So

[Redneck Socialist]

other than bitch about our pathetic excuse for a Democratic Party in this state what do we do in this forum?

[NewHampster]

1. Praise the Red Sox and

Maybe work on ways to change the party in NH

[Liles_for_Congress]

2. Changing NH's Democratic Party

First step is to get rid of Kathy Sullivan, god shes about as annoying as Katherine Harris.

[Shoeempress]

3. So change the NH Democratic party

I donate, and I am active. Do you go to the meet ups, which get canceled because no one goes? Do you host house parties through the Democratic party to get out the vote? I volunteered and within 2 days I got a call to get involved and I am.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Shoeempress!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FightinNewDem]

5. Rot at the Top

I think you are missing the point that the other posters are trying to make.

There is an institutional rot that has set in at the higher levels of the NH Democratic Party establishment. While there are more grass-roots volunters than at any time since the 1992 Clinton and Tsongas campaigns, these new folks are not being fully integrated into the party. Kathy Sullivan and co. are happy to take your checks and your volunteer labor, but not your ideas or initiative.

Think about the public faces of the party. Kathy Sullivan, Lou D'Allesandro and Billy Shaheen. Three tired (and tiresome) old palookas, without a new idea between them. Yet tell me tha least time there was an NHDP function that showcased anyone but folks like them.

Even the "new faces" are tired. Justin Nadeau is a cipher, a sock puppet for the Shaheen inner circle, who seems ready to sell his political soul to the highest bidder at the drop of a hat.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't keep involved in the process. If anything, at some point the presence of new people, be they Deaniacs or Liebermaniacs, New Dems or Old Dems, will reach critical mass and force the old guard to step aside in favor of new blood.

[JeniB]

6. I moved here 7 years ago.

There was an article in the newspaper about a Democratic office being opened. I called the person in charge and went down to talk to her. Because I had the time, I became the person who manned the office every day. I got to know the truly involved people and two months later I became the Chair of my city's Democratic committee. I am now on the executive committee for my county and have gotten to know the Shaheen's and yes, Kathy Sullivan. She is a very nice, welcoming person. All of those people would gladly involve you in whatever the Democrats are doing. We can never find enough people to help out. The problem is most people complain but don't get involved enough to change things. I have the ears of enough people now that I could change things if I wanted. I just know I have to follow that up with time and I don't have it. If you want change look to yourself and get involved. The people really are very nice.

[Shoeempress]

7. Rot at the top

No actually I understand this completely, but apparently you don't. If you become a member of any organization, and provide a valued service, (here for example, fund raising, getting out the vote,and or mobilizing people) people within the organization will actually have listen to you or next time, you won't be there for them. Thus, merely complaining changes nothing.

But even more importantly, at this point in time the most pressing issue is getting democratic majorities in the House, Senate and most importantly, in the White house. Without this, there is really nothing worth fighting about, because we have no power.

So increase your power by getting out the democratic vote, and then the Party will have to listen to your complaints and further there will actually be something to fight about.

[maxanne]

8. rot is right

Kathy Sullivan, Ray Buckley - they're all hacks who need to go away.

My county party has become hugely organized in the last 4 years, and that means the state party is taking notice. Kathy Sullivan has been showing up more often in the north country.

The mantra I hear every day is, "Democrats can't talk about _____ and get elected." I point out that if the right determines our candidates and our agenda - it's not much of a victory we're winning. The state party needs to do a much better job of nurturing and caring for candidates in outer areas - and needs to stop thinking the state ends in Plymouth.