We need to support EVERY Democratic candidate for federal office

[Walt Starr]

Hello all.

My primary was yesterday and now I am all about the business of defeating Republicans at every level. I know for a fact I support John Kerry for president. I know for a fact I support Barack Obama for Senate. I know for a fact I support Gloria Schor Andersen for the U.S. House of representatives. All three of these people will receive direct support in the form of my vote on November 2nd.

More than that, though, I support every Democrat up for any office at any level in any State, district, or precinct nationwide regardless of their stances on any issue. Hell, If Zell were up for re-election this year, I'd be all for Zell because of that (D) after his name.

There is a hell of a lot more at stake this year than the White House. The party loyalty expressed on DU about Kerry needs to extend to every level. We are completely out of power today. Things are so close that just a few upset victories, a tiny number in the grand scheme of things, could send everything back to the Democrats.

So, any issues you may have with any candidate at any level nationwide needs to be set aside in the interest of our national future. Until the Democrats regain power, doing otherwise for a registered Democrat is tantamount to treason against the party.

I was somebody who bitched about the loyalty oath thread during the primaries. For me, the primaries are over. I swear loyalty to the Democratic Party from now through November 2nd no questions asked. I urge you to do the same once your primary is over, too. We need every damn seat in ever state legislature, state Senate, the House, the Senate we can get or electing Kerry to the White House could become meaningless because he has an adversarial relationship with the congress.

To quote somebody who I've had my differences with in the past, "Let's go get those Bush bastards!" and to add, "and let's do it at EVERY LEVEL!"

[molly]

1. Thanks for your great post!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[ACK]

2. Hell yes every Dem

We have to change Congress before this country will truly change as a whole.

It is vitally important to get Bush out of office that is for sure.

However, it is just as important to stay active and vote in your local, state and congressional elections!

Some of the hardcore liberals out there might lament that the Dem party is too conservative. Ok, fine, get some Green party activity going hard. But most of all, do something and quick!

I will always vote Democratic. That is me but the important thing is to throw the bums out. The Republicans not just Bush has to go.

[WI_DEM]

3. well said, Walt

For Kerry to succeed he is going to need a Democratic House and Senate. I say especially in House Seats where GOP incumbents are being challenged it is our duty to make sure we field a candidate for each and every seat--no matter how unrealistic it might be--if the primaries so far have proved anything it is that Democrats are getting more votes in the primaries even in congressional primaries.

[slinkerwink]

4. first the city council, then the state government, and then the Senate AND

the House! Democrats all the way!

[MoonAndSun]

5. Great post Walt,

we all need to realize that taking back the Congress is just as important as taking back the WH.

Yes, even the part about ZigZag Zell (ewwww!!!!)

[bmuller78]

6. Out with Zell, in with Mary!!!

Support a truly grassroots Senatorial candidate! Georgia Senator Mary Squires is running for turncoat ZELL MILLER’S U.S. Senate seat that he is vacating. We must win this seat for our progressive candidate. She CAN and WILL win this seat but needs your support. Democratic supporters in Georgia and around the nation have begun organizing for Senator Squires because we understand the importance of taking back our U.S. Senate. In addition, she has more military experience than all of them! The Republicans want this seat and have already raised several million dollars to help them get it. Please consider a small contribution today to help win the Senate for REAL Democrats. Contribute here: http://www.marysquires.us/contribute.html

[Robb]

9. Hi bmuller78!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[bmuller78]

11. Thanks for the Welcome

Thanks to all of you for the welcome! I can't get enough of the campaigning, LOL. I was previously staying up all night, traveling, and blogging with a Presidential Campaign and came home and jumped straight into a Senate Race, LOL. I had planned on taking a break but when I found out Mary was running, I couldn't help myself! I guess it's back to the coffee diet, flashmobbing, blogging, rallying, and GOTV all over again. This one is just too important to take a break.

[Walt Starr]

10. I support her!

Definitely!

[newyawker99]

27. Hi bmuller78!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KFC]

7. Straight Dem ticket - as always

Could not agree more

[sangh0]

8. Great post, Walt

and I'm not ashamed to say that I am thoroughly surprised. What I mistook for a passion to undermine the Democratic Party was, as I now see, a passion for your preferred candidate in the primary. I apologize for misunderstanding your intent.

Now go git them Bush* bastards!!!

[BuelahWitch]

12. Yes, let's give Kerry a Democratic Congress!

Go Dennis Moore!

Go Nancy Boyda!

Go Joan Ruff!

(first two Dem candidates from the KS 3rd and 2nd Congressional districts, the third will run against Sam Brownback in the Senate).

[Walt Starr]

15. I'm in a Red district

and plan on helping it change Blue this fall!

19. Get Brownback out of there

please.
I haven't lived in Kansas for 10 years but I cringe every time I hear his name or see a quote from him.

[Rich Hunt]

13. yes!!

We need to work like the Christian Coalition did with the Republicans. People fighting Republicans at the local level are not networked well enough. We need to work to throw these Republicans out at every level. Even 'red' areas can change if some people in them get off their asses.

I'm still working for Obama, but I also want to help get rid of Philip Crane this year, even though I'm not in his district. I find that man repugnant. If you're safely in 'blue' territory (as I am), you could work toward expanding that territory.

We need lists of people who are vulnerable, and lists of good candidates that will need our help and GET TO WORK.

[wndycty]

14. I have reserved leavenocampaignbehind.org

And it will be one of the initiatives that patriotsforprogress.org will undertake. I will post more details later.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Yes, we need a progressive congress

Let's hope the Dems run lots and lots of actual progressives.

[Walt Starr]

17. Progressives or not, vote for the Dem!

IF the Dem stands no chance of winning and a Green or Socialist does, vote for the Green or Socialist!!!

Throw the Hypocritical Republicans Out!

[edzontar]

18. Congressional is just as important as presidential....

Look at the shit that Clinton and the whole country had to deal with after 1994---especially the impeachment coup attempt.

I may not like everything about every candidate for office in our party, but i will do everything it takes to get EVERY ONE OF THEM elected.


To do otherwise would be, as our friends say, "traitorous,"

[Walt Starr]

20. More important, actually

The Senate can hold the Judicial appointments in check ad infinitum if the party in power chooses to hold every nomination up in committee (ala what the Repukes did to Clinton).

And the whole gist of this election is the dangers we face due to an aging infrastructure in the SCOTUS (e.g., Justices on the verge of retirement or death).

[IndianaGreen]

25. Evan Bayh voted to restrict abortion rights

What's the difference between Bayh and someone else that is pro-life?

[Walt Starr]

29. The (D) after his name

Please, hear me out.

Control of Congress is all about the numbers. With enough (D)'s in the House and the Senate, the (D)'s take control.

So long as the House and the Senate are in (R) control, we're fucked.

[regnaD kciN]

21. Absolutely!

Once the primaries are over, we are all Democrats, with a common opponent -- not just Bush (as tempting a target as he is), but the Republicanism spawned by Nixon/Reagan/Bush(x2)/Gingrich, which is now the effective dominant ideology in this country, and must be brought to a sudden and conclusive end.

We can do everthing possible to eject the Chimp and elect JK, but even that won't be enough if he has to face a solidly Republican Congress. We all saw where that led to in Clinton's last term. We have to throw all the bastards out, and give President Kerry a supportive legislative branch, not one that's out to block him and preserve the Bush agenda at every turn.

I'll even go further than this -- we need to support Democrats at the state and local level (even city councils, school boards, and utility districts) just as much, for it is there that future Democratic leaders emerge from. I think one of the weaknesses of the Democratic Party over the past thirty years has been precisely this sort of neglect of the "minor leagues" in favor of focussing on the big races. While we've been concentrating on presidential contests, we've gradually lost the influx of young, committed Democrats to form the next wave of party leadership, such as the wave that produced John Kerry in the early 70s -- instead, such people either lose interest in politics altogether, or find a home in a marginal party such as the Greens. Now, even our "young voices" are getting old, and who's going to replace them in time? Unless we explicitly groom a new generation of Democrats, the party will gradually fade away.

This is part of what I hope Dean's new organization, as well as People For Change, will be about. For this year, though, it is important that we unite, and pledge to support all Democratic candidates, everywhere!

:kick:

[Walt Starr]

22. WELL SAID!!!!

Thank you!

[JNelson6563]

23. Working to get our Dem Gov. some Dem legislators

The lovely Jennifer Granholm of Michigan is a bit lonely in Lansing. I'm managing a campaign for a state House race and all my neighboring districts are running good candidates too. Nearby (in the 105th) the Thugs are running John Ramsey (Jon Benet's dad). That should be an interesting race.

Working to get a progressive Dem foundation. :toast:

Julie

[IndianaGreen]

24. Evan Bayh won't get my vote!

I won't surrender my conscience and intellectual integrity on the basis of authoritarian and undemocratic demands for 100-percent loyalty to the party machinery.

If Baron Hill were my Congressman instead of the great Julia Carson, he wouldn't be getting my vote either!


Joe greeted by President Nixon following his
release from prison in Vietnam and his return
to the U.S.

http://www.kernandavis.com/campaign/

[Walt Starr]

30. That (D) after his name would get me to vote for him if I lived in Indiana

Because once they get in, control is all about the numbers.

Evan Bayh sucks. But he's a Democrat and we need the numbers to take control.

[rdfi-defi]

32. "WE need the numbers to take control," (emph. added)

i do not think the dem party is planning on helping working/poor people (of which i am one) in this country any more than the repubs. i do not understand the constant insistance that they are.

i will be supporting a dem for the house in my dist. not because he is a dem, but because he is good on the issues.

[RetroLounge]

26. Great post Walt! I feel the same way.

Every Dem in every race. From the ground up.

Wisconsin needs to take back our State Governament from the Repugs.

We gotta get rid of our County Exec, who is a Repug Hack who washed out of our State Seante.

We gotta get rid of Congressman No-Sense-enbrenner(R - pig).

We need to retain and support Kohl and Feingold.

We already got rid of our Repug Gov.

There are only 2 candidate for Milwaukee Mayor, after the primary, and both are Democrats, and Former US Rep Tom Barrett will most likely win.

Any thing but a Repug!

RL

[revcarol]

28. My money is so limited, I will be giving it out in $5.00 "chunks."

I will give primarily to "progressives," but will work my patootie off to get rid of our wanna-be-DeLay Congressman.

Bernie Sanders gets my first contribution.After Kucinich, of course.

We already have Dems at local, county and state levels. No Senators up for re-election. I worked so hard to get Domenici out in 2002, but it was not to be.

[Walt Starr]

31. Kick

:kick:

[edzontar]

33. Count me in, Walt!!!!

And see you around.....

[Walt Starr]

34. Thanks Ed!

I'm doing all I can!

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Walt Starr]

37. Actually, it's about taking control of congress

If we do not have a majority of representatives in the House caucusing with the Democrats, the Republicans "rool".

[mitchum]

36. Agreed!

[Walt Starr]

38. Kick

:kick:

[TreasonousBastard]

39. Amen, and...

MoveOn and other organizations will no doubt be coming up with their lists of close races where the Democrat has a good chance of winning and asking for support.

It's not only your own state and district, but there are others that will need our support.

I hear rumors that even DeLay might have pissed off enough Sugarland residents to be vulnerable to defeat. That's the kind of race we ALL have to support.

We can win it if we stop arguing long enough to get the job done.