2008 Elections: WesPAC Volunteers - Your Candidates Are Calling You For Help!
Submitted by kaflinn on August 15, 2007 - 2:16am.
Candidates 2008 | Call to Action | Current Events | Democratic politics | Endorsements | Fighting Dems | Fundraising | Iraq | National Security | State Teams | Veterans & Military | Wesley Clark
Ladies & Gentlemen, Volunteers of all ages ~~
Recently, General Clark has asked for our help to not only change the debate from troops and tactics to strategy and diplomacy, but he has also asked, several times, for us to help several candidates get elected to Congress in 2008.
Now it's easy to understand everyone's getting a little bit restless these days, tempers can get a tad short (as I so bluntly demonstrated on this blog, several weeks back <blush>), and anxiety rises with the temperatures, and that just makes it all the more difficult to concentrate on the election of someone who not only isn't necessarily in your home state, but whose name doesn't start with "Wes" and end with "Clark".
But these men and women need our help just the same.
The 2008 congressional candidates are facing an especially tough election - harder than 2006 - precisely because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2008 presidential election. Most attention is focused on the presidential candidates...and most of the donations too. That means these congressional candidates are probably going to have to work twice as hard with half as much as they had in 2006.
They need WesPAC Volunteers, now more than ever.
Thanks to your efforts in 2006, many of these candidates are people we've come to know, admire and call friends. Many are people we helped win in 2006, or come awfully close. As General Clark asked, in his June 14th email, "Can You Do It Again?" We need to yell "YES!" loud and clear. It's going to be a long, tough road to November 2008, and there is no guarantee those elected in 2006 will win again. We can't afford to rest on our past successes and hope we can maintain the slim majority we now have. We need to increase that lead…a lot!
If the presidential races have left you less than enthused - Please - help keep Congress blue, and growing bluer!
Below, is a list of candidates General Clark has recently asked us to help, as well as a few others endorsed last time who are going to run again. Also listed are the WesPAC State Coordinators, and their email addresses. Please get in touch with them to help with efforts on behalf of these candidates.
Thanks very, very much!
Kelly
Charlie Brown - California - CD4
Cindy Trigg (
) - Nevada State Coordinator
Tricia Spiegel (
) - Santa Cruz, CA County Coordinator
Jon Powers - New York - CD26
Janet Klugiewicz - New York State Volunteer Coordinator (
)
John Boccieri - Ohio - CD16
Susan Meara - Ohio State Coordinator (
)
Eric Massa - New York - CD29
www.massaforcongress.com/action_volunteer.asp
In Eric's case - please go straight to the link above to sign up as a volunteer, on the off chance you haven't already, lol!
You can also ask Eric directly, how he'd like your help, by commenting on his blogs here at CCN.
These are only the first four. There are many more candidates we helped last time, who have decided to run again for 2008! Please email me at
and I'll be more than happy to get you with your WesPAC State Coordinators to help out!
Then there's always supporting Howard Dean's 50 state strategy with the DNC, DCCC and DSCC. In Kansas, Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda have been targeted by the Republicans. We had freaky people like Kris Kobach running the KS Republican party here. This is going to be one seriously ugly election year here. We are going to need all the help we can get to hold our ground and then some.
LJM -
The Kansas coordinators are all ready to help Namcy Boyda again. If you aren't already involved with them, but would like to be, please let me know by email. Or you can just contact the coordinators directly:
Sharon Chadwell Phillips
Theresa Andersen
Mildred Polley
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
We're going to need all the help we can get in NE Kansas for Dennis & Nancy, plus Pat Roberts (Rep. KS) is also up for re-election next year. I'm not sure he has an opponent yet, but that also will be a real toughie.....
Nancy Boyda is doing a bang-up job in her first year in DC...authored several bills which were passed, including the last one which is ready for GWB's signature and would dissallow any congressperson who is convicted of a felony crime to receive a retirement pension for the rest of their lives. Tom DeLay, et al, are and will continue to receive federal pensions so I don't think her bill will affect them. She's receiving a lot of criticism since she was sworn in...so we know what to expect.
Our local Clark group is looking forward to working with others to elect Charlie Brown in California's District 4. Our own district is safe. (Sam Farr can keep his seat for as long as he wants, garnering a majority of the votes every term.)
Brown is of interest to us for two reasons: (1) He is a terrific candidate and human being; and (2) incumbent Doolittle (who will apparently run again though not unopposed in the primary) is an embarrassment to the entire state.
I've started a blog at http://illinoisforclark.com/drupal/?q=node/1239 to collect names of candidates running in the primaries in Illinois. A couple of people on the Illinois list have added their comments about who their favorites are.
But, since St. Louis is right across the river for me, I can go to help out with candidates there like last time. The one I'm most interested in helping is Margaret Donnelly, a past Clark supporter(I'd bet she still is.). She's running for Attorney General. I wish we could throw some weight behind her. I've met her several times in various types of campaign activities, including the last time when Gen. Clark came to rally for Claire McCaskill. I really like Margaret's energy and dedication. Apparently, Claire's '06 campaign manager, Richard Martin, likes her too, because he's managing her campaign, now.
Seriously - thank you. I like the idea of posting this to the Illinois blog too - good thinking. Do you have a website address for Margaret Donnelly?
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
Margaret doesn't have much but sign up and donation pages here. http://donnellyforattorneygeneral.com/
But, she's a MO State Rep. and has a website that tells all about her.
http://margaretdonnellystaterep.com/
I imagine WesPAC had to deal with Richard Martin when Claire was endorsed, so maybe they still have his contact info to communicate with him about one for Margaret.
...about helping candidates this time round that I can't personally vouch for. I gave to Webb's campaign based on the endorsement here, and then I was horribly, horribly disappointed in his recent vote re: FISA and his lame explanation for that vote.
Likewise Harold Ford, Jr., who also was endorsed here, although I didn't donate to him. I didn't like him from the get-go, and now I cringe when I watch him re: the DLC.
This is not in any way meant to question General Clark's criteria for his endorsements, and across his "map" (still up on the home page) I gave hundreds and hundreds of dollars based on his endorsement .
It's just my personal opinion and reaction--at least at this stage of the races. I wish everyone well who's working hard on a campaign and Lord knows I want Dems elected everywhere, but at least for now I'm keeping my efforts and dollars local.
'He's-a-good-man-Charlie-Brown' will get my loose change (I don't really have that much to spare these days) since My Man, George Miller doesn't need it. Then too, one of my daughters lives in doolittle's district so I have a personal interest there.
But I'm with you Kathy B. I'm suffering disappointment meltdown under our so-called 'new majority'.
General Clark, Sir, please step to the podium.
and I'm glad you bring it up. Recommendations and endorsements are important, but not as important as your own research about a person. It's your money and your time - and your future - you should only give it to someone you think has earned it/is worthy of it, or at least seems to be.
This is only my opinion, of course. However, I'd be hard pressed to believe General Clark would want any of us to blindly elect anyone. That's what got this country into the mess we're in now. We're not all going to agree on who the best candidate is for a specific race, and that's good. It gives people a reason to debate the strengths and weaknesses of a candidate so they can really get a feel for what kind of human being is asking for their support and money. Luckily, we also have a place, here, where we can debate such things.
By all means - have that debate! But in the end, you've got to trust your own judgment.
So the upshot is - we're going to have a lot of candidates, just like last time, and they'll all need some help in some way. The good news is, we're also starting a little earlier this time, so that gives everyone a good opportunity to really look people over before devoting time and money, and trust.
May I ask what state you're in, Kathy? (you can email that to me if you'd rather not post it here, of course).
Kelly
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
Legally Wyoming, physically (for a while) Oregon.
My efforts from here will be for Gary Trauner who is going to run again against Barbara Cubin in the House. He came within a thousand votes last year, so there's a good chance he make it over the top this time--although I think she'll have a primary challenger.
Hopefully this year he will get some more of the 50-state help from the DNC.
We also have a Senate race this year, but I haven't heard who is going to run for the Dems.
Hi Kathy - how's life?! I didn't realize you were, well, you.
Rachel Fox brought up Steve Novick too, in Oregon.
:-)
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
...but remember the "reasons why not" list my kids gave me? They still wave it in my face, and the manuscript they want me to finish still isn't finished. "You're not getting any younger, Mom!" Ouch.
Added to the limbo is the possiblity that everyone may be relocating in the next few months.
Psst. Kelly. No need to feel stupid. Keeping track of us is like herding cats, right?
want to check out working on Howie's 50 State Strategy as LJM suggested, KathyB.
I worked with them here last year too. Lots of latitude and different ways to participate. Plenty to do and they really need the help. It was quite rewarding.
Just a thought.
Joe Sestak - PA 07 and Patrick Murphy PA 08.
We also need to find a winner against Gerlach (R) in PA 06.
drsusan
thank you. ;-)
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
Northern Virginia could be a great place to volunteer on campaign(s) next year. I would love to hear from all Clark supporters who want to help finish turning Northern VA blue.
In addition to delivering our electoral votes to the Democratic candidate for POTUS for the first time in 44 years, we are also hoping to win the Senate seat currently held by Republican John Warner, considering retirement. Very popular former Democratic Governor Mark Warner is reported to be among those considering running.
On the Congressional front, Jim Moran's 8th district inside the beltway is one of the bluest in the country, and we have opportunities for Democratic pickups outside the beltway in the 10th and 11th districts, both trending Democratic.
In the 10th, 2006 Clark-endorsed Judy Feder is running again. She ran a very energetic and impressive campaign last year. This time she faces a primary opponent, Mike Turner, a veteran, with the winner trying to unseat longtime incumbent Frank Wolf.
Florence Upson
Arlington, VA
I see the Dems holding their seats relatively easily in CD1 (Diana DeGette), CD3 (John Salazar), and CD7 (Ed Perlmutter). Even though Mark Udall is running for the Senate and leaving his Congressional seat in CD2, that district should be safe as well. State Senate President and dynamo Joan Fitz-Gerald is seeking Udall's seat. She'll be a great addition to Congress. She does have primary opposition, though.
CDs 5 & 6 are safely Republican. I haven't seen any Dems jumping into those, yet.
That leaves CD4. Last time, Marilyn Musgrave (retch) held onto her seat with 46% of the vote. Angie Paccione polled 44%, and a third-party (Republican-turned-Lbiartarian) candidate took 11%. It could be very interesting without a third party candidate, if none of those stup up.
Angie is running again. I just love that lady. Half-black, half-Italian. Born in raised in the tenements of Brooklyn. Escaped the slums through Title IX with a full ride basketball scholarship to Stanford. Played for Team USA and in the WNBA. Then got a Ph.D. in education, coached men's basketball, taught at the college/university level, became a state legislator.
CD4 and the senate race are the ones to watch in 2008 here. Udall should take it if he runs a good campaign and can successfully fight off the "Boulder liberal" label, but his likely opponent, Bob Schaffer, will provide stiff competition. He's very accomplished on the stump, but he's very, very conservative.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
1. A convenient 'one-place' discussion of what General Clark and CCN people are doing in re 2008 congressional seats and other offices.
2. Importance of retaining 2006 gains and 2008 additions.
3. A diversion from the horrors of daily political, military, and war news.
Along with GrammarBlog, this should be a daily feature of the CCN.
After all, what else of importance do we have to discuss?
candidates for NY, including Eric of course, and Kirsten Gillibrand, Jon Powers, Stephen Harrison, Charlie Rangel...pretty much every Dem running for Congress.
I love GrammarSnob, lol!
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
Challengers like Eric Massa and newly elected incumbents like Kirsten Gillibrand, running in decidedly Republican districts, will be at a disadvantage if Hillary tops the ticket.
While having generally good marks in Upstate New York as senator, that won't translate into Republicans voting for her for president.
I'll do what I can for both of them, and expect General Clark will come to their districts as he did in 2006/
(On the road somewhere between NYC and Cleveland)
...the more I realize how important and convenient it would be to have an ongoing discussion and website to look at in re who amongst us is doing what for candidates in 2008.
For example, I wouldn't have done anything for Gabrielle Gifford in Arizona and Kirsten Gillibrand in Upstate NY, but for discovering info on the CCN.
With your website expertise and boundless energy, could you think about taking the lead on this?
It would be a way for all of us to stay in touch going forward, and be a safety net if this venue becomes unavailable.
Of course, there are the Yahoo sites, but there will be so much activity in 2008, it seems a dedicated site would be best.
away anytime soon (my opinion, of course). General Clark has already asked all of us, in a June 14th email, "...can we do it again?" re: helping his first three candidates for 2008 - Charlie Brown, Jon Boccieri & John Powers, then followed it up with "Massa Time" for Eric.
So - I think it's safe to say he wants to continue helping congressional candidates and hopes we will too. Obviously - he, and you all, are stuck with me. (just think of all that gentle, demure, arm-twisting you have to look forward to from me, lol).
But, if it makes people feel more secure - in the extremely unlikely event this site went dark without warning, I can have the candidate & coordinator info up on ClarkVolunteers.com in less than 24hrs.
So - not too worry. As long as WesPAC is around, I'll keep posting the candidate info here (we should have done more of that for the 2006 cycle, and I apologize for not doing it - that was my fault), and on this thread. So please bookmark this thread, everyone!
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
I'm adopting Eric Massa's campaign.
I did meet Jon Powers (great guy) and some of Charlie Brown's staff at YKos. Both very worthy of support.
There's nothing local that I care about. I have no candidate running for Prez, I can't stand my Senator, and my Rep has a pretty easy time getting re-elected.