Know what our problem is?

[JNelson6563]

As I have been talking to people around the 4th Cong. Dist. in MI I have learned a great deal. The efforts of 2004 and their results (or lack of) are often mentioned. When I talk about Voter ID work I hear all about the phone banking efforts etc. that were done in '04. In fact, so many things that I am trying to get folks doing are referred to as being doen in '04. There were many hot-beds of Democratic political activity in '04. Most of the county parties in the 4th had store-front offices.

In the spirit of Jan Brady's "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!!" I'd like to declare "'04! '04! '04!!"

I have come to the conclusion that part of our problem is that we are organized and visible for about 4 months every four years. Outside of that, good luck finding your local Dems.

IMO, the biggest shame of this is that with some effort it doesn't have to be this way. It's just always been this way so it remains so. The wretched paradigm. We could just as easily do voter ID work, grow membership, have community forums and so on outside of an election cycle. We don't need to wait for presidential races to be a visible presence in our communities. We do not need to wait for a hero to come along and run for President. We can be our own herores. As we achive visibilty and credibility, more viable candidates will step forward to run for local office. It is clear to them they will have a good support network from their capable local party so they get the boost of confidence needed to become a candidate. And, considering that the very best candidates for higher office usually start local and work their way up, this is an excellent way to cultivate future House Reps and Senators. This is the best way to not find ourselves in a situation of choosing between a neo-con or a DINO. Homegrown candiates, not corporate funded or establishment chosen and rammed down our throats.

There are so many benefits to building and maintaining a successful county party! One of the best may be that while various Districts are re-districted every ten years, counties are forever. You build up county parties into strong political machines and that's how you make yourself gerrymander-proof.

I always read these stories of big players meddling in different races across the county. This big name came in and is favoring this candidate and there is frustration that we, the little people, are powerless to do anything about it. Well if we worked to build our local county parties into powerful networks, that wouldn't be the case, would it?

Julie

[acmejack]

1. We will find out in the Sixth District in Illinois today, Julie

The answer to your question should be provided in no uncertain terms, as the exact situation you have addressed is being played out today. Of course many here praise this as being a very good thing and see it as good politics, so go figure.

[KharmaTrain]

6. This Is Better Than What It Was

Here's wishing Christine Cegalis a big, surprising victory today. I'm also hoping Edwin Eisendrath scares the hell out of Blago. Either way, it's a lot different being a Democrat in this area today than it was 25 years ago when I had to demand having a Democratic voting booth at the local polling place and when there was virtually no party activity in this area. Things have come a long way and the future looks even brighter.

One of my concerns about Paul Hackett was how quickly his campaign folded camp after the loss last year and didn't keep a presence in the district. This is a problem that will take years to rectify, but it appears to be on Dr. Dean's radar as a lot of attention has been placed on local party building this year, but there's a lot of ground still to make up.

Cheers...

[Minnesota Libra]

2. I've always said it was a catch 22 situation........

......as you indicated our Democratic leaders aren't visible except a few months before election times.

On the flip side of that is the fact that if you get 10 Democrats in a room you will likely get 10 different ideas on what should be done and how.

We aren't going to convince anyone of anything unless we can agree first.

What the answers are to all of this is anyone's guess.

Personally, I get the impression sometimes Democrats are afraid of winning because then it's no longer "talking the talk" it quickly becomes "walking the walk".

I still say the #1 answer to everything is get corporate money out of the elections and go to public funded elections and then our leaders will be beholding only to their constituents.

[JNelson6563]

4. No, not the leaders, us

Forget the "leaders". We have to lead. We need to get together locally, set some goals and get busy. I have been involved locally and everyone's common goal always outweigh any disagreements.

We plugged along for a few years making progress but only a little. Then it really started. Two of our own ran for local offices that they were very well qualified for, we supported them with the appratus we'd buiklt in 04 and they won!! Top vote getters in their respective elections even!

Additionally, in 04 we were lucky to have one county commission candidate. Damn lucky. This year we have six and I have to believe that the image of the local party has played a big role in that.

None of this had anything to do with party "leadership". This was all a bunch of Dems in my county who are sick and tired of being nowhere politically.

Julie

[Minnesota Libra]

5. Apparently the original post was ..........

.....not meant to be an invitation for open discussion. By seeming to dismiss people's views out of hand it creates a "preaching to the choir" situation. That sometimes creates limited progress.

[JNelson6563]

7. Sure it was

But I had hoped for discussion on what we could do to affect positive change, not who we could blame for how things are now.

Julie

[Inland]

3. No doubt.

Fact is, until about twenty years ago, there were no national party apparatus at all. A "national" party appeared at the nominating convention.

Clearly, the republicans have mananged to create organizations that work all the time at the grass roots level for the smallest of offices, working on a cadre to work on national themes. Now, the fact is that "meddling" is part of that process, but it's symbiotic. Outside money, think tanks, media, all shape the process.

How do they do it?

Because republicans have allied with churches and families with school age children, creating ready made local constituencies. Where's our unions, our churches, our universities, our local institutions? Hobbled, broke, weak, and frankly, under attack from within the party itself.