When hotel rooms used to have transoms, reporters would talk of something that come through the transom.

Now, information like the following fund raising letter from 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean come via email.

So, for the inbox, here it is her November 28th letter:

From: Pat Reynes [mailto:pat@melissabean.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:05 PM
To: xxxxx

Subject: Can the election be bought?

“Earlier this year, Republican strategists seeking a candidate for the Eighth Congressional District in Illinois met with Steve Greenberg, a wealthy businessman who was thinking about running for the United States Senate against Senator Richard J. Durbin, a Democrat.” New York Times, November 26, 2007

Dear Friends,

Help us show the Republicans that elections cannot be bought!

I wanted to be sure that you saw the front page article from Monday’s New York Times, especially paragraph 15 at the bottom of the first page.

Melissa’s challenger has already begun writing checks to his own campaign – 11 months in advance of the election! Melissa’s support has always come from friends like you, and not from her own checkbook. Last cycle, her opponent put over $3 million of his own money into his campaign. With your help, Melissa was able to raise more.

Let’s show the Republicans that with your help, she can do it again and fend off another self funded millionaire. Please consider a $23, $230 or even $2300 contribution today!

Thanks for everything you do.

Pat Reynes
Finance Director
Melissa Bean for Congress