Dems plan to win back Senate (some highlights)

[CatWoman]

Yesterday Charles Schumer and Dick Durbin attended a fundraiser for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. Some highlights:

Fundraising...

Schumer said that Dems are outraising Repubs Senate Campaign Committee... 23 million (including 3 million through the internet) to 21 million and they are spending it better - they lead in cash on hand 16million to 8million.

Roberts and SCOTUS...

He indicated that conservative Senators including Coburn believe Roberts will uphold Roe v. Wade.

He seemed inclined to vote for Roberts and to present an image of "reasonableness" though he said he is still undecided. The momentum seemed to be in favor keeping the powder dry for the "O'Connor" replacement.

Schumer polled the room and the overwhelming majority supported voting for Roberts as a way of keeping our powder dry.

The Plame investigation...

He said he trusts Fitzgerald to do the job on the Plame investigation... said that the Press is dropping the story because of Miller and Schumer believes that she will be released soon. He said Tenet is VERY angry about this and indicated that he has been very cooperative with the prosecutor.

"Judas Iscariot"...

Schumer said he believes that he is making progress with Lieberman on sticking with the caucus but said that he was afraid Lieberman was going to strike a deal on Social Security before Katrina. He said it was not easy dealing with "Judas Iscariots." Those were his words, but he hastened to add that he was not referring to anyone in particular with that appellation.

Rove in charge of NOLA rebuilding...

He said he will begin attacking Bush plan for NOLA next week... particularly plan to put Rove in charge... to include school vouchers... reduce the minimum wage... He said that because the speech was Thursday night, there was no coordinated Dem message yet but that it was coming.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/18/71357/8725

[Lasher]

1. That's right, there's where our focus should be!

By the way, CatWoman, I love your little kittie cartoon.

[CatWoman]

2. thanks!!

:hi:

BTW -- There's more at the link

[mzmolly]

3. Thanks for sharing this.

:hi:

[CatWoman]

5. no prob, MzMolly

:hi:

[Wordie]

4. Yes, thanks! (Ahh, I love the sound of that, "winning back the Senate")eom

[Grateful for Hope]

6. Thank you very much for sharing this

there is some hope here, and, I have to say that it also fueled my anger against the likes of Lieberman. What is worse -- a Republican who is open about his or her political leanings, or a Democrat, like Zell Miller and Lieberman, who is really a Republican in Democrat clothing? To me, the latter are, if anything, more dishonest than their openly Republican counterparts.

:grr:

[CatWoman]

7. all of those guys need to do us a big favor, and switch parties

Lieberman, Miller, and any one else like them.

They are just dragging us down.

[Grateful for Hope]

11. I agree

They need to "get honest" and own their true party affiliation.

[Tatiana]

8. Senate races are very important. We need to pick up a few seats.

Glad to see we are doing relatively well in fundraising.

Thug seats up for election:

Tennessee (Frist-R): Harold Ford (D) should take this one. While he is pretty conservative, any "D" would be an improvement over Frist.

Montana (Burns-R): Burns won a tight race (51% to 47%) in 2000 over Brian Schweitzer (D), who was elected governor in 2004. Dems also took over the state senate and house here. Looks like John Tester (D) is going to be the challenger. Burns is trying to raise $8-10 million. I think the momentum swings our way. It will be tight and we will need to get some $$$ to Tester (he's getting Pearl Jam to do a fundraiser, I think), but I think we have a good shot at picking this one up.

Ohio (DeWine-R): Paul Hackett (D), an Iraq vet (and I think he also ran for a Congressional seat?) looks like he might challenge. GOPers are pissed with DeWine in Ohio, but I think he'll hang on.

Pennsylvania (Santorum-R): If we don't pick this seat up, we deserve to be smacked. Bob Casey looks like the frontrunner here. He just got elected state treasurer in 04, but who cares at this point? We need Santorum gone like yesterday. We should sink everything we can spare into this race. I think Penssylvanians have been embarassed enough and are ready to get rid of 'Sanitorium.'

Virginia (Allen-R): PLEASE, PLEASE RUN MARK WARNER!!!!!!! I know he wants to be President in '08, but...we need him NOW! If we can get Warner to run against Allen, we will pick up this seat. If not, I think Allen will be reelected.

Arizona (Kyl-R): I don't know much about this one.

Indiana (Lugar-R): Tim Roemer lost DNC Chair, but this could make up for it. I hope he challenges Lugar. If he does, it will give us a chance to pick this one up as well. If he doesn't, Lugar is gonna be reelected.

Mississippi (Lott-R): It makes me sick to say this, but we DHaP(Don't Have a Prayer) here. They will reelect this moron in MS.

Missouri (Talent-R): Claire McCaskill (D) is going to challenge. While I think our primary resources should go to Pennsylvania to dethrone Santorum, the Dems are going to support McCaskill here as well. It's 50-50 at this point, in my opinion.

Texas (Hutchison-R): Unfortunately, DHaP of picking up this seat

[Ioo]

9. I support this, but I am pissed at dems

I honestly feel if you are in the House/Senate and you have a (D) in your name you should be thrown out of office.

The Republicans have placed the world at your feet, they have fucked up everything they have torched, and this pack of Dems have done NOTHING to capitalize on this. They have rolled over every chance they have gotten. Reid, Clinton, and the rest of them can kiss my ass.

I hope we win, but I am afrade if we do, that will be the largest victory, because they will DO NOTHING with it. They will just roll over and met the minority take over.

All of them should go, We need real Dems

[Tatiana]

10. I agree and disagree.

I think our current crop of Dems can and SHOULD be doing a better job of driving home the point that the Republicans should not be trusted. However, there is a segment of the population (which we would be fools not to acknowledge), that supports the Bush/corporate/neocon/PNAC agenda. Whether these are wealthy individuals, racists, uneducated and/or ignorant people, I don't know. But I've been looking at some polling data. After the cluster**ck that has gone on in this country with Katrina, with the DeLay and Frist and other Rethug scandals, can you believe there are still people in this country who (by over 50%) approve of the job Bush is doing????

As of 9/22/05:

State Bush/Kerry %approve %disapprove


Alabama Bush 51% 44%

Idaho Bush 57% 40%

Mississippi Bush 55% 43%

Nebraska Bush 55% 42%

North Dakota Bush 51% 46%

Oklahoma Bush 51% 46%

Texas Bush 52% 45%

Utah Bush 63% 36%

Wyoming Bush 55% 44%


http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2005/50StatePOTUS0905SortedbyState.htm

Sixty-three freaking percent of people in Utah think Bush is doing a good job! How do you fight a mentality like that? My answer is that, at this point, you can't. You have to focus on areas where you can disseminate your message and pick up enough votes to kick the true evil-doers out of office. What we need to work on is clearly articulating our policies and positions on the issues and focus that energy on places where we have a chance.

[Ioo]

12. Ignore them...

ALl of those states are a lost cause at this point. Let them go for now.

This segement of the population will NEVER vote Dem...

So why waste the time...

[rockymountaindem]

13. This is the dumbest post I've ever read on DU

and that's saying a lot.

Yeah, let's just throw out all our representatives, people with experience and power, and replace them. And yeah, if the Democrats take back the Congress in '06, that's just going to be another Republican victory :sarcasm:

:wtf:

[Ioo]

14. Yah because the Dems are doing such a great job...

I said I - ME - I would, I am not saying it is practical, but let's face it, they are doing a piss poor job as Dems. I mean, with dems like this who needs Republicans.

Who cares if they have experience and power if they refuse to use it.

I want the dems to win, I really do...

[CatWoman]

16. YIKES!!!!!

for a minute, I thought you were talking about my thread :scared:

[NMDemDist2]

15. Nice! kicked and nominated n/t