The south is known as a Republican stronghold in the last few years after long Democratic traditions, and Democrats are once again standing up to fight for the South. NC and VA are springing up to be swing-states, and Democrats are fighting all over the South for House and Senate seats.

Every Tuesday night(usually) is DIDS, when folks gather together to share their triumphs, great and small, or the triumphs of others, great and small, or the triumphs they really are gonna do. .real soon (honest!), great and small.

After all, what's life without a few victory laps? :)

Wow.. it's been one DIDS of a week for yours truly, but on consultation with the lovely and wise mkkendrick I have opted to focus on activities I have undertaken to raise money for one congressional candidate and encourage votes for another.

More below the break.

Short form: Yesterday we got more than a third of the way toward our $1,000 goal to help Harry Taylor defeat Sue Myrick in the NC-09 Congressional Race. Please visit yesterday's diary, which is chock full 'o' videos and explanations why Bush's most loyal fan in Congress (if she's not I will let her campaign explain in what ways she isn't) needs to come back home to Charlotte to stay.

And the beauty of it is Sue Myrick's own words raised close to $400 for Harry Harry Taylor in a day, just from one l'il old blog. All I did was link her own news releases and video statements for you to examine and compare with the vastly more mainstream American views of Harry Taylor, who will do the Ninth District of North Carolina proud as its next Representative.

Since yesterday worked so nicely, we will continue to yield the floor to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, as she's doing great raising money for Harry. :)

Short form: I need $10 from 100 kossacks (or the equivalent) to help Harry Taylor send Sue Myrick into retirement from Congress.

While I will of course have links (and video!) to introduce Harry Taylor to you, most of this diary will not be about Harry, but rather his opponent, who I believe can raise just as much money on his behalf as I ever could.

So I am giving her that opportunity. :)

With the help of ActBlue, YouTube and a lot of wonderful video help from my fellow North Carolinians, I am here to help Harry Taylor introduce Sue Myrick to her retirement from Congress.

And you are invited to participate in any way you can to help turn another district in North Carolina blue in November. (Waves to Larry Kissell people who I will see tomorrow morning.)

I don't like the conclusion of this Charlotte Observer analysis but it appears to have good logic.   I'm posting it because it shows what needs to be worked on before November if Obama, Kay Hagan (Senate), Harry Taylor (House) and Larry Kissell (House) are going to win.

I have possible action items to counter the analysis at the end of the diary.

Harry Taylor's a winner!  Everyone who knows Harry know that.  Harry is running against Sue Myrick in the 9th District.  Recently the Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County awarded Harry their highest award at their annual awards meeting.

Meet me below the fold.

Update:  The Harry Taylor For Congress website.   He states his positions on many issues.

Democrat Harry Taylor is challenging the Republican incumbent Sue Myrick in NC's 9th Congressional District.   In a move that threatens NC's coastal economic resources, Myrick is encouraging oil drilling off NC.

I really like this from Taylor:

"We have soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq, for oil," Taylor said. "If we truly want to support our troops, let's show them we're capable of sacrifice ... Let's change our wasteful behavior and make a real difference."

Charlotte Observer: Myrick plan won't cut gas prices.

This diary is an "out and out" plea to Daily Kos users to contribute to the NC House 09 campaign of Harry Taylor.

Hey fellow Kossacks, over at the EENR Blog we're having a conversation with Democratic candidate Harry Taylor who is running for the seat in NC-09 right now! Harry Taylor is running against far right Republican Sue Myrick. Many people first heard about Harry Taylor when he publicly confronted President Bush at a townhall back in 2006. In case you forgot, here's the video:

This is number seven in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole pack of cigarettes.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

This time, we look at North Carolina, the state that made Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for President!

You remember Harry Taylor, Democratic candidate for Congress from NC-9 don't you?

If not, or if you just can't get enough of the clip, here is Harry chastising our illustrious leader:

Right now, Harry Taylor is well ahead in the NC-9 Democratic primary vote with

   * Harry Taylor [D]:
        votes: 27,169, percent: 58.4%
   * Ross Overby [D]:
        votes: 19,376, percent: 41.6%

Join me for a moment over the jump:

Harry Taylor first came to my attention when he stood up to bush in April 2006.  Taylor said many things to bush that I agreed with – however, he did it with much more courtesy than I would be able to muster.  This is part of what he said:

"In my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of my leadership in Washington," Taylor told the president. "And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and grace to be ashamed of yourself." April 6, 2006

The entire exchange is posted at Thank You Harry Taylor website.  There are also comments from many folks thanking him for speaking up to bush.  There are over 18,000 messages for Harry Taylor on that website.

Read on for the endorsement.......

On April 6, 2006 George W. Bush convened a town hall meeting at Central Piedmont Community College in downtown Charlote, North Carolina. He expected a very favorable, controlled setting for his own self-glorification.

If different in any way from fourscore and seven similar gatherings elsewhere in the country, Bush expected the people of the central Carolinas area to be especially welcoming of his talk of necessary sacrifices and defense of freedom.

He expected a Norman Rockwell moment. Boy, did he get one.

The reviews of Obama's speech are coming in:

From Political Wire:

Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race this morning showed off exactly why he's become the Democratic front runner for the presidential nomination. He's absolutely willing to challenge the conventional way of how politicians approach controversy. In my opinion, it was the best speech so far in this campaign.

From Politico:

It's quite a speech: autobiographical, embracing complexity, and answering questions about Wright... Throughout, he insists on things that you don't get much of in politics: context and nuance.

"In my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency...I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration, and I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself."
Harry Taylor to President George W. Bush at a Town Hall Meeting in Charlotte, NC, April 2006

EENR initially stood for Edwards Evening News Roundup. We Edwards supporters posted nightly diaries about John's campaign and what he stood for.  You didn't expect our candidate advocacy to end once John Edwards suspended his campaign did you? More below the fold....

Hello.  I support Harry Taylor for Congress.  He officially files to run for Congress today at Noon in a bid to unseat Republican Sue Myrick, and Harry needs our help.

Hello all.  I'm supporting Harry Taylor for Congress in NC 09.  He's running against the formidable and corrupt George Bush "rubberstamp" Sue Myrick. Please support and vote for the man pictured below, Harry Taylor!