Month: April 2008

Today, it was my plan to start focusing less on presidential diaries and more on Congressional races. But, thanks to John McCain, I have the opportunity to write a diary that focuses on a little of both. As we all know, the corrupt Rick Renzi is retiring to face a grand jusry, but it gets even better. McCain is doing his best to help Democrats win this seat According to the progressive blog Down With Tyranny! McCain has decided to endorse a candidate who used his ifluence to get his rapist son out of jail.

<

Complicating the matter further, is that McCain, in a pique of typically hysterical vindictive pigheadedness, forced the local AZ-01 Republican Party to jettison their favorite candidate to try to hold Renzi’s seat, Kris Mayes (who McCain holds a grudge against because she once worked for the Arizona Republic), in favor of a McCain crony, Ken Bennett. The problem with Bennett isn’t that he’s a McCain crony but that he is widely hated in AZ-01 for using his influence to free his son from punishment after the younger Bennett was convicted of using broomsticks and flashlights in 40 incidents of rape against 18 young boys, many repeatedly.

In case there is any doubt about Clifton Bennet’s guilt.

The son of state Senate President Ken Bennett admitted in court Monday to assaulting middle school boys with a broomstick in their rectal areas, but a judge allowed charges against him to be reduced from 18 to one, and he may avoid jail.

Three of the 18 victims, all boys between the ages of 11 and 15, are from Tucson, and the families are angry that 18-year-old Clifton Bennett and co-defendant Kyle Wheeler, 19, were not charged with sexual assault.

So Mr. Straight Talk does not really care about crime, or victims’ rights. He doesn’t even care about his own party. America needs to know the truth about McCain. But in the meantime, we owe him out thanks for the assist in turning this seat blue.  

Freeze ’em on a stick:

IA-04:

     Kurt Meyer (D): $131K raised; $109K CoH

PA-04:

     Melissa Hart (R): $141K raised; $393K CoH

     Jason Altmire (D-inc): $471K raised; $1.35M CoH

NJ-03:

     Chris Myers (R): $335K raised; $288K CoH (12/1-3/31)

     Jack Kelly (R): $306K raised; $281K CoH

AK-AL:

     Ethan Berkowitz (D): >$275K raised; $280K CoH

TX-23:

     Ciro Rodriguez (D-inc): $950K CoH

     Lyle Larson (R): $60K CoH

NM-01:

     Darren White (R): $233K raised; ~$300K CoH

CT-05:

     Chris Murphy (D-inc): >$400K raised; $1.55M CoH

1Q Fundraising Results Thread | Son of… | Revenge of… | Raiders of the… | Alien vs. Predator vs… | Grandson of…

Continuing through the alphabet.

Texas has 32 representatives: 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats

The filing deadline was Jan 2, and the primary was March 4, with a runoff on April 8, where needed

District: TX-01

Location Eastern TX, bordering LA and a tiny bit of AR, including Tyler

Representative Louie Gohmert (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 68-30

2004 margin 61-38

Bush margin 2004 69-31

Notes on opponents In 2004, Gohmert ousted Max Sandlin, each spent about the same ($1.8 mill for Gohmert, $1.6 for Sandlin).  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents No Democrats

Demographics 55th most rural (49.1%), 72nd lowest income (median = $33K), 90th most Blacks (18.9%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-02

Location Oh, the odd shapes of TX districts!  This one mostly runs east west, from the LA border (and the Gulf) west to outer Houston.  But it also extends north a bit.

Representative Ted Poe (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 66-33

2004 margin 56-43

Bush margin 2004 63-37

Notes on opponents In 2004, Poe ousted Nick Lampson, spending $1.5 million to Lampson’s $2.4. The 2006 opponent raise little

Current opponents No Democrats

Demographics 94th most Blacks (19%), 74th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-03

Location North central TX, including Plano and Garland

Representative Sam Johnson (R)

First elected  1991

2006 margin 63-35

2004 margin 86-8-6 against minor parties

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tom Daley raised $5K, $3K COH;  Johnson has $750K COH

Demographics 61st highest income (median = $61K), 61st fewest veterans (9.5%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-04

Location Northeastern TX, bordering OK and AR, including Texarkana

Representative Ralph Hall (R)

First elected  1980

2006 margin 64-33

2004 margin 68-30

Bush margin 2004 70-30

Notes on opponents In 2004, Jim Nickerson raised $200K to Hall’s $1.1 million, in 2006, Glenn Melancon raised less than $100K

Current opponents Glenn Melancon is running again; he has raised $25K but has no COH; Hall has $350K COH, not much for an incumbent with a challenger

Demographics  44th most rural (50.4%), 25th most Republican

Assessment Long shot, but not totally long…. Hall is getting old (born 1923 – he is the oldest person in the House) and his fundraising has been anemic.

District: TX-05

Location Shaped like a C; the inner-top of the C is near Dallas, it goes south and then east, and also east directly from Dallas

Representative Jeb Hansarling (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 62-36

2004 margin 64-33

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents neither raised much

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 34th most Republican

Assessment  Free ride

District: TX-06

Location Shaped sort of like a boot, with an added doodad on top, the top of the boot is south and west of Dallas, it extends south about 100 miles and then east

Representative Joe Barton (R)

First elected  1984

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 66-33

Bush margin 2004 66-34

Notes on opponents In 2004, Morris Meyer raised $100K to Barton’s $1.8 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents Ludwig Otto

Demographics 42nd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-07

Location Western outskirts of Houston

Representative John Culberson (R)

First elected  2000

2006 margin 59-38

2004 margin 64-33

Bush margin 2004 64-36

Notes on opponents In 2006, Jim Henley raised $122K to Culberton’s $700K

Current opponents Michael Skelly has (this is interesting) raised $465K (almost all from individuals) to Culberson’s $322K (almost half from PACs).  Even more interesting, Skelly has more COH: $400K to $82K

Demographics 70th highest income (median = $58K), 66th fewest veterans (9.9%), 33rd most Republican

Assessment Somewhat vulnerable. Superribbie ranks it the 75th most vulnerable Republican seat

District: TX-08

Location The southern part of eastern TX, bordering LA

Representative Kevin Brady (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 67-33

2004 margin 69-30

Bush margin 2004 72-28

Notes on opponents  Jim Wright ran both times, and raised little

Current opponents Kent Hargett

Demographics 45th lowest income (median = $40K), 10th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-09

Location Part of Houston and southern suburbs

Representative Al Green (D)

First elected  2004

2006 margin Unopposed

2004 margin 72-27

Bush margin 2004 30-70

Notes on opponents In 2004, Arlette Molina raised $133K to Green’s $838K

Current opponents No Republican

Demographics 28th fewest veterans (7.1%), 13th fewest Whites (17.4%), 54th most Blacks (37%), 64th most Latinos (32.8%), 12th most nonWhite, nonBlack, nonLatinos (mostly 11% Asians), 45th most Democratic

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-10

Location A long, narrow district running from Austin almost to Houston

Representative Michael McCaul (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 55-40 (most of rest to a Libertarian)

2004 margin 79-15-6 against minor parties

Bush margin 2004 62-38

Notes on opponents In 2006, Ted Ankrum raised only $64K

Current opponents Larry Joe Doherty has raised $447K, almost all from individuals.  McCaul has raised about $500K, 40% of it from PACs. Each has about $100K COH

Demographics 77th highest income (median = $52K), 85th most Latinos (18.7%), 61st most Republican

Assessment Somewhat vulnerable. Superribbie ranks it the 62nd most vulnerable Republican seat; Doherty is a TV star, so has good name recog, and seems to be a good fundraiser

District: TX-11

Location Western TX, bordering (a little) on NM, including Odessa, Midland, and Brownwood

Representative Mike Conaway (R)

First elected 2004

2006 margin unopposed

2004 margin 77-22

Bush margin 2004 78-22

Notes on opponents no money

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 60th lowest income (median = $33K), 50th most Latinos (29.6%), 4th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-12

Location Part of Ft. Worth, and western and northern suburbs

Representative Kay Granger (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 67-31

2004 margin 72-28

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tracey Smith (no fundraising info).  Granger has about $120K COH.

Demographics 63rd most Latinos (23.7%), 50th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-13

Location Northern panhandle, bordering OK and NM

Representative Mac Thornberry (R)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 74-23

2004 margin 92-8 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 78-22

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Roger Waun , who lost in 2006, is running again

Demographics 72nd lowest income (median = $34K), 4th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-14

Location Most of the Gulf Coast of TX

Representative Ron Paul (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 60-40

2004 margin Unopposed

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents In 2006, Shane Sklar raised $550K to Paul’s $1.5 million

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 60th most Latinos (24.9%), 50th most Republican

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-15

Location Southern TX, between the Gulf and Mexico, but bordering neither

Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 62-24-15 (two Republicans)

2004 margin 58-41

Bush margin 2004 51-49

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Eddie Zamora has $720 (no K) COH; Hinojosa has $300K

Demographics 6th lowest income (median = $27K), 59th fewest veterans (9.3%), 18th fewest Whites (19.7%), 64th fewest Blacks (1.7%), 2nd most Latinos (77.6%) (only TX-16 is higher), fewest nonBlack, nonWhite, nonLatino (1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-16

Location Westernmost TX, bordering NM and Mexico, including El Paso

Representative Silvestre Reyes (D)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 79-21 vs. a Libertarian

2004 margin 68-31

Bush margin 2004 44-56

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents No Republican

Demographics 43rd lowest income (median = $31K), 13th fewest Whites (17.4%), most Latinos (77.7%)

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-17

Location Another TX district with twists, but it’s south of Dallas and centers on Waco

Representative Chet Edwards (D)

First elected  1990

2006 margin 58-40

2004 margin 51-47

Bush margin 2004 70-30

Notes on opponents In 2004, Arlene Wohlgemuth and Edwards each had about $2.5 million; in 2006, Van Taylor raised $2.5 million to Edwards $3.1 million

Current opponents Rob Curnock (no funding info), Edwards has raised about $1.3 million and has about $1 million COH

Demographics 18th most Republican

Assessment  Vulnerable.  On the DCCC list . Superribbie ranks it the the 18th most vulnerable Democratic seat.  It will be interesting to see Curnock’s fundraising report

District: TX-18

Location Shaped sort of like a Q, in Houston and suburbs

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 77-19

2004 margin 89-6-5 vs. minor parties

Bush margin 2004 28-72

Notes on opponents no money

Current opponents John Faulk has only about $5K COH, Lee has over $200K

Demographics 40th lowest income (median = $31K), 41st fewest veterans (8.3%), 17th fewest Whites (19.7%), 32nd most Blacks (40.1%), 43rd most Latinos (35.6%), 37th most Democratic

Assessment safe

District: TX-19

Location Another weird shape…like a W with extra squiggles.  Borders NM in the west, then jiggles around eventually almost reaching the OK border; includes Lubbock

Representative Randy Neugebauer(R)

First elected  2003

2006 margin 68-30

2004 margin 58-40

Bush margin 2004 77-23

Notes on opponents In 2004, Charlie Stenholm raised $2.5 million to Neugebauer’s 3.2 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents Dwight Fullingim (no funding info), Neugebauer has $440K COH

Demographics 46th lowest income (median = $32K), 53rd most Latinos (29%), 4th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-20

Location San Antonio and a odd shaped area around it

Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D)

First elected  1998

2006 margin 87-13 against a Libertarian

2004 margin 65-32

Bush margin 2004 45-55

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Robert Litoff (no funding info), Gonzalez has about $175 K COH

Demographics 51st lowest income (median = $32K), 31st fewest Whites (23.4%), 9th most Latinos (67.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-21

Location Mostly west of San Antonio, but also north and east of San Antonio, towards Austin

Representative Lamar Smith (R)

First elected  1986

2006 margin 60-25-9 (two Democrats)

2004 margin 61-30

Bush margin 2004 66-34

Notes on opponents In 2006, John Courage raised $350K to Smith’s $1.6 million

Current opponents No Democrat

Demographics 25th most veterans (16.8%), 71st most Latinos (21.3%), 33rd most Republican.

Assessment Free ride

District: TX-22

Location Oh, I dunno…. a bowtie with one strand loose? Mostly south of Houston

Representative Nick Lampson (D)

First elected  2006

2006 margin 52-42

2004 margin NA

Bush margin 2004 64-36

Notes on opponents In 2006, Sekula-Gibbs raised $900K to Lampson’s $3.6 million

Current opponents Pete Olson raised about $810K but has only $114K left, and $170K in debt.  Lampson has about $740K COH

Demographics 48th highest income (median = $58K), 42nd most Republican

Assessment Vulnerable. On the DCCC list .   Superribbie ranks it the the most vulnerable Democratic seat.  This is Tom DeLay’s old seat.  Lampson  has a fundraising edge (as of mid-February) but now that the Republican primary is over, this will get hot

District: TX-23

Location Western TX, except for El Paso, borders Mexico and NM

Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D)

First elected 2006

2006 margin 54-46

2004 margin NA

Bush margin 2004 57-43

Notes on opponents In 2006, Rodriguez ousted Bonilla, although Bonilla had $3.8 million and Rodriguez less than $1 million. This district changed a lot in 2006 and before, and Rodriguez used to represent part of it

Current opponents Lyle T. Larson has $124K COH.  Rodriguez has about $660K.

Demographics 74th lowest income (median = $34K), 47th fewest Whites (30%), 13th most Latinos (65.1%).

Assessment Vulnerable. On the DCCC list

District: TX-24

Location Shaped like a T between Dallas and Ft. Worth

Representative Kenny Marchant (R)

First elected  2004

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 64-34

Bush margin 2004 65-35

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Tom Love has almost no COH; Marchant has $400K COH and $125K in debt

Demographics 47th highest income (median = $56K), 42nd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-25

Location Austin and southern and eastern suburbs

Representative Lloyd Doggett (D)

First elected  1994

2006 margin 67-26

2004 margin 68-31

Bush margin 2004 46-54

Notes on opponents In 2004 Rebecca Armendariz Klein raised $800K to Doggett’s $2 million.  The 2006 opponent raised little

Current opponents George Morovich (no funding info); Doggett has $2.5 million COH

Demographics 94th fewest veterans (10.8%), 98th fewest Whites (52.9%), 45th most Latinos (33.9%)

Assessment Pretty safe

District: TX-26

Location   A square with two sticks, running north from Ft. Worth to the OK border

Representative Michael Burgess (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 60-37

2004 margin 66-33

Bush margin 2004 65-35

Notes on opponents Neither raised much

Current opponents Ken Leach , no funding info.  Burgess has only $39K COH.

Demographics 74th most Republican

Assessment Well, we’re not favored….but… Burgess got 75% in 2002, 66% in 2004, 60% in 2006…who knows?

District: TX-27

Location The southern Gulf coast

Representative Solomon Ortiz (D)

First elected  1982

2006 margin 57-39

2004 margin 63-35

Bush margin 2004 55-45

Notes on opponents Willie Vaden ran both times, raising about $50K in 2004 and $100K in 2006. Ortiz got around $700K each time

Current opponents Willie Vaden again (no funding info).  Ortiz has about $250K COH

Demographics 41st lowest income (median = $31K), 34th fewest Whites (27.6%), 8th most Latinos (68.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-28

Location Southern TX along the Mexican border

Representative Henry Cuellar (D)

First elected  2004

2006 margin Unopposed

2004 margin 59-39

Bush margin 2004 54-46

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Jim Fish ($150 COH), Cuellar has about $42K COH, but $100K in debt

Demographics 17th lowest income (median = $29K), 49th fewest veterans (8.7%), 20th fewest Whites (20.3%), 36th fewest Blacks (1.1%), 3rd most Latinos (77.5%)

Assessment probably safe

District: TX-29

Location If you can describe this shape, you’re good! East of Houston

Representative Gene Green (D)

First elected  1992

2006 margin 74-24

2004 margin 94-6 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 44-56

Notes on opponents No money

Current opponents Eric Story, who lost in 2006, has $833 COH; Green has $554K

Demographics 48th lowest income (median = $32K), 28th fewest Whites (21.9%), 10th most Latinos (66.1%)

Assessment Safe

District: TX-30

Location Dallas and southern suburbs

Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D)

First elected  1992

2006 margin 80-18

2004 margin 93-7 against a Libertarian

Bush margin 2004 25-75

Notes on opponents Little money

Current opponents Fred Wood (no funding info) Johnson has about $150K COH

Demographics 72nd lowest income ($34K), 45th fewest veterans (8.4%), 28th fewest Whites (21.9%), 30th most Blacks (41.4%), 43rd most Latinos (34.2%), 31st most Democratic

Assessment Safe

District: TX-31

Location North and west of Austin

Representative John Carter (R)

First elected  2002

2006 margin 58-39

2004 margin 65-32

Bush margin 2004 67-33

Notes on opponents In 2004, Jon Porter raised little.  In 2006 Mary Beth Harrell raised $207K to Carter’s $900K

Current opponents Brian Ruiz , no funding info.  Carter has about $130 COH

Demographics 29th most veterans (16.4%), 33rd most Republican

Assessment Long shot

District: TX-32

Location Shaped like most of a circle, near Dallas

Representative Pete Sessions (R)

First elected  1996

2006 margin 56-41

2004 margin 54-44

Bush margin 2004 60-40

Notes on opponents In 2004, Martin Frost raised $4.8 million to Sessions’ $4.5 million.  In 2006, Will Pryor raised $500K to Sessions’ $1.8 million

Current opponents Eric Roberson has about $3K COH, Sessions has about $860K COH

Demographics 53rd fewest veterans (8.9%), 90th fewest Whites (50.1%), 40th most Latinos (36.2%), 86th most Republican

Assessment Long shot

Lake Research for Gerry Connolly (likely voters, 3/24-27, 1/7-10 in parens):

Gerry Connolly (D): 45% (45%)

Leslie Byrne (D): 25% (22%)

Doug Denneny (D): 1% (1%)

Lori Alexander (D): 1% (n/a)

(MoE: ±4.4%)

With high name recognition and a job performance approval of 61% as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Connolly is in a strong position to win VA-11’s June 11th primary.

A new study by Ernest Reock, Jr. of Rutgers University concludes that New Jersey will retain all 13 of its congressional districts after the 2010 census, despite the Garden State’s loss of 72,500 residents in 2006.  However, districts in South and Central Jersey are set to shrink.

That doesn’t quite jibe with Polidata’s projection which pegged New Jersey as losing a seat in the next re-apportionment.  Election Data Services also projects NJ to lose a district.

New Jersey currently has a 7 Dem, 6 GOP congressional delegation, but that could easily be pushed into a 9D-4R split with the retirements of Reps. Ferguson and Saxton.

The nerves are starting to wear extremely thin among GOP activists these days.  Via Blue Indiana, the Muncie Star Press has the sordid details:

A Republican voter registration deputy faces battery charges after he tackled a newspaper reporter and hit the Democratic 6th District congressional candidate after a contentious Delaware County Election Board meeting this afternoon.

The meeting had just ended when Will Statom, GOP registration deputy and secretary of the local Republican Party, attacked Star Press reporter Nick Werner while Werner was interviewing Ball State University student Johanna Perez about hundreds of last-minute voter registrations for Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign.

“He did not seem very happy that we were stating our opinions,” Perez said afterwards about Statom.

Werner said Statom seemed critical of his reporting, sarcastically saying to make sure he screwed up the story again.

Statom had just walked past Werner when Statom turned around and pushed Werner against the wall, grabbed him and they fell to the ground, according to witnesses.

Barry A. Welsh, Democratic 6th district congressional candidate, who attended the meeting, stepped in, and Statom turned around and hit Welsh in the eye.

“When Nick went to the floor, I tried to break it up,” Welsh said.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen abusive behavior from GOP operatives on the campaign trail.  Remember Trent Wisecup, the chief of staff to Michigan Rep. Joe Knollenberg? Sadly, it probably won’t be the last time, either.

We didn’t get to have our pick!

Multiple Republican sources say Andy Unanue is preparing to drop out of the Republican U.S. Senate race and will be replaced by former Congressman Dick Zimmer.

The arrangement is not final, but Unanue has reportedly agreed to drop his candidacy, while Zimmer has agreed to replace him.

Unanue’s three member committee on vacancies has until next Wednesday to officially change candidates.

More on Zimmer:

Zimmer, 63, a lawyer in Washington, represented the state’s 12th District in Congress from 1991 to 1997 before losing in the U.S. Senate race in 1996 to Robert Torricelli. In 2000, Zimmer lost a bid to reclaim his old House seat from Rep. Rush Holt, D-Hopewell Township.

For help with the title, please watch this instructional video:

At a pro-war rally in our nation's capitol yesterday, hosted by the right-wing group Vets for Freedom, congressional candidate David Bellavia made a major faux pas in his introductory statements before John McCain took the podium. “Rest assured that people like Senator McCain will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate an admire. You can have your Tiger Woods. We have Senator McCain!” Bellavia bellowed, implicitly referring to Barack Obama, eliciting a chorus of “ooooh”'s from the mostly white crowd.  He later referred to John McCain as “the real audacity of hope.” All hail the mighty Republicans– the party of racial insensitivity!

If this were just some average citizen venting venom and casting condescension, it would not be worthy of notice.  But this guy is running for Congress in the 26th District of New York State.  The fact that the GOP firmly stands behind him as he rattles off this incendiary rhetoric– McCain made no reference to Bellavia's statements in his own speech, which directly followed– shows what a disgusting operation the GOP truly is. 

Unfortunately, the mainstream media has largely ignored the incident– Keith Olbermann commented on it on “Countdown,” and the issue was visited by Chris Matthews on “Hardball,” but it hasn't made headlines in a big way.  Hopefully, it will at least catch the eyes of voters in the Buffalo area, and in neighboring upstate districts.  NY-26 looks to be an easy win for us this year, as Jon Powers is a strong candidate; I just hope this incident at least has a ripple effect in the region, if not the nation.

Recently the small Western Kentucky town of Benton had their annual Tater Day. What is Tater Day you may ask? Well, it is a festival that started in the late 1800s as a celebration of the first day of spring. Residents of Western Kentucky would gather together and trade sweet potatoes. It features a parade, that circles the town and a Ms. Tater Day pageant.

It also has political overtones and many candidates down through the years have come to meet their constituents in Western Kentucky and participate in the Tater Day parade.

This year, Heather Ryan and Greg Fischer were there to meet the fine people of Benton, and participate in the parade. Their opponents, Exxon Ed Whitfield, Mitch McConnell and Bruce Lunsford decided not to participate. Personally, I believe that a Representative or Senator should take every opportunity to meet the people they want to represent.

Well, two of the hardest working candidates to expand our Congressional majorities are Heather Ryan and Greg Fischer. Ryan is running against Exxon Ed Whitfield in Kentucky’s First Congressional District. Here she is meeting with a veteran constituent:

Unlike Exxon Ed Whitfield, Heather Ryan believes in meeting the veterans of our district and hearing their concerns. Of course Exxon Eddie doesn’t want to meet them because he voted against them. Heather would never vote against the welfare of our veterans as Exxon Eddie has here:

Whitfield voted for budget that cut veteran’s programs.  Voted for final passage of the $2.6 trillion budget conference report for 2006.  The report cut Medicaid spending by $10 Billion, every penny of the Social Security surplus, increased the national deficit by $167.5 Billion over 5 years and paved the way for drilling in ANWR.  Furthermore, the conference report cut fudning for veterans’ healthcare by $13.5 Billion over 5 years.  Yet the budget still found room for $106 BILLION in tax breaks for those who need it least.  [HRC 95, Vote #149, 4/28/2005; Passed Republicans; 214-15: Democrats; 0-195; Independent; 0-1]

And here:

Whitfield voted against a $53 Million boost for Veteran’s Health Care and Benefits on MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2005 (FAILED BY 1 VOTE – WHITFIELD’S VOTE).  The bill would have aded $8 million for combat-related trauma care, $6 million for poly-trauma centersto support wounded trops once they return to their homes, $9 million for VA medical and prosthetic research and $7 million for 100 additional staff to process claims for compenstation and pension benefits.  Finally, the amendment would provide $23 million to help approximately 4100 spouses of service members with children whose spouse died during the War on Terrorism between September 11, 2001 and November 30, 2004 by making them eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.  The amendment failed, 213-214 [HR 2528, Vote #224, 5/26/2005; Failed; Republicans; 19-210; Democrats; 193-4; Independent; 1-0]

You see, here at Ryan for Kentucky we believe in respecting our veterans with much more than talking points. We believe they have earned our respect, and all the benefits they and their families are entitled to. We consider it a disgrace that our Congressman rubber-stamped the Bush plan to send our soldiers to war without the proper training, equipment, and planning to accomplish their mission, and then allowed such disgraces as Walter Reed. Here is Heather’s take on respecting our veterans:

As a veteran of the United States Navy, and an active member of the American Legion, my dedication to the men and women in uniform is unyielding.  The current service member is highly skilled, highly trained and highly ignored by this administration.  The American people

were duped into an ill-conceived war under false pretenses and the administration continues to over utilize a national guard system which was never intended to be used for sustained combat missions.  Congress must insist that an exit strategy be planned and implemented immediately. By the Bush Administration’s own account, the nation will be forced to reinstate the draft system again should we continue to over-tax our National Guard with sustained combat.  I am not a supporter of reinstating the draft for as history clearly shows us, the draft is merely for those of us who are not wealthy enough to buy our way out of

active duty.  We must not allow this ill planned and ill executed war to continue to destroy the brave men and women in our armed forces while simultaneously placing our nation at a heightened risk with a limited national guard.

Every day we see reports about how our veterans services have fallen into severe disrepair.  The men and women who served this country deserve better.  Our VA system needs a complete overhaul; from the GI Bill to health care to disability benefits, without a modernized system, we do those who served our country a grave disservice.  Veterans deserve better.

http://www.ryanforkentucky.com…

Of course, Heather is a fellow veteran, so her views stem from experience.

Here is Heather decorating the Ryan for Kentucky van with a personal thank you note for Whitfield, McConnell, Bush, Cheney, and the Republicans for our $3.29 gas!!

I think she speaks for all of us with that thank you note!! Just to think, many in this country consider $3.29 gas cheap!!!

Heather is an awesome grassroots candidate who isn’t afraid to rub elbows with the average people she wishes to represent. Exxon Ed Whitfield was a no-show on Tater Day. Wanna see who Exxon Eddie sees fit to rub elbows with instead of veterans and his constituents?:

Well, that makes sense since Exxon Eddie has been an adoring rubber-stamp of W’s policies that hurt our veterans, while doling out hundreds of billions in corporate welfare to men like President Bush, and well himself!!!

Here is Heather and her daughter Ireland, our youngest member of Ryan for Kentucky, and future Democratic leader!!!:

Please help our grassroots campaign here:

http://www.actblue.com/page/am…

Heather wasn’t the only awesome grassroots Democrat at Tater Day. The Progressive candidate for Senate, Greg Fischer also saw fit to meet the good folks of Benton and Western Kentucky. It seems his grassroots supporters were waiting:

Maybe they are so excited because Greg Fischer will fight for the Transformational change that will ensure all Kentuckians have access to healthcare:

Since career politician Mitch McConnell took office, the number of Kentuckians without health insurance has skyrocketed to 520,000. And currently there are 47 million Americans uninsured; the health care system in the United States is broken.  An inefficient delivery system combined with non-patient focused bureaucratic barriers has caused health care costs to spiral out of control.

A single, serious injury or illness can be financially devastating for an insured, tax paying citizen.  By the year 2010, healthcare cost as a percentage of gross domestic product is estimated to be 20 percent in the U.S. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimate that by 2017, healthcare spending per person will approximately double to $13,000 per person, and total U.S. health care spending will double to more than $4 trillion. This level of spending is simply unsustainable.

Attempts by politicians to address the issues have largely been ineffective as a result of the failure to consider hard facts and predictions, some based on concrete data from our own government organizations and agencies. The common notion that health care in the United States, although expensive, is ranked at the top globally, is a myth. As an example, America’s infant and maternal mortality rates currently rank below France, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Sweden, all with lower health care costs.  

Transformational change is needed to address this crisis. A system is needed that not only serves as a catalyst for health care quality improvements, but also reduces the health care cost on businesses and individuals. A new system-understood by all American citizens and focused on prevention and public health-is needed.

The good news is health care solutions exist to spark this change. Additionally, our current national spending of $2.2 trillion provides adequate funding for the solutions.

Greg Fischer’s first legislative priority will be passing a bill that prevents members of Congress from accepting their gold-plated tax-payer funded health care coverage until universal health care is a reality for every American. Maybe then we can get started on real change for health care in America.

Solutions must be value-based and built around these principles:  

Universal health care access for all citizens- All Americans deserve the dignity of quality health care that guarantees eligibility, is affordable and portable, preserves the private practice of medicine, and allows freedom to choose among doctors and other health care providers.

System modernization – We must improve the utilization of health care system dollars to lower health care delivery costs and improve patient safety. Involving all health care providers in the development of standards for electronic health information management is one example of common sense system modernization.

Wellness and prevention Because a significant part of health care costs in America is driven by behavior, a focus on improving personal health and prevention of serious diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and coronary disease is imperative. The creation of reimbursement incentives around wellness and prevention not only improves quality of life but will also help to lessen serious laterstage illnesses.

Innovation – Americans are the world’s most innovative citizens. We can encourage innovation and reduce costs by removing bureaucratic barriers for the development of less invasive treatments, better medications and devices for testing and treatment.

http://www.gregfischer.com/ind…

Here is Greg looking remarkably at ease among the voters of Western Kentucky despite chasing millionaire establishment candidate Bruce Lunsford in the primary, and millionaire Mitch McConnell when he wins the primary. Neither opponent saw fit to grace the good people of Western Kentucky with their prescense:

Wanna see where Bruce Lunsford’s sympathies lie?

Thats Ernie Fletcher, former corrupt Governor of Kentucky who Lunsford endorsed after losing the Democratic Primary to Ben Chandler in 2003.

Support Greg Fischer here:

http://actblue.com/entity/fund…

In Kentucky, we have two awesome candidates to expand our Congressional majorities with fighting Democrats who won’t be afraid to fight for us. Please help these campaigns as they both face millionaire oppositon, and the golden-plated smear machine of Mitch McConnell.

Best wishes fellow Democrats!!  

Anzalone Liszt for Travis Childers (likely special election voters, 4/3-7):

Travis Childers (D): 41%

Greg Davis (R): 40%

(MoE: ±4.4%)

Those are the head-to-head results between Childers and Davis.  However, in the special election on April 22nd, primary losers Glenn McCullough (R) and Steve Holland (D) will both be on the ballot (in addition to two third-party candidates).  When all six names are read, Davis leads Childers by a statistically insignificant margin of 29%-27%.  However, it should be noted that Holland is considering going to court in order to get his name off the special election ballot:

“I want the ballot clean,” Holland said Wednesday from the State Capitol where he is chairman of the House Public Health Committee. “I’m not going to Washington for six months, even if I am elected.”

McCullough said Wednesday he also has asked for his name to be taken off the special election ballot, but noted he isn’t “quite as adamant” as Holland.

More information from the polling memo:

Among undecided voters, Democrats have a 15-point advantage on the generic ballot (40% Democrat / 25% Republican), another sign of Childers’ expansion potential. This is the result of high undecided vote among blacks which will most likely go to Childers.

This one should definitely turn some heads.

Previous diaries:

MS-01: Does Travis Childers Have a Shot?