Great News!!The Providence Journal Editorial Board calls on Rhode Islanders to take notice of
The third man (Registration required -- excerpts included below).
The Editorial takes Rhode Island's political establishment, Democratic Party, pollsters, and the opposing candidates
to the woodshed for excluding a candidate who has
"credibility on national-security issues. . . rightly backs an all-out effort to wean America from its oil dependency" and whose "experience as a businessman, with an advanced degree in finance, lets him speak confidently on economic matters."
Such a public indictment transforms the dynamics of the race. The Journal has a circulation of 230,000+ on Sunday -- consider this relative to approx 700,000 registered voters in RI.
The media was denied their "spotlight" campaign when Hackett withdrew. The story of the Sheeler campaign is emblematic of the Plight of the Outsiders in a world of strategic dullards -- it is a story (complete with the fantastic "Be Patriotic: Impeach Bush" visual) the media will jump on
IF THEY HEAR ABOUT IT.
It's up to us to catapult it onto the national stage.
Alert the Media!- tell them about the Sheeler campaign;
- tell them about the editorial;
- tell them that the Sheeler campaign is another powerful example of how unconventional, outspoken truth-tellers are energizing voters and challenging the stranglehold that strategic dullards have had on the Democratic Party;
- tell them about the "Be Patriotic: Impeach Bush" billboard (that went up February 3rd, when calling for Impeachment/Censure was taboo);
- tell them they have a chance to get in front of a compelling story that is emblematic of the growing conflict between insider v. outsider; immobilizing caution v. bold action; buttom-up v. top-down politics.
Suggestions:
- Air America. My favorites are Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy. Check out the schedule at http://airamericaradio.com for shows. The call in number is the same for all the shows: 1-866-303-2270
- Chris Matthews (hardball@msnbc.com). Send a message to the Supervising producer Jeremy Bronson too (can't find direct contact info, but could try sending to the same email and put "Attn: Jeremy Bronson" in the subject line).
Matthews told us what he's looking for when he interviewed Hackett on 20-Feb-06:
MATTHEWS: You know, I, as a journalist and as a person who loves to watch big debates in this country, was hoping that your race would be one of the races in that country we could all watch this November and say now there's a guy who thinks the war in Iraq is wrong, the wrong policy. He's taken on the policy. The voters are going to get to vote on this war.
Now they don't get that chance, do they, because you pulled out?
- Keith Olberman. (Countdown with KO site)
Note: With TV people, be sure to note that the Sheeler for U.S. Senate "Impeach Bush" billboard provides great video to accompany
a segment on one candidate's battle to Impeach Bush and restore legitimate governmentThe third manThe Providence JournalSunday, April 23, 2006
Editorial
What about Carl Sheeler? The businessman and ex-Marine running for U.S. Senate has been dismissed by much of political Rhode Island for reasons that we understand but don't admire. The Democrat's chief negative, we are told, is his lack of money (what a country!). Another reason, we suspect, is establishment Democrats' lack of imagination: They just don't want to bother with a new face.
As it happens, Mr. Sheeler's campaign now has more cash than does the imploding campaign of Rhode Island Secretary of State Matthew Brown. Yet the race for the Democratic nomination has been portrayed as between just Mr. Brown and former Rhode Island Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse (until recent days, when Mr. Whitehouse, without the inconvenience of an election, has been declared the winner). . .
. . . in tiny Rhode Island, money should be less important than in, say, California: Within a month a candidate here can visit every city and town -- twice. If retail politics can survive anywhere, it should be in the Ocean State.
So who is Carl Sheeler? He is a liberal, for sure. He has posted a
billboard on Route 95 that reads, "
Be Patriotic: Impeach Bush." We're not sure Rhode Islanders are eager for such a drama, but
the message has earned the candidate some attention.
Mr. Sheeler has several qualifications for the job of U.S. senator.
His experience as a Marine Corps officer gives him some credibility on national-security issues. He is highly critical of the administration's rationale for the Iraq war and its related diplomatic failures, and he rightly regards energy as a security issue. He rightly backs an all-out effort to wean America from its oil dependency -- a kind of Manhattan Project to develop alternative energy sources.
And Mr. Sheeler's experience as a businessman, with an advanced degree in finance, lets him speak confidently on economic matters. Here, too, he finds fault with the Bush administration, criticizing both deficit spending and tax policies that favor the well-to do.
Last week, Matthew Brown's cash account for the Democratic primary, in September, was down to $35,000; Mr. Sheeler's was about $210,000.
Nevertheless, most pollsters -- unfairly and undemocratically -- exclude Mr. Sheeler's name when asking Rhode Islanders which Democratic candidate they'd prefer for Senate. Democrats are instructed to choose between Messrs. Brown and Whitehouse. And apparently some local Democratic committees don't even return Mr. Sheeler's calls. . .
More. . . What polls? When? Excluding Sheeler from polls is intolerable. Same goes for the Democratic Clubs and State Party. Would be great if someone could pull together a "hit list -- these people need to hear from the Rhode Island voters they are cheating of the opportunity to consider a BOLD campaign.
A last word:
Money Talks! -- If the campaign hadn't
surpassed opponent Matt Brown in available cash we may have never seen this editorial.
Spread the Word -- Contribute Today!
www.carlsheeler.com
Campaigning on Impeachment is not just the right thing to do, it is the WINNING thing to do! Show your support and PROVE IT!!
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