A call to Clark supporters.

[yebrent]

I think the only way to quiet down all this anti-Clark talk is for us to get more organized and create a strong presence in assisting Democrats in key 2006 races NOW! We need to be there in our local communities and work to get Democrats elected in local offices. The more we can do to support the Democratic candidates in 2006, the more it will help Clark in 2008.

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. I've been doing that already for over a year

I was a founding member of our local Township Democratic Party Club and am active in it. WE are focused on local issues and candidates though being in New York State, I am sure our focus will broaden once we get past the 2005 local elections. Currently our County has a 16 to 15 Republican majority in the County legislature, and we aim to become the majority in November. Before Clark ran for President, I was doing none of this.

For 2006 we will be fighting to elect Elliot Spitzer Governor, Hillary Clinton for Senator, and to reelect Maurice Hinchey as our Congressman. The Right will be gunning for Hinchey this time, because it is not a safe district and he dared to take on Rove directly over dirty politics surrounding the leaked Bush National Guard memos.

We all should be involved locally, absolutely. And I applaud what Democracy For America is doing and Deans efforts as DNC Chair also. Clark criss crossed the nation in 2004 on behalf of local and State candidates as well as Kerry. WE all need to be involved at every level.

[Clarkie1]

8. I am involved already in supporting candidates for 06'.

And, more presently, defeating Arnie's "reform" agenda here in California.

[sharonking21]

2. I agree, but so far

there have not been many announcements about who is or is not running in 2006 in my area, Travis County Texas. Texas is so Republican dominated right now that on state slates there is not sufficient interest among Democratic candidates in running. We support our Travis County incumbent Democrats like Lloyd Doggett, for sure, and our Democratic incumbent state legislators, but the other races have not announced yet. I know one person saying he is going to run for county judge, but he hasn't announced it yet.

[Adelante]

3. So right

This is what Wes himself is doing. :thumbsup:

Many, many Clarkies are, too.

[tishaLA]

4. That's what many of us have been doing

Why would you assume we haven't?

[yebrent]

11. I didn't mean to suggest that people aren't working on this.

I am suggesting a more organized effort among Clark supporters, maybe under a Clark banner. Most likely any Clark supporter at DU is involved in other campaigns, and I didn't mean to suggest otherwise (sorry). However, I have met some Clark supporters who would move mountains for Clark, but have little interest in working as hard for other Democratic candidates. They need to be inspired to work, and Clark inspires them, where many others don't. We should be able to find a way to harness the inspiration Clark creates for use in the 2006 elections.

While I was at lunch an idea came to mind. CLARK'S CALVARY. If a key race becomes tight, call in "Clark's Calvary" for extra foot soldiers.

Working together would create more visibility for Clark, and help bring in more Clark supporters to the critical 2006 race. We could still be more directly involved in 2006 races, but creating a very large and effective reserve force among Clark supporters could be an unprecedented display of the inspiration and hope Clark instills in us all.

[x_y_no]

5. Agreed

I will be doing that on the local and state level.

[Sparkly]

6. That goes without saying

although some people want to say otherwise, as if we can't do both.

I'm looking forward to helping Martin O'Malley become Maryland's next governor!!

[Totally Committed]

7. What makes you think we are not already doing that?

As I just said on another thread, I am helping individual candidates and their PACs and have been since the Primaries ended.

The only way to quiet down this anti-Clark talk? Why is it there in the first place? He is doing nothing but speaking truth to wisdom on behalf of this Party.

Again, I ask, why can't we ALL support our individual camndidates in a positive and informative way without a bunch of others coming in and pissing in our cornflakes? You all support and educate about your individual choice, as we will Clark, and keep it positive. It's the only way to have a united Party the next time out.

And keep working on your State and Local levels to make sure that strong Progressives are elected to offices from the bottom up!

But, as long as Wes is attacked, I will not stand down from defending him -- however I feel I need to.

TC

[yebrent]

13. How about a more organized effort under a Clark banner...

to bring out the Clark supporters who are not doing this? Clark inspires people to help him, and that inspiration doesn't always transfer to other candidates. A more organized effort under a group title like, "Clark's Calvary" could accomplish two things:

1. Bring people inspired by Clark to do more to help Democrats in the 2006 races.
2. Raise the awareness of the powerful organization and effectiveness of Clark and his supporters.

[kevsand]

20. I think you mean "cavalry"

"Calvary" is the Latin for the Hebrew "Golgotha," meaning "skull," or in this case, "Place of the Skull," ie., the hill of the Crucifixion.

[sharonking21]

9. What I am doing on a local level

I am a Democratic precinct chair in Travis County. Wes Clark is "responsible" for that. I am trying to build up my voter database in this "off" time.

I used what I had (about 2000 names out of 4000 already entered) to good effect for Kerry and every other Democratic candidate in 2004--calling Democrats to get out the vote, organizing blockwalks.

In 2004, started a NW Austin for Kerry grassroots club which did a lot of blockwalking for various Dem candidates. We still meet and communicate. It includes a lot of Dean supporters, some Clarkies and some Kerry people.

I was on the Statewide Kerry media rapid response team (an offshoot of the TX Clarkwriters after Clark dropped out)--we still maintain both of the email lists.

One of my local Clark groups from 2004 has kinda morphed into a book discussion club because other than the council races for Austin, there is not a lot going on here yet. But we want to keep in touch with one another so we can be active later.

Went to a Kerry town hall meeting yesterday--see link above.

I just do not see what prohibits us from working on multiple levels. Interest in the national candidates is what keeps many normally less active Democrats energized to work on local races. And here, the local races are not geared up yet.

[dogman]

10. That's how I ended up on my Dem County executive committee.

I've personally donated to individual Dem races for the first time in my life. Clark continues to be an inspiration and gives me the hope to carry on. Guess what? I can be an active Democrat and a Clark supporter too. I seriously doubt that this will quiet down the anti-Clark talk. It has become an obsession for some.

[RAF]

12. quite frankly all this negative Clark talk

a complete turn off. I'm a life long Democrat and find it pretty despicable how a some from this site try their damnedest to destroy a fellow Democrat.

Kinda makes you want to shower after reading all of it! BLLAACCCHHH

[faithfulcitizen]

23. makes me think the average age is ~19....

though i'd like to think that at 19 I had more sense than some of these folks.

[Totally Committed]

28. Thank you RAF!

Your post is like a ray of hope to me. I appreciate the sentiment very much.

TC

[snowbear]

14. Good advice yebrent

~~~~ :grouphug:

[Mark E. Smith]

15. I Wouldn't Worry About It Too Much

I've never seen the level of support that Clark is getting here. If he can rally 50% of the cantankerous souls in this place, the sky's the limit. The 2008 Democratic presidential nomination could very well be over before it even starts, and whatever bitterness we're seeing here could stem from a recognition of that strong possibility.

[yebrent]

16. Thanks. I'm not really worried.

I'm excited. Today has been a good day.

[PresidentObama]

17. Good job Clarkies....

....I think it's wonderful that you guys are looking at 2006, before you move ahead to 2008. As a Kerry supporter, I know it's hard having your candidate trampled on by other Democrats. Your work in 2006 will pay off, and good luck guys :) From a Kerry supporter to Clark supporters

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Very graciously said. Thanks, and I know you've been through it n/t

[Adelante]

19. Thanks very much

Real classy ;)

[sharonking21]

21. Thank you

You renew my faith! Also, I forgot to give the link to the Austin Kerry Town Hall Meeting comment. Here 'tis.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1728935&mesg_id=1729256

I am currently trying to compose a letter to the editor for the (Rep.) Austin paper on their giving short shrift to Kerry, one that will hopefully, 1.) get published and 2.) yet still show how biased their article today was. Several others are doing the same.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. Thank you!

Your graciousness is very much appreciated.

[jfenway]

24. What we need to do..

is to get rid of the notion that supporting Clark somehow conflicts with supporting Democrats.

We all know that's far from the truth.

Don't let them get away with it.

J.

[FrenchieCat]

25. The notion is not really there to get "rid" of....

apart from those who would want others to think that.

In the end....time will tell all.

[jfenway]

26. I agree..

What I mean to say is that don't let these people get away with implying that there is a "notion" at all.

J.

[Crunchy Frog]

27. That notion is something

that is only being promoted by a small number of vocal people who have issues with Clark. Mostly people who are still trapped in the '04 primaries, can't leave their bitterness behind, and for some reason like to scapegoat Clark and his supporters. It's a nice little dig to make at people, and it's nicer for the fact that it can't be easily refuted. Who knows what anybody really does in the outside world?

I certainly don't feel that I have anything to apologize for, or that I have to account for my activities to people on this board.