Poll: What States To Poll? AL, CT, FL, IL, or MA?

by: Curtis Abbey

Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 20:55:11 PM CST

When I got back my carrots, bok choy, broccoli and mesclun were sprouted as was my chia cat grass that I got for Christmas. My cat Lenny was happy to see me and I'm happy to get back to my regular routine. 1st stop, can you guys vote on this poll? (Please vote Alabama, I'll explain why below)

3rd Quarter Fundraising Numbers - Alabama House Races and Progressive Electorate Candidates

by: admin

Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 00:07:03 AM CDT

Here are the totals for the Competitive Alabama Races and our Candidates - see spreadsheet form on Google Docs

Here are the competitive Alabama race numbers

Candidate        3rd quarter     COH

AL -02

Bobby Bright - D 191k 489k
Martha Roby - R        91k 178.5 k

AL-03

Mike Rogers - R        170k 308.4k
Joshua Segall - D 130.8k 162.6k

AL 05

Mo Brooks R        64.9k 113.9k
Parker Griffith D 272.2k 618.6k
Les Phillip        67.8k 31.8k

AL-07

Earl Hilliard - D 32.6k 29.4k
James Perkins - D 10.9k less than 1k
Terri Sewell - D 104.8k 317k
Shelia Smoot - D 14.4k 39.7k

Analysis:

AL 02 and AL 05 - Blue Dogs Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith have strong advantages over their challengers.

AL 03 - Josh Segall had an extremely strong quarter and is in great position. He will enter the first of the year a lot stronger than when he started in 2008.

AL 07 - Not a lot of money raised at this point. Sewell has a strong COH advantage although rumors of a poll still has her in the single digits.  

Remember our Other Candidates: End of 3rd Quarter Fundraising

by: admin

Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 20:39:41 PM CDT

Dropped by a fundraiser for Josh Segall tonight - our endorsed candidate in AL-03. Josh nearly beat do-nothing Mike Rogers in 2008. Unfortunately, I had to leave early to get to another appointment and did not get to stay and record his speech.

However, I've seen Josh plenty and come away more impressed and motivated to help him each time. We asked for your help last week to help raise more money for Rob Miller who is the opponent for Joe "You Lie" Wilson. We raise $440 for someone who we had not heard of before Joe's outrageous outburst toward our President.

We have several great candidates and hope to add more, but I'm asking that we at least raise another $250 collectively for Josh between now and September 30th.

Click on the thermometer and donate $5, $10, or whatever you can afford

more on Josh below the thread

Worst of the Worst in Congress Sunday Open Thread Angst

by: admin

Sun Sep 13, 2009 at 12:08:05 PM CDT

My personal list of those that we need to replace include such perennial losers like: Michele "Bat Crazy" Bachmann (MN-06), Patrick "McDoofus" McHenry (NC-10), Mike "Mr Irrelevant" Rogers (AL-03), Peter "He's Bad" King (NY-03) and Ralph "Why am I still here" Hall (TX-04)

My list in the past week, like I'm sure yours will now also include,  has grown with the additions of Obama health care speech GOP Problem Children Joe "You lie" Wilson (SC-02), Louie "What Bill?" Gohmert (TX-01), Eric "I can beat you in Brickbreaker on the Blackberry" Cantor (VA-07) and John "Leaving on a Jet Plane" Shimkus(IL-19)

Links, videos and photos below the thread

You are the Backbone of this country and That Beats Wearing a Dress in San Francisco -

by: admin

Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 18:31:17 PM CDT

I could not be more proud to be your congressman. I know some people think we're a bunch of knuckle draggers who don't wear shoes and marry our sisters, but you are the backbone of this country. And that beats wearing a dress in San Francisco.

Remember earlier this year Rogers called Nancy Pelosi "Tom DeLay in a Skirt" - "crazy" and "mean as a Snake". So I'm guessing  Rogers thinks this was an attempt at humor.  

Two of Our Targets Added To NRCC Patriot "In Trouble" List

by: admin

Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 14:53:19 PM CDT

According to Roll Call

The National Republican Congressional Committee on Thursday will name 15 more Members to its "Patriot" program to boost the party's most vulnerable incumbents in 2010, bringing its membership to 25.

    The 15 new Members named to the program are: Mike Rogers (Ala.), Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Bill Posey (Fla.), Tom Rooney (Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Lynn Jenkins (Kan.), John Fleming (La.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Blaine Luetkemeyer (Mo.), Lee Terry (Neb.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Dean Heller (Nev.), Charlie Dent (Pa.) and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.).

We are also closely watching the CA_-45 Mary Bono Mack and considering adding her challenger Palm Springs mayor Steve Pougnet to our 2010 Progressive Electorate list.

This bodes well for Josh Segall who will certainly be high on the DCCC Red to Blue list (hopefully the first wave) and the eventual DFL nominee in MN-06.  

Mike Rogers (R-Lameduckville) Equates Health Care Reform To Spending Like Drunken Sailors

by: admin

Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 21:38:01 PM CDT

Alabama 3rd Congressional District Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Lameduckville) (cross posted at Daily Kos)

"Congress is spending like drunken sailors and I agree. It's time for Congress to Sober up and stop borrowing and spending money we don't have."

The typical Republican answer that health care reform and coverage is important but not at the cost of 1.1 trillion. blah blah blah blah blah -

Also very hypocritical.

Compare that to this statement by Rogers during a House Armed Services committee meeting where he complained about cuts to Missile Defense Spending.

You can't have it both ways Mike.

By the way Missile Defense Agency Director Patrick O'Reilly says

that the planned $1.2 billion in cuts to his budget do not come at the expense of the country's protection against missile attack by rogue nations. He also has said that the current number of missiles in silos as part of the GMD program are adequate to the threat.

Mike Rogers - Have You Done Anything This Term?

by: Curtis Abbey

Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 00:22:32 AM CDT

The Veterans Administration, which is allowed to negotiate drug prices and establish a formulary, pays 58% less for drugs, on average, than Medicare Part D.

Or he could talk to the Mike Rogers that voted for $100 Billion in war appropriations funding for Iraq and Afghanistan on May 24th 2007 (These wars were given a long term CBO score of $2.4 Trillion, almost 2 and 1/2 times the cost of the healthcare reform that Mike is whining about). Not to mention he voted to extend the Bush tax cuts on 5/10/06 (estimated cost $1.8 Trillion).

Lets talk about some other government spending, like your paycheck. What are we getting for it? Six months in and Mike Rogers hasn't turned a new leaf to get anything done. Even his press releases can't make it sound like he's accomplished anything this term.

I'm tired of this do-nothing Congressman, lets get Josh Segall in there. Donate to Joshua Segall for Congress, no donation is too small (even $5 sends a message)

Josh Segall (AL-03) Up and Running Strong

by: admin

Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 20:37:17 PM CDT

We've made our first hire of the campaign and I'm very excited to tell you about it.  Chad Horrell spent the last year working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as the Southern Field Director.  Chad oversaw the national party's field programs for every targeted race in the South, from Virginia to Florida to Texas.  He worked with the country's strongest candidates, many of whom went to Congress, and orchestrated some of the largest efforts their districts had ever seen to have conversations with voters at their doorstep.

This is exactly what we intend to do in this campaign, with YOUR HELP. We are 6 days away from the end of our first fundraising quarter.  Please make a secure contribution by going to https://secure.actblue.com/con...

Grassroots word-of-mouth campaigning is the key to knowing your constituency, building energy and enthusiasm for our cause, as well as fostering the trust to create change.  Hiring Chad is an important first step.  It says a lot about our success in the last election and the tremendous opportunity we have in this one.

You'll be getting some email from Chad over the course of the election.  I hope you won't hesitate to share your ideas and guidance with him.    

The end of our fundraising quarter is now 6 days away.  Please make a secure contribution by going to https://secure.actblue.com/con...

Thank you for your support.

Warm Regards,

Josh

I also got another message this evening about how you can go to the website and sign up to immediately help the team. While this information is not earth shattering news, I believe it is important to point out the type of strength that Segall plans on showing in 2010. This should be one of the top targeted races in the country this cycle and this move indicates that Segall should be taken very seriously.

Please Support CornSyrupAwareness in NN09 Scholarship Bid

by: admin

Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 20:53:12 PM CDT

CSA and I connected in 2008 through our mutual support for Congressional Candidate Josh Segall (AL-03). I believe that there is a lot that separates CSA from other activists. CSA has done a lot for me in my growth as a blogger and someone who I trusted enough to add as an admin at The Progressive Electorate .  He's a tireless activist on many causes and someone who has a lot to offer the participants at Netroots Nation 2009.  

Torturer on Congressional Staff (Mike Rogers-AL03): Should be in Jail

by: admin

Tue May 05, 2009 at 21:10:26 PM CDT

You've probably not heard of his former Direct Supervisor - Captain Christopher Brinson. (pictured here quite possibly celebrating his carried out orders)

Not only is he not in jail, but he is Deputy Chief of Staff for Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-03) whose duties include - Oversight of all legislative and Appropriations operations and Homeland Security

Does Congressman Mike Rogers Support Torture?

by: Curtis Abbey

Sat May 02, 2009 at 13:05:10 PM CDT

We know Mike Rogers is an Iraq War cheerleader. He supported President Bush's mistaken war every chance he got. But does he support torture? He voted No on limiting harsh interrogation techniques torture to the army field manual. He signed the statement that

"First, the United States does not torture, and the intelligence community conducts itself in accordance with the law, including the treaty obligations of the United States. The Committee has been briefed on the interrogation techniques currently being used by the Intelligence Community, and has conducted intensive oversight of both the underlying policy and its application."

 There are a lot of weasel words in there like does and currently.

We know Rogers supports someone who ordered torture; Christopher Brinson, his campaign and congressional chief of staff. A man who's name may be coming up more often in the news, as his underling Charles Graner Jr, attempts to negotiate his ten year sentence. 

Mike Rogers: The Alabama Chameleon Congressman

by: admin

Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 22:45:36 PM CDT

Now he's voting with Pelosi and the three Democratic Alabama Congressmen in rejecting

an amendment to the 2010 budget resolution, H.Con.Res. 85, that would have set government spending at 20.7 percent of gross domestic product, made the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent and suspended the capital gains tax through 2010.  

Well some Republicans aren't too happy with Rogers.

http://alrlc.org/2009/04/20/co...

(didn't link) because as my friend Mooncat says

Here's the link, dead because there have been virus/spyware issues with a handful of rightwing blogs since the tea parties and I'm just not going to take a chance.  I clicked so you don't have to:

Like Mooncat, I wonder if Rogers will get challenged within his own party. I doubt it would be anything other than a symbolic attempt from the far right.

Rogers really doesn't stand for anything but politically posturing. Seems like he's become adept at waking up in the morning and sticking out his finger to see which way the wind is blowing. Then he decides what rhetoric is good for that particular day.  

The Alabama GOP already Whining About Josh Segall (AL-03)

by: admin

Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 18:13:24 PM CDT

Birmingham, AL - This week, Democrat Josh Segall announced that he is launching his reunion tour and will be running again for Congress in District Three.  The campaign launch comes just five short months after voters told Segall "no" and issued a vote of confidence to Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks). After losing the election five months ago, and revving up again with 18 months left until the 2010 election, it is apparent that Segall views running for Congress as a hobby, and not a serious effort that impacts the lives of hardworking Alabamians. It is unfortunate that Josh Segall is injecting politics at a time when the rest of the Nation is focused on rallying our economy.

Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party said this of Segall's big announcement, "Congressman Rogers won the election and the folks in his district know that they can count on Mike to work hard for them in Washington, so all of this is really just a PR stunt by Josh Segall and the Democrats."

"I guess Segall just can't come to grips with the fact that he lost, but the arrogance of  taking cheap shots while Congressman Rogers is in Washington working hard for the taxpayers, well, frankly just shows how desperate Josh is to be called 'Congressman,'" added Philip Bryan, ALGOP Communications Director.

###
Paid for by the Alabama Republican Party * P.O. Box 55628 * Birmingham, AL * 35255

This release has some great lines

Campaigning for Congress as a Hobby - Well then I guess Mike Rogers being a Congressman is a hobby with his numerous business interests and lackadaisical attitude about his constituents. However I would call it a hobby that Rogers has gotten bored with.

The campaign launch comes just five short months after voters told Segall "no" and issued a vote of confidence to Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks)

I'm not sure that I would call it a vote of confidence that Mike Rogers outspent Josh Segall 2 to 1 and beat him by a little over 5 percentage points. The voters in AL-07 told Artur Davis no in 2000 and he went on to defeat Earl Hilliard in 2002.

It is unfortunate that Josh Segall is injecting politics at a time when the rest of the Nation is focused on rallying our economy.

And what Mike Rogers said about Nancy Pelosi was clearly not injecting politics. Calling the Speaker of the House "Mean", "Crazy" and "Tom DeLay in a skirt" was pure statesmanship the Alabama GOP would tell us. And how exactly has Mike Rogers focused on rallying our economy? By giving billions of dollars to Wall Street while telling main street no.

The GOP attacks Segall here and he comes out on top without having to respond.  Brilliant strategy. Did they really sent this out as a media alert?  

Shocking - Mike Rogers Less than 35k Cash on Hand (AL-03) - What a Difference a Year Makes

by: admin

Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 16:03:07 PM CDT

Compare that to the end of the first Quarter in 2008 when Mike Rogers had nearly a million dollars on hand and no campaign debt.

Heck, Rogers ended 2008 with more money (about 8k more) than he has on hand now. One would think that an already vulnerable Congressman who squeaked by in a 2008 challenge from a 29 year old first time challenger would have raised a little more money.

What does this mean?

Mike Rogers is in serious trouble. As we announced yesterday, Josh Segall announced that he will be entering the 2010 race. Seeing that Rogers will not start off nearly as well funded, this should give Segall a strong opportunity to out-raise Rogers and have more cash on hand after the second quarter.

While Segall actually outraised Rogers for a couple of quarters in 2008, he lagged far behind Rogers in cash on hand. Rogers will not have this cushion in the 2010 election. Also, with the recent controversy about Rogers comments directed toward Pelosi and the Team Tom DeLay hypocrisy , I am very interested to see the Republican National party involvement in this race. Might they see AL-02 and AL-05 as better pickup opportunities and better use of trimmed resources than a tough retention in AL-03

Now I can see why Rogers won't consider returning the money or giving away to charity the $30,000 he received from the DeLay led PAC's. He simply could not afford to give any money away at this point.

How does this compare to other Republican Congressmen in the State?

Of course Rogers is easily the most vulnerable Republican Congressman in the State. However, we should also take note at the fact that Spencer Bachus (AL-06) and Jo Bonner (AL-01) each have nearly half a million each on hand after the 1st quarter of 2009. Although he has not reported yet for the first quarter of 2009, Robert Aderholt (AL-04) ended the year with almost a quarter of a million so I wouldn't expect his cash on hand to change much.

I'm sure that while this information will come as a pleasant surprise to Democrats in the State and Nationally, I think the Republicans are a bit more concerned than this time last year that they have an enormous challenge on their hand. Josh Segall proved that he is an excellent fundraiser and campaigner in 2008 and now with a level playing field he should have Millionaire Mike scarred out of his new three million dollar home.