Popular Ohio Democrat(Paul Hackett) pulls out of race....-NYT

[Tiggeroshii]

Popular Ohio Democrat Drops Out of Race, and Perhaps Politics

Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders.

Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/politics/14ohio.html

[Mythsaje]

1. No, say it isn't so!

Have I mentioned that I hate the NYT and won't register to read their crap?

[slestak]

you don't have to register...

www.bugmenot.com

[SammyBlue]

99. There's nothing on his website, as yet!

Maybe this is the NYT blowing its load.

[mcscajun]

233. Would that it weren't true... but Paul Hackett sent out this e-mail

earlier today (emphasis mine):

To my friends and supporters:

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Today I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the race for United States Senate. I made this decision reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders, as well as behind the scenes machinations, that were intended to hurt my campaign.

But there was no quid pro quo. I will not be running in the Second Congressional District nor for any other elective office. This decision is final, and not subject to reconsideration.

I told the voters from the beginning that I am not a career politician and never aspired to be--that I was about leadership, service and commitment.

Similarly, I told party officials that I had given my word to other good Democrats, who will take the fight to the Second District, that I would not run. In reliance on my word they entered the race. I said it. I meant it. I stand by it. At the end of the day, my word is my bond and I will take it to my grave.

Thus ends my 11 month political career. Although it is an overused political cliché, I really will be spending more time with my family, something I wasn't able to do because my service to country in the political realm continued after my return from Iraq. Perhaps my wonderful wife Suzi said it best after we made this decision when she said "Honey, welcome home." I really did marry up.

To my friends and supporters, I pledge that I will continue to fight and to speak out on the issues I believe in. As long as I have the microphone, I will serve as your voice.

It is with my deepest respect and humility that I thank each and every one of you for the support you extended to our campaign to take back America, and personally to me and my family. Together we made a difference. We changed the debate on the Iraq War, we inspired countless veterans to continue their service by running for office as Democrats and we made people believe again. We must continue to believe.

Remember, we must retool our party. We must do more than simply aspire to deliver greatness; we must have the commitment and will to fight for what is great about our party and our country; Peace, prosperity and the freedoms that define our democracy.

Rock on.

Paul Hackett

[CAcyclist]

260. The Democratic Party is afraid of the grassroots

The in-crowd at the top are afraid of trusting those of us on the ground.

They derailed Tom Ammiano's bid for mayor for SF against Willy Brown, too. I left the Democratic party partly over that but then came back when the Green Party candidate split the progressive vote in the next mayor's race and allowed the most conservative candidate, Gavin Newsom, to win the mayor's race, when otherwise Tom Ammiano was poised to win. Thus, I learned third parties aren't necessarily better.

Tom Ammiano is a true progressive Democrat and truly independent of the power elite in the party. Paul Hackett may have positions I disagree with, but he reminds me of Tom - truly committed from a desire to better society and fix our problems and not at all lured by power or prestige or the chance of a lucrative lobbying job afterwards.

I hope Sherrod Brown wins, but I will not give one thin dime to his candidacy and he will leave a sour taste in my mouth forever. I am also considering thinning my subscriptions because I am not at all pleased that In These Times and the Nation supported Brown and ignored Hackett's work. If it hadn't been for Hackett, Brown wouldn't even be running - I see Brown as a spineless opportunist.

[Massacure]

2. What the fuck?

It's Valentines Day dear, not April Fools.

[Tiggeroshii]

4. He won the support of the UAW and has far more sponsors than Brown

....And he pulls out. I really hate the Democrats for this.

[WCGreen]

98. Try again....

Brown has the support of almost all the party leaders here in Ohio....

The UAW has gone maverick lately...

All the other Unions reckognize Brown's long time and continued dedication to Labor Issues...

[Tiggeroshii]

103. UAW's the biggest.

That's gotta account for something... not to mention Hackett probably had a heckuva lot of money from his last campaign saved up.

[The Backlash Cometh]

172. Well, if Brown doesn't win, Reid has to go.

If the Democrats lose one of their most promising newcomers because they miscalcuated Brown's chances, then that's a miscalculation that reflects on the leadership of the Democratic party.

[sui generis]

206. Personally, I preferred Hackett's message.

I think Brown supporters are discounting something very vital here when you discount Hackett's supporters.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Oh, God, what a disaster.

"This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me," said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.

"For me, this is a second betrayal," Mr. Hackett said. "First, my government misused and mismanaged the military in Iraq, and now my own party is afraid to support candidates like me."

-snip-
Mr. Hackett said he was unwilling to run for the Congressional seat because he had given his word to three Democratic candidates that he would not enter that race.

"The party keeps saying for me not to worry about those promises because in politics they are broken all the time," said Mr. Hackett, who plans to return to his practice as a lawyer in the Cincinnati area. "I don't work that way. My word is my bond."

[WCGreen]

100. Well, I think a disaster was avoided....

And since I live in Ohio....

I think it is all for the better....

[Pirate Smile]

122. I tried to edit my comment but it was too late. I meant a PR disaster

from the way it sounds in the article.

I don't think anyone comes off well.

I hoped this would actually happen:

Hackett's Move In OH

Great news for Dems in OH; if Paul Hackett sticks to his plan, the party has killed two problems with one deft withdrawal.

Vet Hackett (D) opts to run against Rep. Jean Schmidt (R), the freshman he nearly beat -- and Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) can concentrate on building a case against Sen. Mike DeWine.

We're told that Hackett plans an official announcement tomorrow, unless he changes his mind.

Make no mistake: Hackett's chances of defeating Schmidt are at least fifty-fifty, and Dems have credibly expanded the field of competitive races by one. (Can Dems clear the primary in OH-2?) Hackett's re-re-recruitement is the second major success for the DCCC in recent days: they just recruited ex-Rep. Ken Lucas to challenge Rep. Geoff Davis in KY-4.

AS Chris Cillizza notes, the filing deadline is Thursday, 4 p.m.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/02...

:(

It is too bad. That would have been sweet.

[debbierlus]

223. OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED ON HIS WEB-SITE

http://www.hackettforcongress.com/

I am calling Schumer and Reid's office and tell them what I think about this...

Everybody else do the same!

Reid needs to step down. He is incompetent.

[rexcat]

329. The only disaster avoided was...

for the repukes since DeWine will probably win. I hope I'm wrong! If DeWine wins we can kiss the Democrats goodbye in Ohio.

[harpboy_ak]

158. Maybe it IS time for a third party!

One that won't betry good folks like Hackett. I'm rapidly reaching the opinion that we should throw ALL incumbents in the House and Senate out of office, regardless of party. They've all been co-opted by the damned lobbyists and talking heads!

[Name removed]

171. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bassic]

169. Sadly it seems honest people

have no place in politics.

[adarling]

5. OKay now i am fucking pissed

i am so sick of the dems in washington i could scream!!!! why are they doing this and why is he even listening to them.

[Tiggeroshii]

Well as much as we like to think highly of them

... they are capable of poltiical and personal ruin as a party when they really want it.

[Mythsaje]

10. With all the popular support he's gotten

he could've told them all to get stuffed...

[adarling]

11. exactly, we just lost one of our strongest contenders

and now he is pulling out of politics completely. This is the day the democratic party will die. It will never change, they always push the new guys out.

[fjc]

328. Maybe, just maybe

they wanted to pick up both a Senate "and" and House seat. Sounds to me like the right thing to attempt. I don't understand why Hackett didn't want to repeat his run for Congress. And please, ending a brief political career over this is nothing but a hissy fit. Perhaps the guy doesn't have the goods for politics. Geez. Get a thick skin, Hackett. You're gonna need it.

[boobooday]

6. What? An act of betrayal

This totally sucks.

[SnoopDog]

7. Right... Mr. Hackett might vote Democratically...

Can't have that.

Bet he was threaten.

[femrap]

82. Oh PLEEEEZ.....all of you Hackett lovers.....

I am so glad he dropped out of the Senate race. I live in Ohio....have any of you looked at Sherrod's voting record?

He is a true DEMOCRAT.

For all we know, Hackett is a pug plant...a divide and conqueror....(look what he is doing RIGHT NOW)!!!!!

He was a registered REPUBLICAN...until a few years ago.

I live in the Cincy area...heard him speak up close and personal....all ego and no heart.

So go ahead and pout and moan and rant.....

while I enjoy a big sigh of relief.

www.gabydowneyforcongress.com

[SnoopDog]

83. Strange..of all 'Hackett lovers' posts....

You pick my post....

Must have hit a nerve...

[femrap]

109. Actually I have responded to a few of the 'lovers.' But maybe

there was something about the snoop dog thing....I think humans give dogs a bad name.

[SnoopDog]

114. and many humans ....

give humans a bad name.

And thanks very much for criticizing my screen name - it actually is the name of my Sun Concur - which is a bird....who speaks 'woof-woof'.

[IndianaGreen]

92. So you support undemocratic Fascist tactics?

You prefer the Democrats in Washington DC to choose for you rather than trust the Democrats of Ohio to exercise their right to vote in the primary.

How is this different from the GOP?

[femrap]

107. I live in Ohio...you don't. Check out Sherrod's record and then we'll

chat. I don't tell people from the 'oh so progressive state of Indiana' how to vote w/o doing my research.

I have been for Sherrod all along....I didn't like Hackett when he ran in the 2nd...sure he was better than Mean Jean...but he was a registered republican a few years back...a Reagan man.

He's a 'divide and conquer' plant/mole from the pugs....did that ever cross your mind?

[IndianaGreen]

113. That's the point, isn't it? You won't get to vote!

Instead you chose to bend over at the whim of a couple of political hacks on Capitol Hill.

I think the Democrats in Ohio should have made that choice between Brown or Hackett, not two Bush enablers in the US Senate.

[femrap]

244. Hackett stepped down....didn't he? He could have kept in the race.

I have had misgivings about Hackett from the first time I heard him speak at the Democratic Primary Forum for the Special Election of '05 at the Union Hall in Cincinnati.

His persona was one of total entitlement, superiority, and chauvinism. He told me how I was to think...how to feel. Excuse me, but I would like a candidate to LISTEN to the constituents' concerns. And he was 100% warrior. He enjoyed kicking in people's doors in Fallujah...I'm sorry....this macho, 'I know better than you' attitude of his really turned me off.

Some people like that...some swoon over the mighty warrior. I didn't.

But I went to another meeting where he spoke...because I wanted to verify my first impression. Again...all huff and puff but no discussion about what he would do to SERVE Ohioans. His ego was mammoth in size....he was the little prince and we were there to kiss his ring and be happy that he was going to save us from ourselves. Very condescending....and no specifics on the ISSUES.

And he has continued to be non-specific about the ISSUES....he claimed 12 days ago at a Democratic Forum in Columbus that since 'I have only been in this new political career for 10 months....' that I haven't developed a stance on that.

I loved it when he called w. a 'Chickenhawk.' But that's about all he did was huff and puff....

[daveskilt]

282. I just read browns record

I got no chicken in this race, but I think femrap is right. brown is a good candidate and hackett never seemed senate ready to me - huge ego. If the guy would take out schmidt in the house THAT would be impressive. His infantile tirade in his letter - not impressive. I like Hackett but this is not cool on his part.

[Aaaargh]

116. Sherrod will join Rob Burch, Lee Fisher, Tim Hagen, Eric Fingerhut,

in defeat here in Ohio, ESPECIALLY with this disaster as an albatross around his neck.

Sherrod Brown fits the pattern of bland insider Dem picks who've gotten nowhere in general elections in this state in recent years, in part because they never have a competitive amount of money to run on, and because the Ohio-based news media simply ignores them. Hackett would have gotten national attention because of his earlier race, and the subsequent bad publicity his opponent earned for herself.

So Hackett might be a "pug plant" because he's complaining about Dem insiders endeavoring to use their influence to undermine his fundraising? So why not judge Reid, Schumer and Emmanuel to be "pug plants" for creating this situation? It was entirely predictable that the publicity fallout from these corrupt maneuvers would hurt Democrats, whatever Hackett said about it, especially in Ohio, but perhaps all across the country.

Hackett was a registered Republican? He doesn't sound like one now -- but the 'former' Republicans who serve in key positions in the DLC, who are allied with the warmongering scum who've engineered Hackett's forced pullout, don't sound terribly different than they did before they turned their coats. In fact, all these DLCers sound alike, former or future or wannabe Republicans or whatever the hell they are. A plain-talking outsider, on the other hand, can sound quite a bit like a traditional Democrat, who's aimed at serving the people's interests rather than those of corporations and well-greased lobbying organizations.

Sherrod Brown is not a DLCer, and he does have a good record. So did Hagen, Fisher, Fingerhut, and other Ohio Dems who form the dismal pattern of defeats we've suffered for too-many years. Some of us were hoping to break that pattern. Silly us, huh?

Since you choose to childishly taunt people here at this juncture, who presumed to support a different candidate than you, may you enjoy your "sighs of relief" up until November, when mean ol' Mr. Reality intrudes -- again.

BTW, I've NEVER known anybody from Cincinnati who used the phrase "the Cincy area," but maybe that's just the lowlife crowd I hang out with.

[IndianaGreen]

120. And the heavy-handed tactics will hurt Sherrod Brown, unfairly

because Brown is not responsible for the morons we have in the Senate, scum like Schumer and Reid, who are tougher on Democrats than they are on Bush.

[Pachamama]

149. What's a "True" Democrat?

Just wondering....because I don't know what that is.....:shrug:

PS: I have to say that where I disagree on your theory about Hackett vs. Brown....While Hackett may have previously been a registered Republican (hey, so was I at one time) that actually may have played in his favor to actually WINNING and BEATING Mike Dewine! Why? Because moderate Republicans who are disgusted with the direction of Ohio and the country under the GOP leadership and Mike Dewine as their Senator would actually consider voting for Paul Hackett, a Veteran and straight shooter. Sherrod Brown may in yours and the Dem Party bleed blue as a "True Democrat" but for many Ohio GOP'ers who are moderate, Sherrod Brown is too "librul" and they will not vote for him.

That, right there is why Sherrod Brown will not un-seat Dewine....

So, no big sigh of relief from me....no, from me its a big groan of disgust....

[Epiphany4z]

162. I agree

I am not so sure this is good news. Hacket polled very well in the southern ohio. The article doesn't make Dems sound so good putting pressure on a guy to step down. Sounds like more of the same ol shit .

I hope this isn't a mistake but it just doesn't feel so good to me.

[Doremus]

315. Absolutely right.

I too am an Ohioan and SICK TO DEATH of the mealy-mouthed, limp noodle Dems who, while well-intentioned, simply do not grasp that politics in this state requires straight talk and strong action.

You'd think they -might- get that message after 20 LONG YEARS of repig rule, but apparently not. Hackett made national headlines again just a couple of weeks ago -- anyone heard anything about nice Sherrod lately? No? Well, get used to it.

And get used to 6 more years of DeWine, because that's who's going to win. Mark my words.

The DLC just ruined our best chance to turn this state around in Nov.

And I am pissed.

[proud_Kucitizen]

155. I Agree

I live in Ohio too and I definitely believe as far as progressive values go Sherrod Brown is a far better candidate.

I have heard Hacket speak and he won't confront any issue besides Iraq and I think he is not even for an immediate withdrawal.

Those of you who haven't been getting information or keeping up on these particular candidates like Ohioans really shouldn't be jumping to these rediculous conclusions.

[IndianaGreen]

182. You are missing the point, it should have been up to the voters

in the Ohio Democratic primary to decide between Brown and Hackett, not two political hacks in Washington DC, none of them from Ohio.

What Reid and Schumer are saying is that the opinion of Ohians don't matter at all, and what the Democratic establishment is saying is that they don't trust the Democrats of Ohio to choose their nominee.

I'll say that all of you just got crapped on by the Democratic establishment. That warm fuzzy feeling some of you are getting is nothing more than warm shit recently excreted.

[Pryderi]

198. You didn't hear Hackett support gay rights?

"Asked to define being pro-gay rights, Hackett said anybody who tries to deny homosexuals the same rights, including marriage, as every other citizen is un-American. Are you saying, he was asked, that the 62 percent of Ohioans who voted in November 2004 to constitutionally deny same-sex marriages are un-American?

"If what they believe is that we're going to have a scale on judging which Americans have equal rights, yeah, that's un-American. They've got to accept that. It's absolutely un-American." Columbus Dispatch (01/15/06)

It wasn't long until the Republican attack machine came after me demanding an apology. They called what I said "hate speech." The Republican Party was up to its old tricks again, using fear to silence opposition. They expected me to back down like too many Democrats have in the past.

My response?

I said it. I meant it. I stand behind it. Equal justice under the law for all regardless of who they are and how they were born is fundamental to our American spirit and our American freedoms. Any person or group that argues that the law should not apply equally to all Americans is, frankly, un-American.

[IndianaGreen]

201. You won't hear Reid support gay rights either!

Or Hillary!

[Pryderi]

213. Yeah. Hackett is the true progressive, not Brown.

[IndianaGreen]

217. No, Brown is the progressive, but that is not the issue here!

The issue is that you are letting people like Emmanuel, Schumer, and Reid choose for you, rather than the primary voters in Ohio.

Let's see how you feel when the same cast of characters ram Hillary up your ass in 2008!

[Pryderi]

219. True. The voters should choose, not party bosses.

[rayofreason]

243. ...Hillary up your ass in 2008!

But will she enjoy the view?

Jokes aside, your are spot on about choice in Primaries. I can understand some quiet strategising to try to put the best slate together and communicating that to potential candidates, but once someone is dead set on a run for office it is really beond the pale to sandbag the individual and force a pullout. A winner take all system always evolves to a 2-party structure, in which case it is even more important that the process by which ideas (and the candidates representing those ideas) are selected to bear the party standard be as open as possible and not controlled by small clique.

I believe that this is in essence what happened to Dean. He was to "upsetting" to the party leadership, who thought that they should be in charge, as opposed to folks who wanted to do the early grassroots works and get out the vote. So they undermined Dean, who was more repesentative of the base than Kerry was.

[liberal N proud]

164. Thank you

Now it is time we figure out how we are going to beat Dewine and Blackwell.
Strickland is also the only Democrat running for Governor as Fingerhut dropped out as well.

In the May primary, everyone should vote in the repuke primary. Yes I said vote in the repuke primary. and make sure you vote against Blackwell.

[CTyankee]

175. Yes, I was thinking that

if he is so thin skinned as to quit entirely over this, when he had such a good chance of beating Schmidt, he might not be able to withstand the heat of Washington. I like fresh faces, but a fresh face isn't enough. It seems to me that his ego got the best of him. It blinded him to the possibility of winning a seat in the House and making a difference. Instead, he seemed to say "My way or the highway." Too many do that as it is.

[IndianaGreen]

183. Excuse, people like Schumer were calling his donors behind his back

The Beltway Democrats were trying to spook his contributors from donating money to his campaign. This is not an issue of thin skin, it is an issue of backstabbing. Your anger should be directed at scumbags like Reid and Schumer and their political corruption.

[CTyankee]

196. No, I don't like it

but I think I would have preferred for Hackett to fight back a little longer. Call their bluff. Return their fire with your own. Call your donors and get them mad at Schumer and Reid. There are a number of things he could have done. And, sadly, that's what it takes to go into politics.

I don't like it either. But look, maybe this is his way of saying "I hate politics and can't deal with it." And that's OK too.

[whododayis]

266. chucky always seems so self serving, and for good reason

[9119495]

184. I think bush could make anyone become a Democrat

I'm sorry, but please don't hold Hackett's late conversion against him. There are others on this board who became Democrats late in life and they can be just as valuable as you or I.

While Brown is a true democrat, Ohio is not a true Democratic state...I mean they elected Jean Schmidt out of one of their fuckin' districts! Thus, Brown better win. If he does, all is well. If not, we don't stand a chance as a party.

[femrap]

241. Since Ohio has never really had a Clean Election of late, who knows

what Ohio voters are....really.

So now I am supposed to forgo my support of a man who has been a great Democratic Congressman and kiss the asses of these people who have finally realized that the republican party has turned into a neocon fascist party? If those who supported Hackett stay home from the polls or go back to DeWine....then the Pug Strategy worked! 'Divide and Conquer.'

Either Hackett was a pug plant, his ego is just too big, or he's just a whiney little brat who didn't get his entitled little way during his '11-month political career.'

[IndianaGreen]

242. The people that sabotaged Hackett are trying to save Lieberman

by sabotaging any primary challenger:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2458941#2459069

[OhioBlue]

283. I think your hateful comments

do a lot more to divide and conquer than Paul Hackett being asked and agreeing to run for the Senate seat.

[femrap]

301. Sometimes the truth hurts....but I wouldn't call my comments 'hateful.'

I didn't trust Hackett...Brown has a great Progressive voting record. 100% rating from NARAL...and that's very important to me.

[Doremus]

316. No one disputes Brown's record. It's his electibility that's questionable.

It doesn't matter WHAT his voting record is if he isn't elected. Don't get me wrong, I have no beefs with Sherrod, but we need a winner here, not a polite also-ran.

When's the last time he got national press? When's the last time he got any media attention? The guy is nice, but can he meet the evil empire on its own turf and confront it? Can you envision him saying "I said it. I meant it. I stand behind it." ? Or can you more easily picture him saying "On second consideration, I shouldn't have reacted with such stern language.... blah blah blah..." like most Demos are prone to do?

This campaign is going to require strong words and action. Straight talk with no equivocation.

Is Sherrod capable of that? I don't see it.

BTW, I live in Ohio.

[femrap]

318. Well...please.....if you want to be on the winning side....be

a pug....go ahead vote for Dewine....he won before...betcha he can win again. Fuck women's rights. Fuck anti-war efforts....those kind of issues can't get elected cuz Ohioans are a bunch of bubba nascar idiots.

Get me the fuck out of this piss hole state. No wonder Ohio is losing its population.

[Doremus]

319. Excuse me, I'm a pug for disagreeing? Isn't that what pugs do --

call anyone who disagrees with them names?

Fuck women's rights, and anti-war issues? Where are you pulling this stuff from? Certainly not from Hackett's positions on anything.

Look, we get it. We know you like Sherrod and his illustrious voting record. What you fail to 'get' is that all of his progressive positions are 100% USELESS if the man can't win the office.

Ohio needs a winner, a straight talker, a strong man of action.

Is that Sherrod?

I don't see it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. More:

"This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me," said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.

"For me, this is a second betrayal," Mr. Hackett said. "First, my government misused and mismanaged the military in Iraq, and now my own party is afraid to support candidates like me."

Mr. Hackett was the first Iraq war veteran to seek national office, and the decision to steer him away from the Senate race has surprised those who see him as a symbol for Democrats who oppose the war but want to appear strong on national security.

"Alienating Hackett is not just a bad idea for the party, but it also sends a chill through the rest of the 56 or so veterans that we've worked to run for Congress," said Mike Lyon, executive director for the Band of Brothers, a group dedicated to electing Democratic veterans to national office. "Now is a time for Democrats to be courting, not blocking, veterans who want to run."


Amazing! Screwed by our own party. Again. :puke:

[wordpix]

199. bad move on the part of Dem "leaders": should have presented options

and let Hackett make own decision.

Very, very bad

[Le Taz Hot]

204. Calling donors, and asking them to stop giving

now THAT sounds like their usual tactics. It sickens me to say it but had he not dropped out (and I feel for the voters in Ohio who were never even given a chance to vote -- welcome to the world of Californians) they would have started the dirty tricks tactics. (Any questions? See what they did to Dean.)

And people wonder why I re-registered as Decline to State. I say a pox on BOTH parties.

[neuvocat]

9. ...

I have a hard time believing this one.

[Tiggeroshii]

13. Don't you?

The headline was "Popular Ohio Democrat pulls out of race"

I thought, "oh, just some lousy shmuck in a state senate race or something; i practically had a heart attack when i saw the first sentence.

[Kagemusha]

15. I don't.

I've been expecting this day since a month before Hackett announced.

[Kelvin Mace]

17. I don't.

Fucking typical of the Vichy Democratic leadership. They can't stand to have people they don't control.

They play hardball with everybody but the damned GOP.

[IndianaGreen]

41. "They can't stand to have people they don't control."

Fucking typical of the Vichy Democratic leadership. They can't stand to have people they don't control.

They play hardball with everybody but the damned GOP.

Damn, Kelvin Mace! In three short sentences you have captured perfectly what is wrong with the Democratic Party.

[Kelvin Mace]

290. Thanks, I just wish it weren't true

I have been asked at least five times in the last year whether I would like to run in various races. This is one of the reasons I won't.

[Blue_Tires]

73. spot on

they cast out one of the precious few with the 'it' appeal and a real buzz factor...this race was his for the taking, and he could have been one of the party's fast-rising stars

[leftchick]

157. And that my friend is the democtactic party

and it sucks.

[Terry_M]

30. Hard time believing

that politicians are doing politics as usual? =/

[qanda]

12. This is very sad

[bliss_eternal]

58. I agree.

:cry:

He's a good man.

[stevietheman]

14. November headline: "DeWine wins re-election." n/t

n/t

[Tiggeroshii]

16. ya

You know that bottle of hope I had sitting in a bottle next to my desk for the last several months? It spilled, and stained everything. Looks real crappy now...

[femrap]

86. You live in Ohio?

This hell hole of a mess that everyone but us has a say about?

Hackett is Mr. Divide and Conquer. He was a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

Please stop being naive.

Look at Sherrod's voting record in Congress....no one is more of a true UNRECONSTRUCTED DEM.

I have seen and talked with Hackett up close and personal....he is NO DEM...maybe a libertarian...but that's as far as it goes.

I never want to listen to another 'dem' tell me that I have to get on the right side of the gun issues and accept hunting of squirrels, deer, rabbits, pheasants, ducks....the man went on and on and on about how wrong the urban dwellers of Ohio were....we needed to get out there and kill animals! I asked him if my cat was safe around him.

I'm sorry...I don't appreciate candidates coming to me and TELLING me that I AM WRONG and have to accept GUNS and ANTI-CHOICE.

You have been sold a bill of Pug Lite goods by Hackett.....I ain't buying....I know Sherrod's record and it speaks for me and ALL TRUE DEMOCRATS.

And I live in this piss hole state of OHIO....you move here and then you can rant. You have no idea of wha's been going on here...and you know nothing about Sherrod Brown.

[eridani]

125. I appreciate that Brown is a more than decent candidate--

--but shouldn't his candidacy be confirmed in a primary? The intervention of the DCCC has overall not been positive. See http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/--DCCC is trying to slot in Tammy Duckworth over her head. Ms. Duckworth seems to be a nice person, but when questioned about the Bankruptcy Bill she said something about companies needing to meet their pension obligations. She is not from the district, and seems clueless about local issues. Supporting veterans for public office just because they are veterans? How did that work out for Cleland and Kerry? Since neither could be bothered to call out Diebold, I'd say not very well.

[katinmn]

161. Intervention in another important Senate race:

http://www.fordbell.com/press/bell_speech1.21.cfm

Ford Bell’s (Dem candidate for Dayton's open seat) Speech to the DFL State Central Committee on January 21, 2006

My friends, I don’t need to tell you that this race for the U.S. Senate seat is critical to what the future of this country will look like.

This race has changed dramatically during the past few days. The junior Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, has sent a clear message to you, the grassroots of the DFL, that you don’t matter in the process of choosing a U.S. Senator.

Chuck Schumer is telling you, the heart and soul of the DFL, to sit down, shut up, we’re from Washington and we know best.

I say here today, no. I reject this attempt to bulldoze over our party’s strength. Our strength is diversity and debate, then consensus.

The drumbeat of the inside club has been that the DFL needs to mimic the Republicans and "clear the field." But should the field be cleared before anyone has heard a positive debate on the issues? Before our caucuses?

Friends, I think there is now a clear choice in this race. This U.S. Senate race now is a clear, and rare, opportunity for you to decide what the DFL really stands for.

I want to say something here to Patty Wetterling. Patty has brought, and will continue to bring, hope and promise to our party. Her absence diminishes this race. I would like to join the many others who thank her for her service to this party and this state, and wish her the absolute best on the next step of her journey. Thank you, Patty.

I have not made a career in the law or politics. I have spent my entire adult life in service, in the community. As a veterinarian, teacher, activist, leader and volunteer in non-profits in Minnesota, I have worked to give back in active service the gifts I was privileged to receive.

I entered this race in the same spirit – as a citizen, and, yes, as a volunteer. There is today in this state and in this country a desperate need to speak out on the truly important issues, to reject the shabby compromising of politics-as-usual, to listen, to convince, to cajole, to teach, even occasionally, to shout the truth.

There are many issues and ideas important to you and to our campaign. Today I want to talk today about the most important foreign-policy issue and the most important domestic issue facing our nation.

Far from home, we are engaged in a war in Iraq without reason or objective. Over 2,200 brave young American men and women have died in this war, thousands more have been grievously hurt. We have spent $300 billion and rising on what even Mark Kennedy, late at night, would probably admit was a horrific mistake. We simply cannot endure any more of the Administration’s "victories" in Iraq.

I called months ago for America to give the world fair warning – that by a date certain, no later than the end of this year, our troops will be home. Minnesotans support our troops, but we also support the truth. We support our troops, and we want them home.

Here at home, it is time to declare that our current health care system is broken and cannot be fixed through incremental changes. We cannot wait any longer for universal, single-payer health care. We must have Medicare for everyone.

It is time to assure that all Americans have access to health care as a right, not a privilege. I have asked the other candidates in the Senate race to join me in pledging that if they are elected, their first official act will be to sponsor a single-payer universal health care bill. I have heard no reply.

Friends, I cannot be more clear. Our Senate race in Minnesota this year is a referendum on the soul of the DFL. For that reason, I’m asking my DFL colleague Amy Klobuchar to agree to a series of open debates around the state – to talk about the serious issues facing our country and about what kind of party we will be.

Are we the party that speaks truth with conviction, or the party of safe, poll-driven generalities?

Are we still a home-grown, grassroots, activist party, or should we be a top-down, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chuck Schumer and the political leadership in Washington?

Will we let the insiders make the DFL, the party of Paul Wellstone, be a party where money and connections matter more than ideas and passion and principle?

Simply, will we be the party with our finger in the wind, or are we still the party with our fists in the air, teaching, cajoling, even occasionally shouting the truth? I ask you to listen to us, decide, and speak clearly. Thank you, and bless you.

[rpannier]

143. Your outrage seems misplaced

First you mention he was a registered republican. Big f**king deal. So was Wesley Clark, so was my older brother, so were lots of people. Being a former republican does not make you a 'divide and conquer' type.
Next, he never claimed to be a leftie Dem. But, at least he goes after Bush. He called him a liar and a few other nasty things back when real Dems like Brown were too afraid to say things like that. I'll take an in-your-face moderate over an 'I'll keep quiet and see which way the wind blows' liberal anytime.
Third, what right does Reid and Schumer have calling Hackett's donors and telling them not to give money to Hackett?
Fourth, do not assume for one second that De Wine will not remind moderate-to-conservative voters that the Dems screwed Hackett, a veteran, by undermining his ability to raise money and thus forced him from the race.
And lastly, and I hope I'm wrong on this. I think come November, DeWine will get re-elected.

[SOS]

200. And Reagan was a ...

REGISTERED DEMOCRAT.
A left-leaning, union-supporting, FDR DEMOCRAT.
He went on to become Governor of California, President of the United States and an icon of the Republican party.
Was he a "mole"?

And like Reagan and Hackett, this voter will be switching his registration.
I won't be able to vote in Democratic primaries after the switch, but who cares?
I'll let Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and their corporate sponsors decide for me.

[femrap]

245. Fine...let the pugs strategy of 'divide and conquer' continue to

work against the Dems....

Hackett stepped down....he could have remained in the race...he chose not to. Go yell at him. He's a whiney brat....'the big bad dem leadership made me step down.' boo f*cking hoo.

I don't know if Hackett was a mole....but I have heard the strategy being used by the pugs. They 'plant' pugs in dem races....to divide and conquer. It is a theory that maybe you should consider.

[SOS]

261. There is no strategy of 'divide and conquer' here

You say you 'don't know if Hackett was a mole", but imply that he was because you "have heard" about this "theory".
Do you have one shred of evidence to back up your "divide and conquer" claim?

And how you can call a man who led his convoy through a major Iraqi insurgent attack in 2004 a "whiny brat" is really stunning.

Hackett is an honorable man who speaks his mind, consequences be damned.
Why would such a man associate himself with the likes of those who just stabbed him in the back?

Hackett won't abide the sleaze who betrayed him so he stepped down. Good for him!

[abbiehoff]

263. I don't know about Hackett

but Femrap certainly is whining a lot.

[femrap]

302. I'm entitled to my thoughts, analysis, and theories....and I don't

trust him. I realize a number of people are impressed by soldiers...I'm not. I believe standing up for peace is more courageous.

The money spent on this military-industrial-congressional complex is ridiculous....and bin Laden is still a free man. And all of the innocent people who have died and been maimed....for what? I really wish the day would come when war is declared and no one shows up.

[Le Taz Hot]

208. Oh, criminee!

For once and for all, the POINT is that the voters didn't even get to decide -- or do you LIKE the beltway boys picking your candidates for you? The remainder of your post is DLC blather.

[femrap]

250. Go whine to Hackett....he stepped down. He could have stood up to

the DCCC and stayed in the race...no, he picked up all his toys and went home to pout and point fingers at the big bad dem boys.

I was not impressed with Hackett as many here were....I found him to be 'pug lite' and all bluster with no content. I heard him speak on three different occasions....big ego, condescending, and uneducated on ISSUES.

I was a Brown supporter long ago. He is a true Progressive.

You are mistaken by painting me as a fan of the DLC. I simply didn't like Hackett...

[abbiehoff]

264. You seem to be pretty much alone there

not liking Hackett, I mean.

He may not be as progressive as Brown, but he could get elected.
Hackett is from the Republican part of the state and is popular there with many people, moderates, progressives, maybe even the occasional conservative.

Brown is from the Democratic part of the state and is not really well known in the south. He will very likely NOT be elected.

Hackett is, if nothing else, not a Republican suck-up like so many "moderate" Democrats.

It is wonderful to hear someone say what he REALLY thinks. Politicians almost never do, but then Hackett himself admits that he is no politician.

[femrap]

306. Actually sounds like you'd like to see Brown lose....

hey, maybe Ohio should divide into two states? Then we could each have our 2 Senators! But Columbus will go with the North...and Athens, too!

After all Cincy is surrounded by that magnetic force field of I-275....nothing gets in and nothing gets out. I wish it were part of KY or better yet IN.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

286. Promises Broken All The Time

Mr. Hackett said he was unwilling to run for the Congressional seat because he had given his word to three Democratic candidates that he would not enter that race.

"The party keeps saying for me not to worry about those promises because in politics they are broken all the time," said Mr. Hackett

I'd rather vote for integrity myself. Brown apparently is a better fit for those in power. Maybe they already know he doesn't have a problem breaking his word?????
Yeah, I live in Ohio and I'm pissed.

[femrap]

307. Then you haven't done your homework....have you looked at Brown's

L O N G record in Congress....there is no better Progressive. Someone earlier compared him to Wellstone and Feingold. Brown is by no means a man in the mold of the DLC. Did you ever think that maybe Hackett wanted a way out of the race that would allow him to 'save face' and the Dems gave it to him? Something to consider, don't you think?

Yesterday, he blamed the Dem leadership....today, he blamed the lack of money.

Again....Brown will be like Kennedy and Kerry....do you think the DLC wants that?

And maybe you're not a Progressive...I don't know. Hackett was very much a Centrist....and as a pro-choice women I was not willing to take a chance on Hackett when Brown has a 100% rating by NARAL. But maybe women having the freedom to lead their lives as they see fit isn't that important to you.

I know if Hackett had won the primary, I would have voted for him. I'm not stupid...I would hope you feel the same about Brown.

[Doremus]

317. Well, I do live here, so may I have permission to rant?

As I said upthread, it doesn't matter WHAT Brown's record is if he doesn't get elected.

Hackett represented our best chance to begin to reform our state. And now he's out and Sherrod, polite, progressive Sherrod, is in.

And DeWine and the GOP bootjack will grind him into the pavement. The Sherrod lovers forget that ultra-liberal does not play well in the corn fields down south. The rural Bush voters would rather endure status quo, as horrendous as that is, than push the button for some commie-pinko city boy.

Enjoy your good cheer now. Come November you'll be wondering 'what went wrong..."

[rexcat]

330. As someone who lives in SW Ohio...

you are spot on!

[Jack Rabbit]

18. I hope those in the Democratic leadership know what they're doing

. . . for a change.

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. LOL

You're joking, right?

[hvn_nbr_2]

44. I'm sure they know exactly what they're doing... but...

it isn't what (probably you and) I want.

[roguevalley]

154. they are couching this as let Sherrod do the senate race and

Hackett do the congressional against mean jean.

[napi21]

19. Son of a Bi*ch! I thought Hackett was tougher than that!

I thought he had the support of Dean and the DNC? Am I wrong?

Ya know, I've only contributed to 2 campaigns in my life. Howard Dean and Paul Hackett. I don't have much money, and my contributions weren't very much, but I believed in them!

I guess I understand how disgusted Paul must be with his Party, but I really thought he would fight them with our help!

Just DAMN!!!!!!!!!!

[maseman]

195. This is weird...

As a tough talking, take no crap man, this seems too easy for him to quit. Maybe his heart really wasn't into the whole thing and he was looking for a way out. Can't imagine he would just get upset and quit.

[ldf]

253. maybe when mr. hackett says something, he means it.

you do NOT flip flop on statements that others have based their decision on running, on.

that is exactly what they did to him.

you want him to be no different from the dlc party hacks?

the hackett haters here seem to want him to wallow in the gutter with the dlc and become their yes-man.

if brown was worth 2 cents he would have stood by HIS word. but no. and this is the resulting mess.

and the barrage of comments on here that hackett should have done just that, continued to hem and haw, changing his mind this way, that way, not giving up...

he gave his word. apparently a democrat's word shouldn't mean a damn thing.

too bad. this will make many sit at home.

the democratic leadership is hell bent on completely destroying the party, if they can't have their way all the time.

[bettyellen]

20. they pushed him out knowing he wouldn't run for the house.

they knew.
where's that rahm hating thread everybody's always talking about?

[sasquatch]

21. I think we need to keep Schumer from fund raising and see how he likes it

:argh:

[Tiggeroshii]

25. We can be the new third party.

This forum seems to be getting bigger and bigger anyways... all we need is a voter registration form with the site registration. Just register "democraticunderground" as a third party... Or come up with a more clever name. Hah.

[Craig3410]

47. The Real Democrats. -nt-

[Tiggeroshii]

51. Real Democrats or New Democrats... yeah, that works maybe? n/t

[rayofreason]

240. Fat chance...

...given all the fat cats who underwrite Schumer and the gang.

[Maven]

22. Great. The call is coming from inside the house folks.

Head, meet wall. :banghead:

[Purveyor]

33. Yea, inside the "outhouse"....they have proven sooo effective

so far, right?

[Botany]

24. Crap

I just met him last week. He was like a breath of fresh air. Very short stump
speech and thrived doing the Q & A.. And he answered every ? and sometimes
he knew that the answer he was giving was not the one that the person wanted
to hear but his honesty was A #1 to him.

A fair vote and he would win in a landslide ..... now we have a very good man in
brown but one that the repugs can paint as a big city liberal. He would pull votes
from repugs ..... no doubt.

I strong primary is good for the party.

[xxqqqzme]

38. I was impressed w/ his Q & A as

well. I met him back in November and was so happy 2 see a real Democrat talking about Democratic values. I'm sorry the DC ratf*ckers forced him out.

[bliss_eternal]

65. Can't we talk to him? Tell him we don't want to

see him leave politics altogether? We need him!

[Stand and Fight]

26. What in the hell?

I cannot believe that I am reading this! Have the Democrats in Washington lost their bloody minds? Are they trying to shoot our party in the balls? We need people like Paul Hackett -- not the lot of spineless weasels who have been bowing to Bush and his bunch for so long. This sickens me... I may cancel my bond now... This is disgusting.

[Roland99]

27. This will be the press's juicy bit of the day.

Forget all about Plame and Iran....again.

[FredStembottom]

28. This doesn't add up to me........

I can definitely see the Official Dems of D.C. not liking this guy and even pressuring him. But I CAN"T see Hackett bowing under so quickly and completely.

There must be more to this story to come out. And out, it will!

:mad:

[FredStembottom]

34. And.....I just became a monthly donor to the DNC!

That is now immediately under reconsideration while I wait to here more about this story!

:mad:

[RazzleDazzle]

66. No, no, NO! DON'T reconsider.

DNC is exactly where to put your money, in addition to any specific candidates you want to support.

The best chance for change is via Dean's efforts at DNC.

Howard has NO control over Schumer or Reid or anyone else in Congress; no control over the DCCC; no policy or campaign input; etc. He can only influence the structure of the DNC itself and assist the state organizations, which he is working like a madman to reinvigorate and grow.

Don't punish Dean or the DNC for the sins of others over whom he has NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER (Schumer, Reid, DCCC, etc.).

[cascadiance]

166. Read my post at the bottom of this page...

They tried to get me to do that yesterday too, and I gave them an earful!

[Redneck Socialist]

72. I agree. There has got to be more to this story

This is beyond fucked up. Way to alienate the base. I'm sure it will help the Democrats to have more progressives sit on there hands in '06, especially in Ohio.


:mad: :mad:

[femrap]

89. Yeah....Hackett is Mr. Divide and Conquer....

Just look at this thread.

He was a Registered Republican.

A plant....a mole.

And now he has a big pot of $.

[ldf]

254. you are full of crap

and you know it.

you must have already cashed the dlc check you just got in the mail.

[silvermachine]

273. More like the RNC check...

...if you ask me.

[femrap]

308. You're a neophyte to politics....go do your homework.

Sherrod Brown is a man in the mold of Wellstone, Feingold, Kennedy....a true Progressive. Have you looked at his record? He is so far removed from the DLC. Hey, if I am full of crap....your head is up your ass...how the hell do you breathe and type?

Brown has a 100% rating from NARAL and that is important to me and other Progressives. He also voted against the war. Talk about integrity...Brown has it. He votes his conscience...even when it's not popular.

But maybe you like compulsory motherhood and spending billions on war.

[silvermachine]

272. A plant....a mole.

<<<A plant....a mole.>>>

And you know this, how?
Sounds to me like YOU are the real plant/mole.
Dividing everyone on this thread.
Castigating others for having a different opinion.
Hey, it makes about as much sense as your rantings.
Actually, truth be told, it makes much more sense.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Schumer and Reid, two DLC scum that also opposed the Alito filibuster

and were pissed at John Kerry for making an issue about it.

Way to go guys! Whose side are you on?

"For me, this is a second betrayal," Mr. Hackett said. "First, my government misused and mismanaged the military in Iraq, and now my own party is afraid to support candidates like me."

[Tiggeroshii]

32. I don't know about Schumer, but Reid desperately supported a fillibuster

This is as sad news to me as everybody, but let's not go around saying things that aren't true now.

[pstans]

104. A real leader would have gotten all Dems to support it

If the Republicans were in that situation, everyone would have voted for the fillibuster. Reid might have supported, that makes him a good Senator. However, he didn't get everyone too, which makes him a weak-ass leader. Feingold, Boxer, Kennedy, and I can't believe I am saying this, Kerry need to step up and take the party back.

[rpannier]

144. And how pray tell would you have gotten Ben "I vote Republican

more than the Republican senator from Nebraska" Nelson to vote for the filibuster. Nelson's record rivals that of Zell Miller for god sakes.

[PBass]

156. Schumer supported the fillibuster too. Get a grip, people.

Some people are talking through their hat, I think.

[Le Taz Hot]

211. But they didn't vote for cloture

and apparently you thing we're too stupid to know the difference.

[Tiggeroshii]

235. Yes they did

That's what we meant by "supporting a fillibuster"

Harry Reid LEAD the 26 or so votes that ended up voting against cloture. Which is, if you remember, far better than they did with Roberts(pretty much every Dem voted for cloture on Roberts).

[debbierlus]

222. You are wrong.

Reid was DRAGGED into the filibuster.

He VERY RELUCTANTLY went along with it.

I called his office seven times.

I know.

[Tiggeroshii]

236. Even so, you can't say he didn't support it, considering

HE was staunchly for one the few days leading up for it, or at least he vocalized as much.

[Nutmegger]

67. There were kind of luke-warm over the filibuster

but did end up voting for it.

Still sucks though, why would they do this? Do they want to be the majority? :wtf:

[fujiyama]

112. I kind of wonder if they even want to

After all, it's easy not being in power - you don't have to take responsibility for anything going on.

[ClintonTyree]

167. Surely, you jest.....

do you see the bush administration taking responsibility for anything? :shrug: Do you see Congressional Republicans taking responsibility for anything? It's much harder being the minority party, believe me.

[IronLionZion]

227. they both voted for the filibuster

and they both encouraged Hackett to run for Senate in the first place. They just feel that since Dewine is the second most vulnerable Senator (Santorum is first, Chafee is third) that we don't need to waste money or sling mud in the primary.

I like Hackett too since he is a libertarian Dem like me and a maverick grass-roots candidate. But Sherrod Brown is obviously more liberal and has a voting record and a career in politics to show it. The climate favors Dems, so they figured why not run a liberal?

This shit sucks, but it happens all the time. You think the Repubs don't do this?

Hackett is a good guy, but if he didn't listen to the DSCC, then his agenda would be highly suspect. Personally, I wish he'd throw his hat back into the ring for a rematch against mean Jean.

[Purveyor]

31. What a crock of shit! Democrats have a chance to make big

gains in November and are already pissing it away.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

Man, that's what you get for telling it like it is.

I'm sorry, I'm sick of our party 'leadership' shooting these brave folks in the foot. Feh.

[Toucano]

36. Our HERO? Good riddance then.

If you're that think skinned, you've got no business running in the first place. Thanks for the commitment.

You were supposed to take on the party leadership, but instead you let them push you around?

Fuck off!

[Terry_M]

42. Or..

Politics is very dirty and he decided that he would have a better life if he didn't spend the next 4 years fighting both parties.

[ticapnews]

45. The Democratic leadership was calling his supporters

and telling them to stop. Some of these are long-time party people who will follow the instructions of the national party. It would have been nearly impossible to organize and run an effective primary challenge against the party organization and then try to unite the party against DeWine in the general. I think the leadership really screwed up and handed this seat to DeWine and the Republicans.

[Dhalgren]

63. If the party leaders tell you that they will, and are, working

against you, then the Republican will almost surely win. What they told Hackett, in essence, is that they would not support him against De Wine. Now how should someone who wants the Democrats to win react to that? Say fuck the party? The thing that makes Hackett so much better than any of the hacks we have in the party's leadership is the thing that made him step down. If Paul Hackett wanted to start a third party, I'd be right there with him - but he won't, because he is a man of honor. It's that honor that makes him so hard to understand - by both the sniveling party leaders and some on this board.

[Jesterstear]

197. Yeah, right...

That "man of honor" crap is the same BS we hear about McCain. It's not honor when you stick by someone that abuses you.

In Hackett, we had a chance to get someone on a national stage that would actually have the balls to speak out about what is wrong in this country, and not recant his words just because they ruffled some feathers. Once again, the spineless Democratic party, in their quest for appeasement instead of confrontation with the Repubs, backed down.

[Dhalgren]

212. So you want Hackett to "stick by" the party that is abusing him?

I don't understand your post. Are you saying that because the national Democratic leadership told Hackett that they would work against him, he should have just gone ahead and fought both parties? Should he have gone third party? You can disparage honor all that you want, but the lack of it is one of the primary problems with our country today.

And there is little comparison between real honor as displayed by Hackett and fake honor as shown by McCain. If you don't see the difference between these two guys, then let you "conscience" be your guide...

[eallen]

37. Abso-fucking-lutely insane.

:mad:

:grr:

:banghead:

[springsteen4senate]

39. The DSCC has no f@@king balls

this is bullshit

[Kerrytravelers]

40. My letter in response. I was really pissed.

I have been a Democrat all my life. So have my parents and their parents. We have given hundreds of thousands dollars and countless hours of time to the party.

Are you people out of your minds? How dare you push an honorable man like Paul hackett out of the race. I have personally wored with him on fundraisers and am horrified at what the party has done.

Seriously. Are you people completly out of your skulls?

Don't insult me with some form letter response sent by some intern. No wonder the rethugs always get away wit everything. Get some spine you whipped dogs.

[bliss_eternal]

74. Great response--

they deserve a tongue lashing and then some...

:grr::mad: How could they speak for us? They have no right when they so obviously have no idea what WE want or need.

[hatrack]

43. Way to go, Democratic leaders!

That's the ticket - let's annoit one of our own, let's not rock the boat, and whatever it takes, let's get a candidate who'll be certain to APOLOGIZE when something he says or does causes ruffled feathers for the opposition party.

Tell me again why I should donate a SINGLE GODDAMNDED DIME to the DNC or any centralized Democratic Party organization. Please, tell me - I'm just dying to know.

And I'm even more eagerly awaiting the next fundraising call from DC.

:mad:

[Purveyor]

56. Democratic leaders! Show me one just to give me hope... n/t

[President Kerry]

292. Because it wasn't the DNC that did this.

Some in the Congressional establishment have issues with the DNC and Dean. I'm as disgusted as you are at this subversion of the democratic process, but let's not take it out on the DNC.

[LynzM]

46. Oh fuck.

I had a lot of hope that he could be a real breath of fresh air, to be cliche. Since when should the party leadership determine who runs for office in a (theoretical) democracy?! :mad:

[AlCzervik]

how about letting the voters in the primary decide instead of

"party leaders"? Very disappointing.

[neverforget]

48. any email address to contact Hackett and ask him to run?

[Craig3410]

49. Maybe the NYT is misreporting?

They're the only one saying it so far...

[Nashyra]

52. Yes we need an email address

I went to the Hackett for Senate site and could not find a way to contact him directly.

[IndianaGreen]

50. The Beltway Democrats did not trust the Ohio Democrats to choose

between Sherrod Brown and Paul Hackett, so they decided to sabotage Hackett by calling his donors behind his back.

That's the betrayal!

The Beltway Democrats betrayed Hackett, made Brown look like shit, and told the Ohio Democrats that they were too stupid to know any better.

We are led by LOSERMEN!

[DemFromMem]

53. Start flaming me

I'm not upset he's leaving. I like Sherrod Brown and Hackett recently announced immigration positions that put him in the company of extremists in the GOP. Just because we like his resume and his position on the war does not mean that Democrats will like his positions on other issues. I bet there's more to this than meets the eye and the early departure signifies problems that have not yet been revealed.

[IndianaGreen]

68. That should have been a choice made by the Ohio voters

not by a bunch of morons in Washington, DC.

[RazzleDazzle]

71. People tend to vote for the man, not necessarily all of his positions

And not all that many people are single-issue voters on immigration, and CERTAINLY not in Ohio.

I think voters in any state, every state, would gravitate to a truth teller like Hackett like a moth to the flame. As a truth-telling vet he'd draw plenty of Republicans in. Plenty. There's enough scandal in Washington and Ohio that he'd draw PLENTY of Republican votes. Not so sure about Sherrod Brown, but now we'll have a chance to see, won't we?

[Guaranteed]

87. Yeah. He's anti-gun control. HORRIBLE.

How horrible that would have been.

[femrap]

93. Yeah and a few months ago he was FOR staying in IRAQ and

finishing the 'mission.' Now he wants to bring the troops home.

But one thing for sure he used to be a registered republican.

I'm so glad everyone at DU accepts previous registered republicans as Senate candidates from states that they don't live inl.

PLEASE LOOK AT SHERROD BROWN'S RECORD.....you couldn't ask for a more progressive Democrat if you tried.

Hell...he's more progressive than Michael Moore!!!

[Guaranteed]

96. So what? So was I!

So was Howard Dean! So was just about everybody.

Getting out is a conclusion that everybody has to come to on their own. You can't force people to see the futility.

[femrap]

105. No, I think you see the insanity of going to war based on lies or you have

problems with your shortness.

[Guaranteed]

106. I think you're confusing "going to war" with "fixing the shit you broke

after you invaded."

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SnoopDog]

115. such a classy post!

[eridani]

129. Or instead of trying to "fix" it ourselves--

--just give the Iraqis money to fix their own infrastructure and maybe make a dent in their 60% unemployment rate?

[abbiehoff]

269. Get over it

a "progressive" Democrat cannot be elected in Ohio.

I would settle for an honest person.

[mod mom]

174. 1. Should be up to OH voters not party hacks 2. Brown will not draw repub

voters away from Dewine, so your suggestion and the ODP action just secued Dewines seat!

[mtnester]

289. The phone call I got today from a little birdie

tells me (and I have cross posted this in other forums) that DeWine's office is absolutely positively tickled effing PINK over this

CHEERING in the offices...DANCING around


Let me add this to my list of biggest mistakes my dain bramaged party and some of its members have done:

Picked Joe Lieberman as VP choice for election 2000
Gave up on Election 2000 challenge
Picked John Edwards as VP over Wes Clark in 04 (during WARTIME dammit)
Stayed silent on Swiftboat 04
Gave up on Election 04 in Ohio and a couple of other states
Gave up on Paul Hackett and chose DC cronyism as their mantra for my state


Bleh

[LynneSin]

190. Well he gave Schmidt the run for her money so who cares about that

:sarcasm:

Thanks for pointing that out. We have what is basically a republican who got screwed over by the war running on a one-issue platform with no track record on all the other important progressive points vs. another candidate who actually has a track record on ALL of these issues and they all fall to the left of the party

[IndianaGreen]

193. Yes, but it should have been up to the voters to decide that

not two corrupt politicians in Washington DC, neither of them from Ohio.

Schumer and Reid acted like Republicans!

[LynneSin]

203. You're right and think about this HE DECIDED TO DROP OUT

It was HIS choice.

So you're going to berate me because HE DECIDED. No one held a gun to his head and believe me, the same thing is happening in Pennsylvania and yet the other non-Bob Casey candidates are staying in the race.

[PeachyDem88]

54. Ouch.

Never expected to see this...

This is a sad day for our Party.


Edited to say... Best of luck to Sherrod Brown.

[bliss_eternal]

55. I am SO sorry to hear this--

we need more people like him. Why would they talk him out of running, when he's such a strong candidate?
I'm so bummed by this news. :cry:

[ColonelTom]

57. A rare Democrat with the "it" factor - gone.

I didn't agree with some of his positions, but at least they were his positions - positions he actually believed in, even when he'd shift back and forth on an issue. He's very raw as a politician, which was both a weakness and a strength going into this Senate race. One thing's undeniable, though - he has that "it" factor that so few of the prominent Democrats (and Republicans, for that matter) have. He inspires loyalty among his followers in a way that we Democrats arguably haven't seen since Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign.

I don't believe for one minute that we've seen the last of Paul Hackett in politics. Unfortunately, I'm damn near certain we've seen the last of Paul Hackett, Democrat. And that's sad.

Here's to one of the good guys. :patriot:

[Guaranteed]

85. Another "brilliant" move by the Democrats. nt

[Emillereid]

59. I guess Hackett is just too real and honest for the Senate. Were

the National DEM whimps afraid someone would actually go to Washington and call them out. Hackett was one of the few democrats I give money to -- no way I'm giving to the DSCC -- goes down some black hole and emerges as a DLC strangulation manuever.

Most of the real democrats at the grassroot level here in CA are so damn angry with the congressional dems most of the time, there is open talk of mutiny or leaving the party!

[Ekirh]

60. You gotta be fucking kidding me . . . .

:banghead: I wouldn't say it's unbelivable.. but it fucking sucks regardless
I think I need one more of those smileys :banghead:

[Raster]

90. you can borrow mine...

[CoffeeCat]

61. All politics is corrupt...

...the Dems are just as guilty as the Reps.

The Dems don't want someone who is not entrenched in corruption--a decent outsider who is not part of the problem--to run.

All politicians know that one win from an "average Joe" could sink ALL of them.

That's why there are Dems insisting that Cindy Sheehan not run, either.

These bums all know that a revolution is brewing. They are attempting to quell a revolution.

This is all about their power being threatened.

This is quite sick.

I wish Hackett would have told them to stuff it. I'm curious why he didn't. He was running, based on the notion that politics is corrupt and that our pResident lied his way into an unnecessary war. Both Dems and Reps are guilty. Why didn't he stand up to them. He was running against this type of establishment thinking.

Most likely he was threatened.

[Straight Shooter]

62. This is bizarre. There's more to this than meets the eye.

He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving ...

Which party leaders made the calls? Schumer and Reid coerce him into stepping aside, and Hackett simply obliges and then goes off on a rant against the Democratic party. The implication is that Reid and Schumer directed the phone calls to be made. That's the implication, but it isn't stated outright and thus they may not be the ones.

With Paul Hackett, we had someone who could have waited for another opportunity and, in the meantime, given his support to the party, but he burned that bridge and the bridge for other potential Democratic nominees. Now his words will be used against all Democratic candidates who face tough battles. Worse, he was a terrific candidate, the almost-perfect "poster boy" for the courageous face of the Democratic party, but now any support he might decide to lend another candidate would backfire on that person.

Not a very smooth move by Hackett. I understand his anger. I don't agree with his reaction. He comes across as very bitter. He gave too much ammo to the GOP with his diatribe.

[FredStembottom]

76. I agree. Both....

that there is more to this story and that Hackett's reaction is puzzling and not helpful.

I await clarification.

[fujiyama]

117. It doesn't necessarily

just mean those two. It may have also meant Rahhm Emmanuel.

The main problem is the mixed signals they were giving him from the beginning. He was not treated fairly, and I'm not even completely convinced he could have won the senate race.

First they call him and tell him to run. He then asks Brown to confirm that he's not going to run (he gave deference to the congressman), then they start trying to just kick him out.

If Brown had been More decisive earlier on, made his intentions clearer, then this whole mess may have been averted and we may have had a better shot of at least capturing that House race. Hackett sounds like he wanted to keep his word. Otherwise, he could have just jumped on to the House race and he would have been the front runner.

He comes across As bitter, but I think considering the way they treated him, he has a right to feel that way.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

138. Trust me when I tell you this:

I understand, completely, Hackett's reaction and frustration. The DSCC and DCCC are on the thin edge of incompetence and nothing about this sorry affair surprises me at all. The party, from the top to the bottom, is shot through with shoddy and self-serving moves being performed by shoddy and self-serving leadership.

One more thing: They don't like people like us. At all. A T A L L. They really don't like Dean, and many work to marginalize him at every turn.

But they all sure do like our money, so they don't completely run us off.

The same can be said of most putatively "progressive" organizations, especially the ones headquartered in the Beltway.

To those who reside within the magic land that is The Beltway, we are The Great Unwashed, The One-Fodder Units. Best not associated with, since we might give them cooties.

Believe me, I have learned this the hard way.

[ReadTomPaine]

145. Perfectly stated...

and well written to boot.

[Lena inRI]

180. Bwaaaahaaaaa. . .luvya Tandalayo. . .

COOTIES we are!

You're humorous candor has me seeing these Dems, once and for all, as the

Millionaires' Club

that they really are:

Stabbing Paul Hackett in the back this year.

Just using Wes Clark and his supporters to swing them behind Kerry, never intending to let him be either Pres/V-Pres candidate in 2004.

Bill Clinton being palsy-welsy with Pappy/Babs and Jr Bush many times as we fume over their blatant criminal behavior.

God only knows what else they're manipulating to keep their status quo of power and influence.

All new Democratic candidates BEWARE. . .WATCH YOUR BACKS. . .here come the hatchet men!

Downright disillusioning!

Democracy in the democratic primary process. . .my ass!

[sui generis]

209. they have completely run me off

I don't want candidates that are indistinguishable from the status quo because newsflash, we haven't had landslide success with what we have in place now. Hackett had a message, and strength of character and CHARISMA.

As much as it pains me to say so, it is irrefutable political fact that people who don't bother to educate themselves about anything and yet vote usually vote based on how they "feel" about a candidate, and that's where charisma and charm and strength of character wins.

[President Kerry]

294. amen. n/t

[janx]

188. I'm skeptical as well.

VERY skeptical. Look at the melodrama, etc.--it's like a very badly written play.

[abbiehoff]

276. The problem is that people who say what they mean

expect the same courtesy from others.

Hackett was recruited by the party to run against Schmidt. He did, and if the votes had been counted correctly (which is not common in Ohio), he would probably now be in Congress.

Sherrod Brown said that he wasn't going to run for Senate, so Hackett said that he would. Then Sherrod Brown decided that he was going to run, and Hackett stayed in the race. Meanwhile the DCCC powers decided that Hackett should try again against Schmidt, and put the kibosh on Hackett's Senate run. Hackett had already promised other Democrats that he would not run in a Democratic primary in the 2nd district, and he is not willing to break his word to them.

Hackett wasn't a politician from the start, and isn't really interested in politics. I think he is interested in change and in leadership. I think the machinations of the party have disillusioned him in a big way.

[President Kerry]

293. He's not a politician. He's just a real honest guy, who was hoping

to take charge because something really bothered him. How many private citizens can say that? Kudos to him for not being entrenched in all the game-playing and mud-wrestling of both parties. It's just really fucking sad he had to go out like this!

[tinrobot]

64. This just blows.

I am so pissed off at our party "leaders."

Grrrrrr....

[Nothing Without Hope]

69. The DLC continues to push its own agenda, which is NOT OURS

and is NOT GOING TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK. Backroom politics as usual is not going to make it.

[budkin]

70. I don't fucking believe this!

These sad sack excuses for Democrats are so mired in losing that they even throw sure victories in the garbage. Way to drive the future of our party out the door you assholes! Arghhhhh!

[Mojorabbit]

75. This really sucks

I donated to him and was hoping to see him go far. Sigh.

[stevedeshazer]

77. God damn it!

This is totally fucked up. I rarely cuss here, but this drives me over the edge.

Die, DLC. :grr:

[sasquatch]

229. That's still how I feel

[arcane1]

78. shit, he was the VERY FIRST person I EVER gave money to

:evilfrown:

[femrap]

101. You gave money to someone who was a registered republican...

did you know that? Politics is a very dirty business. We all know that but I don't think we understand how dirty.

He may well have been planted to DIVIDE AND CONQUER....JUST LOOK AT THIS THREAD....and how everyone hates the Democratic Party now.

How many of you live in Ohio? How many of you know about Sherrod Brown's record? He's a true PROGRESSIVE!

So your cherry has been popped.....next time you give $, make sure you check his voting registry. OK?

The pugs are laughing at Ohio....Ohio...'Karl Rove's Lab Rat.'

[Puglover]

185. You always make a habit of spamming threads? n/t

We got your point about 10 posts ago. And I don't give a shit whether you live in Ohio or not.

[femrap]

247. Oh...you're the only one with 'freedom to type?'

Please put me on your ignore list and we'll get along just fine.

Thx.

[ldf]

281. what's wrong?

did you call in sick today?

[Puglover]

288. No saying that lady...

do you know what "spam" means? Apparently not. Actually I'm not interested in "getting along just fine" with you. Just interested in the repetitive strident spamming you're doing in this thread and asking that you stop it.
So stop it...please.
Thx.

[femrap]

303. You are a young boy and I'm no lady....nt

[President Kerry]

295. why do you keep harping on the former registered republican tune?

What fucking difference does it make? So the man realized what has become of his party. Is that wrong? He's got the leadership and the balls to speak out, which is what 90% of elected Dems lack.

[henslee]

79. self delete.

[Nothing Without Hope]

80. In "honor" of this betrayal, here are some ****DNC CARTOONS****

[kid a]

81. I'd like to hear some rationalization doublespeak from the

perpetually apologetic dlcers here.

[Guaranteed]

84. Pure garbage.

I hate our party.

[wisteria]

88. IMO, Hackett wanted to much to soon. There is such a thing as

pecking order and earning your due. He could have started out as a Rep and worked his way on up. I am disappointed in the way Reid and Schumer have handled this,though. It was handled very poorly and may now discourage other veterans from running. I hope I am wrong about this and Hackett and the others stick with the party.

[IndianaGreen]

94. "pecking order and earning your due"

What the fuck do you think this is, a private club?

[eridani]

135. It's an organization that takes a good deal of effort and money--

--to maintain. People who have been doing the maintenance work expect to get a shot at public office before newbies. That's how most organizations work. Still, I think it should have been up to the Ohio voters, not DCCC, to decide. Besides which, a cleanly fought primary has the potential of bringing a lot more energy and money in in the long run.

[IndianaGreen]

139. Yep, it should have been up to the Ohio voters

not to a couple of corrupt Senators.

[hatrack]

192. Like Barack Obama?

Was that your point?

[IndianaGreen]

202. Obama is well trained by his Washington masters!

If Obama had been more like John Conyers, he too would have been in Schumer and Reid's gun sights.

[President Kerry]

296. How about some fresh thinking for a change?

Oh no, you have to get indoctrinated in the establishment for years, so you don't piss off some very important people at the top. Bullshit!

[Roxy66]

91. Wow...our party leaders are so weak.

We'll never win with these idiots in there

[IndianaGreen]

95. Our party leaders are tough on Democrats

but weenies when it comes to Bush.

[saigon68]

278. They are weenies

Especially ass clown schumer and joementum losermannn

YUK

[pstans]

97. Emails sent to Reid, Schumer, and my Senator

:banghead:

[Impossible Princess]

102. ???

What? Oh no--that's too bad...

[understandinglife]

108. Disgusting. And, Brown could be the next FDR and it ...

.... wouldn't make it any less disgusting.


Peace.

[mod mom]

173. You are right. It was rumored that the ODP was going to endorse Brown b4

the primaries. I talked to someone at Hackett's office last week with this info because it came from a reliable source. I offered my continued support and suggested Hackett join the ranks of other independent candidates in OHIO. The Ohio Dem Party is corrupt. I will no longer work or financially support the ODP until a massive house cleaning occurs.

These are the same people who refuse to acknowledge fraud occurred in Ohio, despite the mountain of evidence. They refused to back the election reform initiatives like they should have. They have not looked out for their base in low income Af Am neighborhoods who saw purges and insufficient # of machines disenfranchise their votes.

Brown will NOT win the senate seat from Dewine. He is a northern liberal who is soft spoken (esp compared to Hackett) . He will not draw one repub vote while Hackeett proved he could in the high Repub district 02. Ohio will retain 2 Repub Senators thanks to the DLC backed ODP.

HEY REDFERN...YOU JUST LOST 2 MORE DEMS!

[understandinglife]

181. Maybe the support Hackett is now generating will enable him to ..

... be the one to force the "house cleaning" of the ODP. I doubt if the DLC, or any other Dem org, anticipated the fury that his announcement is causing.


Peace.

[Edgewater_Joe]

111. Excuse Me, Hackett-Supporters, But Where's This Guy's Fight?

From every report, the Democrats wanted him to take out Jean Schmitt -- and Hackett says HE didn't want to break "HIS" word to the three candidates running in the primary against her, along with all the 'hurt' he had as a result of not running against from what everybody (until this thread) said was a legit Democrat in Sherrod Brown.

WHAT?!!

Emmanuel HAD to know that if Hackett ran in that district again he'd CREAM Mean Jean -- and Hackett suddenly turns around and says he doesn't want to run in politics at all?

I smell something, all right. It's the smell of a phony and a coward and a pussy, and right now that smell is coming from Hackett.

Hey, Paulie, here's a news flash for you: IT'S ABOUT THE COUNTRY - NOT YOU. If you run against Schmitt you not only beat her, your coattails probably carry through for Brown, and then the Democrats have TWO votes for impeachment. Now, everyone who believed in you are here whining like you, and suddenly the possibility crops up that instead of two we end up with none. Way to be thinking about the greater good, Mr. Ego.

"Fighting Dem" my left nut -- and I'll tell you something else: HE better be damn sure HE doesn't sabotage the rest of the Fighting Dems, either by bad-mouthing the DNCC (whatever they did to him) or flipping and becoming a Republican.

I'm not saying the DCCC is clean, but if you can't see that there's suddenly a Hell of a lot of phony in this guy, you've been snowed.

If he gets his wits about him and turns around and does the right thing to run against Schmitt -- and he has two weeks -- he'll be redeemed (although now he looks like a hothead, which is also a problem). Otherwise, this is all on HIM.

Politics ain't beanbag, so stop sucking on it like it's a stuffed teddy bear.

[NightOwwl]

119. Bravo Edgewater_Joe!

You said it much better than I could.

[IndianaGreen]

121. "the smell of a phony and a coward and a p*ssy"

You know, that's what the chicken hawk Republicans said about John Murtha. You go to war and get shot at before you go around calling a war hero a "phony and a coward and a p*ssy"!

Shame on you!

[Edgewater_Joe]

123. It's Not What He Did In Iraq That Makes Him A Coward

It's running away from the Democratic Party in a snit that's cowardly.

I have no shame at all saying that because right now it looks like the truth, and you should realize that and stop playing the Republican game of not criticizing anybody for any reason.

[IndianaGreen]

127. There are two Democratic Parties

There is the Party of the elites, represented by idiots like DiFi, Reid, Schumer, Harman, Pelosi and others. There is the Party of the people, which is all of us with our Democrats at the local level.

We let the elites dictate to the people of Ohio who should run in the Democratic primary!

[Edgewater_Joe]

130. Neither Of Them Are In Power

Hackett can beat Schmitt, and that would bring us power.

Now Hackett is running away. That keeps Schmitt in that seat. That keeps us out of power.

What part of that equation don't you understand?

[IndianaGreen]

132. And the shitty way Hackett was treated will not win you any votes

and it has tainted Sherrod Brown on top of that.

I hope you are happy when Brown goes down to defeat in November, and that wicked witch gets reelected to the House.

[Edgewater_Joe]

226. You Can Be Ideologically Pure If You Want To

I want to actually get this country on the right track again.

Paul Hackett just showed he really doesn't want to do that.

Screw him, and screw you for siding with him instead of action.

[closeupready]

262. Exactly - agree 100%

What a disgraceful, crappy thing to say about Hackett.

[eridani]

136. Why not badmouth the DCCC?

The more money that goes into DNC and grassroots organization instead of DCCC and DSCC, the better.

[Erika]

137. Good post

Thanks.

[rpannier]

146. If you can't get money it's kind of hard to fight

And to be honest, if the party did that to me, I'd be an awful thorn in their side. Because what else could they possibly do to me?
Either way it's a moot point. DeWine has his political talking point. As does Matthews, O'Rielly and the rest of those loudmouthed morons.

[brentspeak]

152. I don't think you even understand the situation

"From every report, the Democrats wanted him to take out Jean Schmitt." Wrong. The Democrats were the ones who first encouraged Hackett to announce a run for the Senate after Brown declined to run. So, Hackett takes them up, and makes a big, enthusiastic announcement in front of all the TV cameras that he's going for the Senate.

Then Brown (like an idiot) changes his mind and expects, along with the Democrats, that Hackett embarrass himself by going back in front of the cameras to say "You know that big announcement I made? With all the balloons and festivity? Well, I, uh, change my mind, and will instead rerun for Schmidt's House seat." I can't imagine any self-respecting person of character to willingly do something like that.

Add to that the backstabbing that Reid and Schumer did by calling Hackett's donors, it's easy to see why Hackett is thoroughly disgusted. If they wanted Hackett to defeat Jean Schmidt, they should have said that in the first place, and not jerked him around like a bicycle chain.

[VP505]

118. I couldn't

be more disappointed in the so called leadership of this party, it makes no sense to be stabbing viable candidates in the back like this. I am already struggling with giving up a life time of support for the Democrat party. Partly because of the spineless leadership and partly because of the DINO that keep sabotaging any effort to stand up to the cabal that's infected congress and the White House..

[Erika]

134. So you would go over to the GOP?

That would certainly help our country. Sarcasm off. W and his bushbots have ruined our country. You want more of them?

[VP505]

142. Where did I say anything about

joining the GOP? Actually I was think more about a third party, but if your that concerned about helping the country and not having more of the same from W, perhaps that question would be better asked of the party leadership and those Senators and Congress people who keep voting on the important stuff, as if they owed Bu$hCo something.

[Punkingal]

124. We're screwed.

As long as Harry Reid is in charge, we are just screwed. In 2004, he supported a former law partner of Ted Olson's to run for Congress in District 3 in Nevada. He is a politico...he makes deals, he doesn't fight. Rumor had it that he made a deal with the Rupukes to allow them to keep Nevada District 3. That is the kind of thing he does in Nevada, and now he is doing it to the country.

[Tiggeroshii]

128. He isn't th best majority leader.

that's for sure. For one reason or another, Frist is far better. He's so less efficient than Frist -even if Frist does got the propoganda machine on his side. I think Frist is still better than Daschle.

Reid has some work to do before he is really and efficient majority leader and it might take him getting replaced after 06 (following midterms)for him to learn it.

[PhilipDC]

252. Frist/DSCC

What!!! Frist is terrible. He's been a disaster for the Republicans as Majority Leader--his Presidential campaign is probably DOA because of his job as Leader. The only votes he wins are the ones where he has the votes all the way. Reid hasn't been perfect by any means, but he has outmaneuvered Frist on a few things. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES on most things.

By the way, Reid and Schumer (about as liberal as they come) voted FOR the filibuster.

Schumer's job at the DSCC is to get the best candidate in each race to the general election with the best chance of winning. In many instances, that means avoiding a tough primary by encouraging candidates to drop out and endorse the frontrunner. Brown has 10 times as much money on hand than Hackett had (just under 2.5 million versus 230K). That's not ONLY because they supposedly were telling donors to give to Brown instead of Hackett.

[Tiggeroshii]

279. That's true

I got the idea however, from the fact that the most conservative Democrat has about a 40% progressive vote record while the most liberal REpublican has at most a 30% progressive vote record. If those moderate Republicans are really that moderate, why are they still voting Repug 70% of the time, when we have Dems who only vote Dem sometimes 30% of the time at best(Ben Nelson, for example).It may not be a fault of the leadership, but is it that the most conservative(and less populated) places have about as much representation as the most liberal and most populated places? Probably something more along those lines.

yeah, I've been trying to tell these people who think Reid and Schumer are traitors to the progressive movement. If anything, by kicking out Hackett, they're HELPING the progressives... for whatever that's worth

[T Town Jake]

126. This is wrong on so many levels. We need to encourage candidates...

...like Paul Hackett, not chase them off.

For shame.

[goodboy]

131. This is not the Democratic party of the people. I'm not going to be

affiliated with any party. this is bullshit.

[Leilani]

133. They stabbed him in the back.

That's all you need to know.

And he would have won...a lot of Republicans loved his honesty, & would have voted for him. Lots of people on the other side hate politics as usual too. And we wonder why more people don't run for office.

Brown will not win. Ohio is NOT a progressive state. Hackett had a great chance to win because he was honest, outspoken, & a veteran.

What a waste of an opportunity, & how slimey of the "insiders."

[Divine Discontent]

147. OK, we gotta do this!!!

WORK

WITH

ME

EVERYONE,

PLEASE!

Mr. Hackett barely lost to the smart assed woman we all can't stand by just a couple points in a heavily Republican district, now translate that same man into all the districts where it's not so Republican, and you see him EASILY winning over WHINER-DeWine. Sherrod Brown comes from a heavily Democratic region where, if placed in an area where he would need 40% of the vote, like Cincinnati, he'd get well under that! He's nice, but nice ain't gonna cut it against these sob's, look at what happened to our "nice" candidates who we were certain would win!

I am an Ohioan. I know "Fem" has said over and over that "look at the record" about Brown, but hun, this gay boi ain't bitin! Ohio is NOT a progressive state, and we someone a tad bit more Democratic in nature than Mike "I'll vote a little progressive in 2006 to save my ass" DeWine! Paul is a SHOO in with the redneck, of which a lot of my family is. He is a young, tough, I ain't takin no crap from you, Iraqi Vet and he is our BEST chance of beating an incumbent senator who's a tad weaker than the avg. senator who runs for re-election. I don't know his gay views, but I do know this, this WAR has desimated our country more than ANY other issue, and Katrina is 2nd, and this pResident has no intelligence to be in the position he's in, we need ANY Dems we can get, Sherrod Brown BORES ME TO TEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone, please, we, as an Ohioan who knows MANY Republicans who would vote for Hackett, but not slick-Sherrod, I ask you to call or write your Democratic Reps, Senators, or the DNC tomorrow with me, I promise to do what I can...

DAMMIT you've no idea how SAD I was seeing this on the front page of DU, I'm nearly going to cry thinking this straight forward speaking Dem (even if he's not everything I want) is not going to get rid of that RUBBER STAMP for Bush, Mike DeWine!!!!!!!!!!!!


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202-863-8000
(For questions about contributions, please call 877-336-7200)

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

[ohtransplant]

140. Disappointing...

I don't understand what is accomplished by spewing venom at Hackett. It doesn't make Brown a better (or worse) candidate.

The truth is he gave a lot of people hope - hope that a Democrat who doesn't pull punches could win where many good Dem party insiders have failed in the past. The primary could have made that determination.

I'm disappointed we won't get the chance to see them run that race. I thought that's what primaries were for. I live in Ohio and was looking forward to that race.

I don't care what party Hackett belonged to previously. I care that he's a Democrat now. Plenty of people switch parties for a myriad of reasons. I've seen many testimonials here on DU from former republicans who have seen the light or realized their party has moved out from under them. We usually celebrate them.

I don't have any problem with Sherrod Brown or his efforts to compete hard. However, it leaves a bad taste to have party machinery chew up a viable candidate.

[0kamisama]

141. How could this happen?

Hackett was such a popular candidate across Ohio, and many loyal Democrats around the country admired him! Sure he was a new face in politics, but that would have appealed to new-time voters! I can't even imagine the logic behind Schumer's and Reid's choice to force him to step down his campain.

[Divine Discontent]

148. and this "gotta wait your turn" CRAP I've heard....

Obama didn't have to wait! He's a star, and that's why he got in, and you know he would have came here for Paul, would he do the same for Sherrod???????

[brentspeak]

150. Look at the position the Dem leadership put Hackett in

He would've looked like an idiot for changing his mind about running for the Senate after making such a public splash with his announcement. The whole thing was Brown's fault, not Hackett's.

My original fear when I heard a few months ago about the Dems jerking Hackett's chain was that he'd switch to Republican. That didn't happen, but this is really just as bad.

And the Democrats continue to shoot themselves (and us) in the foot.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[passy]

151. Who cares ? Neither of them can win against the machines.

Hackett's only chance of winning is to become a republican again. Or maybe a third party candidate, we all know that they often get more votes from the machines than the democrat contender.

[Divine Discontent]

153. don't give up passy, although I know we can't do much

but we gotta keep fighting

please. :cry:

[PBass]

159. Dems have to do more than work hard, they have to work SMART

and according to a post on the Daily Kos, Sherrod Brown had 10 times as much campaign money as Paul Hackett, BEFORE anyone made any phone calls.

Plus, most people seem to think Sherrod Brown is a BETTER CANDIDATE than Hackett. More progressive and more experience. (READ THAT AGAIN!!!)

In other words, Hackett would almost certainly lose the primary to Brown, wasting money that would be better spent in the general election.

Now I don't understand the timeline, and why Hackett announced for the Senate, and then Sherrod Brown changed his mind. That was stupid. That was the crux of the screw-up. Obviously these two campaigns did a lousy job coordinating with each other, leading to certain disappointment down the road. Somebody needs to get chewed out for that, probably.

Paul Hackett needs to suck it up and decide if he wants to run for office on a national stage, where there are CERTAIN to be many bumps in the road and many disappointments. I personally think Hackett should take a day to think things over and run for the House seat. First of all that is a clear-cut entry level path for many Senators (House first, then Senate). Second of all, I think he needs more political experience before he enters the Senate.

I am amazed at the doomsayers around here, GET A GRIP you guys. Gee whiz, you're ready to renounce your party affiliation over this, that is totally ridiculous!!! It's not like the Democrats don't already have a better candidate than Hackett, and he's going to BEAT DeWine like a bass drum, in November. If Paul Hackett can't withstand this setback, then he shouldn't be in politics!

TOUGHEN UP, SOME OF YOU SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF QUITTERS.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

160. Brown is a weasel

He wouldn't even have tried for the senate seat if hacket hadn't set the stage for victory. Hackett was the one who energized Ohio and ripened it for the picking. Brown said he wasn't going to run and then Hackett showed it could be done. Then weasel boy decides, "errr uhhh I think I am going to run after all."
Obviously the regular insiders are not the ones to run for office. Hackett could win with $10 and the DLC knows it that is why they forced the pull out. Being more progressive doesn't win seats in Ohio and it certainly doesn't retain them. Dewine gets the candidate he truly wanted. Hackett had the GOP shaking in their underpants and losing sleep at night.
DLC always plays not to lose. Hackett plays to win without fear of losing.

[bklyncowgirl]

163. Here's your Democratic infighting for you

Seems like Hackett is too much of a wild card for the Democratic leadership.

Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for the Cook Political Report, said that part of what made Democratic leaders nervous about Mr. Hackett was what had also made him so popular with voters.

"Hackett is seen by many as a straight talker, and he became an icon to the liberal bloggers because he says exactly what they have wished they would hear from a politician," Ms. Duffy said. "On the other hand, the Senate is still an exclusive club, and the party expects a certain level of decorum that Hackett has not always shown."

Mr. Hackett was widely criticized last year for using indecent language to describe President Bush. Last month, state Republicans attacked Mr. Hackett for saying their party had been hijacked by religious extremists who he said "aren't a whole lot different than Osama bin Laden."

Though Republicans called for an apology, Mr. Hackett repeated the mantra of his early campaign: "I said it. I meant it. I stand behind it."

Dear me, sure, voters love the guy but he might pee in the Senate punch bowl--or worse yet expect Senate Democrats to actually DO SOMETHING. We can't have that now, can we.

I'm pissed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/politics/14ohio.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1139916737-bc1gp5SI/XMXfXfD8wrT8g

[ticapnews]

218. This is the statement that sunk him

"The Republican Party was up to its old tricks again, using fear to silence opposition. They expected me to back down like too many Democrats have in the past"

This guy was a threat to the status quo. He might not have been satisfied to "keep the powder dry" after getting to the Senate. His shot at Reid, Schumer and the rest of the enablers ended his campaign. They have no problem using the powder against Democrats who challenge their power, but are loathe to use it against Cat Killer and his radical agenda in DC. Have to go along to get along.

[cascadiance]

165. I say we have Bernie Sanders give him a call!...

... and have him run as an independent in Ohio. And then we can all vote for another indy to team up with Bernie in the Senate as the next step towards creating a truly grass roots new party soon that answers to PEOPLE, and not CORPORATIONS.

I had a call from the DNC last night asking me to start giving them "periodic" donations. I guess they picked up on that I gave a donation to the DNC when Howard Dean took it over last year and joined the party then. I told them that until the DNC goes on an ACTIVE warpath towards getting rid of the DLC's *cancerous* influence over the Democratic Party, I would be donating to individual politicians and to other progressive organizations that are making it a mission to force the DLC out of influence over Democrats instead of the DNC! I wish I'd known of Hacketts situation earlier, and I would have said that too.

He told me his call was being recorded, and I told him GOOD, make sure that the DNC understands that even though I like Howard Dean a lot, that it isn't enough that they are doing now to get rid of the DLC influences over them. This situation just proves that even more! We are a sick country now!

[xchrom]

168. they should have let this play out in a primary.

schumer and crew don't have a winning record for running the democratic party from d.c. -- so why do they think so in this case?

and why should the people belive them?

[IndianaGreen]

187. Schumer and Reid think that Ohioans are idiots!

So they decided to choose for you who the nominee for the Senate race ought to be.

[erpowers]

170. Must Do Something

Myself and other must do something about this. This is wrong and should not have happened. All Democrats should be allowed to run in races. In addition, Republicans will use this against the Democratic Party to say that the party hates military personnel. I will be writing both Senator Schumer and Senator Reid. They were wrong for pushing Hackett to get out of the race. He deserved the right to run after the race he had in the Ohio Congressional district. He walked in and almost beat Schimidt. Depending on what you believe he did beat Schimidt, but they just stole the election from him. He should have been allowed to run a least in the primary.

[TomClash]

176. Not surprising

Schumer and Reid voted for the War and now want to shut out Dems who oppose it.

[aintitfunny]

177. This makes me want to weep

Because I did not think Paul Hackett would wilt in the face of political hackery.
Because I thought Paul Hackett and others like him would be the future face of the Democratic Party.
Because I am profoundly dissapointed that my party leaders would be such assholes.
Because I am profoundly dissapointed that my party leaders are such moronic assholes.

[Vinca]

178. Will the day ever come when

I WON'T be pissed off after checking the news? I'm so mad after reading the NYT article I can barely speak. I can't blame Hackett for saying to hell with it all. What on earth is wrong with our so-called leaders?

[Ohio Joe]

179. This is disgusting

I find it very offensive that people from another state have decided for me who I can vote for and who I can't. blech:puke:

[IndianaGreen]

186. This is how the establishment Democrats will ram Hillary down our throats!

They will threaten and cajole the big donors into withholding contributions from any Presidential candidate that the exalted Democrats in Washington do not approve of.

We might as well pack up our Feingold signs and go home!

[LynneSin]

189. Oh God forbid we're stuck with one of the more liberal democrats in Ohio

:eyes:

Brown has the reputation statewide and a solid progressive record to back it up. To be honest the contest between Hackett and Brown was like choosing if you want the pile with $5mil in twenties or the pile with $5mil in hundreds. If anything we know what Brown's voting record is and from what I've read it's right up the alley of what we want in our senate - pure progressive democrat values.

This is an uphill battle even with DeWine and repukes being very unpopular in Ohio because no matter how unpopular they are the repukes control the voting machine. So if we even want to contemplate winning Ohio we need to focus all our time, money and effort on the one candidate that could possibly win which is Sherrod Brown.

But I suppose it's easier for us to get our panties all wadded up our butts than to actually learn a little bit about Sherrod Brown and wish that we could have a candidate just like him running our our state's senate races!

[IndianaGreen]

194. You are still missing the point, Schumer and Reid CHOSE for Ohio

The Democratic voters in Ohio were denied their right to choose!

The way Hackett's campaign was sabotaged by the Democrats in Washington is the way those same Democrats are going to ram Hillary down our collective throats in 2008.

[LynneSin]

205. YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT: HE DECIDED TO DROP OUT!!!

You know this ISN'T the only state where there are several candidates running for the primaries. He's the one that tossed in the towel because he couldn't tell two people to go fuck themselves.

Ohio will be better off without him. If he can't put up a fight against Reid & Schumer I'm not even going to guess what he's going to do when he's up against the likes of Hatch, Lott, Brownback and the other rapid repukes

[ticapnews]

214. It isn't a matter of telling two people to eff off...

Those people control the party apparatus. The volunteers, the donors, the field staff. A lot of those people are going to do what the party leaders tell them to do. Sure, Hackett could have tried to run a grassroots campaign and made a show of it, but if he won the primary he would be so weakened for November it would have been nearly impossible to win. Never forget that Schumer, Reid et al are not interested in a fight, or even in taking back the Senate in November. They are committed to "keeping the powder dry" and going along to get along. They are satisfied with taking Bill Frist's table scraps.

Hackett was a threat to the status quo and had to be stopped.

[LynneSin]

216. Well, if he was this so-called "grassroots" effort none of that mattered

:shrug:

And gee, what a shame to be stuck with a noted pro-choice, anti-war, anti-patriot act, pro-environment candidate. We should all be so unfortunate to have candidates like that!

[OhioBlue]

285. No - Ohio will not be better off without him

Because he is inspirational. He has charisma and a presence that makes people want to work for him. He gives people hope that we can win an election. He also gives them confidence that he will vote based on what he thinks is right rather than because the party told him to do so or b/c they will give him a line item in the appropriations bill. This situation sickens me. Not because I am mad at Hackett. because I am mad at the Dem establishment. I have just recently become involved, donating, volunteering, running for precinct chair, registering voters.. Because, I thought I could help make a difference. All this says to me is f-you from the Dem establishment. We will make your choices, we will give the "grassroots" lip service, but it is really just to get their votes, free labor and donations.

[greenohio]

299. I think contacting donors and telling them not to donate to Hackett

was low.

I would hope that Brown didn't want to win this way.

[robcon]

191. For those who hadn't read it outside the NYT...

Dems to Hackett: Run for House
By David Hammer Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- "National Democrats are turning up the pressure on Indian Hill attorney and Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett, openly asking him to leave his campaign for U.S. Senate and take a second shot at southwestern Ohio's 2nd District House seat that he nearly won last summer.

Democrats have privately suggested for some time that Hackett, who has a national Internet following but faces the more experienced Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in a Senate primary, would be better off running again for the House seat held by Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt of Miami Township in Clermont County. Democrats acknowledge their chances of winning a district that voted 64 percent for President Bush in 2004 are slim without Hackett..."

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060213/NEWS01/602130354

[jonnyo]

207. this better be accurate

It sure didnt sound anything near that in the NYT article.

I immediately wrote all my "democratic" reps and told them they can all F off after I read that.

They do not get my vote or my money. Not that they need either. Not a single one of them will stand and fight for anything.

I saw the hackett article right after i read an article on a congressional giveaway worth billions to oil companies so they can drill on public land and pay nothing in rent. On top of 10 years of articles slashing education, Fing up health care -- my premiems are now $250 A MONTH, poisoning us with pollution, selling us out to Communist China, f'ing up our trade, busting unions, depressing our wages and handing money to their rich friends like candy, turning a blind eye to slave labor, basing our entire economy on never ending war, Detaining!?!, TORTURING PROVEN INNOCENTS, raising OUR taxes and cutting THEIR OWN, sending OUR children to occupy THEIR colonies, and just being god damned flat out cowards.

I've had it with these people. If this turns out to be true i MIGHT actually reconsider, although certainly NOT retract my letter to them since its still basically true.

[LeftNYC]

210. What dirt did they have on him? nt

[redqueen]

215. Sounds like Schumer and Reid actually INTEND to alienate Dems.

Good work, tools.

Keep it up.

[debbierlus]

220. What the FCK??????

I thought it was up to the PEOPLE to decide who they wanted in office.

Not the party leaders.

US.

This is fucking bullshit. I love Paul Hackett and I am going to his site to implore him to reconsider.

Paul Hackett ROCKS and he is JUST what we need.

Who the hell do Reid and Schuemer think they are???????

I am FURIOUS!

[AngryOldDem]

221. Congratulations, Dems! We just gave DeWine another term!

Sherrod Brown does not stand a chance.

Yet again we roll over and play dead.

[geiger]

224. Why do you say he doesn't have a chance?

I agree it's going to be tough, but I think he has a fighting chance.

[VirginiaDem]

305. I'd give Brown the edge.

DeWine doesn't fire up his base, he's a Republican in Ohio running in 2006, he's not polling that well, Brown is well known, respected and loaded with money.

This one is Brown's to lose.

[muchacho]

225. There they go again...

The Democratic party rank-and-file doing the political thing instead of the right thing.

Here's to more loses and no lessons learned...sigh.

[RubyDuby in GA]

228. Wouldn't it be nice if, for just once, that the goddamn dems could

get their act together? Just once..... That's all I'm askin'.
Everyone said give Reid a chance......he's quiet, but can get things done. Well, can you say NO FILIBUSTER? We have two assholes on the Supreme Court who shouldn't be there.

And now this? Who died and left him Lord of the Senate? And why are they taking cues from him anyway?

Howie runs the show and as soon as the fucking establishment dems figure that out and quit fighting him tooth and nail on every goddamned little thing, the whole party will be better off.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[VonDoomPhd]

231. This is all terribly confusing...

1.) I was under the impression that the Fighting Dem movement was the latest and greatest creature of the DLC to win seats.

2.) I was also under the impression that there are/were efforts underway to "clear the field" of anyone opposing a Fighting Dem.

3.) Previous poster was correct when they said "Paul Hackett could win the primary with $10." This is not a money issue as his popularity in an open primary would be priceless.

4.) Doesn't the DLC, Shumer, et. all realize that they could seriously hurt Brown's chances by making it seem as if Hackett was strong-armed?

5.) Then again, Paul could have just stayed in, told them all to take a flying leap...

Confused...

Head.
Throbbing.

[canichelouis]

238. I'm confused also

To the youth of DU I suggest only to not get too excited yet.

Politics is all about strategy. The game is age old and, true, full of corruption. It always has been and always will be to some extent. One of the ugly facts of life, like it or not. And yes, I agree, the game should be improved and move in the direction of principled purity, But it ain't gonna' happened all at once, no matter what you, me, one good politician , two of 'em, 50 of 'em want today.

We are in a serious battle here. You, me and almost all devoted Dems know it, and as despaired as I may be at times with the whole ugly business, I do believe that there are experienced players out there that understand way better than us the tainted rules of the game they are involved in.

One thing I am 100% sure of is that the Battle strategy of DIVIDE and CONQUER is REAL, and way up there in the political playbook.

[oc2002]

230. I wonder why?

Hacket seemed like a strong candidate. Whats going on here?

I am not glad I did not send any more money to the DNC.

DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY TO THE DNC>>GIVE MONEY ONLY TO THE CANDIDATES YOU SUPPORT!

[Spiffarino]

258. Wrong. The DSCC and DCCC are the culprits here.

It's the Beltway Dems that are fucking this up. I'm going out and giving MORE to the DNC so we can build the party from the roots up. The top-down party structure is where we need to drop support.

I gave to the DSCC and DCCC this year. No more. They are getting zero from me in the future.

[NNguyenMD]

232. There's a claim that Brown originally assured Hackett he wasn't running

for Senate, and then changed his mind. Is this true? because if it is then I don't blame Hackett one bit for feeling dumped on by his party.

I liked Schumer and Reid but this is just plain dirty what they've done to push him out of the race. It also speaks volumes of what makes "appropriate" establishment candidates these days, and it has little to do with character or quality and everything to do with $$$$.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

234. This totally sucks ass.

1. I'm truly disappointed in my party today. Nice Valentine's gift, eh?

2. What gives Reid, Schumer...anyone the right to determine who gets to run and who doesn't? That's what primaries are for. Let the people decide who they want as their candidate. This is total bullshit!

3. Perhaps Paul should run as an Independent.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

237. I sent him an email on his website:

Dear Mr. Hackett,

As a Democrat, I am highly disappointed in my party today. Although I am not a resident of your state, I am an American, and it really is disturbing to see anyone stand in the way of democracy-in-action. For Senators Reid and Schumer..or anyone for that matter...to decide for your constituents who the best candidate is to run against Dewine is frankly unacceptable. This is what primaries are for. I beg you to reconsider. If you do not run as a Democrat, perhaps run as an Independent for Senate. We need your voice. Thank you for speaking out, and G-d bless you. We have your back.

My name
Location

PS. You have ALOT of support on democraticunderground.com . Come visit us.

[abbiehoff]

280. Yes, this is absolutely true.

Not only that, but the party has asked him to run again for Congress in Ohio District 2 against Jean Schmidt. The problem there is that he had already promised other Democrats who are in that race that he would not run in District 2 again. The party says to Hackett, "Well, no one expects you to keep your word on that."

As usual, Hackett says, "I said it, I meant it, and I stand by it".

End of story.

[tom_paine]

239. The Dems act to restrain their base and ensure no "stars" will emerge

I ask again: Are the Democrats merely a paid subsidiary of the Busheviks?

I am starting to wonder.

[Joey Liberal]

246. Hackett should not quit politics

We need him AND Carl Sheeler.

[ToeBot]

248. You're right, He should run as an independent! n/t

[bucklebone]

255. Of course then..

he will split the vote with Brown and DeWine will skate in. The Democrats have got to get their act together. Could they possibly think of new ways to step on their d**ks???

[desi826]

249. So...has anyone called Reid's or Schumer's office...

and raised hell about it?
I did and they were sputtering.
Call.
Des

[BattyDem]

251. This line tells us everything we need to know about politics today:

"The party keeps saying for me not to worry about those promises because in politics they are broken all the time."


And this line tells us everything we need to know about Paul Hackett:

"I don't work that way. My word is my bond."



I don't live in Ohio, so I don't know all the details about the race, but I do know this: If the Democrats have now adopted the GOP-tactic of "anointing" a candidate instead of allowing the people to choose their candidate through the primary process, then we've got a very serious problem because that means BOTH major political parties are now shutting us out of the debate. :-(

[bucklebone]

256. It's going to turn into a case of voting for

the most charismatic demopublican or republicrat that the party bosses want to throw out there. Everyone is interchangable, and bought and sold on delivery to the electorate.

God help us.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

257. Welcome to DU, bucklebone, btw.

[Spiffarino]

259. FUCK the Beltway Dems. Support Dean and the DNC.

The DSCC, DCCC and other chickenshit Beltway Democrats are behind this, not Dean.

Give Schumer, Clinton, and Reid an earful. And while you're at it, give Nancy Pelosi a big shitburger to eat. This has got to stop.

[greenohio]

298. I hadn't heard, what was Dean's position on this?

Did he support Hackett?

[Spiffarino]

331. In all honesty...

...I have yet to see or hear anything from Dean or the DNC. I suspect they will be quiet about it, because they don't want the boat rocking any harder. To do anything else would be foolish.

However, I do know that Dean supports real grassroots organizing and "growing" candidates. Hackett was that kind of candidate. I would be very surprised if Dean is supportive of the DSCC's maneuverings. In his current position he can't say or do much. He has to hold the party together.

[whododayis]

265. does the democratic leadership purposely act like morans

possible reasons why the leadership is so out of touch;

a) self hate. they feel better when they lose, guilty if they win

b) just plain stupid. people kissing your ass doesn't stimulate your brain.

c) desire to piss off the progressive wing of the party because they think that by appearing as repubs in more stylish suits, they'll win over the hearts of right wingers. (this is my own favorite theory)

d) a rudderless movement that has become a private club where seniority and party loyalty are more valued than actual ideas

e) all of the above

[Endangered Specie]

267. you had better be fucking kidding me!

Hackett should have told them to go fuck themselves.

[whododayis]

268. if ever there was a write in candidacy that would have legs...

[davidwparker]

270. Same thing with Dean. Dems need to watch out for the knives of

out Dems before they get a chance to run against the repug.

Yet another example of the leadership going in a direction that goes against the base.

Hackett could have won, therefore he must be removed. Particularly, when he has a spine. Same with Dean.

We've either got to dump the Dem leadership or go to the Green party.

[Divine Discontent]

271. write hackett now!

http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact


tell him don't leave us, we need you more than ever, this fight is real and you're someone who is for ALL of us, from all walks and all backgrounds!

http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact
http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact



http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact

[davidwparker]

275. Here's what I wrote to Hackett.

I contributed to your campaign and would have liked for you to stay. RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT, since you have an independent streak. You got Dean-ed and consequently, we have Bush for another 4 years. Like Dean, you have backbone.

Run as an independent. It's the growing party. Too many people getting fed up with the leadership of both parties.

[Ken M]

274. Shit

Lousy ass topic for a first post.

Believe it or not, I know Bush voters that might have voted for Paul. They respect him, and don't like DeWiner at all.

There's no way they vote for Brown. They'll hold their nose and vote for DeWine, just like they did for Dumbya.

First the Ohio Party pisses off the NE Ohio bosses (especially a guy most of you have never heard of named Jimmy Dimora) and the black leadership when the picked a chairman. Blackwell's people are going to jump all over the latter.

Now Schumer and Reid compound the problem. The righties are going to spin it into the national party being anti-military or something stupid like that, and of course it will stick. Thanks a lot.

[Snivi Yllom]

277. WTF buisness does Schumer and Reid have with Ohio?

uggggg

[against all enemies]

284. Why Democrats lose 101. Intro to Stupidity.

[Kolesar]

287. The phrase "DLC" appears 24 times in this thread

sorry to say, but many of you DUers are quite misinformed.

[Taverner]

291. This is sad

Sorry, I had a lot of hope for the guy

[greenohio]

297. Truly sad

Hackett was a good candidate. This totally sucks.

I don't care what anybody says, I wanted Hackett.

Its really sad that he isn't running for anything now.

[greenohio]

300. Why do we have primaries anyway?

Lets just have our Congressional leaders decide who the candidates will be.

[VirginiaDem]

304. Sherrod Brown will likely win.

I'm not saying Hackett wouldn't have. Not saying Schumer and Reid were in the right. Just saying that Brown will win. He's also demonstrably progressive. He's probably more progressive than most Dems running for Prez in '08.

[rpannier]

309. Don't bet on it

By getting involved the way they did, Reid and Schumer have given DeWine and his allies their first big talking point, "The Dem Party forced out an Iraqi veteran by going behind his back to cut off his financial support."
They also have a second talking point. "Brown said he won't run. So, Hackett did. Then Brown changed his mind. Flip-flop."

[VirginiaDem]

322. If those are the best two talking points Dewine has

then they're in trouble.

Edited for grammar.

[IndianaGreen]

310. Hackett polled better than Brown against DeWine

Ohio Senate: Tight Race

DeWine Now Narrowly Leading over Hackett, Brown

January 7, 2006--Ohio Senator Mike DeWine has eked out a narrow lead over both potential Democratic opponents in his re-election effort, but the race remains hotly competitive.

The Republican incumbent enjoys an edge of 43% to 39% over Cincinnati-area lawyer Paul Hackett, and 45% to 40% over Congressman Sherrod Brown. Rasmussen Reports polling in mid-November and early December showed DeWine neck and neck with both contenders. Hackett then led DeWine by a single percentage point, while Brown trailed him by just two. The margin of sampling error in each of the polls is +/- 4.5 points.

Brown and Hackett appeal to many of the same constituencies, and especially those who think the President is doing a poor job in Iraq. In prospective contests with DeWine, Brown wins the support of 77% of those who believe President Bush is doing a poor job waging the war; Hackett wins 78%.

Hackett has had to cope with on-again, off-again support from Democratic party leaders. Brown had initially decided to abstain from a Senate run but then threw his hat in the ring after all. Hackett, who drew national attention for a narrowly lost bid for Congress against Jean Schmidt, insists he'll remain in the race regardless of any pressure from fellow Democrats to cede the field to the more politically experienced Brown.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Ohio%20Senator%20January%204.htm

[VirginiaDem]

323. So Brown is only five down this early in the

campaign against an incumbent. Yep, Brown will likely win.

[NuttyFluffers]

320. :) I suggest a rephrase: Sherrod Brown BETTER win.

otherwise all this shameful episode will be for naught.

that's it, for this race, there's no more excuses for the party. no more hemmin', hawin', backstabbin', and tryin' to whip the now demoralized base back in line. you can't render them irrelevant and expect them to be happy. after all this wheelin' and dealin' that senate seat BETTER happen.

and if a loss still occurs (which i believe will happen, as sad as i hate to think it), there's not a splinter of defense any democrat supporting this scandalous episode will be allowed to stand behind. no more. playing by these rules better pay off or it's time to cut losses and try another group that actually cares about its people AND gets results. there's only so many times people can be jerked around with little to no pay off before they've had enough.

so, Brown better win... the alternative is unspeakable.

[VirginiaDem]

324. Why do you believe that Brown will lose?

He's down five in the polls, which is a terrible sign for an incumbent this early. Add to that the facts that Brown has a lot of money and Ohio Republicans have to fight against the extra pernicious corruption meme, and I would put Brown near (certainly not "at") the top of the possible takeover list, behind Santorum and maybe MT and RI.

So, yep, Brown had better win but Brown probably will win.

[agincourt]

311. Reid and Schumer are klunkers,

We need more agressive leadership who will hit the Tammany Taliborgs with some passion. These guys are "safing" the GOP's opposition party into oblivion. Dean's the only real leader in the party and we need much more.

[Doremus]

312. This SO pisses me off.

I. am. so. mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DeWine is popping the champagne corks at the eternal STUPIDITY of the Dem leadership and laughing at the idiots who BROWBEAT the best chance we had to retake his Senate seat.

The dimwits have just guaranteed 6 more years of DeWine.


Typical that the slimey DLC wouldn't take the man at his word when he said he wouldn't be running in the 2nd district. WELL, THEY JUST FOUND OUT THERE'S STILL HONEST MEN LEFT IN THE WORLD AND THEY BULLIED ONE OF THEM INTO WITHDRAWING FROM POLITICS FOREVER.

STUPID, STUPID PEOPLE.


Sometimes I hate this party.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[VegasWolf]

313. After the Alito smooth handling of the Democrats and Hillary's war stance

I changed my registration from Democrat to Independent. This just further confirms my choice was correct.

[pat_k]

314. How we get him to FILE on THURS??

He can drop out later if he feels he must, but WE NEED HIM. And we need TIME to show him that he'll get all the support he needs.

The biggest problem the party faces is the perception that they are weak. Hackett's strength and principled commitment are just what the doctor ordered. Tragically, irrational fear is causing the "patient" to reject treatment.

If we allow the DSCC to push Hackett out of the race, I fear that we'll lose both Schmidt's and DeWine's seats. . . and other seats that would be won because of the boost Hackett's Senate campaign would give the Democratic party as a whole.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

321. DLC snatches defeat from the jaws of victory again!

Ohio is too conservative to elect Brown. DeWine has the candidate he wanted. They feared Hackett but they know Brown will lose and then they will not fight to count every vote again.

When does the DLC play to win and stop playing not to lose. Where the hell is Howard Dean and why doesn't he step in??

[Dragonbreathp9d]

325. Do they really think this is going to help the Dems?

Honestly! We had more than a fighting chance with Hackett, this pisses me off!!!!

[Contradistinction]

326. This is why Democrats lose

Plain & simple. We finally get a canditate that would have won & speaks the truth & trade him in for somebody that has "experience." Whatever....We get what we deserve.

[antiblazer]

327. WRITE to Paul Hackett

Everyone should write a letter and tell Hackett to change his mind and urge him to run again!!! We need more people like him fighting the Bush administration and the corrupt Republican agenda. It only takes a few minutes of your time.


Here is the contact information

Hackett for U.S. Senate
P.O. Box 1111
Cincinnati, OH 45201
[phone] phone
[phone] fax

http://www.hackettforohio.com/page/s/contact

[Boneman]

332. I am reregistering as an Independant next week because of

this. I have been a Democrat for 41 years. This is just too much.