What's it gonna' take to dominate 2006 federal elections?

[CarlSheeler4U]

The unyielding conviction to be THE party with strong leaders fighting for family, faith and flag. Party elected officials who will say, "I will not lie to you."

What better way to start 2006 than to push for the Impeachment of Bush?!

Carl
Sheeler for US Senate
www.carlsheeler.com

[Warpy]

Take a cue from Governor Schweitzer's playbook

Drop the nuances. Drop the yuppie platform. Talk to plain folks in the language they understand and talk to them about having some hope for a better economic future once the crooks and cheaters are on the run.

That's how you win.

[Flabbergasted]

5. Amen! Exactly what I've been thinking!

This simple strategy would sweep congress and presidency in 2008 if its not all talk!

[CarlSheeler4U]

7. That is whether you choose the party insiders or not.....

[Flabbergasted]

11. Why?

[CarlSheeler4U]

22. Because the S-O-S a different day is what was lacking in our

leadership that got us this way. Conservatives protecting turf does not provide the representation the public deserves.

[CarlSheeler4U]

6. How does this strike you?

This was a reply written to the letter to the editor.

Support “family, faith and flag” candidates this year

I’m responding to a recent letter to the editor “Support pro-life candidates this year” written by Mr. Norman Lowrey of the RI Veteran’s Home in Bristol. First, as a veteran myself, thank you for your service to our country. Second, I agree with your opinion that the primaries (September 12, 2006) are where the public gets to decide who will represent them in the general election (November 7, 2006). This is true for Independent voters, too. I also respect how faith is important to your family values. Mine, too. With five kids, it better!

Pregnancy termination is a very difficult and personal issue. Two-thirds of Rhode Islanders are pro-Choice. This is true for Sheldon Whitehouse, a primary opponent of mine, as well as Senator Lincoln Chafee, the incumbent. I think many pro-lifers will agree the goal is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, not have mostly men legislate what women can or cannot do with their bodies. This is not the top issue for most voters.

Being Catholic does not make anyone morally superior. Being compassionate and having convictions might. My goal is progress, not perfection. Terminations should remain legal when a woman’s life or physical health is in danger, when pregnancy is caused by rape or incest and in most cases during early pregnancy.

I stand for women equality, which means reducing government intrusion in the bedroom and to have terminations “safe, legal and rare”. Norman, I think Luke 6:37 is where Jesus instructed “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned…”

Frankly, people vote for a candidate based upon getting serious about values’ issues like Homeland Security, rolling back millionaire tax cuts, ending oil dependence as well as the Iraq war, greed and materialism. I think these issues impact our hope and are more central to our middle class values. This is why I support faith-based initiatives to combat poverty like those of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

God is not a registered Republican. We’re both optimists and I pray he’s on my side. I think we’d agree faith and convictions in public policy is a covenant centered on issues of economic security, health care, educational opportunity and equality. “We the people” means the public doing their part and being engaged in our elections in order to rebuild stronger families and stronger communities. Shared values means we need open, honest and ethical elected officials who are going to put family, faith and flag first.


Carl Sheeler is a Marine veteran, business owner, educator and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in R.I.

[Flabbergasted]

13. Well written I agree!

[CarlSheeler4U]

23. Thanks. Pass it on to the other judgmental bastards

[eleny]

1. Disable all the e-voting machines that don't have a paper trail

[CarlSheeler4U]

4. Beginning in Ohio and Florida. Yeah Baby

[blm]

31. Yes - expose the GOP control of broadcast media and voting machines.

.

[CarlSheeler4U]

33. Now that is a bloggers wet dream! Good place to start.

[linazelle]

47. That's it---the only answer. nt

[CarlSheeler4U]

49. How do we beging?

[BeFree]

60. How do we begin?

We begin by going down to the local Supervisor of Elections office and telling them- 'Do away with Paperless Voting Machines, or else'.

Or else you will make their careers miserable.

Next, you call your county commissioners and tell them they will be the next one's to be diebolded. Do the same to your state legislators, your federal representatives and your governor. Ask them to tell you what Paperless Ballots means to them, and then explain how in 2000 Paper Ballots were Hand Counted to determine the true winner of the Florida elections in 2000, and how since that election was stolen and proven to have been stolen by the Hand Counting of Paper Ballots, they tried to totally elminate any form of Paper Ballots from election systems across the country by HAVA.

Demand Paper Ballots for everyone as a simple security measure. Demand Paper Ballots as a simple backup against computer crashes, bad programming, and any further stolen election.

Visit the DU Election Forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=203

[CarlSheeler4U]

63. Simple solutions to really dumb problems. I like it!

[BeFree]

64. It's called.......

Excercising Democracy.

We can do this: Save our Vote. We must do this. Otherwise we will never again see a true democrat be elected.

[CarlSheeler4U]

65. Litle steps with a very, very large muscle. I'm with you.

[BeFree]

68. Well, that makes two of us.

Looks like we got 'em surrounded! LOL

[CarlSheeler4U]

70. Ever watch a movie where it looks like a few are surrounded

but the rest are just below the hill or around the bend. Somebody has to step up or we're going down ina blaze of glory.

[CarlSheeler4U]

77. Can you help me then?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=529406&mesg_id=529406

[CarlSheeler4U]

76. Can you help me then?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=529406&mesg_id=529406

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Grover Cleveland was elected on the platform

"He is an honest man". I like yours-"I will not lie to you." Saying the same thing, and pledging no corruption, no cronyism. Impeaching the idiots who are ruining our country should be the first step taken by the new Congress.

[CarlSheeler4U]

3. Agreed 'cept starting impeachment now

[Twist_U_Up]

8. Everybody knows!!

--The Republican party has failed America.

--Republicans are burning holes in America's pockets.

--Republicans are all talk and no action.

--The GOP gave Bush a blank check, both on power and on budget

--Republicans succeed at failing America and the world.

--Chalk up another flaming failure for the GOP

-- GOP: Not to be confused with GOD

P.s. Loved your Billboard !!! Good luck. GO GET THEM BUSH BASTARDS!!!

[CarlSheeler4U]

24. But also remember they couldn't take if we had wanted to fight for it!

[pinto]

9. For 2006, I think, "Cronyism, Corruption and Incompetence" is a win meme.

From Social Security, to Iraq, to Medicare, to Katrina, to Security - Cronyism, corruption and incompetence has cost thousands of American lives, billions of dollars and has mortgaged the next decade to debt.

[Warpy]

15. "They're worse than we are"

won't win for long. Once the Bush gang is gone, the GOP will be back under new management and with the same tired old ideas that are killing us all.

[pinto]

19. I didn't say that, though I agree with you. 2006 is about reasserting

the Congressional prerogative to play its part in setting a national agenda, fulfilling real oversight responsibility and setting realistic budget priorities. While I agree that a narrow, anti-Republican campaign theme is only as good as the next election, 2006 is a good opportunity to use their glaring and growing failure as a national party as backdrop for Democratic alternatives.

[CarlSheeler4U]

28. Be careful of policy wonks. First, must win hearts, before minds.

Then can work on undoing the damage... which will take momumental and painful reform. NOw that is what pisses me off. Because Joe Q citizen did nothing to deserve this.... grrrrrhhhhhh!

[pinto]

44. I think some of these issues are visceral, not policy, for rank and file.

I was playing with a "slogan" idea. But you probably get the point.

[CarlSheeler4U]

45. The party with big brass ones! Well speaking for myself!

[CarlSheeler4U]

26. Bad begative waah. Sit this one out. We need winning thoughts.

[CarlSheeler4U]

52. We both suck. They suck worse is not a gut grabber.

[CarlSheeler4U]

25. Agreed, but we have to find fighters who would not only prevent

more of the same, but who will take back territory that belongs to the public

[0rganism]

36. Rephrase it positively for Dems: Fairness, Integrity, Competence

Right now, Democrats are looking for positive messages. We can gain mileage from propping these ideals, and still burn repubs with the obvious implication that our opposition lacks in these areas.

[CarlSheeler4U]

38. Toothless Dems, does not curl toes. PC is so Bananarama

[pinto]

39. Good one!

:thumbsup:

[CarlSheeler4U]

41. Years in the Corps baby!

[Rocknrule]

10. Do you think they will be able to steal 2006?

After Grand Theft Election 2004, Bush's popularity has gone down the shitter for the most part. Do you think that in light of this, we will be able to overcome Diebold?

[Benhurst]

17. I'm afraid not. The corporate media will explain

how the Republicans won the 2006 elections against all odds.

[CarlSheeler4U]

30. And we can sit on our hands and whine. Active Democarcy is NOT

a spectator sport! We just fight. That is why new blood that isn't just PC is needed.

[CarlSheeler4U]

29. Do we want to watch or do we want to challenge if it means

counting every freakin' card. Point taken. No guarantees.

[FloridaPat]

12. All it should take is "I'm Not a republican". 5 years of lies,

thievery, and incompentence should have put the repub party on the dead species list.

[CarlSheeler4U]

32. Oh to dream that people could see and hear what we do.

[Poiuyt]

57. That's what I thought in 2004

We must convince the people that the Democrats have a positive agenda. Howard Dean gave a statement a few weeks ago about what Democrats stood for and it was brilliant. It took about 15 seconds to say. Not some long winded essay. But I can't find it now.

[CarlSheeler4U]

66. It centered around we're the party of values.

We need to steer clear of policy positions that 80% of folks will not listen if we share and instead appeal to their core sense of rage, hope and determination.

[Minnesota Libra]

14. It will take two things......

.....
1) A miracle that the majority of Americans have smartened up by then.

2) A return to Paper Ballots.

Get those ducks in a line and you've got yourself a real old time election. Otherwise, enjoy what you've already got.

[CarlSheeler4U]

34. I'm voting for #2. It'll take a lot of us pounding to get the 80% awake.

[populistdriven]

16. hire KKKarl

sorry, :rofl:, my kids have been driving me insane today :)

IMHO the corps have to fear 2 more years of Bush unrestrained

[CarlSheeler4U]

35. No put Karl Rove in a room with your kids or mine!

[bookman]

18. Message must be positive

"I will not lie to you." is good, but many Americans won't believe that coming from a politician. Many will see it as Bush bashing. (Well.....yeah!)

Message needs to be simple and straightforward and believable.

[CarlSheeler4U]

37. Okay. I'll telll you the truth. Bush is a liar!

simple and straightforward and believable

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

48. Balance: Positive / Negative

"A vote for me is a vote for justice: they stole your hard-earned tax dollars and for that they must pay!"
just an off-the-cuff example.

"I will not lie to you" reminds me too much of Bush saying "trust me." Show, don't tell: show them the truth.

[CarlSheeler4U]

50. An ideal, but shoowing the truth in 7 and 30 second sound bites tall order

[savemefromdumbya]

20. Say how useless the Bush administration is on homeland security

Bush is not to be trusted with our security - he made a balls up when Katrina struck and gives away our ports to terrorist linked countries. One minute he wants to catch all the terrorists and the next minute he is in bed with them. One minute he wants Osama dead or alive and next minute he is not concerned where he is. As long a we promote they are v weak on HLS then we will win. We may beat the Diebold machines too!

[CarlSheeler4U]

40. Strong messages that takes away their perceived strengths

[savemefromdumbya]

46. I do believe people are so afraid

Even now, people are afraid and that is what cheney wants you to do - be afraid. They want to be perceived as being strong. However, there are 2 massive chinks in the armor. Katrina and now the 'arab ports' I do think Dems should ridicule Bush and cheney describing them as incompetent, hypocritical. Dems appear too apologetic and weak. Dems need to beef up their campaign with fighting words.

[CarlSheeler4U]

51. Cheney F*ck yourself. You and puppet boyn can't shoot straight!

Like that.?

[AndyTiedye]

21. It Will Take Getting DIEBOLD Out of the Elections Business

[CarlSheeler4U]

42. Then start the smear campaigning now w/FL and OH

[EFerrari]

55. We need to start with CA because there is a coup on here. n/t

[CarlSheeler4U]

56. Well certainly the Duke's congressional seat for sure

[EFerrari]

61. We need to dump the Thug appointed Sec of State before

he diebolds our vote.

And we need a strong candidate to kick Ahnold's butt.

[CarlSheeler4U]

62. A member of the GLBT community would be perfect or how 'bout the

mayor of SF? I had read he was doing a great job.

[EFerrari]

71. I have really mixed feelings about Newsom. On one hand,

he stood up for equal rights. On the other hand, I happen to know that he is engaged in rousting homeless people and then denying it in the press.

But, he is well spoken and good with the media. He would be a strong candidate although he won't get the bigot vote.

[CarlSheeler4U]

73. Few good candidates would

[mnhtnbb]

81. AMEN!

As long as the voting machines--counting the votes--are controlled by Republicans, you will see Republicans winning. People will be scratching their heads saying, "but the exit polls predicted otherwise. What happened?"

[DanCa]

27. We have to get the third party voters on board.

I am not putting anyone down for voting third party but in all honesty we need you know more then ever. If we want to get out of GOP hell than we need all the votes we can muster.

[CarlSheeler4U]

43. I agree 100%. Remember all inclusive party. Win is a win!

[bklyncowgirl]

53. I favor a mix of hard hitting negative and common sense positive.

1. Cut the nuance, call a spade a spade and don't be afraid to take a stand and defend it.

2. Use the phrase "Rubber Stamp Republican". Point out why voting Republican will put more power into the hands of the people who brought you the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina and who want to sell our ports to Dubai. Say "I will not be a rubber stamp for George Bush".

3. Use the phrase "Culture of Corruption". Have a real reform plan that ordinary people can understand and that actually will lower the influence of money in politcs. Tell the people what this corruption costs us, the American taxpayers. Use their cynicism about politicians to your advantage.

4. Have a crisply articulated series of issues that make sense, will appeal to the average voter and could actually work to make our lives better if put into place.

5. Declare your allegiance to the interests of the working American, the small farmer and the small businessman against the giant multinational corporations who have no loyalty to this country.

6. Agree to disagree about social issues. The anti-abortion extremists aren't voting for you anyway but moderate pro-lifers may be able to find common ground on prevention and on the idea that maybe this shouldn't be a political issue. Be willing to talk about the moral reasons for your positions on the issues. If you're a genuinely religious person feel free to talk about your religious beliefs but if you're not, please don't try to fake it.

7. Frankly, there's nothing that can be done right now about Diebold except at the local level where pressure can be put on local officials making voting machine decisions. Congress isn't going to do shit. They'll keep Holt's bill and anything else which threatens the status quo from ever coming to a vote. There's nothing wrong with raising the issue though and if there's any evidence of chicanary, the Democrats need to go to the mat just like the Republicans do even when there's no evidence.

[CarlSheeler4U]

54. You have to have teeth if you're gonna' bite in other words!

Yeah, baby.

[Jose Diablo]

58. An honest election process

Uh, has anything been accomplished on those Touchscreen voting issues since 2004? Nope still there and now we don't have enough time to do anything for '06.

Edit:Maybe '08. Ya figure?

[CarlSheeler4U]

67. Keep paper trails and check mail in ballots closely.

It's the best we can do.

Carl

[flyarm]

59. a new voting system that is transparent..we will not win until this is

addressed and fixed..where ever these fuckers think they could loose a seat they will tell the public over and over how close it is..so when they steal it ..it won't be caught..

the game they play is to keep saying how close it is between candidates..so the steal is not so obvious..they will repeat this bullshit over and over again!

fly

[CarlSheeler4U]

69. Then keep pressure on the media. Other ideas?

[Earth_First]

72. Apathy will not be the answer...

Sitting on Democratic Underground is not the answer. Join a group of citizens working in your LOCAL community to elect progressives and activists alike who are going to campaign for US.

If no such group exists, CREATE ONE! That is exactly what we are faced with here locally, and it is exactly what we plan to accomplish: 2 Democrats on the Village Trustee Board and 1 Democrat as a Town Councilperson. Ambitious? Absolutely! But it's here where it starts first.

We'll see how YOU decide to act.

[CarlSheeler4U]

74. There is truth to your thoughts. Engaging interest begins with

establishing the belief that small moves can make big things happen. It's persistance as much as it's perspiration.

[ldf]

75. sorry, carl, but you have lost me

i didn't get through the whole thread, couldn't get past your letter to the editor.

your letter just sounds like a carefully thought out justification to placate the pro-lifers. in other words, you are pro-choice, as long as YOU and THEY are allowed to define the parameters.

i'll just address the one main issue mentioned, choice.

not really, sex is what you/they are talking about, and the fact that if you do not CHOOSE to not have sex, then you WILL live with the consequences, because if necessary, and if they are allowed, they will tie you down and make you have the baby. (far fetched? i used to think so, but no more, especially since recently a woman's body was kept functioning for months by machines after being declared braindead, just so she could give birth to the child, which died anyway.)

if everything was all about god's will, then it was god's will that the mother and the baby die. (it must have been, since that is exactly what happened.)

so essentially, bottom line, these people are against sex.

the pro-life people aren't that concerned about unwanted pregnancies, or they would be FOR sex education. but as we all have seen, they will fight tooth and nail, try all sorts of legal ways to PREVENT sex education, on the excuse that knowledge of is just a how-to manual.

therefore, they are completely obsessed with the fact that someone out here might be having sex, and even worse, a sex act that they don't approve of.

and they drag out their much used (and abused) bible to start telling people how big a sinner they are.

so, lets address the REAL issues.

you feel that abortion should not be allowed, except for the health of the mother, rape, incest, etc.

if an embryo is so damned holy, then it doesn't matter whether it is a product of rape or incest. it is life, and the woman should have it. period. if the woman dies bringing another life into this world, so be it. its god’s will.

it would have been nice if the woman had been educated in preventing pregnancy, but that is not the stance. the woman should have never had sex to start with. the pro-lifers will make all sorts of justifications, but the bottom line is - the woman should have never been having sex to start with. i won't even begin to address the guy's role in this.

so, we should never have sex, UNLESS it is within those bible based guidelines.

no one will have sex until it is within the confines of marriage. (were YOU a virgin when you got married? If you weren’t you are a total hypocrite.) and then the sex you have BETTER be with your spouse. and then, the sex act you engage in BETTER be one that is acceptable to those
making the rules. and then, you WILL have the baby. period. no discussion.

and all of this is based on what? because god said.

oh, you mean the bible says.

the very same bible that was written 300 years AFTER the existence of jesus.

the very same bible that has wrought centuries of death and destruction, by way of religious crusade.

the very same bible that has written justifications for the very same "incest", "murder", "infanticide", "slavery". look it up. they are all in there, many times on "god's" orders.

and when asked, these people have no real proof of any of it. it is all based on "faith".

so, god does not exist physically, only in our minds.

and you are toeing the line drawn by THESE PEOPLE?

here is my bottom line.

anyone can believe anything they want, if it helps them get through the trials and tribulations of life. yes, even the flying spaghetti monster.

BUT, it is a personal belief, and is ONLY for use in their own lives. it has ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVANCY to my life. OK?

i don't care how many people believe the same thing. again, it is irrelevant. that is like allowing all civil rights to be decided by popular vote. (wow, how close are we to living our lives based on THAT truth? notice my avatar?)

i don’t think any politician should be playing footsie with those who would turn this country into a theocracy, if allowed.

instead, i think the american people are thirsty for someone who will say just what i said, that you can use whatever you need to get through life, as long as NO one else is harmed. it is called personal freedom, one of the basic foundation tenets of this country.

and until a group of cells are alive, outside the body, the wishes of the host come first.

and no one, you nor the country, is served by giving in to these holier than thou personal dictators.

you have said many good things here, and i do support your candidacy. i just hate to see us falling for the same old traps.

more of the same ol, same ol, just wrapped in a more, seemingly, caring wording.

in other words, the bible says "do not judge, lest ye be judged". that works for me. let god sort us out at the pearly gates.

wouldn't it be terrible if all these so-called christians were kept from entering the pearly gates because of all the judging they did here, even though they were specifically told NOT TO DO THAT? karma could very well be a bitch, couldn't it.

and, for the record, i am an atheist. and gay. what any so-called god says, or doesn't say, is, again, irrelevant as far as my life goes.

i will just trudge through this harrowing existence trying to be nice to others, simply because i want them to be nice to me. wow, what a concept!

good luck.

[CarlSheeler4U]

78. When you have an argument with somebody

You can either choose to find common ground or only hold your position. History shows us what happens with absolutes. We're witnessing it right now.

If you don't agree with the goal ought to be fewer unwanted pregnancies, then I have failed terribly in conveying my thoughts.

Keep government out of our bedrooms. Agreed.

But my sense of chess is to use the lingo the opposition will uses, but frame the message before they do. It tends to begin with a religious or moral argument. Beat the opponent to the punch; otherwise, compounding your position is a sense that the majority's God doesn't matter.

This alienates even people who you would want to have support your position, but when you express humility it erodes the opposition's ability to effectively thump on your position and forces them to look like a fanatic or unreasonable.

I like the balanced approach of human reason and spirituality.

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

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

[Sugar Smack]

80. "Something the Heinz queen couldn't buy for Johnny", huh?

enjoy your short stay.

[mdmc]

82. posts like this will result in curse words replies here at DU

just like BFEE posts gets cursed out at fr.com . Some are here to learn, some to support Dems, some to bond, some to disrupt.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

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