If we only concentrate on the White House to exclusion of the Congress

[The Lone Liberal]

If we only concentrate on the White House to the exclusion of the Congress we will have gained little. If we are successful in electing a president without giving him a congress or at least a congress where the Republicans are thinned then we will have stalemate and will have gained nothing. At the moment congressional Republicans are close to having the number for veto overrides. That would mean that President would be emasculated and would be relegated to administrative actions only. The bottom line is we need to see that the Democrats field a slate of qualified and strong candidates in all districts.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. This is why the Texas state legislators on the lam are so important.

If Tom DeLay (R-Bugman) succeeds in carving up Texas in a year when it isn't supposed to happen, that state is expected to have no fewer than 8 new Republican controlled Congressional districts. The fallout if DeLay succeeds also could extend to other states where Republican-controlled legislatures might decide to do the same damned thing.

Think of the hue and cry that would be raised at the national level if, -- say, Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagoevich -- decided to gerrymander this state to take seats away from the Repubicans who control most of the state outside of Chicago.

[goobergunch]

2. I concur.

Even if we don't win back the House in 2004, we should be grinding away at conservative Repukes in marginal districts so we can get it back in 2006 or 2008. A Democratic President and Congress will be truly formidable.

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

3. Congress Elections Important

I totally agree---we need a grassroots campaign to remove the Repukes from office!

[CarlBallard]

4. Agreed

I think on DU and in general part of the reason that we are focused on the Prez. is that we have a greater understanding across states and districts. Also the field is much more clear in the presidential races than in Congressional races. I have no idea if my Congressman is going to run again (he's inkling for governor) and even less idea who the Republicans will put up. As for the presidential races, aside from Clark and maybe Biden, everything's pretty much set.

[Poiuyt]

5. It will be hard to do

Everybody hates Congress but thinks that their own representative is good. It the other guys.

[aquart]

6. Absolutely.

And use their support of Bush to dislodge them. Americans don't want Congress to rubberstamp the President.

Offer them candidates who are willing to argue with the President on behalf of their constituents. Because Republicans have sold their people out, especially on jobs.

We can kill them and all we have to do is tell the truth. Over and over and over and over and over......

I'd do ten second spots on any vote that sent a job overseas. (Dear me, some Dems might not be happy about that.) I'd smear and tar them with the photo ops they're proudest of. Cross cut with pictures of children, elderly, women, minorities, veterans, with X's thru them. Or the words, LEFT BEHIND stamped on the pictures. And the last picture with the words LEFT BEHIND would be of American soldiers.

This Congress has done nothing for us. Let it be sung and remembered so.

[AWD]

7. Ummm...hello????

Hello??? I'm over here. And I'm actively participating in EXACTLY what you're talking about.

Of course, I could use this opportunity to remind you to donate to people running for Congress, like doing it at PayPal. Maybe donating to [e-mail] at PayPal would help a guy get the cash to get elected in the 16th District in Ohio for US House.

Or I could use it to remind you of the online fundraiser I'll be having on September 1-2.

But either way, you are 100% RIGHT!!!!

[The Lone Liberal]

8. A thought

I wonder if the administrators of DU would put up a site where Congressional candidates could solicit money and help? It could also be used to update the races.

[eyesroll]

10. Same here, AWD...

OK, so I'm not the one running, although as Candidate Wife™, I'm about as close as I can be to "actively participating" as one can be without, well, actually running.

And I second your call: Donating to people who are running for Congress, especially those who are running in Repblican strongholds (WI-5 didn't even bother to float a Democrat at all last year), helps send a message that we will not lay down and concede the House.

Good luck with your online fundraiser!

[pansypoo53219]

9. coat tails

depends how covered in shit the simian gets.