Let’s play some offense

[ProSense]

Let’s play some offense

by Chris Bowers

You have probably heard by now that Democrats are doomed--DOOOOMED!--in the upcoming midterm elections. Our best move is probably to surrender to our new tea party overlords, who might just show some mercy if we bow down low enough. In fact, if we kowtow today, maybe we will even get to keep a constitutional amendment or two!

To put it bluntly, f*ck that. Instead of cowering, we are going to attack.

We are going to make Republicans defend their Senate seat in Kentucky, where Orange to Blue candidate Jack Conway is competitive with tea party favorite Rand Paul. Today, Conway is holding a moneybomb, and Daily Kos is helping out by looking for 500 members of the community to contribute $10 to his campaign.

You can join in by contributing $10, and making the tea party play some defense for once.

We are better off on the attack. Every dollar we force Republicans to spend playing defense is a dollar they won’t be able to spend trying to defeat incumbent Democrats. Further, every tea party candidate we defeat is a blow to the media narrative that the far right is taking over. And if Conway can win this race, in Kentucky, in a tough year for Democrats, it'll send a message that voters want a government that works for them.

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Sen. Begich Tells TPM McAdams Can Beat Joe Miller: 'People Always Underestimate Alaska'

Christina Bellantoni

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) didn't need to be asked -- when it was clear Joe Miller would be the Republican Senate nominee, he picked up the phone and started raising money for Scott McAdams. While Democratic staffers are heading to Alaska, the national party hasn't paid McAdams much attention -- yet.

But Begich thinks McAdams has a chance to turn Alaska blue. "It's a huge opportunity," Begich told TPM in an interview.

When Begich jumped into the race to unseat a longtime senator in 2008, the line from national Democrats was, "Alaska? Good luck with that," Begich told TPM in an interview. In fact, all signs pointed to him losing on election night two years ago. "The establishment always says it's a state that can't be won, and when I lost election night we were written off," Begich said. But after all the votes were counted, Begich was the next senator from Alaska.

"People always underestimate Alaska," Begich said.

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[bluestateguy]

1. All I see is McAdams losing to Miller by 5-10 points

as opposed to McAdams losing to Murkowski by 20. In a first past the post system, that's all that really matters.

[Radical Activist]

2. Thanks for the good cheer.

Attitudes like that are sometimes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I'm glad Democrats are putting in effort in a race where we have a good shot at winning.

[babylonsister]

3. Not necessarily, especially if Miller's whackiness is advertised

widely. I'm not an Alaskan, but I'm sure there's a limit they will find acceptable, and this guy is over the top.

[ProSense]

4. I hope Begich is right. n/t