How many here are involved in the process?

[the_real_38]

I mean, actually working on a campaign, doing volunteer work for the party, making calls, whatever?

I'm going to a meetup for Kucinich next week to hear him out ( i like most of what he says, though I don't think he can win), and I've been going to meetings of this progressive group.

It seems to me that there's a lot of people here watching TV or doing media analysis, but I think what we all (and definitely me - I"ve been a lard-ass on this account) need to be hands-on, too. One thing about the Republicans, they've never taken their eye off of the ball. Assholes like Cheney and Bush know exactly how the process works, how to exploit it and make it work for them. And they have a lot of money. The only way to counter that is to open new lines of communication (this place is a good start) and to get grass-roots support for the party again. We sure can't count on the corporate media for that. It's going to take a lot of local efforts and willpower.

I mean this as a question, and not an indictment, and I'm looking for avenues where I can lend a hand as well.

So, who's involved in the process and how?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Doing lots of work on NO ON THE RECALL

No time for presidential stuff right now.

[the_real_38]

2. gReat vonnegut quote, and apropos as well.

n/t

[Renew Deal]

8. Thanks

for doing that. I really hope it fails at best, Bustamante at worst. Do you just want no on the recall or are you pushing Bustamante too?

:kick:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. No on the recall, yes on Bustamante

That's the game. Thanks..and nice to see the thread starter posting again. :hi:

We are organizing voter registration and calling and mailing within my niche to get the votes out.

[MGKrebs]

3. I'm working for Dean.

I was so shocked after the 2000 election- I had always thought of myself as politically aware, but I never DID anything except vote. After 2000, I decided to try to do a little more.

Me and my partner worked for Max Cleland last year, but got involved late, and of course we were disappointed then too.

Now we are heavily involved in georgiafordean volunteers, and i am also exploring getting more involved with the Dem party here (but it's tough, I couldn't even find them last night for a meeting).

From my experience so far, I can say that individuals really can make a difference. We have a volunteer who works at CNN, and she is able to get us press coverage sometimes (not necessarily from CNN, but from her contacts in the media). She is making a difference.

Our website volunteer recently got hired by the campaign and moved to Vermont. If you saw the NY rally, he was the one updating the big graphic with the current contribution totals that reached $1Mil 2 minutes before Howard came on stage. He sent us an email about it, and there was a last minute glitch that almost caused some heart attacks, but they pulled it off. That guy is making a difference.

There is a coffee shop down the street that we've been hanging out at. The owner has sort of adopted our Dean cause, and introduces us to practically everybody that comes in so that we can give them our shpiel or give them some literature or a button. She's not on any list of Georgia for Dean volunteers, but she's making a difference.

Tonight, (when I am not posting here!), I am using this ancient hand press machine that somebody had, to make buttons to give out. I hope I am making a difference.

Work for your candidate! it is rewarding. I have met a lot of new friends, and am learning a lot of new stuff. We MUST win in 2004!

[Arugula Latte]

5. Today

I really started doing person-to-person grassroots work for Dean. Struck up two conversations with strangers (a checker and a guy loading my new desk into my car). Put a note on the windshield of a complete stranger regarding deanforamerica.com and kicking George Bush's sorry butt back to Crawford (the car had good bumperstickers like "Regime Change Begins At Home. Vote"). I'm e-mailing everyone I can think of about Dean. I'm going to my second meet-up 9/3. Saw the Dr. speak in Portland, and, damn, that gave me a healthy shot of adrenaline. I've even lost a few pounds from excitement. Thank you, Dr. Dean!!

I must say, when connecting with people over political matters it is sooo important to go beyond the usual spiel for your preferred candidate. We are all in this together. All Dems and progressives will benefit if we, for example, work together to register voters. I'm going to work on that next. My goal is to see if I can sign up 10 new voters. I have yet to decide on the time frame for that.

[John_Shadows_1]

4. I'm a party volunteer.

kick

[Arugula Latte]

6. Hi John Shadows!

Welcome to DU! Spread the word! :hi: :toast:

[Clete]

7. I have volunteered to make phone calls,

when the time comes.

[LWolf]

9. I'm working for Kucinich.

And hoping to get together with the local dem organization to work on the recall. I was out of state for the last meeting.

[patcox2]

10. I was full time staff in each of the last two election cycles.

One a state senate campaign unsuccesful, the other a congressional campaign, succesful. I did research, press, message, learned how to do astroturf, wrote speeches, even served as surrogate for my candidate in two debates he couldn't attend because he was busy voting against the Iraq war. But the ironic thing is that if I mention it here at DU, I tend to get viciously attacked by the armchair critic crowd as an elitist asshole and a tool of the system, not worthy of listening to. This is in some ways bizarro world. "You have personal knowledge and experience with the political system, hah, you don't know shit, my half-informed opinions are all that matters." And I quit a 15 year career as a lawyer to go work to support democratic candidates for half the pay. Go figure.

[John_Shadows_1]

11. You should expound on your experiences ....

.... like the original poster said, the GOP has mastered the system - you have to get through to these people that the process is important. Some of the negative response is understandable - corporate control of the electoral process has alienated a lot of people who love their country and want to do better by it. On the other hand, if we don't step up and take part, how the hell is it going to change?

[patcox2]

12. My experience is that a politician must represent multiple constituencies.

A succesful candidate must represent die hard liberals and moderates and even conservatives, because you cannot create a majority without support across the spectrum, and you must do it while remaining true to a set of core values, and must find ways to communicate complicated messages so they are understood and don't alienate anyone.

The problem I encounter is the unyeilding, freeper-like ideologue mindset of many here who will write off a candidate just because of some necessary political positioning, yet ironically they fall hook line and sinker for the same kind of insincere positioning when its targeted at them, a la Dean. Thus Dean is god like because he claims to be a progressive (same with al gore) and others like Kerry are trashed even though they are way more liberal, over the long haul, than either Dean or Gore. Its aggravating.

[JohnKleeb]

13. I thought Gore was more populist than liberal

thats what I heard.

[TrogL]

14. I was at a Liberal barbecue last weekend

Spent 4 hours flippin' burgers. Then I got face time with the boss, the boss's office manager, a Freeper-type politician and the new big cheese's assistant campaign staffer.

[John_Shadows_1]

17. kick ...

... what's with the penguin - is there another Linuxite on here?

[Coffee Coyote]

16. I will be working the polls

I want to at least ensure some semblance of integrity in my precinct volunteering at the polls.

I usually volunteer for congressional candidates, and the only presidential campaign I worked on was Bradley's run in 2000. I am just not enamored of any of this choices this time. It feels like 1988.

[imax2268]

18. I'm not directly involved...

But I am doing my best to tell people about Dean...ever since the election was stolen from us last time I feel that whatever I can do to convince people that we need to Take Back Our Country no matter what...!

[dajabr]

19. Canvassed for Dean in NH n/t

[John_Shadows_1]

20. kick

n/t

[jagguy]

21. I did for many years when I was young and had the free time

I paid my dues.