According to KERRY what we do in the next few hours decides Nov elections

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Nothing would do more to change Washington and change the direction of our country than the election of a Democratic majority in the Senate. We can get halfway there if we help elect three new Democratic Senators in Tennessee, Ohio and Minnesota. But we can't do it without your help!

Act before the deadline tonight.https://contribute.keepingamericaspromise.com/s5c.html?sc=7106

Reject Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's failed leadership by replacing him with Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee. Tell Mike DeWine that Ohio deserves better than a Bush rubber stamp, and help Sherrod Brown defeat this Republican incumbent. Tell Mark Kennedy in Minnesota that voting with Bush 97% of the time is wrong, and give Amy Klobuchar the resources she needs to keep Minnesota Democratic.

Harold Ford, Sherrod Brown, and Amy Klobuchar need your immediate support. Already this week, we've raised tens of thousands of dollars for these candidates. Now, we need to finish strong, right up to the midnight deadline tonight.

Act before the deadline tonight.https://contribute.keepingamericaspromise.com/s5c.html?sc=7106

Believe me, the Republicans are using these next 12 hours to shore up their candidates and to raise funds to launch cynical, negative Swift Boat-style attacks designed to distract voters from Republican incompetence, corruption, and disarray - take my word for it, I've seen this movie before.

With falling poll numbers and the mess in Washington getting dirtier each day, we know what's going to happen -- things are going to get ugly early. We've got to let our candidates know that we will never let them face those kinds of attacks alone and that together we can change the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Strong candidates supported by determined grassroots support. That's the formula for victory in 2006. Let's set three stunning Senate victories in motion right now.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

P.S. Please help us spread the word in these last critical 12 hours. Pass this email on to five friends and encourage them to support these great new Democrats as well. Together we can take this important step toward winning back the Senate.

[Avalux]

1. Hey John, how about supporting Feingold?

Sorry, had to say that. :yoiks:

[Benhurst]

3. Hey, he's got Feingold's back.

Just like he had ours during the 2004 recount.

[TayTay]

86. Well, Sens. Feingold, Obama and Kerry voted against the sham

Lobbying Reform bill, so maybe they do have each other's backs.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. right before sending a check to who he recommends right?

From what I saw, Kerry DID sign the censure resolution and while watching Russ today I realized he didn't need any help he's a dynamic force of one. He did exactly what he wanted and it's having the desired results. Did you hear Specter? For a minute or two I thought Specter might jump the fence and sign the censure measure.

[Avalux]

7. Ok - I'll give you that.

I still wish Feingold would have had support in person. Frustrated today is all. :hi:

[karynnj]

12. Kerry's not on the judiciary committee

[Jeffersons Ghost]

19. Russ wasn't frustrated

Did you see his demeanor... he knows exactly what he's doing and this is just step one in his master plan... Every time I hear Russ speak I realize what a fine person he is. I heard of him not long after 9/11 and wrote him a letter from Atlanta and let him know that if no one else in the country believed in what he was doing I did. It was the first letter I had ever written to an elected official. I also told him he was a true patriot in the tradition of Jefferson, Franklin and Adams. As you may see already, Russ is my favorite but still Kerry has done a great deal for America and intends on doing a great deal more.

[blm]

36. Heh - Finance Committee Dems can't cover Judiciary Dems ALL the time.

Bad enough Kerry had to leave his Committee duties in Europe to lead a filibuster that SHOULD have come from judiciary Dems. He took plenty of hits for it in the press, too.

[MH1]

92. Heh. You nailed it. (Again!) nt

[saltpoint]

2. Thanks for posting this, Jefferson's Ghost. I'm glad to hear a high-

profile Democrat touting new Democratic Senator candidates' chances for election this November.

I will send what I can & hope we can turn back some of these Republican candidates and put some blue votes in those chairs.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. your the hero here old cruso!

Thanks for commiting some funds to this noble cause... He's getting a check from me too.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. Personally I'd like to ask all of you at DU to keep this message kicked

there are plenty of people who post at DU that will attempt to keep this thread about half way from the bottom.

[saltpoint]

15. I hope that it spurs several contributions and maybe a few volunteers

also.

The 2006 election feels more immediate to us, but in many important ways, the 2008 election is being decided now also -- as Kerry says.

"It's all the same f**king election", to steal from Janis Joplin.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

23. thanks for your help with prompt replies old crusoe

While Russ is trying to prevent it Janis also said "FREEDOM IS ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE." I'm a big fan of hers and hope these crooks don't leave us with nothing left to lose.

[populistdriven]

8. Harold Ford is in trouble in TN he needs $$$$

Tennessee
Ed Bryant (R) - 49.9%
Harold Ford (D) - 42.4%

Van Hilleary (R) - 47.2%
Harold Ford (D) - 44.2%

From Zogby's March poll rundown http://www.removerepublicans.com/

Contribute Here: https://contribute.keepingamericaspromise.com/s5c.html?sc=7106

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. it sure would be nice to turn Tenn blue wouldn't it bushmeat?

Give generously DU! On Nov 7th we want to celebrate not cry right?

[saltpoint]

112. Turning Tennessee blue ... I would really like to see the Volunteer

State vote more consistently Democratic in coming years.

A lot of people blamed Al Gore and only Al Gore for not carrying his home state. Surely it would have been better if he had. No argument there. But the people who voted FOR Dubya share the blame in a large way. I don't see the persuasiveness of Bush's credentials especially compared with Gore's. Some people thought Gore was too pedantic, but my god the man is intelligent. Informed. Prepared to lead. All the things Bush is not. And the red voters in Tennessee rejected a highly qualified man and chose instead a brainless oil puppet. So any additional blue vibe in Tennessee is more than alright with me.

Also I wonder if one of the currents that work in favor of candidates like Bush (and dear Jesus may there be no more of such candidates ever) is that many U.S. citizens are anti-intellectual, and they are threatened by Al Gore and John Kerry in the same way that U.S. voters "liked Ike" and rejected a much more cerebral candidate like Adlai Stevenson. A Democratic presidential campaign can be well-run or poorly-run but I think that some of the problem, maybe a lot of the problem, is this anti-intellectual streak that courses through U.S. life. The Europeans are keenly aware of it. And I think it explains some of the red voting patterns in Tennessee, Ohio, and other places.

[radio4progressives]

9. i've received a mailer for this from the entire Democratic Party

last night, i unsubscribed from most of them

[paulk]

31. why?

you don't want to see Democrats elected?


C'mon R4P, tell us what your real agenda is....

[Jeffersons Ghost]

32. YES RADIO FOR PROGRESSIVES TELL US WHY YOU DON'T SUPPORT DEMS

Inquiring minds want to know

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ginnyinWI]

17. if you don't want to send money, then don't

You don't need to explain why and you don't have to believe in Kerry. I understand that a lot of people voted for Kerry but he wasn't their first choice.
But can we really afford to throw away the political and financial support he is able to give the Democratic Party? Far from being a "waste of air", he is actually doing a lot for the party just now. And so are a lot of other less-than-perfect Democrats.

[karynnj]

24. I think many may feel you are a waste of air

If you had any reading comprehension you would know that Bush was attacking with or without international approval or congressional approval. Kerry spoke out against the war before it started.

It has STILL not been proven to the degree needed to go to court thatthe election was stolen - and it would have had to be proven by Dec 6, 2005. Kerry having a temper tantrum would not have changed reality. The problem was partly that the Democratic party in Ohio was broken. Kerry was the victim not the problem.

By the way, you may have THOUGHT there were no WMD, but neither you (or Kerry) could know for a fact that in the 4 -5 years of no inspections, Saddam didn't acquire them. Kerry did know that Pakistan's AQ Khan was financed by BCCI to build their nuclear bomb - he wanted the BCCI investigation continued on this. It is very possible he knew the risk better than you did. It was prudent to get the investigators in. That Bush invaded at a point when he knew that wasn't true, meant he violated the IWR.

[blm]

37. Erase Kerry from the last 35 yrs and you wouldn't know 3/4 of the shit

that has gone down - not to mention the fact that the fascists would have taken over sooner had he not uncovered BCCI.

[Mass]

42. I have to disagree with you.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. I just love when a multi-millionaire asks me for a donation.

And suggests that I act right now.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ginnyinWI]

20. lol

:thumbsup: :)

[The_Casual_Observer]

26. Look, Ford is an good guy, and don't start insulting me

by calling me a republican. I am going to send a donation. However,personally, I don't like getting the hard sell by ultra rich guys no matter who they are or what party they are from.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

29. I did not call you a republican LOL

I wouldn't call my worst enemy that and I certainly won't say it about you... thanks for doing what you can to make America a better place. By donating you prove that you are a true patriot who wants to leave a legacy of freedom and prosperity to your children.

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The_Casual_Observer]

102. bite me fabio!

Like I said, I don't like getting solicitations from rich guys, no matter WHO they are, got it?
And believe me, during his campaign I used to get a least one a day from him, always urgent. It's about the only message I ever got from him.

Who the fuck are you to give me any advice?

you sanctimonious nitwit.

[Fabio]

116. Read your posts with some self awareness

you sanctimonious nitwit.

[saltpoint]

16. Except in this case the millionaire is also a public servant of long

standing.

I take it as a gesture of citizenship to ask other citizens, no matter their income, to invest in the process of electing more Democrats, with a view toward a different outcome in Supreme Court nominations, Patriot Act revision motions, and so forth.

It's an encouragement toward that kind of citizenship, so long as we believe that the United States would be better off under a blue administration than it would under a red one.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

27. exactly

Kerry isn't asking for a dime for himself or the party. All the man wants to do is help you people by getting the liars out of DC. He probably hates breathing the same air as the crooks in the senate. If he's enough of a patriot to sit in the same room with the trash, then I'm enough of a patriot to support a few people of character to share the stinking senate chamber with him.

[Adelante]

68. He's rich enough to sit it all out

Yet he doesn't and never did. Give the guy his due for a lifetime in public service.

[LittleClarkie]

79. Cheers. Thanks for the good words, but I'm still left wondering

just how rich the dude is. I thought Teresa was the one rolling in dough, while Kerry had to mortgage his one house for the 2004 campaign. Is he rich or does he just get toys from the missus that make him look rich?

But yeah, the guy cares more than alot of people want to give him credit for. He's not an aloof elitist, regardless of how much money he does or doesn't have.

Hey, weren't Wes and Kerry both at some sort of Fighting Dem rally recently? Good to see them both working for the 2006 candidates, eh? That's what we should all be doing right now.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

84. you got that right clarkie

Also I'd like to add wealthy Kerry could have easily dodged the draft like most Republicans, instead of signing up for one of the most dangerous jobs in Nam. Swift-boaters deserve a swift kick!

[Adelante]

87. But anyway

If not as rich as I implied, although richer than you and me, he was set up in life to make big money, yet chose a life of service. That's more like what I was getting at. Yeah, they're both working hard for 2006. It's great. Two good men. :)

[Jeffersons Ghost]

108. yep, like us...everyone does what they are good at..

to help unseat crooks and monsters

[MH1]

90. Thank you - that is an important point, so often forgotten. nt

[LittleClarkie]

76. It's an end of quarter thing. That's why now. And you do realize

that even a multi-millionare, or someone who's married to a multi-millionare anyway, is just as limited as a private citizen as you or I in regard to how much they can donate to any one candidate.

Here's a list of candiates he's donated to so far. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00409508&Cycle=2006

I don't know what the limit is per candidate for a PAC, but I know individuals are limited in regards to how much they can give a candidate. Even Mrs. Kerry, the aforementioned multi-millionare, could only give so much to her husband's campaign.

But my guess would be that even PAC donations are limited. I'll have to go look that up. Hence, I'm sure he can't just syphon his money into the thing, even if he had a ton.

So what's the good of being a millionare when it comes to donating to candidates.

Not to mention that your comment seems odd when Kerry is asking not for himself, but for these other candidates. I don't know them all that well, but I would reckon none of them are multi-millionares.

So, I'm not sure what you're getting at exactly given the situation. Or were you not aware of the donation limit?

[The_Casual_Observer]

96. I know, tonight I just wasn't in the mood for the hard sell.

It's been a long week. I plan to donate to that race, it's an up hill climb for him, but he sure does have an honorable voting record. I wish him the best.

[cornermouse]

18. Several problems with this.

It appears to be connected to John Kerry. That's not the problem. The problem that I see is the reference to Kerry giving bookoo bucks to the democratic party and the way it is presented. I looked at that and wondered if this a way to circumvent Howard Dean and the progressives in the party.

To me, it seems pretty obvious that Kerry has become part of the D.C. establishment. This probably makes me narrow minded, suspicious, and evil, but looking at the website I just have to wonder.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

21. what's our other option cornermouse?

Are we to vote Republican or simply not support Democrats because Kerry asks us to donate a few bucks and win closely contseted senate seats?

[ginnyinWI]

22. um, isn't being chairman of the DNC

being part of the D.C. establishment too? I've never believed Dean was that much of an outsider or so far to the left, his image to the contrary. I still like him--think he's a great Dem for our cause, though. Dems come in all flavors but they are still Dems.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

30. you can say that again ginny

Dems come in all colors, beliefs and sexual persuasions... Everyone is welcome in this party of the people, by the people and for the people. Republicans are a bit more exclusive and discriminating. Instead of GOT MILK? their slogan should be "GOT MONEY?"

[karynnj]

25. Kerry gave the DNC a large amount ($1 million, I think)

when Dean took over and he sent an email asking people to contribute and saying nice things about Dean's plans. I haven't responded to this one yet, but an earlier one just sends the money to the specified candidates.

[ProSense]

28. It was over $23 million in total. n/t

[blm]

39. HAHAH...Kerry is the least establishment Dem in the senate - who do you

THINK even wrote the Clean Elections bill - public financing of campaigns?

Who investigated and exposed more government corruption than ANY lawmaker in office today?

You can't NAME a Dem in office who was ostracized MORE by the DC powerstructure than Kerry.

[cornermouse]

45. Kerry? Ostracized?

:eyes: Yeah right. Kerry has been ostracized just like Bush was a Washington D.C. outsider.

Fact remains that this has the potential to turn into a powerplay.

[blm]

47. You REALLY don't know what happened? Have you read anything about

IranContra? BCCI? CIA drugrunning? Clean Elections bill to get all corporate money out of politics? This was against many in his own party.

Sorry, but it's hard to take seriously a statement like yours when you never even knew that the entire DC powerstructure turned against Kerry during IranContra and BCCI.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040315/corn

[hughee99]

101. Be that as it may,

Someone does not become a party's presidential nominee with the entire DC power structure against it. While certainly Kerry faced serious opposition during Iran-Contra and BCCI (both of which are more than 13 years old), the fact that he was able to get sufficient backing to become the presidential nominee less than 2 years ago shows that he is now not exactly the "outsider" you seem to be painting him as.

[blm]

113. At the time he DID have the entire DC powerstructure against him - some of

the edges softened in the Clinton years, but they sharpened right back up again. The REAL DC financial powers will NEVER soften because Kerry believes in OPEN GOVERNMENT and would have opened all the books on BCCI - a corruption scandal that almost EVERYTHING happening today is deeply rooted in from Bin Laden to the UAE ports deal, so no way is it an old issue.

Try doing a search on BCCI - Bin Laden - Bush - Kerry - Pakistan and see what you discover.

[hughee99]

118. Yes, all good information here...

but while many things that happen today are rooted in BCCI, how does Kerry's position TODAY differ from the most other elected democrats? In what way is Kerry pissing off the "REAL DC financial powers" that most other democrats are not? What makes Kerry any more the "outsider" than Feingold, Conyers, or Kucinich, for example?

By the way, John Kerry is my senator, and has been since I was old enough to vote. I like him. I'm aware of his record. I voted for him in the past, and will vote for him in the future, but I just don't see him as the ultimate DC outsider.

[blm]

119. His senate resolution to reverse corporate media for starters - within

weeks od submitting that resolution in June 2003, Kerry's coverage by corp. media was reduced significantly and Dean was given a press plane, fer chrissakes. That led to the over-reporting of Dean's actual numbers on the ground while under-reporting Kerry's.

Kerry also crafted an economic plan to close corporate tax loopholes, and set aside one-third of all government contracts to qualified SMALL BUSINESSES.

Kery also submitted the Clean Money, Clean Elections bill to take all corporate money out of politics. He and Wellstone had very few supporters, and McCain and Feingold put forward THEIR centrist approach shortly after.

I never said he was the ultimate outsider. But NO ONE in DC has ever experienced the ostracization by the DC powerstructure that Kerry went through from the moment he started on IranContra through the next seven years while pushing forward on BCCI, and then CIA drugrunning after that.

[Jai4WKC08]

100. If you don't want to donate thru Kerry, you can either...

1) Go to the individuals' campaign sites. Google is your friend. ;)

Or 2) Wes Clark also has a central donation page at http://www.actblue.com/page/wespac I 'spect most of the major party leaders do. If you like Feingold better, check out his PAC. Or Warner, Edwards... whomever you want. The point is to give as much as you reasonably can, not who it goes thru.

Or 3) Give to the DSCC, DCCC, DFA or the DNC itself. It won't help meet the quarterly deadline, but it'll ultimately end up helping these guys and gals win their elections. That's what's most important.

[incapsulated]

106. What Jai said.

Just give, if you have the dough, in whatever way you wish. I don't have much, but I gave what I could before the deadline.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LittleClarkie]

34. Funny, the closed mindedness of the place comes as much from

"progressives" as it does from anyone else, so if the closed mindedness of this place is increasing, then I doubt it's because the "progressives" are leaving.

And if they're leaving, what's chasing them away? Surely they're made of sterner stuff than to be chased away by a bunch of "corpratists".

Lefty freepers are almost as annoying as righty ones, actually.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[derby378]

93. Screw that - I'm still part of the Underground

Fellow Texan DUer, I'm also a precinct chair, a state delegate alternate, and still just as progressive and anti-fascist as ever. C'mon, let's do this thing.

[WildEyedLiberal]

35. LOL

Oooookay. :rofl:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

38. which of these candidates stands the best chance of winning?

Sherrod Brown (OH) $
Sherrod is a progressive leader in Congress for fair trade and health care. He is challenging an entrenched incumbent who has the full backing of the Bush White House.

Amy Klobuchar (MN) $
Amy stands between Karl Rove and his #1 Senate target: Minnesota. Amy is fighting for health care reform, energy independence, tax fairness, and economic and international security.

Harold Ford Jr. (TN) $
Congressman Ford represents a new generation of leadership that will stand against the mismanagement of the Bush administration and fight for lower drug prices and genuine security here and abroad.

KAP 2006 Fight Back Fund $
Help seed Keeping America's Promise's 2006 Fight Back Fund. Help us respond immediately to Republicans' baseless charges and swift boat-style attacks on Democratic candidates in 2006.

I'm not very well-off financially and I want my money to count, so will someone please tell me who stands the best chance of winning from the above list?

[JohnKleeb]

40. The one from Minnesota I'd think

Its a solidly democratic state by and large. Ford and Brown got a good shot too but I'd give my money if I were you to Klobuchar.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

48. that Amy sounds damn good to me!

I like women in high places like the senate because they have the kids and are least likely to want to send them off to die for nothing but oil. After all, it's not even gold, which has medical and ornamental applications. We should have stopped using fossil fuels long ago. The very same self-serving crooks that Kerry wants to replace are keeping us dependant on environmental poison. i heard an ethanol shortage is driving up fuel costs in the very near future but Nebraska has no corn blights in the forecast. We would not have global warming right now if we had the sense to clean up DC. I promise that November will be our last chance to leave a legacy of freedom and prosperity to our children. I care about their future and the future of humankind, so even though I have very little money Amy will get some from me tonight.

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. Hmm - I donated to Brown and Klobuchar as well as the general fund

If you are torn, you could donate to the general KAP fund - money from that fund will likely go to whoever needs it. If you have extra money to spare, I would choose Brown - he's VERY liberal and would be a great voice for Ohio.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

80. In the interest of fair play I'll give all the Republicans a chance too

To help advance the new Republican Mid-East programs we need your help! Our BOMBS FOR BABIES agenda will insure many young insurgents will never grow into terrorists and make us borrow $9 TRILLION from Red China, Japan and yes, even Iran. Bombs, like bribes don't come cheap. We, of the Republican party, are asking you to support on of these fine candidates:


Thanks for your support and we look forward to enjoying many more wars with you in the future. Remember, Republicans believe when it comes to war no cost is too great, especially if it's fought with borrowed money and your children.

[blm]

41. Sherlock Holmes will now TELL US who wrote the Clean Elections bill

and has been a longtime advocate for public financing of campaigns and never accepted corporate pac money for any of his senate campaigns.

[LiberalUprising]

46. And you tell me who is

STILL running the country?

Where are the majority of the Dems on this or any other reform in favor of the people? A handful of powerless Dems does not a viable party make

Too little, too late

Readers of Clean Elections often mistake this ideal with the more popular Camapaign Finance Reform. Main differences are:

* CFR is governmental law restricting contributors, CE restricts candidates who accept public funds from accepting contributions.
* CFR, in full effect, would prevent one candidate from outspending the other by imposing regulations, while CE does not require any limits except for those receiving public funding. Clean Money candidates who are outspent normally get matching funds up to a cap to remain competitive.
* CE candidates are required to meet a certain criterion, such as collecting a predetermined amount of signatures before the candidate can receive public support.

NBA player Adonal Foyle founded Democracy Matters to involve college students in advocating for Clean Elections.

Supporters of Clean Elections

* Bill Bradley - former New Jersey Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate
* Janet Napolitano - Democratic Governor of Arizona
* John McCain - Republican Arizona Senator
* Russ Feingold - Democratic Wisconsin Senator
* Bob Edgar - former Democratic Pennsylvania Congressman, Senatorial candidate (1986), and General Secretary of the National Counsel of Churches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Elections

[blm]

49. Try reading the Clean Elections bill WRITTEN by Kerry and Wellstone - wiki

pedia is full of shit.

Try reading the congressional RECORD and see who REALLY supported public financing of campaigns.

[LiberalUprising]

52. Doesn't really matter if no one else in a postion

of power is supporting it now does it?

You can write all the bills you want but it don't mean shit if they aren't supported and enforced by a majority of at least the Dems.

[blm]

55. Don't attack the Dems you don't even know - wikipedia was full of shit

and you BELIEVED them - why don't you already KNOW about issues you act like you care about?

I know almost everything about the anti-corruption fights I pay attention to out of concern and interest.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040315/corn

>>>>>

The following year, a re-elected Kerry was in another lonely position as one of only five original sponsors of the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act, to provide for full public financing of Congressional elections. The measure would remove practically all special-interest money from House and Senate campaigns. (Kerry's colleagues were Wellstone, Leahy, John Glenn and Joe Biden--all Democrats.) "Kerry was totally into it," says Ellen Miller, former executive director of Public Campaign, a reform group pressing for the legislation. "He believes in this stuff."


In introducing the legislation, Kerry said on the Senate floor, "Special interest money is moving and dictating and governing the agenda of American politics.... If we want to regain the respect and confidence of the American people, and if we want to reconnect to them and reconnect them to our democracy, we have to get the special interest money out of politics." He was also a backer of the better-known McCain-Feingold legislation, a more modest and (some might say) problematic approach to campaign reform. But over the years he's pointed to the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act as the real reform. "It is a tough position in Congress to be for dramatic change in financing elections," says Miller. "It's gutsy to go out and say, 'Let's provide a financially leveled playing field so there is more competition for incumbents.' Kerry and Wellstone were the leaders and took a giant step. It was remarkable."
>>>>

[LiberalUprising]

57. Well I may not know almost everything

but I do know what I see and don't see happening.

Talk is cheap.

[WildEyedLiberal]

61. Sponsoring a bill isn't "talk."

It's action.

Why don't you donate some money to Harold Ford, Amy Klobuchar, and Sherrod Brown so we can have a Democratic congressional majority so Kerry's excellent bills can get passed?

You blame him for the fact that there is no congressional majority? What have YOU done to elect Democrats?

[LiberalUprising]

65. I didn't blame anyone

it is what it is

[WildEyedLiberal]

66. You blamed Kerry.

You claim to want fair elections - blm informed you of a bill of Kerry's which would provide just that. You then scoff at it and say "talk is cheap," despite the fact that a bill is an action, not talk. You say it is pointless to sponsor bills unless we have a majority. But yet you appear unwilling to work for that majority. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to call bullshit on you.

[LiberalUprising]

70. Yes talk is cheap and

a bill that has no support means nothing, I never said that the dems must have a majority to get things done cause we all know that is bullshit.

Right?

And if by majority you mean the status quo of the persent dem party, then yes I am unwilling to work for a DINO or repug light, take your choice.

[WildEyedLiberal]

71. "A bill that has no support means nothing"

Oh, really? How do you propose getting support for it, then?

Or do you propose Democrats do nothing at all, since, after all, if any Democrat proposes a liberal bill, it won't have enough support to pass, so why bother?

Why bother doing anything at all, according to your philosophy?

Why are you even here?

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

88. well, don't be shy liberal uprising tell us about yourself

Me, I'm an ex-moderate who now wants a bunch of Nazi elitists with a New World Vision out of DC but when I was a kid I was so fuc#ing radical I'd have made you look like a preacher in a Klan sheet. Ever heard of Jerry Rubin?

[ProSense]

73. So censure, which could only pass with Republican support, is BS? n/t

[blm]

114. Name ONE other senator who submitted a Clean Elections bill - yes, TALK is

CHEAP.

I don't know who you want to get in instead of Kerry, but did the guys YOU prefer jump in and help with Clean Elections? Keeping their powder dry?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

51. did you say RUSS FEINGOLD?

Russ says this:

Dear DU,

I'm proud to congratulate Bill Winter as being the netroots' choice for our second Pick a Progressive Patriot event. Bill received thousands of votes from members of the Progressive Patriots Fund community, and we'll be sending him a contribution of $5,000 today to help his efforts.

Bill Winter, a Navy and Marine Corps veteran who views public service as a patriotic calling, is running against Tom Tancredo in the Colorado 6th District. To learn more about Bill, please visit his website and consider joining me in making a contribution to his campaign.

In addition to supporting Bill Winter, I'm happy to announce that the Progressive Patriots Fund will be sending smaller contributions to all of the other candidates who were featured in this latest event. All are worthy of our support, and I hope they will all join me in Congress in 2006.

The upcoming November elections are critical in our efforts to bring accountability to this President. I am determined to help elect more Democrats across the country and I want to thank all of you who have contributed to this effort and have taken the time to share with me your recommendations for which candidates are deserving of our collective support.

I look forward to our next "Pick a Progressive Patriot" event, to be held later this year. Please keep sending in those suggestions; everyone we've supported so far has been recommended through our candidate suggestion form, and this will continue to be the way the Progressive Patriots Fund chooses who to feature in our Pick a Progressive Patriot events.

Thank you for your support in the past weeks, and look forward to more events like "Pick a Progressive Patriot" in the future!

Sincerely,



Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund
https://secure.progressivepatriotsfund.com/page/contribute/pppcontribute

[LiberalUprising]

53. It doesn't strike anyone here as odd that

the Dems have been silent for the last 5 years and now before the elections it's time to 'fire up the base' again?

Please...

The dems use this carrot on a stick just as the repugs use the gay thing.

[blm]

54. They haven't been silent for 5years - Corporate media wants America to

think so.

[LiberalUprising]

58. Oh yea I keep forgetting that

You can blame the dems lack of action on the media if you want, the truth is they, along with the repugs have sold us down the river.

Good night and good luck with that.

[LiberalUprising]

63. Then why is corporate media letting them

have their say all of a sudden, right before elections?

Your line of reasoning doesn't hold water.

[JI7]

77. the corporate media ISN'T letting them have their say

the corporate media is still snickering at non issues when it comes to Democrats. misrepresenting and such. like when their "report" on the Dems national security press conference focused on Nancy Pelosi holding somethings upside down rather than on what they said.

but people regularly post on DU things that are being done but the complainers rarely respond to them.

[blm]

115. What say? Did you hear ANY news coverage of Kerry's Iraq withdrawal plan

that he submitted LAST OCTOBER?

His Kid's First universal healthcare plan for kids?

Was there wall-to-wall coverage of the Alito filibuster that I missed?

The media barely gave any coverage to Feingold's censure hearing.

Get real - the corporate media works for their GOP fascist masters - they work AGAINST Dems by either attacking them or ignoring them.

[rockymountaindem]

56. hehe, it's not the moderates who are closed minded

I don't think I've ever heard anyone on DU say "I'm not voting for him, he's too liberal", even those who we know support the DLC.

[LiberalUprising]

59. So we should hold our noses and vote

the lesser of two evils one more time?

And this helps us how?

Sorry not gonna vote for anyone that backs bush's policies.

[WildEyedLiberal]

64. Guess you don't want that "Clean elections" bill passed too bad, then

Since you won't work for a Democratic majority.

In one breath you bitch about the fact that liberal bills can't get passed because Dems don't have a majority, but in the next you then say you won't help achieve such a majority.

This is proof positive why extremists are full of shit. They can't breathe without contradicting themselves.

[LiberalUprising]

69. I never bitched

about the fact that liberal bills can't get passed because Dems don't have a majority, but just go right on putting words in my mouth if it makes you feel better.

There are plenty the dems (even in a minority position) could have and should still be doing if they are serious about these issues, course the moderates round here would be worried how it would look and what the repugs would be saying.

Why are you moderates so defensive?

[WildEyedLiberal]

72. That makes literally zero sense.

Why do you assume I am a moderate, because I call you on your contradictory bullshit? You want things done, but you don't want a Dem majority. Without a majority, nothing can pass. And you say it is pointless to propose something that cannot pass. So in other words, you don't support anyone doing anything.

[LiberalUprising]

78. Thanks for making my statements for me

I said none of those things, except for you sounding like a moderate

I am syaing the dem party as it stands today is totally out of touch with the people and is useless as a opposition party.

Why?

Because they as well as the repugs can only serve one master, and that master is not us.

see post #74

[rockymountaindem]

83. Well, if you're going to look at it that way

voting for the lesser of two evils at least slows the process of decay. Let's say there are two boats on a river that goes over a huge waterfall. One is a rubber dinghy that's just drifting aimlessly downriver. The other is a big powerboat that's speeding full-tilt toward the waterfall. Which one would you rather be on?

I'd also like to make clear I don't think the Democrats are the lesser of two evils. I think if the Democrats were in power, I'd be rather happy with the policies I believe they would enact.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

60. I'd vote for Che to get these crooks out of office

If we don't give big to the Democratic Party in the next few months kiss you freedom to be extra cool and liberal good-bye. I hope you look good in uniform too because the reich-wing freaks are likely making them for all ages in Screwastan or someplace else, other than the U.S. Can I get a big Siege Heil?

[Clarkie1]

50. Yep. Gonna help 'em out. Not via Kerry PAC, though. eom

[WildEyedLiberal]

62. Your hostility toward Kerry is striking

Really.

[LiberalUprising]

74. Who said this?

'EVERY vote WILL be counted.' and

Kerry ended the rally by posing a request — “Give me a chance, so I can look you in the eye and say, ‘I got your back,’” he said.

http://www.southend.wayne.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=456

Yea I have a few hostilities towards liars and con men, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum. Some of us are just tired of the same old song and dance.

[Clarkie1]

89. How do you perceive that I am hostile towards Kerry? eom

[Fabio]

98. A word of agreement

I am a JK partisan, but if Clarkie1 wants to contribute to one of these races, and doesnt want it to be tallyed to JK's appeal, I say more power to you. Look, let's be real, this request for donation from JK will obviously help him with these candidates if an dwhen they make it to office. If you have another horse in the game, I respect that....so much. That's democracy.

Just let's all stay involved and focus on 2006.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

99. that's a true blue democratic approach fabio

thanks

[WildEyedLiberal]

103. I don't see why you felt the need to announce

That you had no intention of donating through Kerry's PAC. It was quite unnecessary.

I believe Clark has also endorsed Ford, and I understand that you'd probably prefer to channel your donation through WesPac, or something. But then again, I wouldn't go into a thread announcing WesPac support for Ford and then announce to everyone that I'd donate to him, but not through Wes Clark. It's unnecessarily divisive and serves no purpose. Donate to Ford however you wish, but it hardly seems necessary to declaim to the whole world that you have no intention of doing it through Kerry's PAC, as though the idea that you might be supporting Kerry's fundraising efforts is disagreeable to you.

[politicasista]

67. Just help my congressman out period. n/t

[LittleClarkie]

75. Any reason why you make that distinction?

What's the difference really?

[Clarkie1]

91. I prefer to donate to Band of Brothers and individual candidates.

I think it's great Kerry is getting his supporters to donate to Dems who are in important races this year.

[sandnsea]

94. Kerry is part of Band of Brothers too

Oh my god, what are you going to do now!!!

http://www.bandofbrothers2006.org/

[Jeffersons Ghost]

95. yep... I posted Kerry raising funds for BAND OF BROTHERS last week

Sadly, it didn't get much support, I guess people still find it hard to offer any support for us Nam vets.

[Clarkie1]

105. Don't get down. I think things will pick up in few months.

Most people don't think about elections this far out.

[Clarkie1]

104. I know that. n/t

[ljm2002]

82. Done, and kicked... n/t

.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

85. thank you tjm2002

If "done" means that you donated, you're a patriot like the Minute-Men of old, not these modern self appointed border guards. Your contrabution is an investment in a legacy of freedom and prosperity for future generations of Americans and indeed, all humanity.

[wisteria]

107. These are all good Dem candidates Kerry is requesting money for.

I gave what I could to them all. I trust Senator Kerry's judgement.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

109. like in the late 1700's every new Minuteman on firing line is welcome

thanks wisteria, you're another true patriot, fighting the good fight against tyranny.

[mmonk]

110. Up to us?

What are they going to do?

[saltpoint]

111. Just a word or two here on Saturday morning about Senator Kerry.

I've followed his career since he sat in front of the U.S. Senate as a Viet Nam war veteran and Ivy League graduate. His family's money was much less the issue than his decision to engage the world and learn from it. By examples like his, I began to engage the world and learn from it, and so I owe a deep thank-you to John Kerry from even those early times.

Since he had the bucks, he didn't need to engage anything. His opponent in the 2004 election also had bucks and to this hour doesn't know his privileged ass from a pile of rubble, that pile of rubble being Iraq and Afghanistan. Does anybody really believe that George W. Bush is a more intellectually evolved human being than ANY of the Democratic candidates in the 2000 or 2004 primaries? I certainly don't. I think George W. Bush has the intellectual curiosity of a farm animal, if that. He'd rank well behind the pigs and horses in ANIMAL FARM's hierarchy of brains.

Kerry is asking that we help support the candidacies of other Democrats who are much, much more likely than red Republicans to defend the Constitution when it is attacked by foaming-at-the-mouth lunatics like Orrin Hatch, Jeff Sessions, Pat Robertson, and Porter Goss. It represents a vested interest in the country if we vote blue in the first place to make it bluer still. I want to live in Al Gore's America before I want to live in George W. Bush's America and that opportunity was stolen from me and others. The more blue the better, because all 3 branches of the federal Government have some impact on and influence with the selection of Supreme Court justices, a 5-4 vote of which put Dubya in office in the first place.

Money's tight in many wallets, I concede, but democracy and personal liberty are worth supporting. So I'm endorsing what Senator Kerry is asking of us and hope others will whip out a check to some of our blue candidates.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

117. well put Crusoe

While I often lack even the funds needed to get by each month, I can still find $10 or $20 every now and then to support a righteous cause. Now I see how almost indigent elderly people can always seem to muster a few bucks to support their religious beliefs. Some things are simply more important than money. Basic liberty, human dignity and reasonable representation in government are far more valuable than my humble donations reflect but like all of you, I do whatever I can to endow our children with the same opportunities and freedoms that many of our ancestors died to protect.