How do we frag the DLC?

[Sterling]

All through history it has been the rich elite that by and large have made up the officer corp of most armed forces. This was true in Vietnam many as well. Sometimes these rich daddy's boys make inept commanders and get good men killed for no good reason. In some cases soldiers have resorted to "helping" their commander get himself killed to save the lives of their unit.

I believe that is a metaphor for what is going on with the DLC and our party. They have a disproportionate amount of power for a minority of the party and seem to control the most money.

Is there a non DLC Dem that has a chance to be on the ticket in 08?
How do we frag these hoe's at the DLC and get back our party? What has to be done to either get them out of the party or neutralize them?

I just can't be in the same party with the DLC anymore. It's not what I signed on for in the first place.

[K-W]

1. Simple, defeat them in primaries.

As long as they have a large share of elected democrats, they will have alot of power in the party.

[bemildred]

3. Yes, right on, let's start with Pelosi. nt

[Sterling]

14. I think that may not work anymore.

I think the DLC is in the RNC's back pocket. Given that they have Diebold and all the dirty corpo dollors to squeeze real himans out of the picture.

[Wonk]

17. Have you seen this news yet Sterling?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1058822&mesg_id=1058822

(snip)

A scathing e-mail from the head of MoveOn's political action committee to the group's supporters on Thursday targets outgoing Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) chairman Terry McAuliffe as a tool of corporate donors who alienated both traditional and progressive Democrats.

"For years, the party has been led by elite Washington insiders who are closer to corporate lobbyists than they are to the Democratic base," said the e-mail from MoveOn PAC's Eli Pariser. "But we can't afford four more years of leadership by a consulting class of professional election losers."

more...

edit: I guess you did see it. We posted the same article to this thread a minute apart.

[Sterling]

18. Yes I just posted it too, lol.

I hope they mean it. I got the impression during this last election that they were star struck by the DLC and "moderates" of the party.

Kerry to me was a very DLC candidate and Move On was into him early on from what I remember.

[bemildred]

2. Bottom up, grass roots, state by state if necessary. nt

[K-W]

7. If we fill local and state democratic organizations

with democrats like us, they will become the foundation of the democratic party of the future.

[bemildred]

10. Yes.

If we show up and refuse to let them shove their hand-picked
suit-droids down our throats, we can get candidates who will
run to win, and run on a progressive platform.

[Walt Starr]

4. The direction of the Party is decided in February

This is why the DLC is on a Stop Dean binge (again) because Dean represents giving power back to the people instead of consolidating power in the hands of the few.

[Sterling]

13. Tell me more. What happens then?

Can we help?

[Sterling]

19. Kick cuz I want to know more about Feb.

nt

[Timbuk3]

5. Write

Write to your representatives and let them know you won't support the DLC any more. Support Dean for DNC head (or don't, and let him run for President again. That's a tough call.)

Don't forget getting rid of Lieberbush. After being the VP nominee he's carrying far too much weight when he speaks as Bush lite. Find someone to run against him next primary who can beat the pants off him.

And read this: http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/20702

[Sterling]

12. Yes i think we have to draw the line with the DLCers.

I wont be giving any money to a DLC candidate at any point ever again. I think we need to make a grass roots black list of these people and let them know they are on it and make it hurt.

[Sandpiper]

6. Beat them with your wallet and at the ballot box

In your local and state primaries, support progressive candidates with your dollars and votes.

[Solly Mack]

8. "the will of the minority cloaked in the mask of the majority" *

it's been America's problem since the beginning...


*I love Frank Herbert

[Beacho]

9. One precinct at a time (EOM)

[SheilaT]

11. Grass Roots.

Become a precinct committee chair person. Chances are the position is available for the asking. If not, be very nice to the precinct chair and help them out.

If local Democrats don't meet regularly (here in Johnson County, Kansas we have a Second Saturday breakfast every single month) try to start a one. Find out who is going to be representing Democrats from your county, Congressional district, or state at the next level or organization. You might want to call a State Senator or Representative if you don't already have contact with any local Dem Party people.

Run for office. County Commissioner, City Council, School Board. Or campaign for someone running for those seats. If your Congressperson is a Republican, start looking around NOW for someone who can mount a realistic challenge in 2006. Same with your Senators. It's going to take time. Years, maybe even a couple of decades. But this is how the right wing took over the Republican party, and it's how Progressives and Liberals can take back the Democratic Party.

[Sterling]

15. This is how bad it is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2808602

The Strib calls Norm Coleman's actions "an embarrassment." It says Coleman's call for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's resignation over the "oil-for-food" scandal is sordid. There is not one bit of evidence of wrongdoing, say the Strib editors.

So why is the Democratic Leadership Council calling for much the same thing? On Dec. 6, 2004, the council called for Annan to step aside in the investigation because he lacks credibility on this issue. Are they, too, getting their marching orders from Karl Rove? Their article is very supportive of Coleman's efforts.

It is the Strib's actions that are an embarrassment. You can't see past your own political veil.

Brian J. Bergs, Minneapolis.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/563/5127266.html

[Sterling]

16. This is encouraging:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2808839


http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-466...

-edit-

right fucking on! fellow progressives unite! Dean for DNC chair!

WASHINGTON (AP) - Liberal powerhouse MoveOn has a message for the ``professional election losers'' who run the Democratic Party: ``We bought it, we own it, we're going to take it back.''

A scathing e-mail from the head of MoveOn's political action committee to the group's supporters on Thursday targets outgoing Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe as a tool of corporate donors who alienated both traditional and progressive Democrats.

``For years, the party has been led by elite Washington insiders who are closer to corporate lobbyists than they are to the Democratic base,'' said the e-mail from MoveOn PAC's Eli Pariser. ``But we can't afford four more years of leadership by a consulting class of professional election losers.''

Under McAuliffe's leadership, the message said, the party coddled the same corporate donors that fund Republicans to bring in money at the expense of vision and integrity.

``In the last year, grass-roots contributors like us gave more than $300 million to the Kerry campaign and the DNC, and proved that the party doesn't need corporate cash to be competitive,'' the message continued. ``Now it's our party: we bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back.
end

I think Move On dropped the ball this time around (2004) but they seem to be feeling the heat from their supporters and it looks like they are at least playing like they are trying to get ahead of the problem and not get run over by it.