Seeking Practical Organizing Tips for Monday - Strategy / Tactics

[clitzpah queen]

Years ago Abbie Hoffman wrote a great article called: "How To Fight City Hall" -- it ran in the magazine section of the Daily News. It would be nice to get it re-released again (and amended, to allow for certain technological advances since then, ie, the net)

Maybe it could be useful to have a thread in which people who are doing things for the first time and have questions could ask for advice/feedback on strategy and tactics.

For example, I'll start one:

Given that most of our Senators will be in Washington on Monday, is there any advantage to showing up at their LOCAL offices with other people, signs and possible plans of calling an emergency meeting with his/her staff --or even planning on sitting in -- Should there be an attempt to get media attention for this? Best suggestion to getting that?

[clitzpah queen]

1. Anyone else have any questions?

[Dr.Phool]

2. All of the above sound good

It is your constitutional right to petition your Senator! If you opt for a sit-in, careful how you act, because inevitably the police will be called.

And whatever you do, invite the media. It's not a story if they're not there. And it helps create the illusion (I know, bad term) that there's a lot of support for our side. And the reporters like to have a heads up for this kind of thing.

And I'm an old Yippie! from way back.

[Wordie]

3. I think your idea for a thread for newbies, to tell them the best things

to do to assist in the effort, is a great idea.

But I'm nervous about the demonstration angle, because the most critical people to convince right now are moderate Senators who are afraid of being labeled "extremist." So a lot of protests, playing on Monday's evening news (and you just know that's what would get on there, rather than the reasons for the protests), would maybe backfire. Just my take on it, others may have some things to add.

[clitzpah queen]

4. I think you make a good point, Wordie, but here in NYC (last I heard)

there was still no commitment for supporting the filibuster from Chuck Schumer. So the real threat of a sit-in at his office, getting some media attention, might send a message to him that he needs to ACTIVELY represent his base -- in DEEDS not just words.

Dilemma-- how do you put a fire under the tushes of "Liberal" democrats to STAND and DELIVER -- and simultaneously Not appear Too activist so as to Scare off "Moderate" Dems?

Also: With a Corporatist Pro-Bush MSM -- Is Attempting to get media coverage for any local Senatorial confab/confrontation going to automatically result in getting Hijacked to Screw our Cause?