GOTV For Martha Coakley - KEEP CALLING!

Polls don't close until 8pm Eastern tonight. These folks braved rain-of-toads weather to come out and phone bank for Martha Coakley. KEEP CALLING!!!!! Click on this link to make calls from home: http://tinyurl.com/y8u679y

Bring It Home - GOTV For Martha Coakley

As I write this, Nate Silver says the odds are 3:1 that Republican Scott Brown will defeat Democrat Martha Coakely in the Massachusetts Senate race tomorrow, effectively ending this administration’s ability to legislate anything meaningful for the remainder of Obama’s first term.

At this point, I know we really only have two choices.

Give it up or bring it home.

Let's bring it home.

For the next 24 hours, until the polls close in Massachusetts, I am going to bring it home for Martha Coakley, for Ted Kennedy, for the future of our country, and for us.

For the next 24 hours I will not give into fear, dire predictions, or defeatism. I will put my head down and do the work. I am asking you to do the same.

Make calls from your home.

Find a phone bank near you.

BRING. IT. HOME.

CA Phonebanks for Coakley

(click on the cities to get time, directions and to RSVP)

TUESDAY (E-DAY!!!!) – January 19

Albany

Berkeley

Sonoma

Santa Clara

Santa Clarita

Indian Wells

Culver City (OFA HQ)

ACTION ALERT! GOTV! Don't Let The Teabaggers Take Ted Kennedy's Seat!

Folks, tomorrow is Election Day in Massachusetts and voters will go to the polls and decide who will take Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. We need all hands on deck! Get on the phones, hit the pavement, and DO THE WORK.

Click here to make calls from home.

CA Phonebanks for Coakley

(click on the cities to get time, directions and to RSVP)

TUESDAY (E-DAY!!!!) – January 19

Albany

Berkeley

Sonoma

Santa Clara

Santa Clarita

Indian Wells

Culver City (OFA HQ)

Studies have proven that the most effective way to GOTV is with voter contact. You are often providing the critical tools and support people need to vote. Finding out who needs a ride. Telling people their polling locations. Reminding them of when the polls close. Believe it or not I have talked to voters on Election Day who did not know where to vote, who did not know polls would be closing soon, or who had not realized the election was that day. Without me, those people would not have voted, even though they wanted to vote for my candidate. GOTV volunteers make a real difference.

Last, but not least: And there's one more thing you can do from anywhere in five minutes or less, which is donate money to the campaign. Yes, they can still use money! So if you can give, please do.

Act Blue for Martha Coakley

Does This Protest Make My Ass Look Fat?

So Code Pink sent out a baker's dozen worth of protestors to confront Jane Harman and Lynn Woolsey at a low-dollar fundraiser at Danny's Deli in Venice, CA.

Based on the turnout I saw today, Code Pink stopped being relevant somewhere around 2007.

Woolsey had received a tremendous amount of blow-back for her support of Harman. Yesterday, the congresswoman responded:

Dear Tim, Mimi, Donna and Norman,

Thank you for the thoughtful letter and the opportunity to respond.

I will be attending the fundraiser on Saturday.

Jane Harman has been a strong ally on an issue important to progressives—health care reform.

From the early days of the debate, Jane has been an unwavering advocate of the robust public option, and on the Energy and Commerce Committee voted against the Blue Dog amendment that weakened the public option.

She also urged that the Kucinich amendment that would have given states the option of adopting single-payer health care plans be included in the final House bill.

I appreciate Jane’s support for “real” health care reform.

Since her election in 1992, Jane has compiled a solid progressive record on a number of issues.

Her first vote in Congress was for the Family and Medical Leave Act, and she has consistently opposed all efforts to roll back a woman’s right to choose. NARAL has given her a 100% pro-choice rating.

She was an original co-sponsor of legislation to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and she was one of only 67 votes against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. The Human Rights Campaign gave her a 100% rating for the 111th Congress, and she has a lifetime rating of 80% from the ACLU.

Jane supports the rights of workers to organize and was an original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act.

She refuses to cross picket lines, has marched with local janitors, health care workers, and others, and has opposed unfair trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA. The AFL-CIO, SEIU, and AFSCME have all given her a 100% rating for the 110th and 111th Congresses.

Jane has a strong environmental record, having opposed all efforts to roll back clean air and water standards and drill off-shore California or in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The League of Conservation Voters has given her a 100% rating for the 110th Congress.

Jane opposes eliminating the estate tax and voted against the Bush tax cuts.

On Iraq, Jane has publicly stated that the intelligence on WMDs was wrong and she was wrong to believe the Bush Administration’s claims.

Since then, she has joined me in opposing the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With posts on the important Homeland Security Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee, Jane has proven herself to be a leader on Capitol Hill, and I join other Congressional progressives like John Conyers, Jim McGovern and Henry Waxman in endorsing her candidacy.

Sincerely,

Lynn Woolsey

Don't Let A Teabagger Take Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat

This Tuesday, voters in Massachusetts will go to the polls to determine who will carry on the legacy of Ted Kennedy in the US Senate. The campaign there needs to fill 400 volunteer shifts to help get out the vote on election day. They simply don't have the infrastructure to do it alone, so they've ask us to make calls into Massachusetts to help recruit volunteers for them.

All you need to do is to go to this link at http://my.barackobama.com/CoakleyVol/R3

If you already have an account with OFA, just sign in and get started. If you don't have an account, you'll be asked to create one. Once you're logged on, you'll be given numbers to call and a simple script to follow.

Unfortunately, recent polls show that the Democrat in the race, Martha Coakely, has only a 50/50 chance of defeating Republican (and teabagger) Scott Brown.

We can't let that happen.

Want to follow up this health care reform bill with another that sets up a public option?

Want a shot at even getting the existing health care reform bill passed to begin with? Want finance reform sometime in our lifetimes? How about a climate change bill? Clean energy? Or a jobs bill that does more than cut taxes for the super rich?

Because none of that has even a chance of happening if a Republican takes Teddy Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts on January 19th.

Go to this link at http://my.barackobama.com/CoakleyVol/R3.

If you already have an account with OFA, just sign in and get started. If you don't have an account, you'll be asked to create one. Once you're logged on, you'll be given numbers to call and a simple script to follow.

These are super easy calls to make - you'll be talking with registered Democrats who will want to help. They just need to know where to go and what to do. You'll be there to guide them.

Together, we can make a real difference. Please help us make sure a teabagger doesn't take Ted Kennedy's place in the US Senate.

Go to http://my.barackobama.com/CoakleyVol/R3 and get started today.

Monster

On his radio show yesterday, Rush Limbaugh said the earthquake in Haiti will play into President Obama's hands by allowing him to play up his "compassionate" and "humanitarian" credentials, and that the President will use this crisis to "boost his credibility with the black community."

Today, Limbaugh discouraged his listeners from donating to the Red Cross, saying that accessing the charity via the White House website would likely mean their email addresses would be captured by the administration.

Limbaugh also seemed to discourage his listeners from donating to any charity through any means, "We've already donated to Haiti. It's called the U.S. income tax."

When asked about Limbaugh's statements, as well as controversial statements from Pat Robertson, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had this reaction:

Q: And just one more quick question. What did you think of Pat Robertson's comments yesterday that the Haitians brought this on themselves by making a pact with the devil?

MR. GIBBS: It never ceases to amaze that in times of amazing human suffering somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid, but it like clockwork happens with some regularity. What is -- well, I won't -- [...]

Q: Robert, Rush Limbaugh says that Americans shouldn't donate to Haiti. What do you say about that?

MR. GIBBS: Again, I'd refer you back to the -- again, I think in times of great crisis there are always people that say really stupid things. I don't know how anybody -- I don't know how anybody could sit where he does, having enjoyed the success that he has, and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti. I think to use the power of your pulpit to try to convince those not to help their brothers and sisters is sad. My sense is that most people, though, because they understand we're part of an amazing world, won't listen, and instead will seek to help those that they know, because through no fault of their own, have suffered an unspeakable tragedy.

How You Can Help Haiti In Less Than A Minute

The next 72 hours are going to be critical for relief efforts in Haiti. The trapped can still be rescued, the injured treated, and those left vulnerable can still receive aid before starvation, disease and dehydration can take their toll.

Right now, Haiti is hell on earth. Tens of thousands feared dead. Hundreds of thousands - including over 40,000 Americans - missing or unaccounted for. Three million people left homeless, without access to safe water or a reliable source of food. And an unknown number still trapped alive under tons of rubble, still more injured without access to medical treatment.

But thanks to the wonders of modern technology, giving that aid has never been easier. Here is what you can do.

DONATE USING YOUR CELL PHONE

Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts

Text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti's Earthquake Relief efforts

Text "HAITI" to 20222 to donate $10 to U.N. relief efforts

DONATE OVER THE INTERNET

Partners In Health(the only clinic operating on the ground in Haiti)
Doctors Without Borders
UNICEF
CARE
Red Cross
Yele Haiti
LAMBI Fund
Clinton Foundation UN Relief Fund

Forward this email to your friends and family.
The need is great and time is short.

Do You Want A Republican To Take Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat?

Want to follow up this health care reform bill with another that sets up a public option?

Want a shot at even getting the existing health care reform bill passed to begin with? Want to repeal DADT sometime in our lifetimes? How about a climate change bill? Clean energy? Or a jobs bill that does more than cut taxes for the super rich?

Because none of that has even a chance of happening if a Republican takes Teddy Kennedy's seat in Massachussets on January 19th. And according to the latest polls, there's a 50/50 chance the Democrat, Martha Coakely could lose this race to Republican Scott Brown.

Time to get off our asses, get on the phone, and do the work.

Here is what we need to do.

Go to the OFA website - either sign up for an account or sign in with your existing account.

If that link doesn't work, try this one, scroll about half way down the page and you'll find another link to start making calls.

Once you're signed in, a page will come up with a list of numbers for you to call. You'll also see this script:

Hi is ________ home? My name is _________. I'm a volunteer with Organizing for America, the successor organization to Obama for America, and I'm calling for Martha Coakley's campaign for Senate. There's a special election on Tuesday, January 19th, the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Can we count on your support for Martha Coakley, on Tuesday January 19th?

Yes No/Uninterested Undecided

[If Yes] Great!

Do you know what time you will make it to the polls? They are open from 7am to 8 pm.

Before Work Morning Afternoon After Work Evening

Do you know how you'll be getting to the polls?

Car Public Transportatio Other Don't Know

[If don't know:]

Do you need a ride to the polls?

Yes No

[If they need a ride] Great. You can sign up for a free ride to the polls at: 800-485-0444

Please make sure everyone in your household votes as well. Thanks so much for your time and your vote!

[If they mention voting absentee] Town halls are closed on Monday, January 18 due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. You can go to your town hall any other weekday and request an absentee ballot form and turn it in right there. Also, the form can be found on line at http://my.barackobama.com/Jan19MA. If you will be absentee voting after Tuesday, January 12, you should go to your local town hall in person instead of mailing in the absentee request form.

[If No] Thank you for your time.

[If Undecided/Needs More Info] Martha will fight to create more jobs and better health care. Her track record shows that she will protect children and the elderly and will take on Wall Street, the way she has as Attorney General. Right now, the national Republican Party and extreme right wing groups are pouring money into Massachusetts hoping to derail critical programs that protect seniors, children and working families. That's why we need your vote on Tuesday, January 19. You can also get more information at www.MarthaCoakley.com.

[If not home, leave this message:]

My name is ____________________ and I'm a volunteer on behalf of Martha Coakley's campaign for Senate, calling from Organizing for America, the successor organization to Obama for America. I'm calling to make sure you're planning to vote on Tuesday, January 19. That's the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The polls will be open between 7AM and 8PM. The national Republican Party and extreme right wing groups are pouring money into Massachusetts hoping to derail critical programs that protect seniors, children and working families. That's why Martha needs your vote on Tuesday, January 19th. You can go to www.MarthaCoakley.com for more information. Thank you!

Start calling, enter your results on the site as you go.

Lather, rinse, repeat until January 19th, election day.

Not happy with Obama's legislative agenda in 2009? Guess what, me neither. But here's the thing, I don't think things will really improve all that much if a Republican takes Teddy Kennedy's seat in Mass. In fact, I think it would be fair to say, you can kiss not only any semblance of health care reform goodbye, but any hope of passing even a mildly progressive agenda for the rest of the year. Maybe even for as long as Obama is President.

FOLKS, THINGS WON'T GET BETTER IF WE LOSE OUR ABILITY TO EVEN NOMINALLY BLOCK A REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER.

We can't blog our way out of this. Making endless comments on Daily Kos about how it serves the DSCC right won't do a damn thing except make Republicans extremely happy on January 19th.

I hate to be this blunt, but let's be honest. If some of you could just bring yourselves to spend as much energy phone banking to Mass as you have been debating who's progressive enough or who's sold their soul to Jane Hamsher, you might actually make a difference here.

Folks, let's be less concerned about teaching lessons than learning them.

If Coakley loses, can Rahm Emanuel take over the seat? Can he break a filibuster? Can he get us the health care we deserve?

Let's get it done.

Rachel Maddow, Obama "Most Accomplished First Year Of Any President In A Generation"

For anyone who reads this blog semi-regularly (all 12 of you), you know I've had my fair share of criticism of #44. But hey, credit where credit is due. Rachel Maddow has the down low. If you missed her on David Letterman, here's your chance to catch up. Watch it:

Note To Dems in 2010: Run As Democrats, And You'll Win

From TPM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Congressman best known for his bombastic attacks against the Republican Party, had a very good fundraising quarter in the last three months of 2009, taking in $850,000.

The last three months have really been the period when Grayson's fame took off among the liberal blogosphere, and much of his money came from online. His fundraising immediately picked up after he declared that the Republican health care plan was for people who get sick to "die quickly," which happened just as the third quarter was about to end. He also heavily promoted a one-day "money-bomb" fundraiser in November, which brought in over a half-million dollars.

Grayson now reportedly has roughly $1 million cash on hand. Grayson's re-election is not assured, as he represents a swing seat that narrowly voted in 2008 for Grayson and Barack Obama after years of favoring Republicans.

Will other Democrats learn the right lesson from this? We'll see.

Cartoonist Get Death Threats Over "Learn To Speak Teabag" Cartoon

Mark Fiore gets a taste of the American Taliban's "Death Panels" after he ran this cartoon:




From his blog:

“Learn to Speak Tea Bag” ran on my usual client sites, including NPR, which really set off the guys over here, here (note Condi giving child flowers down by "donate" button), here, here and here. Before you could say, “due to a pre-existing condition, your health coverage has been denied,” there was a full-fledged viral campaign by right-wing media outlets and blogs to jump, scream and shout about this animation. Which, to me, is just great!
I say that not because I get some thrill out of receiving emails that are in all capital letters or have more exclamation points than letters in the alphabet, I say that because one of the most important functions of a political cartoon, or political animation, is to foster a discussion. With thousands of comments posted, loads of emails and tweets, discussion was definitely fostered, and then some. It’s the “then some” that worries me.

Of course discussion on the web is not known for its civility, but it finally dawned on me the strangeness of receiving death threats at the same time a crazed Somali extremist tried to kill cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

Muslim extremist, meet Tea Party extremist. Tea Party extremist, meet Muslim extremist.

Jeremy Bird - OFA Deputy Director - Respect, Empower, Include, "Unfriend" UPDATED!

UPDATE:

So I'm at yoga class tonight when my cell phone rings. When I go to check who it was after the class was over, the call was listed as coming from 202-863-8000. No message was left. When I called the number, I got the after-hours switchboard for the DNC headquarters in Washington.

When I get home, I see an email message from Jeremy Bird, "Please call."

Evidently he tracked me down through one of the OFA CA staff. He's asked to re-friend me and said the un-friending was a "mix up" by a staffer. We had a brief, but friendly discussion, most of it off the record.

Let's say we agreed on some things, disagreed on others. He was respectful. He listened. Now, I don't see the conversation significantly changing my concerns about OFA, but I absolutely give him credit for reaching out to start a dialogue. And I believe I was able communicate to him that my criticism is meant to be constructive. And I'm cautiously optimistic this will open the door to more communication.

And yes, I'll re-friend him.

UPDATE #2

Micah Sifry at Tech President, picks up the story here.

During the Obama campaign in 2008, the one phrase you heard relentlessly was "respect, empower, include". It meant a lot of things to a lot of people, but at it's heart, it meant that every member of the campaign organization - from State Directors to phone bank volunteers - was a valued member of the team whose contribution mattered.

In 2010, Jeremy Bird, Organizing For America's Deputy Director, has added his own twist to this mantra - "Unfriend".

Mr. Bird is one of about 1,200 "friends" I have on Facebook. I actually have very few friend-friends on Facebook, but I do have a lot of political contacts, since I use it primarily for political organizing.

So when I saw that Mr Bird had posted a Huffington Post article defending OFA against recent criticisms, I took the opportunity to comment on his post. When I saw no replies - which is odd considering what a high profile he has on Facebook - I went back a couple of hours later to see what was up. I was surprised to find that not only had I been "unfriended" by Jeremy Bird, but that I could no longer even find his profile on the FaceBook search engine.

At this point you're probably asking yourself what the hell did I say that he felt the need to execute the FaceBook equivalent of "wishing me into the cornfield"?

Well, take a look below. And then tell me how responsive we can expect OFA to be to it's organizers if it's leadership is this thin-skinned.

For the record, I was a Regional Field Organizer for CA-36. I, and my co-RFO, ran many dozens of phone banks from August 2008 to election day. Cumulatively, we had around 1,500 volunteers who made over 500,000 phone calls to swing states all over the country. California made over 10 million phone calls over the course of the election.

OFA as an organization has been a profound disappointment, but the volunteers are not, and the contacts and relationships that came out of the campaign have been amazing. I continue to work with the activists I originally knew from the Obama campaign on marriage equality and on California budget issues. The video I created on the CA budget crisis was produced with the help, and starred, California Obama organizers.

Over the summer, I was able to organize my own phone banks targeting the constituents of CA Blue Dog Dems on health care reform, completely independent of OFA, with the help of former Obama organizers and new volunteers who didn't want to list build for OFA. We made over 10,000 phone calls to Costa and Cordoza's districts in central CA. Calls that OFA didn't even start making until the Fall. More recently, we were phone banking against the Stupak amendment. Again, with former Obama organizers.

The thing I find completely heartbreaking about is to watch such an opportunity squandered right before our eyes. I literally watched it happen. When I look back to how eager our vols were this time last year, those sea of faces in both Denver in 2008 and the Inauguration in January and know that whatever movement there was is gone, gone, gone. Rising from it's ashes, there's another one - smaller, more tentative. The bigger problem is there's no other large orgs like MoveOn or DFA really picking up on this and running with it. The smaller orgs like FDL PAC and PCCC are ad hoc and completely dependent on the whims of their founders. There's a lot of activity, but very little forward momentum. It's all triage and no planning. So yes, it's frustrating.

Nobody knows where to go from here. How do you constructively push an administration you helped elect that isn't always working for the agenda you want? And do it effectively with extremely limited resources?