Brent Budowsky: Battle Royale: Democrats Have Shot At Senate and House Control

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Brent Budowsky

The surge of support for several Democratic candidates has put the Senate within reach of Democratic control, joining the House of Representatives in what is now an election battle royale.

The Senate could very easily turn out 50-50, that's how close this is, and the composition for the House could be a razor thin majority for either party.

This is the key: any single person who reads these words could determine the outcome of the Congress of the United States in one of the most important and historic elections of our time. There will be some of these races that will be decided by a handful of votes, that is how close it is.

It is fine to criticize Democrats and I am first in line to do so, and will have much more to say after the election. But this is the time for rally cry, for battle cry, for all hands on deck, for everyone manning the barricades because the core of our democracy, the very issues of war peace, are on the table and the battle is that close for control.

The Senate is now in play, and Democrats have some outstanding candidates that are fighting their way into the race and some are surging slightly ahead. This is the kind of election where even some major Republican "whales" could well lose, such as Senator Rick Santorum, high ranking Republican leader, and Senator George Allen, the darling of the right in presidential politics who may well lose his seat.

Battle cry.

Rally cry.

All hands on deck.

Man the barricades.

Do what you can, volunteer your time, donate money, do anything to help get out the vote.

In Virginia, Jim Webb is a fighting Democrat, war hero, straight talk leader, former Navy Secretary, right on Iraq from the beginning.

In Montana, Jon Tester is a people's candidate of integrity, reform, standing up for working men and women and against oil companies and special interests.

In Ohio Sherrod Brown has been a fighter for reform and advocate of reason in Iraq, a highly rated Congressman in a state that is the poster child for Republican corruption running against a Senator who has fought for a coverup in the Intelligence Commmitee to keep the full Iraq story secret until after the election.

In Tennessee Harold Ford is one of the nation's most serious and credible legislators, a stand up guy with leadership credentials for the Congress and great respect among his peers.

In Missouri Claire McCaskill is a fighter, an advocate of working people, farmers and vets who believes war powers are the province of Congress as well as the executive branch.

In Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse is a solid Democratic candidate, a former State Attorney General who would immediately be an important Democratic Senator and voice for reform and change. Lincoln Chafee is a good man, but he has long been one of Karl Rove's priority candidates to keep control of the Senate. It would be a national tragedy if the Senate ends up 50-50, Chafee casts the 50th vote for Republican control allowing Dick Cheney to be the tie breaker keeping the Senate under Republican control.

Remember this: a vote for Chafee could turn out to be a vote for Cheney in a 50-50 Senate.

Our candidates are well above average, fighting their way in every one of these races, giving the Democrats a chance for control of the Senate as well as the House. The very heart of our two party system, the very heart of Congress resuming its role of oversight and war powers, the very decisions on war and peace in the next Congress are all at stake in this election.

This election could be razor thin. Any single person could be the difference in any single race. We are up against mighty forces but we represent the majority of the people and the best interests of the nation.

Fight; with everything you have.

All hands on deck: be the person who makes the extra individual effort and you could spend the rest of your life knowing that you changed the course of American history.

Dont be disempowered, be empowered, now any one of us can make the difference in campaigns that could be decided by a handful of votes.

Time for battle cry, rally cry, the stakes are high, America needs change, we can make the difference, and it is time to win.

Brent Budowsky

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.

Technorati Tags: Guest Commentary