Obama is 1 of 15+ senators strongly considering challenge

[dzika]

(I don't want to get your hopes up but I thought you might like to see this note from the Progressive Democrats of Illinois...)


Hello to all,

Just a note to let you know the Obama contact was made successfully at his going away party on Dec 30th. With him at that party was Jesse Jackson Sr. and Jr., Danny Davis, Bobby Rush and Emil Jones. Rep. John Conyers and the Black Caucus have already lobbied Obama, you can be assured of that, so consider him 1 of the 15 or so Senators who are strongly considering this challenge, he needs your encouragement. He is being sworn in on Jan 3rd so he will be an active member of the Senate on the 6th.

When you call the Senators suggest to them that there is safety and strength in numbers, that this challenge would work best if all the Democratic Senators were on board. Also state that this issue has gone beyond Kerry and now involves the integrity of our Democracy! We can not allow another stolen election and still hope for fair elections in the future! State that you must draw your line in the sand here, that corruption unchecked just grows stronger! As you can see we are recommending you also contact a few of the Republicans; McCain, Lugar, Snowe, Chafee and Voinovich + DeWine from Ohio, they need to be thinking about this challenge too.

Moveon has asked that we all send a note about the DNC chairperson ASAP, these are overlapping issues and I used this issue in my note to get accross the point that there is a schism so wide between the DNC and the Democratic populace that it might be irrepairable unless the Dems come through for us, www.moveonpac.org/dncchair/ .
One last request, please call Rep. John Conyers and thank him for his tremendous efforts and dedication to the right of every American to cast their vote and get it counted correctly!
If anyone makes a last minute decision to go to Washington for the rally on the 6th, www.patrioticoutrage.com and can't find a ride at www.51capitalmarch.com , please contact Ted Greenfield if in Chicago at 1-847-824-1002 or Andrew Chusid in the Chicago suburbs at 1-309-838-0880, they may be able to help.

I am leaving for Washington soon so this will be my last e-mail to you all, I wish everyone God's speed and blessings, let's go change the course of history!

Dr. Lora Chamberlain
[e-mail]
Progressive Democrats of Illinois


Link:
http://nostolendemocracy.typepad.com/blog/2005/01/action_memo_fro.html

[andjustice4all]

1. This will just

take one 'profile in courage' to get the ball rolling. I hope Obama does it thereby providing at least a few more Senators to follow his lead.

Thanks for the info!

[dzika]

3. Keep calling, faxing and writing!

The note said that Obama needs encouragement.

[catgirl]

64. The title of this thread is deceiving

Who heard Obama say "I'm strongly considering"?

[tritsofme]

2. Obama won't challenge

I'd say Bill Frist has a better chance of challenging the election than Obama.

He won't do anything to jeopardize his political career, because he will be President someday.

[roenyc]

23. i feel the same way

he is too new and when he was on Randi Rhodes recently he was already using talking points. he is in politics mode. dont know that he can do it. but man i would be so glad if he did.

do you really think those rednecks down south are going to vote for a black man?

[elizm]

33. Doesn't matter..

whether they are black or white...if they are a Democrat they won't vote for them...because a Demorat,to them, is the same thing. Don't think we need to be worrying about whether we can get the 'rednecks down south'to vote Democratic.
BTW...I'm from 'down south' and I'm not a redneck.

[mattclearing]

25. I think he kinda has to challenge.

The only black senator fails to stand up for voting rights? That'll surely help his political ambitions.

If he does it right, it could only be a positive. He just needs to talk democracy and civil rights, and no one would hold it against him.

[Pithy Cherub]

43. Obama is of one America

and knows what disenfranchisement means. It will be a very high visibility move and one that needs to be to demonstrate that he is one Senator who cares for those with the least protection amongst us. He most definitely should!

[Darknyte7]

45. I beleive he will...

Barack is like no other man in that Senate Chamber. I beleive he'll begin to show America just that on January 6th. Stay tuned...

[Eye_on_prize]

60. I agree.. Obama standing up makes more sense politically than standing

down as one of his first significant actions as US Senator. Obama standing down and leaving Conyers twisting in the wind with no US Senator would definitely seem to be signaling his solidarity with the DNC 'go along, get along' same old/same old crowd, and may not in fact be wise politically. If other Senators do stand, and Obama doesn't, that almost looks worse in a way. It'll sure be interesting to see what he does. I hope he stands with Conyers, both for his and our sake.

... may Conyers and Obama be protected and empowered by these good angels O8) O8) O8) O8) O8) O8)to stand up and show the Dems what real leadership under fire looks like, and expose *s bogus 'man-date'.

[Benhurst]

27. President of what? The American Fascist Confederation? NT

[Clark2008]

35. He won't be president until we get rid of the Republican machines

No Dem will.

[helderheid]

37. he will?

I didn't realize Obama had an in with the voting machine companies.

[mordarlar]

65. If he does challange...

he will be a hero in what we all know to be the majority of this country. He would be able to stand shunted outside of the bi party system and i would not hesitate to vote for him in a second. Honestly the ones who's careers are at risk are the ones who are standing by the criminal action as if they are criminal themselves. Just my opinion... I realize it does not often match political reality. I have great hope in Obama. I hope he does the right thing.

[coloradodem2005]

4. Let's hope that this makes a difference.

n/t

[Annus Horribilis]

5. I Doubt Obama Will Stand Up

He will only be a senator for 2 days on Jan. 6. It has to be someone at the end of their career, like Byrd or Kennedy.

[k8conant]

34. He has SIX years (well, 5+) before he's up for reelection...

and what better way to stand up for justice?

[CraZdem4life]

46. 6 years is a long time...his name would will get cleared up by then..

[liberalla]

6. Excellent !

Oh! I so hope he does it! With a BUNCH of other Senators! The more the better--what a statement! To me, it would be harder to justify NOT doing it... after what we've seen these 4 years.

[dzika]

11. The fact that he and 15 other senators are CONSIDERING

contesting the vote should be a call to action for everyone.

Obama may not challenge the vote but this letter has given us an important clue.

Over a dozen Senators are CONSIDERING contesting the electoral vote. I believe that this is reliable information and a great hint for us.

Our efforts (rallies, protests, calls, faxes, emails...) are working. Let's get these Senators moved from the "CONSIDERING" column to the "CHALLENGING" column.

It feels like we are fighting against the odds but you can tell that everything that we do makes a difference. After Jan. 6, it's too late to tell your senator to contest the vote.

I don't know if Obama will challenge and there is no indication that B* will be replaced before the swearing-in...

Don't encourage the Senators to contest the vote based your intellect, encourage these senators based on your faith in the truth.

There is a trend that is more important than whether or not Obama contests the Electoral vote.

The word is getting to more people everyday.

2 weeks ago Obermann said that there was no (zero) chance of
contesting the election.

A week later he announced that Conyers would contest the election
and Obermann said that there was a 1 in 3 chance a senator would
contest the Ohio Electoral vote.

Yesterday, one of the DUers reports that she witnessed Conyers being
interviewed in an airplane. He said that he expected several
senators to contest the vote.

Today we hear that 15 or more Senators are considering contesting
the vote.

Is that trend not worth investing a little hope in?

Stand now. Not to make Kerry the president but because this is a great opportunity to give some truth back to the American people. We deserve no less.

[EFerrari]

21. Someone is scared. Dzika, go look at the NYT thread. The

piece they published has no news in it! They are trying to bury the Conyers story with more "whatsamatta the dems" baloney.

[Clark2008]

36. Who is "Oberman?"

Do you mean Keith OLBERMANN?

[Bill Bored]

7. This would be a great time for a statement of solidarity by the honorable

Carol Moseley Braun. Has she given one yet?

[Moloch]

8. Obama won't challenge it....

He is a freshman senator, just starting out. It would be unprecidented.

[andjustice4all]

9. Do you see any senator doing it?

Frankly, I wouldn't bet the farm.

:mad:

[Moloch]

10. Nah...

It ain't gonna happen.

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. Any Senator challenging the election would be unprecedented

So? They need to understand that if they don't stand up now, there won't be any more elections, at least elections that aren't totally rigged. They will never win again if they don't stand up.

[merh]

30. So, isn't all of this "unprecedented"?

We don't know what evidence they have. I am personally praying they have some star witness stashed away in some undisclosed location that will come forward to tell all. As a freshman, he has nothing to lose yet, he hasn't been given any position that would be put in jeopardy. As an African American, he would be taking a stand against voter disenfranchisement and for civil rights.

[zann725]

47. "Unprecedented"...I like the sound of that word!

n/t:kick:

[molly]

38. Obama is unprecidented and I admire the hell out of him

[Helga Scow Stern]

12. dzika, do you have a new number for Obama, if he has gone to DC?

I faxed the 23 page report by IndyOp to his Chicago office last night. It would be good to be able to reach him in DC.

Also, have you found a decent fax number for Jeffords? Either quite a few of the fax machines on the targeted list are busy at all hours, or they are getting turned off. I haven't been able to get through any more to Byrd or Boxer by fax, for instance.


On edit: I'll take any Republican fax numbers too, of course. :smile:

On edit of edit: I followed the link above and found plenty more numbers to keep me from getting any rest. I didn't check if it was new Obama number.

[Wilms]

15. Obama contact info

I googled, didn't see a DC Office, wound up here...

<http://www.obamaforillinois.com/index.asp?Type=NONE&SEC={8683FB66-C0DB-4FAB-85C7-2FBCF770436E}>

Contact Us ...

Mailing Address:
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS
Democrat for U.S. Senate 2004
P.O. Box 802799
Chicago, IL 60680-2799

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Campaign Headquarters
310 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1720
Chicago, Illinois 60604

Email: [e-mail]
Springfield Headquarters
627 East Adams
Springfield, IL 62701
217.544.9670
217.544.9690 (f)

[Helga Scow Stern]

50. Thanks for that. I did manage to send a 25 page fax to the new DC

number for Obama listed on the site above.

[catgirl]

19. I wonder why the phone lines are busy all the time?

Isn't that what "blasting" does Ojai? Screws up their communication systems so important messages can't get through.

[Helga Scow Stern]

51. I am not sure what you are saying. I am getting important messages

through. Otherwise, they are unplugged for the weekend or busy.

Are you suggesting we should not be trying to communicate now?

What could be more important? And I don't blast. It takes me about an hour to prepare and send each communication.

[catgirl]

62. 25 page faxes?

You're on all the blast threads, including a new one today with your buddy IndyOp. You don't fool me.

[joevoter]

13. Obama will never be President unless we have fair elections

He also has a much better chance politically if he stands now rather than waiting in the wings as others take a Strong stand. We like strong thoughtful leaders.

Good thread by the way

[NEOBuckeye]

14. A shame we didn't already have him in position in 2000 or 2004.

Obama would've crushed Bush like the nasty little insect that he is.

[joevoter]

16. I think that Obama has the best chance

of gaining the support of the people. He must show that he is as strong as he is articulate. Obama is one of the best speakers that I have ever seen. * is by far the worst. (hair stands up on back of neck)

[SueZhope]

29. very true

He is very popular at this time
I think if he stands people will respect him even more.

Its expected of him politically not to stand , to stay safe.
To stand is to be a leader.....

Our only chance of survival is to have leaders we have enough politicians....

[DemonFighterLives]

31. I totally agree

Just because Obama is a newbie doesn't mean he can't poke dubby in the eye. It will take a lot of guts, but real leaders have those.
Since this contesting is pretty obvious, don't ya think at least one senator could step out now to kind of ease the tension? We are still not sure if there will be one let alone 15.

[me b zola]

59. LOL

I know this is a serious thread, and you replied in a serious manner.

But the image of someone poking * in the eye is just too hilarious!!

When talk of the Senate contesting the votes began, I was one who thought that Obama would not because of the politics of it. I have since began leaning the other way. Like many of you, I now see more ways that it would help him politically, than hinder/damage him.

Does anybody know how much voter suppression & intimidation occurred in Illinois? Even if there had been none (and I can't imagine that there was none), I still see it in his best interest to contest. But if a sizable number of his constituents were affected, I would almost bet that he will contest.

Once again, thanks for the image...georgie poked in the eye!! LOL

[DemonFighterLives]

67. Would love to see it

I don't know how much fraud and intimidation occured in Illinois, but I bet it's safe to assume dirty tricks happened anywhere BFEE had a foothold.

Neocons are a cancer on this once great nation. Time to cut them out.

[Benhurst]

28. Oh, yeah. Like the MSM would have had a hard time spinning

the stolen election as "America wasn't ready for an African American president". As long as they control the counting of the votes and are allowed to openly intimidate and disfranchise poor and minority voters, the Republicans rule, with the help and support of the MSM.

[jayctravis]

53. Obama has a mandate.

And this Illinois resident wants him to stand up.

[Stevepol]

54. Obama has a mandate because IL has paper ballots. Kerry didn't have

a mandate because he had his votes counted on DREs. It's as simple as that. I'm convinced, and I think an honest analysis of the exit polls indicates as much, that Kerry won the election handily, if not by a landslide. Stay focused on the real issus: the ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS A VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOT AUDITED BY LAW FOR EVERY ELECTION. We need to state that constantly in every communication until it becomes a reality.

[jayctravis]

61. There was nobody to run against him.

The Republicans kinda threw Keyes in there just to not leave it uncontested.

He has a mandate and six years. He is already in the history books with his speech at the Democratic convention.

[catgirl]

18. "strongly considering"?

This sounds like a hoax! Obama would NEVER do it. That would be political suicide. My freepdar goes off when these calls go out to clog up fax machines, e-mail systems and phone lines of dem Senators, Arnebeck and Conyers. Conyers did send out letters to all and there are protests happening (this is our best way to get message across).

Hey Ojai, you didn't respond last time I suggested you are often on these sorts of "blaster" threads. What's up with that?

It's weird how no one initiating these threads ever responds when posters cry out not to blast and clog. Blasting is an old method to protest unpopular policies of an official. In fact MoveOn has organized mass calling to the white house in the past.

Edited grammar

[roguevalley]

20. I have heard that Byrd is wide open. Bury him with e-mails.

[Vidar]

22. Good news. Thanks for posting.

[katinmn]

24. Thanks, dzika.

I appreciate any bit of news and it is inspiring to hear about what others are doing. :kick:

[bklyncowgirl]

26. It would take an enormous amount of courage for him to do this.

It should be interesting to see if he does it and if he does if he can use his well regarded eloquence to bring expression to the cause of reform.

It could either turn him into a hero for millions or destroy his career before it's even begun.

[keepthemhonest]

32. Thanks DZIKA

This is exactly what I have been thinking, is it's not which one senator will do it, it is which one senator dare not do it. I am starting to lean that way now. I think we can give them the pushes they need.Good job and thanks for posting.

[emcguffie]

39. if they don't, they will lose

They will eventually lose their seats if they DON;T challenge, because the fraud will continue, and they will be knocked off, two or three every election.

They cannot count on having honest elections anywhere, anytime, until the fraud is exposed and guarded against.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blue neen]

41. Some people in politics want to base their careers on integrity;

the present administration is excluded from that.

[katinmn]

44. LOL! you're assuming he's like your Repugs.

That's what you expect -- and reward.

[EnfantTerrible]

42. Thanks for posting this

I agree with other posts here that he can't afford not to challenge. The eloquence with which he spoke at the Dem. Convention would be reduced to nothing but empty rhetoric if he remains quiet on this issue in order to save his political career.

I say: What a way to start his term!

[loritooker]

48. I just called his Springfield # and was able to leave a message. n/t

[bleever]

49. Kickworthy.

[ClassWarrior]

52. playin' donkey hackey-sack...

:kick:

NGU.

[genius]

55. If he challenges, I'll donate to his future campaigns. He'll deserve our

support if he stands up for us.

[NVMojo]

56. kick!

[DemGirl7]

57. I'm putting my money on...

both Obama and Byrd....WOOOHOOO....I love to to gamble.

[chapel hill dem]

58. I 'm wondering if Senator X announces tomorrow they will challenge

since that would start the news cycle early and generate coverage from the MSM. At least that is what I would do if I was in the Senate.

Waiting until real-time Thursday will only generate post-fact news since the Republicans will likely shut the challenge down quickly to trivialize it to the average American.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

63. welcome to DU, chapelhilldem. I'm in CH, too.

[chapel hill dem]

68. Thanks! n/t

[garybeck]

66. I heard him on Randi Rhodes a couple weeks after 11/2

She asked him about election fraud and he chuckled and said something like, "now now, we don't want to get into that..."

it sounded to me like he was minimizing the idea, he was totally unaware of the facts, and uninterested in learning about it, and he just wanted everyone to smile and be happy, so we can just learn to "work with the republican leadership".

it made me ill.

So what gives? has he "seen the light" since then?