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39 Days…

By: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), NRCC Chairman (Diary)  |  September 23rd, 2010 at 10:15 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Over the past 20 months, you have heard from me and my colleagues in the House about the importance of this election cycle.

Today I am writing with a clear and immediate message we cannot afford to ignore: 39 Days…that’s all the time left for you to make a difference this election cycle.

I cannot stress this point enough: we are in the final stretch. Democrats are desperate – and without your support Nancy Pelosi will still be holding the Speaker’s gavel in 2011.

That is why the NRCC has launched its 39 Days Campaign. This initiative will provide you with 39 candidates and 39 facts you cannot ignore. Additionally, it lays down a challenge to help raise $39k a day to help keep Republicans on offense down the stretch – and every dollar will go to ensuring victory in November.

We are on offense across the country: from Maine’s 1st District, where the hypocrisy of Rep. Chellie Pingree has been exposed; to Florida’s 22nd District, where desperate Democrats have published Col. Allen West’s social security number – and all the way across the country, where in California’s 47th District, Rep. Loretta Sanchez is using divisive tactics in a last-ditch attempt to hold on to her seat.

But it doesn’t stop there. A recent poll from Pennsylvania’s 8th District – the typical suburban/exurban district that Democrats were allegedly solidifying control of – shows Rep. Patrick Murphy trailing by 14 points. These are just a few examples of districts where your support has and can continue to make a difference. I thank you for your support and urge you to visit www.nrcc.org/39days. Be sure to check back on a daily basis to get updates on races, facts you can’t ignore, and the latest news and TV ads exposing the truth about Democrats.

Twenty months ago, I believed that we could make retiring Nancy Pelosi a reality. Back then, pundits marked our deep minority status and low expectations for Republican gains – nothing close to the magnitude of what we can achieve this fall. In less than two years, we have gone from Time classifying the Republican Party as an endangered species to political handicappers – such as Charlie Cook, Stu Rothenberg, Larry Sabato and even The New York Times – declaring that a Republican House majority is more likely than not. Over the next 39 days, we can make that happen.

The time has come to move from good to great to victory.

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  • Deskpilot

    I can only offer my time and energy in the local discussion loops. $$$$ is out of the question right now.
    But I will fight for what is right.

  • alaskaescapeartist

    … will have little or nothing to do with the NRCC. I certainly CAN afford to ignore the NRCC.

    Anyone who believes that the Republican Party (with a few precious exceptions) has anything less to do with the abject rot in DC is fooling themselves.

    I am a conservative. The Republican Party that resides in WDC has pretty much left me. There is no other solution in my lifetime other than to do whatever I can to flush it clean.

    If the anger and inspiration focused on November turns to complacency once the mid terms are over, then it is lost. It will require nearly a generation to repair what the previous decades have burdened us with. No less than 40 years of a “Tea Party” like intolerance to Governmental arrogance. THAT gets us back to where we should have always been. Hopefully the next generations will move this country forward.

    Let the first step towards our true and genuine American Recovery be the political counter-punch to the election of 2008.

    • perryjmartin

      What you said.

      • sallyal

        I have been giving to individual campaigns for some time now. And even though the House Republicans had nothing to do with it, letting Murkowski keep her leadership is disgusting and abhorrent to real conservatives. The only exception I made re: donations is to Senate Conservatives. DeMint knows what’s going on.

        • chabsentia

          I live in North Florida and received my absentee ballot today. Anybody can request one so there is no 39 days. I voted for Rubio who is the first name on the list.There are ten candidates, Crist is number nine on the list . Hopefully this means he will get less votes. I always vote not to retain judges in office,There are several admendents to change the State Constitution, There is also a non -binding Statewide Advisory Referendum calling for an admendment to the United States Constitution for balancing the Federal Budget, Guess its a feel good vote.

    • soljerblue

      either Thermopylae or Salamis. Win, or die trying. No matter how long it takes. This country deserves the best, and most we can give.

    • chabsentia

      We have a twp kowskiparty system. Many people are gullible. The Democrats have been the Majority party in the House and Senate since January 2007 yet many people bought the last eight years of Republican rule in 2008 and many buy it today. People have been re-electing 90% of the incumbents for the last twenty years. Think about it. There are 435 members on the House so 10% of that is 44 and the Republicans only need 41 more votes to take control of the House which still leaves over 90% of the incumbents. I doubt if November will be much different especially given the mediocre Republican plan that doesnt contain a promise for a balanced budget and the elimination of Pork. I doubt if November will be much different and I refuse to donate to the GOP when they keep Murkowski on her committtee after her actions.

  • natlanthem

    I have given and will continue to give to individual candidates. I will NOT give a dime to GOP branches themselves.

    Sorry guys, love ya, but the Pledge was just a puff piece, so the pennys go poof, and if you wanted my cash, you should have done the right thing and defrocked Murkowski.

    Though the RGA has my admiration.

    • Bobcat51

      donating to various individual candidates .especially, Miller, O’Donnell , and Angle.

      The Murkowski vote today was shameful; enough is enough.

      • IJB

        Or to the 7,500 some-odd state legislative candidates around the country?

        Good luck with that.

        • http://www.rightklik.net rightklik

          nt

        • AceInTX

          It really is just that simple….

          Look at all the squishes that have gone down because we started giving to individual candidates instead of giving it to the establishment to pick and choose our representatives.

          Good luck with that.

          and thanks for the well wishes….

          • AceInTX

            So maybe the rule of ONLY giving directly to the candidate isn’t as important until next Primary season.

            Something to chew on

          • IJB

            They’re two totally different organizations, in case the other people in this thread hadn’t noticed…

          • AceInTX

            now that the primaries are over….since they are backing the nominees…maybe we should be willing to give to both the NRCC and the NRSC during the general…just withhold support during the Primaries so they can’t use the funds against the movement

          • IJB

            But ducking the NRSC is probably OK – it’s a lot easier for individuals to track 20-someodd ‘competitive’ Senate races that it is to track 100+ House races.

            My point is that the NRCC (and the RGA, as well) is in a totally different boat than the NRSC (or the RNC) – the NRCC is a more crucial organization, and doesn’t have nearly the bad “baggage” that the NRSC has (having made only one big mistake recently, where they were handed a [dung]-sandwich in the first place).

            But people who are ducking out the NRCC are, frankly, clueless.

          • AceInTX

            I think we’ve made huge gains giving directly to candidates…and would like to see that trend continue…I and I’m not advocating giving to the NRCC and the NRSC in the General…I just think it would make an for and interesting discussion at the moment.

          • IJB

            And, as has been pointed out numerous times, the NRCC didn’t cause the mess in NY-23.

            So, yeah – I think a good case can be made that the NRCC has been far better than the NRSC, esp. this cycle…

          • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

            I mean, if you don’t hate Nancy Pelosi more than you hate Pete Sessions, then get your head examined.

          • Scope

            If the NRCC is funding Eric Cantors “Young Guns” they are on their own. Even Vassar posted here a while ago that the push for a Cantor supported VA young gun, will probably result in the re-election of one of the absolutely worst Dem. Reps. in DC. That is daily becoming even more of a reality, by polling at least. Funny thing, once Cantor helped him win the primary, he, and the NRCC have that “Young Gun” hanging high and dry. This is happening in a district where the Dem. was one of the 5 most vulnerable Dems. for 2010.

            Mr. Sessions, stop interferring in the primaries!!!

            I would not abandon the Republican Governors Association thought. They are doing a great job. I also would not abandon Jim DeMint’s efforts either.

          • AceInTX

            that said, the question I’m asking essentially is whether we should reconsider our stance on not giving to the NRCC and NRSC now that the primaries are over since the money will go to our nominees and not be used against us as it has been in the primaries by the committees

          • aesthete

            From successfully running the RNC, to cutting government in MI and achieving its first balanced budget in decades, to furthering the pro-life cause and dropping MI’s abortion rate to one of the lowest in the country, to a (so far) successful run of the RGA, I’m shocked that so few have mentioned him as a Presidential candidate for ’12. I’d be on his, or Daniels’, bandwagon if either of them ran, and I hope that one of them (but not both) runs in the ’12 nomination.

          • ihateliberals

            great. What the Heck ws the Big Tent. What a stupid thing for the Republicans tocome up with. I am a life long Conservative and i have been part of the Republican party but When they went off track and started becoming moderates etc they lost me. These middle of the road RINO’s have to go. let them go to the Democrats where they belong. We are on the right and they don’t callit the right for nothing. Micheal Steele is one of the worst things that has happened to the GOP lately. he opened the door to RINO’s. The GOP then put up that loser of losers john McCain to run against Obama. Now there was a nice shot in the foot. The only thing good that came of that was the recognition of Sarah Palin. The Pledge with American the GOP unfolded yesterday is the lamest thing I have seen them do lately. Whose Idea was that? There was no passion with it. A lot of yelling and screaming but no meat. Nothing to sink your teeth into. OUr Party has no leadership right now. There is no Ronald Reagan at the helm. the GOP is s ship without a paddle or a rudder. It is floating aimlessly through the dark and headed towards the Falls. Get rid of allof the RINO’s. That has to be one of the biggest goals of the Party if itiis to survive. If the GOP doesn’t understand the TEa Party real soon there won’t be a GOP for very much longer. Don’t laugh that is wht happened to the Whigs that the Party replaced. The GOP still doesn’t understand just how P O’d we are with the DC insiders. We need to get rid of the hatches, McCains, Snows and any other Republican that doesn’t understand what the Tea Party movement is all about.

        • proudgop

          I concur IJB

          The NRCC has the polls to see where its best to spend money in which we can win

        • chbroussard

          neither is the RNCC. I am selecting 4 or 5 candidates who I believe are true conservatives and donating directly to their campaigns. I will not donate any of my hard earned $$ to the RNCC to give money to more people like Dede S. in New York. Just like the rest of the federal government, they have yet to prove that they are good stewards of my money.

          • IJB

            So you can send a “message” to the NRCC over *one* mistake they made, one that wasn’t even one of their own creation (hint: the NY-20 GOP created that problem, not the NRCC).

            Well, I’ve got a one word response to that:

            Schmuck.

          • chbroussard

            …because I don’t happen to agree with you and feel it’s MY choice to send my own money where I choose??? I think one of the key issues of this election is to get rid of people who think they know best where my money should be spent. Sending money to the NRCC or sending it to individual candidates is a personal choice. Send your money to the NRCC. That’s your choice. It’s just not mine.

          • tacoslayer

            Behold the irony….IJB, a self-described conservative, getting in a twist because you want to spend your money as you see fit.

            How conservative.

          • IJB

            But have fun with your 20 someodd “conservatives” in the House, surrounded by 405 Democrats, because you’re letting all our candidates, including the conservative ones that YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT, die on the vine because you’d rather be “pure” than useful.

            If politics is a a “team” sport, you guys may want to spend some time on the bench, until you get your head in the game…

          • AceInTX

          • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
          • tacoslayer

            by fellow party members over how they handle their political donations??

            The NRCC gave us the debacle in NY23.

            Since when is bypassing these Good Ole Boy clubs in favor of direct contributions to politicians grounds for name calling and nastiness??

          • Scope

            The NRCC doesn’t have the funds to support all the races, simply because, they have decided to support candidates that were not the voters choice, but, their choice.

            If everyone here, sent what they could to the candidates in their areas, those candidates have a much better chance of receiving funding, rather than a national committee, that will fund their choices, and only their choices.

          • IJB

            You keep saying stuff like this – show us all where the NRCC spent *money* in Primary. Because I’m betting you can’t.

          • Scope

            I talked about endorsements from the NRCC for candidates they recruited, and, they apparently can’t fund in the general. We can start here-

            http://www.nrcc.org/39-day-campaign/

            39 out of 435 House seats? Really?

            What gets a little closer to home for me, as to the young guns, is the recruitment of Robert Hurt in VA-05. Believe me I want Hurt to win, even if it takes nose plugs to do it, but, apparently he didn’t make the list of support from the NRCC, I’ll stop there about the bad choice. Just as all politics are local, and you can have loose cannons, Andy Sere worked diligently to get his guy elected, and, is now fighting with those that enabled that happening.

            http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/2010/09/robert-hurt-on-the-warpath-with-the-nrcc-html

            Hurt polled something like 30 some points above Perriello, a few weeks ago. The polling on the race is now down to single digits, with the Republican now only a few points ahead of the Democrat. Many believe that Perriello “stole” the race against Virgil Goode in 08. He has every opportunity to repeat that performance. The Republicans will come out to vote for Hurt in November, but, the big difference is that there were a few conservatives that would have had the voters pounding the streets for one of the conservatives.

    • neomom

      Absolutely agree, but sometimes the RCCC does do some good… they are throwing in some ad buys down here in NC-07 to help get rid of an entrenched incumbent blue/lap dog.

  • rdelbov

    role of the NRCC. Its a thankless job in many ways.

    1. They get absolutely hammered if-as does the NRSC-if no good recruit emerges. Look at OR-NYB/NYA where second tier candidates are on the ballot. That’s not to say we have no chance in OR or NYB but the candidates are not dream guys. Lets be clear there are weak fundraisers and so so candidates among the 100 contested house seats this year.

    2. So they do find a good to great candidate then there is a primary and a better candidate emerges. Then its establishment versus grassroots. So what gives in light of #1?

    I personally don’t give to the committees anymore. I think they have served their purpose and their days are past. I give to individual candidates. I think primaries-where all the voters have a chance to decide the nominee-are the best way to select the best candidate. Yet-as noted-its a thankless job.

    • proudgop

      I applaud all you guys do in that Eisenhower building. You all work 24/7 to elect Republicans

      Keep on working hard. The NRCC is a high and noble place

    • Scope

      coming out in droves. Much more so than in any other election season. Some of the fields have been crowded. Surely the NRCC, the NRSC and any of the others should have been well aware of that.

      They need to stay out of the primaries, unless there are no declared candidates neat the filing deadline. I believe the days of uncontested primaries are over.

  • rdelbov

    this NRCC selecting candidates is completely over done.

    1. I don’t how many you guys have meet congressional or potential congressional candidates. Think ego and ambition plus some t outrage and a desire to make a difference. Most candidate recruitment is limited to how to do things -where to raise money-what we can do for you after the primary or stuff like that. Not alot of arm twisting-in fact if you have to beg a guy to run you can usually forget it. You are better off finding someone else.

    2. You at these 100 races-that NRO guy has as contests for control. Go down that list and find those who did not have contested primaries or who “recruited” out of DC. Perhaps 1/2 dozen true DC recruits are there. Maybe. Plus even those guys & gals had to win primaries.

  • Oz

    Let me just point back to my diary from a week or so ago.

    If all of us on redstate cash in our change jars, we can make a difference:

    http://www.redstate.com/oz/2010/09/15/change-jar-conservative-taking-back-america-one-penny-at-a-time/

  • Tbone

    who kissed Lisa’a butt.

    • IJB
      • Tbone

        If establishment Republicans want money, go ask other establishment Republicans for it.

        • IJB

          …I have some nice Nebraska oceanfront property to sell ya! :p

          • Scope

            different in this landscape? The House and the Senate Republicans have operated from the same page, we were elected, and, we’re not going home, no matter what we do. How does that separate the House and Senate Republicans? as to ideology at least?

          • Tbone

            Shorty. It’s like your intellect. A mile wide and a foot deep.

          • IJB
  • dude

    How is the Pelosi race shaping up? Do we have a chance to beat her?

    • MF

      I don’t know what any polls say, but there’s still no way Pelosi gets defeated. Her district doesn’t like her very much, but they are still about 80% D, and even with poor turnout due to apathy or whatever, their numbers are still far too vast to defeat her. True, she’ll be out as Majority Leader, but she’ll still fester in the House. Doubtful she would become Minority Leader, though.

      I should add that I don’t think D voter apathy will be that prevalent. They have the Boxer-Fiorina Senate race and the Brown-Whitman governor race to motivate them to show up. Those are both shaping up to be very tight, and both sides will want to whip up (or in the case of the D’s, reincarnate or invent) as many voters for their side as possible.

  • Oz

    I’ve made a vow not to give to either the NRSC or the NRCC until they stop endorsing in the primaries.

    Until then I’ll find and give to candidates of my choosing.

    The primaries belong to the voters not to the national committees.

    It’s as unwholesome a practice as it would be for the NRC to have a preferred Presidential candidate in the primaries.

    • rdelbov

      my search of the FEC data base several months ago the only candidate that I found that received a PAC contribution from either the NRSC or NRCC was Charlie Crist.

      Mind I have not contributed this cycle to any of the GOP committees. I send my money direct.

      I think there a lot of myths-misconceptions-confusion about what these committees do.

      A local guy-that I really like and is Redstate endorsed Stephen Fincher is running in TN8. In summer of 2009-when John Tanner was still running for re-election-Fincher filed against him. When no one gave him a chance he went to every teaparty group-every local civic club-every GOP meeting (not many of those in west TN) and built himself a base of support. He even raised +500K by the end of september 2009. He was not recruited by the NRCC but he made himself a name. The NRCC made him “a top gun” a GOP challenger who had raised a bunch of money and was a great campaigner. He was the only candidate in the primary going against Tanner and really most folks thought Tanner would be a shoo in.

      In late 2009 Tanner announces he is retiring. Five guys jump into the GOP primary and everyone calls Fincher the establishment NRCC endorsed candidate. Well Fincher had got a dime from the NRCC. That committee recognized him for being a great fundraiser and a great candidate. No one came to “Frog Jump TN” to recruit him.

      So what was meant to be a program to tell PAC’s that Fincher was a great candidate was used as a club to attack him.

      So all this talk about endorsing before Primaries is a little deceptive in my opinion.

      In two months when we only win 60 years someone here will say “the NRCC should have gone more to quickly identify candidates who had a good chance to win”. Yup and maybe we should know the difference between identifying good candidates and endorsing them.

      • texasgalt

        is pretty much what happened in TX17. In spite of it, Bill Flores emerged and is going to beat10 termer Chet Edwards.

        Pete Sessions is a good man and a solid conservative trying to do a job that is pretty much thankless this cycle.

        Godspeed, Congressman.

        • proudgop

          the NRCC is being very open where it is advertising

          go check out the NRCC website for their present day ads.
          Also note they are starting to advertise in Open MA 10 district, Carney in PA, Heinrich in NM, Skelton in MO over weekend

          they need the help seeing DCCC has almost 12 mill more COH and seeing the RNC is basically broke Republicans are stilll being outspend in every district at least 3:1

          • IJB

            The only important metric is where the GOP’s committees, and individual candidates, have enough cash to get their message out.

            In nearly all cases, they’re going to be outspent by incumbents – that’s backed into the cake.

            What is key is whether they have enough cash to get their message out – and, from what I’m seeing so far, between the committees, independent expenditure groups, and the candidates themselves, the GOP seems to be getting their message out (esp. in the last week or so) in most places that count.

            We’ll know for sure if GOP polls start to rebound – they already have in places like NV SEN. The next thing to look for is if some of the House races like SD-AL start to turn around in our favor again.

  • dmart81

    $35 donation from me. He is a solid candidate and a Great American.

    http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/

  • http://www.twitter.com/RS_yoyo yoyo

    Whom did the NRCC endorse for SC-01 with Henry Brown’s retirement? Last January? I recall we had no less than a baker’s dozen of Republican Candidates, ranging from a former US Senator’s (Strom Thurman) son to a former Charleston County Councilman turned State Legislator.

    Now, if you backed the winner of the Primary, it was completely unknown to anyone here in the Lowcountry. However and Thankfully, my conservative won and will win the General in November.

    That said, I would much rather – in this climate and given the NRCC’s track record – give to my Candidate, and any other Conservative Candidate I deem worthy.

    I apologize if this comes across as overly critical. I will not, however, apologize for my position.

  • rdelbov

    not endorse anyone in SC1–

    The NRCC did not make a political contribution(PAC) to anyone in SC1.

    Not sure where this thought came from.

    Why would the NRCC need to recruit in a safe GOP seat like SC1?

    I was going to mention SC5 as one of the few places where he sought out a candidate. Chairman John Spratt is a very formiable foe with huge financial resources. Very tough to beat. That’s the type of place where the NRCC needs to recruit.

    I suspect-I don’t recall the exact number-that a dozen or so folks ran in the primary for SC1. I suspect any of them would easily win this November.

    I think people have the wrong idea of what the NRCC does.

  • IJB

    But, as you point out, the NRCC doesn’t endorse *anyone* in Primaries – recruiting and endorsing are two *totally different* things.

    I personally think that the recruiting aspect of the NRCC’s job is necessary and crucial.

    If you don’t like who the NRCC has recruited to run in your district, there’s a simple remedy – sign up with one of that candidate’s Primary opponents, and work to defeat the NRCC recruited candidate.

    But this winging and moaning about candidate recruiting has got to stop…

  • http://www.twitter.com/RS_yoyo yoyo

    If someone other than Tim Scott looked poised to win the Primary. Against Paul Thurmond (& I honestly do not have anything against him personally – he is a good guy – but put beside Tim Scott, Paul just wasn’t the Best Guy) I believe that Linda would have been a serious force in Charleston/Mt Pleasant and certainly up into Georgetown and Myrtle Beach with the Unions.

    But Tim Scott on the other hand… Even she could see that it was hopeless.

    Again, in this atmosphere, I feel that the NRCC should have asked (publicly/privately) 10 of the others to pursue other oportunities, and I REALLY think that Paul should have ran for Lt Gov or SC06 (Jimmy Clyburn’s District), vice SC01. He would have been the better recruit for the NRCC to run against the Whip, even if he would have lost. He has the name recognition for it. It would have made the DCCC spend gobs of cash here, siphoning it from elsewhere. Even they could not have let the Whip stay out there flapping.

    Man, am I rambling or what? LOL

    Nite all!

  • deano64

    We are all on the same team now. The NRCC is now working to get Republicans elected just like we are. No reason to not give them a hand. All our guns need to turned on the Dems at this time not each other.

  • Scope

    should only ever be done when there are no indications that any candidates are coming forward. As I said above, this year has been the one of crowded Republican fields. Since we have many great candidates, that have won their primaries against those with big war chests, will only encourage more to come forward in the future. IThe NRCC has come under fire, because they brought forward candidates that they supported, after many good choices had declared, and were actively campaigning. When you have local candidates, that are like you and me, and, they are relatively unknown when they enter, and don’t start out with the advantage of national committee support, and funding, you can surely wreak havoc with that race. As I said, the NRCC enticed one particuluar candidate to run, they stuffed his bank account, got on local radio to support him, but, now have abandoned him because no one is running or beating the streets to support him. Hell, he isn’t even running to support himself. That’s the problem with pushing candidates on people. I don’t want to hear the first word about the Republicans supporting him against his opponents, he won most likely because the district allows cross over voting, and, the D’s voted for the weakest link. It doesn’t help that the Dem. has access to the George Soros checkbook, and has been given check signing abilities.

  • soljerblue

    both Allen West, and to former Marine Captain Ilario Pantano in NC-7. Further, I have sent links to their websites to many friends who also have donated. Every conservative running for Congress this fall has the future of this Nation in his or her hands. Local politics isn’t “local” anymore. It’s far too late to think in terms of this or that district. Everyconservative we can elect is needed, and deserves all the help we can afford to give.