DU, Al Gore is asking for our help!

[usregimechange]

In all my years of public service I have never witnessed national political leaders as corrupt, incompetent and subservient to powerful special interests as George Bush and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress.

The level of cynicism and crass political calculation that characterizes the Bush White House and the Republican-controlled Congress is truly breathtaking.

Critical public policy issues -- from national security and global warming to public health and retirement security -- seem to be formulated solely on the basis of what will please the special interests most important to maintaining the Republican Party's stranglehold on the federal government. The needs of the American people be damned.

And this reprehensible behavior is aided and abetted by the complete and utter lack of oversight of the Bush administration by the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress.

Seven days from today, April 26th, will mark exactly 1000 days from George W. Bush's last day in office. I am here to tell you that we simply cannot afford to wait 1000 days to put the brakes on Bush's agenda.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is leading the fight to restore a Democratic majority to the U.S. House of Representatives and your support is critical to their effort. They have set a goal to raise $150,000 by April 26th -- $10,000 for every seat we need to win back the majority. Can you help?

http://www.dccc.org/r/10207/53421

Sincerely, Al Gore

Donate and kick this baby!

[havocmom]

1. Roses to wonderful people are nice and showy

but we need to elect a new Congress. Give the $$ to worthy candidates. We can shower people with roses after the crisis is over.

Job one: Take the Congress

To do that: Work to ensure HONEST ELECTIONS and work for/give to worthy DEM candidates.

[Nimrod2005]

2. I did not see Al Gore's name? I am not sure who the DCCC is?

[usregimechange]

3. I copied it from an e-mail. It is Gore, and the DCC is:

the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

[babylonsister]

4. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. nt

[KoKo]

5. Homepage of the DCC doesn't say Gore is asking for help....do you

have a link to this specific request from Gore to give to the DCCC?

I'm sure he would be in favor of this....but I'd like to see a specific request from him rather than part of his speech and a link to contribute to the DCCC. :shrug:

[Mabus]

9. The url has "Gore" in it

Here is the parsed url (https://)www2.dccc.org/contribute/gore/?id=20060419_ag :shrug:

If President Gore asks for my help I will do what I can.

[quiet.american]

12. Howdy, it's an excerpt from an emailed fundraising letter.

From time to time the DCCC sends these out under the auspicices of different Democratic leaders.
If you'll join the DCCC mailing list, you'll receive this email. The link in the email goes straight to the secure DCCC contribution website. You can also call the DCCC to confirm at:
202-863-1500.

[johnaries]

41. I got the same email. From Al Gore. It's legit. n/t

[helderheid]

6. anything for that man!

:kick:

[dysfunctional press]

7. sorry-

but until the dems in congress start showing some BALLS- they don't get dime one from me-

PROVE to me that you're willing to be an OPPOSITION PARTY, and i'll consider donating.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. Hmmmm... this is also to elect Dems that are challenging GOP seats.

I have a fantastic candidate running in my district and I've already contributed to his campaign.

[dysfunctional press]

13. i'm stuck with dlc-hack rahm emmanuel.

he's not getting ANYTHING from me, including my vote.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. I can appreciate how you feel. My candidate is John Hall who was with

the band Orleans. He has experience in his town's politics. This is a snip from an email I received from his campaign yesterday.

Our support has been growing beyond the party activists as well. We have constituency support among unions, veterans, environmentalists, seniors, health care advocates, educators, peace activists, civil rights activists, students, reproductive rights advocates, to name few.

He is also has some high profile music people behind him, Joe Trippi is assisting on the campaign, and he is also building a decent war chest.

[mdmc]

23. you are better off. The DCCC will only fuck over John Hall imho

I would donate directly to John Hall and let the dccc rat worms raise their own gop-lite cash.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. Here is his new email! So totally great!

And mdmc....:hi:

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am happy to announce that we are right on target for our fundraising, and the grassroots support in the district is overwhelming.

We have exceeded the necessary fundraising markers and we expect to raise exactly what is needed to win this Congressional race on November 7. Our amended FEC filing shows that we outpaced 4 out of the 5 other Democratic candidates in the last two quarters, and will show a total of $155,125 raised at the end of March. Tens of thousands of additional dollars have come in since the beginning of the 2nd quarter on April 1, and we have exciting events in the works which will raise money and momentum for the campaign.

As you are probably aware, most campaigns work backwards and expect to raise and spend 60-80% of their total budget in the last, most crucial months of the campaign. Our fundraising plan is based on a winning political strategy and will involve grassroots, netroots, and events that will energize the base of voters that will carry us to victory in November. The addition of Joe Trippi and Associates, political strategists well known for the rapid fundraising of the Dean Campaign, who have just joined our experienced staff and volunteers, will add another dimension to our strong local grassroots campaign.

We are looking forward to the Democratic County Conventions that are coming up in the next month and a half. Having received commitments for support from delegates and leaders all over the district, we look forward to those conventions as a formal way to solidify support and narrow the field, as we launch the next phase of our campaigning to defeat Sue Kelly.

Our support has been growing beyond the party activists as well. We have constituency support among unions, veterans, environmentalists, seniors, health care advocates, educators, peace activists, civil rights activists, students, reproductive rights advocates, to name few.

Thank you for your support. If you have yet to make that pledge, I ask for your support. I ask that you join this groundswell of support for my candidacy as the strong voice for change and as the best person to represent this district. http://www.johnhallforcongress.com/contribute.html

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you and winning on November 7.

Sincerely,
John Hall
johnhallforcongress.com

[mdmc]

36. :-)

:hi:

[helderheid]

18. Here's a reason to vote D in 2006 - look who gets into what positions: >>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=839811&mesg_id=839811

snippet:

- At least 9 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairmen or Chairwomen
- An additional 35 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairmen or Chairwomen.

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairs:

- Congressman George Miller, Chairman of Education and Workforce Committee
- Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of Financial Services
- Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of Government Reform
- Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chairman of Homeland Security Committee
- Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of International Relations Committee
- Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of Judiciary Committee
- Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Chairwoman of Rules Committee
- Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Chairwoman of Small Business Committee
- Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of Ways and Means Committee

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairs:

- Appropriations Subcommittees -- Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Marcy Kaptur and Congressmen John Olver, Jose Serrano, and Ed Pastor
- Armed Services Subcommittee, Congressman Neil Abercrombie
- Education and Workforce Subcommittees, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Dennis Kucinich
- Energy and Commerce Subcommittees, Congressman Ed Markey and Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Hilda Solis
- Financial Services Subcommittee, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Luis Gutierrez
- Government Reform Subcommittees, Congresswoman Diane Watson and Congressmen Dennis Kucinich, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis of Illinois, and William "Lacy" Clay
- International Relations Subcommittee, Congressman Donald Payne
- Judiciary Subcommittees, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Melvin Watt
- Interior Subcommittees, Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Tom Udall and Congresswoman Donna Christensen
- Rules Subcommittees, Congressman Jim McGovern
- Small Business Subcommittees, Congresswomen Madeleine Bordallo
- Transportation and Infrastructure, DeFazio, Filner, Holmes-Norton, and C. Brown
- Ways and Means Subcommittees, Congressmen Pete Stark, Jim McDermott, and John Lewis of Georgia

Read those names and positions closely. Imagine our work on the ground with that leadership in Congress. Imagine issues of the Downing Street Minutes, of the Ohio Irregularities in the Elections, of the Censure of the President, of Impeachment with these members managing the committees.

Folks, it is that serious.

snippet

(Thank you Kevin Spidel!!)
This is SO IMPORTANT

[iconoclastNYC]

26. Consider donating to good Democrats.

Like Feingold..... or Kucinich or primary challengers to corporate or spineless Democrats.

Or donate to Moveon or PDA who are working to shake up the party.

Corporate power has been working for 20 years now to influence the party to protect and advance thier interests.

Progressive middle class folks have to do the same....we have to take our party back.

Giving to the DSCC isn't a good way to do that. Check out Dailykos or Atrios' page at ActBlue for some excellent candidates you can donate to.

[Jose Diablo]

10. Why do the politicians need money to impeach

Bu$h/Cheney/Rumsfeld. I say to the politicos in DC, put-up or STFU you pandering pricks. Do your job, now, and forget about gropping for money during the crisis.

[mb7588a]

11. Al Gore, DU needs your help!

GET your hat in the presidential ring NOW.

[oc2002]

14. Is the DCCC in any way connected to the DLC?

I hate the DLC or the republican branch of the democratic party.

[iconoclastNYC]

16. YES - It's chair was DLC "New Democrat" of the Week

Rahm Emanuel, head of the DCCC -- DLC's "New Democrat" of the Week:

http://www.ppionline.org/ndol/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=103&subid=110&contentid=251073

So that's a big yes. I doubt many Progressives will be getting money from the DSCC.

"New Democrat" means you have no spine and you'll rubber stamp every corporate-friendly bill that comes across your desk.

"Traditional Democrats" care about silly things such as the enviornment, middle class preservation, worker rights, clean elections, etc.

[oc2002]

19. Then AL Gore is just a DLC'er in disquise.

That is a shame.

[iconoclastNYC]

21. No...don't make that jump

He pulled out of the DLC, and told thier foot soliders to go stick it about a month before the 2000 election and started talking in more about progressive populist themes. His polls numbers improved. The DLC has had daggers for Al Gore ever since. Go look up thier responses to Gore's speeches.

Al Gore is not DLC and his message as of late is just about diametrically opposed to the DLC who says we shouldn't challenge George Bush on anything remotely related to war, foreign policy, or the power of the executive.

[oc2002]

22. but why is he asking for funds for the DLC=DCCC?

I like Gore, and voted for him, but I just can not stand the sight of the DLC or anything it touches.

[iconoclastNYC]

25. Some people think that

Any Democrat is better than a Republican.

For a lot of people it is easier to donate to the DCCC.

I'm just saying if you want more progressive Democrats better to donate directly to the candidates.

The DSCC is influenced by not controlled by the DLC.

[iconoclastNYC]

15. I don't support the DCCC

It's basically a PAC that gives money to incumbants. I'm going to give my money directly to candidates that I think will push the party in the right direction. I've already donated to 5.

When you give money to the DSCC you leave it up to people like DLCer Rahm Emanuel to decide who's a viable candidate and who will get that money. Viable to these people means they are in the pocket of Big Business and will be a reliable member of the Spineless caucus.

I donate money directly to candidates.

[oc2002]

17. then screw the DCCC.

I totaly hate the DLC!

[gordontron]

43. yes perhaps the PPF is better

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/

[mdmc]

20. God bless you Al Gore

but, respectfully, the dccc can go fuck themselves. I won't donate to them, but I will kick and r your Al Gore thread! Peace and low stress.

[Pirate Smile]

28. Good Lord, reading this thread makes me think we are going to blow

another election.

:banghead:

edit to add - It certainly makes sense to give $$$ directly to the candidates you support if you don't like the DCCC but geez, I'm so sick of how Dems treat each other sometimes. We have to take back control of Congress. Gore sent out an e-mail to raise money for the group in charge of taking back the House for the Dems and that gets turned into something bad.

Flame away. I have to leave.

[mdmc]

29. peace, pirate smile

peace and low stress:D

[Nimrod2005]

30. ROFL....

[progressivebydesign]

33. I'm with you... The repubs, sadly, seem to be the only ones with unity.

Dems don't circle the wagons, we take pot shots at each other's wagons as we head in different directions into the sunrise and sunset at the same time.

[IndyOp]

31. Not a cent for the DCCC -- they defend the incumbents...

The DCCC has been fighting Howard Dean because Dean's 50-State Plan does not including giving DNC $$$$ just to incumbents -- the 50-State Plan is about funding local Dem organizations and funding *all* Dems - including Progressives that have been locked out of races because incumbents can raise more $$$.

Bernie Sanders takes it a step further: Don't donate to any organizations - DCCC, DLC, or DNC - give directly to Progressive candidates.

I donate to the DNC and to Progressive Candidates.

I :loveya: Al -- but he is wrong about funding the DCCC. DCCC funds entrenched, living exclusively behind the beltway, political-strategists weak on principle.

Not a cent.

[WI_DEM]

32. Run, Al, Run!

[progressivebydesign]

34. People are spreading lies about DCC... why not check it out?

How easily people here on DU just hop right onto any bandwagon because SOMEONE posted something... check for yourself: http://www.dccc.org/

There was a charge that DCCC ONLY helps the incumbents. NOT TRUE. Check out their map and their candidates, there are NUMEROUS candidates that are CHALLENGING incumbents in their district. There is no mention of DLC. Just because the head of the DCCC was honored by the DLC, does not make it DLC.

C'mon folks, think for yourself. Check out their website and make your own minds up about it.

[mdmc]

38. why not simply donate to candidates that you like

I love Gore. I can't stand these rat worms...

[drfresh]

35. I gave $35, cuz President Gore asked nicely -nt

[usregimechange]

37. kick!

[tom_paine]

39. K & R for the rightful president of the Old United States

unfortunately, the Old United States is little more than a memory, now.

[AuntiBush]

40. Really, Tom...

Stinkin', sadly "really!"

But for the rightful president, Al Gore... lets just hope he does run again, and we get to see it.

P.S. Can't ya just feel what yest-year was like, back in the good ole' democracy days when life was sane.

[bemildred]

42. I give to the DNC instead. nt

[lonestarnot]

44. I sent back a reply.