• by Bill McCloskey , January 31, 2007

It is fascinating to look at the email campaigns from political groups. The first thing you notice is that these folks are worse than me when it comes to spelling. Now I’m not taking sides, but the Republicans in particular are lousy when it comes to spelling, sometimes to pretty hilarious results.

The volume of political email started on the rise back in May of 2006 and built to a peak just before the November elections. Following a steep drop, the volume has picked up again almost to pre-November levels. 

Here are some of the tactics and issues being raised via our inbox.

The Log Cabin Republicans, a gay Republican lobbyist group, are very active, although they don’t seem to know how to spell the opposing team’s name: “You won't believe what the Domocrats are doing!” says one of their recent emails. According to the email: “Democrats in the U.S. Senate are blocking important pro-gay legislation offered by Republican Senator Gordon Smith from Oregon.”

Besides blocking anti-gay legislation, Democrats are also trying to ban free speech, according to the American Center for Law and Justice: “When liberty hangs in the balance ... when free speech is threatened ... when blatant attacks on our constitutional freedoms begin to test the fabric of our nation ...

... it is up to us to stand firm - to demand accountability and fight for our freedom.

This is exactly what I am asking you to do today.  I urge you to join our nationwide campaign by reading and signing our online PETITION OF PROTEST, raising your voice against one of the greatest threats to freedom of speech that Congress has ever considered.

This is urgent.  As I told you before, this legislation will forcibly restrict your right to free speech -- which is absolutelyunconstitutional.”

Of course they never really get around to saying “absolutely” what the petition is fighting.

In case you were wondering what to do with yourself after the President’s State of the Union address, the Republicans will be happy to tell you, including these talking points:

“Here are two ways you can help right now:

• Write A Letter to Your Editor spreading the word about this bold new agenda

• Call Talk Radio and tell them why you support the President's agenda, and why they should too.

Here are some excerpts from last night's speech which you may find helpful when writing your letters and calling talk radio:”

Which is followed by a list of subjects that Rush is going to want to know about including: “"A future of hope and opportunity begins with a growing economy - and that is what we have...Unemployment is low, inflation is low, and wages are rising.  This economy is on the move -- and our job is to keep it that way, not with more government but with more enterprise."

Meanwhile, down in Texas, lots of wild stuff is going on, according to this email from the Republican Party of Texas:  “Border Patrol Agents Imprisoned for Protecting Texas….

Two Texas Border Patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison for the non-fatal shooing (sic) of a Mexican drug runner.”

Now who would have thought that “shooing” someone would be illegal in Texas? My mother was always shooing me. If I had only known about this when I was a kid!

On the Democratic side of things, the Dems want you to try a little visualization technique, according to this email from the Democratic Party with the subject line “2008”:

“This president's approval ratings have sunk to levels unseen since Richard Nixon.

That's right -- going into his State of the Union speech, George Bush's popularity matches the Republican who became so deeply and universally disliked that he resigned from office. Americans have had it with this president…. As you see the images of George Bush standing at that podium, I want you to imagine a new Democratic president standing there in his place.”

The Dems are also taking a page out of Oprah’s playbook by starting a book club. This book promo brought to you by the Democratic Party:

“Former Chairman Terry McAuliffe has a new book about his years in Democratic politics. What a Party!: My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators, and Other Wild Animals is a fascinating, hilarious, and provocative look at the life of one of Washington's legendary figures. From wrestling an alligator to running the Democratic National Committee to his friendship with President Clinton, Chairman McAuliffe's wonderful memoir covers it all and is the political book of the year.”

And so it goes. Look for more of such nonsense as 2008 approaches.