Hackett shows us the way for a 06 victory

[Mass]

Take a solid candidate who is ready to take a district that is considered lost and fight for it, without adopting Republican principles.

If we can run people like him in all the supposedly Republican districts, there is a chance that we can win the House back, and still fight for our values.

This is what is worth to be fought for, and I hope a lot of people will be inspired by his example.

[wli]

1. yep, neocon-lite is going nowhere

Hang left, and you'll get the votes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I am with you there.

-------------------------------------------------------
Fight for Andy! Fight for election reform!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[FreedomAngel82]

3. I think so too

If he does this well think of how people like Hackett can do all over the country! But then again think about the media and how they treated Kerry. :shrug:

[SeanQ]

4. Dean needs to ride this election

And start getting more agressive in cleaning house in the DLC. This vindicates his stance that if we stand up for our values and fight back, we can be competative in ANY district!

As I said at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1979999#1980206
This is GREAT news, even as is.

[Mass]

5. I could not care less

What he needs is to run GOOD candidates everywhere, and particularly in these districts that are considered lost.

[LSK]

13. that is Deans plan thou, to win the red states

And yes, lets get dump the fvcking DLC LOOSERS already.

[derby378]

6. Didn't Paul Hackett have a concealed weapon permit?

So much for gun control guiding the Democratic infrastructure...

[Mass]

7. I dont know and do not expect anybody to be perfect

I know I disagree with him on some issues, but still, he made this district competitive, and it is what is important.

[derby378]

8. Don't get me wrong

I don't mind Hackett having the permit. I believe the national Democratic machine needs to de-emphasize gun control and start emphasizing gun safety and fundamental human rights.

[flaminbats]

9. we can beat Jean next year..

this election was closer than I expected! Jean had two advantages..money and gender. Not being a man allowed her to narrow the gender gap, and to win votes of women who voted for both Kerry and Gore. Money allowed her to paint Hackett as a crazy radical.

Hackett proved any Democrat CAN still win in any district, and by
running the right candidates in the right districts..Democrats will win Congressional majorities in 06!

[derby378]

10. Schmidt now has the home court advantage

The time to beat Schmidt was tonight, not next year. Her future in Congress is now secure.

[OzarkDem]

15. Not if she's indicted

The way the investigations are going, the entire top tier of the Ohio GOP could be in big trouble.

A second grand jury has begun investigating GOP corruption...

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS24/50802002

[dolstein]

24. Or if she has a steady stream of green monkeys flying out her butt

Personally, I think my scenario is slightly more plausible that yours.

[AntiCoup2K4]

11. Who's the "crazy radical"??

How could THIS horrid beast portray anybody else as "crazy".

[flaminbats]

12. a crazy..and well financed radical

unfortunately the people who swing close elections vote only for or against the candidate they know best.

[sandnsea]

17. I don't think so

I can't imagine many women voting for that shrew just because she was a woman. Not at all. I can imagine women voting for Hackett because of sex appeal and security appeal though. Jean won the traditional Republican on abortion, tax cuts and loving George Bush; I would imagine. Hackett won the trust of the security fence sitter, Kerry didn't. He also didn't have months and months for people to pick him apart either.

[DCal]

14. The DSCC should recruit Hackett to run for the Senate in 06

against DeWine.

[snowbear]

16. With the numbers he pulled in tonight.... he'll be favored BIG TIME

And the U.S. Senate seat is the bigger prize!

[Pirate Smile]

21. That is exactly what I want him to do. We need to pick up Senate

seats and he could do it against Dewine running statewide.

It is just over a year away and he has had a great run of press and exposure.

I hope he doesn't have to go back to Iraq. I think he could definitely be more of an asset to his country by running for the Senate - and winning.

I'm so exited for 2006 now.

[Robeson]

18. That is an excellent observation....

...we should concede nothing. We should fight for every seat, in every area. This should be viewed as a turning point for taking them straight on. The Repugs thought they wouldn't even have to fight for this seat. We need to make them fight for ALL seats.

[formernaderite]

19. I'm not from Ohio...

and I visited his website and was very impressed with what he said, he was someone I would want to vote for. However, I was frankly a little disconcerted with his campaign ad, which I assume ran on Ohio TV. If I didn't know anything about the guy, I would have thought he was running as a repub. THe ad features Bush's voice in the intro, and Hackett never even states he's a dem. I was greatly confused, considering he seems to be VERY progressive. Sorry, I think this tactic may have "almost" worked...but this was a small election. We can't expect to win by hoping they won't notice we're democrats.

[iconoclastNYC]

20. And even if those candidates lose those races we still win....

New names for our mailing lists

New volunteers

New voters

Our message dessiminated

Republicans bled of money and resources

How many Republicans run because it's "easy" in thier ultra-red districts? Might it be more difficult for the GOP to find candidates if its "hard work?"

Fight for every seat, EVERYWHERE. The Republicans have known this for years.

[d_b]

22. I bet he could take the senate seat in 06

[dolstein]

23. Nominating a pro-gun, "not career politician" soldier?

I'm ok with that. Unfortunately, I think Wes Clark supports gun control.