TPM: Hackett's going to challenge Dewine!!!

[Halliburton]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_08_21.php#006320

<snip>
It now looks increasingly likely that Hackett will run for Senate next year, against the vulnerable Republican incumbent Mike DeWine. This Cincinnati Post article has current details, including the decision by one top Ohio Democrat to skip the race and the signal from another that he probably won't run -- developments which appear to make Hackett the Dems' de facto candidate.

That's got to terrify DeWine. Although a statewide campaign could test Hackett's raw political skills, he'd be an instant celebrity candidate on par with, say, Barak Obama. And given that Hackett, who thrilled liberals by calling Bush a chicken hawk and an S.O.B., raised around half a million dollars online for his House special election, imagine what he could do in a marquee Senate battle.

But a Hackett Senate bid would channel the same intraparty tensions discussed below. Many Democrats feel Hackett was too anti-Bush for his own good, that his blazing rhetoric may have scared off some war-weary Republicans who nevertheless respect the president. Needless to say, Hackett's liberal champions don't buy that. So if party consultants convince Hackett to hold back on the Bush-bashing in a Senate race, his liberal-blog-fueled fundraising could dry up fast. But Hackett's a cocksure, shoot-from-the-hip kind of guy -- he even lapsed into a Robert De Niro "Are you talkin' to me?" imitation during his House concession speech -- and it's not clear anyone can tell him what to say in the first place.

The Cincy Post says Hackett may soon visit Washington to meet with party leaders about the race. If so, I assume this would be a key topic of conversation.
<snip>

Dewine must be shaking in his boots.

[myrna minx]

1. Alright!!! Someone to be PROUD of!!

:bounce: :bounce:

[Rainscents]

2. I think Hackett has very good chance winning the Senate race!

[SteppingRazor]

3. Sweet. DeWine is highly vulnerable..

Low poll numbers himself... plus the scandal of fellow Ohio GOP Bob Taft ... plus the resulting implosion of the Ohio Republican Party.
DeWine is very vulnerable, and could easily go down to a good candidate.

[myrna minx]

4. THIS is how we take back the Senate.

Put up real people, not the DLC milquetoast corporatist. :bounce: :bounce:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Yes but OH is a very scary place when it comes to

federal elections. :(

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Hippo_Tron]

73. If it's a close election, then Hackett has a problem

If he's beating DeWine by 10 points on election day, then Blackwell won't be able to tamper with the votes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

80. I disagree. I think we are always at risk for getting beaten by Diebold

regardless of get-out-the-vote efforts.

[Hippo_Tron]

82. You're absolutely right, we can't let our guard down

What I meant though, was that if the polls were showing something like Hackett winning by 20 points then it would be very difficult to Diebold. However, I put nothing past these guys. Even though they may get caught Diebolding the results and even though the dems might actually take the case to court, there will still be no confirmed victor and that's bad for us.

Basically, if we're up by 10, we're better off than if we are neck and neck. But we are by no means out of the woods.

[GreenPartyVoter]

83. After feeling that Kerry was going to win because everything on the ground

point to it, I just do not trust the Repubs. And fotrunately, neither does John Conyers. I am so glad he has stayed on top of DSM and Ohio and everything.

[Hippo_Tron]

84. Yeah, everything was indicating a Kerry win...

Don't get me wrong, I don't dismiss the possibility that there was a foul play involved in Ohio. On election night I predicted that Ohio 2004 would be just like Florida 2000. Perhaps it would've been if Kerry had challenged the results it would've been.

However, the polls from the night before were showing a dead heat in Ohio. I think that if Kerry had been up 5-10 points in Ohio the night before, it would have been much less likely that the election would have been stolen. But there is certainly still the possibility that they would've done it anyway.

[GreenPartyVoter]

85. But how trustworthy are the polls? I have gotten so paranoid about

everything since 9/11 started to look to me like a lihop/mihop scenario.. I just don't know any more.

[Hippo_Tron]

86. self delete n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

87. Put it this way, if Kerry's internals had showed him up 55/45...

He would've contested the election. And I agree, you simply never know with this gang. Although I'm not sold on either LIHOP or MIHOP, it's scary how much sense LIHOP makes, because the only alternative is gross negligence. When non-partisan officials like Richard Clarke come out and say that the attacks could've easily been prevented, it's not hard to speculate that there was a conspiracy. Also, there is definately some evidence that FDR pulled a LIHOP with Pearl Harbor. I wonder if in a few decades, history students will be studying the possibility that 9/11 was LIHOP/MIHOP as well.

[wicket]

5. Give 'em hell Hackett!!!!!!!!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[radio4progressives]

7. Paul Hackett needs to be true to his heart and soul ...

he needs to be savvy how the DLC will try to co-opt him or failing that sabatogue him at every turn like they did with Dean and Kucinich.

But if he talks like he did on Bill Mahr the other night, Paul Hackett's campaign will be equilevant to Barak Obama's level of support and popularity among the RANK AND FILE, imo.

And how utterly sweet that would be to crush Dewine and the republican noise machine in ohio.

[mtnester]

11. 2006, the year we take back Ohio

then we can get verified paper ballots

[never_get_over_it]

71. But ....

if we don't have verified paper ballots first how do we take back OH? DeWine probably isn't the least bit worried....although I think I heard a woman from OH on a talk radio show who is working with a non partisan group trying to get election fraud fixed in OH - lets hope they are successful

[Hippo_Tron]

74. We win in landslides

There is a margin of election fraud at the moment. No candidate that we've seen an election stolen from has had 50%+1 vote outside of the margin of error so far. Basically, Stickland and Hackett need to have comfortable leads if they are to stand a chance. If it's a nail-biter like Bush/Kerry was in Ohio, then we know which way it will go.

[never_get_over_it]

76. I hope you're right

but I have so much mistrust for these people that I think they can be successful in stealing even if there is a large margin. For example the freak in chief supposedly won FL in 2004 by 5 points which I consider a landslide - I'll never believe he won by that much and to tell you the truth I'm not even sure he won at all. I live in Florida and the thought that my vote was counted for this freak literally makes me sick - but you know maybe my vote was counted for him - that is so unbelievably sad - you see why I have so much mistrust? I hope you're right - I'm waiting for the day that my faith in our voting system will be restored.

[CTyankee]

78. but why won't people acknowledge that the MOE

disparity in 04 was such a glaring piece of evidence in the election? I try to get folks to understand why it is so critical, why it is not a delusion, and I get blank stares. Tell my how I can shape my argument better (my BA and MA are both in the Humanities, but I can understand the core concept of the MOE).

[Hippo_Tron]

81. Exit polls showed Kerry with 53%, not outside of the MOE

Assuming the usual MOE, about 4%, Kerry could have actually had as low as 49%. There's also about a 5% chance that the exit polls are even outside of the margin of error. Is it UNLIKELY that the poll was off by 4 points? yes. Is it possible? yes. Was it still a close race? yes. Was it within the margin of fraud? You bet.

Now, had Kerry been polling 55-57, it would be a different story entirely.

[CTyankee]

89. perhaps we're talking about different exit polls

I was referring to the exit polls that have been analyzed by math professors who argued that the MOEs in Ohio at voting places using electronic machines were wildly out of synch with the voting results. That gave rise to the opposing argument that Dems were "overrepresented" in the exit polls, hence the disparity.

As I said, my academic background is not in math, so I need some help with this.

[DancingBear]

8. If this is true, I know where I'll be in the fall of '06

As an OSU alum, what better place to spend football season then in Columbus, kicking Mike Dewine's ass.

Oh, and Michigan still sucks, BTW. :)

[Amsterdam Hooligan]

32. Grew Up in Grandview.........Just Down The Road from OSU Stadium

....but I`m alumni of U of Southern Colorado....As a decorated 173rd Airborne RVN vet, Paul Hackett is my kinda of man.......

[DancingBear]

46. Welcome to DU Amsterdam Hooligan!

I know Grandview well - still have friends living there.

[glitch]

9. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I bet they won't be able to resist cheating

again, so another excellent chance to catch them.
Please God let us use it this time.

[me b zola]

10. We have got your back, Mr. Hackett!!

A *REAL* candidate! Not only is DeSwine shaking in his boots, I bet this scrares the dlc as well!!!

:woohoo:



Go get 'em, Mr. Hackett!!! :patriot:

[ecoflame]

12. Yeehaw!!

I might just move back & join my friends in Ohio.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

13. Why is the DLC afraid of pissin' of "war-weary" Repukes?

That's why Chicken George and Kooky Karl keep winning. Energize your base and f*ck the fence sitting wafflers that may or may not be persuaded to vote at all, let alone for your candidate.

[Jon8503]

29. Same here, I say if they try to tame him, tell the DLC to go to hell and

run as a Independent.

What the hell is wrong with the DLC? Hackett & the others that had the balls to say what they felt about this war have been proven right. Why does the majority of the country now feel the same way.

As Gandi says "as the people go, I must go as I am their leader". or something to that effect.

[RamboLiberal]

14. Damn I hope this happens

And there will be a PA car bearing a Hackett sticker. I drive through Eastern Ohio a couple of times a month, so it can't hurt. Depending how it looks for Dem candidate(Casey probably) against Santorum, if I can spare any time from the PA race, I'll be glad to do some work for Hackett.

I love this guy!

[napi21]

15. I think Paul will win in Ohio if he runs. I also don't think he'll change

his style. That's what endears him to people and he knows that. I also wouldn't worry about him beating up on Shrub too much. Remember, he's a straight shooter, and all people like that. That's also what won lots of votes for Shrub. (Lots of people THOUGHT he was a straight shooter.)

I listened to him on a TV interview last week. I think it was when David Gregory was hosting Hardball. Paul did GREAT! He's a very quick thinker, and doesn't let reporters trap him. He reminded me a bit of Bill Clinton.

Good luck to you Paul, and PLEASE RUN!

[Pithy Cherub]

16. Hackett inspires Democrats to stand proudly FOR something!

:woohoo: Ohio is on its way to being PROUDLY BLUE again! :woohoo:

May the DLC hear, see and feel another shot across the bow!

[Jacobin]

17. I hope the Dino's don't join forces with the RWers to snuff his

election bid.

I hope he realizes his biggest problem is not RW republicans but Dinos whose vested interests are more in line with the republican war machine than with real democratic values.

[cascadiance]

21. If the Beltway folks try to push him out..

Then maybe he should just put in his name in the hat for Governor of Ohio instead and REALLY have the power to clean house in that state! Frog march Blackwell out of state government there in the process!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

18. I just hope he doesn't get "Senatized"

as happens to many good non-politicians.

[rucky]

19. YES! n/t

[opusprime]

20. "and it's not clear anyone can tell him what to say in the first place"

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!!

A candidate who doesnt read the daily talking points, and actually speaks from the heart?

Hes got my vote.

Too bad candidates who dont pander to the idiots among us hardly are very successful.

[PinkyisBlue]

34. Winner

I agree! The candidates should listen to their intuitions more and speak from their hearts. It was John Kerry's instinct that told him to fight the Swift Boaters' lies right away, but he listened to his advisers and said nothing. If he had followed his own heart, the Swift Boaters might have been stopped early on.

My own intuition tells me that the DLC is not on the side of the majority of Democrats and Paul Hacking should avoid it like the plague.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

22. Maybe I'm missing...

...something here. Just who is it again that will be collecting and counting the votes in this race? Did some kind of substantive election reform get passed into law last night while I was asleep? Someone please provide the link 'cause I missed that story. Wake up people, the Dems could run God against the GOP's Charlie Manson, and we could talk on and on about about how vulnerable Manson is with that background of brutal home invasion slayings and all. If Diebold, ES&S, Triad and the rest are involved in the vote count, we're gonna lose--period. Denial over this won't help solve it.

[blm]

45. I hope Dean and DNC will have the BBV issue under control before then.

.

[Wetzelbill]

23. Hackett, DK, Sherrod Brown, Tim Ryan, Ohio has some Dems to be proud of...

I like the idea of Hackett giving it another go. He's got lots of guts and doesn't mince any words. Good for him.

[deadparrot]

24. Ohio DUers, I'm counting on you to get this done!

If he decides to run, I'll be willing to do any and everything necessary from northeast Missouri to get him elected. Just let me know.

Awesome news. :D

[DemReadingDU]

27. I'm in Ohio

and I'll be supporting Hackett if he decides to run for Senate!

[mod mom]

36. Have the dems demand fair elections and we will get candidates in office.

We came through for Kerry, it was the dem leadership who sat back and didn't fight for dem votes.

[wli]

25. no need for DLC cryptofascists; elect Iraq war vets instead!

Corporatism, fascism, whatever. It must all be made illegal if/when the neocons can ever be prosecuted out of office.

[geckosfeet]

26. Dammit. The national Dems better support him. IMO you cannot

be to anti-Bush if you are a Dem.

"Many Democrats feel Hackett was too anti-Bush for his own good, that his blazing rhetoric may have scared off some war-weary Republicans who nevertheless respect the president." -

WTF is that supposed to mean? A good pol can be vitriolic with anti-Bush rhetoric and still suck up to the dick-head pubs that voted for him.

[ibegurpard]

28. Yeah, he scared them so much

that he turned a normal Democratic 30-point deficit district into less than 10.
These people will say anything to hold on to their deluded "strategies."

[OzarkDem]

59. National Dems shouldn't have a say in this

The DSCC has picked our Ohio senate candidates for the last 10 years, with nary a winner among them.

[geckosfeet]

70. So if they support him he is hosed automatically? I mean campaign

funds and logistics support.

[lonestarnot]

30. Woohoo and the Hack It Club is back! Go Paul!

[genius]

31. Where can I contact his campaign.? I might be able to get him endorsments.

I need some more information, though.

[Old Vet]

38. Ohio DUs will see this NY DUer if Hackett runs.

[JNelson6563]

33. Good news!

Would love to see more of him giving chimpy hell.

Julie

[mod mom]

35. I thought this announcement was coming. Going to a picnic w Hackett

as guest speaker in Columbus OH next weekend. Why would he be speaking in Columbus unless he was planning to run for state office. He will make a great senator. Good riddance to Dewine!

[Lady President]

69. Me Too!

I'd love to meet another DUer at the picnic Sunday. Send me a PM.

Personally, I'm not thrilled with the idea of Hackett running for Senate. I would have liked to have seen someone with some experience (i.e. DK or Brown), but I'm anxious to hear him speak.

[xxqqqzme]

37. Hackett was great on

Maher Friday night. He even managed 2 zing Bill a couple of times 2 the point that Bill had no snappy, one liner comeback. Thought he was great, very funny and very good looking!

[FighttheFuture]

60. Saw him on Bill Maher also, Excellent!! I will contribute to him again...

even though I do not live in Ohio!

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

39. Makes me proud to be a native Buckeye...

When people like Hackett are ready to step up and work for what (and who) really matters. That's what it's all about. Can't wait to see him get DeWhine out of office, it's a long time coming.

[wanpete]

40. Hackett for Gov. of Ohio!

:bounce:

[safi0]

49. As Governor

His biggest assett his anti-war voice would be all but silenced.

If this comes to fruition then this makes 5-6 seats that I think we can win. Based on who's announced I think we can win a in: Pennsylvania, RI, Tennessee, Montana, Ohio and possibly Arizona. If McCaskill says yes in Missouri that makes 7, and although it looks extremely unlikely if Warner chooses to go for it in VA we could win there also.

[Hippo_Tron]

75. Ted Stickland is better for Governor, let Hackett run for Senate

Ted Strickland is another anti-war dem, but he has much more experience in politics than Hackett. Strickland's also in his 60's, while Hackett is in his 40's. Hackett clearly has more to say about national issues, while Strickland has more experience in Ohio politics. Hackett is better suited in the Senate, Strickland is best for Governor.

[mom cat]

41. He would be great as a senator and would help shake up the party!

:dem::bounce::smoke::applause::smoke::bounce::kick:

[Imagevision]

42. I support Hackett in a New York minute!!

I also agree whith his opinion that Bush in fact is the son of a bitch!

[blue neen]

43. This is fantastic news.

Hackett is going places. He is the absolute real deal. He would represent the people of Ohio very well. Ohio needs some news to be proud of these days.

[Kolesar]

44. Ohio Dems have a dearth of candidates

That makes Paul a compelling choice, but if and only if the Iraq War is still a compelling issue! (har har)

[theHandpuppet]

47. DeWine has a huge war chest

We will have to be prepared to help fund Hackett's campaign -- not that I think that will be a problem. But you know the GOP will pull out all the stops to defeat Hackett.

[safi0]

50. If you've read

Schumer's e-mail I don't think that'll be a problem

[theHandpuppet]

58. That's great news!

I know the GOP poured tons of money into Ohio's 2nd Congressional race (the Schmidt/Hackett race) and I believe Hackett has them scared witless. IMO he's the one candidate they really don't want to see run for that senate seat, so they're sure to pour even more money into DeWine's campaign if Hackett decides to challenge.

[Richard Steele]

48. This is great news. I'm glad he changed his mind...

...about going back to Iraq.

We need him HERE!

And about a hundred more just like him wouldn't be a bad thing!

[Al-CIAda]

51. Yes!

:thumbsup:

[spuddonna]

52. Oh please, I hope this is true!! :)

Hackett would be an excellent candidate...

[Judi Lynn]

53. Thank you, Halliburton! Whatta way to start a week!

You know they'll try to destroy him, but he seems durable, doesn't he?

Good luck to Paul Hackett. He stands out in a world of chickenhawks.

[tsuki]

54. YES!

[PurpleChez]

55. RUN!!!!!!

[howmad1]

56. Hmmm, what scares the crap out of me........

.....is Hackett going to Washington to meet Democratic party leaders. Geeez, let's hope he can't find DLC headquarters. :P

[sonias]

57. Go get 'em Paul

Excellent news!

Sonia

[David Zephyr]

61. The day he announces, he gets my money.

Here's crossing my fingers that this brave young man goes for it!

And yes, Dewine must be shaking in his wingtips.

[FighttheFuture]

62. How long before he "callled" back into the Marines to go to Iraq, again?

Do you think it will happen? I think these criminals will do ANYTHING they have too.

[Shipwack]

63. It's been known to happen...

A sailor on shore duty in Georgia ran for town council and won, based on a platform that the "good 'ol boys" had lined their pockets long enough, and that a newcomer was needed to represent the interests of all the new residents and their families that were moving into the area.

One strike against him was the claim that there was no guarantee that he would stay around, since he could be called back to sea. The sailor acknowledged this, but stated he was at the beginning of his shore duty, and people rarely got sent back to sea, especially so soon after beginning shore duty.

Guess who gets sent back to sea early?

St. Mary's was one of the stupidest and corrupt little towns I've ever seen... Though the people were nice, and the area pleasant...

[Road Scholar]

64. Fantastic!!!!!! nt

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[jillan]

65. I cannot wait until we have Hackett in the Senate!!!!

I am beyond impressed with him!

He will shake the dems up, and not be afraid to stand up.
We have some great leaders in the senate. They just need someone to show them it's okay to speak up, and not apologize later!

[kitkat65]

66. Now THAT! is the best news I've heard all month.

Our Republican governor has been found guilty of misdemeanors - talk of impeachment. God, I love that word.

Now a call out to Deb Pryce! I'm hoping for your unemployment reeeeeeal soon.

[brook]

67. Yessssss! n/t

[Dynasty_At_Passes]

68. Fight the fraud and overturn Ohio.....Get all the fraud out of Ohio!

http://ohiohonestelections.org/

[In Truth We Trust]

72. YESSSSSSS! Run Paul, it's yours for the taking! Fuck the DLC-we don't need

no stinking "blessings".

[sasquatch]

77. Thank you Paul

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[StudentOfDarrow]

79. Hackett is just amazing.

DOWN WITH DEWINE!!!!

edit: misspelling

[stepnw1f]

88. Looks Like The Dems Win A Seat!

Unless they rig this one too.