The following diaries are examples of this week's Election Diary Rescue. This post features a collection of 38 diaries.
(KY-Sen) Matt Bevin McConnell's Tea Party challenger joins rally to legalize Cockfighting in KY. by Lefty Coaster - In one of the more bizarre campaign tactical moves in recent memory, Matt Bevin (R) is teaming up with a fringe movement to legalize cockfighting in Kentucky.
(PA-13) PA-13: Bernie Sanders endorsed…2nd UPDATE: invite Bernie to Dem Primaries by emorej a Hong Kong - Bernie Sanders has endorsed Daylin Leach in the crowded Democratic primary in PA-13, which puts him at odds with the Clintons who support Marjorie Margolies, Chelsea's mother-in-law. ActBlue link for Daylin Leach inside the diary.
(NC-StSen) Confessions of a Precinct Chair, part 1 by cultjake - First part of diarist's planned series about his foray into Democratic politics. Current task is interviewing the six Dems who are seeking to take over for recently departed 49th District (Asheville) state senator Martin Nesbitt.
Don't Be April Fooled by Far-Right Activists Dressed Up as Democratic Candidates by jhutson - Diarist warns of Operation DINO, a Republican plan to have far-right activists run as Democrats to vote out progressives in the 2014 Democratic primaries and points out some races where they are running.
This is the 13th weekly edition of Election Diary Rescue. It covers rescued down-ticket election diaries published from Sunday 3/30/14 through Saturday 4/5/14. We hope you enjoy the following gems dug up by our dedicated team of miners.
Diaries: (38)
Senate: (6) posts (4) states
House: (7) posts (7) states (7) districts
State and more: (10)
General: (15)
EDR has compiled, described and linked
down ticket election related diaries since 2006.
EDR chronicles the passion, power and effectiveness of political engagement and shines a light on candidates and issues that might be otherwise missed. It gives quick access to races, hopefully inspires people to write about contests that interest them, and has become an archive for thousands of election related diaries over the years.
Archive links
Format and Tags
Diarists can help the EDR mining team by identifying the race in the diary title, for example: (FL-14) or (GA-Gov) or (NY-Sen). Using the "Elections" tag is also very helpful and keep in mind that your first sentence or two can be what you would like to see in the EDR description.
This edition of EDR was made possible by the following miners and editors: Alma, eeff, edrie, Joieau, Land of Enchantment, randallt, sylv, suejazz and turbonerd. Special thanks to Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse.
Senate - 6
(GA-Sen) GA-Sen: Jack Kingston (R) Touts Fake Phone Call From Obama In New Ad by poopdogcomedy - See the new ad for Jack Kingston here, putting words into a fake Obama's mouth to make himself look important in a crowded Republican primary field. Disgusting.
(HI-Sen) HI-Sen: President Obama & Harry Reid Endorse Brian Schatz (D) Over Colleen Hanabusa (D) by poopdogcomedy - Senator Brian Schatz has picked up a couple of big endorsements in the Democratic primary against Colleen Hanabusa. Link to the Brian Schatz for Senate website among other links in the diary.
(KY-Sen) Matt Bevin McConnell's Tea Party challenger joins rally to legalize Cockfighting in KY. by Lefty Coaster - In one of the more bizarre campaign tactical moves in recent memory, Matt Bevin (R) is teaming up with a fringe movement to legalize cockfighting in Kentucky.
(ME-Sen) ME-Sen: Collins can't win News Cycle on March 31 fundraising totals - what can Collins' $3M buy? by emorej a Hong Kong - Diarist has an intersting look at the disparity of fundraising between Susan Collins (R) and her Democratic challenger, Shenna Bellows (D). Bellows has raised more money in the second quarter. Does this give us hope that Maine is finally coming to it’s collective senses?
(ME-Sen) Don't We Want Another Elizabeth Warren in the Senate? by Bethesda 1971 - Diarist has become a strong supporter of Shenna Bellows (D, Progressive) in the Maine Senate race against 'moderate' Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
(ME-Sen) Watching Collins: Keeping Maine's Senior Senator accountable by slakn1 - Collins Watch blog is a great resource for pointing out the hypocrisy of Senator Susan Collins, and pointing out why many call her anything but moderate. Diarist offers examples of why Shenna Bellows (D) would be a much better Senator.
House - 6
(AZ-01) Sometimes More Democrats Beats the Alternative by ramara - Diarist offers a letter from her representative Ann Kirkpatric, a 'conservative democrat' who nonetheless recognizes the economic issues of her district.
(FL-19) In FL CD-19, Paige Kreegel's First TV Ad Is Textbook Hypocrisy?detail=hide by saintpetersblog. The race to replace Republican Trey Radel is on. If you don't recall, Radel resigned at the end of January, following conviction for possession of cocaine. The diarist deconstructs a Republican candidate's ad for the upcoming special primary to replace Radel.
(HI-01) Hawai'i House Race: Stanley Chang by Karen from Maui - As Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) is quitting her House seat to challenge the sitting Democratic senator, she leaves behind a race in shambles. Of the three front-runners only one has stated he plans on joining the Progressive Caucus if elected. Stanley Chang has been endorsed by Act Blue. Issue positions and donation link inside the diary.
(PA-13) PA-13: Bernie Sanders endorsed…2nd UPDATE: invite Bernie to Dem Primaries by emorej a Hong Kong - Bernie Sanders has endorsed Daylin Leach in the crowded Democratic primary in PA-13, which puts him at odds with the Clintons who support Marjorie Margolies, Chelsea's mother-in-law. ActBlue link for Daylin Leach inside the diary.
(TN-06) TN-06: See Amos Powers -Democratic Challenger to Rep. Diane Black- At Dem Candidate Forum April 12 by BoxMachine - Democrat Amos Powers is campaigning against Rep. Diane Black in a deep red district.
(VA-10) We Are About to Lose VA-10 - Again! by TheOtherMaven - Just when Virginia's 10th Congressional District finally opens up due to the impending retirement of Frank Wolf, Democrats are about to piss away the opportunity. Diarist explains why.
(WI-06)WI-06: Glenn Grothman could be the next Michele Bachmann by Christian Dem in NC - Tom Petri (R) has held the district since 1979, but faces his stiffest primary challenge yet from state senator Glenn Grothman, one of the craziest state legislators in the nation. It's a swing district where a Democrat could play up the fact that Grothman doesn't even live in the district
State, local and more - 10
(FL-Gov) 100s of Patients Physically & Sexually Abused. Facility Owner? Hosting Rick Scott's Fundraiser by SemDem - Birds of a feather. Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has a fundraising buddy, Mel Sembler, founder of an abusive drug intervention scam so notorious it was shut down. So now he runs "Drug Free America Foundation" in St. Petersburg.
(FL-Gov) Gov. Charlie Crist (D) hammers Gov. Rick Scott (R) for failing to get Floridians Medicaid expansion by HoundDog - Crist is hammering the theme of the harm Scott has done to the state for purely ideological reasons.
(HI-Maui Ballot Initiative) Maui gets enough signatures for GMO moratorium to go on ballot by Karen from Maui - Maui Initiative signature collectors counted up the notarized petitions and announced that they had gathered the necessary 8,500 signatures to support the ballot initiative for a temporary moratorium on GMO growing until a study is done showing they are safe. Signatures have not yet been verified and petitioning continues.
(MN-Gen) Minnesota Elections 2014: Part I by OGGoldy - Reprise of Diarist's 2012 series, analysis and predictions on various Minnesota offices up for election this year.
(NC-StSen) Confessions of a Precinct Chair, part 1 by cultjake - First part of diarist's planned series about his foray into Democratic politics. Current task is interviewing the six Dems who are seeking to take over for recently departed 49th District (Asheville) state senator Martin Nesbitt.
(OR-Gov) 'Same-sex Marriage is a Sin like Murder' says Oregon Republican Candidate for Governor by keepemhonest - In a four-minute interview with the Oregonian, Republican candidate for governor Lorraine Mae Rafferty compared same-sex marriage with murder.
(OR-Gen) Oregon Political Geography: The Coast by James Allen - Diarist takes a look at the demographics, economy and politics of Oregon's coastal districts and links those to Democratic chances in the 2014 elections.
(TX-Gov) TX-Gov: Abbot's Policy Director An Admitted Criminal by alaprst - When will even the reddest of Republicans acknowledge what has become very obvious - Gregg Abbott (R) lacks the judgment needed for any public office, even the one he now holds. Wendy Davis (D) would be a refreshing change.
(TX-Gov) TX-Gov: Greg Abbott (R) Cites Charles "Women And Minorities Are Inferior" Murray In Education Plan by poopdogcomedy - Texas gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott (R) bases his education plan on Charles Murray's 2008 book "Real Education." The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies Murray as a white nationalist.
(WI-StAs) 11 Seats to Flip: Taking Back the Wisconsin State Assembly by BlueSasha – There are 39 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly and in order to take it back, we would need to pick up 11 Seats. The diarist profiles the 11 most likely seats to flip in 2014 with colorful charts, analysis and a poll.
General - 15
The Law of Politics: Primaries in the U.S. by The Tuxedo Cat - Informative primer on the US primary system and types of primaries.
what will make me donate by anna shane - Diarist lays out the details.
Ohlemacher explains how Republican's "REDMAP" strategy is giving them advantage in House elections by HoundDog - Diarist excerpts and links to Stephen Ohlemacher's explanation of how the GOP has a built-in advantage in the fight for the House and concluding that we need a more compelling vision for our ground troops for the 2014 election than "let's keep the slaughter to a minimum."
Two states covered, Is yours?: The First Fifty by Horace Boothroyd III - Diarist is looking for fifty Kossacks who can commit to reporting on election activities in their state until election day.
Training Day: The First Fifty by Horace Boothroyd III - Another installment in diarist's plan to enlist Kossack coverage of local and state races. This one on the ethics of journalism.
How can politicians make Obamacare the winning message; It's in the polls by Egberto Willies - Because there is a real need for affordable healthcare, Americans know there is a problem. They do not know if Obamacare is the answer. They know what Republicans are offering is more of the status quo that does not help them. The polls show that given those options they are inclined to stay with Obamacare for the time being. The message is simple, vote for those opposing Obamacare and you risk bankruptcy, financial insecurity, or death.
Obama puts 2014 in perspective by Jed Lewison - Obama's got this. No, really. POTUS speaks boldly on the issues and the obstruction of Republicans in Congress to getting things done, with a clear message that should help Democratic candidates across the board.
These charts show you where we've moved the needle left in the Senate and House by David Jarman – Through a careful analysis based on the DW-nominate system we learn that in the decade since the netroots became a viable force, we have gotten more and better Democrats in the Senate. The House is more of a mixed picture.
Daily Kos could hold the balance of the Senate in our orange cheeto-stained fingers. by slakn1 - While the Koch traitors have armed their minions and are massing for a frontal assault, the Democrats are still fumbling around trying to get their forces in order. There is a great slate of Progressives running for Congress this cycle and the PCCC and Elizabeth Warren are helping to give them the ammunition they need. Click on the link in the diary, whip out your credit card, and CHARGE!
Don't Be April Fooled by Far-Right Activists Dressed Up as Democratic Candidates by jhutson - Diarist warns of Operation DINO, a Republican plan to have far-right activists run as Democrats to vote out progressives in the 2014 Democratic primaries and points out some races where they are running.
Now the Campaign Begins by JCWPolitics - The 2014 elections couldn't really begin until today, until ObamaCare started. It has. ObamaCare is now a fact as well as a theory and because of this the lies will fall away, and the obstruction will be so clear that the GOP will suffer for it. Today is the beginning of the end of the GOP.
Walker emails reveal how ALEC Tea Party Republicans win primaries and beat Democrats by certainot - The Gov. Walker emails provide numerous examples of how Walker and his staff used Wisconsin talk radio to get into the Governor's mansion. Republican politicians and ALEC/GOP think tanks feed and manage hundreds of radio talkers nationally, selling ALEC legislation and obstructing progressive legislation at little cost.
The Republican Party's war on representative government by Laurence Lewis. Reviews the many various ways Republicans in many states are moving to restrict voting.
Electing Better Democrats - A Crowdsourced Progressive Ticket by pierre9045 - Diarist presents good arguments for a crowdsourced progressive ticket for this year's primary and general elections nationwide.
Dkos Prioritize Primaries to Promote Progressive Policies? by emorej a Hong Kong - Attitudes towards primary candidates and getting out the vote are now the most urgent aspect of the 2014 election cycle, because there is so little time left before they begin. Diarist asks how Dkos can play a pivotal role.