Received from Alan Grayson:

[elleng]

Dear Ellen,

What we HAVE now is government of the lobbyists, by the lobbyists, and for the lobbyists.

What we WANT now is government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

And you've shown us the way.

We want our elected officials to spend their time seeking solutions for ordinary people -- jobs, health care, education, energy, and so on. Instead, so many of them spend all their time groveling for $5000 PAC checks from their true masters, the lobbyists. But you've spelled out the alternative.

And that alternative has a name: People Power. The power to fuel a political campaign with small contributions, phone calls, knocks on the door, and even bumper stickers. Lobbyists can't match that.

Together, we are creating and demonstrating a whole new paradigm of government. A government in which our elected officials know that their best shot at reelection is not catering to lobbyists and selling favors, but rather helping people, inspiring people, and leading people toward a better life for all.

You and I did something together that's never been done before, at any time, anywhere. We raised over half-a-million dollars in one day, for an incumbent Democratic House member. We set the all-time record. And every penny that we raised that day was clean money.

In the last three months, almost 15,000 people -- people like you -- each contributed to our campaign. We raised over $850,000, and finished the year before the election with nearly a million dollars in cash on hand.

After our money bomb in November, dozens of my colleagues wanted to know how we did it. They are looking for a better way, but they've been scared that sticking their neck out will cost them their jobs. But you showed them that we want and need a "congressman with guts," and that you'll step up and give such a leader the strength that's needed to keep fighting for you.

The Huffington Post just reported on our success, how we were able to make this happen, and what this means for Congress and our future. Click here to read the article.

Because of your help, I am able to fight the Fed and stop Wall Street from reaching into your pocket.

Because of your help, I can take on the insurance companies, who make their blood money by denying you care.

Because of your help, I can speak out in favor of peace.

Because of your help, I can say the things that we all have been thinking, but everyone else has been afraid to say.

Thank you for all of your support. With your help, we'll keep showing the world what People Power looks like. And we'll make sure, as Lincoln said, that there will be "a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Your Friend,

Alan Grayson
Member of Congress


HuffPo article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/13/grayson-pulls-in-850000-i_n_421702.html

[flamingdem]

1. Alan is an inspiration ! Plus, he has a sense of humor nt