Archive for NC-11 Congressional Race
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?
Good Canvass Yesterday
Posted by: | CommentsHad fun yesterday. We had over a dozen canvassers show up on Saturday to knock on a bunch of doors — even after a couple of complaints about a certain congressman’s health care vote. Those who showed up know that holding the U.S. House and Senate and the fate of the next state redistricting all comes down to turnout.
Wanna see Richard Burr sent packing? Get up offa that thing and help no-nonsense Elaine Marshall. We’ll be knocking on doors every Saturday in September. Or if that doesn’t get your blood up, help Joyce Elliot defeat alleged, vote-caging Rove protege, Tim Griffin in AR-2. And there are plenty of other places your efforts are needed, if not here. Blue America has their approved picks and ActBlue has the full list.
Anyway, we ran across this OFA ad that we thought it summed up the situation pretty well:
And Blue America is looking for help in running this ad just east of here:
Or you can stay home and gripe. If you liked the Clinton impeachment, you’ll love the Obama impeachment.
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.
John Armor, author & Republican activist, passed away this morning
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John Armor (aka: Congressman BillyBob) died this morning of colon cancer at St Joesph’s hospital in Asheville, NC. He was 67.
We disagreed on every possible political issue – but I liked him because he was a decent man, an attentive husband, and an excellent writer who loved his country.
John was a lawyer, a writer, and Republican activist. He wrote 8 books on a range of topics from fiction, to the Japanese American internment camp at Manzanar, to term limits, to his most recent work: These Are The Times That Try Men’s Souls – an annotated version of Tom Paine’s most famous writings. (He was particularly proud of this last book.)
I first met John Armor in 2006 during his run in the Republican primary against congressional incumbent Charles “Chainsaw” Taylor. For those of you who don’t know: Taylor was a corrupt local politician who wasn’t known for dealing kindly with opposition. It took a lot of guts for John to step up to the plate and challenge him.
At the time I was an active progressive blogger at Brainshrub.com. (Now defunct) John was the first Republican candidate in NC11 to agree to a sit-down interview with bloggers. You can read about the interview here. I was stuck my his sincerity, intelligence, and willingness to listen to viewpoints different from his own.
Armor ran for congress again in 2008, then settled into retirement. He remained active in the Republican party and occasionally played the character of Benjamin Franklin. You can enjoy one of his performances here. (Show starts at 3:33 seconds)
I visited John in the hospital less than 48 hours ago. He was in high-spirits after his latest surgery, and doctors had given him an optimistic prognosis. His wife Michelle by his bedside, he joked that regardless of the outcome the doctors work on his colon had made him “A Perfect Asshole.”
We talked about local politics, about the governments role in infrastructure, and about his life in general. John was a man who talked the talk and walked the walk. He cared deeply about his community, and left the world a better place than he left it.
RIP John. You were one of the few hard-core conservatives I could talk too without raising my blood-pressure.
- pvh
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…
Dropping the ball
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Downfall
Posted by: | CommentsI found this gem while poking around the internet yesterday. I’m bound to offend some of my friends by posting it (sorry, Erika), but it’s just too damn funny not to share.
“Cry and you cry alone. Laugh and the world laughs with you… and you cry alone later.” —Christopher Durang
Muller Mulls
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It was fun to be able to have Michael Muller to ourselves for a few months, but he’s now a multi-platform media maven who’s got his well-lubricated fingers in pies of every variety. He penned a piece for Mountain Xpress about the Republican race for Congress that’s required reading for anyone interested in how things work.
Here’s an excerpt. Go to Mtn. X to read the whole thing.
“Buncombe County’s abysmal Republican turnout can be attributed to its relatively weak party organization and inability to raise money for get-out-the-vote efforts. And while Eichenbaum carried Buncombe and seven other counties to Miller’s six, the numbers simply weren’t high enough to make a difference. But if more Buncombe Republicans had voted, Eichenbaum, not Miller, might well be the nominee.”
Vote Today!
Posted by: | CommentsToday is voting day. You are a voter. This means you need to go vote. If you don’t go vote, then Scrutiny Hooligans will revoke your humanity privilege. Henceforth you will be referred to as Apathetic Nonvoter.
Those of you who vote, of course, will be celebrated like the heroes you are.
Voting Guides available here.
Voting locations available here.
Primary Voting Guides
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Early Voting is on from now ’til May 1. You can click here to find early voting locations and hours of operation. Voting Day is Tuesday, May 4th – Patsy Keever needs you to help Get Out The Vote. Click here to volunteer your services!
If you’re trying to figure out how to cast your Democratic ballot for Senate and for Judicial races, there are a couple of guides to which you can refer.
The Mountain Xpress Guide is one you’re probably familiar with. Lots of good information from the candidates who deigned to respond.
Bruce Mulkey has his picks up at his blog.
Cecil Bothwell made his picks a little while back, but I can’t find a URL. Councilman – could you provide your picks in the comments section?
Put your own voting guide in the comments. Leave as much helpful info as you can!
