Blue America Welcomes Rob Zerban
There is no congressional race anywhere in the country more important than Rob Zerban's challenge to Wall Street's favorite politician, Paul Ryan. They look at Ryan and they see the perfect sieve for their entire one-percent anti-democratic agenda. And they see a future senator and president. With virtually no help from the DCCC-- which at least isn't protecting Ryan the way they have in past elections-- Rob is taking on the Republican superman who just reported the single largest House war chest in the country-- over $4 million. Rob has something else: the tumult of Wisconsin politics and the realization among workers and ordinary families there that this is for real; we are fighting for our lives and our children's lives. Please join us below in the comments section to meet Rob for yourself and ask him whatever you'd like to know about his campaign.
We've been following Ryan's ride in Congress for longer than most, and, of course, what we all wanted to know from Rob was why this year would be different from all the past years, when Ryan trounced his opponents.
I often get asked, “how are you going to beat Paul Ryan?” Ryan has incumbency, money, I am told a boyishly pretty face, and of course, he is a party boss. Previous challengers have not performed well. People ask, “what will be different.”
A big shift has taken place in the way people feel about Paul Ryan. Social Security and Medicare are “the third rail” of politics meaning you get shocked if you touch them. This happened to Ryan. While Ryan has gotten 60% support in the past, he is now polling easily in the 40s after our message is heard. Independents prefer me by a 3 to 1 margin. Ryan will move even lower because national Democrats, including President Obama, have taken a strong stand to protect retirement security and our social safety net. The more Democrats focus their fire on Ryan, the more people in the district become aware of his radical agenda. It also doesn’t help that Ryan has presided over one of the most unpopular Congresses in history with 91% disapproval.
The reason Ryan has been able to win is because he hasn’t had a strong Democratic challenger. The First District of Wisconsin was, and is, a seat Democrats can win. This district was previously represented by Democrats including Les Aspin, Clinton’s Defense Secretary, and Peter Barca who is a leading legislator now in state government. The district also supported Obama in 2008 with 52% of the vote. Ryan had opponents before that raised less than $20,000. There is nothing wrong with good people running for office, but against someone like Ryan, it takes a much larger effort than anyone can do on their own. It will take progressives across this country to come together to defeat Ryan. I believe we could have won this election in 2008 against Ryan if we had tried. I am here to make sure we don’t waste that opportunity again.
Another reason we can win is that we are running a strong campaign. Our campaign has focused on drawing these contrasts and being accessible to the people. We have had great success so far. Already in my campaign in 2011, we have outraised all previous challengers to Paul Ryan combined. We have over 7,000 supporters across the country and have earned great endorsements including that of the AFL- CIO, SEIU, and Senator Russ Feingold. I am focused on drawing clear contrasts, explaining my values, and showing voters how my plans will make their lives better.
The votes are here in Wisconsin, and I think with the recalls and our efforts to take out Ryan, we will have the energy to turn out the votes. My challenge is funding our grassroots volunteers and making sure that I take every opportunity to show contrast my ideas with Paul Ryan’s.
I don’t need unlimited money to beat Ryan. I need enough money to run my campaign. There is a big difference and I think we are on track to getting there. So far, we have raised over $500,000 from over 7,000 people. This is an incredible grassroots effort but we have a ways to go so we must grow.
I will beat Ryan because I understand what voters are looking for- experience and the right priorities. My focus is on drawing clear contrasts along both those lines. I grew up with a humble background and worked to build two companies and employ 45 people. Paul Ryan was born with many privileges and has spent a career in politics. I think people are looking for Representatives with real world experience in this economy, particularly business experience, and I have that and Ryan does not.
My focus is not just on personal qualities, but on values and priorities. Paul Ryan’s ideas are to benefit the ultrawealthy at everyone else’s expense. Ryan wants and to slash our social safety net, including seniors programs, the environment, women’s health, education, infrastructure, and economic recovery efforts-- all to give more tax breaks to the rich! My focus is on rebuilding the middle class by making critical investments into worker retraining, education, green energy, and research. I will pay for this by eliminating tax loopholes and the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and by cutting war spending. I am on the side of 99% of Americans, and Paul Ryan is only a 1% warrior. He is a man with a lot of money and no friends.
Blue America officially endorsed Rob and added him to our Blue America page. And not just because Ryan is so execrable. Rob is a self-taught progressive with his head screwed on right, who wants to do the right thing for working families and who has the right instincts to be a fine congressman. Help us shock the GOP, Wall Street, K Street and the DCCC on election day.
Rob, happy Valentine's Day-- and welcome to Blue America! We should have done this months ago! Your race is of unparalleled importance to the country because Ryan is of unparalleled danger to the country. Do you think all the turmoil over the Scott Walker recall efforts will impact the race or is this going to be strictly about you and Ryan? What about being on the ballot with Obama and Tammy Baldwin? Will that help you or hurt you or is it irrelevant?
Thanks Howie and Blue America! I am glad to be here.
I am not alone on the ballot. It seems in Wisconsin we have important elections with far-reaching significance at many levels of government.
We have an exciting grassroots effort to Recall Governor Scott Walker after he declared war on workers. That Recall effort has collected over one million signatures, woke up working people, and has identified tens of thousands of new Democratic-leaning voters in this district. The work of all those volunteers is a huge help! They are working on the Recall but they tell me Paul Ryan is next!
Wisconsin is also a state that has important November elections. Wisconsin is a swing state that is a must-win for Obama. He won it in 2008 and in recent polling looks about tied with Mitt Romney. We also have a great Senate race where my friend Tammy Baldwin is running to replace Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. In addition, there are House races, including my own, to help Democrats retake the House so we can finally end the gridlock in Washington. I think the focus of many candidates here will be a big help.
This is a good year to be in Wisconsin! All of the Democrats, including Barack Obama and Tammy Baldwin, are working together and this will be a coordinated effort to restore sane people to office at all levels of our federal and state government to restore the middle class.
Thanks, Rob. We're behind a lot of great Wisconsin candidates, from Tammy Baldwin to Chris Larson. Back in the first CD, Ryan's a pretty slick character and he comes off as perfectly sincere to a lot of people, especially apolitical types. We think he's a cruel, heartless, law-of-the-jungle Ayn Rand disciple. Do people in Janesville and Kenosha and Racine even know who Ayn Rand is and that Ryan is trying to put her dystopian vision into a Republican Party agenda?
I have talked to Chris Larson about this issue as well and it is clear that Ryan's allegiance to this philosopher is very strange and unique. The more people learn about him, his ideas, and their source, (Ayn Rand), the less they like him.
I think the days of Ryan being a sincere boyish-faced young man are over. When you go out on a limb and propose some of the most radical ideas to ever be thrown around in Congress, you lose a lot of your credibility.
There are more and more people in Wisconsin and across the country who are seeing past Ryan’s slick campaign. Ryan is constantly parading in front of FOX NEWS and right-wing think tanks but when he visited the district, he got booed in the Labor Day parade in his home town. The messaging is bouncing off a lot of people.
There are still many Ryan supporters. I think they are a minority but the tea party and Republicans who vote against their own interests are a serious problem myself and my campaign will address. One of the major things we have found is that many of Ryan’s supporters don’t realize what he has supported or what is in his budget. No one has told them before. Many change their minds very quickly when they learn and part of what I need to do is get the resources to put that information in front of them.
I have also gotten many questions about the influence Ayn Rand has had on Paul Ryan. I believe this selfish atheistic philosophy has played a formative role in Paul Ryan’s career. Ayn Rand’s icy cold social Darwinism is popular among boys in High School because it is a philosophy without responsibility. It says that whatever benefits you is what is right and good. He is a huge fan of Ayn Rand and his budget may well me the best example of selfishness yet in government.
Selfishness, including the kind Ayn Rand is so fond of, is exactly what is wrong with this country. We have companies that spill oil and crash the economy without a care in the world. We have politicians that sell out students, seniors, and middle class families for campaign contributions. All of this selfish behavior has hurt our country and it is clear that Paul Ryan’s philosophy is a root cause of this behavior.
I think when voters go to the polls they will be voting based on who will help the economy and who is on their side. I think Ayn Rand is not an issue that by itself will win, but I think understanding the deep commitment Paul Ryan has to Ayn Rand gives great insight into how someone can become deluded enough to advocate for such destructive ideas.
..Paul Ryan has never embraced anything in his life that is his own idea.
Ryan is a fan of Ayn Rand because one of Ryan's billionaire overlords told him to adopt the Ayn Rand philosophy.
Same with his agenda to destroy Medicare. Up until 2 years ago, Paul Ryan probably didn't even know what Medicare was. But once he sold his soul to the highest bidder, his "bold plan" to "improve" Medicare was handed to him by a Koch bro or some right wing "think tank."
In running against Paul Ryan, you are not running against a human being. You are running against an android that was constructed in the Frankenstein basements of billionaire madmen.
When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in excess body fat & carrying a misspelled sign.
People are talking about how much $ Paul Ryan has, what is your plan to combat his giant war chest?
Great question. I hear this a lot as you can imagine given how much money Paul Ryan has (the largest war chest in the House!). He has raked in tons of money from Wall Street, mortgage companies, and private health insurance companies. I heard another Democrat talk about Ryan recently and I liked his answer that Paul Ryan will need all that money to "defend the indefensible." When you go after Social Security, Medicare, environmental protection, women's rights, and education, you had better have some money to defend yourself from the people. This time though, we are organized and we will hold him accountable.
Thanks for coming by today.
I'm wondering if Paul Ryan joining up with alleged Democrat Ron Wyden will give him the cover he obviously seeks for his monumental error in "boldly" proposing to destroy Medicare. Is there any chance his constituents will see through him?
I think people realize Democrats as a whole are against radical changes to seniors programs and retirement security.
We have seen with Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman, and others who betray the values of the Democratic Party that they are not successful and end up hurting themselves by pretending to be conservatives. I feel Wyden may end up finding himself in trouble if he continues down this path.
Overall, I do not think Ryan is fooling anyone with bipartisanship. His budget is extreme and sweeping and his sham effort to use one Democrat to say this is a moderate proposal is insulting to the American people.
God help Oregon. I hope Wyden got enough messages from all of us that he may have backed off of his joint plan with Ryan. I've not heard about it lately.
It seems like this district is kind of a sprawling one containing urban, suburban and rural communities. Is there a bellweather community there that usually trends for the district or is each election different?
Great question. There are two parts to my answer.
The first part is that there is nothing to compare this election to. Paul Ryan has not faced serious Democratic opposition in 14 years so there is no baseline. That said, in 2008 President Obama won the district with 52% of the vote.
The second part of my answer is about the district itself. It is a larger district, but the population is concentrated in four main areas- Kenosha (where I live), Racine, Janesville (where Ryan lives), and south Milwaukee. These population centers allow our grassroots organizers to go door-to-door very effectively and by and large we are not talking about much rural territory here.
We're so happy to have you. If Wall street's favorite son gets the VP nod, does that help your campaign?
That's good news, because Ryan has unlimited funding to beat you.
Ryan's billionaire puppetmasters will pour millions into an effort to destroy your 66% approval ratings among Independents.
But I'm sure you already know that.
When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in excess body fat & carrying a misspelled sign.
Our campaign has over 30,000 volunteers here in the district which is an incredible amount of people-power. If each of those people spend 20 hours, and you had to pay minimum wage for each of those hours, think how much money that would be. When you calculate it out we have unlimited people power in the same way Ryan has unlimited money.
The Ryan Plan is enough to defeat him when the word gets out.
I agree. The Ryan plan is so unpopular that Republicans across the country will lose their seats because of it. Just today, on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ryan has said his second budget will be a rehash of last year's budget. He has learned nothing, and is preparing to hide behind his lobbyist money to avoid the consequences. I am doing my utmost to make sure he is stopped.
Rob doesn't need unlimited money to beat Ryan-- but he does need some. The DCCC hasn't ever spent a dime in this district and they haven't give anything to Rob yet either-- although we hope they'll see the light. Meanwhile, the money he's collecting is coming strictly from the grassroots-- from people who want to protect the country from predators like Ryan's career donors. Please help through the Blue America ActBlue page here. Even $5 and $10 contributions are adding up and helping Ron stay competitive against Ryan's $4,000,000 special interest haul (so far).
maybe you can't say .. but have you talked to DCCC people? And what have they said about giving you support? Have they said why Eddie Munster is untouchable?
The Democratic Party is reluctant to take on Paul Ryan, which is evidenced by the fact that they have not done so before. This year is different. I have been named as one of the 12 Emerging Races by the DCCC so that is great recognition of our fundraising and polling, but it does not come with funding support. I am counting on the people of America, (and BlueAmerica), to make this happen.
When Howie is on your team,,,,,, well anything can happen! You're going to win!
We have a relatively small donor list - but the people on it are passionate, informed voters who are Active!
that means - they donate! So if you can, please do so today. Rob doesn't need all the money in the world - just enough to get his TRUTH out to voters in WI-01, and as he's said before, all the votes are concentrated in 4 metro centers, so he can reach them relatively economically. This means your 10 bucks REALLY makes a difference!
As digby says, "we are all in this together." Donate to Rob Zerban's campaign here.
Your right to earn billions of dollars does not trump my right to drink pure water and breathe clean air.
or is that something they refuse to talk about?
Rob Zerban!!! I am part of that Reddit brigade that you spurred on the other month or so. Great call.
Are you willing to speak up about the election fraud that is a risk of occurring in the Wisconsin elections? I think we have all witnessed the recent history of these guys willing to do anything they can to win. For instance, is that Kathy Nicholas with the personal computer and Waukesha county in your district?
What can you do to counter the election fraud and what are your plans to fight if they screw you over at the last second??
Peace and good luck!!
SUPPORT ROB!! - http://www.robzerban.com/
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Absolutely I am furious about the shenanigans the GOP is foisting on the people of Wisconsin when it comes to their electoral rights. The voter ID laws, and all the other hoops and obstacles, will not deter us. We will have many attorneys working with us and other candidates to make sure we don't see a repeat of Florida in 2000!
His leadership on economic issues, Wyden aside is a great narrative for you to run with and demonstrates why he needs to go..
I agree with you. This Congress has plunged to 91% disapproval in large part because the American people understand that their elected officials are not making decisions- big PACs and special interest lobbyists are! They know that too often, Republicans and Democrats, are playing the fiddle for the same audience. I think Ryan's budget, which has huge corporate tax breaks and giveaways to the ultrawealthy like Mitt Romney, and pays for it by cutting the middle class, is a perfect example of a lobbyist government gone wrong!
Congressman Zerban sounds very good. Happy Valentine's Day, Rob. It's Carol in Oregon. Thanks for your recent call. I hope I can get to Wisconsin to campaign for you. (First note I sent went to C&L general box.)
Thanks Carol! I appreciate your support and all the best to you in Oregon.
I know you've been going all over the district for months now. What are the people there telling you they want? Is there a recognition, generally, of how toxic Ryan's plans are for their future. Has there been any polling yet?
Yes I am traveling and speaking to as many people as possible. Voters mainly ask me for progress on three main issues- 1. Rebuilding the economy including manufacturing 2. Protecting seniors programs from privatization and 3. Getting money out of politics. Those are my values and priorities as well.
These positions, and our work, is paying off. I released strong polling numbers and you can see them here http://www.robzerban.com/news/dem-candidate%E...
Those polling numbers indicate a real neck-and-neck race. What is the campaign doing to utilize grassroots fervor for your candidacy. What can people who don't money to chip in do to help you beat Ryan?
Wisconsin is on fire with activism. Governor Scott Walker has woken people up from their slumber. I think since Reagan, a lot of Democrats forgot what we are fighting for. I think the brutal attack of Scott Walker and Paul Ryan is waking people up in a big way and they are getting active. We are working to coalesce and harness that energy to build a grassroots movement and people can sign up to get involved at robzerban.com/volunteer
Get Active. Get after it.
Help Rob!! http://www.robzerban.com/crmapi/volunteer
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
How can we help you beat Paul Ryan?
Thanks! I need two things- financial help and volunteers. I need help from across the country to get the resources to build my campaign and fight back and could certainly use contributions. I can also use the manpower of people from across the country to make phone calls later on in the election as well. You can do both at www.RobZerban.com
I know the mainstream corporate DLC establishment Democratic Party doesn't like real progressives like Howard Dean, Paul Wellston, and Cynthia McKinney. Hopefully they back you and do anything you need for them to help you win. What is your experience dealing with the higher echelons of the Democratic Party establishment. Do you have to give up anything or sacrifice to get their blessings?
Here's to hoping the grassroots is enough, but I know a solid organization is nice to have behind you. I wish the Democratic organization could be that one.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I don't know too much about the Democratic establishment. This is my first run for federal office and prior to that, I was in foodservices.
I have to say I am a bit disappointed by the establishment. Despite all the progress we are making, many people still want to leave Republican elites alone. They don't want to "rock the boat" and actually win these critical races because they are afraid that old Democratic incumbents will then have to defend their seats.
I believe, like Howard Dean says, we must fight in every race, in every district.
Is anything being done to keep her from stealing the election again? She keeps doing it and everyone ignores her 'til election night-- when it's too late.
We do have corruption in Waukesha. This Clerk "found" extra votes at critical times but that was an occurrence that brought a lot more scrutiny. We will be ready with attorneys and many of us are aware of the problem and will not allow fraud to play a role in this election. We will have attorneys across the district, including Waukesha, to ensure that voters are not turned away, and each vote is counted!
I'll try to get my hopes up for you. I already do. But I see how candidates like Ned Lamont get treated by the Democratic Party. Obama himself picked Liebermann. I also liked Paul Hackett in Ohio. The Democratic Party seems to back and make sure the 1% candidates win. Best of luck. Hopefully the people power wake up and realize the importance of this stuff.
FIGHT!! OCCUPY!! SUPPORT!! https://robzerban.ngpvanhost.com/crmapi/contr...
Peace Rob. Thanks for being bad ass!!
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Remember to throw a few bucks to the campaign if you can. This is a grassroots/netroots campaign and if it is to succeed, Rob's going to need as much help as we can give him.
you can donate at the Blue America page, here.
You mentioned that you're hearing from voters that this is a priority for them. That's amazing, since it's a bit abstract. I wonder if they're mentioning it to Ryan as well, seeing that he's the #1 recipient of special interest cash of anyone in Congress this cycle. But what do you think Congress could do to get the corporate cash out of the political system? What will you do about it if you're elected in November?
Paul Ryan is the perfect example of someone who is bought and sold by lobbyists. He is the largest recipient of Wall Street money in the state, quite possibly in the nation.
I think it is clear the Super PACs and money is causing great harm to our Congress and to good ideas and to good people being heard.
I will do a few things when I am elected-
1. Support Move to Amend. I will support a Constitutional Amendment to repeal Citizens United and end the unlimited money. This brings us back to where we were, which still requires some additional steps.
2. I will support increased transparency so all political organizations, and organizations that spend money to influence elections, have to disclose donations.
3. I will end the "revolving door" between Congress and lobbying groups. I will support a total ban of former Members of Congress engaging in lobbying.
4. Term limits. I support term limits to ensure that politics is not a career, but a period of public service. This will put a damper on the money race.
The "owners" of America will spend $100,000,000 to keep Ryan where his is at. There is no way they will let their young prince, their messenger of evil, be shot.
So good luck, your going to need it.
Of course the corporate fascists' have unlimited funds, because they don't pay taxes anywhere near what they should.
If these people can spend billions on propaganda - for the sole purpose of reeking havoc within the democratic process for their own selfish reasons; why can't they pay billions more in taxes for the benefit of the entire country?
And what is wrong with Wisconsin anymore? A once blue state has the fascist, working class hating Romney - running even with Obama.
Even after everything Walker and the GOP has done?
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
I do not think Wisconsinites support this extreme agenda, in their state, or in Washington, DC.
2010 was a fluke year where many tea party candidates rode a wave of unlimited money, economic frustration, and misinformation to victory. I believe 2012 will be the year of setting things straight and removing these crooks and liars from office.
Over one million people have signed the petition to Recall Walker, which is evidence that there is a lot of buyers remorse! Paul Ryan's budget is evoking the same anger and backlash across Wisconsin and the whole country.
The other factor to remember is that Citizens United was new last cycle. People were not used to the incredible money spent on ads. This time, we all know what is going on and I don't believe the ads will be as effective.
People understand the tax system benefits people like Mitt Romney, and not the working and middle class families that make this a great nation. They also understand our system is designed by Paul Ryan and that the key to fixing the problem of unfair taxes is to remove Ryan.
I hope recent events indicates a return to its great roots! Elect Rob Zerban!
I'm painting today so am going back to it. Will do what I can for you, Rob.
You should consider asking Alan Grayson, Howard Dean, Cynthia McKinney, Ned Lamont, and any other real progressives to help you campaign in your district. Maybe that would work?
Volunteer or Donate: http://www.robzerban.com/crmapi/volunteer
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I am happy to have any and all individuals and organizations willing to help to get involved.
Senator Russ Feingold has taken a brave stand with me and has been a great help to my campaign. Many of the Wisconsin 14 who fled the state to stop our Governor's anti-worker agenda have also lent their support.
I think we will see many more join before this fight is over!
Awesome!! Great ideas. All those guys are Champs of the highest order. Thanks for fighting. Peace.
http://www.robzerban.com/crmapi/volunteer
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
It looked as though we might be lucky enough to have an election about something other than culture war issues this time, but that now seems to have been a fantasy. (It's always there...) How does this recent contretemps over birth control and "religious liberty" play out where you are --- and how will you deal with it?
I don't think this election will be about social issues. People are mad at Mitt Romney's 13.9% tax rate (made possible by Paul Ryan's budget), and understand we need to revitalize the economy. That is the number one issue.
Republican attempts to make this election about denying women contraception and cutting seniors off from Medicare is not a winning issue. Americans understand we need jobs, not cuts. Their attempts to divide us, and pit union against non-union, men against women, seniors against the young, etc just show how desperate they are not to talk about the recovering economy.
I think as voters hear you talk about protecting SS and Medicare, getting people back to work in a state that is losing jobs, and fair taxes --- you will gain a lot of support. Speak wherever you can. And repeat and repeat your four or five main issues/values.
Some advice you don't have to accept: You have no opposition so there is time to meet in homes where people invite their friends and neighbors. That worked well for me when I had four opponents in a primary. At each small event I asked for volunteers to help, to hold more small events.
Also, I found that meeting with canvassers before an after canvassing really spurred shy-types on. I had lots of help from students who had never canvassed. They loved briefing and de-briefing. And that was where I could tell them not to answer questions if they really didn't know answer.
You're up against a liar and his many lying machines. Keep cool!
I very much agree with you about meeting people. I am right now organizing kickoff events across the district where anyone can come and meet me and there will be free food. After that, we are going to organize house parties across the district so people can attend events in their community and get a chance to share their ideas with me. I agree with you- the more people learn the better and that is my main focus.
I've been speaking with you for about half a year now and I know how hard you've been pushing. I'm curious to know what have you learned since getting into the race that you really didn't know before? I bet it isn't completely what you expected
I am surprised at how campaigning can take over my life. I have worked as a canvasser for the environment and volunteered on campaigns before but being a candidate is a job that never ends. There is so much to do and I am learning how to push myself to new limits.
I know the Bill of Rights is a very popular campaign issue. I hope you consider touting them as you speak and travel throughout your district.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I agree. Our rights are very important. Some Republicans and Democrats have been pushing SOPA/PIPA legislation which would seriously undermine internet freedom and speech online. I have fought hard against this legislation and am glad to have been joined by Redditors and many others who took that fight to a new level.
Everyone likes to talk about their rights, but when it comes to their duties and obligations as citizens, conservatives are nowhere to be found. They think roads and bridges should build themselves and teachers should work for free because they don't want to pay taxes.
Let's protect our rights, but let's also ask everyone to give back and help this country as well.
Amen!! That's why I am supporting you. You have a great perspective.
http://www.robzerban.com/contribute
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Where's your campaign at at this point? Are you working with a skeleton crew or do you have good support out in WI? What are you looking to do to expand your campaign moving forward?
I started out alone. It is a lot to do! I answered all my emails personally and spent all day working and all night answering emails. I am glad my staff has grown since then.
I now have six full time staff, two interns, and countless volunteers. We just opened our second office as well with more on the way.
I promised your staffers we wouldn't keep you for over an hour. So... thanks very much for spending the time and answering the questions today.
Thank you Howie, Digby, and everyone else in Blue America! It was a pleasure speaking with you and feel free to ask me any other questions at Rob@robzerban.com
Good luck. We're pulling for you. Nothing would give progressives more pleasure than to see you win this race.
I have financially supported your campaign but I need some more information from you on what would be several policy positions if your quest to beat Paul Ryan is successful.
1st, what's your position on protecting what's left of the social safety net? (everything from Social Security to fuel assistance for the poor.)
2nd, what is your position on serious felonies committed by members of the Bush II Administration and their proxies? (War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Crimes Against the Constitution of the US, ect, ect, ect.) Do you believe they should be held accountable for their crimes? (The Obama Administration believes they should not be held accountable.)
3rd, what is your position on reinstating the War Crimes Act of 1996 back to the tenets of the law it contained before the Bush Administration changed them so they could engage in acts of torture and severe abuse of prisoners without being held legally accountable under the Act?
4th, what is your position on renewing the US treaty on the UN CAT (Convention Against Torture and Abuse of Prisoners) signed as a US signatory to the treaty by Reagan but the Bush II Administration withdrew the US from the treaty so they could engage in torture and abuse.
5th, What is your positions on US trade policies enacted mostly by Clinton? (NAFTA, GATT, WTO, Most Favored Nation Trade Status for nations like China.)
Rob- I think it is great what youare doing but youmust become a master of freemedia in order to compete. Go places and do things that the Media cannot ignore so that your resources willnot be consumed by TV ads.
I wishyou all the luck
I am glad to hear that you are all aware of the importance of this race, and of Mr. Ryan's vulnerability. You seem to have the major issues--including a certain Town Clerk whose party loyalty exceeds her loyalty to the law--well in hand. This heartens me.
So I'm going to bring up another issue that I think will help us all.
I want to see the fight taken to the Right. Forced to listen to Rush Limbaugh at my place of work for 3 years, I've developed a vocabulary that is affective against them. I want to see this put into use.
First, we need to make sure that everyone knows the basic difference between Liberals and Conservatives. That is, Liberals believe in evidence, and Conservatives believe in arrogance. That is to say, if the right person says something, Conservatives will believe it, right or wrong, while Liberals will check into it. Conservatives have different names for their arrogance--sometimes, it is called "authority;" religions conservatives call it "faith"--but it is still simple arrogance no matter what name it goes by. And we need to call them out on this at every opportunity.
Second, we need to start using our own names for the worst of their offenses. For over 30 years now, I've been trying to get the word "taxobabble" to someone who can make it the household word that it should be. It's the word that would have saved Democrats dozens of elections, if they'd only bothered to use it. There are two big lies in "taxobabble." First, there is the lie that lowering taxes increases government revenues. This was the basis for so-called "supply-side economics," and it was shown to be blatantly false. This doesn't mean that Republicans aren't still using it today (see "arrogance and evidence," above), but it's been debunked. The second big lie is that a flat tax is a fair tax. Studies have shown that a graduated income tax is the ONLY tax that makes it as difficult to earn your second million as it is to earn your first. A property tax hits the middle class the hardest. A sales tax, or a flat tax, as it's sometimes called, is a tax on the impoverished, as these people spend the highest percentage of their income on the things that a sales tax hits.
So, anyone caught using these terms needs to hear the word "taxobabble," and to be called a "taxobabbler," as soon as possible. The unflattering terms should be enough to at least get a fair discussion started, even if taxobabblers start adopting the term as a badge of honor.
Next, I have some names for things that counter-act the buzzwords that Conservatives like to use to distort things out of proportion. Let's stop calling it the USA PATRIOT Act. Let's start calling it the THUGS act. And, becasue USA PATRIOT is an acronym, T.o H.elp U.nlawful G.overnment S.urveilance is, too! Then, there is the matter of Enslaving Trade. They call it "Free Trade," but the only result I can see from it is that it drives workers into wage slavery--hence the name. Either way, we should be repealing the THUGS Act and doing everything in our power to support the Due Process Restoration Act. It's bad enough that our President sees fit to use Death Robots (no, DO NOT call them "Predator Drones," call them what they are!)on Americans living abroad. Allowing our Secret Service to kidnap our own people and, to paraphrase ee cummings, throw them into some dungeon until they die, is simply unacceptable. At the rate things are going, how long do you think it will be before someone like me would have to fear a Death Robot attack for merely writing something like this comment?
Finally, I want to address the common right-wing argument that people who are unemployed should blame no one but themselves. This is the argument of someone who does not want people to join together. So strong is their aversion to people working for a common good that they encourage you to think only in terms of yourself and not to even think about the people around you. This attitude fails society as a whole, and, through that failure, impacts every individual in it. The 1%, as they're currently called (I guess that there are SOME names that are OK to use ;) don't do it that way. They collude. Look at the way that the anti-worker attacks were coordinated across multiple states. Michigan WAS NOT an INDIVIDUAL instance! So why can't people look around them...and, instead of noticing that just ONE of them is out of a job, notice that we have THE WORST UNEMPLOYMENT IN 90 YEARS?!?!? And if you're telling me that THE WORST UNEMPLOYMENT IN 90 YEARS is all because of a sudden outbreak of laziness, you need to go find a night club somewhere, because that line is straight out of a stand-up comedy act! It really, honestly is funny, if you give it the right delivery!
Thanks for reading this, if you did. If you got bored part way through, I can understand. But I hope that it will be useful, and I hope that it can be used to take the fight to the right, as it should be. Thanks again.
I agree with you 100% and will try to remember to use your terms when appropriate - "taxobabbler, Thugs Act" (Patriot Act)
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