It’s awesome how much money we’ve raised this year for candidates, but candidates also need people to put that money to good use. I’m down at the Wheeling HQ for the Ohio County Democratic Party, writing postcards for William Ihlenfeld, who is my candidate of choice this election for the State Senate. Ihlenfeld is battling a lot of dirty money that is backing his opponent, Ryan Ferns. And when I say dirty money, I mean literally:
Three years ago, a group of residents in West Virginia’s northern panhandle formed a new group, the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance, and declared themselves a “voice for local jobs.”
A few months later, however, the group’s first major action was aimed not at creating jobs, but at blocking them.
In November 2015, the alliance, known as the OVJA, filed a legal appeal to challenge a key permit for construction of the Moundsville Power project, a natural gas-fired plant in Marshall County.
The move was puzzling. Backers of Moundsville Power said the project would be a significant boost for the area, providing 500 jobs annually during a three-year construction period and 30 permanent jobs once it was operational. Supporters said the project was a way for residents to capture more economic gains from West Virginia’s booming natural gas industry.
The legal action, it turns out, was funded by Murray Energy Corp., one of the nation’s largest coal producers, one of the group’s leaders testified in a deposition in the case. Murray Energy’s founder and CEO is Robert E. Murray, who is among the nation’s best-known advocates for reviving the coal industry and cutting regulations related to it.
Murray is the clown who was widely mocked by John Oliver and then sued him in response. At any rate, they are pumping a ton of money into a State Senate race, because, well, King Coal ain’t going down without a fight.
At any rate, if you can, get out and walk the streets, man the phone banks, staff the offices, write postcards, and if you just don’t want to even do that because you don’t like to be around people (which I totally get), maybe make them a lasagne or something healthful and drop it off at HQ so they don’t subsist on only fast food and cookies.
MazeDancer
Just today, John, we got in 225 more addresses to write PostCards for Kendra Fershee.
She has great ideas: https://www.teamkendrawv.com/
Addresses to write PostCards for Kendra and more BJ Candidates: PostCardPatriots.com
Flip the House!
guachi
I appreciate those who give time since I’m barred from doing so, being active duty military and all.
TaMara (HFG)
I haven’t killed anyone today. That’s the best I can do.
Adam L Silverman
You are wearing pants, right?
gene108
Canvas for my House candidate, Andy Kim, NJ-3 on Saturdays. Going to a local town meeting of the Dems. My town is run by Republicans. First time I have been this involved.
gene108
@TaMara (HFG):
Sometimes that’s the best any of us can do.
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): Have you considered a career change that allows you to take advantage of your newfound passion for homicide? I understand there are several unexpected openings with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Scamp Dog
Last week week the Adams County Democratic field office had a potluck. I wound up getting recognized as one of their top 3 canvassers, by simply going in once a week, even though I rarely got through the entire packet. Get out there folks, you can be a hero to the local staff!
trollhattan
RIP Paul Allen–innovator, philanthropist, gajillionaire, collector, developer, guitarist?
Barbara
@Adam L Silverman: Something tells me that they would have no shortage of applicants if they did advertise for assassins.
Adam L Silverman
@Barbara: Perhaps.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/aramroston/mercenaries-assassination-us-yemen-uae-spear-golan-dahlan
trollhattan
@Adam L Silverman:
There’s a dude in Idaho who suddenly has free time and evidently a lot of damn guns. Saudis need to act fast because I’m sure Zinke is already recruiting him.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Also too executioner, as the KSA if on track to have performed a record number of executions this year. Since MBS was slotted as crown prince he’s overseen an average 16 executions per month.
SiubhanDuinne
I’ve been doing a lot of phonebanking for my Congressional candidate, Carolyn Bourdeaux. The incumbent in GA-07, Rob Woodall, used to be Chief of Staff for the previous member, and I interacted with him (Rob) quite a bit when interacting with elected officials and their senior staffers was part of my job description. He is one of the most unengaged Congresscritters I’ve ever seen. Doesn’t list the address of his district office on his official website; nobody ever answers the phone either locally or in DC — I think I’ve managed to get through to a real person just once in the past 15 months. He’s useless.
Carolyn is smart and sharp. She’s an academic with solid public policy chops. She reminds me a little bit of SPW in that she has all the wonky information at her fingertips but is a clear and relaxed teacher as she conveys it. The more I see of her, the more I like her.
It’s a deeply Republican district and I honestly don’t know if she stands a chance against the advantages of Incumbency Inertia. But if anybody can, she can; and if it’s ever going to happen, it’s 2018.
SiubhanDuinne
.
SiubhanDuinne
@Adam L Silverman:
You do know to whom you’re addressing the question, right?
Adam L Silverman
@trollhattan: Saw that.
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: As long as you can use a sword as well as a gun and a knife and a garrote you can be dual hatted. Or in this case, masked.
Adam L Silverman
@SiubhanDuinne: Trust, but verify.
Also, using it as a catchall to include sweats, shorts, and/or overalls.
Steve in the ATL
@Barbara:
There are millions of qualified applicants just among rank and file Florida residents!
opiejeanne
@NotMax: Holy cow! That’s a lot of executions.
ruemara
@trollhattan: Donator to the Republican Keep The House fund.
@MazeDancer: Alright, requesting some again.
Steve in the ATL
@SiubhanDuinne: but it’s progress to have (1) a D candidate, which so many races in Georgia don’t have, and (2) a smart, articulate D candidate rather than “some guy” who’s only there for the ritual slaughter.
If those clowns in Cobb County can swing blue, there’s hope yet for you clowns in Gwinnett!
Confidential to Omnes: apologies for the clown references….
NotMax
In my case would be better to write postcards for Rs.
Half the time my handwriting is so bad that I can’t read it. With but little extra effort could make the illegibility 100% on the postcards.
:)
Steve in the ATL
@TaMara (HFG):
@guachi:
Well, guachi, can you say the same? (if you work in Logistics or IT or Personnel or something, just say that that information is classified so the jackals won’t lose their awe for you)
Raoul
Money, volunteers, postcards, virtual phone bank, whatever people can manage in MI03. I know Amash is considered a very likely R. But why not make him work his butt off these last few weeks? No freebie reflections.
My friend Fred Wooden ran in the Den primary against Ms. Albro, but I’ve now donated to her effort as well. Amash likes to pretend he is above the mudsoaked GOP fray, but he isn’t.
opiejeanne
@ruemara: He gave to Republicans, yes. He gave money to Democrats too, but those Republicans he supported was to keep Tea Partiers out of office.
These days it’s hard to tell the difference, though.
dc
Try text banking, you don’t have to leave your computer (you can do it from the computer) or your house! Here’s one of many organizations: https://www.openprogress.com/
Also, many campaigns and state parties have text banking.
SiubhanDuinne
@NotMax:
Behold the Lord High Executioner!
A personage of noble rank and title —
A dignified and potent officer
Whose functions are particularly vital.
Defer, defer
To the Lord High Executioner!
Defer, defer
To the noble Lord,
The noble Lord High Executioner!
Raoul
@Raoul: Reflections, re-elections; potato, pohtahto. Let’s (not) call the whole thing off!
schrodingers_cat
@SiubhanDuinne: That’s what it takes to be called a reformer by the NYT.
SiubhanDuinne
@Adam L Silverman:
In John’s case I’m not sure that’s necessary, but your inclusiveness is noted and appreciated.
Adam L Silverman
@SiubhanDuinne: All lower body coverings matter!
NotMax
@schrodingers_cat
Linked to this in an earlier thread, but germane, so here it is again.
Seventy Years of the New York Times Describing Saudi Royals as Reformers.
trollhattan
@NotMax:
2012: beheadings moved indoors, reformers cautiously optimistic.
SiubhanDuinne
@opiejeanne:
Yep. I happen, most fortuitously, to have a couple of paper napkins at my disposal, and a pen, and a calculator right on this here now phone, and a full set of ten fingers, and I was able to reckon that it works out to an average of roughly one execution EVERY OTHER DAY. Math.
MBS the Saudi Reformer, my flabby old white ass.
Kraux Pas
I’ve been reaching out for a couple months to the Jay Gonzalez campaign for Governor of MA but haven’t heard back about volunteering opportunities. Any suggestions on an alternate way to get involved?
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Adam L Silverman:
Do they do hazard pay? Do you think I could make the cut? //
Elizabelle
@NotMax: Excellent link, re FTF NYT and the Saudis. Thank you.
H.E.Wolf
@Kraux Pas:
Maybe try the MA State Democrats? Googling them brings up their website, complete with a “Find An Event” page and some other info for volunteers. If the Dems are running a Coordinated Campaign, there may be a field organizer for Gonzalez in the Dem Party campaign HQs in the state.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@NotMax:
Whenever I see a country named partly after the man who brutally united it, I don’t think of tolerant reform
Kraux Pas
@H.E.Wolf: That is a good idea, thank you.
B.B.A.
@TaMara (HFG): In the immortal words of Jack Palance, the day’s not over yet.
tobie
@Kraux Pas: Have you tried reaching out to your local Democratic club? Every county usually has one, and the clubs organize GOTV for local elections. If not, you can also go national with one of MoveOn’s or OpenProgress’ text campaigns. The Rosen, McCaskill and Heitkamp campaigns are also looking for volunteers.
schrodingers_cat
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: Please give Mummy some credit too.
@Kraux Pas: Google your town and the Democrats. You will get the name and contact info for your local Ds. That’s how I found my local Ds.
Kraux Pas
@schrodingers_cat: This worked out perfectly. Appreciate it.
seaboogie
Hey John – This introvert who sucks at phone banking just joined PostCardPatiots.com and requested 20 names from a most needed area and got names for Kendra Fershee in WV. Feel like I can do this without pants, because for we womenfolk, a bathrobe is just a more casual version of a DVF wrap dress. Heh.
Mnemosyne
I’m behind on my postcards. I am an asshole. I’m going to try and do them tonight.
Steve in the ATL
@Mnemosyne:
Tracking.
Pogonip
@Adam L Silverman: What about a mumu like Homer Simpson wore in that episode where he got really fat? Would Cole qualify for coverage points in a mumu?
John Revolta
@NotMax: @SiubhanDuinne: Hey cut the guy some slack. I hear there’s been a serious outbreak of adultery over there. How much is a benevolent ruler supposed to put up with?
WaterGirl
@John Revolta: Remind me… how many wives does that guy get?
Duane
@gene108: First time for me too. Door- to -door for Claire McCaskill on Friday. Can’t believe I have to do this to stop the republican insanity. In any normal world, McCaskill wins easily.
sheila in nc
My town is sweet, sweet, deep dark blue, so they’ve been organizing us to go out to neighboring counties and pull the Dems out of the woodwork. The goal is principally to support candidates for state legislature — gotta do something about those gerrymandered reactionary yahoos who are running roughshod over what CP calls “the newly insane state of NC”. Have already canvassed for Sydney Batch in Wake County; next weekend, Erica McAdoo in Alamance. The statewide effort runs the numbers on which races are closest, and assigns their volunteers accordingly.
Also, one-stop early voting starts TODAY in NC! Am booked on Friday and Monday to staff an early voting site in my county and give people literature on all the stuff that nobody keeps up with. Specifically, the judicial races and the six bogus state constitutional amendments that were cooked up in three days of a lame duck legislative session and put on the ballot to 1) goose Republican turnout, 2) grab power from the Governor, and 3) overturn the court’s decision about voter ID.