I decided I want to run for Senate

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

in the next ten years or so. I am 33 now, what do I need to do to prepare?

And I was wondering when the last time was Texas had a Democratic senator? I know our two now are neocon repugs.

Do you need a lot of money? I know I should start off in some smaller races, right?

This convention, seeing all the people there and hearing all the speeches, has made me believe I can do it, too. I can make a difference.

How hard would it be to get a flaming liberal Dem senator from TX after about eight years of Kerry and two years of President Edwards? :)

(If it helps you to know, I'm white, female, ACTUALLY a Texan, a teacher, a mother, deeply concerned about environmental and civil rights issues, etc. I love populist themes, I am all about that. Been told I'm a powerful public speaker, very persuasive and personable. Not a phony. Would I have to be a bit phoney-ish to be a senator? Even the good Dems seem a bit "polished".....rambling now, sorry.)

[Fenris]

1. Money, money, money, money

And to get elected here you might consider running as a Republican.;)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. Really? It takes tons of money?

But don't you raise the money? Or does a person already have to have a nice stash just to run?

Is that the way America was supposed to be? I thought anyone who fit the Constitutional requirements could do it.

Or is it just: if you want to WIN, you better have some money?

[Catch22Dem]

2. First thing

Move out of Texas. HAHAHAHA. Ok, I'm just playing. I live in Oklahoma, so I have no room to talk.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. No, you don't

LOL!

[Catch22Dem]

7. I know

It's such a damn drag. Hey, we got a Dem governor last time around, AND we're possibly going to have a Dem Senator. Well, a pseudo-dem anyway.

[Frodo]

3. Step one - Change your name.

"Moonbeam_Starlight" is going to be accepted in TX some time after He11 freezes over.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Hee hee

well you'll be glad to know that isn't actually my name. I actually have a very nice, easy to pronounce name.

[RetroLounge]

8. Don't do drugs, at least don't get caught.

No sex clubs with your spouse...

Get busy now, at the local level.

School Board? Alderperson? Etc.

Get active in other peoples campaigns whom you admire.

Just my .02

RL

[MidwestTransplant]

9. Yeah, don't do drugs unless you want to be the President

from Texas!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Good deal!

I don't do drugs, just the occasional margarita as big as my head, but even religious types around here engage in that, so no biggie.

I've never been to a sex club in my life. I have a spic and span background.

I can't be on the school board right now because I am a teacher, BUT I am very involved in some local campaigns. I just helped get a school board member re-elected and am on the search committee for a person to go up against this fundie lady when she comes up for re-election in 2006. AND I am helping out a woman running for local state representative against a 12 year icky neocon incumbent. I have worked for her campaign, given her money, endorsed her, organized block walks, you name it.

Oh and I worked for a guy running for city council, but he didn't win. And I am active in my local and county Dem organizations and Stonewall Democrats, GLBT equality being one of my main issues.

And I was really active in Dean's campaign, in TX that is. My husband and I were some of the 500 "Texas Rangers" who went to Iowa last September to work for Dean and that was AMAZING. I started my own meetup and it tripled in attendance in ONE month. I've kept in touch with those people and they are almost ALL Kerry supporters now! Whoo!

So is all that good?

[trof]

11. Go back and regain your virginity.

Or, at the very least, never have slept with anyone you weren't married to. AT THE TIME YOU WERE MARRIED TO THEM!
Remember that time in the third grade when you swiped Louise's Hershey Bar? You gotta have the records of that BURNED. And make damned sure there are NO copies around.

Get to be friends with folks who are ROLLING in dough.
Start with the Kenneth Lays. Learn to suck up and fawn. Fawning is an art. Sucking up can be more physical, but fawning calls for real savoire faire. Make sure they are absolutely CERTAIN that if you're elected you can do what's known as "doing them some GOOD", or "helping them out".

That's pretty much it. Easy-peasey.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Hmmm you know

actually I have become much more extroverted since I became involved in politics about 18 months ago. I have learned the fine art of asking questions about the person (without seeming overly nosey) to get to know them and because everyone LOVES to talk about themselves.

I've been watching this lady I am supporting for local state rep and she is so good about it. Confidence, great strong voice, good mannerisms, she knows just how to "work a room", etc.

As for the people rolling in dough, whoops. None of those.

And my past? Well, I've been married since I was 21 (almost 13 years now) and not divorced. The guys before him were so long ago, what difference will that make when I'm in my 40s or 50s? I know you were being tongue in cheek, but you got me thinking.....

There's certainly no deal-breakers in my past....

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. On second thougth trof

maybe I won't play down my teen years, maybe I can appeal to all those Former Whores out there!

Hee hee.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. 1) money 2) city council, then state house of reps, then state senate

and of course,

MORE MONEY!!

Unless, we get some major election reform going under Kerry, then maybe you'll need less of that.

--------------------------------------------------------
An open letter to John Kerry, John Edwards, and the DNC:
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/OpenLetter.htm

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. Urg

the City Council kinda makes me lose my lunch, though I know what you mean. I have been to their meetings and they are dry as day-old toast. Zoning, committees, blahblahblah.

And there's a big time good old boy network on our City Council. Not ONE woman on the council in a city of 125,000 people.

Hmmm, maybe it's about time.....

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Definitely about time! Grassroots is where it's at. :^D