Part-Time Pundit

Columns and Commentary by John Bambenek

Throw Those Corrupt Guys Out! Put Our Corrupt Guys In!

Here’s a fundraising letter just in from the DNC, my comments in brackets:

=======
Dear John,

Republicans have become so incompetent, so out of control and so unbelievably corrupt that no amount of spin can cover it up. The fact is, we’re witnessing a dramatic reversal in national politics. If we seize this opportunity, we can change history.

[Yes, but what do you stand for?]

Everyone can see what Republican Leader Tom Delay did when he wanted more Republicans in Congress. He’s been indicted for laundering more than $170,000 in corporate money to gerrymander six Congressional seats away from Democrats.

[Gerrymandering? The horror! Democrats would never do that!]

That’s what the Republican money-for-influence machine is about — special interest money to fund Republican officials who will make sure that contributors get a return on their investment.

[So where do you stand on the issues?]

We do things differently. So let’s prove it. Tom DeLay is set to be arraigned in a Texas court on Friday — let’s raise twice the amount he’s accused of laundering, and let’s do it in grassroots donations.

[So you're about money too?]

Show America that ordinary people have the power to raise $2 for every $1 Tom Delay can launder. Make a contribution and fight Republican corruption:

[By replacing Republican corruption with Democrat corruption?]

http://www.democrats.org/doubledelay

The corruption in Washington has gotten so bad that even Republicans can’t stomach Republicans any longer. One GOP Congressman told Howard Fineman of Newsweek that the Republican leadership “has become ossified and hopelessly out of touch … They only care about one thing, hanging onto their own power. I’m not ready to take them on, at least not yet, not unless I have to!”

[So let's replace them with out of touch Democrats!]

He may not be ready to take on the corrupt Republican leadership — but we are.

[With more corruption!]

Wishing won’t drive them out of office — but strong Democratic candidates and a ground operation in every single state will. It’s up to each of us to be a part of the alternative to failed Republican leadership. That’s why the Democratic Party needs your financial support right now for our all-out candidate recruitment and organizing drive:

[Give us your money!]

http://www.democrats.org/doubledelay

There is a wave of change coming, and Republicans are battling against frustration from average voters and disappointment from their fringe extremist base.

[With Democrats who are battling against frustration from average voters and disappointment from their fringe extremist base]

The only limits on our potential are the number of strong Democratic candidates who step forward to run in key contests, and our ability to turn out the vote in every single precinct in America. Your dollars build something that hasn’t existed in decades — a Democratic organizing and communications infrastructure in every state.

[Because we don't run on issues or our beliefs, we can't be constrained by them!]

Part of my job is to make sure that we have those candidates and that truly national organization in place. Our strength — to potential candidates and to voters — is that our promise of change is backed up by millions of committed people like you who will do whatever it takes to carry Democrats to victory.

[Not the accomplishment of issues, the solving of problems, or making America better... just getting Democrats in power, that's all we care about]

Please make a contribution now to show that ordinary people have the power to drive Democratic victory:

[Give us your money!]

http://www.democrats.org/doubledelay

Republicans are having serious problems convincing people to run for office defending the GOP’s incompetence, corruption and cronyism. The Washington Post reports serious worries in the Republican establishment over their recruitment failures.

[And what big names are the Democrats fielding again?]

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is growing — our slate of solid candidates continues to expand, and our 50-state strategy of putting organizers in every state continues to attract top talent everywhere.

[What's Rod Blagojevich's approval rating again?]

With a serious push now — in enough time to build a powerful party structure that will last beyond a single election cycle — we can reshape the electoral landscape in 2006 and beyond.

[Just elect us! We won't tell you what we stand for!]

Let’s hit $340,000 by Friday:

http://www.democrats.org/doubledelay

The future begins today — America can do better, and the Democratic Party is the vehicle for change.

Here at Democratic Headquarters, everyone knows that you — not special interests — are in the driver’s seat.

[At least until we get your money]

Thank you,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

P.S. — A group of donors committed to a broad fundraising base has committed to matching every dollar raised between now and October 21. Every dollar contributed today will be matched — so, doubling Tom DeLay’s dirty money actually means quadrupling it to more than half a million dollars. This is a fantastic time to make a donation — be part of the action by clicking here: http://www.democrats.org/doubledelay

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  • October 18th, 2005 Posted by John Bambenek | Uncategorized | 2 comments

    The Miers Strategy

    The nomination of a relatively unknown Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court has generated a lot of emotion in conservative circles. Many people wonder why Bush, who promised to nominate judges in the mold of Scalia and Thomas, is nominating stealth candidates. First it was John Roberts who had a slim record to replace Rehnquist. Then Bush nominated Harriet Miers who has little to no public record to replace O’Connor.

    Conservatives, who have not been pleased with the history of stealth candidates in the past, reacted with indignation at yet another stealth candidate who we are told is a conservative but there is no proof. Just trust Bush.

    Assuming that Miers is in fact a conservative (and that is an assumption, I admit), and I’m beginning to think she’s Scalia with ovaries, nominating someone and hiding that fact sends a pretty bad message. When Clinton nominated Ginsburg, everyone knew what she was. When Bush nominates conservatives, the fact that they are has to be hidden. Membership in the Federalist Society is conceded as akin to membership in the Ku Klux Klan. Conservativism is not a crime, it is not a mental disorder, and it is not a moral failing. It is an intelligent and thought out political philosophy.

    That aside, I think the White House planned things this way. By nominating a candidate that would upset conservatives, it puts the Democrats in an interesting position. Criticism is labeled as sexist and therefore puts pressure on Democrats to vote for the candidate just for PR points against Republicans. It has virtually taken the filibuster off the table (as long as nothing changes). Miers will slip onto the court without a fight on her, but a fight on the criticism of her. It is a political calculation of expediency to slip her onto the court and get a solid conservative there while disarming Democrats to stop it. Bush doesn’t want a filibuster fight, so they took this route.

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  • October 18th, 2005 Posted by John Bambenek | Law / Legal Issues, National, Politics | 2 comments