Consider me officially against Heath Shuler (NC11) in 2008

[Spiffarino]

Heath Shuler, be on notice: You voted against the Constitution when you voted in favor of Bush's FISA changes. For this, I consider you a Republican; you have become my political enemy in the 2008 NC11 House campaign.

I will call Heath Shuler's office first thing in the morning and let him know that I will no longer:

- Send money
- Phone bank
- Knock on doors
- Put up signs
- Carry his bumper stickers

Here is what I will do:

- Create Democratic-based Anti-Shuler signs and stickers and put them on my lawn and car
- Encourage my progressive neighbors to become active against Shuler's candidacy
- Attend DNC meetings in the 11th district of NC
- Announce my extreme opposition to his candidacy for NC11 at those meetings
- Loudly announce my disgust at his lack of will to uphold the Constitution
- Actively campaign for any and all primary challengers who will vow to uphold the Constitution

Don't give me that, "He's in a red state and a red district" whine. I have already grudgingly accepted the ugly realities of it. He votes anti-choice. He votes anti-stem cell. I have to suck it up even though it goes against my core beliefs of reproductive choice and the need for good science because, let's face it, this place is full of zealots who thump Bibles loudly but never seem to actually read them. We are stuck with these people and they vote. However, I always come down hard in favor of the Constitution, and what he did tears it up in order to give Gonzales free reign to spy on his political enemies.

Heath Shuler, you have violated your Oath of Office.

It's time to remove cowards from our midst. If you are a resident of NC11, I urge you to call Heath Shuler and let him know how you feel. If you agree with me, then I'll see you at the next DNC meeting prepared to unleash Hell.

[ManiFesto]

1. I understand...

But Heath is a good guy. A mountain moderate. He has a lot more to represent than Asheville. When it matters, he's there. But beyond that, I've met the man, as I'm sure you have being active... And I get the sense it's not polls or pressure that persuades him, but his beliefs. Sorry if you can't respect that, but again, I do understand. You have your own, as do we all.

[Sonicmedusa]

3. "He has a lot more to represent than Asheville."

Like who, the Blue Dogs?

Are THEY his constituency? They vote in block. It is as if there is a third party, but instead of running as one, they have infiltrated OURS.

They need to get their own ticket. NOW.

[ManiFesto]

4. "Like who, the Blue Dogs?"

No, I was thinking of the other 14 counties in the 11th that think you need a haircut and bath.

[Sonicmedusa]

5. That is odd.

I was thinking that they need a haircut and bath....

And education, and health care, clean water and air. Maybe their mountain tops and unpolluted rivers and jobs and civil rights, fair taxes on their homes.

Little things like that.

Sadly, far, FAR too many of those people in those other 14 counties have no concept that they vote outside their own self interest.

And that is the way Heath; et all, LIKE IT.

[Spiffarino]

9. WTF? Why are you getting personal?

What you said about a "haircut and bath" was completely OT. Care to enlighten us as to why you felt you had to include that comment?

[ManiFesto]

14. Analogy, not personal

I do hope Sonicmedusa understood what I meant. The mindset of the bulk of voters and their disdain for Asheville.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

17. Heck, Walter Jones (R-NC) voted AGAINST domestic spying

he learned that we were lied into war and he doesn't trust all the happy crap
coming down from DC anymore.

Jones always has a shocked look like he woke up one day to an unbelievable truth -
the emperor is a neo-con.

I heard Jones on C-Span talking about the "Neo Cons" and how they had
lied us into the war.

A GOP who wakes up is better for us than Dems fast asleep.

[Sonicmedusa]

2. As a fellow NC11, I hear you.

I spent a lot of time working to get Heath elected (hell, what were my choices?), despite the fact that I did not like his stance on "choice" issues.

But the war is ON.

Please, if there IS there is a GOD, give us a REAL candidate this time!

Feel free to PM me for support.

[Spiffarino]

8. I spent a lot of money, too

I gave a millionaire hundreds of dollars I could barely afford. I put up signs, wore and handed out pins and bumper stickers, and for what?

I called his office often to express my support when he did the right thing, and I often kept my mouth shut when he pissed me off. I can't do it any more. This one was far too important; it should have been easy for him to do right by the Constitution and he failed miserably.

Yes, I will PM you and hope you will do the same. It's time to get a candidate in NC-11 with some stones and some sense.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. isn't the Senate going to revisit this or is it a done deal

I thought I read somewhere that this thing could be revisited after the August break.

Meanwhile, maybe you guys can have a campout at Heaths during the break.

And at least you guys did better than us, we have Virginia Foxx.
Foxx is straight White House for everything, pro torture, hates babies (once they're born) pro war,
anti poor people.



(she is a millionaire, but doesn't spend it on beauty treatments).

[struggle4progress]

6. Don't be a single issue voter or you'll get another Chainsaw Charlie

[Spiffarino]

7. Chainsaw Charlie is a putz

The only reason he didn't get his ass handed to him every time is because "our" candidate didn't have the stones to mud wrestle with him. He is a low-down, knuckle-dragging, hypocritical, crooked twit and everybody knows it. Even Republicans were tiring of him. He spent his time in office enriching himself, knocking down trees, and screwing up the district's economy (with one exception, the broadband initiative).

Heath Shuler got down and dirty with Charlie and I commend him for that. However, a populist Democrat with giant cojones (and I include fem-cojones) would handily thrash Taylor. Unless the NC-11 Democratic chairs are stupid enough to field another wimp, we have little to worry about from Charlie.

[struggle4progress]

10. Did you notice what happened to the General Assembly in 2006?

The Repubs launched primary challenges against everyone they considered insufficiently pure -- and a bunch of Repub incumbents fell in the primaries. Great! because we then cleaned their clocks in the general election.

Right now, 2008 looks good for us. Why should we want to spend a lot of energy beating up on Dems in the primary season, when we could put energy into fighting Repubs?

Although I'm not certain that Chainsaw himself would be back, it's probably a safe bet that the Repubs will come up with someone at least as bad. Shuler may indeed not be the ideal Congressman, but he hasn't been in office long either. Why not try to cultivate a relationship with him, if at all possible?

[Spiffarino]

11. Are you kidding me?

I have called and emailed his office repeatedly in support of his pro-worker, pro-middle class ideals. I have given money and time to his election and was fully prepared to support him in any way I could this go-round. I even shut my trap when he voted against funding stem-cell research, which was hard for me considering my mother died of leukemia and we really could have used the f**king help!

Yes I have tried, I wanted to do everything I could to help him, but I have to draw the line at destroying the Constitution. Shuler was complicit in doing just that last night. He no longer deserves my support or anyone else's who isn't a Republican or a monarchist.

[struggle4progress]

12. Well, he should be back in the district during the recess.

If your assessment of district politics is accurate, it should be easy enough to organize hundreds of local residents, to produce a constant stream of irate phone callers and mad-as-hell in-person visitors to his local office, all demanding he explain just what the hell he thinks he's doing

If you really have a chance of picking him off in the primary, you should be able to put together an ongoing what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-your-head-Heath show that leaves him stunned. And on the other hand, if it's not possible to put together such an ongoing face-off, then it's going to be hard to put together a good enough organization to beat him in the primary and then carry the general election

[tekisui]

19. He re-funded the Occupation, expanded FISA, won't sign onto Impeachment

THe issues add up to no change and no accountability.

[libnnc]

13. Might not have to worry...I thought he said himself

that he wouldn't stick around in Washington too long. Has he made public plans for re-election?

[wishlist]

15. In recent interview he said he is definitely running for re-election

Obviously he voted for the FISA bill so that he cannot be accused of being weak on fighting terrorism in light of alleged increased terrorism threats recently. He is going to be a formidable candidate and I doubt that anyone can launch a strong enough campaign to seriously oppose him in the primary.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. I have called, got the good old blow off

and am leaning your way.

This is beyond the pale.

Would it have killed him to vote present on this?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. go meet with him during August break

he needs to hear from constituents.

He is a freshman, and disappointing as he is, he is what we have in the 11th.

Meanwhile, the GOP are priming a new candidate, so either Dems need a very well moneyed
candidate to "primary" Shuler with, or 11th goes all GOP again.

A little in person lobbying can work wonders.