New Kerry email

[whometense]

:loveya: :loveya:

Dear Xxxxx,

I've been hearing a lot of talk about what we're up against in the critical 2006 elections as we take on the corrupt, power-abusing, Swift Boat style-attacking Republican Party.

But, truth is, they need to worry about what they're up against.

Just look at what we've done in the last twelve months. Time and again, we've demonstrated that we have the power and political will to fight for the things we value most and for the candidates who embody those values.

This past November, our 3 million citizen volunteers helped spearhead Get Out The Vote efforts in critical Democratic victories across the nation ... And since the end of 2004, together we gave $4.5 million to Democratic candidates, committees, state parties, and progressive causes.

We mobilized to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the Bush-Cheney drill-at-any-cost onslaught... And we garnered endorsements from over 700,000 citizens, from every state in the nation, for our Kids First Act to provide health care for the 11 million uninsured children.

Our national lawyers' network helped ensure that the voting problems of 2000 and 2004 were not repeated in 2005, and it is poised to do it again in 2006.

You also helped me travel around the country to rally citizens, engage grassroots volunteers, and help raise funds on behalf of Democrats.

In Pennsylvania, we've helped Bob Casey wage a strong Senate campaign that has incumbent Rick Santorum on his heels. Long a poster boy for mindless support of Bush policies and the right-wing agenda, Santorum is now scrambling to convince Pennsylvania voters otherwise.

In Washington state, we've stood by Senator Maria Cantwell. She joined me in leading the fight to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - and now powerful oil company special interests are coming after her with everything they've got.

In Florida, we're helping Senator Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election against Katherine Harris. As you know, Harris made a name for herself by playing a leading role in the 2000 Florida voting fiasco, and we will not allow her to parlay her partisanship into a seat in the Senate.

And that's just a small sampling of the dozens of candidates who have come to count on us to be there for them. Together in 2006, we're going to do even more to help pull through to victory Democrats running at the local, state, and federal levels.

We'll defeat candidates who refuse to challenge the Bush/Cheney administration's illegal, warrantless spying ... We'll replace Republicans who have refused to lift a finger to end the Bush administration's mind-numbing incompetence... We'll end the careers of Republican politicians who have cozied up to unethical lobbyists and sold out the American people.

And, we'll be there, each and every day, to make sure no Democrat stands alone in the face of the Republicans' desperate, underhanded election tactics and facts-be-damned campaign ads.

Thanks for all you've done to help Democratic candidates set the stage for victory. And stay tuned for the next steps in our work together.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

[jenndar]

1. It's a good one, too.

:loveya:

[wisteria]

2. i agree, it is a good one!!! n/t

[ProSense]

3. Stay tuned!

By all means. :loveya:

[ginnyinWI]

4. what to do, what to do

I got this email today, but I also have a letter from Howard Dean asking me to renew membership in the DNC. Does all money go to the same causes, or are there differences? Because if they are basically the same, I'll just give to KAP.

[jenndar]

5. Hard to say.

It seems like the DNC is really focused on party building right now, which is a good thing, but because it's such an enormous organization, it's a little bit harder to figure out where the money's going than in the case of something like KAP. I sort of like being a DNC member, though, (and now we have membership cards!) so I usually just give them about $40 in January and then whatever I decide I can afford for the rest of the year to KAP/johnkerry.com and/or individual candidates.

[TayTay]

6. I settled this by having

my husband give to the DNC and I give to KAP. (We both give to the State Dem PArty.)

It's a solution. (But by no means 'the' solution.)

[ginnyinWI]

7. yeah those new cards are kinda pur--ty...

And I also have a DPW (Wisconsin) membership to renew. I'll probably do the same--one donation to the DNC and to DPW, and then KAP other times.

[karendc]

8. KAP money

is being directed to specific campaigns that JK thinks are significant. DNC money is going to build the party and repair the damage done with the state level orgs.

It's all good...

[whometense]

10. I have to say, Ginny,

and maybe it's not very nice of me, but after having read that GQ story I'm not giving a penny to the party. This "democratic insider" and "top party leader" backstabbing turns me off. I've just decided that every cent I donate (aside from local stuff) is going through Kerry.

I'm really PO'd.

[ginnyinWI]

11. yeah and that's another side to it--

Giving to politicians through Kerry adds to his clout, as well as uses his decision-making about who to give to. It would be a way to keep it simple.

[jenndar]

12. Don't you feel, though

that the DNC should have as many Kerrycrat members as possible? I completely understand your frustration, but I know I personally feel really good about forking over the $40 or $50 so I can say to Chairman Dean and the others, "you guys work for me, too," than I would if I didn't participate at all.

I'm more upset with GQ right now, since I don't really know why a men's fashion magazine is trying to speak for "party insiders."

[whometense]

13. You make a reasonable point,

and maybe when I'm not so angry I'll re-think. But right now I just can't do it.

That piece didn't read to me like a lone journalist out to slime JK (though that was certainly part of it.) To me it read like a number (how many I have no idea) of rivals pouring venom into the reporter's ear. He could have chosen not to use it, but they gave it to him willingly enough.

[jenndar]

15. I understand.

You shouldn't give money to any organization if your heart isn't in it. And truly, a donation to JK isn't going to do a disservice to any of us, so I won't urge to do do anything differently - except, perhaps, to write to GQ, because that article was an attack on good citizenship.

[ProSense]

22. I'm reading the post

here and in GD and you're right. Most of my contributions will go to Kerry, but I will still support the organizations. Also have think about Senators from NJ. Menendez is new, but I hope he makes me as proud as Corzine did. Menendez is also facing an election for that seat in 2006.

[karynnj]

26. What is their readership?

I can't imagine any of the men I know buying a men's fashion magazine. I definately can't imagine anyone getting their political opinions there. (Also, we need to know who they support - after all from the RW characterization of Kerry, he should be what they want.)

[jenndar]

27. I'm googling and finding widely disparate figures

but it looks to be about as high as something like Marie Claire or Harper's Bazaar. So it's popular.

[ProSense]

29. It's about

825,000, but it's definitely more about entertaining than any serious commentary. It's not like Vanity Fair and definitely not the New Yorker.

During the campaign they ran a piece this piece I only have the Teresa portion:

TERESA V. LAURA
By Devin Friedman and Lucy Kaylin
(page 2 of 2)

The Wild Card (10 Observations on Teresa Heinz Kerry)By Lucy Kaylin

1. "I think she's very sexy and slinky," Tina Brown says before heading into the dinner. "And it's nice that she has some edges. I think it's what we need, after a Stepford first lady."

2. Now running the billion-dollar philanthropy she inherited from her first husband, Senator John Heinz, who died in a plane crash in 1991, Teresa has proved herself a force without becoming a hair-helmeted wonk.

3. John Kerry—lined around the eyes as much by the stress of a failed marriage, one imagines, as he is by age—seems surprised and hopped up by the second chance Teresa represents. With his former nerd's hunger for experience and sensation, Kerry is doggedly, strenuously, a Renaissance man; as such, he is drawn to people who can teach him things. And who better than someone both older and stupid-rich?

4. So he chose a recklessly opinionated, multilingual world traveler, a loose cannon draped in serape-size shawls. She has more juice than the skeletal, Brahmin Kerry could ever hope to muster, despite his efforts, and you can see how much he values that in her.

5. For all of Teresa's flighty unpredictability, she is clearly—and literally—his rock. Sunshine bursts through his chiseled, shadowy mien when he's in her presence. "Isn't she great?!" Kerry seems to say—and often does.

6. You just know she's good in bed.

7. The interviews with Heinz-Kerry promise a full complement of jaw-droppers—like the time she extolled the virtues of prenups, or the time she described herself as "cheeky" and "sexy" —and the speeches are meandering recovered-memory monologues riddled with wiggy sound bites.

8. She'll tell you that her first impression of America came from seeing the movie Some Like It Hot while growing up in Mozambique. She'll tell you one of her sons may have tried mushrooms when he was a teenager. She'll joke that her boys always knew she was "kind of a witch." During every speech, one thought eventually blankets the place: Where is this going?

9. Teresa's compassion seems genuine, which is a good trick for someone with five homes and a private jet.

10. How could we as a people not be edified by a presidential wife who, every now and then, tells a pushy reporter to "shove it"?

But like all media, as WAPO proved today, the roots of ownership impact a lot and for a TNR editor this is typical.

[ProSense]

14. OK.

I see your point. It wasn't hard. I'm losing the budget allotments, Kerry gets it all, in fact, whatever I can spare. And since he supports other Democrats, often reaching out to direct support their way, I know I'm supporting the party. Also saves me from having to keep track of a budget.

[karynnj]

24. I'm with you on this - The more money raised via Kerry,

the harder it is to say that he has no support. Someone printed the amount raised for the Missouri candidate and Byrd - there is no reason to respond via Kerry's mailing unless you respect Kerry. He does give very good summaries on why they should be supported, but even if the argument moved you to contribute - it would be very easy to find the official site and contribute directly.

I also tell all Democratic telemarketers, I prefer to give via Kerry's email because I trust him. (I have given to some local candidates directly.)

[whometense]

30. Interesting post on Hullaballoo

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_01_15_digbysblog_archive.html#113772990196606438

The Best Response To The Democrats' SOTU Response

by tristero

When you're asked to donate to the Democratic party, just remember that your dollars are paying the salaries of the idiots who decided that this man was the appropriate person to deliver the response to Bush's 2006 State of the Union address.

Don't get me wrong. There are some great Americans in the Democratic party - Dean, Kerry, Pelosi, Obama - make your own list. But something is seriously - major seriously - askew with the plumbing behind the scenes. And Dean, even as head of the party, won't be able to fix it. In short, Daou's an optimist.

What to do? I suggest donating to another organization that recognizes exactly how serious a danger Bushism represents an organization that's shown they will fight tooth and nail against it. I'm suggesting that such an organization could then use its financial and electoral clout to demand the Democrats fire every last strategist, consultant, and adviser who was involved in the inexcusable losses of the 2002 and 2004 elections and hire new people who are prepared to implement a winning strategy.

What NOT to do? Don't forgo political donations - give them to groups that you think matter. Don't drop out and refuse to vote - every vote counts. Most importantly, don't, for a moment, hold on to the delusion that the Democrats, as presently run, are a viable national second party. They're not, and we're going to have to work like hell to create a national party that can confront the Republicans and marginalize the extreme right.

One personal note. I truly hate having to blog about this issue. I'm no purist, I'm not a Naderite, a radical. I'm a moderate liberal. I recognize that a national strategy opposed to Bush can't possibly address many of the issues I care about. I understand that I will inevitably disagree with positions taken to attract a more conservative voter than myself.

But what the Democratic advisers are doing isn't wise strategy designed to appeal to the center. It's sheer stupidity and incoherence. And if bloggers don't speak out - loudly - then no one will. Although our influence is genuinely trivial, it is not zero. And so we must protest in the hopes that someone, somewhere, will read what we say and perhaps try in some small way to turn the Democrats around so that the US can once again become a two party democracy.

tristero 6:43 AM Comment (0) | Trackback (0)

Gotta say, I had a similar reaction. TIM KAINE??? Are you kidding me?

[ProSense]

31. I would really like to know more about Kaine.

Has anyone seen him speak? Maybe he's not the right choice, but what if he's good. I know one thing, if any of the Democrats mentioned in this list gave the rebuttal, a frenzy of criticism would follow. It seems to go with the territory. And I expect some people are expecting to hear the "I" word in the rebuttal. JMO

[whometense]

32. I've heard him speak.

I heard him debating his opponent on c-span before the election. He's ok, but his opponent was awful. I would not call him impressive in any way.

He went out of his way to keep JK from appearing in public in Virginia in his support - and that was his perfect right. He sounded to me like a lesser Mark Warner - extremely moderate. Not my cup of tea.

It seems to me that those "democratic consultants" are in love with any dem who can "win in a red state". Not to mention their drooling admiration for governors of southern states...

[ProSense]

33. Thanks for the insight.

See that's what I am worried about an overly moderate response.

I didn't know that about Kaine and JK. I did see JK's statement congratulating Kaine after the election.

I hope they didn't choose him because he's a governor from a southern state to deliver a moderate response. The problems Bush created is even troubling some Republicans. A tough response is needed, not one to appease a particular group. That's what I expect to hear.

[MH1]

25. Do you have a county or local party?

They could probably REALLY use some money. (That is the case in my county. The state disses us anyway.)

[ginnyinWI]

34. yes I do and am supporting them.

We finally, in this red county, have a Democratic party with more than a half-dozen members. I discovered it in '04 working for the campaign. At the meeting Thursday night there were about 40 of us. So we're out there.

Bryan Kennedy was there to speak--the challenger to Sensenbrenner next fall! He was really encouraging. It seems our district is one of only six targeted by Howard Dean's "Project 90" campaign, a special push to turn these districts blue! So that's great--just imagine, a House without Jim Sensenbrenner! woo hoo!

Also present was an aide to Gov. Doyle. We are the third most populated county, so there is a lot of potential here, and we are getting some special attention now.

[ProSense]

9. Last year, I gave whenever could

This year, I'm working on a budget that will include Kerry's two PACs, the organizations (DNC, DSCC and the DCCC), and individual Democrats (based on how I feel). The donations among the latter two groups will be revolving (funds are limited, you know).

[wisteria]

16. I got home and checked my e-mail- I didn't get this message.

Maybe it will arrive later.

[globalvillage]

17. I haven't seen it yet, either.

Maybe they haven't got to Pittsburgh yet.
:(

[TayTay]

18. I didn't get it yet either.

I thought maybe it was that last parody I wrote. Maybe I just live too far away or it has to scroll through and I had to change my e-mail addy once or maybe they just don't like me anymore. (God, I gotta stay away from the lefty frepeer posts. They make you so prone to depression.)

[whometense]

19. It's a "Friends of John Kerry"

email, not from KAP (if that makes any difference).

Sometimes I get mine the next day after everyone else - I think they must rotate the order so no one gets a swelled head (and no one feels too left out.)

[globalvillage]

20. I should get e-mail from both.

I sent money to Friends of John Kerry this time, just in case. I usually send to KAP.

[jillan]

21. My favorite paragraph

And, we'll be there, each and every day, to make sure no Democrat stands alone in the face of the Republicans' desperate, underhanded election tactics and facts-be-damned campaign ads.

That's what I love about Kerry.
No one did this for him, so he is showing them how a real democrat acts.
I hope someone in this party will remember in 2008.

[ProSense]

23. And my favorite part

of your favorite part:

underhanded election tactics and facts-be-damned campaign ads.


(Just wanted to spotlight it again)

[_dynamicdems]

28. I was so thrilled to get another of his e-mails, I clicked the donate

button right away. Ironic, since I had just minutes before, I'd hung up on a persistent DNC fundraiser who wouldn't take NO for an answer. She annoyed me so much, I let her know that I only contribute through johnkerry.com.

And then, I checked my e-mail. And there it was!

Great e-mail. The hint of more to come...a Kerry cliffhanger. How cool is that?

[TayTay]

35. I still don't have this e-mail.

I am not feeling the love right now. (grumble, grumble, grumble.) I will go and re-sign up for the e-mail.

Was it someting I said? (Okay, no more parodies. I get the message. How about just parodies with * in them? I can't quit cold turkey, you know.)

[whometense]

36. Weird.

It must be lost somewhere in cyberspace...;(

[globalvillage]

37. I didn't get one either, Tay.

No idea why. Hiccup in the mailing list?
I sent money, anyway. I know the Senator loves us.
:-)

[TayTay]

38. Okay, you go all noble on me.

Now I look whiny and sullen. Geez, I was having a pretty good sulk there thinking I had been forgotten. Now I have to 'get over it.' Sigh!

Ah, this has been a wicked good day. Sen. Kerry posted at DKos and shocked that community. I got a new cell phone. My son got a college scholarship. It's all good! (Anybody know what the Powerball numbers are: I'm on a roll over he-yah.)

[globalvillage]

39. Your son got a scholarship?

:woohoo: :woohoo: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo:
Tell him I said
:yourock: