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no4gman - Tue 15 Jul 2008 10:46 PM CDT
evaroberts - Tue 15 Jul 2008 01:20 AM CDT
Sam Garchik - Mon 02 Jun 2008 10:10 AM CDT
atomburke - Fri 23 May 2008 03:49 PM CDT
salman - Fri 23 May 2008 06:28 AM CDT
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Tuesday, October 31
Voting Raises Concerns Before Election Day
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 31 Oct 2006 06:20 PM CST
Voting Raises Concerns Before Election Day
By Iowans for Voting Integrity
Dear Iowa Voter,
Reports from early voting in Texas and Florida remind us of why we are so concerned about unaccountable, paperless voting machines.
Please call 1-866-OURVOTE (http://ourvote.org) on election day to report voting machine problems or abusive challenges to voter eligibility. Iowans for Voting Integrity will be sending you more information about how you can help protect the integrity of the 2006 election. Now a couple of reports from early voting...
From Jefferson County, TX:
"Friday night, KFDM reported about people who had cast straight Democratic ticket ballots, but the touch-screen machines indicated they had voted a straight Republican ticket.
Stopher said, "There's something in these machines, in this equipment, that's showing Republican votes when you vote for Democrats, and I know Ms. Guidry's a nice lady, and she's working hard, but her theory that my fingernail was somehow over the Republican button is just unrealistic, my fingernail was not. The equipment is not working properly as far as I can tell." "
From Broward County, Florida:
"Several South Florida voters say the choices they touched on the electronic screens were not the ones that appeared on the review screen -- the final voting step.
Election officials say they aren't aware of any serious voting issues. But in Broward County, for example, they don't know how widespread the machine problems are because there's no process for poll workers to quickly report minor issues and no central database of machine problems."
Mauricio Raponi wanted to vote for Democrats across the board at the Lemon City Library in Miami on Thursday. But each time he hit the button next to the candidate, the Republican choice showed up. Raponi, 53, persevered until the machine worked. Then he alerted a poll worker."
Regards,
Iowans for Voting Integrity
"Working for voting systems worthy of the public trust"
Thursday, October 26
Culver Needs Your Help in Poll, IA Press Puts Dems on Air, and John Kerry Decides to Pony Up (After Much Name Calling)
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 26 Oct 2006 09:54 AM CDT
 Culver Needs Your Help in Poll, IA Press Puts Dems on Air, and John Kerry Decides to Pony Up (After Much Name Calling).
By Sam Garchik
First off, the Muscatine Journal is sponsoring a gubernatorial poll. Go to their home page, scroll to the bottom, and vote for Culver.
Next, Rapid Response won another round. According to the folks at IPTV:
Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa City) and Dave Loebsack (D-Mount Vernon) will be on Iowa Press on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 29 at 11:30 a.m. In addition, Dave Loebsack is set to appear on the program Campaign 2006 with Mike Glover on Friday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. Joyce Schulte, a Democrat in the 5th U.S. District and Dr. Seldon Spencer, a Democrat in the 4th U.S. District will also be featured.
So that’s good too.
Finally, John Kerry has been in the center of a nasty storm. As you know, this blog has recently pressured him to give more money to Democrats in tough races. This push was run out of HeyJohn.org, and the blogosphere has been abuzz with news about this.
Earlier in the week, Wonkette engaged in some serious name calling, and claimed to know who pulled the plug on HeyJohn(It’s not up anymore).
DailyKos also covered the issue. Both Kos and Wonkette detailed on who could be giving money to the DCCC or other candidates, but isn’t.
And all this had a big effect. Apparently, Kerry is giving $500,000 (He actually decided to do it after he decided against it!).
And once again, the story continues at http://www.mydd.com/tag/Use%20It
Wednesday, October 25
How to Make Your Own Ad!
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 25 Oct 2006 09:04 AM CDT
How to Make Your Own Ad!
By the Sunlight Foundation
A new poll last week from CNN shows that half of all Americans believe most members of Congress are corrupt.
If
they are right, it is our responsibility as citizens to get rid of
whatever corruption exists. We are in a vortex of experimentation at
Sunlight, working on ways to enable you to talk back to Members of
Congress about corruption – the Abramoff
kind, and the less blatant kind in which constant contact with
lobbyists and consultants can gradually corrupt one’s worldview.
Use
our ad-generating machine, Congress in 30 Seconds, to publicly demand
accountability from Congress about what they do with their time. Win
$5,000 if your ad is the most persuasive to our community! The contest ends tomorrow at midnight, so hurry up!
www.congressin30seconds.com
We
believe that the ad-making power that typically resides in the hands of
candidates belongs in the hands of people. Instead of a candidate
showing nice images of his dream of American life, you can share your
image of what you think Congressional life is like.
www.congressin30seconds.com
The contest ends at midnight tomorrow, so hurry up and make your statements and send it to a few thousand close friends! Voting on the best ad will end on November 15, at noon.
It
takes about 20 minutes to make a video. Go to the site, shuffle through
the 20 five-second clips we've offered, and become your own ad maker.
Here are three of the top-rated videos – can you beat them?:
Note: There are alot
of great videos on the site (some with high ratings) but the only ones
eligible are those that are topical and meet the criteria outlined in
our rules. Any one that mentions a current candidate for Congress, for
example, is out of the running (legal reasons). However, for ads that
meet the criteria, we'll defer to the community ratings to determine
who wins.
Enjoy!
PS – Over 35 candidates have now signed the Punch Clock Agreement, the Agreement committing politicians to sharing their daily schedules on the Internet.
Tuesday, October 24
One More Push for Letters to the Ed
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 24 Oct 2006 07:51 AM CDT
One More Push for Letters to the Ed
By Rapid Response
Dear All,
We need lots of letters on this issue over the remaining 2 weeks of the campaign:
Jim Leach has adopted Dave Loebsack's solution for the occupation of Iraq. During the "Talk of Iowa" radio debate a couple of weeks ago, both Dave and Leach were asked about their solution to Iraq. A surprised Dave Loebsack heard Leach for the first time tell moderator Dean Borg that he favored an immediate withdrawal of some troops followed by a phased withdrawal of troops over the next year. Below: A 10/17 Register article marks the change in Leach's position. And, David Yepsen's column, 10/19, has fully integrated Leach's new position. Don't allow Leach to get away with his heist!!
Thanks,
Ellen & Trish
Newspaper contact info. at the bottom.
***************************************
On Oct. 17th, in the Register: "Loebsack: I'm a Democrat, Leach isn't"
"For the first time, Congressman Jim Leach says he supports removing U.S. troops from Iraq within a year."
************************************************************
On Oct. 19th, David Yepsen's column in the Register in which Leach gave the same answer:
"When the congressman stopped by recently for a meeting with writers and editors here, I put the question to him: What do we do now? He said the United States should begin a troop withdrawal that's completed in "less than a year."
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/OPINION01/610190348/1036
***********************************************************
Talking Points for your letter:
1. Leach has abandoned his previously stated position which did not call for an immediate withdrawal of American troops in Iraq.
2. Leach has stolen Dave Loebsack's position and taken it for his own beginning on 'Talk of Iowa' radio debate.
3. Once again, Leach is tacking "left" to siphon votes from the Democratic Party to win the election.
4. Leach has told Dave he's an "extremist" and a "partisan". But Leach stole the argument of the "extremist" right out from under him. I guess Dave's solution wasn't so "extremist" after all.
5. Leach is deliberately committing a debate fault--taking the side of your opponent to make it more difficult for him/her to argue their own point.
6. Mr. Integrity is playing political gamesmanship, a game Leach has said he refuses to play. Huh!!
********************************************
To listen to the "Talk of Iowa" radio debate, set the Real Player "dot" on 6:30---takes 2 minutes.
It's here under "Media Center: http://www.loebsackforcongress.org/
**********************************************************
CR Gazette: editorial@gazettecommunications.com
Press-Citizen: opinion@press-citizen.com
Daily Iowan: daily-iowan@uiowa.edu
Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Sun: news@mtvernonlisbonsun.com
West Branch Times: rob@westbranchtimes.com
Muscatine Journal: comments@muscatinejournal.com
Ottumwa Courier: news@ottumwacourier.com
West Liberty Index: index@Lcom.net
Wilton-Durant Advocate News: adnews@netins.net
DM Register: letters@dmreg.com
Burlington Hawkeye: http://www.thehawkeye.com/forms/letters.html (online form only)
Fort Dodge Messenger: editor@messengernews.net
Sunday, October 22
Help Get More Money for Iowa Dems from John Kerry
by
Sam Garchik
on Sun 22 Oct 2006 06:08 PM CDT
Help Get More Money for Iowa Dems from John Kerry
By Rapid Response
Fact: John Kerry is apparently sitting on over $8 million in cash, much of it from 2004.
Fact: Control of the Senate is within the Democrats' grasp- see this article from Reuters, published just today:
Fact: John Kerry has been asked to part with a chunk of his warchest funds, and has so far refused; see this from yesterday's Boston Globe.
Fact: John Kerry has done some excellent fundraising for Democrats, but other 2008 hopefuls have given extensively from their own warchests. See JohnKerry.com
Fact: You are an Iowan, and an active progressive. John Kerry cares a good deal about what you think.
Contact Kerry's committee and let them know what you think about this. It is, of course, CRUCIAL that you acknowledge the very strong fundraising for Democrats that Kerry has done this year. His good work is acknowledged even at the site, established for this pressure-Kerry effort.
Thank John Kerry for all that he has done so far, but let him know how badly his help is needed, and how important it is to you that he follow through.
And don't forget to mention that you are from Iowa, and we have a big mouth ... :)
Contact John Kerry
Friends of John Kerry, Inc.
511 C St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-464-2136support@johnkerry.com
info@johnkerry.com
Saturday, October 21
Good work with Iowa Press, Keep up the Pressure!
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 21 Oct 2006 11:35 AM CDT
Good work with Iowa Press, Keep up the Pressure!
By Rapid Response
Dear All,
Thanks to everyone who recently contacted Iowa Press and/or threatened them with membership withdrawal. It worked for the 2nd district!
Dave Loebsack will appear with Jim Leach on Iowa Press. The televised forum is scheduled for Friday, October 27th @ 7:30 pm. It will repeat on Sunday @ 11:30 am.
We sincerely hope Iowa congressional districts 4 & 5 were able to achieve what should be a normal and customary practice by Iowa public television. We should not have to beg the media to make our voices heard. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
If you wish to contact Iowa Press:
Tel. No: (515) 242-3100 or (800) 532-1290
Contact form: http://www.iptv.org/contact.cfm
Submit a letter to the DM Register: letters@dmreg.com
Thanks again,
Ellen & Trish
Thursday, October 19
Letter from IDP Chair Pederson About Yet Another Republican Attack Group "Iowans for Agriculture"
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 19 Oct 2006 04:59 PM CDT
Letter from IDP Chair Pederson About Yet Another Republican Attack Group "Iowans for Agriculture"
By Sally Pederson, Chair of the IDP
Friends,
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to your television, along comes yet another unaccountable special interest group spreading misleading negative political attacks against Democrats.
This time it isn't "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" or the "Economic Freedom Fund." They are called "Iowans for Agriculture," and the more real Iowans know about this unregulated 527 group, the fewer will fall victim to their attempt to buy this election.
Their TV ads start airing Monday, October 23rd. Please forward this email to everyone who might vote in November, so that they know "Iowans for Agriculture" is just another secretive group trying to mislead them into voting for Republicans.
What do we know about "Iowans for Agriculture?" 527s are so unregulated that we know almost nothing.
We don't know who they are.
We don't know how many corporations or wealthy individuals contributed tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to them.
We don't know what their real agenda is.
In short, we don't know much, but we know they are coming- and Iowans deserve to be prepared.
Please send this email to everyone you know. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Tell Iowans that a group claiming to be "Iowans for Agriculture" is really just another unaccountable, unregulated 527 group trying to buy this election, just like Republicans have bought so much else.
Don't let them do it.
Sincerely,
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sally Pederson
For more information about Republican smear tactics in Iowa, please visit www.stopgopsmear.com.
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