One hand washes the other

[H2O Man]

One of the issues that I think is important to consider between now and the November 2008 elections is the relationship between the democratic party leadership and the grass roots progressives. The 2006 elections were a wonderful example of how well these two groups could coordinate efforts: the grass roots progressives were outraged by the Bush administration’s war of occupation in Iraq, and the party leadership indicated that they would work to bring the war to an end, if they could get a majority in congress.

The grass roots translated the public discontent into huge democratic victories in the House and Senate. Then the democratic leadership translated these majorities into further support of the Bush administration’s policies.

As a result, there is a growing divide between the progressive/liberal branch of the democratic party, which is found at the grass roots, and the moderate/conservative democrats, who are in the leadership and machine positions.

Both groups have some strengths and some weaknesses. The leadership/machine folks, who take a Hamiltonian approach, have become well-organized. Why, hardly a day passes when I do not get either a letter in the mail, or a call on my phone, asking me to donate yet again to this campaign or that group. They learned from the Dean movement in 2004 that the grass roots can put together enough small donations to make a big impact on any campaign.

I’ve taken the time to talk to different callers about issues such as ending the war and impeaching VP Cheney, and been told these are important to the Hamiltonians, and if I could please send a check, they’ll get right on it. When I’ve spoken of the strength of ideas among the progressive communities found at places like DU, many of those people calling expressed interest. And, in recent months, I’ve found myself thinking that there are many Hamiltonians on DU, attempting to organize support for the machine politicians.

Yet when the grass roots progressives call their representatives, they are frequently frustrated. Yesterday, a number of DUers said that the workers at one of the democratic leader’s office were hanging up on them when they were attempting to express their opinions. When we remind them of their responsibility to end the war, the machinists say that this wasn’t what the 2006 elections were about. Progressives recognize that this is just as much a lie when a democratic leader says it, than if Karl Rove said it.

As a result, the hostility between the leadership/machine and the progressive/liberal grass roots is intensifying. I notice this when I get phone calls, asking me for another donation for a candidate or group. When I say that I am unsatisfied with the leadership’s refusal to listen to the grass roots, and that I will not be donating another penny until they change, the callers have become obnoxious and rude.

I am instead investing my time and money in those democratic politicians and groups that share the progressive values of the progressive grass roots. That includes donating to things like DU, TruthOut, local independent media sources, anti-war and pro-impeachment groups, and those politicians that I believe are voices of conscience. I am not going to leave the democratic party, and I’m not going to sit the 2008 elections out. Instead, I’m going to take a Jeffersonian approach.

If the party leadership were smart, they would not only accept this type of decision by progressives, but they would endorse it. If the past nine months have shown nothing else, it has become clear that the party leadership/machine can access plenty of corporate money. They should be encouraging progressives and liberals to be investing in their small, local community-based groups. Look at the amount of money that the top presidential contenders have accumulated, and tell me that they need your hard-earned dollars more than your local anti-war group, or the Center for Constitutional Rights’ impeachment program, or a non-corporate media source.

When the grass roots begins to take this approach on a larger scale, then the party leadership will begin to understand the true meaning of "one hand washes the other."

[Horse with no Name]

1. Thank you so much for this

This is exactly how I feel. Although I won't be donating to the DNC, I will donate to select candidates that represent my views.
And IF Gore decides to run, I will surely jump on that bandwagon.
You are much kinder than I am in your assessment of the corporate branch of the party.
Starve the beast!

[Horse with no Name]

2. Just to add another thought here

I have seen DU'ers give money to the machine and say that they do it so that the machine will stop taking corporate money.
It saddens me to see this type of naivety. The machine will NOT stop taking corporate money, and even when it has ENOUGH money, will continue to take it...if nothing else but to wipe it's butt with it.
We have to stop this type of thinking. I am not advocating for people to STOP giving their money to their favorite candidate, but just to be educated that in the long run...their $20 or $50 or $100 means nothing to the corporatists and will do NOTHING to convince them NOT to take the corporations money.

[madokie]

3. I read a long time ago that the most important politician in the average joe's life is his county

commissioner so when I give money I do it on the local level where I think it has a chance of being recognized for what it is, me giving them money to watch out for people like me. Guess what, I have a great county commissioner too but I think he is being term limited out this time

[H2O Man]

8. In the post-Nixon era,

the republican activists began an campaign that had both immediate and long-term goals. They looked to begin to immediately get candidates on school boards, village boards, and in city hall. From there, they moved up to the county level, then to the state level. And they knew that, in time, this would allow them to take power on the national level.

It is hard to ask grass roots democrats to engage in a similar campaign now. I am fully aware of the fact that our Constitution will not be in place in another decade, much less three decades, if the democratic leadership does not grow a spine and a conscience. But I also know that progressives will lose the opportunity to institute significant change if they do not adjust their approach to politics now.

[H2O Man]

5. Individual donations

to the machine are about as likely to stop it as filling the gas tank on a lawn mower will stop it.

[MadHound]

4. I see this as the end game of a thirty plus year plan carried out by the corporatists in our party

And our nation. I've watched this evolve over the course of my political lifetime, with the left and grassroots increasingly marginalized within the party, being called on to vote for Dems and donate to Dems, but not getting the benefits of belonging to the party. Instead, we're becoming increasingly demonized by those within our party, told to sit down and shut up. The MoveOn and Stark incidents are simply the latest public example of this party attitude. And as the rationale goes, who else is the left going to vote for, the 'Pugs?

Sorry, but I find it difficult to continue working for, donating to and supporting a party that so visibly and radically opposes most of what I stand far. I've tried the whole "change the party from within" schtick, and "support local" ploy, and been active in trying to change things. You know what it's gotten me? Bupkus, zilch, zero, nada. Worse than that, it has gotten me a party that is continuously betraying my most sacred values, a party that has moved ever rightward, a party that refuses to listen to the left, a party, elected to power to end the war whose top candidates now state that they can't guarantee that the troops will be out of Iraq by 2012. 20fucking12! I've got friends and family over there, and the Democrats, much like the 'Pugs, want to keep them in that goddamn shooting gallery for five more years! Fuck that!

There comes a time when one has to admit that a relationship is no longer working, that there is such a large gap between the two that it will never be bridged. For me, this is one of those times. The Dems no longer represent me or my interests, so why should I support them. I imagine that I will continue to support Kucinich, at least through the primaries. But after that, no guarantees. If the Dems want my vote, then they will have to earn it. I will be looking at other venues for bringing the madness to halt because it is apparent that the Dems won't. It is time that a serious lesson was taught to the party that they can't ignore their base and still expect to survive. This lesson won't be accomplished by staying within the party, but by directly challenging it. Perhaps they'll get the message. If not, hey, they'll go the way of the Whigs.

[Horse with no Name]

6. It happened when sub-entities of the Democratic Party

were placed into business. The DLC for instance. Most everyone involved at the top of that structure was/still is a Republican.
The corporations paid for them long ago.
Their tree is just starting to bear fruit now. You can rest assured it will be cultivated while the progressive arm is weeded out.

[H2O Man]

10. I thank you

for expressing so well what I have attempted to warn the aides of the democrats in congress is happening. I believe that I know you and others on here well enough that I do not have to ask that you keep an open mind between now and next fall -- that is not the problem, and never has been. But I do ask that people who are frustrated to a point that they are tempted to ask for a separation if not a divorce from the party consider shifting their focus for a period. I say this because the Cheney administration is planning to lead the country down a dangerous course that will change the political map by next fall.

[BelgianMadCow]

29. That post is OP-worthy, imho n/t

[H2O Man]

32. Absolutely.

I agree.

[MadHound]

39. Thanks for the compliment! n/t

[porphyrian]

7. I feel betrayed, though, and I don't let that slide.

Hell, my primary vote won't even matter now. If it weren't for spite, I'd have given up on this party and this country by now.

[lonestarnot]

9. I'm pretty much feeling the same pain.

[H2O Man]

16. It is alarming

to me to notice how many good, dedicated grass roots progressives and liberals feel that they are being taken for granted by the party leadership.

[DearAbby]

21. Not just taken for granted

but insulted, People who I voted for, insulted me personally when they censured Moveon.org. The vote was unnecessary and a slap in my face. I feel they are kicking me to the curb. I have not left the party...they are leaving me.

They must feel they can get enough independent votes, they don't need nor want my vote. Oh, but they call for that check.

[H2O Man]

34. Well said.

These are the posts that I wish more of the aides for democrats in Washington were reading, and reporting back on. I'm afraid that many of them read this, and feel it is their responsibility to either bleet out the canned message that "this is divisive," or simply ignore it. Better that they report back to their supervisors about the level of discontent. The reason Rove was so wrong in '06 was because those under him didn't dare tell him the truth. Our leaders need to hear it.

[AmBlue]

51. "...bleet out the canned message that "this is divisive," or simply ignore it."

This is the same kind of message that election integrity activists get from their state officials, communicated with only slightly different words: "It's the activists that are causing voters to lose confidence in our elections." Message being we bad people should be quiet, just you forget about all those machines out there that fail regularly and can be corrupted.

It is precisely our legislators' behavior and lack of promise-keeping that is fracturing the D party. It is THEY that need to "straighten up and fly right." As my father use to say...

When they behave like this, we need to get louder.

[H2O Man]

58. Yep.

We get it on all levels. I can remember one day when Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman and I were returning from a meeting with a high-ranking state bureaucrat from Albany, NY. I had come to believe this person's promises. And he turned out to be a mere shell of a man, an out-and-out liar. In the car, I told Paul that I was sorry if I had made a serious error in trusting the liar. He told me that honest people expect others to be honest, until they get to be old enough to recognize this isn't the way it is. He told me that I was young, but that from that day on, I needed to understand the fact that they had lied to him and I for 500 years. Sometimes you can age a lot in a single day.

[spanone]

11. dammit, this is not the time for rational thought!

thanks again H2O Man for bringing a taste of sanity back to DU. i am personally frustrated by our leadership and have actually thought of withholding donations. this post has enlightened my thinking.

[H2O Man]

15. If once or twice

a week, progressives on DU and elsewhere were to target specific offices of specific "leaders" with phone calls and e-mails explaining that our money is going to support those individuals and groups that represent our values, then we will have some real communication. As long as they think it's just one or two isolated people, they think they can ignore us. When they come to understand that we are organized, they will know that they can no longer afford to take us for granted.

[BelgianMadCow]

33. The problem with that approach, however

is that it begs the question : and what do you do when the party leadership doesn't respond? They may feel they don't need the grassroots money.

[BelgianMadCow]

31. I agree this brings a taste of sanity to DU

[Me.]

12. I Watched Emmanuel Tapdancing On Hardball Last Night

He kept saying that while the war was important it wasn't the only important issue, that people had voted a new Congress in because of economics. And while there is no question that money is a big issue, as I remember it, the two main issues from the last election were the war and corruption.

Another thing. Move-on had a huge get out the vote initiative set up for the last election. Many of the people I made calls for got it and many, like Ellsworth, have spit in my face with their votes since.

[porphyrian]

13. He started that lie as soon as they won, the fucker. - n/t

[H2O Man]

14. Yes, I think

that when the machine attacked MoveOn, and progressives send donations to express their support, it sends a clear message. I can think of a democratic congressman from California who should get some contributions as a means of expressing our support. It doesn't have to be more than $4 or $5 each. But if he gets a surge in donations, a message is sent. If 100 DUers call Speaker Pelosi's office today, and explain that the money they might have otherwise donated to the machne is going to an individual with conscience, a message is sent.

I appreciate that grass roots progressives are frustrated and tired. But I want grass roots progressives to appreciate that they hold great power which can transform this country when it is invested outside the machine.

[Me.]

17. The Phone Numbers

Pete - 202-225-5065

Nancy - 202) 225-4965

Toll Free Numbers [phone] [phone] [phone] (866) 220-004

[H2O Man]

18. Thank you.

It's important for people to make these calls.

[Me.]

19. Any Time eom

[mmonk]

20. A recommend from me.

Good work.

[H2O Man]

30. Thank you.

I had thought this thread had sank. I'm glad to see it revived. Thank you!

[Horse with no Name]

22. Lot's of Hamiltonians

Indeed.

[H2O Man]

37. Lots of 'em ! n/t

[Kurovski]

23. K&R.

Thank you. Good points. Disturbing, but good.

America becomes less "mainstream" with each passing month. It's disturbing that we're ALL being disregarded in such a way.

[H2O Man]

38. Yeah.

Some days I find myself thinking that America becomes less America with each passing month.

Not on our watch. Ain't gonna happen.

[LSK]

24. You have given me something to consider

Thank you.

[H2O Man]

59. The more we

think about this, and discuss our options as a group, the better off we will be.

[Uncle Joe]

25. I agree with your analysis, H2O Man

Thanks for the thread.:thumbsup:

[H2O Man]

60. Thank you.

I think this is a good thread. It seems that there are enough like-minded people that we will be able to come up with good ideas for communicating our discontent to the machine.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

26. never forrget that money talks. Who's on the 100, hamilton or jefferson?

Sorry for the snark.


In my mind, Rahm is bilingual. Self-promotion and DLC (he views them as identical) and AIPAC.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

52. Ben Franklin masquerading as Jack Benny with long hair. n/t

[Cleita]

27. You said:

"Why, hardly a day passes when I do not get either a letter in the mail, or a call on my phone, asking me to donate yet again to this campaign or that group."

Me too, but hardly a day passes that I don't send back their request in their envelope with a note from me, and not a C-note, stating until I see an end to the wars, homeless off the streets and impeachment on the table, I won't be sending them any money this time.

It's the only vote I have left for them to ignore as usual.

[H2O Man]

61. I had one day

that I got four different requests to donate to groups relating to a single politician. In the past, I had donated time and money to that politician's campaign for US Senate. But we have very different views on Iraq, and while I can vote for this politician in a contest against a republican, my time and money is being invested in anti-war democratic efforts. I fill and return all envelopes with a polite but firm message on Iraq.

[BelgianMadCow]

28. Rec 20- It has been VERY interesting finding out your viewpoint on "the divide"

and I share it.

[H2O Man]

69. I am a

grass roots democratic with traditional party values. I believe that the traditional values democrats are the majority of the party's base. It's important that these new democrats keep that in mind.

[me b zola]

35. Funny that you should say that...

When my call to Pelosi's office was transferred to voice mail I just kind of let go and went on a bit of a tangent. It ended with me saying that they (meaning the "leadership") can discount 1-2 million of us and think that they can make up those numbers else where, but they are not taking into consideration that it is the grassroots who donates $$, canvasses, mans the phone banks, and in general gets out the vote.

H20 Man, I really want to thank you. Not just for this post but for being here for us, especially now.

[H2O Man]

36. Thank you.

I really appreciate you saying that. It means a lot to me.

[BelgianMadCow]

40. "for being here for us" - share that sentiment

[robertpaulsen]

41. Recommended! You described my 06 frustrations perfectly.

I lost track of how many hours I spent at moveon.org calling people up, rallying against the Rove machine, getting out the Dem vote. And it worked! So to see how things have turned out since: war funding almost unabated, the Kyl/Lieberman Fascist-Enablers Act, and the smear-moveon.org vote as an insult to injury, it's enough to make me scream. But bottom line - the People have the Power. We just need to get together in the right way to use it!

[BelgianMadCow]

42. People have the Power

I liked the ring of that.

[malaise]

43. Another great post H2O Man

K & R

[H2O Man]

68. Thank you. n/t

[me b zola]

44. kicking for the evening/night people

:kick:

[EFerrari]

45. And the password is "Local".

:applause:

[H2O Man]

70. "Local"

All politics are local, as we have been told!

I had a nice conversation with one of the old, traditional values democrats from the county organization yesterday.

[bobthedrummer]

46. K&R

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST-IMPEACH CHENEY NOW!

[H2O Man]

71. Impeach Dick Cheney! n/t

[understandinglife]

47. "If the party leadership were smart, they would not only accept this type of decision by ....

... progressives, but they would endorse it.

In_Deed.

Recommended.

[TacticalPeek]

48. You're a political man.

Communication by any means necessary.

:toast:

:kick:

[Laurab]

49. Thank you, H20 Man.

Very well-written, and well said - I was glad it was not too late for me to recommend.

[slipslidingaway]

50. Great post and thank you. Just a reminder from your post...

"Look at the amount of money that the top presidential contenders have accumulated, and tell me that they need your hard-earned dollars more than your local anti-war group, or the Center for Constitutional Rights’ impeachment program, or a non-corporate media source."

:thumbsup:

[OnyxCollie]

53. Thank you for writing this.

Sage advice from a wise man.

Your posts always leave me feeling calm and assured.

[Tatiana]

54. "Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line."

I'll never forget Carville making a comment to that effect. On its face, it seemed to be true. No matter what, Republicans stood by their man (woman); in elections, in the wake of scandals, in their unity were able to maintain power for quite some time. Democrats, on the other hand, seemed hapless - uncoordinated, unable to stay on message, and our lack of unity seemed to be costing us important elections.

But the comment takes on a more sinister (and truthful) connotation when you ask yourself what does it mean to "fall in line" and what is so bad about falling "in love?" That is the goal of the Democratic party machine: to mold us and get us to "fall in line" much like Republican supporters did. Think the President or Vice-President should be impeached? It's off the table, you need to fall in line. Want to end the Iraq invasion? It's Bush's war, Democrats can't stop it - you need to fall in line. Tired of the health care crisis? Want a universal national health care plan that removes profit from the equation and lets doctors make the best decision for their patients? Too bad. Any Democratic health care initiative will make sure HMO's and health insurance companies play a substantial role - suck it up and fall in line. The threat is held over our head that if we don't fall in line, if we don't accept and play by the corporate-established rules, then we'll end up with another Bush-like regime.

We've gotten so used to falling in line, that we've forgotten to support (with our time and with our dollars) entities and candidates that we can fall in love with. We've been brainwashed into forgetting organizations and people who are in this thing not for power or ambition, but to genuinely improve the lives of American citizens and to help everyone attain the "American Dream." That used to be goal of politics, but it is no longer. Corporate America is not interested in electing the next FDR or passage of another "New Deal." The (top) 0.5 percenters are not interested in helping the masses obtain wealth or even self-sufficiency. These groups have a vested interest in maintaining the class system under which we currently operate. That is how they are able to rule this country and a portion of this world. That is why things Must Never Change. That is why Albert Gore and Howard Dean had to be shut down and why MLK and JFK and RFK got Wellstoned. Corporate America and those 0.5-1 percenters aren't loyal to Republicans at all. They donate and support these (New) Democrats too.

I'm angry and I'm hurt and I'm very disappointed in what the Democratic party has become, which is totally opposite a party of the people. We've fallen in line one too many times and we have nothing to show for it. I'm starting to think we need to find and finance more people and organizations we can fall in love with. The DNC is getting no more money out of me. I don't ask for or expect 100% agreement with all my ideals and values. But when it comes to issues like lack of respect and adherence to the Constitution, the very founding principles of this nation, I draw the line. None of the Presidential candidates (with the exception of Kucinich) is getting a dollar out of me. I'll put my money, time, and effort into organizations dedicated towards improving and saving the lives of people - not those who seek to kill and destroy.

Make no mistake, change will not happen in an election cycle. Change will not come even if we elect a new Democratic President in '08. The most we can expect from this election cycle is to stop the hemorrhaging and to develop a plan for restoring democracy in this country.

Many thanks for a thought-provoking and spot-on post.

[Blackhatjack]

55. I've been thinking about your OP before posting my comments....

There are not many times in past political history in which one of the two political parties could point to upcoming elections with as much confidence of victory as we are facing with November 2008 elections.

This is both a blessing and a curse.

The blessing is that people in large numbers are sick of Bush Republicans and their corrupt and incompetent actors. This will lead to a Democrat being elected President in Nov 2008(unless we are plunged into another round of domestic terrorism and a new war with Iran, which would create a competitive race).

The curse is that the corporate/special interest groups can read the polling as well as anyone, and with the cooperation of the MSM, they have diverted typical Republican campaign funding to Democrats(one in particular, Clinton) this cycle, along with all the traditional strings attached.

IT is true that 'corporate' backed Democrats holding office on Capitol Hill take 'progressive' voters for granted for the same reason that Republican candidates take 'conservative fundamentalist' voters for granted. Progressives are outraged over Bush policies and Conservative Fundamentalists are outraged that Hillary Clinton might be elected because of social issues concerns.

I believe H2O Man is onto something here in his suggestions. However, it sounds like the kind of 'organizing' that would be more in line with 'unionizing.' There is strength in numbers, and the individual campaign contributions that Democratic Party Leaders are taking for granted would show up on the radar screen IF they were directed to specific candidates en masse as H2O Man suggests.

John Edwards has rejected corporate contributions and has chosen to accept public campaign matching funds. I think this is exactly the model that progressives should be looking to fund en masse. And if we do not elect a President this cycle who is not beholden to the corporate/special interests, we do not have a chance of electing a President in the future who will actually represent the people again, or uphold the constitution and civil liberties we hold so dear.

I have no problem with electing a 'woman' or a 'minority' to the office of President of the United States. However, these are characteristics which pale in actual importance to essential characteristics when it comes to electing the best President with the skills and determination to restore our country and its constitutional form of government.

IMHO if progressives want to be heard, make a difference, and be acknowledged for their role in helping a Presidential Candidate win the Nomination and the General Election, then their choice should be Edwards. He could do more for raising the visibility and power of progressives than any of the other candidates. The question is, will progressives vote their interests by voting for Edwards? I hope they do for the benefit of all of us.

Just a few of my thoughts....

[ClayZ]

56. Yep! I am giving my money to CODE PINK!

And the man on the street......eating out of garbage cans.

Oh yeah, and Doctors without Borders and the ACLU.

I also give to AFSC.

I will buy anti-war music, and shop at farmers markets as often as possible.

I will keep looking for a house that is off the grid!

That is my plan and I am sticking to it.

[puebloknot]

57. Something to do that doesn't feel like spitting in the ocean. Thanks!

I'm mailing back Dem solicitation letters in their own envelope, with a note that I just contributed $$$ to ???, and that there will be no money until they do what we elected them to do -- end the occupation of Iraq, and restore our Constitutional rights.

[Coexist]

62. whenever the DCCC calls,

I let them know that I now only donate to individual candidates.
Period.

[Time for change]

63. That sounds like a great idea to me

I sure do wish I had a better understanding as to why the Democratic leadership has been so unresponsive to what I would have thought they would consider their base. I guess it's all those corporate donations.

I hate to say it, but if this dynamic keeps up much longer it could result in a major 3rd party movement.

[alberg]

64. My progressive friends and I have come up with a simple way

to get the message to the unresponsive Democratic Leadership - we write in big red letters "No Money Until Impeachment!!!" across all request for contributions and mail it back to them. Perhaps if a few hundred thoudsand of us started doing this we'd see a change in behavior. We can always make up the $ shortfall later, when they start to get it right.

[antigop]

65. Welcome to DU, alberg! n/t

[antigop]

66. Thank you. Yeah, I'm pissed. And I've been sending notes back in the envelopes asking for money.

There are so many things to be pissed about, but here is one of the outrages du jour.

http://www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/10/h1bs_and_the_triumph_of_buypar.html

Understand how much of an admission of sheer corruption this really is. The United States Congress cannot find the courage to pass a comprehensive, humane immigration policy because both parties are polarized. Yet, the one immigration issue they can all come together on is a push to expand a visa program that the data definitively proves is designed to help tech companies (which are huge campaign contributors) drive American wages into the ground, exploit foreign workers, and accelerate job outsourcing. Most disgusting of all, this push is happening all under the guise of verifiable and is being championed by a group of Democratic lawmakers whose own fundraising arm brags in public newsletters about bringing together tech industry lobbyists and lawmakers at lavish bayside retreats.

This has, of course, become par for the course in this Congress. Democrats won Congress in 2006 on a promise to oppose NAFTA-style trade agreements. Yet with Congress unable to pass much of anything, they are edging closer to finding consensus on passing - shocker! - a whole new package of lobbyist-written NAFTAs. Congress cannot pass progressive tax reform to help the middle class, but as the Wall Street Journal today reports, Democrats are moving towards endorsing a plan to slash corporate tax rates.

As Congressional Quarterly reported this week, K Street lobbying firms are now staffed up with former Democratic congressional staffers.

And we have a video of one of the corporate Presidential candidates asking for an increase in the cap on h1-b's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing


One of the problems I have tried to communicate on DU is there is a rather sizeable population of workers who have been adversely impacted by outsourcing and h1-b visas. This population of people SHOULD be looking to the Democrats for help, but they won't get it, according to the article I referenced above.

So on top of the constitutional crisis we are outraged about, we have to worry about whether we can keep a job right now.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just really ticked right now.

I've been sending notes back in the envelopes I receive in the mail asking for contributions. Maybe if the fundraisers get enough of these, it will send a message.

It's difficult to fight the corporate money.

[cuke]

67. What do you have against Alexander Hamilton?