Howie Klein at FDL has a few things to say about who gets credit.

[madfloridian]

I am perfectly willing to give credit for the win to everyone involved, that is...I WAS. Until today when all the "we won because we were centrists" stuff started. We were expecting it. Howard Dean is a centrist, but he is a real one who wants what is real and honest for the country. That is how I was raised. When I read the Bullmoose bullshit today, I realized that any group which would host his blog has no good in mind for the party.

Go Howie, speak your piece.

First, Howie lists the ones who won. Then he really gets tough, and I think it may have to be that way. It is not about left or right or centrist, or anything like that....it is about a group trying to push in candidates who support the view of changing the middle east to suit us.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/11/08/what-happened-last-night/

If you've been following the specifics of the campaign to break the Republican dominance you can't help but notice several things: many of Rahm Emanuel's most cherished candidates are not on this list. And many of the names that are, are men and women who he either actively fought or just ignored.

Where is Tammy Duckworth, on whose campaign he lavished– and wasted– over $3 million in a colossal ego battle? That was $3 million dollars that could have been spread around to assure victories in 5 or 6 races that could have easily been won, like Angie Paccione's in CO-04 or, tragically, in NC-08 where a mere 468 votes separate grassroots hero Larry Kissell and rubber stamp wingnut Robin Hayes.

One of the most important victories of the night was Jerry McNerney's 53-47% (85,551- 76, 196) triumph over Dirty Dick Pombo, one of the most extremist, corrupt and dangerous members of he 109th Congress. Not only was this not a targeted race it is a perfect example of how Emanuel fought against grassroots Democrats to try to impose his will. The McNerney story has been told many times, I just want to remind you that Emanuel and his sleazy corporate-whore ally, Ellen Tauscher, tried to impose a pro-business hack on CA-11. They made Jerry waste thousands of grassroots dollars fighting off a well-financed Inside-the-Beltway juggernaut. Unlike in many other cases around the country, McNerney survived Emanuel's attempts to remove some people in the district actually wanted who has values and ideas people in the district were eager to get behind. To Emanuel, McNerney was too anti-war, too anti-corporate and, worst of all, too independent minded.

Jan Schneider wasn't as fortunate. She would have beaten extremist loon Vern Buchanan in FL-13 last night. Instead Emanuel and his posse were able to shoehorn in a Republican-lite banker who inspires exactly no one. And, of course, she was defeated last night in a very costly race. If voters want a Republican, especially in a Republican district like FL-13, they vote for the real thing, not for one masquerading as a Democrat. I don't want to even talk about FL-16, where Emanuel did manage to force a real Democrat Dave Lutrin out of the race so he could insert a wealthy Republican– Tim Mahoney, who won last night. Why don't I want to talk about it? I think there will be some investigations around that race and how Foley got outed and I don't want to get subpoenaed in that one.

Please read all of what he says. Howard Dean's C-Span press conference today referred to McNerney as a grassroots project. He knows.

I feel passionately about what was done to my state. I am glad we had a win here and there in Florida, but I feel sad that Dave Lutrin and Jan Scheider were ousted by the DCCC and...get this...our state chairwoman in favor of people they wanted. Yes, that is how it has been done. Howie gets it.

I did not bold anything in the text above. That often distracts. And I did not know Dave Lutrin personally, but Jan is a friend of ours...that makes it personal.

Peace.

[madfloridian]

1. And one more from Howie.

"Enjoy the national sweep that brought Democrats majorities in the House, the Senate, Governorships and state legislatures and that has helped to set a tone for future victories in districts throughout the country by offering encouragement to the Democrats most important and powerful strength: it's grassroots. And when someone tells you how great Rahm did and how right-wing Democrats will control… something, just say this: "Carol Shea-Porter, Bruce Braley, John Hall, Kirsten Gillibrand, Chris Murphy, Dave Loebsack, Mike Arcuri, Chris Carney, Joe Sestak, Patrick Murphy, Ed Perlmutter, Tim Walz, John Yarmuth, Gabby Giffords."

Or take time to read this post by Kos...about who really won.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/8/12431/0402

[madfloridian]

2. Is it Randi or Rachel having McNerney on tomorrow?

I heard one of them announce but was in the other room.