COMPILATION of Hackett withdrawal threads and 3 CARTOONS for the DEMS:

[Nothing Without Hope]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2107019
thread title (2-13-06 LBN): Popular Ohio Democrat(Paul Hackett) pulls out of race....-NYT
Comment/excerpt: “Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders. … Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410238
thread title (2-13-06 GD): NYT-reporting Hackett is dropping out of Ohio Sen race & perhaps politics

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410500
thread title (2-13-06 GD): Democratic Party? Fuck you bastards. You went too far. (Paul Hackett)
Comment/excerpt: Based on same NYT article. “’This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me,’ said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410306
thread title (2-13-06 GD): A message for Paul Hackett
Comment/excerpt: “Fuck the Democratic Party if they won't stand by him. We need a no-nonsense guy like him out there telling it like it is, not playing at conciliation with those who would destroy everything our country stands for. My advice to Paul...Go Bull Moose on their ass. And, no, I don't mean he needs to emulate that mealy-mouthed blogger who can't figure out which side of the fence he's on, but instead emulate the attitude and actions of another veteran who wasn't known for rolling over when asked.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410579
thread title (2-13-06 GD): Before everyone loses their mind about Paul Hackett's withdrawal...
Comment/excerpt: Will Pitt post. “Now, I like Paul Hackett. But before DU goes spiralling off into a bender about DCCC/DLC centrist bastard fuckasses, take a look at Sherrod Brown. If the DCCC is backing good progressives like Brown, then all the yelling doesn't seem to jibe.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x411188
thread title (2-14-06 GD): I'm from Ohio.... And I am glad that Hackett withdrew....
Comment/excerpt: “I am working a statewide campaign for Supreme Court...They guy I am backing was promised support since last year... Has been all over the state while still serving as a judge...Well, that all evaporated last week when the party started to back another guy...We didn't cut and run... We resolved to keep fighting and we know we are going to win because we are backing the right candidate....So, my point is this...Politics is a Marathon... Not a sprint... Not everyone is going to like or support you... As soon as you open your mouth you will make enemies... People will hate you just because... It's a profession based on people and carries all the foibles, mishaps and broken hearts and promises that dealing with people always has and always will carry with it...”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x411034
thread title (2-14-06 GD): TOTAL Bull Shit. What is their major malfunction. Thank you Paul Hackett
Comment/excerpt: Autorank cites same NYT article but also gives past article on Hackett as a strong candidate: “Hackett had three major advantages that many Democratic candidates lack. He had just finished an active duty tour in the military, he aggressively engages in intense political combat without flinching, and he has a concealed weapons carry permit. In addition to that, he opposes the war in Iraq with firsthand knowledge, is strong on national security, and has harsh comments for his Republican opponents.”

In “honor” of this betrayal, here are some cartoons which capture the essence of the fiery, effective Dem leadership to which Paul Hackett’s Ohio senatorial candidacy, apparently his entire frigging political career, and our hopes in him are being sacrificed.

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Will Pitt added another post, not included in the compilation above:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x411657
thread title (2-14-06 GD): Brown, Hackett and a primary brawl (my last post on this tonight)
Comment/excerpt: Will Pitt. Excerpt: “No one disputes the idea that Hackett is a good man. But Sherrod Brown is also a good man, and frankly, he was there first. He did it the hard way. He ran for a House seat, and won, and served, and stood solidly for progressive principles. Now he is running for Senate. Neither Hackett nor Brown, nor the Democrats, nor our need to take seven Senate seats and fifteen House seats in order to get those gavels out of Frist's and Hastert's hands, would have been served by a bruising primary smash between Brown and Hackett. Two issues I have seen a lot here: One, that the people should choose who gets to serve. Two, party leaders shouldn't do that choosing. These dovetail, but deserve to be spliced….”

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. I also made a compilation of Cheney shooting/Fuddgate threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x411916
thread title (2-14-06 GD): Thread COMPILATION on Cheney shooting/Fuddgate - including VIDEOS:

no interest at all, so far

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. kick for the night n/t

[leftchick]

4. Thank You NWH, excellent post.

the cartoons are perfect. fucking losers. :puke:

[tsuki]

5. This is going to backfire on Brown. Had to go running to the

party bigwigs to take out his competition. He looks weak. The party should have known better. If DeWhine takes Ohio, it will be the Democratic Party's fault. And anyone that thinks the RNC won't exploit this has not been paying attention.

[DemReadingDU]

6. Thanks for these links, Hope

We're in southern Ohio, and we are quite upset with Hackett dropping out.

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. kick - please add threads that I haven't included n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. UPDATE: Gary Hart has some harsh things to say about this sorry episode:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x419578
thread title (2-14-06 GD): Gary Hart:Pressuring Hackett To Quit Campaign is Old Politics at its Worst
Comment/excerpt: “Telling Paul Hackett that he cannot run for the Senate, and purportedly calling contributers to dry up his funds, is the worse kind of old politics. It will drive voters away from the supposedly "open" party, the Democrats, and further add to public cynicism about how politics in America is played in the early 21st century.”

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. UPDATE: Paul Hackett's STATEMENT about his withdrawal:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x412688
thread title (2-14-06 GD): Paul Hackett STATEMENT on pullout from Ohio Senate campaign
Comment/excerpt: “…Today I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the race for United States Senate. I made this decision reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders, as well as behind the scenes machinations, that were intended to hurt my campaign. But there was no quid pro quo. I will not be running in the Second Congressional District nor for any other elective office. This decision is final, and not subject to reconsideration.”

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. UPDATE: Howard Dean's statement about Hackett's withdrawal:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x415760
thread title (2-14-06 GD): Howard Dean has something to say about Paul Hackett
Comment/excerpt: “…As you know, Iraq veteran Paul Hackett left the race for U.S. Senate in Ohio today. In his campaigns, Paul had the courage to stand up and speak out for what he believes in. That is how Democrats will win elections and take this country back for the people who built it. Our country and our party are better off when people like Paul step up and run for office, up and down the ballot, in every election. I also want you to know that it is the policy of the Democratic National Committee not to intervene in contested primaries….”Excerpt:

[RazzleDazzle]

11. Excellent work. Thanks. K&R

[Leopolds Ghost]

12. Excerpt from Thread: Hackett Won 4 Rural Ohio Counties

"REALITY BASED ANALYSIS" -- courtesy of autorank:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=411188&mesg_id=424896

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Mother Jones deplores what the Dems did to Hackett but will support

Brown - well, they certainly can't support DeWine!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x445924
thread title (2-16-06 GD): How The Democrats Took Paul Hackett Out - Mother Jones
Comment/excerpt: “Hackett was running against seven-term Akron Democrat Rep. Sherrod Brown in a May primary, with the winner going on to face two-term Republican Sen. Mike DeWine in November (assuming DeWine wins his own primary against a longshot Republican challenger). DeWine is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent Republicans, and the national Democratic Party is pulling out the stops to defeat him. But first, the Democrats had to get Hackett out of the way. The weapons used in the rubout included economic sabotage, whisper campaigns, and threats.”

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Here's Skinner's thread on the Hackett Withdrawall:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x439636
thread title (2-16-06 GD): Do the Math ... Brown: 46% and $2.37 million ... Hackett: 24% and $229,783