Stitch for Senate Blog

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens Loses Re-election Bid

cat — 2008-11-18T22:57:10-05:00

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, narrowly lost his re-election bid Tuesday, marking the downfall of a Washington political power and Alaska icon who couldn't survive a conviction on federal corruption charges. His defeat by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich moves Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority.

Senate Race 2008

cat — 2008-11-12T14:26:53-05:00

We're still waiting for the total results, but here's the source of this spread.

There were no Republican pick-ups. Democratic pick-ups in the following races:

1) Colorado: On Election Day, (Mark) Udall defeated Schaffer 52%-43%
2) New Hampshire: Shaheen defeated Sununu, 52%-45%
3) New Mexico: (Tom) Udall defeated Pearce 61%-39%
4) North Carolina: Hagan defeated Dole, 53%-44%
5) Oregon: Merkley defeated Smith in very close race, Smith formally conceded.
6) Virginia: (Mark) Warner defeated Gilmore 64%-34%

Alaska, Minnesota too close to call, Georgia too... and there is a run-off race on Dec 2, 08.

Veteran's Day
Stitch for Soldier

cat — 2008-11-11T15:38:53-05:00

Stitch for Senate Helmet:
Knitted for Senator Alexander

cat — 2008-10-17T19:51:54-05:00

To the Honorable Senator Alexander:

Please find herein a helmet liner made to make a political point. There are common people working at a local level to make things better for us all and here in lies our point. We plead to you to be courageous now in a time that we need true leadership. We ask you to speak up now for the sanity of peace in this time of crisis. I believe as a people and society we must change from a policy of fear and greed into one of cooperation and good will. You have a unique position to make these pleas in your distinguished position. Making war has gained us nothing. Our security is the worse for it. With these terrible policies we have turned even our friends and ancestors aside. Please, take the brave course to repudiate this disastrous policy now. I have seen you speak and I believe you to be an honorable person. Time is of the essence in such matters and now is the time to act. We must bring our troops home now and conserve what resources we still have at our disposal. Security for us means reestablishing our local ties and making sure that our critical infrastructure is maintained. To do so we must stop the folly of war. It is critical for our local and national well being to listen to the councils for peace.

Knitted by Lorraine Merwin from Johnson City, Tennessee

Flag Packs during the Debate!

cat — 2008-10-17T11:42:55-05:00

Living between Troy and Boston I forgot all the knitted flag packs for the workshop at The Change You Want to See last Saturday in Brooklyn. But thanks to everyone who came out! I designed these flag packs with the knitPro pattern (below) to enclose the knitted helmet liners for each Senator. The gallery exhibit in Florida comes down one day before the 2008 Election so the helmet liners will realistically be mailed after we vote, but before the Senate goes on their winter recess.

A Weekend of Arts in Action

cat — 2008-10-04T16:43:30-05:00

People local to New York City - I will be at The Change You Want to See Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn a week from today, Oct 11 from NOON-TWO as part of the event Vote Early Vote Often, A Weekend of Arts in Action.

The Change You Want to See Gallery is on 84 Havemeyer St, in Brooklyn.

This will begin with a brief overview of microRevolt projects and then a craft circle - so bring whatever you're working on!

Afterwards I want to go to this exhibit if people want to come along:
SIGNS OF CHANGE: SOCIAL MOVEMENT CULTURES 1960s TO NOW
Curated by Dara Greenwald and Josh MacPhee

Stitch for Senate exhibited in Florida

cat — 2008-08-30T16:17:33-05:00

Last week I installed the Stitch for Senate helmet liners at Ritter Art Gallery in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic University, where Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton stumped for Barack Obama just four days before.

The helmets are exhibited in the seating chart of the Senate Chamber. The exhibit opens on Sept 5, 2008 and will close just three days before Election Day on November 4th, when they will be post-mailed to the Senators offices.

Many many thanks to the contributing knitters who made helmet liners for the project:

Alyssa Wilson (Pittsburgh, PA) for Senator Specter
Ann Crawford (Bloomfield, CT) for Senator Lieberman and Senator Dodd
Ann Morton (Phoenix, AZ) for Senator Kyl
Anthea Daugherty (Rockford, IL) for Senator Obama
Betsy Greer, (Carrboro, NC) for Senator Burr
Cathy Dowd (St. Peter, MN) for Senators Klobuchar, Murray and Durbin
Chelsea Gunn (Providence, RI) for Senator Reed
Chris Tigner (Portland, OR) for Senator McConnell
Danica King (Seattle, WA) for Senator Feingold
Debra L. Stroud (Fallon, NV) for Senator Reid
Eleanor Castle (Kalamazoo, MI) for Senators Brown, Casey and Stabenow
Eliza Jane Curtis (Gorham, ME) for Senator Collins
Erin R. (Albuquerque, NM) for Senator Bayh
Heather Pristash (Bowling Green, OH) for Senator Voinovich
Jaki Thurman (Salinas, CA) for Senator Kerry
Jennifer Augello (Portland, OR) for Senator Smith
Jessica Godden (Brooklyn, NY) for Senator Bingaman
Julie Groat (Monument, CO) for Senator Allard
Karen L. Mohler (Littleton, CO) for Senator Smith
Kathy Warner (West Linn, OR) for Senator Wyden
Kristin Noel Rivers (San Jose, CA) for Senator Boxer
Leslie Sudock (Philadelphia, PA) for Senator Casey
Linda Harroun (Colorado Springs, CO) for Senator Salazar
Linda Muri (Watertown, MA) for Senator Kerry and Senator Lincoln
Linn Perkins Syz (Montpelier, VT) for Senator Leahy
Meghan Olesen (Phoenix, AZ) for Senator Roberts
Melissa Reynolds (Albuquerque, NM) for Senator McCain
Mike Topper (Huntington Woods, MI) for Senator Levin
Patrick D. Kettner (Federal Way, WA) for Senator Cantwell
Virginia deRochemont (Santa Fe, NM) for Senator Feinstein

Stitch for Senate Helmet #100:
Knitted for Senator Voinovich

cat — 2008-08-17T17:07:00-05:00

As a lifelong Ohioan who is also a liberal, I haven't agreed with Senator Voinovich about a great many things. However, I do believe that he cares about this country, even though he expresses this caring differently than I do. It is my fervent hope that this project might help him see that the best way to care about this country and all its people right now is to help end this war and bring our soldiers home.

- Heather Pristash, knitting in Bowling Green, OH

Connecticut Senators Lieberman and Dodd

cat — 2008-08-17T17:01:59-05:00

This war is a waste of lives on all sides. A knitted protest has immense strength, growing out of traditions of creating objects of use and comfort and traditions of concern for and support of individual members of the military. Perhaps at least one of the senators will don their knitted helmet, and think for a moment of another real person who might wear a helmet and the value of that human being's life.

- Ann Crawford knitting in Bloomfield, CT

Stitch for Senate Helmet #99:
Senator Carl Levin

cat — 2008-08-17T15:04:20-05:00

- Helmet knitted by Mike Topper, from Huntington Woods, MI.

This helmet liner is for our long time senator, Carl Levin. A fixture on the Armed Services Committee as well as serving as the chair of that body more than once, he supports our men in service about as well as anyone you can name. He did not support Joint Resolution 114, of which I am proud as he truly represented my vote. In sending this helmet, I do it in the faith that he will continue to support Barack Obama and seek to return all of our young men home quickly and help, in the fuure, to not involve our services in such acts of aggression but keep peace with friends around the globe. We must return to friendly relations and lead other nations to a peaceful world. This liner can be used by a peacetime army just as handily as one who is involved with the sadness of the last five years.

- Testimony by Eleanor J. Castle of Kalamazoo, Michigan who also knitted for Senator Debbie Stabenow

Stitch for Senate Helmet Final Stacks

cat — 2008-08-17T13:50:12-05:00

Stitch for Senate Helmet #81:
Knitted for Senator Jack Reed

cat — 2008-08-10T11:27:27-05:00

I am only a recent Rhode Island resident, but I am beyond pleased to have a senator who opposes the war. Having a former Army Ranger oppose this war speaks volumes, and other leaders should be listening. One of my nearest and dearest is overseas until September; I'm knitting this with him in mind.

- Helmet Knitted by Chelsea Gunn of Providence, RI

Stitch for Senate Helmet #70:
Knitted for Senator Pat Roberts

cat — 2008-08-10T11:20:58-05:00

As chairman of the intelligence committee at the time the United States invaded Iraq, I believe that Senator Pat Roberts had a responsibility to the American public and the country of Iraq to get it right. If he is dedicated to sweeping reform and ratting out the problems in our nation's intelligence community then he should have been more diligent to find the difference between true intelligence information and pure propaganda by a corrupt administration. It is now clear that this war was and is only for the personal satisfaction of a few elites and it only serves to settle up some unfinished business that has nothing to do with protecting freedom. I knitted this helmet liner to show that not all americans believe that this is a just war and that some of us actually believe that it is wrong for our government to play a "missionary of democracy" to the rest of the world . I believe that one should always turn the other cheek.. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It is time for the United States to start to look at our "American Dream" and realize that not everyone in the world grows up wishing they could be us.

- Helmet Knitted by Meghan Olesen of Phoenix, AZ

Stitch for Senate Time Cards and Post Mail

cat — 2008-08-09T15:11:50-05:00

Since the deadline to get to 100 helmets is August 16th, I'm getting the last few helmets in the mail... I'm also starting to record on a timecard the rate at which the helmets are being made. The last 10 helmets were made from August 4 - August 8. They take about 2-3 hours each including documenting. I'm using my new favorite kind of wool that comes in hanks - Peruvia, which is a soft texture, great for machine knitting.

Stitch for Senate Helmet #71 - #80

cat — 2008-08-09T14:30:23-05:00

Senator Shelby votes YEA on Joint Resolution 114 and Senator Byrd votes NAY on Joint Resolution 114

Senator Cardin votes YEA on Senate Vote #137 and Senator Hatch votes NAY on Senate Vote #137

Senator Ensign votes NAY on Senate Vote #137 and Senator Hutchison votes YEA on Senate Vote #137

Senator Alexander voting records here and Senator Corker voting record here ... Corker mentions contemporary art in March '08 interview here.

Senator Johnson and Senator Kohl voted the same on:
Joint Resolution 114: YEA
Levin Amdt. No. 4320: YEA
Senate Vote #137: YEA