentally, it is a long-term plan for Democratic revival.
...
If the Dean strategy is unpopular in the District, it's being received with excitement by Democrats here and in such neighboring states as Idaho and Montana . At long last, they say, the national Democratic Party is recognizing that red-state Democrats exist - and that gains can be made in a region where the party slowly is improving its position after being routed in election after election during the 1990s.
In 2004 and 2002, for instance, Democrats Brian Schweitzer and Dave Freudenthal won the governorships of Montana and Wyoming , respectively, and the party won control of the Montana House and Senate two years ago. This year, Sen Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) is in a fight for his political life, and Democratic House candidates have at least outside chances of flipping Republican seats in Idaho and Wyoming.
To many party insiders, such developments suggest that the Mountain West could be one of the most important growth areas for Democrats in the coming years.
This is how Western Democrats and the DNC's 50 State Strategy mesh. If we just look at recent election results and see that big sea of Red between Chicago and California, we'd be convinced that it doesn't get any redder than the Interior West. If we were smart, we'd forget about those folks and hedge our bets in places where our kind fits. But, forgetting about the rest of the country, especially a place so ripe for Democratic types, is backwards.
The 50 State Strategy lets local political folks call their own shots and develop an even deeper cadre of guys like Schweitzer and Frudenthal who can win in the West. They aren't going to be Democrats like the ones they have back East, but they are going to be Democrats that win. And, the DNC is now giving the state party the resources to do the job their way.
Emmett O'Connell | July 18, 2006 | Comment on This Post (7 so far) |
Richardson in Seattle
Cross posted at America for Richardson
This afternoon in Seattle Gov. Bill Richardson met with a dozen or so Washington State bloggers. Richardson was in Washington to encourage Hispanic voters to participate, and to stump for Maria Cantwell and Tomas Villanueva, a legislative candidate in eastern Washington.
I know I’ve supported Richardson for awhile now, but I have to say I was impressed. Really. I’m not just saying that because I want this meeting to sound like it went off well, it went a lot better than I was expecting.
I’d heard a lot about Richardson’s open door office days, when anyone can come by and talk, and about his town hall meetings, when anyone
I feel like we got a small taste of that today. Even when he disagreed with someone, he listened and didn’t’ try to run them over with rhetoric. And, in one case, he came back to them at the end and thanked them.
Twice Richardson’s staff tried to get him to cut the meeting off and he rebuffed them. When Ken tried to help the staff out a bit, Richardson let him know that he was going to continue talking.
If Andrea is right, Richardson likes bloggers, I think she’s really right.
The discussion was very broad, ranging from nuclear energy in eastern Washington to the chances the for the Democratic party to take back state houses across the country.
Two things stuck out for me. One, even though I’m loath to discuss Iraq usually, Richardson laid out a broad and well thought out plan. Admittedly vague, but I thought unique. First, negotiate with the three ethnic groups with an upfront and clear goal for American troops to be pulled out. And, include other regional players, such as Iran. For good or for not, they have an influence on what is going on, and we can’t help who the players are.
After you have the settlement there, invite all parties (including the Europeans who didn’t join us originally) to a broad Middle East peace conference. “You talk to adversaries. If you negotiate, you get things done, show respect to your enemies, let them save face.”
The other, was on immigration. Richardson laid out a three point strategy, that included boarder security (focused on law enforcement to stem violence and drug trafficking), offering a pathway to citizenship, encouraging Mexico to do what it can to provide opportunities for its citizens so they don’t emigrate, and
A lot of other stuff is worth writing about from the meeting, and I’ll probably end up posting on each topic individually. But, I’ve also posted my raw, misspelled notes here for your reading enjoyment and deciphering.
Emmett O'Connell | July 16, 2006 | Comment on This Post (6 so far) |
Hispanics, Health Care and Winning the West
Can we have a serious debate about Health Care in our country? If you had followed the 2004 election - you'd probably think not. But things are changing...
As health care becomes a larger and larger issue for most Americans, we are likely to see the dimensions of the health care debate take on a greater electoral value. According to the Albuquerque Tribune:
The survey of 800 registered Latino voters in states, including California, with the highest density of Latinos showed a striking level of concern over access to quality, affordable health care...Access to health services is seen by 91 percent of Latino voters as a basic human right; 87 percent believe that the government should guarantee that right...
Significantly, with control of Congress at stake this fall, a substantial majority of Latino voters - 62 percent - say they would be more likely to support a candidate for Congress who supported universal health care coverage even if it meant having to raise taxes to pay for it.
This has major implications for the Western United States. Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada all have large hispanic populations and are some of the fastest growing states in the country.
Western Democrats should champion health care and win, win, win.
There is some sort of bizarre notion universal health care is some rich, white liberal obsession that comes out only in the Democratic presidential primaries and then should vanish as a true issue around when the general election comes around. Consultants be damned - Democrats, especially Western Democrats need to lead on this issue. What a study like this shows is that this issue has an ability to unite various groups into the Democratic column during election season and beyond.
Mitt Romney has won praises from the pundit class from his health care victory-of-sorts in Massachussetts. There are various aspects to be critical of his plan, but he did it, plain and simple. The last thing we would want in the entire world would be to get pre-empted in the health care debate instead of walking into the next election with a full-throated support for universal health care (maybe state based?) and supporting it a basic right.
George Lakoff argues in Moral Politics that some issues are cascade issues because they accomplish a policy task with a simple aim and then proceed to affect other outcomes (hence the cascade). Health care is a simple cascade issue. With an American universal health care system, we can cover everyone and create a society of greater health. Furthermore, it has positive implications down the ballot line for other candidates that offer full support toward coverage among a fast growing democraphic group. Also, it increases the electoral possibilities for victories in crucial swing states based on that fast growing demographic. It also could possibly thwart the efforts of conservatives to successfully woo Hispanics into their fold.
I'll be watching and waiting for a Western governor to take on the health care issue full-on and play the presidential foil to Romney's own ambition. C'mon Sweitzer, Richardson, Kitzhaber, Napolitano...the West, the Democratic Party and dare I say the Nation are waiting.
Landon Mascareñaz | July 14, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
2008 DNC Convention Poll
Kos has a poll up regarding the four finalists for the 2008 DNC convention. Get on over there and give Denver your vote. It's the only Western city. And if you have to vote for another city, New Orleans would be a good choice.
kencamp | May 25, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
50 State Strategy, Dean, Begala, Utah and the West
Wayne Holland Jr. on Paul Begala:
Mr. Begala:"What he has spent it on, apparently, is just hiring a bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose." -- Dem strategist Paul Begala on DNC Chair Howard Dean's spending, CNN, 5/11
This statement hitting on the eve of our convention, where we are about to nominate Congressman Jim Matheson for re-election, is not helpful. And, the "pick their nose" comment is hurtful to Democrats
who are truly on the frontline. An apology to my hardworking staff is in order.By leaving the GOP unopposed in places like Utah, it frees them up to concentrate on making inroads in marginal districts. Congressmen in tough places deserve support, too. Jim Matheson, Stephanie Herseth
(keynote speaker at tonight's pre-convention dinner) and even a potential pick-up like Gary Trauner in Wyoming deserve the support they are getting from the DNC."Win for today" as a long-term strategy has left many areas of the country without a healthy dialogue. The April 29 canvass where we put the DNC message on 15,000 registered Democrats doorsteps was a first for Utahns. They have never heard from the DNC. When Clinton was in the White House, he never made a public address to the people of Utah.
Democrats have become outsiders who do things to us, not insiders who do things for us. The 50 state strategy is one way to turn it around.
Even in Utah, there are thoughtful Democrats elected to office like Congressman Matheson, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The DNC's investment here will make sure that they retain their seats. I expect it will help Mayor Corroon get a majority of Democrats to support his policies on the Salt Lake County Council. That will show Utahns for the first time in a decade
that we have the ability to govern.I wish I had more time today to be thoughtful. But this fight is disheartening, and not productive. Chairman Dean is not going to change what he has started. Too many DNC members appreciate it. (And,
they are Dean's electorate.) I encourage you and Congressman Rahm Emmanuel to move on, and find a way to make it work for the DCCC.Wayne Holland, Jr.
Chair
Utah Democratic Party
Emmett O'Connell | May 16, 2006 | Comment on This Post (14 so far) |
I wonder what Freudenthal thinks of Dean now?
Last year during a visit by some DNC officials in Wyoming, Gov. Dave Freudenthal pointed out that he didn't really have much love for that back-East liberal Howard Dean.
Now Dean is fighting off the DC Dems, protecting the 50-State Strategy that is pumping money into states like Wyoming. Does that Dean wants to spend more money into so-called "red states" like Wyoming, than the DSCC and DCCC, matter to Gov. Dave?
Especially now that the Wyoming House seat is in play?
The one interesting statewide race is the battle for Wyoming's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Wyoming is one of seven sparsely-populated states which send only a single congressman to that chamber. Since 1942, with one exception, the state's Member-at-Large has been a Republican.But Representative Barbara Cubin, first elected in 1994, now leads Democratic challenger Gary Trauner by only four percentage points, 47% to 43% and the GOP can hardly take her reelection for granted. This becomes one more contest to which the GOP may have to devote resources during an election year in which the party is proving especially vulnerable.
Who is more willing to send money to Wyoming?
Emmett O'Connell | May 14, 2006 | Comment on This Post (13 so far) |
Denver 2008
Wouldn't it be great to see our next Democratic presidential nominee (oh, I don't know, maybe Bill Richardson?) speaking at the national convention in Denver. National pundits talking about the fresh mountain air wafting from the Democrats, the wide open spaces before them... the toughness shown by delegates...
This morning, an historic group of Colorado’s business, civic, and political leaders gathered in downtown Denver at the Hyatt hotel to kick off our efforts to bring the Democratic National Convention to Denver.Steve Farber, who co-chairs the bid / host committee, began by discussing the challenges that lay before us while welcoming everybody to the breakfast. Chris Gates then discussed the timeline for the bid process, and some of the upcoming activities that have been planned.
Emmett O'Connell | February 25, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
Western Democrats...
We haven't had a true "Big Strategy" post here in a while, but the chair of the Bannock County Democrats wrote one hell of a piece for the Idaho Journal. He starts out that while a lot of Idaho Republicans somehow had a problem with Harry Reid crossing the boarder into Idaho, they couldn't argue him on facts, they could just call names.
Read on (from 43rd State Blues):
Like Senator Reid, they could say things with which you disagreed, but you knew these Western Democrats shared your values. You knew they stood for something and were in your corner fighting for you and your family.Democrats from the West have the same values today. They believe citizens have to take responsibility for their own futures and for making their communities better. They believe government should provide opportunities and tools for citizens to improve their lives. That is why Western Democrats support making higher education more affordable, raising the minimum wage and providing funding to improve the quality of education.
Western Democrats understand government must be responsive to the will of the people. That is why Democrats in the state legislature are working with moderate Republicans to provide property tax relief. Governor Kempthorne, unfortunately, is passing up the opportunity to lead on this issue. If you want the people to trust you with their vote, you cannot treat their problems as a smorgasbord where you pick and choose the issues with which you are comfortable. You take everything on the table.
Western Democrats also believe government has an obligation to promote equal opportunity for all while granting special privileges to none. Government cannot be effective if the people do not have faith in its integrity and fairness. That is why Senator Malepaeai and Senator Marley stood firm against corruption when Senator Jack Noble of Kuna violated the state senate’s ethics rules last year. He resigned shortly thereafter.
Don’t let the Republican leadership’s cackling alarm you. Western Democrats are not the enemy. They are ready to lead Idaho and the nation into a bright future.
Emmett O'Connell | January 31, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Harry Reid, he is the boxer
He knows when and where to strike:
"Mitchell was a judge who was extremely courtly and Daschle had this boyish charm, and Reid has this down-to-earth Western style," Baker said. "But all of them are hard as nails."Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, said Reid shrewdly picked his spots in opposing the Bush administration.
"On Social Security, he let the president take his case to the American people, and it failed," Herzik said.
Herzik also alluded to President Bush's failed nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. "Reid even suggested her to Bush," Herzik said. "So he didn't spend any political capital on Social Security or Miers."
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a good article on boxer Reid's first year as Minority Leader. Not bad for a Western Democrat.
Includes some dumb moves by Republicans:
In the Senate, Republican leaders began the year citing the defeat of Reid's predecessor, Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, as a warning to Democrats not to interfere with the president's agenda.In February, Republicans released a 13-page research document labeling Reid an obstructionist.
"That was a mistake," said a Republican staffer in the Senate who requested anonymity. "Whatever problems Reid might have had in unifying the Democratic caucus ended after that."
And, tons of other good stuff. Read the rest of it.
Emmett O'Connell | December 18, 2005 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
Harry, Givin 'Em Hell
Let’s take a look back at how we got here with respect to Iraq Mr. President. The record will show that within hours of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, senior officials in this Administration recognized these attacks could be used as a pretext to invade Iraq.The record will also show that in the months and years after 9/11, the Administration engaged in a pattern of manipulation of the facts and retribution against anyone who got in its way as it made the case for attacking Iraq.
There are numerous examples of how the Administration misstated and manipulated the facts as it made the case for war. Administration statements on Saddam’s alleged nuclear weapons capabilities and ties with Al Qaeda represent the best examples of how it consistently and repeatedly manipulated the facts.
Do we need to remind anyone that this was the guy that tons of people didn't want as Senate leader:
The campaign against Reid is an example of what was wrong with the campaign of lowered expectations, run from our base of the Kerry campaign. That Reid had just won a dominate victory in a state carried by Bush and won't have to run again until 2010 was lost on most. The most damning thing they could say was that he was inarticulate, wasn't liberal enough, and came from a red state. Nevada would only be a red state in comparison to the liberal northeast.
Now Reid's showing you what kind of man it takes to choke a guy who tried to have him killed.
More Western takes on Reid leadership:
Vote Gibbons Out: Reid Finally Attacking Gibbons' Failed Intelligence Oversight
Las Vegas Gleaner: Harry Reid was a very good boy Tuesday
DemNotes: DC Erupts as Dems Stand For Truth
Emmett O'Connell | November 1, 2005 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) |
Notes on a couple of Western House seats
Las Vegas Gleaner has some thoughts on the DCCC entering the fray on the NV-2, what some think as an un-winnable Red district, currently held by "Bad Commie" Jim Gibbons:
The national Democratic party may be taking Nevada's second congressional district seriously, after all.Jill Derby, the university regent who is running for the House in NV CD2, is one of three national candidates for open seats featured at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's web site, and Derby is touting DCCC chair Rahm Emanuel's encouragement in a fundraising letter sent out this week.
In the letter, Derby says Emanuel called her in January asking her to run for the seat, which is being vacated by some guy named Jim Gibbons who thinks he's gubernatorial material but isn't.
Nevada CD2 "is exactly the kind of seat we need to win in order to take back the House in 2006 and restore balance in Congress. It's an open seat, in a district that is trending Democratic, with an August Republican primary, and no primary on our side," Derby's letter says.
...But for the DSCC, which pretty much exists to prioritize and funnel money to competitive races, to begin featuring Derby is one of the things that absolutely had to happen if she's going to have any chance at all.
Jay Fawcett (CO-5) also had his kick-off today (from Demnotes):
Mike Miles introduced Fawcett to the group -- and the Fifth CD -- with the simple phrase: "We need a change." He told folks that "We have a man who can bring that change to Congressional District Five."Miles described Fawcett's history, including his military record (and his Bronze Star). Here's a couple more excerpts from Mike's introduction of Jay:
"If you spend some time with Jay, as I have, you'll find a man that is intelligent and 'top notch'."
..."The Movie 'Cinderella Man' was about a boxer who knew the odds were against him, but also knew what he was fighting for. Jay Fawcett is like that -- our own 'Cinderella Man.'"
Emmett O'Connell | September 27, 2005 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Bring ActBlue West
ActBlue, one of the best ideas since there have been good ideas, is expanding down to statewide and state legislative races. The only thing they need is help navigating through 50 different campaign finance systems. They've already figured out Virginia, and good for them for not picking a Big Blue East state first.
But, it would be safe to assume that their next obvious choice would be something like New York or Massachusetts, unless we convince them otherwise. The West needs ActBlue more than any other region. ActBlue has already helped insurgent candidates (Paul Hackett) and there isn't a region were insurgents can do more in a short period of time than in the West.
From their post on MyDD:
The PlanWe're starting to navigate the campaign finance landscape in each state, and we've got a fantastic group of volunteers helping us gather information on candidates across the country. (We could always use more, by the way — check out our directory of state candidates and let us know who we're missing.)
The most challenging part is the legal side of getting our fundraising operations going -- the staff time and lawyers, Lawyers, LAWYERS, LAWYERS required to do this right are going to cost on average $10,000 per state, at least for the first set of states we take on.
So we're asking: can you help make it happen?
We're going to take an approach just like Howard Dean's 50-state strategy: with the help of this discussion we'll choose a small set of states to start with. If the fundraising there goes well, we'll add more!
Please chime in below with your thoughts on priority states, and thanks for all you do to make the Democratic difference.
I'd be remiss not to mention this: just like we have a directory of candidates, we also have a directory of our fundraising drives for all the states. So if you're hankering to support a state RIGHT NOW, you can do so here.
Swing State Project: ActBlue Expanding to State Races
Washblog: Help bring ActBlue to Washington State
Emmett O'Connell | September 22, 2005 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Some Western Straight Talk from Gary Hart
Gary Hart has some strong advice on Iraq for the various putative presidential candidates on the hustings.
To stay silent during such a crisis, and particularly to harbor the thought that the administration's misfortune is the Democrats' fortune, is cowardly. In 2008 I want a leader who is willing now to say: "I made a mistake, and for my mistake I am going to Iraq and accompanying the next planeload of flag-draped coffins back to Dover Air Force Base. And I am going to ask forgiveness for my mistake from every parent who will talk to me."Further, this leader should say: "I am now going to give a series of speeches across the country documenting how the administration did not tell the American people the truth, why this war is making our country more vulnerable and less secure, how we can drive a wedge between Iraqi insurgents and outside jihadists and leave Iraq for the Iraqis to govern, how we can repair the damage done to our military, what we and our allies can do to dry up the jihadists' swamp, and what dramatic steps we must take to become energy-secure and prevent Gulf Wars III, IV and so on." ...
Who now has the courage to say this?
See - it's us Westerners (like Colorado's Gary Hart) that can bring the straight talk.
Kari Chisholm | August 25, 2005 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |