Friday Challenge

This is the last day we're going to do the challenge on the Responsible Plan exactly like this. I'll let you know about a different take on it starting Monday.

Today's focus is on Bob Hackworth, from District 10. Call him and ask him to sign on the Responsible Plan (details on the plan are at http://www.responsibleplan.com, you could also use the talking points from our endorsement of the plan, or you could use the argument mentioned at OpenLeft showing candidate Darcy Burner gaining ground in her race because of the plan or that she raised more than $500,000 in the first quarter this year running primarily on this issue). You can contact him at: 727-458-4134, bob@bobhackworth.com.

Second is Samm Simpson, challenger in District 10, who has already endorsed the Plan. If you think this was a good thing for her to do, which you should, you can contribute to her campaign here.

Previous plan endorsers are the following:

Larry Byrnes, FL-14

Alan Grayson, FL-8

Joe Garcia, FL-25

Faye Armitage, FL-7

Timothy Cunha, FL-6

Clint Curtis, FL-24

Stephen Blythe, FL-15

Samm Simpson, FL-10

Clyde Malloy, FL-7

Doug Tudor, FL-12

The other challengers who have yet to endorse the plan, and feel free to contact them about the plan, too, are:

FL-1

James Bryan, 850-652-3350

Robert Peterman, 850-432-2213

FL-4

Jay McGovern , 904-626-9618, jay@jay4congress.com

FL-5

Carol Castagnero, 863-687-8414, jscala00@yahoo.com

David Werder, 727-862-3377

FL-8

Alexander Fry, 407-579-7800, afry@fryforcongress.com

Michael Smith, 407-574-9296, vote@mikesmithforcongress.com

Charlie Stuart, 407-999-9899, Manager@CharlieStuartforCongress.com

Quoc Van, 407-453-4380, vanforcongress@gmail.com

FL-9

Anita de Palma, 727-239-0621

John Dicks, Web form: http://www.johndicksforcongress.com/contact.php

Bill Mitchell, 813-223-1959, mitchlaw@askmitch.net

FL-10

Bob Hackworth, 727-458-4134, bob@bobhackworth.com

FL-13

Christine Jennings, 941-366-8121, info@christinejennings2008.com

FL-14

Jason King, 239-633-8388

FL-15

Paul Rancatore, ?

FL-18

Annette Taddeo, 305-661-6499, Web form: http://www.annette2008.com/index.php?submenu=Contact&src=forms&id=Contact%20Us

FL-21

Raul Martinez, 305-823-8686, info@raul2008.com or raulmartinezjr@mac.com

FL-22

Paul Renneisen, 954-812-2674, info@Renneisen2008.com

FL-23

Ray Sanchez, 561-996-6722, support@raytorressanchez.com

FL-24

Suzanne Kosmas, 386-427-0439, info@kosmasforcongress.com

If you contact anyone on the list, please be completely professional and respectful in doing so. The idea isn't to attack these people, it's to let them know that Floridians support this plan and we want our candidates to do the same.

We have set up an ActBlue page for the Florida challengers that have endorsed the plan. You give to one or all of them here.

Friday Challenge

As I mentioned earlier, the Monday, Wednesday and Friday challenges for the near future will be related to the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, http://www.responsibleplan.com/. What I'll do each of these days is highlight two members of our group of Congressional challengers. One is for you to contact and convince to endorse the Plan. The other is someone who has already endorsed the plan, for you to reward because they did the right thing.

Today's focus is on John Russell, from District 5. Call him and ask him to sign on the Responsible Plan (details on the plan are at http://www.responsibleplan.com, you could also use the talking points from our endorsement of the plan, http://quinnell.us/sspb/?p=1524, or you could use the argument mentioned at OpenLeft showing candidate Darcy Burner gaining ground in her race because of the plan, http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4936, or that she raised more than $500,000 in the first quarter this year running primarily on this issue, http://www.horsesass.org/?p=4656). You can contact him at 813-625-2822, johnrussell@johnrussellforcongress.com.

Second is Joe Garcia, challenger in District 25, who has already endorsed the Plan. If you think this was a good thing for him to do, which you should, you can contribute to his campaign here: http://www.actblue.com/page/fpc2.

Previous plan endorsers are the following:

Larry Byrnes, FL-14
Alan Grayson, FL-8
Joe Garcia, FL-25
Faye Armitage, FL-7
Timothy Cunha, FL-6
Clint Curtis, FL-24
Stephen Blythe, FL-15
Samm Simpson, FL-10
Clyde Malloy, FL-7
Doug Tudor, FL-12

The other challengers who have yet to endorse the plan, and feel free to contact them about the plan, too, are:

FL-1
James Bryan, 850-652-3350

FL-4
Jay McGovern , 904-626-9618, jay@jay4congress.com

FL-5
Carol Castagnero, 863-687-8414, jscala00@yahoo.com
John Russell, 813-625-2822, johnrussell@johnrussellforcongress.com
David Werder, 727-862-3377

FL-8
Alexander Fry, 407-579-7800, afry@fryforcongress.com
Michael Smith, 407-574-9296, vote@mikesmithforcongress.com
Charlie Stuart, 407-999-9899, Manager@CharlieStuartforCongress.com
Quoc Van, 407-453-4380, vanforcongress@gmail.com

FL-9
Anita de Palma, 727-239-0621
John Dicks, Web form: http://www.johndicksforcongress.com/contact.php
Bill Mitchell, 813-223-1959, mitchlaw@askmitch.net

FL-10
Bob Hackworth, 727-458-4134, bob@bobhackworth.com
Max Linn, 727-347-8784, Max@MaxLinn.com

FL-13
Christine Jennings, 941-366-8121, info@christinejennings2008.com

FL-14
Robert Neeld, 239-549-9588, neeldrm@aol.com

FL-15
Paul Rancatore, 772-539-9194, 321-821-2348, 321-766-4131, info@PaulRancatore.com

FL-18
Annette Taddeo, 305-661-6499, Web form: http://www.annette2008.com/index.php?submenu=Contact&src=forms&id=Contact%20Us

FL-21
Raul Martinez, 305-823-8686, info@raul2008.com or raulmartinezjr@mac.com

FL-22
Paul Renneisen, 954-812-2674, info@Renneisen2008.com

FL-23
Ray Sanchez, 561-996-6722, support@raytorressanchez.com

FL-24
Suzanne Kosmas, 386-427-0439, info@kosmasforcongress.com

If you contact anyone on the list, please be completely professional and respectful in doing so. The idea isn't to attack these people, it's to let them know that Floridians support this plan and we want our candidates to do the same.

We have set up an ActBlue page for the Florida challengers that have endorsed the plan. You give to one or all of them here: http://www.actblue.com/page/fpc2.

McCain on Iraq

He's going to "six month more" us to 100 years in Iraq.

The Responsible Plan In Action

One day into our campaign to get our congressional challengers to sign on to the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, we've already had one victory. Samm Simpson has endorsed the plan. Knowing Samm, I figured this was an issue that was important to her and that she'd be eager to sign on. We should reward Samm for singing on, so go here and contribute what you can. Hey, I'm a poor adjunct professor/blogger and I was able to muster a few bucks. It's the least you can do. And it's important.

Those of us active in the Netroots and blogging (as well as the more traditional grassroots) need to make sure that we reward candidates who engage in responsible, progressive behavior. Endorsing the Responsible Plan is a great step in that direction. Florida now has seven challengers signed on to this plan (still the top state), and you should consider dropping them a few bucks if you can. It'll show them you appreciate their efforts and encourage others to do the same.

Which is why I'm posting this message. First, though, info for our other candidates who are on board:

Larry Byrnes

Alan Grayson

Joe Garcia

Faye Armitage

Timothy Cunha (website under construction, send contribution inquiries to timcunhaforcongress@gmail.com)

Clint Curtis

Now, on to the way we can increase this list. Here's what I envision...

Three times a week, I'm going to ask you to contact the challengers who aren't on board yet and remind you to reward those have already signed on. So, were talking about nothing more than three phone calls or e-mails a week (as a minimum). We can all do that, right? If not, you really shouldn't call yourself an activist. This is some of the easiest activism you can get involved in.

But it's still important. If everyone who comes across this message makes those three calls or sends three e-mails a week, then these candidates will get hundreds, if not thousands, of messages letting them know that the Responsible Plan is the right thing to do. If you've never worked on a campaign before, hundreds or thousands of messages repeating the same message definitely have an impact. Ask around.

So, here's how I'll do it. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, I'll put up the full list of who has and who hasn't endorsed the plan. Then I'll highlight one particular person from each list. I'll be asking you to call the person who hasn't endorsed it and ask them to do so (or send them an e-mail). And I'll be asking you to give a few dollars to the person who has endorsed it. That's it. So drop by the site three times a week and make a few phone calls and send a few e-mails and, most importantly, spare a few bucks. It's also fine for you to call/e-mail more than one candidate, particularly if the person is someone who represents you directly or someone you know personally. Tim Cunha and Samm Simpson endorsed the pledge because FPC members asked them, they looked at the plan and thought it was a good idea. It can be that simple. It can also be a bit harder, that's why we're asking for your help. We need to let the candidates know that Floridians have had enough of this war and enough of congressional inability to end the war.

Finally, there are a few of the challengers who we have very weak or nonexistent contact information for. If you have this info, please pass it on to us. Thanks. Here's the list of current challengers (who have filed, let me know if anyone is missing), who haven't endorsed the plan. You know what to do (The information below is all from public sources, if it isn't meant to be public, let me know and I'll take it down and replace it with the right info):

FL-1

James Bryan, 850-652-3350

Robert Peterman, 850-432-2213

FL-4

Jay McGovern ?

FL-5

Carol Castagnero, 863-687-8414, jscala00@yahoo.com

David Werder ?

FL-7

Clyde Malloy, 386-671-7433, rob@malloyforcongress.com or field@malloyforcongress.com

FL-8

Alexander Fry, 407-579-7800, afry@fryforcongress.com

Corbett Kroehler, 407-855-8574, TeamCorbett@CorbettForCongress.com or press@corbettforcongress.com

Michael Smith, 407-574-9296, vote@mikesmithforcongress.com

Quoc Van, 407-453-4380, vanforcongress@gmail.com

Charlie Stuart, 407-999-9899, Manager@CharlieStuartforCongress.com

FL-9

Bill Mitchell, 813-223-1959, mitchlaw@askmitch.net

FL-13

Christine Jennings, 941-366-8121, info@christinejennings2008.com

Michael LaFevers, 941-753-6781

Frank McAndrews, 732-995-4670

FL-14

Jason King, 239-633-8388

FL-15

Stephen Blythe, sblythe@cfl.rr.com

FL-18

Annette Taddeo, 305-661-6499, Web form: http://www.annette2008.com/index.php?submenu=Contact&src=forms&id=Contact%20Us

FL-21

Richard Allbritton, allrh@comcast.net

Raul Martinez, 305-823-8686, info@raul2008.com or raulmartinezjr@mac.com

FL-22

Paul Renneisen, 954-812-2674, info@Renneisen2008.com

FL-23

Ray Sanchez, 561-996-6722, support@raytorressanchez.com

FL-24

Garv Bhola, 407-459-1590, floridadistrict24@gmail.com

Ronald Bobay, 321-383-7955

Suzanne Kosmas, 386-427-0439, info@kosmasforcongress.com

A Responsible Plan

Florida Progressive Coalition hereby endorses the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

Generally, we try to focus on state and local issues but we decided to go outside that for once. Why? A number of reasons:

a. It's the right thing to do. The plan, while it might not be flawless, is a good one.

b. It isn't simply pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. It is a practical, progressive plan. It has a legitimate chance of success.

c. The plan wasn't created just by politicians. It was made with input from generals and foreign policy experts.

d. Floridians are highly interested in the issue, particularly progressive activists

e. The war is having a disproportionate impact on Floridians. The projected state share of each of the 50 states in terms of their residents who have died in the war should be 1.25% of the total. Floridians account for 4.2% of the total.

f. We want to encourage Congressional challengers to pursue strong policy proposals and to work together to improve America.

So what is the plan? What are the details? There are a lot of them. You'll need to go read the full plan, but here is the general idea:

a. End U.S. Military Action in Iraq (without leaving residual forces)

b. Use U.S. diplomatic power

c. Address humanitarian concerns

d. Restore our Constitution

e. Restore our military

f. Restore independence to the media

g. Create a new, U.S.-centered energy policy

This covers every aspect of the mess and how we got into it and the specific proposals aren't just wishful thinking, they are real, concrete and, most importantly, possible. We endorse this plan and we encourage you to do the same.

Iraq Press Conference

I never got my battery back until too late. I'll have some more analysis of this plan once I get back to Florida. I think this is something that we really want to push forward on.

(You can see this press conference live here and you can read the plan here)

5:40: The name of the new plan is A Responsible Plan to End the War In Iraq.

5:42: Speakers in this press conference include Tom Andrews, Darcy Burner, Jared Polis, Sam Bennett, Chellie Pingree, and Donna Edwards. Things are about to get started.



5:55: They had a few difficulties, but have now started. Andrews is the moderator.

5:57: Andrews: We need to elect a Congress that will stop this war. The survival of our nation is at stake. What do we do?



5:58: Darcy Burner (Washington-8) was the sparkplug behind this plan.

6:00: Burner: Ending the war is a bigger problem than just removing our troops from Iraq.

6:07: We have to restore the Constitution to fix this problem.

6:08: The plan addresses specific bills that will attempt to solve the problem. If we take the steps in this plan, we'll be able to make progress on all the other challenges we face.

6:10: It is going to take public pressure and political will to end the war. The candidates participating in this program, all have shown the courage to take up the challenge to end the war.

6:12: Donna Edwards of Maryland's 4th: The war may have disappeared off the front pages of the newspapers, but it hasn't disappeared from the minds of the voters or from the hearts of the families and men and women who have sacrificed for this war.

6:21: The full list of current endorsers of this plan is Darcy Burner, Washington; Dona Edwards, Maryland; Eric Massa, New York; Chellie Pingree, Maine; Tom Perriello, Virginia; Jared Polis, Colorado; George Fearing, Washington; Larry Byrnes, Florida; Steve Harrison, New York; and Sam Bennett, Pennsylvania.

6:22: My laptop is about to die and I don't have access to an outlet. I'll go offline for a while and will come back with more info later...


(The stuff below is from an earlier false start to the session. Not really a false start, I just came in too early and caught the tail end of an earlier session. The Burner et al. conference stuff is above).

5:21: It appears I got the wrong info, I'm here now and the press conference has already started.

5:21: On the stage are John Cavanagh, Darcy Burner, Camilo Mejia, Leslie Cagan, Tom Swan and Nita Chaudhary.

5:28: Darcy Burner: If you want more and better Democrats in Congress, you (the reader), need to get them there.

5:29: Maybe I'm not too early. It could be that this is the end of an earlier session.

5:32: Confirmed. This was the end of an older session. See, that's what I get for showing up early for something.

Iraq Policy Announcement Shortly

Please pass this far and wide.

Shortly several Congressional candidates are going to announce a new strategy for dealing with the Iraq War fiasco. Among those involved in the plan are Netroots candidate Darcy Burner, blogger Matt Stoller, and Florida 14 candidate Larry Byrnes (who appeared on yesterday's episode of Florida Progressive Radio, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fpc/2008/03/16/The-Big-Show).

The plan will appear at their new website once available (http://responsibleplan.com/).

I'll be liveblogging the announcement at Florida Speaks beginning at 5:30 p.m. (http://floridaspeaks.blogspot.com/)

TBA2008 -- Opening Plenary

10:45: Okay, I'm not even sure where to begin with this conference. I guess I could direct you to the agenda here. It's hard to figure out which of the many sessions and events to attend, but I'll try. The opening speech is being given by Robert Borosage of the Institute for America's future.



10:48: The conference is going to focus on Iraq, energy, health care and two other key issues.

10:50: The plan is to announce the launch of the largest effort in memory to register and educate voters.

10:55: The next speaker is Diane Archer of the Health Care for All Project. We rank 37th in the world in terms of health care and our health care insurance system is broken. A coalition of health care organizations is organizing Health Care of America Now in order to improve America's health care system and move toward a more fair and equitable health care system.



11:01: They back a program that backs a private-insurance system for those who like it, but also creates an expanded form of Medicare that is a public system for those who don't like the private system or can't afford it. This would drive $80 billion in annual savings on health care.

11:06: The next speaker is Van Jones of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Color of Change.org. If we do not have a WWII-level mobilization to change our energy infrastructure, then we might not have a future. We have to beat the polluters, push back against Big Coal and forge a new energy future.



11:10: The government is on the side of the problem-makers -- the polluters, those who oppose new energy -- and we need to get the government on the side of the problem-solvers.

11:11: The movement towards creating a positive and progressive energy movement in the U.S., it will create thousands of contracts and millions of jobs. We can beat global warming, decrease poverty and eliminate the need to ever have a war for oil again.

11:13: Martin Luther King Jr. was killed not because he stuck up for African-Americans, but because he linked issues like race, poverty, war and others in a way that endangered the power of entrenched interests.

11:16: We do not believe in sink-or-swim politics. We are all in this together.

11:17: We are becoming the people who offer solutions not problems. We can build a movement that can say we are strong enough and innovative enough not just to take America back, but to take it forward.

11:18: The next speaker is Donna Edwards, Democratic nominee for Maryland's Fourth Congressional District.



11:21: She lost to Al Wynn in 2006, but that loss was a win that served as a springboard to her victory this year. She says a loss can build the groundwork for future success. The victory was based on a movement that was a coming together of groups like MoveOn, DFA, PDA and others.

11:24: In 2008, the voters get it on the Iraq war, Congress needs to get it, too. We need to invest in peace and progress, not war.

11:28: The media needs to return to talking about the war and putting stories about the war and the soldiers who are dying there back on the front pages of the newspapers. We need to contact our newspapers and get them to cover the stories again.

11:29: Edwards is signed on with the plan to end the war proposed by Darcy Burner and others (including Floridian Larry Byrnes, who appeared on Florida Progressive Radio yesterday).

99 years, 10 months, 16 days

That's how many days we have left in Iraq if John McCain becomes president and implements his 100 years plan.

So Much for the Surge

Apparently, it's not working:

What the US has been calling the success of a “surge,” many Iraqis see as evidence of catastrophe. Where US forces point to peace and calm, local Iraqis find an eerie silence.

And when US forces speak of a reduction in violence, many Iraqis simply do not know what they are talking about.

Hundreds died in a series of explosions in Baghdad last month. This was despite the strongest ever security measures taken by the US military, riding the “surge” in security forces and their activities.

McCain Doesn't Support the Troops

Otherwise, he'd have done something to help this problem:

[American troops in Afghanistan] felt eclipsed by Iraq. As Sgt. Erick Gallardo put it: “We don’t get supplies, assets. We scrounge for everything and live a lot more rugged. But we know the war is here. We got unfinished business.”

Where was McCain when the troops needed him? How can they trust him in the future?