Liberals Strike Back in 2012

Looking broader than just the current pro-union battles, we have to beat back right wing extremist attacks across the country. Howard Dean's 50 state strategy is what worked for us in 2006 and 2008...and it has to be revitalized. But we also can focus on some specific states right here and right now to get the ball rolling. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of fighting early and often to win in 2012, not just against the Republicans but also in edging the Democrats further to the Left.

2010 was always expected to be the resurgence of the Bush Republicans. And it was. It did not turn out as bad as many thought it would, but it was bad enough. But now we have the chance to make 2012 be the resurgence of the Liberals. THAT is my goal with the newsletter at the moment. But we can only do if we start now and work hard towards it. In 2004 many of us started to build for 2006 and 2008 and our efforts went a long way to the big wins those years. Our goals then were primarily to defeat the Bush Republicans, and we did a damned good job of it.

In 2008 the billionaires invented the Teabagger movement (reminder: that was THEIR word for themselves) with the express purpose of reimposing a Bush agenda in 2010. They worked hard at it starting even before Obama took office, while we squabbled like only leftists can and so they won big in 2010. Time to do again what we did in 2004. Work towards our next goal which will be again defeating the Bush agenda and this time pushing for an even stronger Liberal agenda.

I have an Actblue page that highlights several progressive and liberal groups that have an excellent track record of winning. I also emphasize groups that link the Democratic Party to key demographics including Hispanics and Asian Americans. Finally I target PACs run by some of the most liberal of members of Congress including Senators Al Franken and Tom Harkin as well as former Senator Russ Feingold. These PACs aim at electing progressives to Congress and if these PACs become strong, it sends a message to the whole Democratic Party that being liberal and progressive spells political success.

I also want to start targeting specific key races. In particular, there are already three Senate races that demand attention, two on offence and one defense. These Senate races are based on the latest popularity polls looking for the most vulnerable Senators. Of course it is early and probably more races will emerge, but for now these are the key targets. From Daily Kos:

Incumbent Senators facing re-election in 2012 with the lowest approval ratings:

Joe Lieberman (I-CT): 33/54 (-21 net approval)
John Ensign (R-NV): 41/48 (-7 net approval)
Bob Casey (D-PA): 36/40 (-4 net approval)

These will be the top three Senate races we can predict now. Which makes Connecticut, Nevada and Pennsylvania key battle grounds. We have to defeat Lieberman and Ensign and replace them with more progressive Democrats. And we have to defend Bob Casey aginst the inevitable Billionaire/Teabagger/Bush Republican attack. And, of course, Nevada and Pennsylvania have become key battlegrounds anyway, making it well worth fighting every district in those states.

Please help us defeat the Bush Republican/Teabbager anti-working class and anti-middle class agenda and help the liberals fight back.

Start off 2011 right with a donation (small or otherwise) towards a big Liberal resurgence in 2012. Right now I would suggest that donations in increments of $14 have particularly iconic value because of the 14 Democratic Wisconsin State Senators who have blocked the Teabagger anti-union crusade in that state.

I will try to match the next few donations given through this Act Blue site. We have to come out of the 2010 Bush resurgence fighting harder than ever for the Progressive American values we KNOW are right.

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