It’s a big game; let’s play it on the whole field
THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS SITTING IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW
Boo! That means (among other unfortunate things) he, she or it is going to have all kinds of history with the Senate. Alliances, grudges, favors to call in. The next president is going to know how to play that instrument.
So it’s especially important that we get good people in the House and Senate and maintain some influence over them. A solid conservative in a state a thousand miles away is going to have far more positive effect on your life than a squish (or a Democrat) in your home state (unless you’re looking for somebody to bring home the pork. You’re not looking for pork, are you? Are you?)
By all means, get off your duff and vote in November. Our side isn’t going to be enthused this time, so turnout will inevitably be down. That makes your vote weightier than usual. But many of us live in districts with no interesting contests. And in terms of direct influence over the election and subsequent behavior of legislators, nothing beats money and direct communication.
It’s unfortunate that demonstrators, donors, letter-writers and other loudmouths count disproportionately in the system. But you know what? Tough. They do. We’re like cockroaches to politicians: for every one of us they see, they assume there are a hundred more just like us in the walls.
So let’s make some noise. Small donations and no green ink! Well, no more than you can help, you ‘winger nutcase, you.
SeeDubya got out ahead of me on this one (get out of my head, man!). He suggests a sort of Adopt-a-Pol scheme, where you pick a good guy and send him $20 every month along with a nice letter or an article. It’s a plan.
DoublePlusUndead suggests a place to start — Lou Barletta, mayor of Hazleton. He’s one of the guys drafting local laws that crack down on businesses and landlords who aid illegals. He’s running for Congess in Pennsylvania’s 11th District, which is considered a very safe seat for the Democrat incumbent (all the more fun to make them at least sweat a little).
Me, I’m looking to stick my nose in a number of places it doesn’t belong. I need a distraction this year and this could be more fun than breeding show rats. If you know of vulnerable or up-and-coming conservatives, get out the word. Maybe we can use that internet thing the kids are all het up about.
And don’t forget governors. We make some of our best presidents out of those.
Despite everything, I have a really good feeling about the state of conservatism today. Why? Because I drink excessively and it affects my judgement.
Still, I’m wrong only maybe 50% of the time!
The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going
on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but
a test of wills and ideas. No, really. I said that.
Posted: February 13th, 2008 under personal, politics, zombie reagan.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: February 13, 2008, 1:05 pm
Interesting. I looked up Pennsylvania’s 11th District. The incumbent there is Paul Kanjorski, in his 12th term. Been in since 1984.
One of the news items in his sidebar is, “2/8/08: Kanjorski Leads Effort to Expand Stimulus to Include Seniors and Exclude Illegal Immigrants.” If he thinks that’s worth bragging about, that must be a resonant issue in that area.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: February 13, 2008, 2:04 pm
Moar interesting. Last time I was in Tennessee, I registered to vote there. That’s going to be my home base in the US (considering I’ll still own some land there) so that’s where I’ll absentee vote in the Fall.
It turns out my Congressman is Bart Gordon, who has held the seat (Al Gore’s old seat) since 1985. Okay, can you find his party affiliation ANYWHERE on his official website? Me neither. I had to go to Wikipedia to find out he’s a Dem.
Here’s the closest he comes to mentioning it: “Philosophically, Bart has always believed in a bipartisan approach to governing. He believes reasonable people can work together to make the important choices necessary to bring opportunity to all Americans.”
Hm.
Comment from pajama momma
Time: February 13, 2008, 5:07 pm
oh ok I’ll help.
*heads to the local bar*
I’ll uh, I’m just gonna be in here looking for conservatives. After that I figure me and O.J. are gonna go hunt for the real killers.
Comment from See-Dubya
Time: February 14, 2008, 1:30 am
Get out of your head? You’re sodablogging and channeling Zombie Reagan! Get outta mine!
It’s crowded in there. Yet drafty. Smells funny.
Comment from See-Dubya
Time: February 14, 2008, 1:33 am
“Philosophically, Bart has always believed in a bipartisan approach to governing. He believes reasonable people can work together to make the important choices necessary to bring opportunity to all Americans.”
Weak Game. In other words he believes in whatever the polls tell him. Deep-six him and hire some young Newt Gingrich type.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: February 14, 2008, 10:00 am
No doubt. I just thought it was weird that his party affiliation was mentioned nowhere on his official site. I wonder if that means Tennessee is getting redder.
It was stuffed full of yellow-dog Democrats when I was a kid, as reliably blue as blue could be. I can remember hearing country boys say, “my daddy voted Democrat and my grandaddy voted Democrat and I’ll vote Democrat until I die.”
The Dems really had to mess over the redneck population to lose the South.
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