The national "grass roots" almost won with Ned Lamont. Who should this group focus on now?

[Stinky The Clown]

I'm not putting any limits on this discussion - except direct discussion about working against Obama. He is not up in 2010 and this discussion is about that cycle.

Who do you think the grass roots should work to defeat this go-round? I think we demonstrated what power we have with the support shown Ned Lamont. Yes, he lost, but he was our first, really, and he was up against a long time favorite incumbent.

We have far too many people in the Congress who seem to be working against core Democratic values at every step and at every level. Defeating one or two of them would give those left fewer excuses.

[Odin2005]

1. Is Bacus up for election in 2010?

[backscatter712]

2. Lincoln.

Primary her ass!

[PVnRT]

3. Evan Bayh

He's coasted far too long on daddy's name and is not interested in aiding the President's agenda.

[liskddksil]

4. Here's a Few

Jennifer Brunner, is Secretary of State in Ohio, and much more progressive then the establishment backed Lee Fisher, in the race for Ohio's senate seat.

http://www.jenniferbrunner.com/

Rhode Island State Representative Betsy Dennigan, who is progressive and pro-choice, is running in a primary against current Rep. James Langevin, who voted for the Stupak amendment.

http://betsydenniganforcongress.com/?page_id=10

Andrew Romanoff is the former Colorado House Majority Leader, who has bucked the establishment and even the President to run a primary against Michael Bennet, who voted against the Cram-down legislation, and until very recently was not generally supportive of the public option.

http://www.andrewromanoff.com/

Doug Tudor is a progressive Democrat running in the primary against self-proclaimed "blue-dog" Lori Edwards in Florida's 12 Congressional District.

http://www.teamtudor.org/index.asp

Also keep an eye on Lt. Gov. of Arkansas Bill Halter, who could be persuaded into running against Sen. Lincoln.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Good list!

[rurallib]

6. HELP US IOWANS GET RID OF GRASSLEY!!! PLEASE!!!

sorry to shout, but I am kind of desperate.
We have three candidates vying for the Democratic banner:
- Tom Fiegen, former state senator and currently a bankruptcy lawyer (he saves the family farm)
www.fiegenforussenate.com
- Roxanne Conlin - former gubernatorial candidate and currently lawyer.
http://www.roxanneforiowa.com/
- Bob Krause - former state rep and currently working in the VA I believe.
http://www.krauseforiowa.com/

As you can see I have already picked a horse in this race in my sig.

[liskddksil]

7. Fiegen looks the most appealing so far

[H2O Man]

8. Great question.

In theory, the grass roots should have started with some of the weakest links. Joe Lieberman, who I consider a terrible human being, was not a particularly weak link. Quite the opposite: he has the backing of some of the strongest dark forces in the US. And, as you accurately note, we darned near took him out of office.

The next few targets should be weaker links. Some medium links. The idea is to move the grass roots along in battles, in the exact same way a good manager moves a young boxer. Easy fights first, then move up.

[rockymountaindem]

11. H2O man, you've got it all wrong. What we need to do is quit voting entirely because they're all

crooks! That makes way more sense than to try and work within the system as best we can and actually achieve results. Your evidence that we almost beat one of the most entrenched career politicians notwithstanding. People with brains know the best thing to do is quit and then sit around acting superior.

[Liberal In Texas]

9. I really think we should have a progressive grass roots type organization

that will examine the candidates running primaries in all states and then endorse the one with the progressive ideas (if any). That way people who don't pay attention wouldn't have too far to go to figure out who to vote for.

[liskddksil]

12. We do have a few

Progressive Change Committee
www.boldprogressives.com

DFA and Moveon also endorse progressive candidates.

[mmonk]

10. Six in the Senate would be a good start.