Can Democrats take advantage in '06 election? (good article :)

[wakeme2008]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/20/Worldandnation/Can_Democrats_take_ad.shtml

Can Democrats take advantage in '06 election?

The GOP seems vulnerable, and Democrats are trying to put together a plan to mount a challenge.

By WES ALLISON, Times Staff Writer
Published November 20, 2005

WASHINGTON - Fellow Democrats had often urged Mary Jo Kilroy to run for Congress. But after winning two tough races against better-funded Republicans to become president of the Franklin County (Ohio) Commission, she was content to dicker over sewer systems and fight urban sprawl around Columbus.

Then the dismal response to Hurricane Katrina embarrassed the Bush administration. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted. The nation's patience was wearing thin with the war in Iraq.

So last month, after a hard sell from leading Democrats in Washington and a good look at polls showing rising voter discomfort with the Republican status quo, Kilroy, 56, announced she would challenge U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, the fourth-ranking Republican in the U.S. House.

"It is a serious commitment to take on someone in leadership, but I think the conditions. . . are right for change," Kilroy said last week. "The timing is very favorable to Democrats."



..more at link...

Good article by local St. Pete Reporter...

[bluestateguy]

1. Can we just vote now?

There is too much time left for the Bush people to pull all kinds of stunts.

[wakeme2008]

3. Wipe out for the repugs if the vote was today

who knows in 12 months... IMHO, it will not get better for the Repugs. :cry: at the rate we are going around Sept we will hit the 3000 mark in Iraq.

[grahamhgreen]

5. But the stunts are backfiring...

they have lost their credibility and few people take what they say at face-value anymore.

[Stand and Fight]

2. Recommended for one of the Greatest... for today at least. n/t

[skipos]

4. I hope everyone here is working on '06! nt

[dennisnyc]

8. and if not, get started here...

MoveOn has "Operation Democracy" devoted to creating teams all across the nation that will work to make the house more progressive in '06. Go to www.moveonpac.org and join a team!

The Democratic Party has already started their plan, this past Tuesday was the national kickoff day. www.democrats.org

In New York City, we have New Democratic Majority, dedicated to making a progressive impact on national, state and local elections. www.newdemmajority.org

I know Progressive Democrats of America and Democracy for America are already working on this, find you local group and get started. Working on it now makes the future seem less scary...

[fshrink]

6. This is the problem:

Let's assume that the country is faced with very severe and very deep issues, such as suggested, for example, by at least 2 recent reports from the GAO. Issues covering financial state, economic infrastructure or structure, serious problems with the Constitution, among others.

If you play politics by using demagogy and conventional politics, these issues will have to remain hidden. It will be about advertising a position as low-profile and average as possible. Considering the current and predictable state of discontent you will probably win but you will also be unable to address these issues once elected, because you will be the one bringing them up. They will appear as your creation or your partisan version of reality (e.g. Clinton #1 and health). You pick up the tab.

If you play straight, you will have to center your campaign around these issues, but by doing so your winning at the poll will probably be harder. You'll be the messenger carrying the bad news and will be attacked as such by your opponents. On the other hand, you will be much less vulnerable to attacks afterward if/when you tackle these issues. They are your public agenda, the one you have been elected on (e.g. the Idiot #2 - assuming he has been elected). They pick up the tab.

The choice is strategic. It exists only if you understand that the country is indeed in a very bad shape. And if you are willing to bring it up specifically and clearly to the people. And if you are willing to decrease your chances of winning only to promote the awareness of the severity of the problems we face. That's a lot of "ifs", but the context is dramatic enough (e.g. endless war, NOLA, health, shady electoral process) to, perhaps, hopefully, be motivating enough for our professional politicians.

[Vitruvius]

7. It all depends on who counts the votes -- if it's Diebold, the answer is

NO.

If the Dems want to win in '06, it's past time for them to mount a legal and publicity campaign for a fair vote count and a free election.