I start this column with exactly two weeks to go until the election. The debates ended tonight (thank God, or who, or whatever). Pollsters are now destroying their fingers and credibilities. Canvassers are becoming Jehovah-witness- like nuisances, with their incessant door-knocking and bell-ringing. Fundraisers are begging credit-card holders for as little as three dollars a clip. E-mails from Obama and his minions are flooding my inbox. E-mails from republicans are few and far and in-between. And the whole world is watching us here in the good old USA (United States of Amnesia). It’s ShowTime baby.

This is what the talking (and writing) heads of mainstream media (MSM) wouldn’t tell you about the upcoming elections: the election is over. You can stick a fork in Mitt Romney’s campaign. It is finished. It is cooked. Mitt Romney will lose this election and it wouldn’t even be close. Mitt Romney hardly ever had a chance of winning this election: from day one.  read more »

Every year I spend a fair amount of time trying to size up the state of the country when it comes to elections. I look for specific candidates I feel are worth pushing for (sometimes before others are pushing for them, I should note) and I try to get a feel for the overall trend in the nation. In 2006 and 2008 I felt Dems were going to win big...bigger than polls were indicating and many supposed "long shots" I endorsed as having a chance wound up winning. In 2010 I, along with most observer, knew that the tide was flowing towards the Repubs. I played it more defensive though I rightly predicted that the teabagger wave wasn't going to be quite as overwhelming as most pundits suggested. Still, 2006 and 2008 were aggressive years for me, 2010 defensive.

I am feeling this year is another good year to be aggressive. I am optimistic. I think Obama will win and we will keep the Senate. Taking the House is quite a long shot, but not impossible. Still I think it is best to try to make gains in the House (which I think we will do) in preparation for what I am hoping will be a strong Dem year in 2014.

With this in mind, I want to highlight 3 NY State races. There are more close NY State House races, but these are the three that I think are leaning Repub that we can turn to Blue with some hard work. Winning even one of these three races will help Obama when he gets re-elected. And winning all three is a possibility. I should note that one of the main sites I use to judge races is a conservative site. I figure if I know what the right wing is thinking, it helps me be realistic in our chances. All three of these races are listed as "Lean R." In 2010 I wouldn't have touched these races. But in 2006 and 2008 I would have given us a good shot at all three. This year? I think it is in between but well worth making the effort. Not that ALL of these would be Dem pick ups, so by contesting them strongly we are putting Repubs on the defensive. That is something we don't do enough of.

You can donate to any of these campaigns at the bottom of this Act Blue Site (my latest Act Blue site...on other sites I have already raised about $5000 for Dem candidates across the country).

NY-11 Mark Murphy

This has been a traditionally Republican district that has slowly trended Dem...though conservative Dem. It still leans Repub but it is a weak hold for them and the Repub incumbent has run into a few scandals. So I think we have a shot at it since Repub scandals are what made this a possible Dem district in the first place. Plus the Democrats in the Brooklyn end of this district have suddenly gotten more unified and eager to prove their worth. So there may be a push for the first time from the Brooklyn end to win this one.

VOLUNTEER FOR MARK MURPHY

NY-18 Sean Patrick Maloney

I have met Sean Patrick Maloney and liked him a few years back. He is running against right wing nut job Nan Hayworth. It leans Repub but things have been picking up. Maloney has been endorsed by Democracy for America, NYS AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers Region 9A, New York State United Teachers, and many others.

VOLUNTEER FOR SEAN PATRICK MALONEY

NY-19 Julian Schreibman

This one has been off my radar but we have a shot at it. NY State as a whole has been trending Dem for years (ironically upstate more than Brooklyn, which has trended more Repub!). So this race should be part of that trend.

VOLUNTEER FOR JULIAN SCHREIBMAN

You can donate to any of these campaigns at the bottom of this Act Blue Site.

Love Morgan Freeman. The latest from the Obama campaign:

What you can do:

Help the Obama campaign field trips to NH and VA.

Make phone calls through Democracy for America to support Progressive candidates

Can't spare the time? Then give some cash:

Donate to help Democrats retake the House

Donate to help Democrats keep the Senate

I start this column in New York City. It’s three o’clock on the morning of a public holiday we celebrate in this city: Columbus Day. It’s only fitting that I write this column today since it deals with a simple but profound prediction: Mitt Romney has no chance of winning next month’s presidential race. He will be soundly defeated. This is a general election that has been over long before the primaries started: contrary to all the media hype of it being a close race.
Back in the days of the Italian -whose name has been translated as Cristobal Colon or Christopher Columbus- a simple but profound theory led to a whole new worldwide awakening. Columbus said that the world was round, and if a sailor took his ships and continuously sailed westwards, then he will eventually obtain a new sea route arriving at the same enchanting eastern lands Europeans already knew about. Of course the powers that be of that time (including the Catholic Church) scoffed at his theory. Fact was that many people in the relatively “historically-ignored” world outside Europe had known the truths ingrained in this theory: long before 1492.  read more »

Big Bird wants you to get involved.

Lt. Sulu (George Takei) wants you to get involved.

Now NYC can help win the election by traveling to New Hampshire and Virginia. Here's how you can get involved:

DL21C Weekend Road Trip to NH (Oct 20-21)

Join DL21C as we enjoy the fall foliage and beauty of New England while knocking on doors for Obama in this critical swing state - this small state may make the difference in the electoral college as the Presidential race narrows, so let's make sure New Hampshire's 4 electoral votes are blue!

Recent polls are showing a tight race and you can make a real difference in just a weekend. You'll also be volunteering for competitive down-ballot races for us to make a difference on, including Maggie Hassan for Governor (who, if elected, would be the nation's only sitting female Governor) and Carol Shea-Porter for Congress - one of the most competitive House races this cycle that could make the difference in returing the House to the Democrats!

We'll provide all you need - $80 gets you hotel accommodations, R/T coach bus travel w wifi, a night out with DL21C after a great Saturday of volunteering, snacks, beverages, and pizza throughout the trip and great fun along the way! Click HERE or read below for full information:

The logistics:

• Meet at 32nd Street (between 7th & 8th Avenues- next to Penn Station) at 7:15am on Saturday.

• Buses depart at at 7:30 am SHARP (you can sleep on the bus!). Coffee, bagels, donuts provided.

• Arrive in Manchester, NH at approx. 11 am and spend the afternoon canvassing.

• Unwind over dinner and drinks in downtown Manchester on Saturday night.

• Campaign all day Sunday, depart Manchester at 5pm and return to NYC at approx. 10pm.

The $80 cost includes:

• roundtrip coach bus transportation
• accommodations at a local hotel
• two full days of work with Obama field offices
• breakfast on the outbound drive, and pizza, beverages, and fun on the way back
• and of course, our DL21C tradition.....a special pub night get together on Saturday night!!!

Prior campaign experience not required!

If you or any of your friends are nervous about joining, DL21C
makes it easy and fun. We take care of the transportation, hotels, party planning and arrange an
itinerary with the campaign so you get the maximum amount of payoff for your time. Our road trip
captains will also be on hand to provide background on important issues and talking points that will
resonate with the undecided voters we are trying to reach there.

RSVP is required and the bus will fill up...

more info

Reserve via PayPal

Questions? Email us at campaignvol@dl21c.org. See you on the bus for a fantastic weekend!

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DL21C Weekend Road Trip to northern VA (Nov 3-4) - GOTV WEEKEND!!!

Join DL21C getting out the vote in the final hours of the campaign! Virginia matters more than ever, with the White House and a crucial Senate seat on the line. With Politico calling Fairfax County “key to any candidate’s victory,” a visit from you might be all it takes to push undecided voters firmly into the President Obama/Senator Kaine camp!

To get you ready, check out this recent Politico article: “Is Virginia Going Purple?”:
Meet at 32nd Street (between 7th & 8th Avenues- next to Penn Station) at 6:15 am on Saturday. Bus will depart at 6:30 am SHARP!

We will spend Saturday night in Old Town Alexandria or Arlington along with hundreds of other volunteers who will be flooding the state to make a final push for their candidates in what is sure to be a crucial battleground in the Presidential race.

Full info HERE

See you on the bus!

And if you can't do these events, you can still donate or phone bank for victory.

Donate to help Democrats retake the House

Donate to help Democrats keep the Senate

Make phone calls through Democracy for America to support Progressive candidates

On Oct. 13-14 Join or Host a Moveon.org Phone Party to Get Out the Vote

Get active so that after November it will still be a sunny day on Sesame Street. Sweep away those right wing Republican clouds!