Ok, so, I didn't know how yesterday would go. Two months ago I decided to invite some of the top progressive bloggers in the State to gather here at the State Democratic Party headquarters for a discussion. It took place yesterday. (Click here to see the agenda). And, I have to admit, not only did I find it productive and informative, I actually had a good time.
Twenty or so bloggers joined me for a day long (yes, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm) discussion about - among other things - how to advance a common agenda, what the State Party can do differently to engage the blogosphere, and how the blogosphere can reach out more effectively to offline activists.
Joining us was Congressman Brad Miller. Many of you know Brad from his posts here and at dailykos. If you haven't gotten to know him offline, you should. Brad is one of the most thoughtful and sincere people I know in politics (and, I know quite a few). And he is a bridge between the traditional way of doing politics and the future, comfortably sprinting down both trails.
What a year! As we all take a step back and assess this exciting election season, I want to remind you that we have one unresolved congressional race in North Carolina.
Last week, Democrats captured the majority in the U.S. House delegation from North Carolina (7 Democrats-6 Republican) and we have a chance to make it 8-5 Democratic. In the 8th Congressional District, Larry Kissell ran an amazing race and might have defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Robin Hayes. Right now, Kissell is behind by about 460 votes, but 1,500 provisional ballots remain uncounted. As provisional ballots tend to favor Democrats, we are very optimistic about our chances in the 8th District.
With the latest poll showing Larry Kissell in a dead heat against Republican Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8), I'm getting my sleeping bag ready. On Sunday, I'm heading down to the 8th district, where I'll spend the entire week campaigning for Larry. I'll be making phone calls, canvassing, meeting with the "movers and shakers" in the district, attending events - and, well, pretty much anything else the campaign wants me to do. With 47% polling for Hayes and 46% for Kissell, this race can go either way. I want to make sure it goes our way.
I'm a big believer in grassroots politickin'. So much so, that I've been spending my Saturdays going door-to-door with candidates across North Carolina - something I'll be doing each Saturday between now and the election.
While I spend a lot of time raising money and communicating through paid and free media, I know that there's just no substitute for having a real conversation with voters about the things that trouble them.
That's why here in North Carolina we have established a Training Committee that's been hard at work teaching people the basics. So far they've trained over 500 people in 25 counties. And between now and the election, they're expected to reach another 300 people.
Recently, this committee - under the leadership of Jeff Marsocci and Beth Secosky - produced an outstanding video on how to do door-to-door canvassing. Whether you're new to this, or an old-timer, you should check it out. Watch it at www.engagingthegrassroots.com.
And if you're in North Carolina, I hope you'll be out there canvassing with me between now and November 7th.
Hi, everyone. One year ago, I welcomed President Bush to Fort Bragg - located in my home county - with a list of questions that I hoped he would answer about his Administration's mismanagement of the war in Iraq.
Every question I asked last year has gone unanswered--not to me, but to our men and women he sent into harm's way and to the American people whose trust he has broken. Read for yourself.
This Independence Day, President Bush is again at Fort Bragg. Once again, it appears that he is just coming for another photo opportunity. He owes our troops much more.
When Bush looks our brave men and women at Fort Bragg in the eyes, he should be able to tell them he has a plan for Iraq and not continued incompetence. Instead of offering his usual empty rhetoric, it is time for the President to provide our soldiers and the American people with a plan that offers benchmarks for success, so we can determine progress on the ground and begin to redeploy our troops.
Hey, y'all. As President Bush and the Republican Party continue to nose dive in the polls, the prospects for retaking the U.S. House keep looking better and better. Here in North Carolina, we're doing our part.
I want to tell you about two races where we think we'll be able to help usher in a new congressional majority for Democrats. The 11th Congressional District. Stretching from Asheville westward, here's where you'll find excellent bluegrass music, tomato-based barbecue, and an economy struggling under national Republican rule. Having largely supported Lincoln and the Union during the Civil War, the region still continues to vote Republican. But an early poll strongly indicates that Congressman Charles Taylor (R-NC) is vulnerable. Heath Shuler - former quarterback for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the Washington Redskins - is poised to defeat the eight-term Congressman.
Taylor's an unusual fellow. When he's not pushing to build a road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, he's teaming up with a former KGB General to operate banks in Russia. As for his North Carolina banks, they've had a little trouble. Taylor's two henchmen at the bank pled guilty to money-laundering and fraud in connection with loans to one of Taylor's biggest contributors. And, more recently, AP revealed Taylor's close ties to Jack Abramoff (closer, by the way, than Taylor had earlier admitted). Despite his net worth of about $50 million, Taylor refuses to return the Abramoff money. As for CAFTA - this was a classic Taylor move. All along saying he'd vote against CAFTA, he ended up not voting. He offered shifting explanations for his failure to vote, finally claiming that he used a voting card from the past session of Congress. Yeah, right.
As Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, I wanted to bring this to your attention: They're at it again. How many times have we heard Republicans suggest that God is on their side?
Let me be clear. We believe this is wrong. People go to church to worship - not to sign up for Republican propaganda. Neither the federal tax code nor sincere piety favors turning the church into a political institution.
I know from my contacts with thousands of people that many Democrats are people of deep faith. They are Democrats because of their faith, not despite their faith. But they don't believe that religion should be exploited for political purposes.
While the Republicans claim that God is on their side, we should be mindful of what Abraham Lincoln taught us. The critical question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we're on God's side.
