We keep thinking that we have a two party system: Democrats and Republicans. But take a closer look. There are actually three prominent parties: Democrats, Republicans, and Blue Dogs. Now I know most people believe that the Blue Dogs are really Democrats. Wrong.
Just at a time when the Democrats have the opportunity to finally put a progressive in the White House, we find there really are not as many Democrats as we think. And some of them are not really that solidly behind Obama. Hillary's "hard working white Americans" form the Blue Dog base.
The Blue Dogs are a de facto third party. They meet as a separate group. They have their own agenda. In the House, as a block, they sometimes vote with the Democrats. But they also form a coalition with the Republicans. In this way the Blue Dogs wield a hell of a lot of power over the direction our nation takes, particularly on close votes, and they often oppose and obstruct the progressive agenda.
Remember Gabrielle Giffords? She won the open seat in southeast Arizona formerly held by moderate Republican Jim Kolbe in 2006. Well, Rep. Giffords is in the news now - as the first member of Congress with their spouse in outer space.
The popular senator from Illinois, who has barnstormed the country on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial and congressional candidates, is one of the A-list political celebrities of the 2006 campaign season... Obama may be the biggest attraction [of them all]. Despite his brief two years on the national stage, Obama has generated rapturous enthusiasm among Democrats, and he has said he is considering a presidential run. His success on the campaign trail in recent weeks has added to his cachet.
Obama campaigning for Claire McCaskill in Missouri:
Defense of Democracies couldn't intimidate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords with their deceptive, fear-mongering ad saying she would be responsible for the world coming to an end if she voted against shredding the Constitution.
So they NRCC is trying the next deceptive tactic, falling back on that old canard that worked so well for Jim Oberweis against Congressman-elect Bill Foster in IL-14--that it's all about the trial lawyers.
You know, that lie that's been debunked by everybody including a trial lawyer, Jon Haber, CEO of the American Association of Justice?
No matter how much the RNC - at the bidding of telecomm CEOs - tries to deflect the real issue, we have nothing to do with illegal wiretapping since we actually believe in the rule of law.
But when did Republicans ever let a little thing like truth get in the way of a good smear?
I wrote this because I think that Hillary has lost, and this race is just like ripping a band-aid off really slowwwllly, so you feel the pain over and over... When it would just be better to end it quickly, instead of doing it publicly, in full view of your enemies while they celebrate your pain.
I am going to send it to all the uncommited super delegates in my state.
• Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. representative.
• Harry Mitchell, U.S. representative.
• Don Bivens, Democratic Party chairman.,
If I have time I will also write one to everyone who has come out for Obama, thanking them, and even to the ones who have committed to Clinton, asking them to at least move themselves back into the undecided category.
You can look up who your state "uncommited" superdelegates are here If you got really ambitious, you could even send a letter to DNC members, former VP's (Al Gore anyone?) and other Democratic officials who are uncommited super deletates.
I'm not a Gabrielle Giffords fan. She is my Democratic Representative from AZ 08 elected in the 2006 election with lots of pre-primary help from the DCCC. I would call her Republican lite. But for you fans of social ceremony, I guide you to the wedding of Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08) , as presented by the AZ Daily Star.
Michael Chertoff, the homeland security chief, a presidential appointee, made the sole decision yesterday, to override environmental law and allow construction of a wall through the San Pedro Riparian Wilderness area, which is adjacent to the Mexico border.
Mr Chertoff claimed that the environmental damage caused by illegal immigrants was greater than the environmental impact of a wall on migrant wildlife.
The move puts an end to a legal battle that had begun on Oct. 10 when U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle issued a temporary restraining order for construction in the area in response to an appeal submitted by Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club.
For those unfamiliar with my ongoing communication efforts with Congressional Representative Gabrielle Giffords, feel free to browse a my previous diary here. Needless to say, frustration is boiling inside of me and will probably steam out of my ears before too much longer.
When a citizen not only feels that his interests and positions are not being represented by a public servant who he voted into office, but that his interest and positions are being ignored and neglected, is representational government functioning as it should?
Over the jump is Giffords' latest response to my continue communication efforts. Prepare to be amazed.
A few weeks ago, when the "I" word started popping up in the diaries and on the front page, I decided to write my congressional district representative. Gabrielle Giffords was, quite easily, elected in what I would consider a more liberal independant district. Tucson and its surrounding areas of southwest Arizona are full of tolerant, accepting individuals (with some exeptions in wealthier parts of the suburbs, obviously); a blue district who wants the war in Iraq to end now.
Two weeks later, when I recieved a "reply", Giffords had this to say about impeachment:
Speaker Pelosi believes that impeachment hearings could harden the partisanship and diminish the momentum we have to pass meaningful legislation that will expand opportunity for all Americans and improve our quality of life.
Over the jump is the full letter, and my reply. Let's end the war now!
Recently, I called my newly elected Democratic representative, Gabrielle Giffords to ask her to vote no on the supplemental appropriations bill. As we know now, Ms. Giffords voted with Republicans to approve the funding. Today, I received an e-mail letter from Ms. Giffords defending her position. I share it with you below the fold.
In Tucson, Az, last summer, with 110 degree heat, I walked neighborhoods for an Iraq War I vet who was running for Congress for the seat being vacated by Jim Kolbe.
Jeff Latas who also had a son in the current Iraq War,(occupation)was anti war.
Okay, so Nicolas Cage is not as young as he was twenty years ago. Who is? But in twenty years' time Arizona has gone from Republican stronghold to Democratic wave. Bill Clinton will be in Phoenix and Tucson today as part of that wave - offering his support to U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson and other Arizona Democrats like Gabrielle Giffords and Harry Mitchell. And, although Clinton won't be in Ellen Simon's district, she is poised to unseat yet another Republican.
Maybe folks at DailyKos don't know it, but there's a Democratic tidal wave in the making in Arizona. Al Gore and Barack Obama sure do. They visited during the past week in a triple-barrel GOTV barrage. Popular Gov. Janet Napolitano leads her Republican opponent by 40 points. 40 points in formerly Republican Arizona! The Dems are looking to pick up three House seats in Arizona. That's rights - not Connecticut (Although that would be nice, too.) - Arizona!
Democrats need to win 15 Republican seats to recapture Congress and at least that many are in trouble. I have put together a list of ten of the most vulnerable Republicans, whom I'm sure even Daily Kos readers will agree are very fine lawmakers. When you take a look at their accomplishments, it's hard to believe they are not trouncing their opponents, who all must be very good candidates to be doing so well.
Googling for Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), I noticed that someone has paid for a negative, sexist, anti-Giffords "sponsored link" to appear at the top of the page.
The thing about sponsored links is that someone, somewhere, pays when you click on them. If you're feeling a bit mischievous, you can post a charge against the bad guys' account by clicking here, and then clicking on the link that says "Giffords Must Be Stopped". The link might also appear on the right side of the page.
The Race for AZ-08 is now done. The political perfect storm that the Democrats are using is getting the job done. CQPolitics moved the race from No Clear Favorite to Democratic Favored. As the RCCC has left the race the DCCC will be able to spend on more competitive races across the country. The RCCC is doing the Democrats a favor by conceding what should have been a long hard race.
For the full story click here.
For every race the RCCC lets go, we can have two. One that the leave, and one where we increase spending. Unless they pull out because THEY have won.
(Sorry for the short post, I'm canvassing for Kirsten E. Gillibrand in NY-20 in the morning. I Need the sleep)
Every day until the election I'm making a contribution to a new candidate, announcing it here on Daily Kos, and encouraging you to join me. If one person matches my contribution on my ActBlue page, I'll double my contribution; if ten people match it, I'll triple. Yesterday three people matched my $20 to Jim Webb so today I'm sending him another $20.
Today I'm contributing to Gabrielle Giffords; you can read about why in Fitzmas Elf's diary I lived in Arizona for several years and enjoyed Tucson; I'd like to see it with a good Democratic representative in Congress. Please join me.
Just because the NRCC has cancelled all their ad buys after October 3rd doesn't mean Randy Graf is giving up on the race.
Remember Harry Truman? He was all but declared dead by the pundits and the party went through the motions. The Chicago Tribune even printed Dewey Defeats Truman. and Truman won. You'll argue that it's a national race, and more than 60 years ago.
Well, what about Max Cleland? He was up by 6 points the night before the election in 2002. You think Saxby Chambliss gave up? Of course not ... and what happened? We now call Saxby Chambliss Senator.
Want to help make sure we win this seat? Follow me after the jump.
Apparently, there's too much ground to defend for them to waste money on a race in which the Democratic nominee, Gabrielle Giffords, was leading 54-35 according to her internal polls. The GOP's own numbers couldn't have looked much better. The NRCC actually spent money trying to help one of Graf's more moderate candidates win the primary.
