We have two choices

[JM]

We can wallow in despair and line up at the Canadian immigration desk, or we can fight.

The key to fighting, however, is how we fight.

In the 1960's, the Republicans got smart. They realized the key to winning and holding power at the national level was not to just pour money and effort into the Presidential race, but to build a steady stream of (in their mind) viable candidates to extend for decades.

The way they did this was simple. They visualized the political system as a pyramid, and in order to build a strong pyramid, one has to have a solid wide base. They organized and trained people at the lowest levels to run for anything they could, whether it be the municipal manager, dog catcher, anything. Eventually as they gained experience in running campaings and holding offices, everyone moved up to mayor, state legislator, governor, and now the WH.

We need to do the same thing. The system is broken, and it needs to be retooled. While it would be nice to have the DNC, DLC, and DFA organizations working together, the key is to bring effective campaign training together with volunteers. This produces candidates. We need to take one office at a time and build a system, not just a race at the top.

In Pennsylvania, the Dem Party used to run campaign boot camps, where people could learn how to properly run campaigns, run voluteer teams, run the finances, and write speeches. They don't do this any more. We need to do it again. Nobnody at the bottom of the system running for low-level office can hire a Carville, Trippi, etc.

It needs to start now.

JM

[mahina]

1. Thank you for by far the most meaningful post of the day.

Wellstone camp? I'll tell you we really needed that here in Hawaii, we almost ...well you know....
I have a great PRACTICAL book on organizing I can reccomend called
"organizing for social change- midwest academy manual for activists " that is considered the bible for organizers. According to my professor who lost his job :( Here's the link - it's well worth the money. http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=17-092976594x-0

Any organizations that do this that we can start fundraising to bring to our communities? Good ones?

[JM]

2. I think I saw one

that was somehow affiliated with Democracy For America. Unfortunately, however, I thinkk they were out of Berkeley California and did not travel.

If I can find the link I will post it.

JM

[JM]

3. DfA Teams up with 21st Century Democrats

21st Century Democrats provides grassroots campaign training

http://www.21stdems.org/

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/trainings/

Later,
JM

[InvisibleTouch]

5. Thanks for the links! Checking them out... n/t

[JM]

8. I just emailed 21st Century Dems

TO see if they can provide training in Pittsburgh. I think we have enough DUers in southwestern PA to make training worthwhile, and I am interested in running for either School Board or County Council in the future.

JM

[bryant69]

4. This is a damn good idea

We might have a lot more power than we think we have if we can harness it to get our message out.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[footinmouth]

6. Such sensible advice

I still need a few weeks of wallowing. I'm feeling helpless and useless right now.

You make sense though. I remember watching Ralph Reed many years ago. It was back when he was young and personable. He was on some talk show I was watching and I remember thinking of him as very dangerous. He spoke of taking over using "stealth" tactics. Well, he's certainly achieved his goal. They started with school board candidates and low level leadership positions. Had I believed in any of his causes, he sure could have suckered me in.

I'm still too numb to think clearly, but I'm taking your advice to heart.

[Hamlette]

7. they did much more than this

they also established the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society to recruit AND get their message out. (Talk about a spoon full of sugar, calling it "death taxes" instead of "estate taxes" completely tips the balance.)

We are the majority. More people agree with our positions on everything. We just lost the war of words.

It's called permanent campaign and the sooner we start, the faster we get rid of these guys.

[Glenda]

9. That's true. ANd even though I am in MA..

I am going to start going to the meetings of our State Rep (D), to see what the issues are. He represents 3 cities, and my city tends to support him the least, and sometimes vote for R candidates.

And that might get me hooked into other things.

We gotta get rid of our R governor.

[geek tragedy]

10. The national Democratic party can learn a lot from North Dakota.

Yeah, I said North Dakota. Ultra-red North Dakota.

Where Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Earl Pomeroy get elected by margins as big as Chuck Schumer and Joe Lieberman.

Why? Because they recognized the need to groom high quality individuals and run on distinctly non-ideological platforms.

[Goathead]

11. Thanks, your model was very insightful

Also one of the republicans strategies is to view your opposition as irrelevant, NOT treat your opposition as irrelevant but "view" them that way.

[JM]

13. Actually, the irrelevance issue...

...is not what you think.

The straegy is to ignore the noise from the outside. Keep hammering YOUR point regardless of what your opposition says. It is the concept of keeping the eyes on the prize.

JM

[Abelman]

12. Awesome Post

Just a terrific set of points.

We need more people like this.

[JM]

14. What we need is

people to voulunteer, train, and run. It is painful, difficult, and in many respects, degrading and non-rewarding, unlike the old days. But it has to be done.

JM