Recapturing the Northeast

A Washington-Post ABC News poll this month found Bush's approval rating at 28 percent in the Northeast -- 12 points below his national average. The Republican Congress fared no better.

Republican losses in the region could echo well beyond the 2006 campaign. Because much of the region is tilting Democratic, history suggests Republicans would find it hard to recapture seats once lost.

via Raw Story (via the Washington Post)

Changing the Course of Our Nation With Bob Johnson and the Democratic Party

It didn't take long for the Republicans and the Connecticut for Lieberman Party to exploit the news of the terror plot in London.

“If we just pick up like Ned Lamont wants us to do, get out by a date certain, it will be taken as a tremendous victory by the same people who wanted to blow up these planes in this plot hatched in England,” Mr. Lieberman said at a campaign event at lunchtime in Waterbury, Conn. “It will strengthen them and they will strike again.”
- Joementum in the New York Times

-----

"I'd rather be talking about this than all of the other things that Congress hasn't done well," one Republican congressional aide told AFP on condition of anonymity because of possible reprisals.

"Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big," said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't "look as appealing" under the circumstances.
- AFP

What they are unwilling - or unable - to understand is that Americans are sick of the War in Iraq and they want a New Direction for America.

Future leaders of the Democratic Party, Bob Johnson and Ned Lamont, understand that we need real solutions, not Republican rhetoric.

This crisis actually shows that the Republican policies have not made us any safer. The terrorists apparently received training in Pakistan, which continues to be a terrorist safe haven. Since we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan to go on the ridiculous Iraq misadventure the region has been sliding back toward anarchy.

After five years of Bush's Terror War the same region of the world continues to produce 9/11 style plots. Maybe if Reagan and the Republicans hadn't trained and funded the Mujaheddin to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan we wouldn't have Al Queda today. Regardless, it is clear that the current Bush Republican foreign policy of "Lie and Die" creates terrorists faster than we can possibly kill them.

The Republicans and the Connecticut for Lieberman Party claim to be about values, but it is Democrats like Bob Johnson who understand what real American values are.

Democrats are standing up for our values. I'm running for Congress in New York's 23rd district because I believe in Democratic values. I believe that an individual life has value, and that people have dignity beyond their economic worth. I believe that hard-working Americans shouldn't have to go without proper health care. In fact, I don't believe any American should go without health care and that a hospital has an obligation to treat whoever passes through its doors. I believe that going to war is a profound moral decision, a decision in which the entire country needs to be involved and listened to. I believe that Americans have a right to feel secure when they talk on the phone. I believe that government should be open, accountable, and effective. I believe that science has a positive role to play and should not be stifled by government ideology. I believe that we have an obligation to the next generation and that he who has the most toys does not win the game. I believe that we are not in this alone, but together and that helping others requires sacrifice and not just lip service. My values command me to love and help my neighbor and not denigrate them. I believe in paying my debts and staying within my means. These are Democratic values. They are American values.
- Bob Johnson, future US Congressman, on Daily Kos

Bob Johnson will be traveling the around the district with renowned actor Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings, History of Violence, Hildago) discussing how we need to change the course in America, I suggest everyone who can to join him.

The Democratic Party of today is strong and we understand that America's future depends on finding new dynamic solutions based in reality. The Republicans and the Connecticut for Lieberman Party foolishly cling to the mistakes of the past - like the War in Iraq - they feel reality has a liberal bias.

Today, America is no safer, Israel is no safer, Iran is more dangerous, Osama bin Laden is still at large, and our brave troops are stuck in the middle of a bloody civil war. I believe that those leaders who got us into this mess should be held accountable.

Looking forward, I salute the patriotism and wisdom of Congressman Murtha and others who emphasize that “stay the course” is not a winning strategy for Iraq or America. Our best chance of success requires that the Iraqis take control of their own destiny. America should make clear that we have no designs upon their oil and no plans for permanent bases. While we will continue to provide logistical and training support as long as we are asked, our frontline military troops should begin to be redeployed and our troops should start heading home.
- Ned Lamont, future US Senator

Vito Fossella and Bush are Best Friends

"More sobering for the GOP are the number of voters who backed Bush in 2004 who are ready to vote Democratic in the fall's congressional elections 19 percent. These one-time Bush voters are more likely to be female, self-described moderates, low- to middle-income and from the NORTHEAST and Midwest.

SNIP

The number of voters who say their congressional vote this fall will be in part to express opposition to the president jumped from 20 percent last month to 29 percent, driven by double-digit increases among males, minorities, moderate and conservative Democrats and NORTHEASTERNERS." [emphasis mine]

via ABC News

Maybe this is why Rep. Vito Fossella is scared to even admit he is a Republican.

Working Families Party Hustles for Michael Arcuri

From Take Back New York's 24th

Hats off to the Working Families Party - those folks are working like hell to get Michael Arcuri elected. Anyone who ever said that the progressives don't amount to much in this District ought to be eating their hat right now.

As Carrie Berman from the Working Families Party Take Back Back Congress - New York campaign is wrapping up a series of meetings around the district this week, the Working Families Party is also putting advertisements up on radio stations that slam the Republican Party's crass poison pill attack on minimum wage legislation.

The text of the message is below. You can also hear an MP3 of the radio ad on the Working Families web site.

"There they go again... Instead of just raising the minimum wage, the Republicans in Congress are playing more political games. Last week they said they’d raise the minimum wage but here’s the catch: it has to be coupled with a big inheritance tax cut for the very rich. Make that the very, very, very rich. Because only the 8,000 wealthiest families in America qualify.

While Congressional salaries keep going up and up, it’s been nine years since Washington increased the minimum wage. And the Republicans still refuse to raise it unless heiresses like Paris Hilton get a tax cut.

That’s just not right.

This November, vote your values. Vote for Democrat Mike Arcuri on the Working Families Party line. Arcuri supports raising the minimum wage. Health care we can afford. And Social Security we can count on. "

Why is Democrat Bob Johnson on the No-Fly List?

Up in the North Country, Democrat Dr. Bob Johnson is fighting a hard scrabble, grassroots campaign against incumbent right wing Republican John McHugh. 23rd District bloggers like Bob Aubin have been helping in Johnson's struggle, pointing out John McHugh's weaknesses - McHugh's support for special tax loopholes for people like Paris Hilton, heirs of multi-million dollar fortunes.

A mystery has recently arisen in the race that is putting a crimp in Dr. Bob's mobility. Someone, it seems, has placed Bob Johnson's name on the anti-terrorist No Fly List.

Who did it? Why would somebody put the name of a respected physician and candidate for Congress on a list of possible terrorists?

This much we know: Congressman John McHugh may not have personally put Bob Johnson's name on that No Fly List, but McHugh has been a big suppporter of the bureaucracy that makes these kind of Homeland Security screwups all too common. The system is broken, and John McHugh's right wing agenda is part of what's making it broken.

We can do better. Bob Johnson can do better.