Republican Party Chair for Massa, NY29th.

[trillian]

Cross posted from dkos

Republican Party Chair for Massa
by Eric Massa
Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 12:02:34 PM PDT

My campaign is gaining momentum and support from far and wide and from young and old. From my loyal Netroots enthusiasts - those internet aficionados who taught me how to bring the old town hall meeting to a global community - to older supporters who have seen this great nation through ups and downs, and who know what sort of country they want to leave for their grandkids. I am thankful for both kinds of support, and this campaign would not be as successful without it. More than anything, I'm proud of how this campaign has brought our district's citizens together, united in support of the values our campaign stands for, and the knowledge that our country needs change.

Below is a letter I want to share with you. It is from Sherman Moreland, the former Chemung County Chair for the GOP and a born and bred Republican. If Sherman can no longer stand the tactics and values of the Republican Party - who can? And if you're like Sherman, fed up with the way things are going, or believe that grassroots candidates funded by everyday people (like the netroots community!) can make our country and NY's 29th a better place to live, then support the Netroots August Push by donating today...

Dear Eric:
I'm a life-long third generation Republican with 58 years of proactive party membership, but I'm having this problem staying the course. The policies, ideology and outcomes of the Bush Administration governance and buttressed largely by a go-along Congress are starkly in contrast with and contravene everything I have believed and thought my Party stood for.
Traditional fiscal conservativism has been turned on its ear into trillion dollar debt riding on a wave of annual deficit spending of hundreds of billions. Constitutional conservatism that jealously guarded our Bill of Rights, separation of Church and State and the built-in system of checks and balances has given way to the blatant disregard when found inconvenient to power and the unparalleled invasion by government into the private lives and affairs of its citizenry. All done for the sake of ideological dogma and national security witch hunts.
My choice seems to be either "Hail Caesar" or "Hell No, I won't go" for this bastardization of traditional Republican credos. My Party has been stolen by a Washington wrecking crew of Neo-cons and ninnies. Corporate and other special interest money has poured into the GOP coffers and into campaign slush funds managed by the like of the notorious Tom DeLay and used to buy the votes and loyalty of Congressman like "Randy" John R. Kuhl, Jr., who, I am told, has accepted more of such largesse than any other NYS GOP House member. Nonetheless, Randy assures us he is "no rubber stamp" for the Bush/DeLay axis. I've been told that when Tom DeLay tried to offer his largesse to Amo Houghton, Amo turned him down cold. Randy, you're no Amo Houghten. You're his antithesis. Consequently, I must in good conscience vote to replace you in Congress with your Democratic opponent, Eric Massa, who I understand is a well-intentioned, well qualified individual of principle and integrity, just the right mix.
Allow me the literary license to paraphrase a statement Republican, Senator Barry Goldwater thusly: "Mindless party loyalty is no virtue. Breaking with miscreant party leadership is no vice."
Sherman Moreland
Horseheads

Read the original letter:


Part of the reason I wanted to share this letter with you is that it highlights how important it is to be open to new ways of thinking - to be ready to make a change when you know it's the right thing to do. Like Sherman, I try to live my life that way. Certainly, when I began this campaign, I had no idea what an important role the Internet would play in the election - and now I can't imagine running a successful campaign without it. Among other things, Netroots epitomizes the political dialogue that we'd like to see in halls of Congress, the transparency and inclusion we need more of in our government. I'm so proud to be a part of this movement, and thankful for all the good friends I've met at the Yearly Kos Convention and on the blogs.
I know you've already done so much for me, but I need to ask you to do more - we need to win this November, and to do so we need your support. My financial filing deadline is TODAY. Help me continue to raise more money than my Republican opponent, Randy Kuhl. And don't forget: donations go further in NY's 29th district. Prices are lower here, so a dollar spent here is more powerful and helps our campaign more than in most districts.
So if you have the resources, donate to my ActBlue Netroots Page, and to all of the other outstanding Netroots candidates.

[PATRICK]

1. Money needed

He is definitely a strong candidate with all the right moves, well known by the Clarkies. He is up against a schmuck, but an incumbent schmuck in a district he barely won last time despite a big rookie snafu that turned a big negative(wildly messy divorce papers just left lying around the office) into a reflex sympathy plus.

Kuhl is still a monetary disaster, self-greasing, lockstep tool for Bush. And certainly no Amo Houghton who was the rare vote against the Iraq incursion.

What he needs desperately is to get his face and message out to this sprawling district and shake loose the apathetic, ignorant re-selection of Kuhl. the same reasons might apply more this time. An energized Democratic party helped even more by a soured GOP. It should put the seat back in play. Reason enough to help him to the publicity that would accomplish the mission.

When Samara Barend ran the old saws were that this district was helplessly GOP and not a good chance compared to Jack Davis(trying again, BTW). I did not see much difference except that with a more inexperienced campaign and a huge distracting negative gaffe at the end that caused the resignation of the young campaign manager it was still a lot closer than those who had written it off suggested.

The demographics arguments are not equal in every area. In upstate NY the traditional GOP vote and the rambunctious hardcore RW conservatives can easily be split and the real presentation of a genuinely superior attractive candidate who campaigns well can overwhelm rubberstamp GOP incumbents. (Louise Slaughter). It is also necessary to watch for hanky panky in Kuhl's native district.

Somehow I see this demographics argument again reflexively downgrading this race. Maybe our populace is too dull to recognize as changing from patterned voting habits, but that simply is not the reason to make lack of support a self-fulfilling surrender. This IS winnable and should easily be in a genuine fair choice environment. Plus, I don't think any in the local media have changed their unfavorable opinion of Kuhl who is reprising his sleazy Albany habits on the national scene.

Kuhl has the charism of a rubber chicken without a funny context. OUR guy is fantastic.