Fighting spirits, Richard Morrison and Chuck Pennachio.

madfloridian

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Mon Apr-11-05 11:51 PM
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Fighting spirits, Richard Morrison and Chuck Pennachio.

Earlier today I posted about the fact that Richard Morrison, CD 22 in TX, had been urged to step out of the race. He won't.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000875402

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which recruits and helps House candidates, has talked to Morrison and Quan about the race.

Until Morrison's campaign in 2004, DeLay faced nominal Democratic nominees, usually local activists without much organization, and one or two third-party candidates.

"Absolutely, we're paying more attention than before," said DCCC spokesman Bill Burton. "We're looking at it really hard."

Morrison, who initially offered to step aside out of party loyalty if Quan wanted to run, said he has changed his mind.

"I'm not going to be scared to spill Democratic blood," Morrison said. "I'm a victim of my own success. Last time, the wisdom was, don't do it, he (DeLay) will stomp you into the ground. ... And now it's a race."

And Chuck Pennachio has a powerful blog up tonight at Kos. He is a fighter as well. Read his description of talking to the teen-agers.

I can't vote for either, but we will donate to both. That is our contribution to activism.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/11/223529/942
Ten Days to Remember
by Chuck Pennacchio for US Senate

Mon Apr 11th, 2005 at 21:35:29 EST

The last 10 days have been a whirlwind of extraordinary, inspirational, and eye-opening events for our campaign to defeat Rick Santorum in 2006. Let me zero in on three of these activities to highlight why I believe we're on the winning track--a course that Pennsylvanian Democrats have not experienced in a full-term U.S. Senate race since 1962.

SNIP.."Nowhere have I discovered the hunger for historical accuracy and political punch more insatiable than among a regional convention of six hundred 15-to-18-year-old members of the Junior Statesmen of America--a gathering that took place two days ago in Philadelphia. Following the second in a series of Pennacchio for Pennsylvania Philly organizing sessions (First-person account with pictures HERE), from 12-2, I made my way to the Doubletree Hotel on South Broad Street.

Little did I realize that I was riding into a hotbed of extremely bright, well-versed, politically-primed teens. I only had a small hint of what was to come. As the keynote speaker I was permitted one hour to address foreign policy and my Senate candidacy, and to take questions from the crowd. I chose to talk for 20 minutes in order to allow 40 for Q & A. Well, I stuck to the 20 but the Q & A went on for 55 minutes--55 minutes of sometimes raucous and contentious queries.

Without pulling any punches, I told the Mid-Atlantic high school gathering that their futures hung in the balance; that Republican extremists have hijacked the majority party; that congressional Democrats had to fight for core progressive principles; and that I would often stand alone against unconstitutional war resolutions, for new public education dollars while repealing "No Child Left Behind," against GOP usurpations of court power, and for pro-democracy reforms....."