Should we have "handlers"?

[skids]

We've got a lot of "someone should send this to this guy" posts going up here, and I was wondering, do we have enough people who regularly read enough of DU every day that we should get a point person or ten here who are each responsible for ensuring everything that needs to go out, goes out to a particular group of people.

Especially in the case of a congressperson (of the friendly, no need to be convinced variety), it would really help if we could have a constituent to be the DU point man for that person.

The questions for the Judiciary Committee thread worked out well, but we can't realistically have a thread for everyone who needs to be kept up to date.

And lots of people need to be kept up to date. As a national movement we aren't as coordinated as we need to be, nevermind as we can be. The hearing and commoncause's presentation the day before will help things, but only somewhat.

So should some DUers step up to take the pledge to keep a mall group of "heavy hitters" on our side in the know?

[shesemsmom]

1. That sounds like a good idea. How would we go about it?n/t

[skids]

3. Keep a list, I guess.

I *knew* Madsen had handlers but I quickly forget their screen names. Which sucked because I pulled some mysterious "fires" in Texas off Michael Moore's website and couldn't figure out who to pm.

Maybe if people who have adopted any organizations or individuals could reply here we could build an initial list and then make it into a regularly updated post.

(Also if someone wants to create a master "help wanted" list of all the people we should be hand-holding that would be good, with a concentration on active players -- we all know the MSM contact list and blaster are out there so that doesn't need to be included. However, we could list "Independent bloggers" as a category and have one person who handles all the small blogs.)

I've essentially adopted Richard Hayes Phillips and (and his org via their volunteer coordinator) because I'm working on supplying him some Ohio data processing anyway. (BTW, he needs someone with a reliable inbound FAX modem who can receive faxes for him and send them via email in a relatively reliable timeframe. His FAX is crummy and breaking down, plus having it digital is better. I'm cordless, so I'm no help to him at that.)

All this will keep us from saturation bombing our own troops, hopefully, while making sure they get the needed intel.

(P.S. richard liked the scattergrams of 3rd party votes versus number of mixed precincts, whoever it was that posted that.)

[jamboi]

2. Thats a good idea. Vote4Kerry and I have essentially been serving that

role w/ Madsen. It seems to work and I think it makes it easier for us to communicate w/ these folks. Instead of a zillion people writing them and they never knowing who to trust we can develop relations w/ different people.

[labouchet]

7. If you really want to serve that role...

...Then you should learn what "handling" really means.

Madsen's "controversial" emails posted here (trashing Fintan Dunne) do nothing to advance the electoral fraud issue, and only diminished his character and credibility. And a true fan of Madsen would never have posted that in a public forum. Not if he or she was thinking rationally...

What was the point of that? To trash Fintan Dunne? Dunne posts here and has managed to maintain a professional demeanor, in spite of the personal slurs hurled against him. Madsen's replies make him look worse for wear.

Madsen's emails to you and others posted here never expands his investigation, and only hurts the credibility of the electoral fraud issue. Not posting here directly (instead of using intermediaries like you and some others), makes him look cowardly and lacking in emotional intelligence and discretion.

Just how does this "work", to your mind? Maybe it'll create enough c"ontroversy" to sell a few more books he's shilling, but beyond that...???

I can't advocate someone who acts this way in the real world, and I'm sure many others feel the same. If you are truly a Madsen cheerleader/confidante, perhaps you can get through to him on this?

This is why the Republicans win. They don't air their dirty laundry.

[skids]

8. And, see, you get feedback too :-) n/t

[skids]

4. kick

[FreeCajun]

5. MEDIA WAR ROOM!

Let's start one on here!

[skids]

6. OK, HANDLERS is now a task in the HOUNDERS category

Please everyone who has an existing relationship with another activist group or individual sign up there so we know who to go to.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=201&topic_id=4549&mesg_id=7040&page=

If all you want to do is general media outreach, see the main HOUNDERS task list.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=201&topic_id=4549&mesg_id=4549