GOP Copy Cats

Written by: Dave Santucci on Dec 10, 2008 9:09 AM EST

Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzi, a candidate for RNC Chair said that the GOP would be following Gov. Howard Dean's lead, and would like to institute a 50-state strategy of their own as reported by The Huffington Post.

"There is a perception that we are a regional party and that we are a party from the South because that's the region we're consistently winning today," Anuzis told Politico. "I do think we need to have our version of the 50-state program that [Democratic National Committee Chair Howard] Dean had."

There have been several critics of Gov. Dean's 50 State Strategy within the Democratic Party, but he has won them over after two straight Congressional Cycle wins, plus winning the Presidency. Now he has won over GOP critics. 

But the sticking point, as one DNC staffer argues, is ideology. Putting together institutions to make gains in non-Republican regions only will help if the party has a political message that can resonate among non-conservatives.

"By relying on wedge issues to win, they've used issues to divide people and worked to appeal to an increasingly smaller group of people," said the aide. "Dean's point has not just been that we need to show up in all 50-states but also that as a party we need to ask people for their votes, listen to what they have to say and be willing to work to solve issues in areas where we have common ground, even if we don't agree with everything."

So we have Taken Back Our Country and now we are taking back the GOP?  Then again, immitation is the dearest form of flattery.

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

The Big Three Bailout

Written by: Dave Santucci on Dec 3, 2008 4:19 PM EST

The Detroit Big Three are back in Washington, this time ditching the private jets, for hybrid cars. The have also incresed their bailout to $34 billon. On The Politico today:

In a series of grim reports, General Motors Corp. and privately-held Chrysler LLC told lawmakers they will be in serious peril by the end of this month and certainly the first quarter of 2009. Given GM’s size, its failure could pull down Ford Motor Co. despite its better cash position. 

Last time, Congress told them to come back with better plans. They have come up with plans, but they have also increased the amount to $34 billion. This time they are promising more efficient cars and slimming down their lines. The problem is they might cut jobs.

A brighter landscape is promised together with a commitment to move toward the production of energy efficient, hybrid electrical cars. But the immediate future is bleak for the 3 million workers impacted, and Michigan Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said both the White House and President-elect Barack Obama must “weigh in heavily” to address the crisis. 

Do the big three deserve a bailout? What do you think?

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Still Waiting

Written by: Dave Santucci on Dec 1, 2008 4:49 PM EST

It has been almost a month since Barack Obama won. And yet we still do not know the outcome of two Senate seats, Al Franken in MN and Jim Martin in GA. 

Today on The Huffington Post:

The Minnesota Senate recount is getting incredibly tight. According to officials from the Al Franken campaign, the margin separating the Democratic challenger and Sen. Norm Coleman is now down to 73 votes out of approximately 2.9 million cast.

...

Even with the narrowing margin, there may not be enough room for Franken to take a lead. That's because, as the Franken camp has argued, the state has declined to publicize rejected absentee ballots. Elias, while claiming that the majority of these 12,000 ballots were rightly thrown out, estimated that "as many as 1,000," could end up being legitimate votes that were wrongfully uncounted.

Meanwhile Jim Martin's run off election is tomorrow against GOP incumbent, Saxby Chambliss....Let's see how it goes. 

Fingers are crossed.

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

What would the MN recount be like?

Written by: Dave Santucci on Nov 20, 2008 6:57 PM EST

MN Public Radio has a fun little "pick your own adventure" with the MN Senate recount. I recommend checking it out. It is interesting to see what some of these recount volunteers have to deal with.

Would you choose Norm Coleman or Al Franken? Or should the ballot just be thrown out? You be the judge.

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Unhappy Birthday Senator Stevens

Written by: Dave Santucci on Nov 18, 2008 9:45 AM EST

Yesterday was Gov. Dean's Birthday and today is Sen. Ted Steven's birthday...but it is a very unhappy birthday for him I assume. He is not only waiting to see if he holds his position as Senator, but the GOP is mulling over whether or not to expel the senior Senator. The Hill today explains how the GOP is divided on what to do:

Republican senators are not expected to vote Tuesday to expel Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), deciding instead to hold off on the vote until his Senate race is decided.

Though Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), the sponsor of the motion to expel Stevens, said he still plans to push for a vote, a number of GOP senators and aides said Monday they would prefer to wait and see if Stevens wins reelection.

Senator Stevens has been convicted of seven felony counts of bribery. Seems like a good reason to expel the Senator, but the GOP would rather keep things chummy in the Senate.

“Sen. DeMint believes this is an important time for the Republican Party and we’ve got to let people know we’re taking care of this,” said spokesman Wesley Denton. “We’ve got to clean our own house, not sweep it under the rug.”

Meanwhile in Alaska, election officials are still counting ballots. According to CNN:

He's locked in a re-election battle with his Democratic challenger, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Two weeks after election day, the vote counting in Alaska continues. Begich currently leads Stevens by 1,022 votes in the fight for Steven's seat, which he's held for 40 years. Some 24,000 votes remain to be counted, as well as absentee ballots from overseas. The results may not be made final until the first week of December.

Let's hope that a convicted felon will not be elected as Alaska's Senator and DFA-List Candidate Mark Begich, wins this highly contested race.

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

Happy Birthday Howard!

Written by: Dave Santucci on Nov 17, 2008 9:56 AM EST

Governor Howard Dean is celebrating his 60th birthday today. What a great birthday present we got him....Our Country!

It was his leadership that helped us win this election. It was his commitment to the fifty state strategy that helped us win this election. It was because he reminded us that "We Have the Power." 

Give Howard a big thank you!

No one knows what is up next for Gov. Dean. There is speculation as where he goes from here, the biggest being that he might get Sec. of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration. Where ever he ends up, we know that is was because of him that we have taken back our country!

Thank him today!

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

CT Passes Same-Sex Marriage

Written by: Dave Santucci on Nov 12, 2008 3:22 PM EST

I know people have been upset at California's Prop 8 decision, plus the decision in Florida. But there is a little bit of light in this latest civil rights debate. Our nation's oldest paper, The Hartford Courant reported this today:

NEW HAVEN - A 4-year legal battle for same-sex marriage came to an end this morning in a New Haven courtroom when Superior Court Judge Jonathan E. Silbert signed an order paving the way to couples to get their licenses.

The state Supreme Court last month, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that preventing gay and lesbian couples from marrying violates the state constitution. Today's brief hearing was a formality that was needed before gay couples could start receiving marriage licenses.

Immediately after the court proceeding, one of the plaintiff couples, Barbara and Robin Levine-Ritterman, walked to New Haven city hall to obtain their marriage license - perhaps the first couple in the state to do so. They came out of city hall and were greeted by a small crowd that applauded. They are planning their wedding for May.

It is upsetting that California and Florida, plus the other myriad of states who have denied people of marriage, are taking steps back. But luckily states like Connecticut and Massachussetts are taking the correct steps forward. 

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager