I'm getting a bit depressed.

[LAS14]

Over the past 24 hours I've posted several thoughts about the need to support candidates in contested senate and house races. I thought it was pretty exciting. I was inspired by a post (referenced in my posts) of someone who wanted advice about where to go to support house/senate candidates.

Specifically, I urged folks to "adopt" a house and senate candidate who has a chance of winning. "Adopt" meaning support with time and money. It's not necessary to be a constituent. I live in Mass and adopted NH Maggie Hassan and Carol Shea-Porter.

But I got very few responses. Is this because we, committed dems, are not responding to Bernie's exhortation to win back the senate and house?

Is it because we don't take seriously the fact that Hillary can't do it alone?

Here's a sobering story about the prospects for the senate.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/289763-gop-confidence-in-senate-majority-builds

And here are my posts that didn't take off.

Come on, folks, we really need to work all fronts!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512330404
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512330410
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512330280
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512327618

[madaboutharry]

1. I also believe it is very important.

We must vote for every democrat.

[LAS14]

3. And choose a senate and house candidate to support with money and time. Yes?

[bettyellen]

11. Of course! I bookmarked both those threads with the intent of coming back...

It's a slow month, August. I think interest and energy both, will pick up in September!

[MFM008]

2. It is foremost

In my voting plans.

[elleng]

4. We DO need to work all fronts,

but you know 'all fronts' are just not as 'sexy' as the 'Race for the White House.'

[WhiteTara]

5. Carry registration forms with you and ask every person you meet

if they are registered to vote. Hang out at your local post office with forms and ask everyone going in/out if they are registered to vote. Action usually helps with depression.

[LAS14]

6. Super idea for those who live in contested districts. Otherwise...

.. sign up to support with money and phone calls.

[ohheckyeah]

46. I can't afford t throw money at

Politicians. Maybe some people can. I'm paying medical bills for two strokes.

[Motley13]

7. If Hillary wins strong, she will carry the down ballot

at least in the senate. People very often just vote straight party.

Do any of you know when we can finally weed out the tea partiers?

[NCTraveler]

8. I think the number one thing we can do across the board is to get people out for Clinton.

These other races are local and don't carry the same excitement outside of ones state or district. Big voter turnout for Clinton will help down ticket.

I do pay attention to these things but fully understand why they sink here.

[KMOD]

9. I have seen and appreciated your threads.

Since my representatives are safe, I have been meaning to look where my help can count the most.

But yes, we need to GOTV for all Democrats.

[LAS14]

10. Thanks! I'm getting cheerier.

[MerryBlooms]

12. In Illinois' 10th Congressional District we're supporting

Brad Schnieder vs Bob Dold.

https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois%27_10th_Congressional_District_election,_2016

and

Tammy Duckworth vs Mark Kirk

https://ballotpedia.org/Tammy_Duckworth

I appreciate your effort and posts.

[LAS14]

18. Super!

[CK_John]

13. You're out of sync with the average person. This is county fair time, looking

for kids school supplies, take a break and go smell the roses.

[LAS14]

19. ???? When the senate is at stake???

[CK_John]

33. We might pickup 4 to get take the head of the Senate seat again but

we will not get 60 seats so we will not control anything.

So you probably are wasting your time.

[Hortensis]

14. I start calling from home next week probably, for

Florida since no seats are believed to be in play here in Georgia (although Hillary and The Donald as supposedly "tied" in a poll right now! ). Although we give to the DSCC and I expected to help flip a senate seat, I'm going to be calling for state races because the Florida legislature could flip Democrat. And god knows Florida needs it. Sadly Rick Scott isn't up for reelection, but he's term-limited, so in 2018 he's out.

[LAS14]

34. Yay!!!

[DemonGoddess]

15. Already donating to Hillary

when I get things straightened out from my notgettingpaidformywork mess (in the next couple weeks), I'll be donating to Gregg, Bayh, and others in Indiana, as well as Duckworth in IL. I can't give much at a time, but I can give something.

[LAS14]

20. Super!

[sheshe2]

16. KnR

[redstateblues]

17. I'm supporting Ann Kirkpatrick

My two Senators in TN are not running to my knowledge-If they are unfortunately they don't even need to advertise

[LAS14]

21. All house members are running, but in TN it's probably...

... not a competitive race, right? Find a house race that is competitive!

[AgadorSparticus]

28. I am supporting her too. She has a REAL good shot at getting rid of McCain & needs all the help

she can get.

[JI7]

22. this is not really a good place for things like that

[LAS14]

24. Ah. Thanks for the insight.

[Barack_America]

23. Posters on DU tend not to be very politically active IRL.

Good bit of the "arm chair" quarterback thing going on. And that's fine, of course, just don't beat your head against the wall wondering why they're not heeding your calls to "get to work".

Learn from my mistakes, lol.

[LAS14]

25. And thanks to you, too.

[SharonClark]

26. Hillary has phone banks up and running where I am

and I'm attending a Voter Registration training this weekend. I love registering voters!

[LAS14]

35. Yes!

[forgotmylogin]

27. RNC have cut bait and are going to focus

On the house and Senate. We can't forget those and saddle Hillary with a hostile congress.

[LAS14]

36. Absolutely!

[AgadorSparticus]

29. I loved your posts on this. GREAT IDEA!! I am fully supporting Ann Kirkpatrick...and her boots. :-)

And I hope others do the same. If anyone is undecided or is unenthusiastic, please check out Ann Kirkpatrick. She is down to earth and reminds me a bit of Ann Richards...minus the fire.

[progree]

30. I bookmarked your threads when I first saw them in Latest Threads

Last edited Wed Aug 3, 2016, 07:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Well the first two -- I hadn't seen the last two.

Every 2 years I hunt for some competitive Senate and House races, so I appreciate very much these threads. I haven't had time to do my own research (building on yours' and others') , but will have to get going on it pretty soon. I much appreciate threads like yours.

[LAS14]

37. Kudos!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

31. Winning state Legislatures means putting districting permanently into independent commissions. nt

[LAS14]

38. Yes!

[Soxfan58]

32. Supporting Emily Cain. Me 2nd district

[LAS14]

39. Thanks!

[George Eliot]

40. Donated several times to Feingold. He's key and was an early progressive. Send money now!

My state is fairly safe so I took Bernie's list and have sent small & larger amounts. Teachout, Kingston, Canova, Jayapal, couple more. But I started donating to Feingold almost two years ago. Johnson is all corporatist while Feingold was working on economic issues to do with the middle class before Warren. If they don't have name recognition and messaging early, they will end up like Bernie - behind.

If you voted for Clinton based on her issues, then help her achieve them. If you voted for her because you like her or she's a woman, well, then, maybe it doesn't matter if you support her with a Congress she can work with.

[LAS14]

42. You're a model for all of us!

[George Eliot]

41. Strong Dem turnout unreliable! Eitht years of Dem Pres and six with Republican Congress/Senate.

[brooklynite]

43. Don't take this tye wrong way...

...but this is about politics, not self-aggrandizement.

I didn't read your original post; but if I had, I wouldn't have bothered to respond, because I don't look upon political funding as a group activity. I'm already invested in 13 Senate races and 10 House races, as well as DSCC and DCCC. NI'll be happy to sharemy for houghts on the value of individual campaigns, but I'm not coordinating with the folks here.

[George Eliot]

44. Encouraging others is not self'aggrandizement.

What you just did was. I don't care what you've done but I sure do want to influence others to see how important it is to load the House and the Senate with Democrats. That was the OP's point. And it's a good one.

[Scuba]

45. I suspect there are more than a few here who limit their political activities to posting online.

A year or so ago I posted asking what works and doesn't work at member's local Democratic Party offices. I got almost no response.

I re-worded and tried again. No response.

Finally I made it a poll to try to stimulate some dialogue. Nada.

[LAS14]

47. Thanks, y'all. I'm feeling cheerier. I'll..

.. be thinking of you when I canvass in NH.

[Pacifist Patriot]

48. My congressional district is a lost cause, but the Florida Senate race is a big one for me.

Darn right I'm taking this seriously. We're going to flip Florida.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/31/gop-hits-murphy-in-florida-senate-race-and-obama-h/

[LAS14]

49. Go girl/guy!!