MyDD :: Who Should We Love?

Who Should We Love?

by atdleft, Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:35:36 PM EST

(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama & Swing State Project)

Hello. I'm atdleft, someone you may know from Clintonistas for Obama or here or The Liberal OC. I have a question for all of you.

I just want to let you know that when we're not obsessing over all things Presidential, my friends & I are looking for good Congressional candidates to support. We already have some idea of who looks good to us, but I'd like to hear from all of you on which candidates we should help out. Whild I'd love to be of use to everyone, I at least want to make sure I'm doing something for Democrats that: (a) can win & (b) will stick to good progressive values once elected.

Because I'm in the area and I'm already familiar with her, I'm all for Debbie Cook. She's running against an extreme right-wing wacko incumbent, and she's the first Democratic challenger since Loretta Sanchez (in 1996) who has a real chance of winning an Orange County, CA, House seat. I'm already doing whatever I can to help her win, and I encourage everyone else in the LA/OC area to do the same.

But what about everyone else living in other parts of the country? I feel terrible leaving them all out in the cold. That's why I'm here today asking for suggestions.

So who should we love? Which candidates deserve our attention? Is Dina Titus the one who can finally upset Jon Porter in NV-03? Can Charlie Brown blow away GOP carpetbagger Tom McClintock in CA-04? Is the second time the charm for Darcy Burner (WA-08) & Christine Jennings (FL-13)? And can Jeff Merkley (OR-Sen), Tom Udall (NM-Sen), & Jeanne Shaheen (NH-Sen) help us expand our Senate majority?

So who should we love? Tell me now. If you make a good case, you might see big chances with this ActBlue page & some diaries from me promoting your favorite candidate(s). ;-)

Tags: CA-46, Debbie Cook, CA-04, Charlie Brown, NV-03, Dina Titus, FL-13, Christine Jennings, Congress, Democrats, Clintonistas for Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 36 Comments :: Post a Comment

Tips? Flames? Suggestions? (2.00 / 5)

Just talk to me already! :-D

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:36:48 PM EST

So, what yer askin' is.... (none / 0)

;)

Oh, who do I love?

http://www.glennnye.com/home/
http://www.glennnye.com/content/page/id/ 254

Running against incumbent Thelma Drake...she is the most vacuous Bushbot imaginable.

Getting rid of Thelma would be ALMOST as sweet as getting Warner (Mark) elected as our Senator..which in turn will be ALMOST as sweet as getting Obama elected President.

by Kysen on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:55:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 4)

Unfortunately, I only really know about my home district. And my Representative is already a progressive in a safe district, so I think that even he would agree there are candidates that need a lot more love than him.

by pomology on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:44:44 PM EST

So where are you? (2.00 / 3)

I'm sure there must be some competitive House and/or Senate race in your area. :-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:46:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So where are you? (2.00 / 3)

New Jersey's 12th district.

Though, this is a good reminder that I should acquaint myself with Ohio House and/or Senate races, because I'm going to college there, and that's the area where I can campaign this fall.

I was already planning on campaigning for Barack there, but as I'm reminded by all your entries, we need to work hard for House and Senate races, too, so I should really plan on working for Congressional races, too.

by pomology on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:55:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

7th district (2.00 / 2)

head over to Roselle or South Plainfield and help send Linda Stender to Congress.

Hell, you got an E-Z Pass, head over the Goethals Bridge and help out Mike McMahon.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:03:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm really not sure who to plug at the moment. (2.00 / 4)

You know I like Vivian Figures, but realistically she has absolutely no shot against Sessions. I'll give her a bit of my money (and definitely some time), but I couldn't ask anyone else to. But I promise, the next time I have money to spend, I'll give some cash love to your Debbie. I'm a bit strapped right now, having just moved, but I'll get my bearings eventually.

Hey, by the way, I paid $3.69 at the pump earlier... I almost started clapping in public.

I'm only here to look for engels. Screw the rest of this big blue craphole.

by sricki on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:48:09 PM EST

That's OK... (2.00 / 4)

We're all kinda cash-strapped right now. Let's just remember...

http://www.actblue.com/page/c4o

To give to our faves when we can & make use of our ActBlue page. ;-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:57:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm really not sure who to plug at the moment. (2.00 / 3)

Isn't that sad, when we think we're getting a bargain at $3.69 a gallon?

"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC

by skohayes on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 08:11:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 4)

ATD -

Is this the time to pull out my Brown for congress chestnut that I put on C4O back when y'all asked me to join your hallowed ranks?

Dizzy

PS ... sriki - I saw 3.92 today at a Safeway (grocery chain) and I almost cried for joy

-- Dizzy
Proudly cross-posting everything to:
http://www.computerqueen.net/
http://clintonistasforobama.blogspot.com /

by DizzyQueen on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 06:57:50 PM EST

Always exciting to see it (2.00 / 4)

under $4, isn't it? ;)

I'm only here to look for engels. Screw the rest of this big blue craphole.

by sricki on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:03:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Speak for youself! (2.00 / 4)

Down here in "The OC", we rejoice when we spot a gas station offering a gallon of the stinky stuff for $4.15 (and that's regular)!! Gas under $4 here? That would classify as a miracle on the same level as the Virgin Mary appearing on a whole wheat tortilla at Trader Joe's. ;-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:17:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Speak for youself! (2.00 / 3)

That and trees are what make me happy to live in NorCal ...

Much love, ATD

-- Dizzy
Proudly cross-posting everything to:
http://www.computerqueen.net/
http://clintonistasforobama.blogspot.com /

by DizzyQueen on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 08:18:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 3)

You know me, I have special love for Al Franken. Norm Coleman makes me want to pull my hair our (and my head is shaved, so that would really hurt).

"It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety". Salvor Hardin

by Denny Crane on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:08:15 PM EST

Lucky you, Denny! (2.00 / 2)

So you get to help Al Franken? I can hardly wait to see him tell some inappropriate joke while he's being sworn in at the Senate chambers. ;-)

And btw, are there any good House races up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Tell me now. I'm curious. ;-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:20:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lucky you, Denny! (2.00 / 1)

I can't speak to that as I live in Atlanta. But there aren't any good ones here, as far as I know.

"It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety". Salvor Hardin

by Denny Crane on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:30:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I love Aswhin Madia from MN-03 (2.00 / 3)

I'm in Iowa, so I'm supporting Ron Hubler and Becky Greenwald, but I love Mr. Madia. I wish he was running in Iowa. This guy is an Iraq war veteran who believes in mental health parity.

http://www.madiaforcongress.com/

by GreenHills on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:23:05 PM EST

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 4)

I dunno. I don't even know who is running in my congressional district. Yikes. Where do I go to find out...Senate is covered with Boxer and Feinstein.

by linfar on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:36:47 PM EST

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 3)

When I was younger I really wanted to live in California because they had two Jewish, woman, Democratic Senators.

by pomology on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:46:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Go here... (2.00 / 4)

http://www.house.gov

Near the top of the page, you should find the tool where you enter your 9 digit zip code to find out who your Rep. is. Hope that helps! :-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:46:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm glad someone else said that (2.00 / 3)

I was a little embarassed to admit I didn't know, either...

Thanks for the website, atd! Turns out FL-13 is a very Blueable district!

http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/FL-1 3?t=anon

2006 Election Results:

Buchanan: 119,309 -50.1%
Jennings: 118,940 - 49.9%

And I've been talking to a lot of people in this district, and if a 400-vote swing isn't possible then I'm a monkey's uncle (Anthony! Get down our of that tree!). So many people have lost their homes, or are barely hanging on to them - there has been a continued turnover from elderly to younger - many of the Obama volunteers described themselves as "conservative democrats" (397 showed up for the Sarasota AFO campaign office open house on Friday (I literally couldn't get out of the elevator into the hallway)...

Jennings needs love!

http://www.christinejennings2008.com/end orsements

I just registered on her campaign website.

Good work atd!

-chris

Motley Moose: Progress Through Politics

by chrisblask on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 09:09:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well... (2.00 / 3)

Color me as one of those "krazy konspiracy kooks" who think that Jennings actually WON in 2006, only for the seat to be stolen back by way of mystery voting machines and ominous vanishing votes. Remember, this was Ms. "I declare BUSH the winna'!" Katherine Harris' seat until she (cough) decided to run for Senate (cough) against Bill Nelson (AND LOST!!! :-D). But anyways, I think that Jennings has a good shot at winning again. Hopefully, her margin of victory this time will be large enough to sustain another mysterious GOP-orchestrated act of vanishing electronically recorded votes. ;-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 09:30:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Barbara Tag - local district leader (2.00 / 2)

is telling me about that right now... ;~)

She and her husband are hugely active here, she called me about our house party tomorrow night.

Small world!

-chris

Motley Moose: Progress Through Politics

by chrisblask on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 09:51:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 3)

I am a big fan of Gary Peters (MI-09).

This is my hometown and it used to be rock-solid Reagan Republican country. This is the best chance yet to turn it blue (the county went 50/50 for Bush/Kerry) and I like our candidate a lot.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 08:17:52 PM EST

Really??!! (1.50 / 2)

If Steve M likes a candidate, then the candidate MUST be good. Thanks for the tip. I'll take a good look at him.

And btw, will you please email me soon at atdleftATyahooDOTcom? I'd like to offer you something that I hope you'll like. :-)

We shall overcome!

by atdleft on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 09:32:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Really??!! (2.00 / 2)

Here is a nice article on the changing landscape back home. Good reading on a red-to-blue district.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 10:17:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 1)

Gary Peters is a great candidate and a real progressive. If I was still up in MI there's a good chance I'd be working for his campaign. I used to live just north of there in a safe Dem district.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 10:24:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 4)

My two races are Rick Noriega, running against John Cornyn in Texas, and Jim Slattery, running against Pat Roberts.
Slattery has a snowball's chance in hell, but it is making Republicans spend money in a very, very red state.
Noriega has a better chance, and the pressure of running against a strong Democratic candidate made Cornyn change his vote on the Medicare bill two weeks ago.
Both of these guys are found on the "Road to 60" Act Blue page.

"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC

by skohayes on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 08:18:46 PM EST

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 2)

Noriega. Noriega. Noriega.

the guy is my hero. he's up against Cornyn, a notorious Bush rubber stamper. its definitely a David v. Goliath race, Big Bad John has an endless money flow and has Rove campaigning for him all over Texas. if Noriega can pull it off, he'll be Texas' first Hispanic senator.

no one ever roots for Goliath, do they?

by alyssa chaos on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 09:58:52 PM EST

Re: Who Should We Love? (2.00 / 2)

If you want to put some money into a tight race, Ronnie Musgrove can sure use some help in MS. The race has been rated a tossup for most of this year, but the latest Ras poll shows Wicker ahead by 9. That's a real outlier compared to every other poll.

Musgrove is not a progressive on all issues. He couldn't get elected in MS if he was, but he's very progressive by MS standards. He's shown himself to be good on women's issues, like equal pay and on children. He cares a hell of a lot more for the weaker members of society than any Repugnant does.

This race is important in a lot of ways. Number one, of course, is that it is a senate race. This pickup is essential in the road to 60. Another nice thing about this race is that it is for Trent Lott's old seat. This would be a great symbolic victory.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 10:34:26 PM EST

I'm staying out of this one. (none / 0)

We had a local female candidate who challenged a LONG-time House Rep in a GOP stronghold. She lost, but that woman got 43% of the vote, which for little name recognition and limited funds, was pretty damn good.

So when the incumbent retired, the local Dems were eager to put her up again. She was now experienced against an unknown Bushie.

But No-o.

The DNC had this hare-brained idea that fronting Iraq vets everywhere possible was the way to go. They FORCED another woman candidate on the party, one who didn't even live in the district.

And she lost.

So it doesn't matter who I'd LIKE to see run - the national party will just stick their noses into it and mess it up all over again.

McSame '08: Against All Hope - and Proud of It

by Its All So Goofy on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 10:53:56 PM EST

Re: I'm staying out of this one. (none / 0)

We have the same problem in Oregon. After all the big names bowed out of challenging the Republican incumbent, activist/attorney Steve Novick put his hat in the ring and immediately built a groundswell of grassroots support.

Then Chuck Schumer came in and finally got his third pick, Jeff Merkley. Chuck gave him a half million bucks support early on, and at the end of the campaign as his lackey was still unable to outdistance Novick, Chuck & Co. financed some end of campaign attacks against Novick.

Now we're stuck with milquetoast Merkley who actually voted to "acknowledge the courage of George W. Bush" instead of protesting the invasion of Iraq.

by East Bank Thom on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:54:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Charlie Brown! (2.00 / 1)

Is running a very competitive campaign. He's got more COH than McClintock and an top notch ground operation. This is a race we can win.

by abc on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:19:22 PM EST

Eric Massa (none / 0)

Randy Kuhl MUST GO.

by upstate girl on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:55:41 PM EST

Brian Baird (none / 0)

Just kidding.

by ReillyDiefenbach on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:10:57 AM EST

Harry Mitchell (AZ-5) (none / 0)

is in his crucial 1st re-election cycle. He sent me the best letter on telecom immunity, he is facing the winner of a 4 way Republican primary featuring: (a female city council member from Tempe--one of the best run towns in the Phoenix area), a wingnut state senator (you know he's a wingnut because he says his goal is to restore civility in politics and 2 other Repubs I'm not familiar with. This district leans Repub if not for Tempe so the councilwoman could give him a stiff challenge.

Visiting the hopium dens proudly since 2007.

by AZphilosopher on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:24:16 AM EST

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