Kerry meetup...How do we get the Dean/Clark energy?

[cally]

I know this thread can turn into angry Dems bashing our candidate. There are many other places for that. Kerry is our nominee. I want to get him elected.

I see this election as a chance to get Dems involved and influential. I want all those activists to rule this party. So how do we do it? I've never seen a Dem party like this. I think we have a chance to change our country and party.

[slinkerwink]

1. for starters, be nice to former Dean and Clark supporters

and don't ask more than they can give. Just appreciate their support, and with a few words of encouragement, they'll be enthused enough to give more of their support.

[gone fishing]

3. a start

would be by not stating spain should stay in iraq. i just "heard" the nader
numbers doubling.

[cally]

4. Serious question...How to be nice??

I'm going to a meeting in a few hours where this will be discussed. That's why I'm asking this question. What does the Dem campaigns need to do?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. There isn't a HOW TO..just be inclusive

And you will probably find at your meet up that it is not a venomous as it appears to be on DU.

[cally]

13. There is something that the Dems are missing

This isn't about just being inclusive and 'nice'. It's about figuring out how to focus the mainstream Dems who are just angry into activism. I see it everyday. Folks who have never been involved want to work to defeat *. My question is about how do we involve these folks for this and future campaigns.

[OKNancy]

18. In the real world

at least where I am, there is absolutely no problem melding the groups together. Here in Tulsa, the Clark group is by far the largest, and they have added a lot of energy to the Kerry groups. The Dean people are all on board and they are nice and are working together really well.
NO one is rude in real life like they are on DU or in other web places.
Have fun!!

[xultar]

5. AMEN! Slink, You are so RIGHT

Man I remember when Kerry and Edwards came out of IA. All of a sudden Edwards supporters especially were so rude and mean. I was sooo shocked at the hateful posts.

At first I liked Edwards, then I got to know more about him and started to lean away. But the Edwards supporters really made him difficult to stomach.

Oh well, Live & Learn

[InvisibleTouch]

25. Gotta agree with Slink....

That was my first thought in reply as well. To my mind, "be nice" means "quit bashing our candidates." I'm not addressing the original poster here, but I've seen lots of nasty swipes, to this day, at Dean, Clark, and Kucinich. Just because our guys are out of the race (or virtually so), doesn't mean we don't still feel for them, and to see someone say "I wish so-and-so would shut up and go away," is a considerable turn-off. I'm trying very hard to work up my enthusiasm for Kerry. I donated to him. I'm not yet ready to go to work for him on a local level, but I suspect that will come. I'm also keeping in mind that a few snide Kerry supporters (out of the many, many who are great) don't really have anything to do with the man himself, and shouldn't affect my feelings about him one way or the other. I think the Kerry campaign could massively benefit from Dean's internet fund-raising skills, and this is the time to pool our resources, not shut each other out.

[jansu]

33. Yes, make nice with the other members of your family!

Remember, Dean supporters raised incredible amounts of money for their candidate and we can do that for our Nominee! But this will only work if we all treat each other like you would any of your family members, whom you have had a huge fight with, but now you know you don't want to be estranged forever from each other. That we all are in this together! Together we win, let's fight Bush and gang, not each other!

[mopinko]

2. how do you

catch lightening in a bottle?
just hope to channel that energy into congressional races. none of us are gonna get all that hard for kerry. vote yes, cream, no.

[Walt Starr]

6. My primary was yesterday. My previous energy for Dean

is now 100% transferred to Kerry!

On top of that, I am energetic about every Democratic candidate at all levels in all precints nationwide!

[MercutioATC]

11. Good for you, Walt! Just don't let that get in the way of your brain...

...Kerry just criticized Dean's statement on the Bush involvement with Spain's transit terrorism. That's the most imbecile (hmmm...I meant "insider") take I could imagine. Regardless of what you believe, would you choose to dismiss Dean's supporters in such a cavalier manner?

[MercutioATC]

8. An idea: Don't play to the Middle East at the expense of Dean...

When Kerry disagreed with Dean's statement about Spain's latest tragedy, I recieved one more affirmation that he's just another Washington insider. Good job Kerry! Stupidly bash the only person with the fundraising ability to save your campaign....

[OKNancy]

19. No one talks Mid-east policy at meet-ups

have you even been to one? It's all practical stuff.

[MercutioATC]

43. .

[sadiesworld]

9. I think as the election approaches, and we get a few more months of *...

the energy will be there.

[eileen from OH]

10. Leadership from Headquarters

It's not enough to "get together" at Meetups. Kerry's HQ needs to be actually involved in helping to set the agenda, providing materials, setting tasks, etc.

eileen from OH

[adadem]

12. It's not in place yet.

In Michigan all the MeetUp hosts and other grassroots volunteers are having a meeting to pull everything together. Volunteers are coming from all over the state so that when the campaign comes back we are all ready to hit the ground.

[MercutioATC]

14. If Kerry disagrees with Dean's position on terrorism in Egypt,.......

It's NOT enough that his supporters "get together". I'm requiring blood oaths before I lift a finger for that weak-ass Washington insider.

....yes, I'm a little upset about this (yes, I'm a little upset...)

[Adelante]

17. Yes, yes

>providing materials, setting tasks, etc.

Campaign materials would be a big help. I'm donating money, but I can't donate money and pay for printing as well.

[Adelante]

15. For Clark supporters

Recognize we are Clark-centric and embrace it, welcome it, love it. Let us come to Kerry as Wes Clark Democrats and you will have no problem drumming up support. As long as Wes is respected and his talents utilized, Clark supporters are willing and able to work hard to elect John Kerry president, just as hard as Wes himself is working. I think this has been shown already. I will say I have not experienced difficulty online with Kerry supporters in this regard. However, on a local offline, regular Dem level, there might be some suspicion and resentment. Advise your field organizers to be openminded and accepting of other candidates' supporters. I never hesitated in supporting Kerry once Wes dropped out, and it was made easier by their swiftly made alliance; others found it, and some still do, more difficult. But when push comes to shove, if any Clark supporters don't end up supporting Kerry, you could probably count them on one hand.

[Dr Fate]

16. This posts seems to speak for us Clark Supporters...

thanxs...

[Jai4WKC08]

22. Speaks for me too

We haven't had any problems here in KS that I'm aware of--the Kerry coordinators have been very welcoming. But I've heard stories of other areas where the Kerry meet-up people have been resentful that we Clark supporters are not willing to shed our identity as Wes Clark Democrats. Believe me that we don't support Kerry any less because we still believe in Wes Clark. And I would submit that the people who would abandon Clark are not the ones you want most.

I wouldn't doubt that there have been Clark people who have been pushy, or thought they could do a better job running the meetings and were impolitic enough to show it, or just weren't as helpful and friendly as they could be. But I've also heard from some Clark supporters that they feel Kerry wants their money and votes, and that's about it. I'm sure it goes both ways.

But I do think if you're open to us and our ideas, your "Wes Wing" will prove to be one of your greatest assets.

[Adelante]

20. Okay, I guess I'll say it - I hate doing this

Many and probably most of us are already or will be giving money to the Kerry campaign. I've been down for a couple of months for an automatic monthly donation out of my measly pension at some sacrifice and I've given in between, as well. But I have a moral obligation to pay down Wes Clark's campaign debt, so I work hard at doing that, too. We've run into the problem that so many Clarkies are already maxed out on Clark, they can't donate to the debt.

As you can see on our site:

http://www.wesclarkdemocrats.com/

Clarkies have raised $11,806.26 for Kerry in the past two weeks. This is not a valid total, because it only represents the small number of donors who are active at this particular site. I know the number is far, far higher, since most people donate directly to the Kerry site.

A few Kerry supporters here on DU have been very generous and kind in helping us. But I can tell you, if you want to drum up enthusiasm for Kerry's campaign, a few bucks from Kerry supporters to the Wes Debt would go a very long way.

If you could print out copies of the wesclarkdemocrats front page and pass it around to your field organizers, remind them that Clark can't raise money for himself when he's running around raising money for Kerry and the Democratic Party, and urge people to give whatever assistance they can give, WE WILL LOVE YOU AND JOHN KERRY FOREVER.

:grouphug:

[Jai4WKC08]

21. I'm glad you brought it up

I wouldn't expect Kerry folks from diverting funds from Kerry's campaign. But for those who are maxed out, or nearly so, a very little help would go a long way to improve Clark Democrat morale. And in the long run, I truly believe the money would return to Kerry many times over.

[BootinUp]

23. It will probably pick up around

Convention time. I think folks need a little break still. JMHO.

[RogueTrooper]

24. Some Thoughts

( and I speak as a former long time Dean meetup host )

Meetup is vastly overrated at a political organising vehicle. Whilst the Dean campaign found useful political capital in broadcasting the numbers attending their meetups, it did not go much farther than that. Meetup was excellent as a means to recruit people into the political process. The semi-informal setting was less threatening to political newbies. However, the only thing people seemed to do was write letters. Which, in retrospect, was not quite the killer app people thought it would be.

If you think of it as a recruitment tool, then you will be onto a winner. You need to find out what people are interested in doing, what is their level of political knowledge and how much time they are prepared to commit to campaign activities. The important stuff will take place in other meetings and during other activities.

Getting the Meetup people to this stage is the important part.

[AntiCoup2K4]

26. If you don't know how the Dean & Clark camps GOT the energy to begin with.

....then that probably explains exactly why the Kerry meetups don't have any.

Kerry doesn't inspire many people. Why is that? Because he doesn't represent anything other than a stack of waffles growing higher every day. Don't like his positions? Check back in a half hour or so, and you probably will.

Dean & Clark represented REAL change and weren't afraid to call this criminal fraudministration out on their illegal and immoral bullshit.

That's where the energy came from. The hope that we could reverse the fucking collossal damage done to this country by that fucking imbecile and the criminals who surround him. There is none of that with Kerry. Maybe the occasional "accidental" one-liner, but not an ounce of conviction behind it. He can't have any, because he voted to enable their shit.

End result - millions of people wanting Bush out of office and very few of them actually believing this is the guy who can do it. How do you energize that? Kerry would have to have the equivalent of a "born again" religious conversion. And I don't see it happening.

[Dr Fate]

31. You must have missed Kerry's flat-out-AWESOME speech today...

...the most inspiring thing I've seen in some time, no doubt.

Kerry just gets better and better...

[AntiCoup2K4]

35. No access to TV during working hours

What was his "awesome" speech about? Hopefully it was better than his "that's not our position" statement which left Howard Dean hanging on a hook in the pool of mediawhore sharks.

[Adelante]

36. I agree, Dr Fate

The speech today was terrific.

[curse10]

27. Honestly, meetups were never the focus of the Kerry campaign

I don't think they ever intended to be what Dean and Clark's were. We would get together, and think, yeah, this is great, but our time could be spent fundraising or out walking the neighborhoods of New Hampshire. That's how we won places like Iowa and New Hampshire. We weren't sitting there writing letters (not that that wasn't helpful for some candidates) we were meeting people face to face.

I stopped going months ago. Instead, I worked and donated money. I thought that was a better use of time. Although this meet-up/internet thing is pretty ingenious, it turned out that good old-fashioned campaigning worked out pretty well.

And, as for constantly being accused of not being nice to Dean and Clark supporters I know for a fact that the Kerry campaign has been welcoming them in for months. Clark supporters have been first rate volunteers and have really added a lot to the campaign scene where I'm at (Boston). Dean supporters haven't been coming out in droves. If they are waiting for an invitation they might have to keep waiting. We are too busy trying to win an election to coddle people. We welcome everyone to help out, but, like any volunteer effort, the initiative starts with each individual person.

I've had to leave the volunteer circuit because of involvement with school related activites, but I'm sure any other active Kerry volunteer can attest to the fact that all dems are ALWAYS welcome.

[LuLu550]

28. ask not what you can do for us, but what we can do for you

I'm a true blue Clarkie. He excited me, Kerry does not. But Kerry is the nominee so he is my guy now. Clark supports him, so I support him. But even if he didn't this election is too important for us to divide our energy. We Dems must unite and support Kerry now.

So, my little Kerry-ons, post your meet up days on Clark sites, tell us you don't have a problem with us wearing our Clark pins, and I'll do whatever you ask to take the White House back for the American people.

[info being]

29. I don't think senior citizens use meetup.com

Maybe you can hold a potluck at a Church if you wanna organize a Kerry meetup.

[madfloridian]

30. I know the Dean energy came from hearing the clear truth.

How do you get that back? You speak up for what you believe in.

[dorktv]

32. One of the things I liked most about Dean was his record.

Kerry can not match that.

[jansu]

37. But we have no choice! It's Kerry or Bush...... and I've seen what

kind of devil Bush is. I don't think the world or America can take another four years of this gang. Get them out, put them on trial for all of their crimes and get them behind bars! If Kerry pardons any of them, then he totally loses the next election and after all comes out at the trials, the Republicans will be done! The country will want a complete change from just more of the same and they will need a leader. Thankfully, Dean will still be here!

I was beginning to think it was just some of the Kerry posters here and on other sites which were the problem. Sad to hear, that Kerry is also bad mouthing Dean, still! Must be that he realizes that he did not win this nomination fair and square! If he had, they and he would not need to keep this fight going! A person who knows he has done right, can just let it be....those who have done something wrong, keep worrying it, can't let it go!

Dean and his supporters know what they believe in....we have the power to change this country and the world! I will not rest until we do!

[Jacobin]

34. If he hasn't figured it out by now........

Speaking forthrightly and honestly about issues was what made me send all my spare money to Dean.

I have to bite my hand and threaten it to make it write checks to Kerry, because he isn't very good at that.

[Donna Zen]

38. Where is the energy?

I've been thinking about the differences between being liberal, and being a progressive. Kerry is a liberal--he considers issues from a broad and less ideological view point, and he is less tied to the status quo. Good. Progressive movements form around specific causes: anti-war, pro-choice, better health-care etc. The advocates of progressive causes often include both liberals and conservatives and their energy is derived from the common zeal the share in working towards their goal. The best example of this today would be the fight against corporate media, but in the past it included child-labor laws, and suffrage.

The Dean-Clark people are progressives and on this board at least they are also liberal. While the anti-war movement may have been the greatest motivating factor, the two groups, while they fought bitterly, where actually driven by many of the same progressive causes. Progressives to the best of my knowledge always reside in grassroots movements.

Kerry's campaign is a traditional liberal campaign. While the Dean-Clark people are willing to put aside their movements for now, their causes are being ignored or paid pale lip service. Just when I when I find the energy to make phone calls and begin to organize locally for Kerry and the Dems, I have to read/listen to trash talk about Kerry including an anti-choice rabid supporter of the war on the ticket. I confess the wind goes out.

If the Kerry campaign leaves us with the sole rationale for working our butts off as a mandate to dump bush, we will probably still do it. But as for the energy, well, that may be hard to fake. I am always shocked and awed when people on this board and else where think that including McCain, or anyone else who is so far to the right as vp.

We will do all we can, but if Kerry wants energy he must be willing to reach out to the grassroots, and appreciate their view points.

The Democrats failed to listen for three years, and then they were shocked when the Dean campaign happened. They were dismayed by Nader. Well, their neglect of the base of the Democratic party produced those movements. I personally feel the Democratic Party is slipping into the same old pattern.

Give us a reason, and we will prove to be very creative in our campaigning. Acknowledge our credibility and we will rise to the occasion. Keep treating us like a cash cow and we will go along to get along.

[JNelson6563]

39. Try the local parties

I hold a chair on my local Dem board and we haven't heard word one from the DNC or the Kerry campaign. I'm in Michigan.

Julie

[usregimechange]

40. By signing up today! Right here:

http://kerry2004.meetup.com/

:kick:

[Bread and Circus]

41. Get Clark on the Ticket! Just kiddin' :P

[carpetbagger]

42. How to tap the keg...find us and recruit us.

1. Find out who the coordinators are/were for the Dean and Clark campaigns in your area. Then get as many names and phone numbers of supporters as you can. Call each of them up, and ask them what they'd be willing to do to help the party. I think many are just waiting for personal contact.

2. Similarly, if there are any meetups still around, or local listserv activity, hang around the scene.

3. As with any merger of anything (business, school, military unit, political unit, Survivor tribes), make the "vanquished" feel empowered. Give them their own fifedoms in geographic and functional terms. Put a bunch of Deniacs-for-Kerry in charge of organizing students at the local college. Put your local Wes Clark Dems in charge of similar functions. If you've got a local group, give them a series of precincts to work. Find out what each individual does for a living and a hobby, find out what they're passionate about, and have them go to their local whatever to press the flesh and organize further. Yes, we are arrogant, we do think we showed Kerry how to run a campaign, and we'd like to prove it.

4. If all else fails, hold an ABB rally. Like moths to a buglight, we'll be there.