Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread

by: Chris Bowers

Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 12:07


( - promoted by Matt Stoller)

I know it is short notice, but starting just after noon eastern, Democracy for America's Jim and Blue Majority candidate Dan Maffei will be around for about thirty or forty minutes to answer any questions you might have for them (they are doing an event today in Syracuse, my hometown). You can read the introductory post for Dan from last month here, read the NY-25th archive here, and watch his introductory video here:



The new FISA bill, the anniversary of the authorization for the use of military force against Iraq, and the looming attempt to override the S-Chip veto, are obvious topics, but you can ask Jim and Dan anything you like.

This is also an open thread. Tell the world what is on your mind.
Chris Bowers :: Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread

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Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread | 27 comments
Go Dan (0.00 / 0)
Love the low budget video! Smart attack plan: My opponent Loves the War and Hates Kids. Heh.

Maffei's environmental stance (as outlined on his campaign site) is rather weak and makes obvious concessions to big business concerns, BUT I'd love to see him take this election.

"Because the world doesn't matter if you don't have the strength to go ahead and choose something that's really true." - J. Cortazar

I'm excited to be here! (0.00 / 0)
I'm travelling through Western New York and grateful for the opportunity to spend time with great candidates like Dan Maffei in the NY-25.  Dan is a candidate that you should be paying attention to and doing what you can to support him.  If you are frustrated with the way things are going in Congress, the solution is Dan Maffei. 
Thanks, Jim, for making primaries matter! (0.00 / 0)
Since Chris said this was an open thread, I just wanted to thank Jim Dean and DFA for their recent endorsement of Mark Pera, and their previous endorsement of Donna Edwards, and for the second fundraising email that they sent out today on their behalf, in which they mention their past support for Carol Shea-Porter and Jeremy McNerney (not sure if that is spelled right).  I live in Chicago and was one of the main instigators here for getting them to put Mark Pera on the DFA-List, and was thrilled when I got the news that they would.

Primaries are one of the many reasons why I am so glad DFA exists.  It is almost impossible to get any of the Dem establishement to back a primary challenger, but as Matt and Chris have pointed out, we are sorely in need of a more robust climate for primaries.  Making people incumbents for life really doesn't motivate them to repond to the will of the people, or to be attentive to their constituents.

Fighting the Culture of Incumbency (0.00 / 0)
Good point about primaries.  Changing this country is about putting a culture of activism in Congress.  That's why we're trying to help Dan Maffei, along with Mark Pera and Donna Edwards.  Dan is not in a primary, but he's running against a Republican who inherited his seat from his father, and his voting with Bush and the Republicans for twenty years.  Dan represents the culture of activism, and stands up against the culture of incumbency that is represented by his opponent. 
[ Parent ]
I like that dichotomy (0.00 / 0)
culture of incumbency versus culture of activism.  It really gets at the heart of so much of what is wrong, but on the most basic, little "d" level possible.  I think I might steal that line from you!  :-)
[ Parent ]
Thank you to Jim Dean (0.00 / 0)
I want to thank Jim Dean for coming up to Central New York and sitting down with me to talk with all of you and so that Jim can meet some of our top activists later on today.  This is another good opportunity for me to hear from you and discuss how our campaign is progressing.

Up here in the 25th we have been working hard with our local candidates with just a few short weeks to go in there 2007 elections.

FISA (0.00 / 0)
Dan,

What are your thoughts on Bush's call for amnesty for telecom companies that may have illegally spied on Americans?

FISA (0.00 / 0)
If the Bush Administration had read the constitution the first time, we wouldn't find ourselves having this debate.  Granting amnesty to these companies would set a precedent that would allow others to arbitrarily ignore the constitution.  No one should be above the law in America.
[ Parent ]
Or worse still... (0.00 / 0)
amnesty for those companies means that government can coerce and co-opt ANy of our private held businesses to do whatever illegal bidding they wish.

Government coersion of the private business sector, or the private sector in cahoots with the government for god-knows-what paybacks is not the model of democracy our founding fathers had in mind.

[ Parent ]
On NCLB (0.00 / 0)
Dan,

I have been thinking about how Democrats can talk about NCLB in a powerful without giving an overly wonky presentation on it.  More to the point, how can our candidates make a powerful argument on NCLB that EVERY parent will understand, and I think I have it.  I'd like your opinion:

I have spoken to a number of school superintendents recently and they are all telling me the same thing: No Child Left Behind is costing us teachers.  There is only so much money in the budget and the cost of the testing means few teachers ofr our kids.

An aside here, Dan:  I have spoken to two superintendents in my district (NY-20).  The annual cost for NCLB testing in one district would pay for two more teachers.

We may not be able to exactly pinpoint what works for every child in every school district in America, but we do know that smaller class sizes get better results.

Would you rather we spend our money on government testing students or teaching students?

NCLB (0.00 / 0)
One of the candidates I came to support in Upstate NY is Ted Nixon, a school teacher who is running for County Legislature.  This is a great opportunity to bring somebody into office who understands the damage that NCLB is doing to the school districts, teachers, and students.  Democracy for America's work on this issue is channeled towards supporting candidates who will do something about this damaging unfunded mandate.
[ Parent ]
Not actually an answer, Jim... (0.00 / 0)
Jim,

My question is more directed at the messaging on NCLB.  Democrats have TERRIBLE messaging.  Useless, cumbersome, or nonexistent.

My question speaks more to that issue, and where we stand on NCLB.  You don't have to be a teacher to understand the damage wrought by NCLB.  The issue is not understanding the problem.  The issue is how Democrats plan to talk about it.

NCLB means that we can't afford more teachers.  Period.

What's the message on NCLB that DFA or Dan plans to use.

[ Parent ]
NCLB (0.00 / 0)
I understand your frustration.  I have seen first hand how NCLB has impacted my Mother, Brother, and Sister, and the students that they serve.  Just last night my brother was telling me how the insistence of teaching to the tests leaves more children behind then ever.

This is another reason why I have gotten involved with a great group named Donors Choose.  Donors Choose is helping our teachers provide quality education around the country with grassroots help from people like you. 

Its no substitute of course for a true federal commitment to public education which does not, as Jim says, issue unfunded mandates.  Instead we should have a policy of allowing local districts to evaluate the needs of their students and the federal government shares the responsibility of getting educators the resources that they need.

[ Parent ]
Is this how you plan to talk to voters about this issue? (0.00 / 0)
Because my eyes are glazing over.  And I am someone who goes to every board meeting.  I have a GAT child, and no GAT program until fourth grade.  We can't afford a GAT coordinator, so not only are we leaving teachers behind, we are also leaving the best and the brightest behind.

We have to do a better job of languaging this issue. 

[ Parent ]
Go Dan! (0.00 / 0)
Dan's a great candidate and those of us in upstate NY are looking forward to him taking Walsh's seat away... I'm curious Mr. Dean, are you visiting with any other candidates like Jon Powers or Eric Massa during your trip?
Yes! (0.00 / 0)
I've spent time this week with Eric Massa in his district, working to build stronger DFA groups that will take him over the top this year.  We're also helping some local candidates like Ted Nixon.  There are a lot of great local candidates and congressional candidates in this part of the country, and Democracy for America is doing everything we can to support them. 
[ Parent ]
I can't say enough great things about Eric Massa... (0.00 / 0)
I met Eric last year and again at Ykos this year and had an extended opportunity to discuss the NY congressional scene with him and the politics of his distrcit in particular.

He is a great candidate-dynamic, well informed, hard working.  A pleasure to support.

[ Parent ]
I'm glad to hear it (0.00 / 0)
The races that meet in Rochester NY are a solid 3 pickups in 2008 and I really think national organizations like DFA are smart to get involved in all of them early. I'm glad to see that DFA is getting involved early!

Walsh, Kuhl and Reynolds are three of the absolute worst members of Congress and we're all going to work hard to get these grassroots Democrats elected!

[ Parent ]
Your local elections (0.00 / 0)
Could one of you say a word or two about your local elections coming up?  You mention they are in 2007, and there is not much left of that!  So they must be soon?

Also, I just read the introductory post, and I can't believe that Walsh is a co-sponsor of the Kirk-Lipinski bill!  As a Chicagoan, it is bad enough having these two nitwits as part of our Illinois delegation, but to think they are giving cover to Dan Maffei's opponent out in NY as well -- sad, sad, sad. 

Local elections (0.00 / 0)
Over the last few months a real tide has come through upstate New York.  Since beating Jim Walsh in Onondaga County last year we have seen more democrats registering then ever.  For the last 40 years we have had only 2 County Executives in Onondaga county and for the first time we have a real competitive race and a great candidate in Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli.  Over the last couple of weeks I have been going door to door with county legislative candidates like Don MacLaughlin, Don is running against a 26 year incumbent who he challenged 4 years ago and lost by only 126 votes.  Over the next few weeks I will be walking in towns in Monroe, Wayne, and Cayuga counties as well to make sure we win these races.
[ Parent ]
DFA Local Elections (0.00 / 0)
There are local elections going on all over the country.  These races are the building blocks for taking our country back.  Check out our 2007 A-List Candidates at www.democracyforamerica.com, and find campaigns that you can support locally at www.dfalink.com.
[ Parent ]
What are the registration numbers (0.00 / 0)
going in for this district? R+?

Is the DSCC giving any help in a voter reg drive or field ops for an absentee voter drive?

Actually, is the DSCC helping at all yet?

DCCC (0.00 / 0)
The DCCC has been working closely with us and have been as helpful as they could be.  The New York State Party is putting together a great plan to register more voters across the state and especially here in Upstate New York.  Congressman Van Hollen visited the district to help me announce that we are putting together a plan for economic redevelopment for Central New York.
[ Parent ]
Eliot Spitzer on economic redevelopment.. (0.00 / 0)
Spitzer yesterday stated that he firmly believes that economic revival in the upsate region must be done city by city, not be , let's say, region by region.

Any thoughts on this approach?  Agree, disagree or would you elaborate on this idea?

[ Parent ]
I hear the lunch bell ringing. (0.00 / 0)
Thank all of you for joining us today.  I know it was only a short amount of time but I will do this as often as I can. 

Please feel free to send me a suggestion or to contact my campaign at dan@maffeiforcongress.com.

Again, thanks to Jim Dean for joining us today.  It is great to be able to show him around the district and give him an opportunity to see lake effect weather.  Today its only Rain in Central New York, but snow in the Tug Hill Plateau.

Thanks so much for coming by... (0.00 / 0)
and answering questions.

Best of luck on your campaign, and I look forward to supporting you.

[ Parent ]
Thanks to everyone! (0.00 / 0)
Thanks all for being on this today!  If you want to get active in Dan's campaign, or with any other candidates that are working to fight the culture of incumbency, then please visit us at www.DemocracyforAmerica.com. 

Get Active. Get Connected. Get Trained. Run for Office. 

And have a great afternoon!

Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread | 27 comments
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