Can we please stop fighting the primary wars and talk about 2006?

[politicasista]

There is a criminal-in-chief in DC we have to fight? Remember him. Can we focus on unity and 2006 for one day? This polls and tireless second-guessing topics are so nauseating.

[tishaLA]

1. Thank You!

I couldn't agree more.

[autorank]

2. I feel good that Rahm Emanuel is our House Campaign Comm. Chair

I think it's as much about recruitment as it is message/policies. We need to get good candidates in ALL the races, even the ones where we might let the Republican run unopposed. That would be a big move toward a national Democratic Party. Who knows, we might pick up a few of these "cold cases."

Emanuel is battle-tested in he Clinton White House under extreme circumstances. I truly admire what he did there. I think he will make a difference.

[Sparkly]

3. Fine with me!

I'm looking forward to supporting Martin O'Malley in Maryland's race for governor, and I'll follow the Dean DNC's lead in national priorities.

[sharonking21]

4. Agree (Seeking SMDWMF DEM)

Has anyone heard of a snazzy candidate willing to run on the Democratic side for governor of Texas in 2006? We badly need someone cool to lead the ticket here, preferably of, shall we say, independent means (given the Republican right-wing stranglehold on offices and funding here at the State level)

[Dave Sund]

5. We're in a lull

We can't talk about 2006 because the majority of races aren't even close to being started. We don't have challengers in half of the Senate races, or 90% of the House races. I'll start focusing on 2006 when the picture becomes clearer. In the meantime, I can focus on many things at once. The only thing we can really do is talk about general strategy, and I'm pretty sure Reid, Schumer, and Emmanuel have that covered. If you want my opinion: Corruption, Abuse of Power, and Social Security. Three winning issues that these guys handed us on a silver platter. Reid's out there giving the appearance of compromise while preparing to kick their asses across the Beltway.

[politicasista]

6. That's fine. I am just tired of all these 2008, hindsight posts

Besides, our TN governor Bredesen is fighting for re-election.

[Clark2008]

12. Against who?

I don't know of any Republicans who are strong enough to go after our Bredesen.
Hell, even conservative Knox County voted for Bredesen! :D

[politicasista]

13. There is just some radio ad about Bredesen and TennCare

But I haven't heard of anyone challenging him. We don't change govs often.

[JI7]

11. actually there are races coming up in 2005 also which are important

such as mayors races and a about a couple Governors races which are important.

the los angeles mayors race is happening now but it's not really an issue since both candidats are democrats and pretty much the same on the issues.

but we have to watch out for the NYC mayors race since Reupblicans tend to put up moderate enough candidates that can win while Democrats get caught up in infighting during the primary which hurts in the general election against Republicans.

another important race is the Virginia Governor's race which is this year and that's where a lot of our focus needs to be.

[Dave Sund]

15. This is true

Corzine in New Jersey and Kaine in Virginia. Kaine's going to have a tough time.

But I think most of us are capable of focusing on more than one thing. Having one eye on the future isn't a bad thing, so long as we're constructive about it (and, I know, that isn't always the case, and I'll be right with you guys when that happens).

[Adelante]

36. Corzine has a good shot, right?

He'd make a great governor, too.

[CarolNYC]

34. NYC mayoral race

Bloomberg is runnig for reelection here in NYC.

Listening to WCBS-AM news radio to get the weather report last night, I heard the announcer suggest twice that things were being done to help Bloomberg get re-elected. One was that they are finally adding more ferries to the Staten Island Ferry run which connects Staten Island to Manhattan, after the Staten Islanders have been asking for more boats for quite some time now. The announcer said that there are a lot of Republicans on Staten Island and that Bloomberg, a Republican, was running for re-election so, perhaps the addition of the boats was connected to the coming election? I can't remember the other issue....

Any NYers have any strong feelings about which Dem candidate would be best?

[Adelante]

42. Poll results today, Carol

Marist Poll shows Bloomberg taking lead over Democrats


Email this story
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April 27, 2005, 3:57 AM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) _ A new poll released Wednesday showed Mayor Michael Bloomberg making significant gains over his Democratic opponents in the mayoral election, leading his closest rival by 13 percentage points.

The survey, completed by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, shows that Bloomberg leads former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer 51 percent to 38 percent with 11 percent undecided. In the same poll last month Ferrer led Bloomberg 49 percent to 42 percent.

Bloomberg also improved his prospects for re-election with 47 percent saying he should stay in City Hall, although a slim majority of 48 percent felt it was time for a new mayor.

However, Bloomberg's overall approval rating was at 48 percent, an increase from the 43 percent he received in March.

-more-

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--election-poll0427apr27,0,2660784.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[CarolNYC]

48. Ugh!!

How did that happen? I remember when Bloomberg had something like a 19% approval rating. Those couple of extra boats can't make that much of a difference!

Hopefully, once the Dems pick someone, he will be strong enough to get rid of Bloomberg, although, personally, I don't hate Bloomberg (mayorally, I do). I agree with Pete Hamill that after the thug that was Guiliani it's kind of nice to have a more civil sort in office....but I want him out of there ASAP....

[Adelante]

49. lol - not the ferries doing it

That's my native island. They would vote him back in for free -- Repooblicans everywhere.

[sharonking21]

14. Yes, same is true here

in Travis County TX right now. Only thing going on so far is city council elections. No one else has stated that they are going to run yet--I mean we can assume that a few Democratic incumbents will do so but right now they are too busy with the actual work they were just elected to do to make any noises about 2006. The Texas Legislature is meeting and the state representatives and senators are absorbed with that.

If I could help dig up good Democratic candidates willing and able oppose the Republicans here, I would do so, but I don't run in that high of circles.

[NoPasaran]

27. Sharon, what do you think about Chris Bell?

http://www.chrisbell.com
Granted, he needs to work on the name recognition thing, but I heard him speak a couple of months ago and was impressed.

[sharonking21]

35. I just followed your link

and found out more about him and signed up for his emails. He certainly voices many things I agree with. Other than what I read there, I remembered him from the Texas Democratic Convention recognition he got last year for filing the ethics complaint about Delay. Where did you hear him speak?

[NoPasaran]

40. He spoke at the DFT Meetup

Back in March. Burnt Orange Report covered it.
http://www.burntorangereport.com/archives/003416.html

[sandnsea]

25. A lull???

You call fighting to save the filibuster, social security, our environment, for a sane energy policy, for health care, for voter reform... A LULL???

:banghead:

[PATRICK]

32. The naarow path

seems to be to focus on both general strategy ideas and on what kind of candidates we need. Both of those need a lot of groundwork, not handicapping and certainly no presumption everything is going OK at this point with the ideas and people we have.

But broad is the path that scrolls out the future on a sticky fingered Ouija board.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I'm game!

I promise to never bash another Democrat on this board again. This behavior is getting way out of hand. I thought this was supposed to be DEMOCRATIC underground, not Democrat Bashing Underground.

Let's save the vitriol for Bush and the Republicans and leave the Democrat bashing to Free Republic where it belongs.

Post is nominated by the way.

[Sparkly]

9. I second that nomination.

:thumbsup:

[welshTerrier2]

8. "second-guessing topics??"

you mean like citizens holding opinions on the issues that differ from those holding office ???

[LittleClarkie]

16. No, she said primary wars

as in "my old candidate is better than your old candidate"

as in "Clark used to be a Republican, you know."

as in "Dean was robbed in Iowa."

as in "Kusinich could have won."

That's what she means, not criticism of Dems in office, or even "guess what my favorite guy/gal is doing NOW" posts. Totally different issue. Old primary wars are needlessly divisive. They're in the past. We have to look to the future. Who do we support now for 2006.

[ProgressiveConn]

10. Nope.

Any Democrat to who aids the neo-con agenda is as big of a problem the Republicans.

[LittleClarkie]

17. Old primary wars limited to

Dean
Kusinich
Clark
Sharpton
Braun
Kerry
Edwards
Joementum

She's not talking about not attacking Dems, though that would be nice as well. She's talking about refighting the primary season as in who each of us supported, old grudges, old insults, old fights and so on.

Could we at least come up with new material, instead of "Clark is a Republican in Dem's clothing" et al?

If one has to be divisive, the least one can do is not also be tedious.

[kevsand]

18. Here's someone we can help right now.

Christine Cegelis, running for Henry Hyde's now open seat in Illinois' 6th Congressional District. She ran against him last year and got 44% of the vote with a mainly grassroots campaign and support from DFA but not much at all from most of the regular party establishment.

She's starting earlier this time and running full tilt, but she needs lots of help to prove she can raise the money. Check out her website here: http://www.cegelisforcongress.com

Also her blogs on kos: http://www.dailykos.com/user/uid:44214

[Clarkie1]

19. Thank You! n/t

[cry baby]

20. Yes, we must get more representation in the congress.

first priority!

[flaminbats]

21. just too many targets with incumbents on their backs

16 seats in the Senate, all could be Democratic pickups..4 from states Kerry won and another 6 in states Clinton won.

[Califooyah Operative]

22. Thank You. nt

[Radical Activist]

23. No, we can't because half the board is already campaigning for '08.

If people stopped using DU as a platform to promote their Presidential candidate then it would be much easier to focus on '06. I don't expect that to happen.

[sandnsea]

24. No fucking shit

We have people arguing about who voted for who in 1982!!!!! These people shouldn't even pretend to me that they care about this country. We have a war, deficits, energy policy, social security, environmental destruction, health care, medicare, corrupt media and full out assault from the theocrats. And somebody wants to get in a snit over a 25 year old election???? If this is truly the best use people can make of their time, then they are just NOT PAYING ATTENTION. good lord.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1744857&mesg_id=1744857

[ClarkUSA]

43. There are people who have an axe to grind...

about how some candidates voted decades ago before many of us were born:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1744257&mesg_id=1744257

[sandnsea]

46. Yeah well

there's alot of shit in that thread and alot of people who manipulate past votes, of all kinds. If I had to choose between somebody who voted for Reagan twice, or voted for the IWR, I'd go with the IWR voter every day of the week. But those aren't my only criteria for choosing a President. In any event, arguing about this crap is beyond pointless. There's no excuse to do anything right now that is intentionally and consistently disruptive, and promoting candidates is at the top of that list.

[bklyncowgirl]

26. Sounds good to me

Seems like all the former candidates seem to be getting along together just swell. Maybe their fans could just try following their example and focus on the big picture.

Of course it's alot more fun to just reopen old wounds so this bit of sanity will end as soon as one of the old DU darlings does something which pisses off the supporters of one or more of the other DU darlings.

[MaineDem]

28. Yes indeed! As well as the '05 Governor races

How about local races, too. Elect Democrats to Voter Registrars, City and Town Councils, Selectmen, County officials. We have to start locally.

Next year we have mid-terms. We need to increase our seats in the House and Senate before we even think about a Presidential run in '08.

There's tons to be done before our next Presidential Primary fight.

Edited for multiple typos.

[Skinner]

29. But... But...

Some mean people hurt my feelings during the primaries, and I'm still upset! I can't let them get away with it! :cry:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

31. Sorry, Skinner...

...but that's what you get for supporting the Lieberman/Nader ticket! (and not just from people supporting the Nader/Lieberman ticket)

[BootinUp]

37. Good to see you back

and with your biting wit intact. :)

[Adelante]

38. Ga head, ya big bully

Make fun :D

[Arkana]

44. That's basically the modus operandi for those still fighting the primaries

They're pissed they got dumped on, and want to take it out on those who supported the other guys.

On a side note: Welcome to the mortal realm, Mr. President.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

30. Well,

I'm unable to do much about this at the moment due to the fact that I've left the country, but could y'all please do something about Rick Santorum? :)

[CarolNYC]

33. Amen to that politicasista!

But I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen. Some seem to exist for the sole purpose of creating flame wars or bashing other Democrats. What's the purpose in that? This country's going to hell in a handbasket. We've got to do something constructive about it now.

[ArtVandaley]

39. Here here!

I agree completely.

[VOX]

41. A-bloody-men! 2006 is **next year**!

Why is the GOP pushing their agenda so incredibly hard? Because they know that come 2006, everything could change for them.

I'm going to do my part in making that change a reality!

[GOPBasher]

45. Yeah, 2006 is what we should all be concentrating on.

First off, we should fight electronic voting.

[Blue Belle]

47. Thank you.

I was hoping someone would get to that.

[Hippo_Tron]

50. Honestly, it's hard to be optimistic about 2006

I'm pretty optimistic usually but if you do the math, taking back the Senate looks virtually impossible in 2006 and taking back the House looks just as bleak as it always does. Literally looking at the Senate math, there are just too few competative seats and most of the competative ones are in red states and therefore the GOP has an inherant advantage. The House is the usual math where gerrymandering makes it difficult to do anything, and now they are talking about more gerrymandering in Georgia.

Of course, electoral math aside, we still have a shot IF we can create an anti Bush mandate of 1994 proportions. In 1994 the GOP won 11 Senate seats and got two Senators to switch parties.

On the bright side, some 36 states have gubernatorial races during midterm years, and those are always up for grabs with a strong candidate. The bluest of the blue states Massachusetts and Vermont both have GOP Governors while the reddest of the red states, Wyoming and Montana have Dem Governors, so anything can happen.