Business as Unusual

[H2O Man]

“Cancel my subscription to the resurrection.”
-- James Douglas Morrison; When the Music’s Over


Sometimes, in my opinion, it is good to take a step back from the presidential primaries, for two reasons: first, it’s so early in the primary season; and second, there are other upcoming elections that require our attention. Yes, it’s worth reading DU:GDP for information on the Democratic Primaries, and DU:GD to read about Donald Trump. But today, I was more focused on a “local” election, that will be decided this fall.

When one lives in rural, upstate New York, there are frequently election contests that do not include a Democrat. Republicans tend to run unopposed quite often. And they don’t usually even have to face a challenge in a republican primary.

In recent years, I helped run the campaigns of quite a few good candidates, even in the republican wilderness. In one very republican town -- where even independent voters outnumber Democrats -- we’ve won five of seven contests. This included creating the first Democratic majority on the Town Board in the community’s history.

In order to win local contests, it has been important to run campaigns in a slightly different manner than the local county Democratic Party organizations have. Too often, the “established” party leaders do not make serious attempts to defeat the republican opposition. They select a candidate who will appeal strictly to the regular, dependable Democratic Party voters, and who will lose by fairly predictable margins, year after year, election after election.

What I’ve done -- along with other dedicated people -- is create a different approach. We have worked with large segments of the independent voters, best described as the Democratic Left, along with a much smaller segment of registered republicans, to create a united front that is capable of competing with the republican machine.

This is not, of course, the “only” or “best” approach for grass roots activists across the country. But it works here, for now. In part, this is because a number of people who might well be registered as Democrats in a different context, register as republicans here, in order to “get along.” This includes, for example, those who have been interested in running for local office over the years, for they saw that only republicans were being elected for decades.

The rise of the tea party in our region has also impacted the republican party. The tea party has mutated, and its membership is no longer willing to follow the directions of the republican party elders. Such changes in the dynamics within the republican machine will always be found at the grass roots level, before it becomes visible at the national level. Consider the example of the republican machine’s current inability to exert control over the Trump campaign -- it is the direct result of the republican grass roots hostility to the party’s leadership.

This allows us the opportunity to shift our own tactics. Indeed, there are few potential advantages to be found at the local level, by running the same stale campaigns year after year, loss after loss. The group that I work with is 60% Democrats, 30% Independents, and 10% republican. The candidates we support have been reflected by those numbers.

Currently, I am assisting a republican, who is running against a rabid tea party candidate for a county position. The established republican party isn’t comfortable with my participation; in fact, the candidate’s campaign manager initially informed me that my assistance was not welcome. Then, the candidate told her that I was not under republican control, and more, that she needs to honor any request that I make.

Yesterday, I penned an op-ed, endorsing the republican candidate, and e-mailed it to the editor of a conservative, small city newspaper. Within half an hour, she had responded, saying my article would run in today’s issue. (LTTE and op-eds normally take two to three weeks to be printed.) My goal in writing the op-ed was two-fold: first, to help the candidate defeat the tea party opposition; and second, to help change the way in which a growing portion of the public views local politics.

It’s important to have such short- and long-term goals. For a variety of reasons, the regional tea party has identified me as “enemy #1.” They are becoming increasingly hostile towards me (or at least the image of me that they have created) over the past couple of months. So I want to communicate a clear message to them. More importantly, it will help build momentum for future elections. I’m convinced that the majority of people are tired of “business as usual” politics, though not in the destructively closed-minded way the tea party is. It is possible to make progress.

Peace,
H2O Man

[spanone]

1. K&R...

[H2O Man]

6. Thank you!

[KoKo]

2. Recommend...

[KoKo]

3. Good points...different strategies are needed.

Politics are shifting--creating opportunities to break out of the partisan trap. Thanks for sharing.

[H2O Man]

7. Right.

We have to change to master change. And, as Gandhi said, we should become the change that we want to happen.

I accept that there are some conflicts where it is absolutely necessary to be engaged in, on principle, even if you know you aren't going to "win." I've learned to deal with that. But in general, I prefer to win. I always did as a young man, in the boxing ring; and I continue to, as an old man, in the political arena.

[mmonk]

4. Very, very good information here. This could work very well in gerrymandered areas as well.

It is easy sometimes to get too hung up on labels. The human level is the best approach anyway. Recommended.

[H2O Man]

8. Exactly.

We shouldn't limit ourselves to struggling under the "rules" identified by our opposition. We need to think for ourselves, including frequently reassessing the situation we are confronted with.

[Octafish]

5. What they don't like about you: INTEGRITY.

If you endorse someone, that person deserves it.



The other big thing members of the tea party don't like: The Truth.

[H2O Man]

9. Thank you!

A week or so ago, I told our good friend "sabrina 1" about the recent increase in anger and hostility that some folks from the local tea party have been aiming in my direction. I was annoyed when one woman started spouting off, insulting me, when I was grocery shopping with my youngest daughter. That's just bad taste, in my opinion. If a person disagrees with my social-political beliefs and activities, that's fine. There are plenty of appropriate venues when they can express their thoughts. But in front of my teen-aged daughter? Have some sense of decency.

It's funny, Octafish -- or at least I think it is -- but I was recently contacted by one of the second-tier leaders of the republican party from a nearby county. He started off by saying that he tends to disagree with me on most issues, but has come to respect that I am trying to do what is best for local communities. He expressed his utter contempt for most of the politicians in Albany (NY), and Washington, DC. He is interested in sitting down informally, to talk shop.

While there is, at best, zero chance that either of us will convince the other to change their mind on "values," I am willing to meet with him. Nothing to lose in doing that.

[Octafish]

12. At the very least, you will have sounded out one another.

That is the first step toward understanding one another. Who knows where that path can lead? If it helps clean out the crooks and deadwood, hoorah!

[H2O Man]

18. Right.

It's interesting how some people understand the potential benefit in talking with those who don't agree with you, and may actually be your opposition, while others simply don't see it. Even on this thread, my "shadow" shows that he doesn't have any grasp of why I do what I am doing. In between his failed attempts to insult me, he actually documents his ignorance. Sad.

When we think of some of the last century's most inspired leaders -- say, Gandhi and King -- we find they set examples for us. Both of these great men was always willing to break bread with those who disagreed with them, including their most bitter enemies. That bitterness, of course, was entirely within their opposition ....just as it is in that shadow.

None of us will hold the position, or enjoy the responsibilities of the status of a Gandhi or King. Yet, if our goal is social justice, and a safer, more meaningful life for all, than we would be foolish to ignore the teachings of Gandhi and King. In my own case, I am fully aware that -- at very best -- my contribution to the Good Fight is tiny, indeed, and of very minor consequence when compared to great men and women's. Yet, there is nothing more important in life for me to do.

[mrdmk]

10. Your efforts are a text book example of working with others verse working against

Working with others and getting results gets respect. It is more difficult, therefore requires more time. Yet, the results can be productive. Kudos to your status and efforts, thus hopeful positive results.

Sometimes, working against (insert blank here) is a necessary evil. I will use 'war' as an example. Of course, not offering an alternative solution will deem your efforts as being a naysayer.

Once again, my respect too you for taking the time to speak with others...

[H2O Man]

11. Thank you.

There can be great advantages to identifying common ground with others. And keeping in mind that those who are "the opposition" today, may be on your side on a different issue tomorrow.

I realize that the tactics that work here, today, may not be as effective elsewhere. But there are some general lessons that might be applied in other circumstances.

It's funny: through the day, I've had a half-dozen republicans contact me, to say that they were impressed by my op-ed. That's a good thing, for we must change the way people think, before we can expect any meaningful changes in their behavior.

[Scuba]

13. America needs more people like you, H2O Man.

[H2O Man]

16. Thank you, Scuba!

[malaise]

14. You're a good man

Respect due

[H2O Man]

17. Thank you, my Friend!

Much mutual respect!

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Good for you. You do have tons of common ground with the right that I just don't have.

Not everybody can just go hang with the Republicans because some of us are subjected to great bigotry and bias by your natural allies. Such minority people can not simply join up with a Party that literally has platform planks against us.
In my community, the idea of pretending to be that which you are not in order to 'get along' is toxic, and anyone who does such a thing over politics is weak ass and not at all worthy of the respect of people who have put everything on the line to live as honest people. Closet cases, politically or otherwise, not at all appealing to me.

When I meet or read straight people, I see most of them as hyper conservative and protectors of the old ways. They are far more willing to 'reach out' to their fellow white straights than to any minority group. They lash out at us while extending a hand to the GOP, because they are so lefty. That's the ticket. So left they are right. 'Let's pretend to be Republicans to get along' they say. God how I loathe that.