Remembering Ted Kennedy

Written by: DFA Staff on Aug 26, 2009 2:48 PM EDT

We will miss Senator Ted Kennedy as a nation, and I will miss him as a human being.  Over the next few months, as we debate his life's passion, which was Universal Health Care, we will feel his presence everywhere.  He will be in the Senate Chamber, in the committee rooms, in the White House, and in the minds of most of the reporters old enough to have witnessed the trajectory of this extraordinary generation of America's First Family from it's beginning.  Much has been written about Ted Kennedy already.  He was indeed extraordinary.  My mother, who was a solid Upper East Side Republican until 2004, once happened to sit next to him at a wedding of a mutual friend.  She had never met him before.  I'm sure the exchange was lively, and being a Dean, I doubt my mother gave him much quarter.  A week later, a beautiful, kind, and very personal handwritten letter arrived from Ted Kennedy.  My mother, like so many other Americans, was hooked by the Kennedy charm and grace.

Ted Kennedy was a man with a long career of determination as well as charm.  When President Obama signs a Health Care Reform bill late this year, Ted Kennedy's  may not be standing there next to him, but his presence will be deeply apparent in the Oval Office as the President's pen moves across the page.

Governor Howard Dean, MD

Harry Reid and Joe Lieberman need to chat....

Written by: DFA Staff on Nov 5, 2008 6:58 PM EST

Harry Reid and Joe Liberman will be discussing later this week about the future of Joe Lieberman according to CNN.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will likely meet later this week with Joe Lieberman to discuss whether the Democrat-turned-Independent will be stripped of his Senate committee chairmanship, a senior Democratic leadership aide tells CNN.

Lieberman currently chairs the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

This aide says that Reid, who is calling the meeting, has not yet decided what to do. The aide admits that the decision will be determined in part by the final election results tonight — and just how close the party is to a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority — but insists that the biggest factor involved is lingering anger among Senate Democrats over Lieberman's Republican convention speech.

This aide also said that Senate Democrats aren't that upset about Lieberman's constant presence and cheerleading on the campaign trail with John McCain — instead, they've been put off by the things he said about Barack Obama at the Republican convention in St. Paul.

Could this be the end of Joe Lieberman? Finally, will "droopy the dog," as my roommate calls him, be sent to the dog house?

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Plans for tonight

Written by: DFA Staff on Nov 4, 2008 5:12 PM EST

The New York Times had a great guide for watching the results come in tonight...

SETTING THE TABLE The networks are not supposed to call a state until all the polls in that state have closed. But there will be lots of raw data online, so you can go on the Web, check the returns and try calling the state yourself. Several news sites include interactive maps so you can play along at home to see how the candidates might reach 270 electoral votes, the magic number needed to claim the presidency.

FIRST BITE The suspense starts in Indiana. Most polls close at 6 p.m. and others at 7. Indiana is a ruby red state where Mr. Obama has been running closely with Mr. McCain. Be wary of results that do not include Gary, a city with a substantial African-American population. If Mr. Obama wins it, Indiana could be the canary in the coal mine predicting disaster ahead for Mr. McCain.

APERITIF Also at 7 p.m., polls close in Virginia and Georgia, and polls close in most of Florida and New Hampshire.

All eyes will quickly veer to Virginia, which Mr. Obama has labored to win. If he succeeds in the former capital of the Old Confederacy, he will most likely do exceedingly well the rest of the night. Subtracting Virginia from the Republican column would give Mr. McCain very few routes to 270 electoral votes.

New Hampshire is less predictive. But it would be a bad sign for Mr. McCain if he cannot capture these mavericks, whom he has been courting for eight years.

ORANGE CRUSH? Florida, a voting experience unto itself. Whoever wins Florida, the fourth-largest state, gets a big leg up on winning the presidency. Again, if Mr. McCain loses here, his path narrows. But the race is so close that Florida may not portend much about the rest of the country. The drama in this state, which has become synonymous with electoral dysfunction, may be in the new and creative ways in which voters might be foiled from casting their ballots.

PALATE CLEANSERS At 7:30, polls close in Ohio and North Carolina. While Ohio is the bigger prize, keep your eyes on North Carolina (where officials have the option of keeping the polls open until 8:30 if there are problems). North Carolina is a red state that is newly competitive, again thanks to an aggressive Obama ground organization. If North Carolina votes for Mr. Obama, the map is likely to bleed blue for the rest of the night.

As for Ohio, it’s one of the nation’s biggest battlegrounds. For an indication of how things are going, check the returns from Stark County, a longtime bellwether.

I cannot wait for tonight...my fingers are crossed!

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Voters Head to the Polls

Written by: DFA Staff on Nov 4, 2008 12:53 PM EST

It is the most wonderful day in the American Politcal System....ELECTION DAY. I know most of our rockstar DFA members, probably voted early, or will vote today. It has been a long election cycle this year, but voters are still excited about this election. Since I voted early, I had a little extra time this morning to read a great article in The New York Times.

In voting booths in every corner of the land, the people were collectively writing the ending to a political saga that has been unfolding for nearly two years, during a tumultuous, uncertain period of American history in which record numbers of people expressed concerns that the country was heading down the wrong track.

...

It was a presidential campaign that shattered all kinds of records, from the number of votes cast during the long, bitterly contested primary and caucus season to the huge amount of money raised and spent on the general election after Mr. Obama withdrew from his pledge to accept public financing of his campaign. And during a campaign season that lasted nearly two years, it sometimes seemed that the road to the White House had more twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco.

People are extremely excited about this election. If you have not voted yet, please stop reading this and go out and vote!

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager

Obama's Grandmother Passes Away

Written by: DFA Staff on Nov 3, 2008 5:00 PM EST

Linked to groups: Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Sadly, Obama's Grandmother won't see her grandson as President. 

This was a statement released from Barack Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

"Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Obama Family.

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

Where Oh Where has Georgie Boy Gone...

Written by: DFA Staff on Nov 3, 2008 9:52 AM EST

In a recent CNN article by Kathleen Koch, she comments on the absence of George W. Bush from the John McCain campaign, particularly in the home stretch.  When inquired as to the reasoning, Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto said,

"The truth is we're also trying to stay out of the public limelight during this period of the election season," said Fratto. "There are two individuals out there running to be President of the United States, and we don't want to complicate that for them."

Why the sudden interest in non-partisan politics, Mr Bush?  Could it be a request from Senator McCain to create a little distance? Could it be a request from the campaign to try and play down the more than 90% of McCain votes in line with Bush policies?

- David A. Volain
  DFA Political Intern

Elizabeth Dole is Getting Desperate

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 31, 2008 6:00 PM EDT

North Carolina’s Republican incumbent in the Senate race, Elizabeth Dole, has resorted to low and divisive tactics in her desperate attempt to close the widening gap between her and Kay Hagan.

Dole’s campaign released a 30-second ad claims that Hagan has taken money from atheist organizations, and questions her own religious convictions.  Hagan, a Presbyterian, has condemned the attacks, calling them “low” and “despicable.”

“This is politics of the worst kind, and I know it has been rejected by North Carolinians at every level.”

This kind of campaigning is as disheartening as it is nasty.  It assumes that voters are ignorant enough to fall for this type of negativity, and it changes the tone of the entire campaign.  Personal, false attacks of this magnitude are completely uncalled for.

Mari Diouf - Political Intern

The magic number...60?

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 31, 2008 3:12 PM EDT

As many of you know, there is a chance that we can reach that powerful filbuster majority of 60 senate seats. There are hot races occuring in Oregon, North Carolina, and Georgia, yes I said Georgia.

Senator Saxby Chambliss, is up against against a tough fight for his senate seat in Georgia. The New York Times reported this morning that a record number of African America voters are heading to the polls in support of not only Barack Obama, but also Chambliss' Democractic opponent, Jim Martin.

This has gotten Saxby's attention:

The development is not lost on Mr. Chambliss. “There has always been a rush to the polls by African-Americans early,” he said at the square in Covington, a quick stop on a bus tour as the campaign entered its final week. He predicted the crowds of early voters would motivate Republicans to turn out. “It has also got our side energized, they see what is happening,” he said.

Hmmm....see what is happening? Seeing people vote or seeing African American's heading to the polls? And acdcording to The Politico:

The Republican is outwardly confident, but there’s urgency in his voice as he tours North Georgia, trying to boost turnout in his predominately white base: "The other folks are voting," he bluntly tells supporters.

The others? Wow....that sure is blunt. Hopefully, Mr. Chambliss will start packing his bags on November 4th!

Under Georgia law, a candidate must receive at 50% plus one of the vote to win, but a third party candidate, Libertarian Allen Buckley is likely to sponge some votes, which could force the election into a December runoff.

I know I have my fingers crossed for that magic number, 60!

Dave Santucci
Operations Manager 

Larry LaRocco tries to win Larry Craig's seat

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 30, 2008 12:00 AM EDT

Larry LaRooco is a true Grassroot allstar. Check out this article from The Idaho Statesmen.

LaRocco, 62, has spent a day each at 35 jobs throughout the state. He's collected trash in Orofino, herded sheep in Bellevue and dressed up as Humphrey the Hawk at a Boise Hawks game. He's waited tables, staffed a credit-union teller window and done a little plumbing.

...

In addition to full-day jobs, LaRocco seizes other opportunities to meet Idahoans at home and on the job. Last week he spent a few hours delivering Meals on Wheels, handing out turkey dinners and shaking hands.

"In my opinion," said Meals on Wheels worker Olga Gonazales, "it would be nice to have more candidates and officials riding with us and getting close to the real people."

...

Between LaRocco's all-out campaign style, an ailing economy and growing national dissatisfaction with the Republican administration, Idaho Democratic leaders say this may be their party's best chance in decades to win a statewide seat in solidly Republican Idaho.

We all know that Idaho needs a Change. And Larry Larocco is that Change in Idaho.

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens Convicted

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 29, 2008 8:00 PM EDT

Alaska Senior Senator Ted Stevens was convicted of violating federal ethics laws on Monday for failing to report gifts and services worth over $250,000.   Amazingly, Stevens has said that he will not drop out of the race, despite requests from the GOP ticket to do so.

Stevens is in the middle of a hotly contested Senate race with Anchorage mayor, Mark Begich.  Begich did not address the conviction directly, but said,

"This has been a very difficult year for Alaskans, and a long year… I believe Alaskans will move forward because we have many critical issues and challenges ahead of us to deal with."

So, a convicted felon can’t vote in some states, but they can hold a government office and collect a pension provided by taxpayers worth $122,000 a year.  Ted Stevens should do the honorable thing:  resign, and forgo his pension.

-Mari Diouf, Political Intern