What should we be doing now to win seats in 2006? NT

NT

that should be discussed more extensively. First, stop pissing a moaning about 2004. Second, start recruiting for 2006 yesterday.

The GOP is aleady making its list and checking it twice when it comes to Democratic incumbents expected to run for reelection in 2006. I guess we could all start donating to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, for example.

We also need to start watching for dirty tricks and attempts to discredit new nominees and/or incumbents. I'm not sure how to do this. I want to be proactive, not just reactive.

For starters, we need to set the terms of the public debate. A letter to the editor is always a good idea, as is preparing arguments to use in call-in shows.

Bush needs to be revealed for the treacherous phony he is, and there's no shortage of issues with which to flay him: the disastrous Iraq war, his plans to make the tax code more regressive, efforts to strip Americans of their health insurance coverage, blocking the path to college (something Schwarzenegger is already doing in California).

At any rate, we're going to need to tap our current energy. The SOBs are coming at us from every angle, but we can win.

It sure is great to consider the possibilities. I am from Vermont. Senator Leahy (D) just won re-election. Senator Jeffords (I) has announced tentative plans to run again in 2006. Congressman "Bernie" Sanders was just just re-elected. I don't know what his plans are in 2006, but, he has always been an extremely active voice in this state.

I think we should develop a forum to list which Senatorial seats are up in 2006. I have other ideas, let's see if we can positively pursue this. I still haven't given up upon action regarding this years election.

I do, as do many other DU members, believe that it is "imperative" to assault the entire voting systems which are spread throughout this country. We all know that we have a major problem with the integrity of our democracy at stake as it relates to the will of the people.

NT

If a Democrat runs against him... you can be assured that a Republican will join in the party.

There aren't that many republicans up there.... but with a Democrat and Jeffords splitting the vote... it could be a problem.

Assuming, that is, that Democrats ran a legitimate contender.


The question is... has Jeffords done anything to upset local Democrats? I thought he had been a pretty reliable vote?

the only thing that my unprofessional political mind would see as a possible problem. The independents and Dems would put him back in comfortably. Political prognostications are not my specialty, but, that is how I would see it.

:-)

It would really look almost like backstabbing him, after he switched. I think Reid put in a lot of capital getting him to switch and at the time it was quite a coup.

Plus, I've been more impressed with his record than I have with Hillary's.

Also I think he's pretty popular in his home state. I don't think it's worth running anyone against Jeffords and Sanders, who also isn't a Dem, but independant.

Open seats are obviously more vulnerable that ones with incumbents. The thought of being out of power for at least four more years can cause some of our guys to consider retiring. Obviously, in some safe states this could give us an opportunity to bring in some new blood, but anyone in a deep red state needs to be... well... "pampered" to stay in office.

We can't afford another year with several Senators retiring from states Bush won... the odds are just against us there.

'06 will be hard enough. Despite the current deficit in the Senate, we will actually be defending more seats than the Republicans will, and a couple of them are moderately vulnerable. One or two retirements could be devastating - and I still don't know if Guliani will run against Clinton in NY.

Plans for '06 in the Senate need to concentrate on holding our own.

Things are a bit brighter in the House, especially if the redistricting in Texas gets undone. Add the likelihood that Republicans are going to go hog-wild these next couple years and we should have PLENTY to run on.

If for example Byrd retires, we may have a tough time keeping that seat in Dem hands. That state is definetely trending republican. After all Bush won it by 13%.

We may WANT him to retire and soon. Not because I have any particular problem with him... but he's likely to retire soon anyway (he'll be 89 in '06?)... and you're right... the Republicans could take an open seat there.

If he retires now, Manchin could pick a replacement that would have almost two years to build his/her incumbancy advantages.

and other articles referring to an editorial in the Texa Observer--a sweet, liberal resource in itself. one of the interviewees make the statement, " I believe the only way you win in a statewide race is with true magnetic personalities."

We need to make it a national campaign like the Republicans did in 1994 and develop a message that can sell anywhere. We need a centrist, pragmatic, but opposition message to Bush.

I personally feel that in my district, we've been out organized by the Republicans..who are the incumbants...I'd like to see something organized for Democrats on a district level, rather than county & state(as it is here in Indiana).

Maybe starting a PAC in each district? Which could assist our chosen standard bearer in the difficult tasks of raising $, having a headquarters in each county in the district(or the availability of one for their use), and also people committed to doing the "leg-work" of campaigning..

With a PAC there are a great deal of legal issues that I know nothing about...I think that idea would help if you could do it according to election laws.

1. Recruit candidates with local roots who know and understand their potential constituents and know how to appeal to them on the basis of Democratic values. Said candidates must have spines of steel and great people skills.

2. Don't let any Republicanite go unchallenged. Recruit a sacrificial lamb if necessary. How is the public ever going to hear Democratic positions if the Republicanite incumbents never have any challengers?