What about a Liberal/Progressive Political Action Conference?

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

I watched the entirety of State of the Black Union conference hosted by Tavis Smiley today. It was really good, with a whole host of the brightest and most influential minds in black America today. All the mainstays were there (Tavis of course, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, John Conyers, Farrakhan, etc). They discussed a contract or covenant for black America, dealing with matters of faith, economic growth, social justice, and general issues. There were plenty of on-fire moments, and if you missed it, you have to see it. My question is, what about a Liberal/Progressive Political Action Conference? Considering the lineup, the conference today could have been a sort of progressive political action conference, but it focused mainly on black America, and there were many ideological strains represented.

My point is, the right-wingers have their CPAC conference every year, where right-wingers come together, talk about their agenda, and invents new things to blame on liberals. Why can't we, liberals, Democrats, progressives, moderates, of all races come together, and have our own conference? Is this the craziest idea ever, or am I on to something?

[yellozebra]

1. You are onto SOMETHING

Question is, why hasn't the leadership thought of it yet? It seems like the most logical thing to do.

I've always wondered, although I am ignorant here, if there was an overthrusting set of principles that the Democratic Party holds (for example) that candidates running under its banner could not, under any circumstances, stand against. It sounds "undemocratic," but I mean, there is the argument of not being so tolerant that we tolerate the intolerant (I think, Popper? said that).

[Skidmore]

2. For more than a year, I have made similar posts to this board and have

e-mailed and called representatives. My calls to the DNC were never answered or shunted off to someone's voice mail. I have been saying this for a while. We need to have a summit and it should include all stakeholders in this nation. We should also have a series of town forums, not just in major population centers either. The "leadership" needs to make a point of coming out to the hinterlands and not just talking at people but listening to people. That may mean shutting up for a while. You can't listen when your mouth is running.

[lostnfound]

3. Calls to the progressive caucus might be a better place to start, once

you get some major progressive organizations to sign on.