The man who will defeat Sensenbrenner says thanks!

[ClassWarrior]

Received via email to Bryan Kennedy supporters:

PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO PROGRESSIVE / DEMOCRATIC LISTSERVS AND BLOGS.

Thank you for contacting me about Jim Sensenbrenner’s appalling temper tantrum in the House Judiciary Committee last week. We have been posting to blogs around the country, I have been interviewed by the press, and I authored a letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about their “right-wing” coverage of his actions.

Many of you have contributed to my campaign in the last week. In fact, we have received hundreds of comments and many donations from all over the country in less than seven days. THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO TAKE THIS RACE “NATIONAL”!!! Getting rid of Jim Sensenbrenner is part of a larger movement by progressives and grass roots activists to take back our government and restore civil liberties. I am attaching my letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and two links to my website: http://www.bk2006.org.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT BRYAN KENNEDY: http://www.bk2006.org/friends.mgi

DONATE: http://www.bk2006.org/contribute.mgi


SENSENBRENNER’S ABUSE OF POWER

In Saturday’s front page story about Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.’s abrupt ending to a committee meeting, the Journal Sentinel blew a perfect opportunity to demonstrate Mr. Sensenbrenner’s abuse of power.

You framed the story as if to show the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee as whiners who were not being allowed to be heard. In reality, Mr. Sensenbrenner’s actions were far more egregious and were a smack in the face of democracy and civil discourse. This country was founded on the principle that through rigorous debate, the truth will eventually emerge. The very foundations of justice and democracy that govern and protect our nation require all sides to come to consensus and to govern from the middle. That is how we meet the needs of all actors on the political stage. Mr. Sensenbrenner’s actions turned free and democratic discourse on its ear in an arrogant and petulant fashion.

What Mr. Sensenbrenner, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, effectively did was shut down the dialogue. How can truth emerge with only one side of an argument? Unfortunately, the Journal’s coverage of this incident was far too one-sided, as well. Where is the Journal’s objectivity and sense of duty to the citizens of southeastern Wisconsin? We need to know that our media will give us a balanced portrayal of the events, not merely puppet the one-sided account that will be fodder for talk radio and conservative bloggers.

Sykes, Belling and Limbaugh will certainly portray the event as the Journal did. The Journal needs to demonstrate to its readers that it is above the partisanship and rancor that comprises far too much of our media.

Bryan Kennedy
Democratic candidate for Congress
Glendale, WI

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

1. /

[ClassWarrior]

3. /

[ClassWarrior]

22. /

[ClassWarrior]

23. /

[ClassWarrior]

24. /

[ClassWarrior]

29. /

[ClassWarrior]

32. /

[DemoTex]

2. Message to Bryan Kennedy

Get a clip of The Daily Show from 6/16/2005 for Jon Stewart's excellent treatment of Sensenbrenner's temper tantrum. It would make a most effective campaign ad.


Sensenbrenner

[zann725]

6. I saw the clip, and was appalled. Seeing it...particularly his smirk

as he laughingly, dismissingly looked over his shoulder as he strutted from the room, then turned off the mikes of those remaining...was so much worse seeing first-hand...then just hearing about it. It was appalling. Such contempt for the Democratic process. A real 60-second sound-byte for the GOP that said SO MUCH.

[MODemocrat]

10. Jon Stewart did a great job getting the point across

Sensenbrenner seems to be a "big" child-like bully. I've never heard of such a thing as what he did. As Jon said "he took the gavel and went home."

[ClassWarrior]

4. Helllllooooo??? Beat Sensenbrenner??

:shrug:

NGU.

[Fiona]

7. Not too likely...

Sensenbrenner won with over 66% of the vote last time out. He's staying put, in all likelihood.

[ClassWarrior]

8. He's never gotten that few votes.

He's going down.

NGU.

[Fiona]

11. LOL...

ok.... two-thirds isn't a solid majority in your world. What color is the grass?

[ClassWarrior]

12. And apparently respect and hope aren't Progressive values in your world.

Isn't life kicky?

NGU.

[Fiona]

25. self-delusion is not a progressive value

[ClassWarrior]

26. I'm guessing a lot of people called MLKing and Carrie Nation deluded too.

I only pray that I'm as deluded as them.

Keep hope alive.
- Rev. J. Jackson

NGU.

[Fiona]

38. I think you're being a bit silly

trying to say that the realistic observation that congressmen who got 66% of the vote their last election are unlikely to lose is somehow less-than-progressive.

This has nothing to do with Carrie Nation (who was a nutcase, btw) or MLKing. It has to do with the simple observation that most congressmen have safe seats, and Sensenbrenner is one of them.

Turning it into a historical/moral battle is just over the top.

[ClassWarrior]

39. I think...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1862380&mesg_id=1868388

NGU

[Fiona]

40. I don't understand your point

Please make it here, instead of pointing to another thread.

But anybody who thinks Carrie Nation is someone to be emulated is someone to be very afraid of.

[ClassWarrior]

42. So rather than address the point of the example I used...

...you prefer to attack unrelated peripheral matters? You know full well that my point was that people can beat seemingly-impossible odds. But, despite all the time you've spent in this thread arguing with me, you seem to have gone out of your way to avoid the very point I was making. Why?

Why do you work so hard to talk down the efforts of well-meaning fellow Democrats?? That sure doesn't it my idea of Progressive values.

NGU.

[Fiona]

43. lol...

let's keep this stupid argument going.

Whether or not I think Sensenbrenner will be defeated has nothing to do with my liberal credentials. Can you explain it to me? Can you draw a line from "I think congressmen with a 66% re-election rate are unlikely to be defeated" to "I am not a liberal"?

One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Turning a salient political observation into a moral issue is just dumb.

[ISUGRADIA]

30. There's a difference between "respect and hope" and

being in touch with the real political world. Kennedy got 32%. He's not going to be in a targeted race in 2006. This is a Republican District and not a swing district.

[ClassWarrior]

31. The only race we're sure to lose is the one we don't run.

NGU.

[AllyCat]

44. And if Kennedy comes out kicking now until 2006, there is a chance

People vote for Senselessbrenner because he is an incumbent and there is a strong Repug voting block in his district. However, there is also a strong Dem voting block if the message gets out.

Beat him? Who knows, but we have to try and I am willing to support a guy like Kennedy who had a common sense platform in 2004. Get the blasted supine press to sit up and take notice, and there is a better chance than ever.

[LittleClarkie]

45. Kennedy got more votes last time than people expected

We will run as if we think we can win, and perhaps folks will have heard enough about the big baby in power to make them sick of him.

If not in 2006, then I hope in 2008. If not in 2008, I hope he tries again in 2010. Bryan is young, and each time he will build more name recogntion.

I will campaign for him as if I think he can win. Visualize victory. Anything else is self defeating.

Yes, we are heavily Repub. But the Repubs have to be motivated to vote. What if the Dems in our area are more motivated to win than the big majority of Repubs.

We will do our best to save y'all from my assclown of a Representative. It won't be for lack of trying.

[gratuitous]

5. Excellent

Senselessbrenner definitely needs to get started on the next phase of his career: Embittered loser.

[Just Me]

9. You tell him to take care of my family up there!!!

:D

We've got his back!!!! :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

13. Go Bryan!

:hi:

RL

[ClassWarrior]

14. I don't know about you, RL...

...but I'm looking forward to 2006. It will be a great and noble fight.

NGU.

[RetroLounge]

16. and looking forward to the campaign too!

Gonna be fun pointing out the pig in repugs clothing...

RL

[cubram]

15. Who's Bryan Kennedy?

What is his story? Does he have a solid resume? Can he raise money? Does he have a reasonable shot at winning?

[ClassWarrior]

17. Two great places to start your research...

http://www.bk2006.org

and

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=bryan+kennedy+5th+wisconsin&btnG=Search

NGU.

[LittleClarkie]

46. Here is a fine bio on the county Dem website

He's had quite the life so far...

http://www.orchidforchange.com/parties/waukeshadems.com/index.php?display=CandidateDetails&id=244767

[Twist_U_Up]

18. Better get Diebold out of there first

[deadparrot]

19. Well.

I wish him the best of luck...it'll be an uphill battle, but we've gotta keep the faith.

:)

[ClassWarrior]

20. How true.

NGU.

[LightningFlash]

21. Make sure Diebold gets out there and kick him out!!!!

http://www.commoncause.org

Support and Make CERTAIN all Diebold machines are forced to comply, force congress house of reps to enforce election reform!!!!!!

Sensenbrenner MUST go!!!!!! :thumbsdown:

[Toots]

27. IMHO the people that voted for him will think his actions as heroic

They eat that kind of abuse of power up. It shows them they have a man's man and not some girlie man Democrat. It is a sick society we live in. When people realize that we may move toward treatment. Until then this activity is seen as wonderful behavior and sticking it to the Democrats. People are being taught to want others to feel pain and humiliation. Limbaugh has been the forefront on making humiliation a laughing matter. Republicans think it is funny to humiliate people in true American fashion. They actually think it creates respect from the rest of the world. They feel power is the only thing the world respects because it's the only thing Republican's respect. They are very limited in their thought process.

[ClassWarrior]

28. So there's no hope? Just give up?

Perhaps you missed it, but my signature is Never Give Up.

But thanks for helping keep this thread kicked.

:kick:

NGU.

[quaoar]

33. Dean has said he have to run a 50-state campaign

I'd amend that to say a campaign in 435 congressional districts.

That doesn't mean you pour money into every district, but you don't concede any either.

[ClassWarrior]

34. And as long as we're running, we might as well run to WIN!!

NGU.

[quaoar]

35. I sent money to Kennedy last year

And he is the only candidate I have ever contributed money to who wrote a personal thank you note back.

I was impressed.

[ClassWarrior]

37. That sounds like Bryan.

NGU.

[proud patriot]

36. Thanks we need to get Sensenbrenner out of office

good luck to Kennedy :thumbsup:

[LittleClarkie]

41. Found this bio on our county dem website

thought folks might like to meet Bryan, so to speak

http://www.orchidforchange.com/parties/waukeshadems.com/index.php?display=CandidateDetails&id=244767

Bryan Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for the 5th Congressional District in 2004, has announced his candidacy for 2006. After a short rest and a trip to Brazil for UWM, Bryan is ready to take on Republican F. James Sensenbrenner again. "This time we have the name recognition and the experience that will put us over the top," Kennedy said.
Bio

Bryan Kennedy has some compelling reasons for running for office and a unique perspective that is needed in Washington. His modest upbringing and middle class values have shaped his views and continue to inspire him to fight for the "regular guy."

Bryan was born on February 4, 1970, in Hagerstown, Maryland, a largely blue collar, middle class city in western Maryland. Bryan spent much of his youth as the only child of a single mother. He was very close to his maternal grandparents and spent a great deal of time with them when his mother was working. When Bryan was a teen, he and his mother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His mom eventually remarried and Bryan inherited two step brothers, in addition to gaining a father.

Bryan’s household was home to a pro-labor, working-class family, as his father and grandfather were members of the NEA and UAW, respectively. Growing up relatively poor instilled in Bryan an understanding that work is essential for success in life. With encouragement from his mother and grandparents, he excelled in school and learned to value education as a stepping-stone to a better life.

(more at link)