StallNine: Spirit of the blog

Another day, another new commercial

These kids are way too cute!

Click here for more of Ned's thoughts on education.

So do we!

This is exciting, yesterday I learned how to embed a YouTube video on the ole blog and today, a new Ned commercial. Enjoy!

And don't forget to spread the word!

This is what a movement feels like! (Or why CD1 rocks!)

What a difference a few months and a primary victory makes! I got back from the CD 1 meeting in West Hartford a short while ago. I have been to three Ned volunteer meetings and I've never been to a one where there were extra chairs.

My first meeting was in late April or early May where I learned how to collect petitions to get Ned on the ballot. I believe there were about 15 of us there, max. I sat on a table when the chairs ran out.

My second meeting was on June 1,  two weeks after Ned made it onto the primary ballot by receiving 33% of the vote at the State Democratic Convention. There were maybe 30 volunteers (I think, admittedly, I'm bad at estimating crowds) at the meeting. The crowd was large enough to be impressive but not so large that we couldn't go around the circle and introduce ourselves. At that meeting we also met the brand new interns, both of them.

But tonight...wow. The office was packed -- not a free chair in the room and tons of people standing in the office and in the hallway. There must have been at least 100 volunteers, probably closer to 120 were 132 volunteers plus the 12ish staff members. I kept looking around the room at the new and the familiar faces. I was amazed. I was stoked. I was pumped. I was bummed...I left my camera at home.

Click here to volunteer for Ned. And click here (campaign site) or here (YouTube) for Ned's latest commercial, Patriot. It gave me the chills, very powerful.

Calling all Nedsters in the First CD

Your Ned Lamont for Senate volunteer meeting is Thursday at 7pm at the West Hartford office! (Click on the link for more information.) Not sure if you live in the First District? The first district consists of:

Barkhamsted, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bristol, Colebrook, Cromwell, East Granby, East Windsor, Glastonbury (part), Granby, Hartford, Hartland, Manchester, Middletown (part), New Hartford, Newington, Portland, Rocky Hill, South Windsor, Southington, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Winchester, Windsor, and Windsor Locks

The Third District volunteer meeting is also on Thurday but at 6:30pm. The Third District meeting is in New Haven. The Third District consist of:

Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Derby, Durham (part), East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Middlefield, Middletown (part), Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton (part), Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury (part), West Haven, and Woodbridge

For a handy congressional district map, click here.

Nine weeks until election day

Yesterday the State Democrats held a picnic and it became a lovefest for Ned Lamont. Lieberman (of the Connecticut for Lieberman party) was not invited because, as I mentioned, it was a picnic for Democrats. Anyway, the Courant covered it well. My favorite part:

U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, likened Lieberman to Johnny Damon, a Boston Red Sox player whose move to the rival New York Yankees horrified Boston team loyalists.

True fans remained loyal to the Red Sox despite grieving the loss of a favorite player, just as many Democrats remain loyal to the party despite Lieberman's absence, Larson said.

"It's an unusual circumstance and it's very difficult for people like me, and those of us who've known and worked with Joe Lieberman for so many years," Larson said, "but the fact is, he's not on our team."

Today I went with a friend down to Newtown for the Newtown Labor Day Parade. No, I'm not a big parade person but I wanted to show my support for Ned. And I was not alone. There was a huge contingent of supporters marching with Ned. We sat on the sidelines but made show Ned our love when he walked by. We were pretty noticeable in our Ned shirts so he came right over to us to compliment us on our shirts. Then we had about 30 seconds of downtime before Lieberman (of the Connecticut for Lieberman party) marched by with Hadassah and some kids wearing "I'm sticking with Joe" shirts. I'm not sure where the slogan "sticking with Joe" came from as it seems like supporters are saying they are afraid of trying anything new. Plus, is the direction of our country going so well that you want more of the same?! I know I don't! Anyway, my friend and I and two folks we met from Danbury were waiving our Ned signs and shouting "Ned! Ned! Ned!" as the CFL folks marched by. Lieberman was walking on our side of the road and as soon as he saw us he cut right to the other side. (Hmm, is that cuting and running?) He looked as smarmy as ever. Some camera people (not sure which network) did tape us yelling "Ned! Ned! Ned!..." so I am hoping the "dissatisfaction with Lieberman" story will make the news. It's time they wake up and realize that Lieberman had his 18 years and it's time to move on. It's time to elect a Senator who will speak for the people of Connecticut, who will stand up to President Bush, who will find a way to bring our troops home, who will fight for those who are most in need, the poor, children, those who don't have health insurance.

Oh, and if you hadn't heard, this is the second time in nine years that Lieberman has marched in the parade. The first time -- 2000 when he was running for Vice President AND Senator. This year the Democrats accidentally invited Lieberman but then disinvited him when they caught their mistake. So what did he do? March with the CFL party (himself). It's all about his ego. Did I mention how smarmy he seemed?

The other highlight of the parade was meeting Chris Murphy. He was even more excellent in person than over the internets.
 

Terror

Despite what Joe Lieberman says, I really don't support terrorists. For real. In fact, I really don't like terrorists at all. Which is why I'm supporting Ned Lamont. See, the "War on Terror" that we're fighting is actually creating more, not fewer terrorists. So why the hell isn't anyone in the mainstream media calling Lieberman on his bs?

Oh, and by the way:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 — The Department of Homeland Security has taken significant steps since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to make it much harder to turn a plane into a flying weapon. But a nearly obsessive focus on the previous attacks may have prevented the federal government from combating new threats effectively, terrorism experts and former agency officials say.

...

The nation is still at risk from the same “failure of imagination” cited by the 9/11 commission as having contributed to the success of the 2001 attack, several argued. (emphasis mine)

But how can that be?? I mean, the Republicans are in conrol, how can things be less safe? And (via Atrios) John in DC reminds us the anthrax scare happened after 9/11 and still no resolution. But I guess that was soo 2001 so who cares...unless it can be used for political purposes to help the Repubs! Right.

Ned Won!!!

So you may have heard...NED WON the primary 52-48!!! Ned Lamont is now the Democratic nominee for Senate. Yes, Ned Lamont beat Joe Lieberman, the 18-year incumbent, to win the Democratic nomination for Senate. Did you hear me? NED WON!!! Yes, I think you probably get the point by now, I just still can't believe we WON!! And I really can't believe how many wonderful people I've met over the past few months. The next few months will be interesting but I look forward to the general election with hope for a new direction in our country. And for peace.

More Maxines, please!

Maxine Waters came to CT for the THIRD week in a row in support of Ned Lamont. She was not my representative when I lived in California but I often wished that she was. CT Bob interviewed Maxine in Litchfield earlier today and you can watch it here. (Only watch it if you like seeing politicians passionate about fighting for the people! As in the actual people, not the people who are lobbyist-people.) As Maxine says, Ned Lamont's campaign represents what the soul and the heard of the Democratic Party should be.

What do Danny Glover and I have in common?

We both met Connecticut Bob today! After a morning of phone banking and canvassing, I ended up at the Hartford Ned Lamont for Senate office where the word was that Ned, Maxine Waters and Danny Glover were going to show up to thank us for helping to get out the vote. It was hot out (though thankfully not as hot as last week!) and after knocking on doors for two hours, I was pretty beat. I grabbed some water and looked up and who did I see? Yup, CT Bob. (Check out my favorite CT Bob masterpieces here, here and here.) Bob (he said I could drop the CT, he's casual that way) told me how excited he was to meet Danny Glover and he was hoping that Danny Glover would say a word or two on camera so he could post it on the Internets. I said cool and agreed to take a picture of Bob and Danny Glover during the interview. And so I did:

(The pics I got with Bob's camera were better, btw.) Bob expected that Danny would just say a word or two but instead Danny gave quite the interview. I'm not going to say more because I know Bob will post when he gets a chance (and I'll be sure to add the link). I've said before, while in LA I never was star struck (course, I never hung out in places where stars might be) but I was definitely star struck watching Bob and Danny talk. And it had nothing to do with the fact that Danny Glover is Danny Glover the movie star. I was star struck by Danny Glover, the human being. He sees the big picture and is using his fame to make the world a much better place. Thank you for coming to CT to lend your support, Danny! And, of course, I was also starstruck by the infamous CT Bob. He is such a cool guy all around. After all, he is the Happiest Aggressive Interrogator.

New poll: Lamont ahead 54-41!

The new Quinnipiac poll is out today:

Lamont has support from 54 percent of likely Democrat voters in the new Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman has support from 41 percent of voters. A similar poll July 20 showed Lamont with a slight advantage for the first time in the campaign.

And don't miss this quote (bold mine):

"Senator Lieberman's campaign bus seems to be stuck in reverse," poll director Douglas Schwartz said. "Despite visits from former President Bill Clinton and other big-name Democrats, Lieberman has not been able to stem the tide to Lamont."

I can't wait to vote for Ned!