See?  I actually went an extra week without mentioning congressional candidates!  Of course, I did that just to see if you all were paying attention ;-)

So - here they are...the first wave, if you will...of WesPAC's 2008 congressional champions.  They need our help to be our champions - please do what you can; volunteer your time to send letter, phone bank, canvass, hold a fundraiser, houseparty...you know the drill.  Below, you'll see each of the candidates, with links to their websites, and to WesPAC's Act Blue page for them. (Click on the candidates' names to get to WesPAC's ActBlue page for them)

Thanks in advance for everything you're doing to help us get a veto-proof majority!

;-) Kelly

  John Boccieri     OH-16 (Map)

   http://www.johnforcongress.com/

  Leonard Boswell   IA-03 (Map)

   http://www.boswellforcongress.com/

  Charlie Brown   CA-04 (Map)

   http://www.charliebrownforcongress.org/

Darcy Burner WA-08 (Map)

http://www.darcyburner.com/

 Mary Landrieu  LA-Sen (Map)

  http://www.marylandrieu.com/

 Larry LaRocco  ID-Sen (Map)

 http://www.laroccoforsenate.com/

 Ashwin Madia  MN-03 (Map)

 http://www.madiaforcongress.com/

 Eric Massa  NY-29 (Map)

 http://www.massaforcongress.com/

 Rick Noriega  TX-Sen (Map)

 http://ricknoriega.com/

 Jon Powers  NY-26 (Map)

 http://www.powersforcongress.com/

 Mark Pryor  AR-Sen (Map)

 http://www.pryor2008.com/splash.php

 Carol Shea-Porter  NH-01 (Map)

 http://www.sheaporter.com/

 Dennis Shulman  NJ-05 (Map)

 http://www.shulmanforcongress.com/

 Bob Tuke  TN-Sen (Map)

 http://www.tukefortennessee.com/

 Tim Walz  MN-01 (Map)

 http://www.timwalz.org/

Thanks to a great idea by WesPAC's Ohio State Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Meara!

Please do this now and then quickly forward (copy and paste to email) to everyone you know! The more people participating, the greater the impact!

VoteVets.org has launched a series of TV ads featuring retired generals calling for changing the failed policy in the Middle East.

These ads are airing in states and districts of those Members of Congress who are very close to breaking with the President on Iraq,and supporting a new strategy including a phased withdrawal of our troops from the region.

You can watch the first two ads here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMPIi03wSfY&eurl=

and here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tw4jSZLkJqA

WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS CAMPAIGN A BOOST WITH A GRASSROOTS PHONE AND EMAIL BLITZ!

Some of our elected officials are going to be treated to a SPECIAL DAY
when they will be showered with attention for the purpose of delivering a message. By joining us, you can help MAKE THEIR DAY!
They need to know that people are paying attention to what they're doing.

The message is this:

Do not support the Presidents failed policy!
A MILITARY ONLY STRATEGY WILL NOT WORK IN IRAQ.
We need POLITICAL help from the Maliki government, and REGIONAL DIPLOMACY with Iraq's neighbors, including IRAN.
Please support diplomatic & political efforts--we owe this to our troops.

(It doesn't matter if you live in a different state or district. They know you can provide support for their opponents in the next election if they continue to defy the will of the American people!)

Today's Special Day belongs to...SENATOR JOHN WARNER of Virginia!
(tomorrow or the next day is okay too)

CALL:
Washington office: (202) 224-2023
TOLL FREE NUMBERS (ask the operator for Senator Warner's office):
800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803

EMAIL: You can also use the online contact form to send this message to Senator Warner in email instead of calling.

http://www.senate.gov/~warner/contact/contactme.cfm

If you have not yet signed the VoteVets/WesPAC StopIranWar petition,
please do so here.
http://www.stopiranwar.com/

THANKS!!!

During a recent Diary by General Wesley Clark, a longtime supporter (Roseba) asked the following:

Will Bush listen or care? (4+ / 0-)
Is there any reason to believe that an outcry from the American people, from congress, even from his own advisors, would make a difference?

General Clark responded with the following:

Bush (55+ / 0-)
Sure, he'll listen. He is a politician. He reads polls. He worries about his legacy. But he won't like it. He wants to be viewed as imperturbable. Nobody is. So if we build enough of a groundswell, if we concentrate not just on democrats but on republicans, we CAN sway this policy.

by Wes Clark on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 10:37:51 AM PDT

Not only do petitons work, but they are one of the oldest forms of civil & political persuasion and leverage.  They've been around as long we've had forms of governments.  

But to make them truly effective is sometimes a matter of simple math - meaning everyones' help is needed.  Everyone's voice must be heard, as evidenced by their signature on this petition.  

<!-- polls come after this -->

• deadmessengers's diary :: ::

Sometimes it's also a matter of remembering this is not a Republican issue or a Democrats issue - it's an American issue.  It concerns all of us, whether we want it to or not.

Why it matters:

We have loved ones fighting a war - whether you believe that war is just or not - they are there, doing as their Commander-in-Chief has ordered... A Commander-in-Chief who has never gone to a soldier's funeral, a Commander-in-Chief who cares so little for the lives of the men and women he has ordered to war that he refuses to allow even their countrymen to honor their sacrifice by bearing witness to their flag-draped coffins as they return home for the last time.

You have the ability to help stop another war - even if you don't think you can - by doing something as simple and quick as adding your name to a list of people; a list of mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, brothers and sisters, friends and lovers who don't want to bear the loss of another soul they love.

I can guarantee you doing nothing will never change the course of history.  I can't guarantee you doing something will, but it might, and might is all the chance any of us ever get - and sometimes that's enough.

Please - add your voice.  Sign the petition today.

dKos Diary by General Wesley Clark
stopIranWar.com - Please Sign The Petition

Tell President Bush Not To Veto the Democratic Plan for Iraq

Tell President Bush you stand with Democrats and insist on a new direction in Iraq.

April 10, 2007

Right now Americans are coming together with one voice to demand George W. Bush follow the will of the people and not veto the Democratic plan for change in Iraq.

I've spent my entire professional career standing up for our men and women in uniform. I have carefully reviewed and considered the Democrats' plan for change in Iraq. More than any bill passed by the previous Republican Rubber Stamp Congress, it ensures our troops have the training and equipment they need - and our veterans get the services they deserve.

What it doesn't do, however, is give George W. Bush a blank check to continue his strategy for failure in Iraq.

We want a New Direction in Iraq and, together, we need to show that the American people support the Democratic plan for change in Iraq. That is why I am joining the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in telling the President not to veto the Democratic plan for change in Iraq and to treat our troops with the dignity and respect they deserve.

We have a goal of sending 50,000 signatures to President Bush before April 20th to show our support. Will you join us?

Tell President Bush Not to Veto the Democratic Plan for Change in Iraq.

On November 7, 2006, the American people voted for change. They want to see fewer troops in Iraq - not more. I can tell you it's not only civilians who want a New Direction. Generals on the ground and Pentagon officials know we cannot succeed if we stay the course. The President is increasingly becoming more isolated in his stay-the-course strategy.

The Bush Administration also continues to falsely claim that resources for American troops will begin to run out later this month - despite the fact that the Pentagon and the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service confirm resources will be available well into the summer. Congressional Democrats will never cut off funding to our troops in harm's way.

Our nation has seen the terrible consequences of President Bush's failed policy in Iraq. It has made us less secure while costing us close to a trillion dollars. This administration sent our troops into harm's way without adequate equipment to protect them, and abandoned them when they returned by failing to provide proper health care to treat the wounded.

If President Bush vetoes the Democratic plan, he will be sending yet another signal that his 'plan' is simply to continue these failed policies.

I am standing up for the troops and I hope you will too.

Join me in telling President Bush you stand with Democrats and insist on a new direction in Iraq.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

Hmmm...while tooling around today, and adding the great ad done for www.stopIranWar.com (on your right)  I realized there are quite a few page errors showing up, and links that go no where.  My sincere apologies for any frustration this has caused - especially in regards to the Downloads section.

I'll get the glitches fixed asap, and appreciate your patience.

Thanks!

ClarkCast 3: Nick Lampson, A Political Beacon