Brainstorming thread: What can WE do to win back Congress in 2006?

[Nikki Stone 1]

Like the rest of you, I have been sitting here frustrated by the inability of the Democrats to act as a check on the neocon bulldozer that is in the process of destroying our nation. It is clear that for anything to get done, we need to win back Congress. There is no other way to do this. However, the 2006 elections do not seem to be shaping up well, thanks to gerrymandering and "safe" districts, as well as to the huge advantage held by the incumbent in any election.

I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on what us average Janes and Joes can do to help with Congressional victories.

My first thought, was donating money, but to which campaigns? Also, there have to be other things we can do.

[AX10]

1. Dick Durbin hasn't helped us.

[liberaliraqvet26]

8. 17 months is a long way off...

someone will say something much dumber by then, hopefully santorum will open his mouth that'll help

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. Whose campaigns need help right now?

17 months goes by pretty quick.

Obviously, getting rid of Santorum is a top priority.

[quaoar]

17. How about Nick Lampson

running against Tom DeLay

http://www.lampson.com/

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. Great Website. We should send money to this guy

What do his chances look like?

[quaoar]

32. He is a former congressman

and has good name recognition.

[villager]

2. Broadcast the following:

1) Lack of GOP Executive branch & congressional branch family members serving in Iraq

2) Out all closeted rightwing extremists


For starters

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. A "Why isn't Jenna serving in Iraq?" T-shirt?

Hmmmm

[villager]

12. Great!

This is exactly the kind of guerrilla politics we need -- going outside the mainstream rules of "acceptable" debate, crashing through the dream daze Americans languish in, etc...

[Nikki Stone 1]

19. Of course a T-shirt like that could get me punch in the nose

or worse, a long-winded speech from a fundamentalist....

[villager]

22. get them made, and it won't just be you wearing the T-shirts!

And the "only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Well, not the only thing. And it's true I live in a Blue State. But we can't let the bullies shut us down -- or they win. The election will be over before it's begun.

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. Point taken.

Some topics?

"Gitmo: It's not a fraternity prank"

[villager]

31. Gitmo would be good --

--especially given the line of "pro Gitmo" T-shirts Rush Limpballs is releasing, per another DU thread today...

[OzarkDem]

3. Create your own PAC

Raise your own pot of money and start vetting candidates to replace Dems who can't get the job done any longer.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. Wish I had the money and time for that

Is someone actually doing that?

[liberaliraqvet26]

9. the goal is to unseat republicans...

not unseat dems who have slight differences of opinion

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. YES. Let's at least get Dems in the seats

..

[OzarkDem]

15. Of course

The first priority is to unseat vulnerable R's. But you have to make certain the candidate you choose is one who is willing to fight and campaign hard and smart to win the seat.

But a secondary priority is also challenging Dems who are of no use to the party's agenda. Its not a matter of disagreeing with their ideas, its a matter of getting them to behave like an opposition party and move the Dem agenda forward.

On the positive side, what we may be seeing is the last dying gasps of those DC "kool kid" insiders who are hoping to maintain the status quo of Repub appeasement to protect their paychecks. Corporations may be making a last ditch effort to pressure Dem insiders who are just ignorant enough of Dem grassroots to underestimate their ability to provide major funding for Dem candidates.

[JHBowden]

6. 1. Stop the Tom Daschle apologizing routine

eom

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. Yeah, the apologies for nonsense need to stop

Haven't seen Rush apologize--EVER--for the "fraternity prank" comment. Oh, but wait--wiring someone's genitals isn't torture!

:sarcasm:

[LaurenG]

13. OHIO give money to Ohio Democratic Party

just for starters.

[OzarkDem]

16. Not yet

I'll wait a little longer to see if there is some real improvement in party leadership and its ability to support candidates and support good campaigns.

[Nikki Stone 1]

21. Why Ohio in particular? Any specific candidates?

I was thinking we might make a list on DU of candidates who need money or volunteer hours.

[LaurenG]

25. I am not sure about candidates yet

but I know that if we don't get most of the r's out we are up for the same thing at the next election. With coin gate we may be able to discredit the r's to a degree that more will vote democratic.

It is very frightening to think that we will have to suffer these idiot r's for anymore terms.

[Nikki Stone 1]

27. How is the local "Get Out the Vote" for the Dems?

Since GOTV is the single most important factor on the day of. (I am going to volunteer next year to drive people to the polls.) Is there any referendum due to be on the ballot that will bring people out?

[LaurenG]

30. None that I know of

I actually searched the Ohio site in case I'm missing something. Get out the vote was massive in 04 the primarys just passed and very little interest. We are electing a new mayor and I think that will bring out some.

[OhioBlue]

23. I agree

of course, like you I'm partial to Ohio. With the coin-gate scandals, the horrible economy, the worst Governor, etc. and virtually all government in Ohio controlled by Repugs, it is the perfect place to start. Ohio needs to go Blue. I've volunteered for 2 campaigns. I don't have much money to give, but will be involved from now on. I never was before.

[yebrent]

14. Encourage any Democrat challenger of a Republican seat

to run strongly against a continued war in Iraq. It will be the best opportunity to pick up independents and crossover votes. And they don't have a voting record of supporting Bush's War to explain. If we are still in Iraq in 2006, it will be the winning issue.

[Nikki Stone 1]

26. You really think the antiwar vote will be important that soon? (2006)

I was figuring by 08. 2006 seems a little early. The American public is just, just starting to think that maybe everything isn't perfect.

[yebrent]

28. It is a year and a half away.

That is a lot of time IMO. Unfortunately, there will be over 2,000 and maybe 2,500 dead US soldiers by the 2006 election. 60% believe that the war has not been worth it. Plus, I think there is a greater chance of picking up the majority of independents and a some republicans with a "get out of Iraq now" campaign than there is over losing democrats with the same campaign. The key is to also tie the Iraq war to the national debt and economy. Remind the independents and moderate Republicans how much this war is costing and how much $$$ is unaccounted for.

[Nikki Stone 1]

29. You make a great case

I hope you are right. Tying the war in with the debt is very helpful--and 100% true.

[ladjf]

18. Start with the voting fraud problem.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. Come up with a unified message

Keep it simple but striking, something that will make voters, including usual non-voters, sit up and take notice.

Have all Dems push it like crazy when they're in their home districts.

Let no Republican go unchallenged. How are voters supposed to learn about Dems if there's no one debating the Repiggies? Recruit sacrificial lambs, if necessary.

[starmaker]

34. Vote on Paper

Demand verification of machine count