Maybe someone out there who knows the inner workings of EMILY's List can explain to me why this group has not put money behind Becky Greenwald, the Democrat challenging loyal Republican foot-soldier Tom Latham in Iowa's fourth Congressional district.
I have been going over the list of Democratic women running for Congress whom EMILY's List is supporting, with a particular focus on the six challengers most recently added to this group in early August. I do not mean to knock any of those candidates, and I recognize that every race has its own dynamic.
However, after comparing Greenwald's race to those of other candidates, I remain puzzled that EMILY's list is not more involved in IA-04.
Democrats Work and WesPAC have launched a contest to determine which Congressional district General Wes Clark is going to visit this summer.
This won't be an ordinary visit. General Clark will travel to one Congressional district where a Democratic challenger is fighting to change the direction of our country to work side-by-side with area Democrats to make a positive impact through community service. We want you to tell us where we should put our values into action.
WV-02 is one of only seven a Top Priority Challenger Race identified by the DCCC across the nation (received via email):
Update: I received a slight clarification from an inside source at the DCCC. WV-02 is one of many (more than seven) Top Priority Challenger Races. The list below was related to a meetings in Washington this week. There are more than seven races receiving similar levels of support from the DCCC. (Thank you for that clarification.).
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is committed to not only securing the Democratic Majority, but strengthening it as well. The viability and demographics of a number of our challenger campaigns have placed them in a position to win next November.
Investing early in these challenger races is critical to securing-and strengthening-a lasting majority. Republicans are ready to do anything they can to keep these seats and regain control of the House.
September 30th is an important financial filing deadline for all of our candidates. It is the bar many will use to measure the strength of their campaigns. Please support the following before September 30 as we continue to lead America in a New Direction:
John Adler (NJ-03)
Darcy Burner (WA-08)
Christine Jennings (FL-13)
Dan Maffei (NY-25)
Eric Massa (NY-29)
Gary Trauner (WY-AL)
John Unger (WV-02)
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito may be a nice enough person, but her representation is anything but. Just today we learned how she voted against flood relief for West Virginians. Even Shelley Moore Capito acknowledges her Rubber-Stamp Republican Reputation is toxic--she's trying to rebrand herself as "an independent voice". If she doesn't believe in herself, why should we?
Thankfully, we have a much better alternative in 2008. Democratic State Sen. John Unger. There are 3 days left before the important end of quarter fund-raising reporting deadline. Make your voice heard. Contribute today.
Do you live in a safely Democratic Congressional district? Are you eager to add to the Democratic Congressional majority? Want to tie down incumbent Republican resources in a top Democratic House pick-up opportunity?
Adopt our district!
It doesn't matter if you've ever stepped foot in the district before or not, we welcome you here in West Virginia's Second Congressional District.
I know we often make fun of lawyers in this country ("What do you call a smiling, sober, courteous person at a bar association convention? The caterer."). On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for the value of training in law for political leadership. The Clintons (Bill, Yale; Hillary, Yale), Barack Obama (Harvard), John Edwards (UNC), and Harry Reid (George Washington U.) all have law degrees.
Then we have our Republican mis-leadership. There's George Bush with an Master's in Business Administration. That's the same degree that Duke Cunningham and Jeff Skilling have. There's Rep. Shelley Moore Capito with a Master's in Career Counseling. That's the same degree as... well, actually, no one comes to mind. Bush and Capito share a mis-understanding of the law, too. Whereas Bush missed the week in high school civics class about constitutional checks and balances, after six years in Congress Rep. Capito still hasn't figured out the basic mechanics of when a law is needed.
Have you ever taken a bite out of a rotten apple? Sure, most of the time you can tell it's rotten even before you take that bite... it's a little too soft, it's funny-shaped, or it may have a visible bruise. But every now and then, you're just so hungry you get a little distracted and you take a big bite anyway.
After that first awful tasting bite most people have the good sense to start inspecting the apple really well--after spitting out some apple, of course. Or, just maybe they were so hungry (or so afraid of looking foolish in front of friends) they managed to swallow the first bite anyway.
At this point anyone with a lick of sense, anyone with the judgement of even the most stubborn barn mule, would look really carefully before taking a second bite. Most of us just wouldn't do it. Especially if we had to pay--and pay dearly--for more of that rotten apple!
Why do Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02) and Pres. George Bush stubbornly insist that we keep paying $12 billion dollars a month for yet more bites from the rotten apple of failed administration Iraq policies?
The latest reports from Iraq show, no matter how glowingly the administration describes this apple, it is rotten to the core. Our Iraq policy has failed. It was doomed from the beginning. The escalation of the occupation has provided no substantive progress towards any political benchmarks. The continued presence in Iraq by over 100,000 soldiers and who knows how many contractors is making matters worse, not better.
We need a Representative for WV-02 who can tell the difference between an edible apple and a rotten one. It's well past time to put Bush and Capito out to pasture.
This diary was written by Clem G. specifically for West Virginia Blue, yet it surely applies to more than a few Republican Reps. and Sens.
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