August marks the summer recess for Congress. For many of the Blue Dog Democrats like Sanford Bishop (D-2-GA), it could be the Dog Days of Summer. The Blue Dog Democrats were credited with holding up the vote on the healthcare reform bill. News reports said that they held out for special compromises, but we have yet to learn what the compromises are. Have they helped us out by delaying the vote only to sell us down the river with some phony baloney compromise based on cooked numbers that show the system will pay for itself and be deficit neutral—an impossibility according to the CBO?
This month of recess is our only chance to affect how Representative Sanford Bishop votes on this very important bill. As the readers of SWGA Politics know, we hosted a very important Town Hall on Healthcare Reform. Representative Bishop did not attend, but he sent a field specialist on agriculture to read a letter from the Congressman. The field representative made notations and promised that Bishop would release a statement to the press regarding all of our concerns. Three weeks have gone by, and we are still waiting for a response from the Congressman.
Many interesting things were revealed at the Town Hall meeting. We heard from a Doctor that had a story of rationed care case in England resulting in an 83 year old being denied medical care on the operating table because of his age which resulted in his death. We heard from a Canadian who has experienced Canadian and American systems and prefers ours. These are personal stories that our Representative needs to hear so FreedomWorks has offered to do another Town Hall meeting when Bishop can be present. Two weeks have gone by and the only thing that we have learned about his schedule is that he will be visiting the troops during the first week of vacation, he will be enjoying lunch with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and he will be at the Sanford Bishop Golf Classic to collect some money for his campaign. Does he even care about the truth behind this bill that will change everything in this country?
Do you want your voice to be heard? Take the time to call or e-mail Bishop to voice your opposition to Obama’s socialized healthcare bill. Bishop’s contact form is at http://bishop.house.gov/display.cfm?section_id=13
Also we need to have ‘letter writing parties’. Invite a few friends over, or stay after church, work, etc and hand write a brief letter stating your disapproval for the healthcare bill. Hand written letters carry more weight than typed letters, phone calls or e-mails. . If we are doing ALL of the above and protesting at every opportunity available we can make a difference. We have already slowed it down!
Protest on August 14th and 28th at offices Noon to 1:00 PM (There will be a luncheon following the protest on the 28th. Email freedom.works@mchsi.com for more information.)
ALBANY OFFICE
235 Roosevelt Avenue Albany Towers, Suite 114 Albany GA 31701
Phone: (229) 439-8067 Fax: (229) 436-2099
COLUMBUS OFFICE
18 Ninth Street, Suite 201 Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 320-9477 Fax: (706) 320-9479
THOMASVILLE OFFICE
137 East Jackson Street, Thomasville, GA 31792
Phone: (229) 226-7789 Fax: (229) 226-7860
Protest on August 18th in Perry, GA- Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, time: 10:00 AM-
Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter
Miller-Murphy-Howard Building
Perry, GA 31069
https://www-ssl.registereasy.org/application/?cl1243612429
Speakers at this year’s luncheon will be Congressmen John Barrow, Sanford Bishop, Nathan Deal, and Lynn Westmoreland
Protest on August 24th at his Golf Tournament Fund Raiser in Albany, GA
12th Annual Congressman Sanford Bishop Golf Classic ( for $5k you get to meet him and get a T-shirt)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Protest Time: 7am and 12noon
Stonebridge Golf and Country Club
Albany, Georgia
Classic Tee Times: 7:30am & 12:30pm
You are also invited to join the Benjamin Franklin Literary Society, a political book club. We will meet on August 20 at 6pm at the Sunset Grill in Albany to discuss Glenn Beck’s book Common Sense. E-mail wmwaller@bellsouth.net for more information.
Together we can make a difference!
I think it is very important to have a hugh turn out at the August 18th and August 24th protests. Lots and lots of signs. These are the dates that BIshop will be present and more importantly soliciting for re-election contributions.
Bishop needs to see us. He needs to walk through our ranks. He needs to know we mean business and that we will not let up.
Even if Bishop is not your Representative, his vote effects you. His vote could have helped stop Cap & Trade, stimulus, TARP, auto bailout, etc………..
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
Great comment Debra! If we cannot pull in the numbers, we should just stay home. We have the dates. Now we have to market them! Help get the word out everyone!!
Like Bill said at the Plains Tea Party, Bishop has only ever had good press. His home district has always been a safe haven, one that it really shouldn’t be. Criticisms for him need to be loud and clear and upfront. Otherwise, people won’t realize what he’s actually doing up there.
Not that I’m 100% sure what he’s been doing up there either, besides putting earmarks into bills to send money down this way – our tax dollars I might remind folks – and arguing that it’s his duty and anyone who doesn’t send earmarks home isn’t doing their duty to their home districts.
Keep in mind what’s going on folks, and what he stands for. Make sure people know it!
It is all well and good to go and protest Bishop-but this will not change things. The only way to change the situation is to get him out of office.
The Only way to get him out of office is to do two things: 1. Large warchest(over a million). If you aren’t willing to put up funds (even out of your own pocket) then you need to shut up. There are those who talk and those who do.
2. Find a candidate who displays some of the following characteristics:
A. Name recognition among the geographical areas of the 2nd Congressional District (someone who is on tv is a good start). People tend to feel like they have a relationship with people they watch on tv.
B. Someone who has a story. By this I mean someone who has grabbed life by the boot straps and has made it despite the odds against them.
C.A good listener, a good communicator.
D. A female (I’m sorry white guys but you remind many of the voters of the good ‘ol boy network.
E. Someone who can get their facts straight. One small slip can destroy your credibility.
Remember, we have to convince people why they should not vote for Bishop and why someone else is better. People realize that Bishop holds seniority in the House. There has to be a clear and compelling reason to vote against him.
If we are not willing to PUT up, we MUST stand down and not challenge Bishop in the election. If we put someone up against Bishop that does not have a possibility of winning, we are risking many other important races that could go the (D) way just by driving (D) folks to the polls that would not otherwise vote. Many of these go to the poll just to support Bishop.
Sara,
We can quibble about the rest of your points, but re: 1), I’ve already shown in the comments on Ferrell that Bishop does NOT have a ‘large warchest (over a million)’. As of right now, he brought in something like $110K in the last reporting period, and has about $210K or so on hand – the exact numbers are in the other comment. Like I said there, not exactly chump change, but not insurmountable either.
Actually Sara, I think the only way “D” voters will get driven to the polls is if there’s a close race, meaning a viable candidate in the first place. So I don’t think anyone is out anything in the event of a challenge. I doubt Lee Ferrell’s 31.1% of the vote was enough to pull the Democrats out in droves after all.
While I disagree with your points about those being necessary to win, I do have to agree that many of those would be advantageous, especially the female candidate. However, I think a black candidate, like Dylan Glenn for example, would do that same thing as well. I wouldn’t discount a white male candidate, but I do think it would be an uphill battle for them.
Jeff,
It does not matter that Bishop’s warchest contains 210k or so. He doesn’t need a large warchest. He already has name and political recognition. Who ever runs against him needs the large warchest mainly for advertising. People who would vote for him have to be convinced that he is not the right person.
One day you will come to me and say, “Sara, you were right! I should have listened.”
Tom,
Dylan Glenn was a good idea but he is not well known enough. Getting someone JUST because of their skin color is just skin deep, no pun intended. We need to find someone who is WELL known, liked and can gather a large warchest.
Never denied having some pretty significant funding wouldn’t be needed – just pointed out that Bishop doesn’t have the million bucks you said he does.
More important will be media coverage – and that comes from activity, not money. Heck, a good grassroots campaign can have you in every paper in the District on a weekly basis via letters to the editor.
Actually, I only mentioned Dylan Glenn because he was the only one who has given Bishop a run for his money. He had a pretty impressive resume going in and I would assume could do as well again, especially considering how public sentiment has swung the other way. Honestly, I think any “minority” candidate (female, asian, black, whatever) could do well against Bishop…but only because of the image Republicans (and Libertarians) seem to have of being rich white guys who don’t know anything about being a regular person
Jeff,
Correct yourself! I NEVER stated that Bishop has millions. DO NOT put words in my mouth!
I think it was a misunderstanding Sara. I think he misunderstood you saying a candidate would need millions as you saying Bishop had millions, but I’m sure Jeff can clarify.
Sara,
Look above. At 11:11p on Aug 1 (last night as I write this), you said:
I wasn’t the one that needed the correcting here, you were, and I did. Not that big of a deal – but I’m NOT putting words in your mouth.
Jeff,
I never stated that Bishop had millions. I stated that who ever runs against him needs millions. Now you can apologize.
She’s right on that one Jeff. I think you misread her. I know I did at first, but she didn’t say Bishop had it, but that an opponent would need it.
Looking back, you are correct. I did misread it.
That said, I still say an opponent doesn’t need as much money as you and others are thinking. It can be done at the grassroots level – and pretty cheaply.
Again: Letters to the editor, comments on blogs, and as much earned media as you can possibly get – which means getting out there and being active in the campaign, and more accurately getting out there where the media is and talking to them. By and large, most of that doesn’t mean spending a dime on anything other than possibly travel, if you want to count that.
Throw in yard signs, a banner or two, some bumper stickers, and some brochures and you’re talking a few thousand. Add some mass postal mailings and you’re talking tens of thousands for each one – most of which will get thrown away before being read.
The 2nd District Voter Registration File will set you back – IIRC, I was looking at this earlier this week – around $1K-$1500 or so.
But the most invaluable resource a challenger will have is this:
Bishop is complacent. He’s used to winning and usually winning big. If a challenger has a group of dedicated volunteers that will literally knock on every door in the district, he can be beaten – obviously, with a TON of work. But not that much money. I’d call it 200K-300K, MIGHT be willing to go as high as 500K – but nowhere NEAR $1 million.
Again though, my strategy here is built using the Doolittle Doctrine (from the movie Pearl Harbor, from what I can tell the real version never said this):
Remember, there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.
I agree with you Jeff. He can be beat if a team of dedicated volunteers commit to it.
If we can’t get Bishop out of office now, we will never get him out.
We have Bishop’s voting record, which is worth more than a million dollars. The candidate will need money to let the general public know how Bishop voted over the last 12 months. I believe the general public may still be under the impression that Bishop is a Blue Dog.
The time is NOW! Do not underestimate a grassroot movement!
He can be defeated, but even with his current record, it’ll be a tough fight. However, I agree that a grassroots movement should never be underestimated under any circumstances.
It can be done, that much is for sure.
Did you guys know about Bishop urinating in a cup on a plane because he was not permitted to use the bathroom? (This was during the post 9-11 era when you couldn’t get out of your seat on a plane the first 30 min in air and the last 30 min in air). If Bishop is so bold to publicly urinate and was not affected by this, it will take a little more than a great grassroots effort to unseat him.
Sanford can be beat.I think that the same ‘ol same ‘ol wont work though.The way to beat him is not within the party lines…we’ve had enough of that.Same people,same lies,same story.2010 will be for our lives,our choice.More of the same or a chance to do the things that have to be done if we are to continue to hear freedom ring.We need one of us,no more of them.Together we can do this.Like it or not,america is being changed into something we are not.To win it back we must think outside of the box.
I have a hard time understanding how anyone other than the executives and shareholders of the private insurance companies could think that our current healthcare system is meeting the needs of the American people. I’m a medical professional myself and support universal health care reform. I’ve written my Congressman, Senators, and the President on more than one occasion and have also called their offices to voice my support for reform. I’ve also spent countless hours researching what the best overall way is to bring down long term costs in order to provide everybody accessible and affordable health care. Here’s my solutions – http://bit.ly/9QLV8.
That’s amusing, because every health care professional I’ve talked to hates the policies that have come out of the White House so far.
Let me start by addressing the logical fallacy that anyone who disagrees with the current proposals believes that the current system is OK. Many of those who oppose universal health care actually don’t think it’s OK as it is, and that reform is needed. What they have an issue with is the current plans that the democrats in Congress seem bounded and determined to push through.
Next, I want to point out that in a nation of 290 million people, there are about 45 million without health care. A large portion (about 40%) could afford insurance but have chosen not to for whatever reason. Another large chunk are illegal aliens. Yet another chunk are people who can be covered by existing programs. That leaves about 10 million people who aren’t covered covered by something currently but can’t afford their own coverage.
So, instead of looking at why those 10 million can’t afford insurance and seeing if there’s a free market solution for this, like permitting those who are uninsured to form co-ops to shop for coverage as a group and negotiate prices that could easily be afforded by all. Perhaps taking down barriers that prevents entry into the industry in many states. There’s a pile of other options that the Democrats (and, in all fairness, the Republicans either) haven’t even thought of looking at.
The idea that no one besides the insurance industry would oppose this, however, is a fallacy of the worst kind. Since our tax dollars will fund this, we all have a stake in what happens, and anyone who can’t understand that disagreement with the current plans on the table can be from a genuine concern for our nation has been listening to to much spin lately.