Archive for Heath Shuler
Where Change Takes Place
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re friends with a few of the country’s name-brand bloggers. There’s no magic to it. We just keep seeing them at conventions. We know lots of local and state-level politicians too. There’s really no magic to it, either. It isn’t just about donations or family connections. It’s about showing up.
The first time you show up to volunteer nobody knows you. Maybe they catch your name. The second time you show up maybe they remember seeing you before. (What was your name again?) The third or fourth time, now you’re somebody they think they might need to take seriously.
I got into this business working on Patsy Keever’s 2004 congressional race. I didn’t know Patsy from Adam, but I was angry and frustrated and that was where the fight was. I walked in off the street to stuff envelopes or something — I didn’t know anything about electioneering. (I was out of work.) A couple of weeks later I had my own computer and a desk. I entered data, cut call lists. By the time it was over, I had done about everything except fundraising, including location scouting for commercials and playing craft services for the film crew.
It amazed me to watch activists walk in off the street, offer to write “white papers” and expect to be dubbed the campaign’s chief advisor on [your pet issue here]. Can you make some phone calls? No?
Shuler – Miller
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Lots to discuss. RCP ranking the NC-11 race a toss-up. Speaker? Jobs fair. Miller Ad. Buncombe’s jilted progressives. BCGOP shenanigans.
Shuler’s votes on energy, environment, education, and labor look great. Shuler’s votes on health care and civil rights don’t. GOP’s lame attempts to again tie him to a demonized Pelosi look silly.
Heath Shuler is monied, and Jeff Miller is not. The Asheville Tea Party decided not to endorse Miller, so the WNCGOP formed their own Tea Party to make sure he got a Tea Party endorsement of some sort. The Buncombe GOP is putatively leaderless. The Buncombe Dems have a lot of energy, but will they have vols? Can Susan Fisher, Patsy Keever, and Jane Whilden coattails translate into votes for Heath?
I can’t wait to hear everyone’s take on the race. Fire away in the comments. You can bet that both campaigns will be reading.
Disclaimer – I am definitely voting for Rep. Heath Shuler.
Free Dental Clinic Saturday
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Read the whole post. From A-B Tech’s web site:
Forty dental chairs will fill A-B Tech’s gym in the Coman Student Center next week, waiting for patients in need of a cleaning, fillings and other services. The North Carolina Dental Society will bring its Missions of Mercy, a free dental clinic for the community, to A-B Tech’s Asheville campus from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug 13 and 14.
If you or someone you know has a dental condition they have been putting off having treated (for lack of funds), get down to the A-B Tech gymnasium early tomorrow. We’ve covered clinics like these for awhile now, here, here, here and here. And as you don’t need reminding, the need for them isn’t going away any time soon.
Congressman Heath Shuler’s office sent out this press release today. He’ll be visiting the clinic tomorrow:
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2010
Contact: Julie Fishman
office: (202) 225-6401 / cell: (202) 731-5114
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
For Saturday, August 14, 2010
Rep. Shuler, Honorary Chair of North Carolina Dental Society’s Mission of Mercy free dental clinic, to Attend the Clinic
Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, August 14th, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) will attend and show his support for the North Carolina Dental Society’s Mission of Mercy (NCMOM) free dental clinic. NCMOM will set up a mobile dental clinic, including sterilization, digital x-rays, and supplies. Over the course of two days, as many as 1000 people are expected to be treated, and more than $500,000 worth of dental treatment will be donated.
What: Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic
Who: U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, NC Dental Society, Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministries, Eblen Charities, A-B Tech
When: The event takes place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Aug. 13 and 14
(Rep. Shuler be present at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 14th)
Where: A-B Tech’s Asheville Campus, in the gym at the Coman Student Center
Background (From the NC Dental Society):
The North Carolina Missions of Mercy (NCMOM) portable free dental program is an outreach program of the North Carolina Dental Society. The program is sponsored by the North Carolina Dental Health Fund. Since its beginning seven years ago, the program has received national and statewide recognition. The North Carolina Dental Health Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose mission is “To provide free dental services to those in financial need with few or no other options”. The goals of the program are to:
- Provide free dental care to as many under served persons within North Carolina as is possible.
- Involve as much of the dental community of the state in the treatment of the under served as is possible.
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FYI
Posted by: | Comments...because "Statistical Tie" isn't a good name for a hot sauce, is it?
The race for North Carolina’s 11th district Congressional seat is a dead heat (45 percent-44 percent) between Democratic incumbent Heath Shuler and Republican candidate Jeff Miller as the unaffiliated vote looks to become the deciding factor according to a new SurveyUSA poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
According to the poll of 400 registered voters in that district, when asked who they would vote for if the election for United States House of Representatives were today, 45 percent of voters said they would vote for Shuler. Forty-four percent said they would vote for Miller, and 11 percent said they were undecided.
“Despite Shuler voting against many of the unpopular bills that have been passed by Congress, the unpopularity of President Obama and the Democratic Congress is making this a competitive race,” said Civitas Institute Senior Legislative Analyst Chris Hayes.
Shuler, who is currently serving his second Congressional term, has a -3 favorable rating (29 percent favorable-32 percent unfavorable) even though he holds a significant name advantage over his opponent. Thirty-six percent of voters said they are neutral on his candidacy.
Conversely, Miller, despite only 32 percent of voters having an opinion of him, has a net +6 favorable rating as 19 percent of voters view him favorably while 13 percent view him unfavorably. Thirty-six percent said their opinion is neutral.
Just like everything else with the late John W. Pope’s name on it, it’s a good idea to consider the source and judge for yourself whether these numbers actually amount to anything…
Professor TARP and the Manufacturers
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Prof. Elizabeth Warren and Sarah in her Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate tee shirt at Netroots Nation 2010
So okay, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were at Netroots. (Harry Reid got the less warm reception.) Sen. Al Franken closed out the conference. But the real rock star treatment went to TARP Congressional Oversight Panel chair, Prof. Elizabeth Warren, who perhaps got more applause and support than anyone.
A close colleague was so pleased to meet Warren that she asked if I would post the picture.
Manufacturing was a hot topic at the conference. We met these guys from the Alliance for American Manufacturing at the conference in Las Vegas. Executive Director Scott Paul mentioned the possibility of holding a forum on manufacturing in Western North Carolina. Rep. Heath Shuler, he noted, is a strong supporter.
I recognize the venue for the America’s Future Now! conference in some shots in the AAM video, so I’d say those segments aren’t exactly man-on-the-street interviews. Their data and presentation nonetheless raised eyebrows.
Nancy Pelosi addressed American manufacturing on Saturday after delivering a special taped message from President Obama:
Pelosi spoke about “Making It in America,” the Democrats’ manufacturing agenda that she said would roll out in coming weeks to help restore and create industrial jobs. “Jobs, jobs, jobs is very important, but we have to get it done,” Pelosi said. “People have to see the difference between what the Republicans want to do about this — nothing — and what we are advocating.”
No, Madame Speaker, people will have to see what we are *doing* about it if jobs, jobs, jobs is to be anything more than a slogan.
One Vote Wonders?
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The WaPo this morning looks at the Democrats’ $50 million effort to lure the Obama “one vote wonders” back to the polls in a mid-term election where he is not on the ballot. With the Obama brand besmirched with BP oil, it is a gamble to see whether or not 2008 was a fluke, and some are skeptical.
Matt Bai wrote about Obama “surge” voters in last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine:
“Let’s be clear — these are not Democratic voters,” Cornell Belcher, the Obama campaign pollster, cautioned me. “They’re Obama voters.” The lesson that Plouffe and his operation took away from the dismal 2009 elections is that Obama can act like a matchmaker of sorts, introducing the party’s candidates to new voters and vouching for their intentions, but it’s only going to matter if the candidates themselves embrace the so-called new politics. What that means, practically speaking, is that the White House is urging candidates to divert a fair amount of their time and money — traditionally used for buying TV ads and rallying core constituencies — to courting volunteers and voters who haven’t generally been reliable Democrats.
Obama’s Organizing for America will drive the effort, Bai wrote, having “virtually supplanted the party structure.” In my follow-up at HuffPost on Monday, I pointed out that in 2008 some local party officials remained skeptical of the Obama effort in Western North Carolina until late in the game, wondering
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Dropping the ball
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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Posted by: | CommentsThe US House of Representatives voted to repeal the military policy that mandated silence from gay and lesbian volunteers.
Anyone know how Rep. Heath Shuler voted? I haven’t seen a tally yet. Congressman Shuler voted against gays and lesbians again.
UPDATE: AmericaBlog explains that it’s not really a repeal:
“It’s legislation that will permit the Pentagon, working with the President, to repeal the language in the future, if and when they so choose, if ever.”
Pam’s House Blend elucidates further:
“…even if the President signed this bill into law tomorrow, this bill would not require that lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers ever be able to serve openly. This bill removes the 1993 language that gave us Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), but only allows lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers to serve openly on the contigent that the President agrees that should happen, and the Department Of Defense (DoD) agree that repealing DADT wouldn’t impact military readiness, unit cohesion or recruiting.”
Picture of the Day
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Sarah & Ollie & Heath, oh my!
Posted by: | CommentsThis just in from the good folks at the National Rifle Association:
NRA’s Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum friday May 14, 12:30pm
NRA’s Leadership Forum is an incredible event…bla bla bla…
NRA Life member and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will lead the charge giving you a powerful and electrifying account of her uncompromising stand for our rights and constitutional liberty.
And a blockbuster lineup of leaders will rally every American gun owner. These patriots include: Lt. Col. Oliver North; Chuck Norris, Governor Haley Barbour, Ambassador John Bolton; Michael Reagan; Senators John Thune, Richard Burr and Jim DeMint; Congressman Mike Pence, Dan Boren, John Tanner and Heath Shuler…
For the full schedule of events, click here.
