Despite rain and snow, it was standing room only at the Continental Cafe in Acton on Sunday for Jamie Eldridge’s organizational meeting. There was palpable enthusiasm in the building as voters from throughout the district and beyond joined this exciting campaign. People were impressed by the experienced and qualified staff that Jamie has put together. After the meeting portion, there was a jam packed phone bank at the HQ. In the snowy rain, Jamie and a number of others went canvassing in Lowell.
Close to 75 people were in attendance either at the kick-off rally or volunteering in the afternoon. There were leaders from all over: frequent BMGer, Selectman Jay Booth of Tyngsborough, Bev Guild of Sudbury, Bonnie Winokar of the Stonewall Democrats, Xuan Kong of Acton, and newly elected DSC member, Parwez Wahid. I was impressed with the diversity in the room, from very young volunteers to experienced campaigners.
Jamie was in great form and there was a real sense of excitement in the room. The campaign announced that Jamie has received the endorsement of the local Democracy for America group, and is working for the national endorsement. Voice your support and help with the DFA effort.
The energy in the room was contagious! The Continental Cafe is normally closed on Sunday, but a few people came in not realizing that the Cafe was not open for business. Those who know me won’t be surprised when I tell you that I talked with a woman who came in off the street just looking for a bite to eat. By the time I was done, she left having signed up to volunteer for the campaign and agreeing to host a fundraiser!
Democratically yours,
Kate Donaghue
we need to be connected to things like this, now more than ever with so much screwed up these days.
<
p>
Jamie would be terrific in Congress I think and would fight for the progressive policies that I want to see enacted and funded with my tax dollars.
<
p>
But what about the raionale I’ve heard that Niki T has similar positions as Jamie’s, and due to her long political history in DC she could jump in down there with many more connections and clout and “get more done”?
<
p>
I ask this hoping you’ll dispel it as a major factor. Even tho’ I don’t live in the district I support Jamie and want to be able to talk about teh race/advocate for him strongly, which means addressing issues like the above. Thanks.
There are big differences between Jamie Eldridge and Niki Tsongas. (Disclaimer: Eldridge supporter)
<
p>
1. Jamie Eldridge has an established legislative record which is solidly progressive, staunchly supportive of labor, and loaded with results for his district and the state.
<
p>
Niki Tsongas has no record at all.
<
p>
2. Jamie Eldridge has been out front with detailed progressive policy proposals.
<
p>
Niki Tsongas has not put forward any policies or position papers, except for obligatory opposition to the Iraq War and Alberto Gonzalez. Zzzzz.
<
p>
3. On health care, Jamie has stated he favors universal single payer health care that will insure all Americans, preserve choice for patients and drive down costs (particulary administrative costs).
<
p>
Niki Tsongas said at a recent forum that she doesn’t favor universal single payer health care, but would rather states continue to experiment.
<
p>
(Even though the rest of the industrialized world has already experimented with various forms of universal health care.)
<
p>
So there are big differences between these two candidates. One has a record, the other doesn’t. One has brought thought and substance to this race, the other runs on her late husband’s legacy and brings nothing new or real to the table. One believes we need to develop a wholly American form of universal single payer health care, the other believes that we should leave the fate of the uninsured and the underinsured to the whims of the states and their patchwork coverage.
There are clearly many significant differences between Eldridge and Tsongas, many more than I was aware of.
<
p>
I really appreciate these details, will share them with others, and now feel even more inspired to help with Jamie Eldridge’s campaign even though I’m not in the district.
<
p>
Clarification for those who know my name, the “E” in AnnEM is for Eldridge but I have do direct relation to Jamie Eldridge. Well, none that he or I am aware of, we’ve met once — at the Boston Meet Up that took place before Deval’s victory party (that I didn’t go to, was turned off by the big donor component).
I’ve been following MA-05 pretty closely, and Niki’s candidacy reminds me a lot of Tom Reilly’s campaign last year. So far, she’s lined up a lot of establishment support and money, and has said basically nothing else. I sense a great feeling of entitlement by Niki’s campaign that this seat is her’s, and that this whole campaign is just one big five-month long victory lap until her inevitable primary win. I find this way of running quite distasteful, to be honest.
<
p>
At the start of the race for governor, Tom Reilly lined up all the big figures, and all of the prognosticators called his election all but inevitable. We’re seeing the same thing from the media so far in this race, as evidenced by the fawning, puff pieces about Niki in the Globe and elsewhere.
<
p>
This is the exact sort of conventional “wisdom” that said Deval Patrick had no chance. As his amazing campaign showed, however, today it isn’t establishment figures that win races but dedicated volunteers, strong grassroots, and most of all a candidate with fresh, new ideas who isn’t part of the Beacon Hill establishment. Strong grassroots are going to win this race, and that is why I think Jamie Eldridge is going to win. Jamie is such a candidate, and he didn’t move into the district to run for a seat he thinks is his birthright. Congress desperately needs new leaders like Jamie, not tired old figures bereft of ideas. I hope all of you strongly consider supporting him.
so consider me a shill from here on in I guess. I disagree with him on several issues (I’m a hawk on Iraq and cynical about unions – he wants the troops out and has a 100% labor rating) but I’m supporting him because he stands on principle. Most of the house is going to go with Sal DiMasi on these corporate loopholes even though it’s really hard to get them to admit that it’s “good policy”. I mean, they’re defending legal loopholes, it’s a ridiculous position, just because they’re afraid of crossing the speaker. Jamie isn’t afraid of rocking the boat and we need that kind of guts in a 435-member body.
<
p>
If everyone could vote for him to be endorsed by DFA, it would open up national web donors for him. Since MA-05 is the only congressional race in the nation right now, that only seems fair that we get some attention.
I was impressed with the turnout despite the crappy weather. It was a great group of people from many walks of life and different political views.
<
p>
I have been impressed with this campaign thus far. Like jaybooth, I tend to be somewhat more hawkish than Jamie on Iraq (though as a union rep, I’m very happy with Jamie’s labor record!), but Jamie was front and center with his views on the war and his views on other issues. That Jamie’s campaign is leading on issues and positions is impressive, especially when other campaigns are focusing primarily on their name recognition.
<
p>
I firmly believe that Jamie’s message and his record as a principled legislator are going to resonate with voters as this race moves forward.
You should’ve introduced yourself after Mike singled me out. Oh well, suppose I’ll see you on the trail at some point.
I just want to add to the brief discussion above about Eldridge as outsider-progressive vs. Tsongas as insider. While I have less of a problem with insider Democrats than some on this site, I don’t think that should be an issue in this race. I see no strategic reason why constituents or the state as a whole needs someone in this seat whose main selling point is establishment ties. Based on the 06 congressional elections, national opinion polls that favor progressive positions in many areas, and Gov. Patrick’s astounding (to me, at least) electoral success, I think the times favor more independent, insurgent, inspiring candidates.
I had planned on going, but things came up. Glad to hear it went well.
<
p>
Good news though: last night, DFA Brandeis unanimously endorsed in a secret ballot (and I believe with no abstentions) Jamie Eldridge for the seat, at a meeting attended by about 30-35 people. So one more organizational support towards a national DFA endorsement, and a real sign of big chunk of student volunteers during the next couple weeks and during the final week or so of the primary campaign (the summer unfortunately cuts that down a lot).