Thursday, July 20th, 2006...5:38 am
Hey Rocky…
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Someone sent me an article from last Wednesday’s Green Valley News profiling several Democratic candidates that showed up at a candidate forum. I tried to do a search on the News’s website for the article, but I was unable to find it so I haven’t linked it. If any of you have more luck, post the link in the comments.
Anyway, Jeff Latas was apparently asked by the News about how he was going to be able to compete with Gabrielle Giffords, who has more money, and Patty Weiss, who has a higher name ID. Latas responded that he was making a major announcement soon:
It’s a suprise – a rabbit out of the hat – and tens of thousands of voters will know who I am.
Hmm. Dear readers, any ideas on what this might be?
43 Comments
July 20th, 2006 at 6:26 am
This post has been removed by the author.
July 20th, 2006 at 8:13 am
I have no freaking idea what the surprise will be. He had better have one though, because what Ted is saying is right on. In my opinion, Patty Weiss has the same basic stances that Latas has, but with more name rec.
The thing he has going for him is his tough rhetoric against the war in Iraq, his personality, and that he is a veteran.
Unless things change, I keep wondering if PDA or DFA voters will walk in the booth thinking: “I like Jeff Latas a lot, but Patty can win. They both have the same issues anyway.” Why not?
July 20th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Because Patty can not win a General, same with Gabby. The repugs will rip them both apart on Iraq and national security since niether one can defend themselves from a Rovian attack in this area. Latas is the only one that is ready for these attacks and the only one that stands a chance against Huffman or Hellon, since they are vets, too.
July 20th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Boohoo,
Why do you believe voters will only find veterans credible on Iraq and why is Latas the only one that can stand up to Republicans and win in the fall. I am not sure I see it that way.
July 20th, 2006 at 8:52 am
I’m guessing it has something to do with a visit and endorsement by Cindy Sheehan (or someone of like stature).
It’s just a guess, however.
July 20th, 2006 at 8:53 am
boohoo,
I think John Kerry and Max Cleland would dispute your theory that veteran status immunizes a candidate from Rovian attacks.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:04 am
You mention that Huffman and Hellon are vets, but you fail to mention Graf. His bio doesn’t list any military service, but I am sure that a tough guy like him who loves guns must have worn the uniform of his country. I am certain that he was a 13 Bravo and is just very modest about it.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:04 am
He’s going to set himself on fire an ski down Mt. Lemmon (yes, I know there’s no snow right now; he’ll do it anyway). It’s going to be awesome.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:06 am
When the “Cut and Run coward” attack happens, there is only one that can deflect that mud. Latas is the only one that has the credentials that this frame can’t stick. He’s no coward. The others can only “say” they are not cowardly. The attack will stick to them. They have no experience in this area and they will look like the typical “big talk, little experience” Democrat that we have consistently sent to the slaughter house.
Bored, Latas has backbone that Kerry only wishes he could have grown. Latas is a fighter, a proven fighter.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:14 am
I fear that Latas is going to face the same scrutiny you say the other candidates are going to face. They won’t be able to label him a coward, but they can certainly raise questions about his policy and what it will mean for the people of Iraq when troops are pulled out. A reunification of Ancient Persia? A new Shiite controlled empire?
I think any of the three candidates can go toe to toe on this issue, but the prospective message versus the retrospective message is going to be a key.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:44 am
Dear BooHoo,
You say, “Latas is the only one that has the credentials that this frame can’t stick.”
I’m not sure what those credentials are. He says he knew that we were facing a phoney war, but what was the nature of his protest while he was in a position to make a significant one?
How did he oppose the war from within the Pentagon?
July 20th, 2006 at 10:19 am
I have a reaction when someone telegraphs that they “have a surprise coming” instead of just surprising us. I imagine the idea is to generate more conversation prior to the event, but he sets himself up for possibility of disappointment.
At any rate, Framer is probably in the ballpark with either a visit or endorsement of some significance. Jeff is going to have to hit a huge home run to go up against all of the singles, doubles, triples, and HR’s that Weiss, and especially Giffords, have been smacking into the field.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Democrats can win this seat if their candidate sounds reasonable and appealing on ALL issues, not just Iraq. We will need to keep our voters in the fold and also attract independents and Republicans unhappy either with their nominee, or with the direction of the national party, or both. Given the likely choice of Graf and the national purge of moderate or liberal Republicans, the chances of a Democrat winning CD8 (which IS still a District where Republicans have a sizable lead in voter registration!) are all the more plausible.
The “cut and run” argument is not going to work because most voters are already opposed to the war and feel that it was a mistake to get into Iraq. Where they are hesitant about trusting Democrats is with regard to the overall issue of national security. That is why we talk about how the Iraq war has made that country into a breeding ground for terrorists and how the cost of the war has diverted resources from the global war on terror.
I realize that the Paul Hackett phenomenon and has caused many folks to believe that it will take Democrats who are veterans to beat the GOP on this issue, but that is far-fetched, especially since Hackett lost his race in Ohio! Latas does not have the resources to win and his “angry man” rhetoric comes off as shrill and partisan, which makes him less likely to attract voters outside of his camp. I hope that his supporters, who are clearly dedicated and hardworking, will bring their energy and passion to the camp of the eventual nominee, but I don’t see Latas as someone who can unite Democrats or attract voters from outside the party, no matter what surprise he is set to spring on us.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:28 am
Rex,
Have you been visiting Patty’s Mars bases? Most the Deocrats all agree that the party is in dire need of change. Latas is being heard by these people.
x4mr,
What you see as hits and runs I’m seeing as strike outs.
July 20th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
Tedski, jacking this thread for a second.
The DNC is going to be voting on a state to be slipped between Iowa and New Hampshire in an attempt to improve the Pres Selection Process …
The AZ Dem Party has been pushing this HARD for several months and now it seems that Arizona is a finalist from what I can gather.
I put a diary up on DailyKos hoping to get some exposure to this nationally and would love if all the local bloggers could head over there, vote in the poll, recommend the diary, and discuss it some there!
The link is HERE
Now back to CD8 your daily does of CD8 Fighting!
July 20th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
I just got off the phone with his media director-Joe Pyritz and he said it’s something that he doesn’t think has been done by a political campaign in Tucson.
By the way Rex, would you like Jeff to be as meek as Patty and Gabby are? I really don’t think you understand his candidacy very well, or you wouldn’t be as ignorant to say the “angry man” bit.
I don’t know if you have seen it Rex, but people are pissed at the direction this country is going. Jeff is just a reflection of that. It isn’t an “angry man” thing as you claim it is-it’s passion-something Giffords has no clue about.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
I wouldn’t describe Patty’s fundraising as striking out, and Giffords fundraising?!
Discount the various endorsements all you want, and some are bigger hits than others, but they are not strikes.
I like Jeff, but something really has to alter for him to stand a chance on 9/12.
Nor do I think Graf will prevail in September. My prediction though not worth a nickel: It will be Giffords against Huffman and a nail-biter all the way to the end.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Giffords would beat Huffman. She has all the passion he lacks and more money. I don’t think Steve even knows how to campaign.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
George-
I would not describe either Gabby or Patty as “meek,” nor would I call someone who I have never met in person “ignorant,” as you do me. However, I used the term “angry man” after hearing Jeff at a house party, hearing him on the radio and then seeing him live at the Nucleus Club debate. He plays well to partisans that agree with him, but that doesn’t translate to support across this broad and diverse district.
I understand the concerns and issues that drive his candidacy and know that the eventual nominee will have to address them to build a broad coaltion, but Jeff doesn’t strike me as someone who can speak persuasively or articulately on all the issues, nor does he convey an ability to appeal to those outside the populist Left, especially those for whom Iraq is the main issue in this campaign.
Make a case for his ability to win in November in CD8 that sounds plausible, resist the temptation to engage in name-calling when you do so, tell your candidate to lower the tone of his voice and you may sell some folks outside of the DFA/PDA wing of the party!
July 20th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I’m going to guess it has something to do with the Web. Purely a hunch.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
Chris,
If Graf wins 9/12, Patty or Gabby are in great shape. These “meek” ladies will eat the kook for breakfast.
Huffman is more slippery. If he prevails 9/12, he will get all the kook votes (what else are they going to do?) plus more central folks. I am not in a position to say anything about his campaigning, but I hope you’re right.
Hmm, Jane, hadn’t thought about the surprise being a web thing.
Are you Stacy?
July 20th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Rex,
Did you hear what Mike Hellon said about Jeff Latas on the Emil Franzi radio program this last week? Here is the case why Latas is the one.
Mike wouldn’t let Franzi know who he would like to run against, but did say his most difficult opponent woudl be Latas.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Looks like Latas has posted the NC event. Anyone that wants to see Latas answer the “support” question which is directly followed by the GG Patty exchange which Latas very classically closed, hear it is.
http://www.jefflatas.com/unity.wmv
July 20th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
x4mr,
what else are they going to do?
How about fill in the little circle next to Kyl’s name and any other conservative candidates (the governors race will be fine either way.) Vote against all proposals by the tobacco nazis, mail in the ballot, and then get ready for deer hunting.
If a Democrat wins in November, she will have to run again every two years in a Republican district. Eventually she would loose to a solid conservative candidate.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Rex,
Latas needs to lower his tone? Maybe you need to review the video EB posted. I thought I saw a passionate guy that is in this for you, me and everyone in this district. He’s passionate, but lower his tone? Sounds like your the angry guy who’s favorite is now threatened by someone that is running for reasons other then self interest.
I’m glad Jeff is running. He is no doubt doing this for selfless reasons and it shows.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Wow Rex,
Just reread your post on the “angry man” Jeff Latas.
Let’s let the readers take a look. Go to his event page,
http://www.jefflatas.com/events.htm
and scroll down to past events. He posted his opening, the fight, and his closing. I guess I don’t see what your painting. He is emotional and very sincere. I don’t see a wacked out madman like you want others to think in your discription. It’s on the site, go check it out and most should get the real feel for Latas.
Angry, maybe. Concerned, obsolutely. I think he can win over more then the Democratic arm of the Democratic Party.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
REX–I read that the DSCC effectively “cut off” Hackett’s money supply from the big money Democrats. When you are talking about Giffords and Weiss hits and HRs, are you referring to their fundraising, or are you referring to innovative policy proposals, or what?
ART–I don’t think Jeff was working for the Pentagon in the late summer/fall of 2002 [but I'm not certain]. Also, do you seriously think that he could have made a difference working inside the Pentagon? My impression is that there were others within the government who felt the war and the rationale were bullshit but they were ignored/squelched.
KRALMAJALES–One thing that is obvious is that what we’ve been doing in Iraq for the past 3 years has definitely NOT been working. The violence is getting worse. It has been indicated that 2500+ U.S. soldeirs have been killed and almost 20,000 injured. The numbers of Iraqis killed or injured are probably 10 or 20 times those numbers. [There are also kidnappings of civilians by criminals going on regularly.] Our being there may be keeping the lid on full civil war; however, it also is highly likely that our very presence there, our occupation is fueling/exacerbating the problem and helping the recruitment of more terrorists. Redeployment outside the cities and then redeployment to just outside the country is not a panacea–and it has not been presented as a panacea. There are no “good” options. I don’t see our staying within the country, as we are doing, stabilizing to the country–unless we send 300,000+ troops there. Does anyone want to do that???
—————————
I detect some populism in Jeff’s message and populism cuts across party lines.
Obviously being a veteran does not innoculate one from being Swift Boated or accused of being “weak” on defense; however, it sure doesn’t hurt to be a veteran when so many residents in CD 8 are veterans [AZ Daily Star reported 19% veterans in CD 8--unknown if the 19% is registered voters or not].
————————–
I’m optimistic that whichever Democrat wins the primary will have a VERY good chance of winning the general. The main policy idea I hear from Republicans is to “cut taxes”–almost a panacea–How the hell can anyone be viewed as responsible/statepersonlike AND propose cutting MORE taxes when the Republicans (who are in full control of the executive and legislative branches) have been running $200-$400 billion deficits since they came to power, AND whose budget has projected deficits as far out into the future as the eye can see?
July 21st, 2006 at 6:44 am
Tedski,
Graf is a chicken hawk,like most Republican politicians. As far as anyone can tell, he never served, his wife never served, his son never served.
Art,
According to his Web site, Jeff Latas was in the Pentagon from 1994-1998, during the Clinton Administration, between his four tours of duty in Northern and Southern Watch, which were, at the time, working.
Emersome,
Thanks for the heads-up about the video. It’s over on YouTube as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W-Yb7Ti0eI
Wow. No wonder the other campaigns didn’t want to post it. It really makes Jeff Latas look very reasonable and the others look petty.
July 21st, 2006 at 7:44 am
Smiling big this morning. I am enjoying the “Jeff rises above it all” bait and switch going on now. I am especially enjoying it because many of his supporters on the blogs blistered Giffords for months on the Dataport, on Gilamonsterville, and on here.
Giffords so called attack was a defense after being hammered and hammered wrongly for a single committe vote and stretches of the truth to label her as corrupt. It was the Weiss campaign doing the attacking first and well Giffords responded.
I can’t imagine, as passionate as Jeff is, that he would do any different. In fact, many of you claim that he will be the “one” to answer the Republicans in the fall.
I guess we shall see.
July 21st, 2006 at 8:39 am
CC Burro:
On Iraq…I think your post is thoughtful and we have discussed this before, but I am not sure that his plan will stand up to scrutiny against the Republicans in the fall…and for even Americans. World events today even change things a bit more.
Where will we pull out to? Turkey? Jordan? Egypt? Given what is happening now in Lebanon, I am not sure we are going to be welcome very many places….not because we are hated, but because of our association with Israel. Furthermore the rise of the Shiite in Iraq (basically our doing by ridding the Sunni of power)…its linkage to Iran…and the rise of Shiite power in other places in the middle east are unintended consequences of this war that we now need to deal with.
I agree. I can’t see us adding more troops or trying to win this war. But the complexity of “what next” makes any campaign promise of what anyone will do a marked fantasy of dramatic proportions.
July 21st, 2006 at 8:44 am
I thought that Giffords had a good response until she went and did the personal attack, almost in the same breath after she said that Democrats don’t do that thing here. Then WHAM, the Fox News comment. If she would have kept her pie hole shut and not made the Fox News Reporter comment, she would have had an excellent response. Guess she needs a little more coaching.
July 21st, 2006 at 8:53 am
Rex,
What name calling did George do? I can’t see any in this post.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:27 am
Anyone go to the Tea thing yesterday? Would be interested in what happened. The Daily Star reported on it, but what do they ever say?
By hits and HR’s I simply refer to those components of the race that can be measured in solid fact, which is money (raised, on hand, from where, who, etc), announced endorsements, paid staff, and to the extent it can be gauged, volunteer hours and activity.
Of course that isn’t all that matters, but the other stuff quickly becomes opinion.
The 4:25 fightback video caught me by surprise. Impressive and a sign of new thinking. Taking a week to piece together the 8:18 NC video to frame it to Latas advantage was also more sophisticated than I would have predicted, as was the quality of that footage. It must have been the high end camera dead center in the room, and folks that produced that clearly understand the power of the editing suite.
I have to hand it to Latas camp for some outside the box thinking. Maybe he does have a surprise.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:19 pm
The political landscape just changed and it remains to be seen what effect there will be on the CD8 election.
I am referring, of course, to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The one where they are “defending” themselves by destroying the infrastructure of an entire nation and targeting civilians to pay for a border skirmish initiated by Hezbollah.
Well, the initial “attack” on Israel may not look like a “9-11″ but it may as well have been because the neo-cons are going to use it as a “catalyzing” event to justify a war with Iran. There’s no question about it. The neo-cons are literally being reborn after the debacle in Iraq and all their other failures. They are making the case, apparently successfully, that Iran is behind the July 12 Hezbollah border attack.
Well, we know the neo-cons want the war with Iran and that the nuclear fuel issues have not convinced Americans that war is the only answer. Well, things have changed. The neo-cons have a window of opportunity to exploit given that Americans get mostly pro-Israel news from the corporate media. Also, no one seems to be overly concerned about the Lebanese civilians who have as much control over Hezbollah as we have over George Bush. This is a better case for war with Iran than enriching uranium because Iran, obviously, is the root cause of instability in the region and democracy cannot flourish with Iran in control.
I’m not sure how all the campaign rhetoric will change but you can bet it will because the neo-cons are back in full force.
Weiss and Giffords might look a bit overwhelmed by it all, not to mention Graf and the rest of the Republican herd.
I could be wrong, of course. Maybe here in Arizona we’ll still be immigrant bashing in September, who knows?
Either way, Jeff Latas is the right person to represent CD8. I’m more convinced of that than ever.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:42 pm
liza,
you could have saved a lot of time and just written
Go Jeff!
July 21st, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Liza,
Why is Jeff the best for this new world problem? I don’t understand how military experience necessarily means foreign policy experience. If I was looking for a strategy to win a war, then by all means, but to end one with diplomacy? That takes advisors and in this one it will take each candidate a lot of help.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:00 pm
This post will earn some loud cries I am sure, but I thought some would find it interesting.
Washington posts latest rating has this race at #3 nationally, but read on after what the Daily Fix says…it is even more interesting.
“3. Arizona’s 8th District: There is a clear difference between the top two races on the Line and this one. The 8th went for President Bush by seven points in 2004 and no Democrat has represented the area since 1984. But,it is an open seat and, given the recent record of incumbents winning reelection, we simply can’t vault any current member of Congress over this seat. Former state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords looks stronger and stronger in her primary race, methodically lining up establishment support, including Emily’s List and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. Former state Rep. Randy Graf remains the most likely Republican nominee, but state Rep. Mike Huffman has the endorsement of Rep. Jim Kolbe (the current holder of the seat) and a huge cash advantage over Graf — $413,000 to $51,000 at the end of June. (Previous ranking: 3 | Candidate Profiles/Links | AZ-08 Demographics)”
The post also talks about ratings of where the DCCC will place campaign efforts. Check this out:
“Here’s a look at the markets where the DCCC has reserved time and how much time the committee asked for; the competitive district covered by that market is in parentheses.
* Tucson, 8 weeks (AZ-08)
* Denver, 6 weeks (CO-07)
* Hartford, 5 weeks (CT-02 and CT-05)
* Miami, 3 weeks (FL-22)
* West Palm Beach, 5 weeks (FL-22)
* Cedar Rapids, 10 weeks (IA-01 and IA-03)
* Evansville, 11 weeks (IN-08 and IN-09)
* Louisville, 6 weeks (IN-09 and KY-04)
* Indianapolis, 3 weeks (IN-09)
* Cincinnati, 6 weeks (KY-04)
* Charleston, 6 weeks (KY-04)
* Lexington, 6 weeks (KY-04)
* Albuquerque, 8 weeks (NM-01)
* Philadelphia, 4 weeks (PA-06, PA-07, PA-08)”
Be ready for a LOT of commercials folks…and this won’t even be the candidate commmercials.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Oh…someone should tell the Post it is STEVE not Mike Huffman.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:42 pm
phx kid,
I needed to write all that. Although its tragic, its somewhat of a vindication for me because I made the Iran connection right away and no one seemed to agree. I said, “this will be used to justify a war with Iran.” Now its all over Washington DC. Sorry you had to read all that, but here it is just for you – GO JEFF!
Kralmajales,
I am so distressed about what is going on in the Mideast that I am at a loss for words which is not usually the case for me. The US corporate media isn’t using this terminology, but “civil war” is now often used to describe what is going on in Iraq. As you know, the death toll has been about 100 per day for the last two months. Now the Israeli invasion of Lebanon is more gas on the fire. If the neo-cons are successful, and things are going well for them right now, then we could be in another war with Iran within months. I’m predicting post election, much like the bombing of Fallujah right after the 2004 election.
Jeff is very knowledgeable and very articulate about US foreign policy in the Mideast. I believe he has the intelligence, knowledge, integrity, and compassion to be an excellent legislator and policy maker. I think that his understanding of what is happening in the Mideast is woefully lacking among policy makers who are already in Washington. Either they don’t understand it or they have been bought off by special interests.
We have a lot of problems, I’m not denying that. I just happen to put the Mideast at the top of the list.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Boo-Hoo:
Franzi had already said the same thing about Latas in his column in the Northwest Explorer some weeks ago, so Hellon was just repeating that line. The GOP would love to run against Latas because he could not attract the crossover support that Giffords has proven she can attract throughout her earlier races in the old LD13 and the current LD28. Sounds to me like Franzi and Hellon are trying to fill their own dance card!
All:
In a GOP-majority district like CD8, the Democrat candidate MUST be able to hold the party together, attract most of the independents and get a certain number of dissatisfied Republicans to switch sides. Latas’s appeal and agenda are too narrow to do that. Giffords has a record of winning over voters from all segments of the electorate, the resources to get her message out and a platform that will resonate with all voters except those on the far left or far right.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Jeff Latas has a broad platform with positions addressing the Mideast, national security, immigration, disaster preparedness, health care, retirement security, veterans, education, energy policy, the environment, labor, election reform, civil rights, international trade, and media independence to name most of them.
I think that Jeff is best known for speaking out against the invasion and occupation of Iraq prior to announcing his candidacy. However, Jeff has addressed most domestic issues of concern as well as US foreign policy in the Mideast. In my estimation, this is a very broad and comprehensive platform.
However, I’m just now starting to get out and work my precinct. Man, its been hot. I could start another conversation about what I hear from voters but maybe later on that. For now, let’s just say it doesn’t jive with what I read on these blogs.
July 21st, 2006 at 8:28 pm
x4mr,
Thanks for the good PR for the Latas campaign, but I don’t know that they deserve your wonderful kudos for video editing.
I was there.
Their video doesn’t seem edited to me. That’s pretty much what happened.
If you think this makes Jeff Latas look good, that’s great, because it’s exactly how he looked to 350 people.
You won’t see any other campaign posting their videos because they know that this is exactly how it went down, and they don’t have anything further to add to it.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Blue,
You’re right. Somehow my memory played the event in a way that had me think they moved stuff around, but when I watched again, I realized the editing was minimal. All they did was cut the delay between Patty and Gabby, which was appropriate.
My brain still tells me the Bill Johnson stuff was at the very end, but apparently it wasn’t.
Something else I noticed was signage placement. Don’t know if it was intentional, but Jeff had his sign behind him so that footage of his speaking included it in the background. Smart.
I have no idea to what extent online video will impact the election, but yes, will concede that Jeff is way ahead of the others on this front so far.
Of course, we all know there are other very critical fronts.