We have just 21 days to go until Election Day, and my nerves are frazzled. I am completely obsessed and stalk every news story and blog post that comes out regarding election developments. Through my Google Reader, I subscribe to DailyKos, AmericaBlog, and MyDD and read their posts throughout the day. I also check Electoral-Vote.Com (pretty maps) and Pollster.Com (more pretty maps) every morning.
Today I read that the Republican National Committee (the only wing of the Republican party with any real money) has almost given up on McCain winning, and instead is considering spending their time/money toward retaining a 41-seat minority in the Senate (read HERE). This is the same strategy they used in 1996 when it became apparent that Bob Dole would lose to Bill Clinton. Remember, if Democrats get 60 seats in the Senate – they become filibuster-proof and it becomes nearly impossible for the Republican minority to obstruct legislation. Consider donating to MyDD “Road to 60” fund HERE to help Democrats get this majority.
I have my own strategy for winning Senate seats. Sometime during the 2006 campaign, I donated $50 online to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). At the time, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, and the Democrats were trying to reduce their majorities in both houses of Congress. No one expected the Democrats would actually take a majority in the Senate that year – but they did. I consider my $50 donation to be what finally got them over the top. You're welcome.
A few months after the election, I got a call from a company that conducts focus groups for various clients. One of their clients was the DSCC. I agreed to participate, and about 20 people who had donated that year sat around a conference table and shared our thoughts about the upcoming 2008 elections. We discussed candidates, issues, and shared our thoughts on various types of fundraising mailers – all the while being watched by people behind a two-way mirror. It was interesting and kind of fun.
When the focus group was over, we received our compensation for participating - $110 cash!! So for my $50 donation, I got $110 back - Cha-ching!!!
So since I am extremely superstitious, I will be sending another $50 to the DSCC. And if the Democrats win a 60-seat majority next month, you can all thank ME.
Today I read that the Republican National Committee (the only wing of the Republican party with any real money) has almost given up on McCain winning, and instead is considering spending their time/money toward retaining a 41-seat minority in the Senate (read HERE). This is the same strategy they used in 1996 when it became apparent that Bob Dole would lose to Bill Clinton. Remember, if Democrats get 60 seats in the Senate – they become filibuster-proof and it becomes nearly impossible for the Republican minority to obstruct legislation. Consider donating to MyDD “Road to 60” fund HERE to help Democrats get this majority.
I have my own strategy for winning Senate seats. Sometime during the 2006 campaign, I donated $50 online to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). At the time, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, and the Democrats were trying to reduce their majorities in both houses of Congress. No one expected the Democrats would actually take a majority in the Senate that year – but they did. I consider my $50 donation to be what finally got them over the top. You're welcome.
A few months after the election, I got a call from a company that conducts focus groups for various clients. One of their clients was the DSCC. I agreed to participate, and about 20 people who had donated that year sat around a conference table and shared our thoughts about the upcoming 2008 elections. We discussed candidates, issues, and shared our thoughts on various types of fundraising mailers – all the while being watched by people behind a two-way mirror. It was interesting and kind of fun.
When the focus group was over, we received our compensation for participating - $110 cash!! So for my $50 donation, I got $110 back - Cha-ching!!!
So since I am extremely superstitious, I will be sending another $50 to the DSCC. And if the Democrats win a 60-seat majority next month, you can all thank ME.
I voted last night and I am still so stressed!
ReplyDelete@jennie: hehehe, i also voted already (the 3rd) and i am also still super-stressed! oh well, only 3 more weeks regardless, i might as well enjoy the stress...
ReplyDelete@david: i also really like huffingtonpost.com (news), talkingpointsmemo.com (news/polls), and fivethirtyeight.com (polls) as well as daily kos. oh, and the young turks channel on youtube... thanks for posting this; keep reminding us all!
I haven't voted yet, but also feel strangely stress-free. I have been reading Huff-Po, 538, and the amusing Daily Dish [Andrew Sullivan]. Yes, I know that he is the oddity I might never understand - the gay Conservative Republican - but I find his writing to be really quite good. And informative. And his fascination with uncovering all that is bad with Palin-drome is great fun!
ReplyDeleteI've seen Andrew Sullivan on Bill Maher's show and know what you mean, Howard. I'm glad to learn about some sites I haven't visited. I also like Crooks and Liars, Truthout, and Greg Palast. I'm on Michael Moore's email list, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm stressed and won't relax until it is really over. I don't trust the polls and don't trust the election. We've been down this road before. I just want Obama to win by a large enough margin to make it clear. I hope the Congress elections work out, too.
I've been working at my voting place during elections since I retired and want to influence people. TN has gone Republican too long to have much hope this time even though it's been close. As long as Democrats win! Please!
Darling Howard -
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear from you. I was thinking about sending you an email to make sure you were OK. I always look forward to your comments/input.
To All (FYI) - I purposefully limit my progressive blogs to 3 (Daily Kos, MyDD, and AmericaBlog) because if I did't, I would never get anything done!
And for some reason I've never really cared for the Huffington Post - I'm not sure why.
XOXOXOXO
Take a deep breathe, dear...
ReplyDeleteMark :-)
We get all absentee ballots in our house since The Engineer has to leave at 5:35am, my schedule is always changing, the children are at college or in transition and the lines in our area, because of the industry (out on a controlled, limited access area) are always nutso at night. They are coming this week!! Mail one west, mail one east and the rest of us have a Sunday evening ritual.
ReplyDeleteTalk about getting rich quick! I think you have it all figured out dear. I just did my absentee ballot today,since I'll be out of town on the big voe day.
ReplyDeleteHoward - it's nice to see you again.Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteYes, this political year is getting crazier and crazier. Just have to remember it will be over soon. I've become a big fan of:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.factcheck.org/
Which has helped keep my mind a little clearer. Whatcha think??
I watch Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann regularly and rotate the reading because of overkill and time. I can only take so much and check out the sites periodically and change them around.
ReplyDeleteSome of us can just be nervous together until after the election. And hope!
@joy: oh yeah! i forgot to mention countdown and the rachel maddow show (which i dearly wish was a podcast)... did you see her debate w/ david frum last night? it was truly epic and so civil; a nice change.
ReplyDelete@anonymous: i also love factcheck.org. anytime one of the campaigns "breaks news" about the other, i check there first.
@david: clearly a good call for you to limit yourself to three; can you tell i am obsessed? but again, like joy, my main stress comes from not trusting the system and hoping everything works out.