2006 elections

Part 1 of a letter from the makers of Sarasota's eVote machines to the Sarasota election board. The election board ignored the letter.

I suppose this was to be expected; being unused to defeat and enmeshed in their discredited ideology to the detriment of common sense, conservatives are claiming that the thrashing received by their party and their candidates on Tuesday was actually, somehow, a victory. Karol over at Alarming News opines:

We have work to do but we're already ahead of the curve because we've seen the American people embrace conservative principles. Democrats had to run to the right to win. That's a success for conservatism, even if its a loss for Republicans.

The snarky response would be that America needs more conservative successes like the one we just saw – many more. But even in terms of actual results, this narrative doesn't withstand scrutiny. I recall that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, seventeen years ago today, some communists in the Soviet bloc rejoiced, claiming this was a welcome development that would allow real communism to flourish; it stands to reason that the ideological cousin of communism, authoritarian conservatism, would make similar claims.

However, this election was a victory for a new coalition of centrists and Progressives. Consider, via Media Matters and DailyKos:

This was history in the making. Don't anyone downplay it. As pointed out by Michael Bouldin at Daily Gotham, "for the first time in American history, a political party lost no seats it was defending. Ain't never happened in 230 years, folks." This was historic.

But there is one very key lesson to be learned by us...by Democrats and by the left in general. This was won big because we worked together. When we are united, Democrats win. When we let the Republicans divide and conquor us, we lose. It is up to us to maintain that unity. Unity does not mean conformity. Mostly it means mutual respect even when we disagree.

So who were the big players in our victory? I think there are several key players. In no particular order:

Act Blue: $17,419,765 raised since 2004. Mostly small donors, not that "soft money" Republicans love so much.

MoveOn: targeted ads in some "safe" Republican districts made those districts so unsafe for Republican that Democrats won. CT-5, IN-2, NY-20, and NH-2 shifted after MoveOn.org ads went on the air and we wound up winning them.

But that ain't all. They then set up the most ambitious phone bank in history, making 6 million calls to voters by election day. This was probably the biggest GOTV effort in history.

But that ain't all...they now are offering a $250,000 reward to anyone who can give evidence of election fraud that leads to a conviction.

Howard Dean: we never would have won so big in Indiana or scared them so much in Wyoming and Idaho and Tennessee had it not been for Dean's 50-state strategy. Chuck Schumer's more targeted Senate strategy made sense for the Senate, but Howard Dean gave the states the ability to exploit Republican weaknesses when they appeared. Probably half our pick ups are thanks to this new infrastructure Dean has helped build in states that previously were ignored as being "too red." 2005 was a successful test of the 50-state strategy. 2006 was a RESOUNDING victory for Howard Dean's strategy. I don't think the DSCC needs to change its strategy, but the DCCC might want to take some lessons from Doctor Dean.

Progressive Majority: Targeting smaller, more local races right down to school board, Progressive Majority is training and helping out the next generation of leaders in several key states as well as helping boost minority representation. In 2005 they won about 70% of the races they targeted. They were more ambitious this year and didn't fare so well, but they did well enough and they came really close in many other races. As they expand, they will be a force through out the nation for helping young progressive activists enter politics. We could probably have won this election without Progressive Majority, but their efforts are helping pave the way for future victories.

Make no mistake...this was a progressive grassroots victory. But it was also a victory for ideological diversity within the Democratic party. Some real progressive grassroots activists helped some moderate Democrats win, and now that we have won, the progressives and moderates have to maintain respect for eachother. Both sides have to remember this: we could not have won without this progressive/moderate alliance. United in respect, we can find the common ground we need to to win big. Divided over the few issues where we differ, or divided through lack of mutual respect, and we lose. Let's remember this lesson. Republicans work by conformity and dictating from above. Democrats work by respecting diversity and listening to eachother. So let's DO IT folks. As I keep quoting these days, remember what FDR said:

"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country."

In a GOTV email from Howard Dean, he outlines the values that the Democratic Party stands for. And they represent what I stand for and these are the reasons why I am a Democrat. As I have said before, it is not a lack of ideas that is the problem with the Democratic Party. It is a lack of unity in achieving those ideas. Here is a list of Democratic Values according to Howard Dean (and I agree):

Honest Leadership & Open Government
We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves.

Real Security & A New Direction in Iraq
We will protect Americans at home and lead the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens and our allies, and we will heed the advice of our commanders on the ground and force a change in the failed Republican strategy in Iraq.

Energy Independence & Lower Gas Prices
We will create a cleaner, greener and stronger America by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, eliminating billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies and developing energy alternatives.

More Jobs, Better Pay & College Access for Everyone
We will create jobs that stay in America, raise the minimum wage, and open the doors to college for every American.

Healthcare that Works for Everyone & Life-Saving Cures
We will join 36 other industrialized nations in making sure everyone has access to affordable health care, and we will make decisions to invest in stem cell and other medical research based on science, not politics.

MoveOn.org was founded to support the movement to censure President Bill Clinton then move on to the business facing the nation (which included the threat of al-Qaeda, ignored by the Republicans until 9/11/2001).

Today, faced with the most corrupt and anti-Constitution administration in modern history, MoveOn.org and the target of its censure effort, President Bill Clinton, are teaming up.

"Nothing that is wrong with America can't be solved with what is right with America."
--Bill Clinton

Today and tomorrow we can try to fight what is wrong with America with what is right. The corrupt and anti-Constitution Republican Party can be fought with good, honest grassroots activism enhanced with modern telecommunications technology. President Clinton, a man I much admire even if I did not always agree with him, has the following message for all grassroots activists in every corner of the nation:

Right now, it's all about reaching out to people and MoveOn knows how to do that better than anyone. I'm writing to tell you that the Democratic candidates in the tightest, neck-to-neck races in the country are counting on you to pull them through to victory with the energy, spirit and passion that define MoveOn.

Today and tomorrow, tens of thousands of MoveOn members are getting together in living rooms and at kitchen tables to call voters in toss-up districts where just a few hundred votes could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Just a few more days. This year has been amazing. MoveOn.org used targeted ads to leverage some safe Republican seats (like IN-2) to tossups or lean Dem. MoveOn.org's phone banks started by targeting 30 close races and wind up with 54 close races. Among the closest races are Idaho's first district. This rapidly went from solid Republican to tossup.

What's my point? My point is not that I think a Democratic takeover is guaranteed. My point is that we have the greatest opportunity for some 30 years to completely rout the Republicans and expose their corruption, greed and incompetence. But to do this we ALL have to give everything for the next few days. I am trying to make it easy for you. I am highlighting below some critical phonebanking you can do from home, and some ready made Act Blue sites for your donations that reflect three different philosophies for winning elections. PLEASE phonebank or donate if you aren't volunteering in your district.

CAMPAIGNS: Winning in 2006

We have a mere few days to win. And winning depends on you. So, here are the GOTV efforts you can do from home between now and Tuesday. I BEG you to be a part of these efforts!

HELP NY STATE (AND CALIFORNIA) FROM HOME: Help John Hall for Congress (also cooperating after 9 PM with McNerney campaign in California)! Focus on TWO House races in one shot!) sign up to phone bank FROM YOUR OWN HOME here: http://www.johnhallforcongress.com/...

..here's a reminder of how the media works.

AP, Washington, 3 November, 2006: In a press conference today, George Bush announced a new Federal program aimed at educating grade school students about the true material composition of the moon, which Bush maintains consists mainly of processed cheese spread.

"We owe a lot to great American companies like Velveeta and Philadelphia. Without them, our moon, that great American tradition, would not be there to light the night skies for our brave soldiers fighting for victory in Iraq. This new program will educate our youngsters about the true role of all of these American heroes."

Some Democrats took issue with Bush's assertions, maintaining that there is no scientific evidence that the moon consists of anything but rocks. As proof, Senator Ted Kennedy cited rocks brought back from the moon by the Apollo astronauts.

Kennedy's claims were sternly rebuked by scholars at an independent think tank, the Cato Institute. The head of its creationism/flying dinosaurs division, Howard Redsnout, used withering criticism in rebutting the theories of the Massachusetts Senator: "How Ted Kennedy would have the gall to mention rocks after he let a young woman drown in a river full of them is beyond me. Clearly, Fat Teddy is just carrying water for his elitist liberal friends up in Cambridge, no pun intended."

I was a latecomer to eating organic, and even now it is a preference, not an absolute. I favor organic when it isn't TOO expensive.

One reason I switched to organic produce is because of the taste. Simply put, organic stuff tastes better. This is partly coincidental. Organic techniques do not by definition give better taste. It is more the fact that non-organic produce is produced for appearance, not taste.

I switched to organic meat because of antibiotics. Mainstream agriculture uses antibiotics routinely in animal feed, which then leads to antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria which are becoming a human health hazard. Generally, only organic meats are guaranteed to be raised without this misuse of antibiotics. Finally, reading about geysers of pig shit on giant pig farms in one of Al Franken’s books sealed the deal with organic meat.

Slowly I realize that once you get beyond the foolish fads that some organic advocates favor, there are some real logical reasons for going organic. Agriculture is becoming increasingly unsustainable, and organic techniques can mitigate this. As environmental crises grow, this will become more and more important.

Which is why it is heartening to see that two no-nonsense organic farmers are running for office this year.

Jon Tester is running for Senate in Montana. From his website:

Now I am never one to be overly optimistic, but I have to say that you KNOW the Republicans are hurting when they are having trouble hanging on to IDAHO.

Yes, Idaho. Two separate polls taken in October (Mason-Dixon and RT Strategies) show the ID-1 race to be close. One shows it a statistical dead heat and the other shows it to be within 6 points. Dare we hope for Congressman Grant from Idaho?

Furthermore, the Republican hold on the Idaho Governorship has slipped from strong retention to weak retention.

Yes...in IDAHO.

Meanwhile, the Wyoming House race (at large) also remains closer than anyone would have expected. THe most recent poll (Aspen) shows the Democrat within 4 points of the Republican. Congressman Trauner from Wyoming? Sounds good to me!

Yes, in Wyoming.

And, of course, Republicans are fighting to keep the Montana Senate seat and might lose as many as three House seats in Indiana.

There are no more safe red states. Sure, many of these close races will still remain Republican. But they are having to fight for it!

Idaho...Wyoming...Montana...Indiana. Sounds like a 50-state strategy might be paying off.

If you can bear it,  the photographs are here. They are from the Musarium program, "Without Sanctuary," and they are a documentation of lynchings. Of the "strange fruit" that hangs in trees. Of what happens when the worst in the human psyche is joined with the worst in others, and mobs arise.