Well, I’ve decided to make the CAFTA 15 a regular project of this blog for as long as it takes. Nothing has gotten people more riled up–for good reason. So, I’ve got a few ideas up my sleeve which I’ll talk about in the next few days.

First off, let’s start gathering as much info as possible about the CAFTA 15–in one comment, JC mentioned that the Northeastern Illinois Fed has a scheduled fundraiser for Melissa Bean next month. Seems to me there could be enough people to start phoning the Fed there and get it to cancel the fundraiser–let’s look into that.

But, beyond that, those of you spread around the country, check out and send info on the CAFTA 15–supporters, events, what labor money they’ve gotten, potential candidates (not wackos) who might run against them in a primary. Shovel the info over to here–if there is no active post on it, just e-mail it to me at: jtasini [at sign] workinglife.org

Alert: if you are out there and have info you want to share but feel the need to keep the source (you or someone else) confidential, I’ll do so.

And spread this out to people on your e-mail lists who might have info that would be useful.

I’ll start the sharing: a lot of us have been agitating against Gregory Meeks and Edolphus Towns here in NY. Sunday there will be a press conference to criticize both of them; it’s scheduled to be attended by the head of the NY Central Labor Council, CWA, SEIU, Teamsters, RWDSU/UFCW, UAW, UNITE HERE and the Working Families Party. Here’s one encouraging example that the recent internal labor movement debate isn’t blinding people to the ultimate prize since unions in both camps are taking part. That’s terrific. And I’ve already talked to people about two solid potential primary opponents to Towns; Meeks might be a tougher one to take on because of his district.

As a reminder, the CAFTA 15 are: Melissa Bean, Illinois (8th District);

Jim Cooper, Tennessee (5th District);

Norm Dicks, Washington (6th District);

Henry Cuellar, Texas (28th District);

Ruben Hinojosa, Texas (15th District); William Jefferson, Louisiana (2nd District);

Jim Matheson, Utah (2nd District);

Gregory Meeks, New York (6th District);

Dennis Moore, Kansas (3rd District); Jim Moran, Virginia (8th District);

Solomon Ortiz, Texas (27th District);

Ike Skelton, Missouri (4th District);

Vic Snyder, Arkansas (2nd District); John Tanner, Tennessee (8th District);

and Edolphus Towns, New York (10th District).