6/30/2005
Thank You
by V on 8:10 pm.
I think I speak for myself, the whole crew here at Left in the West, and even Jon Tester when I say thank you very much to all of those who donated or jumped over to Jon’s site to give him a chance. We’ve said a lot of nice things about this guy over the past few days and every word of it made your donation worthwhile. He is worth every damn penny you put into him this quarter and he will continue to be worth every penny for the rest of his campaign.
We met our goals and then some.
Final Numbers
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Donations recieved: $1680
Donors: 23
Average Donorship: $73.04
Coupled with the promised $100 from the whole gang, and the $23 split between Matt and I for the number of Donors that puts Left in the West into this race to the tune of $1803.
Don’t forget you can still donate until 12:00 A.M. in your timezone and have it count towards this quarter, and also that this quarter isn’t the end.
Donations are processed by a secure server.
And a final word of thanks to our friends over at Swing State Project, who gave their all but still came up short at an average donorship of $33.53 multiplied by 34 donors to make $1140.12 for Jon , and of course the geniuses at Act Blue, who made this whole thing possible.
You folks Rock.
| Comments (5) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
Chuckles, Say it ain’t So
by Matt Singer on 3:54 pm.
(Post updated.)
Apparently, the GOP has grown tired of the GOP E-Brief Watch, because I seem to be off their mailing list.
Sallies.
That said, they have the moxie to mention me in the E-Brief without sending it to me. I’ve heard about talking behind someone’s back, but, honestly, guys.
Anyways, this is what they wrote:
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| Comments (14) | Permanent Link | Categories: gop e-brief watch, montana, political |
Democracy Returns
by Matt Singer on 3:17 pm.
MyDD has a simply excellent post up on technology in elections. Honestly, it is unmatched by anything else you will read in such little space. Read the whole thing. Because it is the story of how technology will allow for the rebirth of our democracy. The post is a shortened version of a speech given by a candidate who used technology to beat an incumbent while being outspent by $250,000 in the last two weeks. It is the story of direct connection between candidate and constuents and the ability to instantaneously respond to the masses when the bad guys go negative.
One amazing statistic: an email address is worth $10.
Ten bucks. Who knows how much time.
But at the root it is worth something even more powerful: a vote.
Right now, we are witnessing the next great transformation of technology-assisted politics. Last year, it was in the Presidential campaigns. This year it will be in the campaigns for US Senate, US House, and the state house.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
Burns Sends Me a Fundraising Letter
by Liesa on 2:53 pm.
Which is odd. Do they think I’m a likely donor?
The appeal is a “survey†which starts with:
With liberal Democrat Jon Tester already on the campaign trail and liberal Democrat John Morrison is right behind him, I understand the need to begin raising dollars etc. blah, blah…
The survey includes skewed “questions†on such high priority as “aggressive rodent control†and an insidious sounding “55-mile per hour federal speed limit”? Are these really issues people are worried about?
Interestingly, reproductive choice doesn’t come up. Burns must have done the polling on that one.
Here’s what they say about Tester and Morrison:
One of my liberal Democrat opponents, John Morrison, claims that your health care concerns are his top priority. Yet, he is a trial attorney whose industry, and the medical malpractice suits it champions, have had more to do with the rising costs of health care than any other one factor!
And
Meanwhile, my other opponent, [sic-for comma use] John Tester has consistently aligned himself with the far-Left during his tenure in the State Senate.
If you think this is as ridiculous as I do, send 5 or 10 bucks Tester’s way. So you eat leftovers instead of ordering pizza one night. It’s for a good cause.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, political |
Vermontana Watch
by Matt Singer on 2:48 pm.
Adam Quinn, a Montanan out in Vermont, has launched Vermonters First. I would hope (and assume) that he says Vermonters First because has briefly forgotten about Montanans.
Regardless, good luck with the endeavor.
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My future is so bright, I should be wearing shades
by Matt Singer on 2:41 pm.
Until I buy a pair, just call me squinty McGee.
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Holy Smokes
by Matt Singer on 2:39 pm.
In case you didn’t see, we’re now up to $1660 donated through 22 donors. That means that we’ll be tossing $122 on top for a grand total of $1782. Don’t you think we can top $1800 at least?
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, montana, political |
Stand for Something, Dammit
by Matt Singer on 2:37 pm.
David Sirota explains why the Democratic Party has problems convincing the public that it stands for something. Maybe that’s because we say we’ll support whoever in a primary, provided we think they can raise enough money in the general.
Just a thought.
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America’s Real Security Problem
by Matt Singer on 2:35 pm.
Steve at Rabid Sanity says that I merely repeat old talking points on terrorism while ignoring the root cause: Islamo-fascism. Now, David Horowitz talking points are fun and there is some truth to them, but Steve makes a serious error here. Because Saddam was not an Islamo-fascist. Now, I won’t claim that collaboration between Saddam and Islamo-fascists is beneath them. It isn’t. But I will claim that Saddam is not the most frightening puzzle in the Middle East.
This whole debate on Iraq is reminiscent of the Social Security debate in so many ways. In both cases, conservatives are screaming about a potential paper cut (Social Security’s fiscal issues and Saddam’s ability to harm the US) while we might get shot in the head (by our health care system’s fiscal issues or Iran’s ability to harm the US). And our Iraq policy has not made us any more popular. I’m not sure if anyone caught the news this morning, but former Tehran hostages are saying that Iran’s new President was one of the hostage-takers. Iran, a country openly seeking a nuclear program, now has a President who didn’t just support terrorism against the US, he was a frontline terrorist.
At one point, I vascillated back-and-forth on the war and briefly supported invading. I was wrong. This is a really stupid position for us to be in.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: foreign, iran, iraq, policy |
Unions and the Future of Great American Populism
by V on 11:25 am.
The NYT has an interesting opinion piece today about the state of unions today and how it compares with the state of unions in the 1930’s.
Like many Americans today, people back then believed that labor unions had become weak and irrelevant.
This peice goes on to discuss the strategy of SEIU union leader Andy Stern’s Change to Win program, which is also worth a look into if you care at all about the future of unions in America.
In Montana, I think that the problem is as simple as the quote offered earlier, particularly in large chunks of Democratic circles. One of the most depressing things I have seen happen in Montana is the move of conservation Democrats away from union Democrats, and I think that the future of Montana’s Democrats lies in reforging the old bonds between conservationists and unionists under the common flag of Populism. This is why the victory of Brian Schweitzer is such a big deal here. That is why Brian is such a good thing for the Democratic party even if runs with a Republican running mate for the rest of his life. Brian cares about the future of our party and I think that he is offering a strong hope of reforging the strengths of the party, but for some reason people still don’t seem to get it.
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| Comments (9) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, montucky, political |
Kuttner on the West
by Matt Singer on 11:00 am.
Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect was in Helena for the Western Caucus of the DNC. His take on the West is available here. Check it out, especially for the analysis from Celinda Lake.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, montana, political |
Promote Marriage, End the War
by Liesa on 10:57 am.
It seems like the unending war in Iraq is putting some major strain on U.S. military families. This article talks about the increasing divorce rate among military folks as the war drags on. This is really sad.
Those conservatives who are always blathering about how much they want to “promote marriage” and the family should take note.
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: ideologues, republicans |
FrontierPAC Getting Flooded with Comments from New Mexico
by Matt Singer on 10:43 am.
FrontierPAC, the ornery upstart PAC that has a declared mission of marching the donkey west, is getting some love from New Mexico, where it seems the netroots are seeking an endorsement for their candidate of choice.
When Democracy for New Mexico and FrontierPAC start working together, good things are bound to happen.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: political |
Left in the West: An Online Magazine
by Matt Singer on 10:09 am.
Turns out this whole “blogging” thing is a fad. Left in the West is now an online magazine. I think that may require us to add a masthead.
I’ll get write on that.
Update: Oh yeah, if you’re wondering what the Hell I’m talking about, go check out the Talent Show.
Update 2: To reflect the change in publication style, I am no longer a “blogger” I am the Editor-in-Chief of this fine opinion journal. Lamnidae, Liesa, and V are no longer guest-bloggers or co-bloggers. They are Contributing Editors. Please refer to the masthead at the right. From now on questions or concerns can be referred to the Ombudsman.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
The $1,000 Challenge: Wrap-Up and Review
by Matt Singer on 8:56 am.
This week, we’ve spoken a lot about Jon Tester’s integrity, his character, and his ability to get things done. We told you about his backbone when it comes to human rights, when it comes to standing up against sexual and domestic violence. We told you about his foresight on pesticide issues and farm economics. Heck, we didn’t even get to his leadership on conservation issues or rural economic development (we need something to use in the third quarter fundraising push). But there’s another question we haven’t yet addressed fully: Can Jon Tester win?
Given that this has been the strongest criticism of the man, it only seems right that we address it. So let’s all say it together, Jon Tester will beat Conrad Burns. And that, as they say, is a good thing.
| Comments (1) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
Best Spam Ever!
by Matt Singer on 8:16 am.
Actually, I’m not even sure if this is spam, but it was in my inbox. And I have no clue what it is:
Call out Gouranga be happy!!!Meanwhile, fundraising for Tester continues at a great clip. We have now raised $1085 from 20 donors, which means we’re now responsible for $120 in contributions by midnight tonight. That means a total of $1200 raised for Q2. But Q2 is not over yet, nor is our match. Remember, even a $5 contribution nets Jon an extra dollar from us.
Gouranga Gouranga Gouranga ….
That which brings the highest happiness!!
| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
6/29/2005
Will Conservatives Clamp Down on Bloggers?
by Liesa on 4:47 pm.
It seems that conservatives in Congress are getting upset that a bunch of “pajama clad upstarts” are countering the effects of their big money propaganda campaigns.
Over the course of the last two days, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has conducted hearings to consider comments from advocates, bloggers and other Internet users on the FEC’s proposed regulations that would extend federal election law regulation to some paid Internet communications. The proposed regulations were mandated by the court decision in Shays v. FEC, when the court held that the FEC’s prior rule containing a complete Internet exemption was not proper under campaign finance laws. The FEC responded by crafting a narrow rule that would subject paid advertising on the Internet to regulation.
Testimony before the FEC largely supported the proposed rule. The majority of the discussion centered on whether bloggers or other Internet communicators should be exempted from election laws under the existing “media exemption†that has protected the mainstream media for decades. On this point, there is debate over who amongst bloggers and others should qualify. The other issue receiving attention at the hearing was how much money spent on internet communications should push an internet communication into a covered regulatory area.
Bloggers have been following this issue for some time. (Check it out.) You should also check out what Alliance for Justice has to say about this. I, for one, am not wearing pajamas.
| Comments (7) | Permanent Link | Categories: general |
Mission Accomplished: $1000 Challenge Finished a Day Early
by Matt Singer on 3:14 pm.
We’ve raised $1,030 to date.
Let’s see how high we can get that number.
Update: Taking it a step further. We believe that democracy works best when small donors give money. We’ve hit our dollar target, but we want more small donors in that mix. So V and I our pledging that we will contribute an additional dollar above and beyond our $100 commitment for each donation given through our donor page. Whether that next donation is $5 or $2100, it will mean an extra $1 from us. So far, 17 donors have given to Tester through Left in the West. That means we’re donating $117 total. Make us give more. Donate today.
| Comments (2) | Permanent Link | Categories: Conrad Burns, democrats, montana, political |
Purchasing Power Inanity
by Matt Singer on 1:42 pm.
This has already been noted by Sirota and Taegan Goddard, but it’s still pretty outrageous. Defending a recent increase Congressional salaries by over $3,000 to a new high of $165,200, Tom DeLay said, “It’s not a pay raise. It’s an adjustment so that they’re not losing their purchasing power.”
This has to be one of the first times, I’ve seen a politician combine the desires to use the Royal We and speak in the third person. We might call this the “DeLay they.” Use the third person pronoun in order to make it seem that someone else is doing something. Regardless, DeLay is orchestrating an extra three grand for himself.
Meanwhile, as Sirota notes, the minimum wage is at its lowest inflation-adjusted rate in 50 years. What about purchasing power for the rest of us, huh?
| Comments (3) | Permanent Link | Categories: economic, policy |
Women for Tester
by Liesa on 1:38 pm.
Lifetime Television’s national poll during the last election of 500 women found that 85 percent said that a candidate’s position on violence against women would affect their vote. 82 percent cited equal pay and women’s health issues, 80 percent cited breast cancer and 76 percent cited access to affordable child care as voting issues.
But nearly half of the women surveyed said they had heard nothing from the candidates directly or through the media on these issues. Just eight percent said that candidates have discussed women’s health issues and violence against women.
So I’m going to tell you what one candidate did about violence against women in Montana.
Not what he said, not what position he took–I’m talking action. And action is what’s needed–on average, a case of domestic violence or sexual assault is reported every 2 hours in Montana.
Senator Tester supported HB 520, sponsored by Representative Furey, which removes a potential obstacle to reporting sexual assaults. Under this statute, a minor reporting a sexual assault cannot have the information given in reporting the crime used against him/her to charge him/her with a minor in possession (MIP). The bill passed. He also helped to pass a law that now allows unemployment benefits for victims of domestic violence to also include victims of sexual assault (like rape) and/or stalking.
Support Tester today people. He’s a good man doing what needs to be done. And with a proven record of standing up against violence against women, he’s highly electable.
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| Comments (0) | Permanent Link | Categories: democrats, montana |
