If You Think the Democratic Party Is Not Doing Its Job,

[MineralMan]

get involved with your local party organization. Become the Democratic Party and you will have the power to change how the Party acts. Work to get solid progressive candidates on the ballot. Take part in GOTV efforts. Help with voter registration drives. Join committees in your local, county, and state party organization and make your input heard.

It's easy. Just google Democratic Party and add your locality information. Google will guide you to your local party organizations. Call someone and ask how you can become part of its functions. Don't expect to chair a committee immediately, but start working to build your credibility and you'll soon have more responsibilities than you can handle.

If your state is a caucus state, participate. If it is a primary state, participate. If it is a Republican-controlled state, participate even harder. You'll have an impact far beyond what you can do posting on the Internet about your frustration with the Democratic Party. Get involved and become the party. That's how it works.

Get started today. The 2014 elections will happen sooner than you think, and candidates are being vetted right now. Get involved and you can be part of everything. Don't get involved and you'll just be a spectator.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

On Edit: If you can, please kick this thread. I'm going to be out most of the day. Thanks!

[Safetykitten]

1. We are out of centrist corporate Democrats. But they are like Dorritos...

don't worry, they will make more.

[MineralMan]

2. It's up to you, really.

Or not. It's your choice.

[Safetykitten]

8. To make more Dorritos? I'll pass.

[MineralMan]

14. OK. Your choice, then.

Good luck with that.

[Safetykitten]

15. Get back to me on the new flavor of Dorritos that get bought, then realized it's Dorritos.

[MineralMan]

18. I don't think I'll bother getting back to you.

I have a list of people who care enough to get out and make the changes. I'll talk to them instead. See ya.

[mimi85]

74. Excellent!

[Hekate]

135. Indeed. Talk to those who care and will DO

[lumpy]

104. Buzz words "centrist corporate Democrats" means nothing.

Buzz buzz buzz

[JaneyVee]

3. The reason we don't have "leaders" is because everyone is looking for leaders.

[MineralMan]

4. You are absolutely correct.

By becoming a leader, locally, you get to help pick the party's leaders on a larger scale.

[lumpy]

103. Truly. I like that.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. "Get involved and become the party."

We've been doing that...have done that, and what has been the outcome?

Become the Democratic Party? How does one do that when the machine will tell us what the Democrats stand for now?

[MineralMan]

6. If you have been active in your local party organization

or beyond, then Hurrah! If not, then you're missing your chance to influence outcomes. The "machine" is made up of the people who are doing the business of the Democratic Party. If you're not part of that business, you aren't really participating.

If you feel helpless to do anything, then help to do something.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

7. Actually I have participated, and I have run into some of the most

slimy personalities while doing it.

I'm not sure why politics, in this instance a Democratic candidate's organization...not him luckily, attracts some of the most dubious individuals.


But let me elaborate on this. I am in Ed Markey's old district, yes I voted for him, and I have seen and been lobbied by persons on different campaigns looking to fill his seat in the HoR.

They ask me to consider their candidate.

Okay, I say. In order to win my vote I would have to know where the candidate stands on A, B and C. I do have a rather long list of questions on an equally long list of topics: ALEC, NAFTA/CAFTA, jobs for Americans, do you support the president when he picks industry insiders, etc... the things that Democrats should really stand for without even thinking overly long on.

Of the canvassers that have asked for my vote only one has bothered to reply by letter which was cool. The rest have looked at me with the proverbial deer in the headlights 'oh I have to say why I am for my candidate' expression.

There is a difference between being active, and actually being active and knowing why.

What's even more disturbing are those who call themselves Democrats, and will do anything to muddy the waters with regards to where our current party is headed. That is troubling.

[MineralMan]

11. Good for you for participating.

Keep doing it. If people don't participate, those who do run things. If there are slimy people in your local party organization, work to replace them. It's not just a job during election season. In fact, those who are involved between elections are even more important in establishing the course the party takes. Few want to bother, though, so those who are willing to be involved are the ones who have the influence.

It's all very simple. The Democratic Party begins at the precinct level, and has many levels beyond that. Being involved is crucial if you want your values to be represented. It takes time and work. You can't just show up during campaign season and expect to play much of a role, although that work is important, too.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

20. I'm not sure that you understand my post.

The people that are canvassing for Democrats, for the most part, don't even know where their candidate stands on the simplest of issues.

They don't know TPP from their right elbow or even what ALEC or Third Way is.


Am I supposed to replace all of these political zombies that just want their flavor of the day to win?


Let me ask you a query. Where do you stand on Third Way, TPP or Larry Summers since you are a party chair?

[mopinko]

30. canvassers get a half hour of training.

sometimes coming from far away to work a race that appeals to them. or that a local dem asked them to join.
they are volunteers. their job isn't really to represent the candidate, it's just to take your political temperature, and see if you should be targeted on election day. period.
if you get a knowledgable canvasser, cool. but don't judge the party by it's lowest level, part time, unpaid volunteers. that's just plain unfair.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

43. Seriously?? Really?? I'm supposed to believe that a canvasser can't answer a simple question

or know the simplest of things? What right do they have representing a candidate if they can't even give a decent answer?

It's not unfair in the least.

[mopinko]

47. ever tried it?

then don't bitch.

they don't "represent" anyone.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

99. What a joke of a retort. I've phonebanked enough in my time, aand I have at least had to

answer queries as to the candidate's position. It's not tough. You just have to be able to think about what your candidate stands for.

Gee, I don't know doesn't cut it.


What's an even bigger joke is that you are right. The canvassers don't seem to represent anybody, but perhaps they just like how their candidate looks in a speedo or something.

[mopinko]

117. i call bullshit.

if you had ever, or at least for more than an hour, done any campaign outreach, you would know how it works.

i know you are not the real R. Daneel Olivaw, but i think it is cute that you named your bot after a famous bot. so clever of you.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

130. You can call your mother for all I care, and when you do ask her to send you a fresh

pair of shorts. The wafting smell of BS is coming from your direction. Not mine.

Perhaps you are as politically naive as the canvassers as you defend?

[mopinko]

131. people who beat up on volunteers have a special place in my heart.

not. they have a special place in the swirling of my toilet.

btw, my mother is dead. just fyi.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

132. "people who beat up on volunteers have a special place in my heart."

I really don't care.

[Hekate]

136. Just put a sign on your door letting people know not to waste their time on you

because you are an ass and have nothing to contribute.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

146. How about this.

IF somebody wants to ask me to consider voting for their candidate, which to me is a big thing in a participatory Democracy, then they should come prepared to field some questions.

Is that really asking for too much?

Some apparently make it seem that way to me, and I guess that I am a big old meanie for expecting what I consider basic answers.


If canvassers really don't understand, or don't get enough training on, what positions their candidate stands for beyond the simplest boilerplate then what are they doing asking for my vote in the first place?

[mopinko]

154. you don't understand the purpose of canvasing.

get out of the basement. you don't even know why that person is at your door. they don't "represent" the party, even. they just wanna know- are you a +1 or -1. are you a dem or a thug. do you know the candidate, are you going to vote for the candidate. here is a brochure. there is a website if you have any questions.
should they make sure they get you out on election day or not. that is the real purpose of a canvasser. no more, no less.
they are not salesmen. they are data gatherers.
period. volunteers. often first time volunteers. given a 15 minute training. presumed to know something about the candidate, since they volunteered, but not expected to know anything more.

people like you are our worst nightmare.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

157. "you don't understand the purpose of canvasing..."

I understand when you are attempting to apologize for lackluster performance. Perhaps you are a trainer on a campaign and don't like the criticism?

All of the people that I have mentioned WERE canvassing for a particular candidate. Perhaps you missed that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023666297#post7

I never said that they represent the party. They WERE representing a particular candidate, but that candidate represents the party if they are elected. I want to know their views.

people like you are our worst nightmare.

I really don't give a hoot what you think. People like you seem to have an abundant supply of excuses and whining.

If you're going to send out babes into the woods then prepare them a little better or learn to take some criticism for it.


So no. People like me aren't your worst nightmare. Unprepared campaigners are.

[mopinko]

158. people should know this about the ignore button- admins

keep count.
so, as they say, plonk

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

160. Please go. Go away.

Read my fucking post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3666434

The people I am referencing are ones that support a particular Democratic candidate to fill Junior Senators Markey's old seat.


If they don't know their shit then they shouldn't be supporting anybody, or at the very least asking me to support them.



But since you are ignoring me this post goes to the rest of this thread.

I have a friend who worked to get President Obama elected. He was good, and he knew his shit...or at least where he though candidate Obama stood...now he's not so sure.

He didn't go out blind and just ask for votes. He actually came prepared and stood toe to toe with some McCain supporters and stood his ground with facts.


That's all I am asking for. Is that too fucking much?

[Hekate]

167. You should probably make Olivaw's script part of your training, as in: "If you meet this guy...

... don't even waste the brochure on him because his mind is made up and he'll take the time you could have used to meet a dozen other voters much more productively. Plus after being grilled by him and given a failing grade you'll just want to sit down on the curb and give up the whole enterprise."

I like Democratic canvassers. In a sense, my mind is already made up, too -- I may still be gathering information about individual candidates and issues, but I already know which party I'm not going to vote for. I take their brochures, and I read them. Websites have more info. There are public events every year-- even free! -- where you can meet candidates and incumbents, listen to them, and so on. These are in public venues like parks and the downtown library's big meeting hall, and well advertised. I am not as active as I used to be by a long shot, but I know already whose endorsements have value for me and the issues I care about: Planned Parenthood, local environmental groups, feminist groups, and so on. I also know individuals, so I scan the personal endorsements listed.

Anyway canvassers: I make them feel welcome, thank them for their hard work on a hot day, point out that the couple across the street is solid Dem (two tick marks on the clipboard), but the couple next door and the one across from them are "a house divided," so if the husband answers that's the Repub (more tick marks on the clipboard) and it's the wife who's the Dem. There: I've done part of the block for them already in case no one's home.

For some reason I never seem to get Republican canvassers at my door. I wonder if it's my selection of bumper stickers.

[mopinko]

169. yeah, usually there is a warning passed along

from an old timer not to waste time with people like that. in fact, you are often told that you are specifically NOT there to answer questions. send them to the website, or get their number for a call back.

fortunately, this sort is usually easy to spot. unfortunately, they are often hard to break away from. they never stop foaming long enough for you to make a polite exit.

[JDPriestly]

59. Start a Democratic Book Club in your area.

Invite some of the canvassers and others who are "Democrats" in name only to join and help select books. It is in focusing on issues that people come to understand what candidates are about, and books help us learn the background on the issues so that we can understand them.

Then invite your friends to join an existing Democratic Club or form one. of your own.

If the Democratic Party in your state is organized top down, then change that. California Democrats changed the party structure to make us more grassroots in the 1960s. Those of us who are now active in the Party owe a lot to that generation of activists.

Being the world you want to live in. That's what it is all about. Same is true for the Democratic Party. Be the Democratic Party you want to have.

You too could be a delegate to your state Democratic Convention or even the national convention. You have to join up first.

[lumpy]

102. Very good advice. People can form their own clubs, invite their Democratic friends and it can

snowball. Invite locals who are in civic positions to contribute input,create interest. My parents did this sort of positive participation in the party for many years throughout their lives, through weekly or monthly meetings. The there is the option to seek out political activists with the same interests.

[MineralMan]

83. Here's what I do in my precinct walking activities:

I talk to every candidate for local and district offices.
I get and study their literature and websites.
I get ample quantities of literature from candidates I will be supporting.
I study the positions of major candidates.
I walk my precinct. Myself. Independently.
I meet and talk to people in my precinct during the campaign season as I walk the precinct.
I ask them what their concerns are, and respond based on the information from the candidates.
I ask them to go to the polls and vote. I check to make sure their registration is current.
If someone isn't registered, I help them get registered.
If they're Republicans, I try to show them why the positions of the Democrats I'm supporting work for them.
If they're Democrats, I help them understand how important their vote is.
I give everyone a business card identifying me as the precinct chair. It has the precinct website URL, my phone number, and my email address on it.

It takes three months of weekends for me to walk the entire precinct and knock on every door. I don't talk to everyone, but I talk to a lot of people. I leave a lot of literature.

My precinct turns out a constant 60%+ on election day.

That's what I do.

[Hekate]

137. You are one hardworking and effective precinct chair! nt

[MineralMan]

143. It's fun, too.

All those people to meet and talk to.

[MineralMan]

31. I have no simple answer for your question.

Third Way? - I'm not part of that.
TPP? - I don't like it.
Larry Summers? - There are better choices.

Is that OK with you?

As for replacing zombies who are canvassing for candidates, you can only canvass individually. I'm not talking about campaign time, anyhow, but the time between campaigns. I'm talking about the process of vetting and choosing candidates. I work during campaigns, too, of course, but I'm involved all the time, even when an election isn't coming up soon.

That is what I'm suggesting people do. By the time the campaign begins, it's too late to find new candidates, frankly. That happens long before. I'm in a caucus state, but we also hold primaries. Who the party endorses officially makes a big difference. Withholding an endorsement can end a career. We did that in 2012, and the incumbent chose not to run. We withheld the endorsement because the incumbent failed us on labor issues. The candidate I supported and campaigned for now holds the seat.

See how it works?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

148. Actually it is OK with me. At least you gave me an answer.

I also understand how it works...what you are getting at.

As for time, I have none right now. I would love to get back into helping my party weed out all the 3rd way center-right BSers, but I have sick parents...really, a young daughter that I want to spend time with, and I am a freelance contractor so time is money unfortunately. I also work weekends to make a little more $.

If money wasn't an issue I would be involved.

The above aren't excuses. It's the new American dream.

[leftstreet]

9. Are you saying people could have done better than Obama?

What candidate in the DLClinton conquered party could have promised to be more of an FDR Democrat than Obama?

Are you suggesting people should have known better?

[MineralMan]

10. I'm suggesting that people think about tomorrow.

I'm suggesting they get involved in their local party organization. The government isn't just the President of the United States. Every elective office is important.

President Obama won't be running for anything. He's in his second and last term. Others will be running for everything. Politics is about more than the President. It's about every elective office, from local boards and commissions to state and national legislative offices, governorships, and, yes, the Presidency. Obama is the President. In 2017, he will not be the President any longer.

Are you suggesting people should not participate in their local party organization?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

32. When local party politicians will not demand that Obama remain true to traditional Democratic values

and remain true to what he promised for his 2008 election (before he became a "Centrist&quot , all of them should be ousted.

[MineralMan]

36. And how do you suppose those local party politicians

get ousted? In my state Senate district, we ousted a Democratic incumbent who was weak on labor issues. We refused to endorse his candidacy in 2012. He chose not to run. The candidate I worked very hard for is now sitting in that seat.

Local party organizations have very little to do with Presidential elections. However, with hard work, one can earn the right to be a delegate to the state convention. With even harder work, one can go to the national convention. That's how it works. One thing's certain, though: If you don't participate, you have no voice in any of it. You get to vote in elections, but that's it. It's a choice.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

44. From what I can see, none of them have gotten the message.

None of the local politicians in my area, none of them, are holding Obama accountable.

Not the mayor, not the elected trustees, not even the dog-catcher. More DUers are calling for Obama to be accountable than they are. Why shouldn't all of them be ousted and replaced with new zombies?

[MineralMan]

48. Replace them, then, locally.

I can't do anything in your local area. I can in mine, and do. That is what I'm talking about, exactly.

Calling for anything on DU affects pretty much nothing. Calling an officeholder you helped elect to that office, and who knows your name and knows you on sight, can affect what that officeholder does.

It is the simplest equation in politics. Politicians listen to the people they know. They don't read DU to see what people think.

DU is great. It gives us all a place to talk about things. It has zero effect on policy. Zero.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

54. I wish that you were a politician in my geographical area.

[lumpy]

105. Listen to what Mineral Man is saying. He is trying to educate you how to become involved

to help make changes.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

106. Sorry, when I played football, others were the cheerleaders.

If you want to be a cheerleader, just pick up the pom-poms.

Or if you want to play the role of Charlie Brown, go at it.

[lumpy]

110. If you think that's what I'm doing, that's because I agree with the Mineral Man wholeheartedly.

Advice to become politically active is a good thing. Too bad, you must expect someone else to do the job. I welcome cheer leading and will gladly wave a pompom for those things I believe in. Was that little league football? Must have been.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

112. If you think that the world revolves around you, you are too self-absorbed.

[Skidmore]

165. Sounds to me like people aren't holding

your local pols accountable. This is MM's whole point. The world starts in your own back yard. It is magical thinking to believe that all change must come from the top down. The teabaggers understand that and have been successful in coopting local and state governments. Look at all of the nullification laws being passed now. How do yoy suppose that happens? Sure, the President has nothing better to do than growl at your local pols.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

166. No one is asking the President to "growl at ... local pols." The local pols should be growling

at those in DC, including Obama's Republican appointees, when they act in a manner contrary to traditional Democratic principles and contrary to the way that we were misled into believing from Candidate Obama the way that he would actually act once he was elected.

If MM's point is that we should hold local pols accountable, and if that is your point, I agree.

But I don't think that is his point.

[treestar]

95. You are looking at the whole process backwards

The local party people are elected to the local offices. You're obsessing with the President. He's President, they are town council or whatever - that's their job, why do they have to focus on Washington?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

98. I wish that you were an actual politician in my area.

[Safetykitten]

13. Maybe if Obama promised to be more of a Nixon...That would be a start.

Since Nixon is now in the far left category.

[leftstreet]

21. Nixon would be hounded at DU as a radical leftist

The crazed commie who established the EPA, OSHA, Consumer Products Safety Commission, wanted a Guaranteed Basic Income

Commie!

[struggle4progress]

140. Not a chance: Nixon was a bigoted right-wing authoritarian, who happened to face a liberal Congress

and signed bills he didn't support to avoid having his veto over-ridden

[MotherPetrie]

12. Because that worked out so well with MoveOn.org's chosen one in 2008?

Apparently not, since your post is a tacit admission that it didn't, so what makes you think that a repeat of Mr. Fake Hope'n'Change won't happen? I guess you'll just blame the voters for getting suckered in again, instead of the skillful candidate who suckers them in with the ringing sincerity of his phony sweet talk.

[MineralMan]

16. My post is nothing of the sort.

And MoveOn.org is not the local party organization. If you think the Presidency is the only elective position that matters, I have news for you: It's not. Every state legislator, every Congressmember, every school board member matters. That is what the local party organization is about. If you think those elections don't matter, you're not dealing with the reality of politics.

You're bitter about President Obama? Apparently you are, since you call him names. He's just one elected official, MotherPetrie. What about all the others? Work to get good people in office locally, and you are participating in real change. Or don't, and you'll have what you get from others who did work.

[MotherPetrie]

22. What you are exhorting voters to do is exactly what many DID in 2008. Proving that there are no

Guarantees, as your post tacitly admits, so your attempt to turn Democratic betrayals around on the voters is obvious. Tell us how to prevent candidates from screwing us once they get elected - except you can't.

[MineralMan]

23. If you don't participate in choosing candidates, you get the

candidates chosen for you by those who do participate. What part of that do you not understand? I'm not talking about participation only at election time, but all the time. Those who are making the decisions do that already. You can be one of them, or you can leave it to those who do. It is up to you.

What is your workable alternative suggestion?

[MotherPetrie]

24. I understand you perfectly.

[MineralMan]

26. Clearly you do not.

[MotherPetrie]

38. You wish.

[lumpy]

108. I doubt you understand perfectly. You haven't learned a damn thing from this thread.

Your argumentative replies indicate that.

[Eleanors38]

17. You've convinced me. From now on I'll just shoot the messenger.

[leftstreet]

33. Better than blaming the voters

Just sayin

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. x2. Absolutely right.

[msanthrope]

168. You just told a banned troll she was right. Quelle surprise. nt

[Safetykitten]

28. Oh dear, you spoke truth. This could be a big problem.

[Number23]

141. So the admins finally showed you the door, huh? They have been cleaning house and totally

kicking ass lately. And DAMN it's about time.

[BumRushDaShow]

145. +infinity

[MineralMan]

177. I just noticed that. Wow!

I'm not really familiar with that poster, except from this thread.

[Number23]

180. Lots of really yucky posts all over the site. So stridently anti-Obama there was no question

"her" dislike of the man had absolutely nothing to do with his policies.

[bluedeathray]

19. Does "Job" = that for which you're paid? nt

[MineralMan]

25. No. "Job" means doing what we want them to do.

If they're not doing that job, then it's up to us to find those who will, and in our system, that means working as part of the group who makes the crucial choices for every elected position.

If you don't help to choose the candidates, you get the candidates others choose for you. It all seems worthwhile work to me.

[bluedeathray]

29. Absolutely right

Your OP was spot on. And more people need to heed the message.

I was expressing a little bitterness at the open immorality of our politicians, payoffs, and anti social agenda.

If the right people are elected, perhaps politicians will perform the job we sent them up there to do.

[lumpy]

109. When you do the job of taking care of your car, do you get paud for it?

[mopinko]

34. gotta be like the wingnuts- start with the school boards.

you really do have to start at the bottom, where there is still room for a progressive dem. it takes a generation to turn around a party.
but in the meantime, if you win, you get good low level government. that grows.

[MineralMan]

39. Precisely. It is at the local level that all candidates for office

start. Choosing the right school board members affects state legislative candidates, which affect who runs for Congress, and so on

All politics is local in the end, and individuals can have an influence locally, without question.

[mopinko]

115. i live in one of those neighborhoods affectionately known as

"the people's republic of", a place where all our politicians are the sort of folks that we all wish ran the world. and it started with aldermen who involved the citizens, and who built a machine that worked with higher up candidates. we now have a state senator and state representative that are progressives to the core, and our congressperson- jan schakowsky, who is one of the best progressives in congress.
maybe these people don't run the city, state or country, but where would we be without their voices in the debate.

change takes time. we would all like it to be the work of one season. but you have to plant the seeds, nurture it, and wait. and wait.
someday if you do your job, tho, it bears fruit.

[MineralMan]

116. And that is precisely what I'm talking about.

We're impatient, but it still all starts at the local level, and we can make changes from inside the party. But, we can only do that if we get involved and work to create the changes we want.

Thanks for your story. It is a very good one. The Eastside of St. Paul, MN has a similar story. It took years, to create, be we now have a district that reliably supports and elects progressives in each election. It did not happen overnight and, frankly, a lot of that work was done before I moved here. But, it stays progressive because the local DFL organization is progressive. I'm proud to be part of that organization.

How hard was it to become part of it? Not hard at all. I simply showed up at the first precinct caucus meeting after I moved here. I was the only person willing to become chair of my precinct. So I am. I created the first precinct level website (link in signature line) in Minnesota, and have represented my precinct at district conventions, and will try to go to the state convention during the next elections. It's been fun. I've met some great folks, and can participate in politics on a real, effective level.

[mopinko]

118. usually power is there for the ducking.

don't duck fast enough and you find yourself of the board.

[MineralMan]

119. You are so right.

Anyone who has participated in such things knows that to be true.

[mopinko]

121. i was asked to join my ward party's board because

there was a hot aldermanic race being played out across several neighborhood blogs. much of what was said was pure wingnut bizarro truthiness. it drove me nuts, and i spent way to much time defending an alderman that i had never really even met. just because it was the same old same old bs that gets thrown around.
when i turned up and offered to walk my precinct, everybody knew who i was.
as soon as the election was over, i was asked to join the board.

[MineralMan]

40. To find out what I'm talking about, just read the post.

I'm pretty clear about it.

[Iliyah]

51. Please, liberals/Progressive are not ants or bees

that toll in a straight line for their queen/king in this case corporate masters.

One thing about the Democratic Party is the unique diversity. Some went with the air strikes and some did not. Thats what I like about the party - it reflects America.

[etherealtruth]

37. you, of course are correct

(OK, I have nothing to add but did want to give the post a K and R)

[MineralMan]

41. Thanks!

[HappyMe]

42. k&r

You are right. People should do what they can.

[Iliyah]

45. K & R

Follow your conscious and join a group or party that fits you and work from within.

Thanks "MineralMan".

[MineralMan]

50. Thank you!

[liberal N proud]

46. If you want to make a difference, get involved locally

It will quickly become county wide and move on to state wide. The party is always eager for those who are willing.

Be prepared for them to ask you to do much!

[MineralMan]

49. Yup. Once you get involved with local party organizations,

you'll find that you're one of the few who bother. There's a lot of work to do. Keeping yourself busy is no problem at all.

Thanks!

[Fuddnik]

53. My local and state parties are incompetent and corrupt.

I was a member of my county DEC for 4 years, and as fast as energetic, young new members would join, the party would run them out. It's more of a social club than a political party. I was co-managing a congressional a few years back, and we were qualifying for the ballot by petition. We needed 6,000 of them from registered voters in the district. One Republican Statehouse candidate (a former Democrat who these clowns ran out) got us more signed cards than 8 county DEC's combined.

On the state level, they only support cronies. Our Party Chair is a former ChoicePoint lobbyist (remember the voter purge lists in 2000?) who is married for an attorney who represented the Bush side in Bush v Gore. Yet, she was the hand-picked choice of C-Street Family member and Super Duper Liberal Senator Bill Nelson.

Sorry, but we tried. And I won't associate myself with these incompetent, corrupt buffoons any longer. They can't recruit any credible progressive candidates. Some of them even donate money to Republicans. And when a good candidate comes along, they put a knife in his back.

Our former county chair was so incompetent and corrupt, but highly skilled in ass-kissing that she was appointed to a State Vice-Chair position.

That's the sad reality of Our state and county parties.

[MineralMan]

64. Well, that's not the case in my districts.

Sounds like your party organization needs a clean-out. That will take a concerted effort by those who think so. Is it worth it? I think so. Can you do it? I don't know. I don't live where you do.

[JDPriestly]

55. Mineral Man, this OP should be a special feature on DU.

I know this website is not an ad for the Democratic Party.

But you really "hit the nail on the head."

Those of us working within the Democratic Party know that self-described progressives and liberals, those who oppose and criticize the DLC are mostly not working with us and within us. Those of us who are truly liberal on issues like the environment, labor, women's rights, peace, etc. tend to be outnumbered by those who just want to elect someone with a D after their name.

The Democratic Party is what its members make it.

And if you don't like the way it is organized, join it and change the rules.

That is what liberal Californians did in the 1960s. And look how we changed the state of Reagan to the state of Jerry Brown. We still have a lot of DLC Democrats. Many of them, like Nancy Pelosi, fairly represent DLC-type areas of the state. But we also have Maxine Waters, Xavier Becerra and many other of the most liberal Democrats in the nation.

So join your local Democratic Club. And if there really isn't one, find out from your state Party how to start one. That's how you get Democratic candidates elected.

Thanks so much, Mineral Man.

If the you feel the Democratic Party isn't representing you, join it and and change it. Your vote will count. Find like-minded friends and join up with them.

[MineralMan]

66. Thank you. The more people there are who feel as you do,

The more control progressives will have over the party on a local basis, at least. Thanks for your hard work!

[NBachers]

56. I can't believe how much resistance and ridicule there is for Mineral Man's Politics 101 suggestion

"Don't get involved!"

"It won't accomplish anything!"

"You'll become One of THEM!"

"They didn't do what I wanted them to do!"

Sheesh, getting involved in your local Democratic organization is the most basic, fundamental way to affect political change. What's with all the grumps and croakers?

OK, don't get involved. Now there's a solution

[Hissyspit]

63. It's the same old response he has to everything.

It's really a non-response.

[MineralMan]

68. Those who say it makes no difference make no difference.

They aren't part of the process. And, since they aren't, their voice goes unheard where it matters, which is locally, where candidates for office are really chosen. If people don't participate in the process, they're out of the process.

[freshwest]

100. Got great people in my precinct. They fight for our interests. Hey, even had Kucinich as a speaker.

He would not allow the LaRouchies (who can walk in) trash talk Obama like people online do.

Their demand was we get out of Iraq immediately, or impeach! He would not let them rant on that.

They started about single payer, which everyone knows he supported, as our entire district did. He said he and Obama had differences but that PBO is a liberal and the ACA was all we could get.

And that PBO was doing his job as POTUS just as he did his job in the HoR.

The Democratic Party is not useless. Those who don't show, don't know.

The Tea Party shows up at all community meetings and goes for every office.

They do change things for the worse. To refuse to get involved, means some
don't feel any threat.

Those of us who do feel our rights being attacked, and are dissatisfied, can not stand by and let the Tea Party run the show.

That's the choice. Give up and let them have their way, if you can afford it.

If you can't, do whatever you can to support the Democratic Party.

JMHO.

[Doctor_J]

57. Unfortunately bromides cannot overcome the complete permeation of Hate Radio

Me going to my local meetings and performing all of the peripheral tasks that go with my membership is not going to help much when a majority of my congressional district thinks that Canadians overwhelmingly hate their HC system and long for the American plan (whatever that is). we have a huge number of "Get the government out of my Medicare" Limbeciles here, and their "opinions" on the other issues are just as ignorant. Combine that with the fact that the corporate Dems are the only ones in DC, and your suggestion is well-intended but pretty useless in practice.

[MineralMan]

91. No, they can't. Hard work can, though.

Talking to people can, though. Becoming active can, though. That's what I'm recommending. There are many opportunities to change minds and get people who think to go to the polls. That's what it's about. Simply being cynical does no good at all. It never has.

[polichick]

58. Yes, we need to build a democratic party...

The question many of us long-time Democratic Party activists are asking ourselves (and our fellow liberals) is where to put our passions (which are based on policy, not party or personalities) and energy to work in the future.

The guys who run this place have been very generous and I know this is pressing my luck, but so be it. (No worries, if this is a step too far and I get tossed.)

We are at a place where we have to decide if this party, with its current structure and inclinations, is worthy of our talents and energy - and, more importantly, if the changes that 99% of the population desperately needs will likely come through this party.

After being away for several months, I came back to see where DU was on this. What I've noticed is how many liberals I used to post with are no longer here. Those of us who are still here seem to be asking the same question. Would it be best to rebuild the Democratic Party or should we build a new people-driven democratic party?

[MineralMan]

70. If you want to build a new party, then do that. That's up to you.

For myself, having seen parties like that come and go without making any impact, I've decided to work within the party that has a chance of electing people. I will not work for third parties that cannot elect anyone to office. So, gather people to you who want to start a party. Then do it. The Green Party has done that in local areas, and actually win an election from time to time. The Libertarian party tries, but hasn't had much success. If you can do better, then go for it. But, I'll still be working to help choose candidates to run as Democrats. That at least gives me a chance to see candidates I support elected.

[polichick]

71. How long have you been working within the party?

[MineralMan]

78. Let's see. I started working in the Democratic Party in

California in 1964. I couldn't vote yet, since I was only 19, but I could volunteer to do stuff. I've been doing work for the Democratic Party ever since. I've moved around in California and now to Minnesota. Wherever I've gone, one of my first things to do is to contact the local Democratic organization and gotten involved. My focus has always been on legislative offices, both state and Congressional. That's where I could have the most impact. I'm still doing that.

How about you?

[polichick]

80. Since the 70s, but for me it's always been about issues and policies, not so much...

about party. Started with civil rights and environmental legislation and have always been most drawn to those issues. But I don't see myself working for the party in the future unless it's to take it back in a big way from the corporate interests that run it now.

[MineralMan]

82. I've always been interested in both.

But, it has been getting good people elected that has been the constant. Perhaps I've been fortunate to live where I have, but the people who have represented me have done so pretty well, overall. As I said, my focus is on legislative positions primarily. The Presidency is way out of my influence capabilities, so I get involved with Presidential elections as a side effect of my state legislative stuff and Congressional candidates. But, what I do is primarily aimed at my local legislative districts and surrounding ones. I've seen how success in those races is really based on effort in many cases. So that's where my efforts go.

[Jim Lane]

133. I agree with your OP, but disagree with one minor point here

You write:

The Green Party has done that in local areas, and actually win an election from time to time. The Libertarian party tries, but hasn't had much success.

This seems to imply that the Greens have accomplished something while the Libertarians have gone nowhere. The fact is that, in the 2012 presidential election, the Libertarian Party candidate, former Gov. Gary Johnson, received 1,275,951 votes; the Green Party candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, received 469,583 votes. By that one (admittedly crude) measure, the Libertarians have outperformed the Greens, even if (as I suspect is true) the Greens have elected more candidates to school boards and the like.

Most of the criticism of your OP boils down to this stunning insight: “If we follow the course of action MineralMan urges, we won't always succeed!” Well, yeah. The Democratic Party, like the Republican Party, is a big tent. There are major internal disagreements. It’s too facile to say “Anyone who doesn’t support single payer is a DINO.” The fact is that there are millions of Democrats who are more conservative than the average DUer. They also get to participate in choosing the candidates, writing the platforms, etc. Sometimes, the people who want to proceed cautiously on changing the financial system will outvote those of us who’d like to see a lot of big banks and investment firms broken up. That’s just the way it goes.

Here’s the alternative to MineralMan’s strategy: To make sure that you don’t have to deal with, compromise with, or try to outvote the people who disagree with you, refuse to work within the corrupt and corporatist Democratic Party. Start a new party instead. It will be a party that will stand for something, meaning that all candidates will have to support the platform. Unlike the Democratic Party, it will speak with one voice on Syria, and on marriage equality, and on single payer, and on the Keystone pipeline, and on everything else. You will have the comfort of knowing that, on major issues, from coast to coast, you’ll have the support of all the other members of the party.

All 17 of them.

To be fair, MineralMan’s critics probably don’t need to go to the effort of founding their own ineffectual minor party. There are plenty of existing ineffectual minor parties for them to join.

As an irrelevant aside, I think MineralMan's advice is correct for progressive Democrats and for Tea Party Republicans. For both groups, there's one major party that they prefer to other on every major issue, so it makes sense to try to work within that party. The analysis doesn't hold for libertarians, though. Many libertarians support full reproductive rights and oppose progressive taxation, so they aren't comfortable rooting for either major party against the other. For them, the third-party route has merit.

[MineralMan]

144. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

When comparing the Libertarian and Green parties, I was referring to legislative and local elections, primarily. Neither has any real impact on the presidential election.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

81. Good question.

[Cryptoad]

60. I love how we now have a call to purge

the party of moderates and Conservative Democrats...

The GOP really thinks its funny!

[Rex]

65. They do!? How would you know that?

nice try.

[Cryptoad]

92. I live in a Sea of them! nt

[MineralMan]

72. Actually, that call is being made by people who don't really participate

in selecting candidates, for the most part. In my state senate district, we had a conservative Democrat as an incumbent. At our district convention, we chose not to endorse him, because he had voted poorly in labor legislation. In fact, we didn't endorse anyone. That incumbent decided not to run, since he hadn't a prayer of winning without that endorsement. I caucused for a different candidate at the district convention. There was also a third candidate. None got the endorsement, either, but my candidate won the primary election and the general election. I helped in his campaign. Now, we have a labor-friendly state senator in our district. That is how it works.

Individuals can play important roles. When they work together, they can change things. It's that simple.

[Cryptoad]

93. No way can I comment on your election.... sounds like your

candidate represents your district well. I can tell you no matter who wins my Dem primary I support them, but my candidate may not be liked in a more liberal district. We don't need to purge moderate and conservative democrats if they represent their districts.

[gtar100]

61. Thank you for saying that. Just another K&R.

K&R <-- Local politics first.

[MineralMan]

73. Thanks for the K&R!

[Hissyspit]

62. Hello, broken record.

[MineralMan]

75. It's my favorite. I play it all the time.

You don't care for it? Tune to a different station. Promoting local political activism is what I do. You don't think that's worthwhile? Sorry, but I don't care. It is worthwhile.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

67. Is another kick needed?

[MineralMan]

76. I don't know, but thanks for the kick.

They all help.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

79. I'm thinking that some people are tired of playing the role of Charlie Brown.

I hope that you take the responses on DU seriously and pass that along to the local politicians in the St. Paul area.

After the 2008 election when some Democrats stayed home, Obama said "I get it." But he obviously didn't.

Do you think that your local politicians get it? Or do you believe that they think that chastising those who have played the role of Charlie Brown will somehow provide motivation for them to keep kicking at the ball?

[MineralMan]

89. Why would you assume that I do not?

My Congressional district is represented by Betty McCollum. In 2004, after I moved to Minnesota and began my activities in the local DFL party organization, I had an opportunity to talk one-on-one with her. At the time, the thing I was most interested in was Single Payer Healthcare, so that's what we talked about. She's completely in favor of it. Did she vote for ACA? Of course she did. No Single Payer bill was up for a vote, and could not have gotten to that point. So, she voted for the change that was possible, as I expected her to do.

Since then, we've talked several more times. Each time we do, I share my opinion what I think the course of things should be. She tells me her opinion and about what is likely to be presented to her for a vote. Good conversations. She's my Congressional representative, and I've helped to get her elected. She knows my name. When I have an opportunity, I talk to her. When she's not in town, I send her emails.

Working within the DFL party organization here in my district gives me an opportunity to meet and discuss issues with people I have worked to get elected. I would not have that opportunity otherwise. Just another benefit of being active in the party.

[DFW]

69. Call Jim Dean at DFA, ask what you can do locally.

They'll help, and they know how this works. I agree, throwing up your hands in despair because "they've already won" isn't going to improve things any.

[MineralMan]

77. Thanks.

[mopinko]

123. dfa is the best

still have a couple active chapters here in illinois. doing great work, especially with those bottom of the ticket races. some great folks on their way up the ladder thanks to our local dfa.

[DFW]

124. Howard and Jim are the best

And they have some really dedicated staff working with them, true believers who do it for subsistence wages. I give them what I can every year.

[Hissyspit]

84. Here's some direct action that is apparently effecting democratic change:

http://blogs.fas.org/secrecy/2013/09/snowden-fisc

September 13, 2013 Steven Aftergood 1 Comment

Snowden Leak Prompted “Considerable Public Interest,” Says FISA Court

The leak by Edward Snowden of a classified order issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) helped to arouse significant public interest, said the Court itself in an opinion issued today. Further disclosures are now justified, the Court indicated.

“The unauthorized disclosure in June 2013 of a Section 215 order, and government statements in response to that disclosure, have engendered considerable public interest and debate about Section 215,” wrote FISC Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in an opinion today regarding an ACLU motion for release of prior Court opinions concerning Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act.

- snip -

“I think it’s clear that some of the conversations this has generated, some of the debate, actually needed to happen,” DNI Clapper said. “If there’s a good side to this, maybe that’s it.” (“Clapper: Snowden case brings healthy debate; more disclosures to come” by Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times, September 12.)

- snip -

But if the unauthorized disclosure of a FISA Court order generated debate that “needed to happen,” that means that the original classification of the order had precluded a necessary public debate. If so, it follows that a thorough reconsideration of classification policy and practice is due.

MORE

[MineralMan]

87. OK. Now, let's elect legislators who will make changes.

For Pete's sake, it's not a zero-sum game. I assume you have no access to classified information you can release to "start a debate." So, there are other things you can do. Those things are what I'm suggesting.

[msanthrope]

171. Edward Snowden isn't going to get people elected. nt

[Jamaal510]

85. That's right. Sitting around and just being cynical

is not the way to go. Cynicism about both parties and politics in general is exactly what the elites want us to succumb to, so that their arch-conservative candidates always "win". Anyone who pays attention at all to politics is fully aware that the Democrats (while not perfect) are vastly superior to the GOP, considering all of the accomplishments under Obama, Clinton, Carter, JFK, and FDR vs. under both Bushes, Reagan, and Nixon.

[MineralMan]

86. You're absolutely right.

[lumpy]

111. Cynicism is like the measles, its catching and can ruin your eyesight.

[sufrommich]

88. Great OP, get involved,the party reflects it's most

active members!

[MineralMan]

90. Yup. And the candidates and elected officials listen

to those who are active in getting them elected, too. It's a winning strategy, all around.

[treestar]

94. K&R

This is so true. The attitude that we can sit back and expect it to serve us is anti-self-government.

[loyalsister]

96. That's right

The Democratic party is US

[Egalitarian Thug]

97. I know they're not doing their job. They don't even bother to ask for my vote.

The republicans OTOH ask for it almost daily.

[freshwest]

101. Some take the work of the Democratic Party for granted. They have forgotten or ignored reality:

Democrats are the people doing the work, and not tearing down what works. The numbers I quote with links below show the many millions they serve and how they are helped by Democratic policies, which have been hampered by Republicans for decades.

The links below have been updated to show more participatns, legal changes and scrubbed a bit. For those who are not familiar with these programs, some overlap and some do not.

We are talking about well over a hundred million people getting the essentials of life right now. Not everyone needs these.

Contrasts between the Libertarian and Democratic Parties. Here is some info:

In 2012, over 56 million Americans will receive $778 billion in Social Security benefits.

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/basicfact.htm

Medicaid is the nation’s largest health program in terms of number of recipients, serving 56 million to Medicare’s 48 million.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicaid/index.html

More than a third of Americans lived in households receiving government assistance in 2010.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/07/news/economy/government_assistance/index.htm

More than 46.6 Million Americans Participated in SNAP in June 2012

http://frac.org/reports-and-resources/snapfood-stamp-monthly-participation-data/

The Libertarian Party Platform on Welfare:

http://www.lp.org/issues/poverty-and-welfare

The Libertarian Party Platform on Health care:

http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Libertarian_Party_Health_Care.htm

More Libertarian, Paul, Tea Party ideas that Democrats don't want:

Libertarians believe that taxes should be abolished along with all the programs and departments that taxes fund. Libertarians don’t believe in Medicare. Libertarians don’t believe in Social Security. Libertarians don’t believe that there should be fire departments, police departments, public transportation, grants for education, unemployment, disability, food stamps, and every other type of government system and assistance that you can think of.

Libertarians wish to eliminate taxes in order to eliminate all of the above programs and more. Libertarians believe that without these taxes, individuals will have more money in their pockets and will be able to afford all of these things. If someone is unable to provide themselves or their family with school, health care, or food, people need to rely on family members, church, or a private charity.

Libertarians believe that government’s role in the market should be to protect property owner’s rights. There should be no FDA, equal employment opportunities, unions, minimum wage, payroll taxes, safe food handling requirements, consumer protections, regulations that protect against financial conflicts of interest and fraud, and business licenses.

Libertarians believe that business owners should have the right to deny entry to minorities and/or women and/or people with disabilities, if that is how business owners wish to run their businesses.

http://deni-edwards.hubpages.com/hub/Defining-a-Libertarian-Ron-Pauls-Political-Platform

That there are those who are not getting services, is not the fault of the Democrats, but Republicans.

It is they who cut the funding, because like Libertarians, they do not believe in taxing and paying for those who fall through the cracks, just let them go to the soup kitchen. The people who experience feeding a homeless person can go home afterward. But the poor are not helped by short term means, but by Democratic programs.

Those determined to change society are not in waiting for the future, but involved right now, as the needs of people cannot wait. People die when the government shuts down services.

Social Security and Medicaid keeps millions of people many will never meet, and have no idea exist, off the streets. Yet they disapprove of those who are doing the work to keep them alive and well, because it's a 'statist' thing. Because it's not ideologically pure enough.

But it's real, and taken for granted. Those people are real, and being taken care of by these programs. It has made too many feel complacent, as if those things were set in stone. They never are and need our help to keep going.

Compromises are made, which those who know people in the system know keep people alive now. People in need of a place to live, medical care and food to eat don't deserve to have to wait for people to visit and serve them food. We know that they need it everyday, just as they need a healthy living place and the security of knowing that it's going to keep coming. They need the government to do it, not individuals.

Democrats know taking care of millions of people is not something should be dependent on private charitable acts. That a social infrastructure needs to be in place for people that the vast majority of people do not know, have never met and whose needs are not temporary and cannot be taken care of during a few days visiting them and some that most people do not want to spend any time with, period.

Democrats are and do and will continue to help more people than charity ever will. Libertarians have a plan to end all government so there will be no votes needed. All back to the good old boys and corporations to say how our lives will be led. Their vision is just fine for those who can afford to stand tall and mock the people doing the work.

Ironic how those telling people to not vote for Democrats reflects exactly and facilitates the goals of the Libertarian party and GOP/Koch brothers plans for the poor, elderly, disabled and homeless.

[MineralMan]

113. Thanks for your links!

[Warren DeMontague]

107. Nothing is happening at the federal level unless we get some leverage in the House.

Sadly due to the way districts are drawn, I see gridlock continuing.

[MineralMan]

114. That shouldn't stop us from trying to get the best possible

candidates elected to Congress, though.

[Warren DeMontague]

128. I agree 100%. And I'm not suggesting we shouldn't try to retake the house, rather

I think that should be the main focus.

It's just a tough nut to crack.

[mopinko]

120. house seats are not out of reach of small dedicated groups.

even tho the gerrymandering is great, voter registration is so appallingly low that bringing new voters in is often possible.
it just takes a lot of work, and it should already be in progress (at least getting started) to affect 2014.

[MineralMan]

122. Absolutely. While not every district is a possibility,

a lot of districts can be turned, if enough people turn out.

[freshwest]

125. Your point that we can overcome with registration was proven in 2012, with media against us...

Remember how it went down on election night last November. The GOP was stunned to learn of an invisible voting block that did not live in their conservative infomercial universe. One that lived out of their sight, the real life Democratic Underground:



http://www.examiner.com/article/if-fox-is-your-sole-news-source-you-were-shocked-by-president-obama-s-victory



Fox News Resorts to Race-Baiting, and White Boards, on Election Night

Election night, before the results come in, is awfully dull on cable news. Anchors desperate to fill the air resort to factoids about where, for instance, the most pickup trucks in the country are sold and What It Means. (Virginia, for the record, per MSNBC. What it means remains to be seen.) On Fox, the factoids were less automotively focused. “Independents are breaking for Romney in most states,” Michael Barone told Megyn Kelly at 7:24 p.m., before anyone had broken for much of anything, really. There, as everywhere, it was mostly a waiting game. “We have to wait and see how many white men turn out," Kristen Powers said.

Results began to come in that were unfavorable to Romney. Powers revised her urgency. “They need more white people voting, basically.” Suffragettes, even...

“It’s not a traditional America anymore. There are fifty percent of the voting public who want stuff. They want things. Who is going to give them things? President Obama. He knows it and he ran on it... Twenty years ago, President Obama would have been roundly defeated by an establishment candidate like Mitt Romney. The white establishment is now the minority. And the voters, many of them, feel that economic system is stacked against them and they want stuff. You are going to see Hispanics vote for President Obama, overwhelming for President Obama, and women will probably break President Obama’s way.”

“Stuff.” Those welfare mothers in their Cadillacs sure have been driving around for a long time looking for stuff...

http://www.newrepublic.com/blog/plank/109776/racebaiting-and-white-boards-fox-news-election-night

I won't even go into the wailing from Glennbeckistan about it. But this article always gives me a big old happy. Yes, I am evil:

My Ten Favorite Kinds of Right-Wing Temper Tantrums



I remember how I felt when George W. Bush was reelected in 2004—that pit of absolute unthinkable, desparate despair—and so I guess I should have a little more sympathy for the 150 Million Waaahmbulances of the Apocalypse currently flailing all over Twitter. And, beyond that, I should probably be sad about the overt racism of our conservative youngsters and frightened at the gun-nuttiness of our gun nuts.

However. At least for right now, I AM NOT. I am just 99% completely fucking delighted by every single weepy right-wing temper tantrum. I can't stop hate-reading. I can't stop. And you know what?

I don't need to stop. It's not like this was some arbitrary election for Homecoming Court—where we were choosing between Mitt Romney's totally on-trend bangs and Barack Obama's ability to pull off a structured blazer.

The party that my team defeated on Tuesday was a nebulous, fiscally disastrous pitchfork mob—united by racism, xenophobia, self-interest, willful ignorance, hatred of the poor, and a puritanical desire to deny my gay friends their civil rights and me, PERSONALLY, equal access to health care and basic humanity. That's about as ungracious as it gets. So fuck being gracious.

Go to see the rest here:

http://jezebel.com/5958966/my-ten-favorite-kinds-of-right+wing-temper-tantrums

To paraphrase the old saying:

Yes, Virginia, there really is a Democratic Underground.

[Generic Other]

126. I am not sure my county Democrats are still in the party

I was a delegate in 04. The platform we passed was unbelieveably left of center. Free public transportation. Recognizing Palestine. Universal health care. Cut the military. No war on drugs.

The Leftcoast. Thrown under the bus years ago.

[MineralMan]

127. Up to the District level in my area is still that way.

The platform proposals are great fun. Most never end up in the statewide platform, but there are some really interesting ones that have gotten through the district conventions. There is a large very left block of delegates in the district, so our conventions are pretty interesting. If anything, it's moving more to the left. The old guard seems to be diminishing in numbers, and the ethnic communities and university communities in St. Paul seem to be in the ascendant right now. I'm one of the rare old farts most of the time, but I can still muster a good-sized caucus for whatever I want to do. It's fun, educational, and useful, I think.

At the precinct level, though, it's tough to get a great turnout for the precinct caucuses. It seems like it's hard for all of the precincts. The result is that almost anyone who shows up can be a Senate District delegate. So far, we haven't filled our delegation at any of the caucuses. Still, the people who do show up are great folks.

[Romulox]

149. So the state level party ignores the Districts, and then you complain those District level folks

won't come out to endorse the agenda from which they were excluded. What a shocker.

[MineralMan]

152. No, it doesn't ignore the districts. It includes platform items

submitted by the district conventions, after voting on them. Some, of course, aren't voted into the platform, and others are combined to make a single platform position from several districts.

Each district sends delegates to the state convention. They go there to represent their district, and do so. The state party platform is decided by a vote of all delegates from all districts. That's the process. Not every platform proposal voted on by a district gets included. No surprise there.

[Romulox]

155. Right. Your top down process doesn't have the support at the grassroots level. Wherefore surprise?

[Generic Other]

183. You are correct

Most of what we voted for made it to the state convention. It got lost at the national level where our proposals probably drew chuckles. Universal healthcare -- har har -- public transportation -- ho ho -- end the drug war -- pshaw! But you are right. It means the top discards what they consider to be the excessive demands of the grassroots.

Still, for me it was an interesting process. I made it to the state convention by making fiery anti-Bush speeches. Surprise! LOL. It was a great experience in direct democracy.

[jazzimov]

129. Agreed! KNR

[Hekate]

134. KnR, MinMan. GOTV 2014! nt

[Hekate]

138. People should be bookmarking this thread as Politics 101. MinMan, Mopinko, & JDPriestly...

... each of you, plus a couple of others, have given invaluable reality-based, experience-based, lessons on How It Is Done. And you are so patient!

Aside from the posters who just live to carp and complain, I hope there are many many other DUers who are reading and taking heed.

Thanks again!

Hekate

[MineralMan]

142. Thanks for the post, Hekate!

[calimary]

139. Very happy to kick and rec this thread!

GET INVOLVED!!! Let 'em hear from YOU!

PLEASE REMEMBER: If they think you don't care, they won't, either!!!

[Romulox]

147. "this is what I was always taught by Mr. Pangloss, and I see plainly that all is for the best."

[MineralMan]

150. A quote from "Candide" is always a sign of an educated person.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post.

[Romulox]

151. The quote has a hidden meaning that I intended to relate to the content of the OP!

[MineralMan]

153. No, your meaning is not hidden. I just choose not to argue with you about it.

My choice. Another option you can choose is to post a direct comment regarding the OP. I'm much more likely to respond to that.

[Romulox]

156. I didn't ask for any argument; I made the point I wanted to make. nt

[MineralMan]

159. Yes, and I thanked you for the time required to reply.

I hope you'll have a pleasant day.

[Romulox]

161. You are passively-aggressively claiming the right to approve or disapprove of my post.

It's not yours to give.

[MineralMan]

162. Actually, I'm not doing that at all,

but thank you for keeping this post high on the GD post list.

[Romulox]

163. I don't think this exchange is flattering to you, or the point you were attempting to make.

[Hekate]

164. Well, you're wrong in that. It just makes you look like a fool who doesn't care if Dems lose...

... just so long as you don't have to put in any of the hard work.

[Romulox]

174. I'm not putting in ANY hard work to get "sensible centrists" elected. Deal with it. nt

[NCTraveler]

170. Then you would think wrong. nt.

[NCTraveler]

172. Very simple and is the base of polotics.

I am a little surprised at a few who are giving you flack. I am willing to bet, other than blogs, they have truly never taken part in the system.

After first reading your op I was thinking "that's common sense MM". After reading the replies it was more along the line of "good and necessary op MM".

[MineralMan]

173. Thanks for your reply.

I think that some simply are too impatient to commit to the effort change takes when done this way. While I feel for them, I don't see them offering a viable alternative to this old-school method.

It's a simple way to create change, and time-tested, but it can be slow to operate. That may be the reason for the flack posts like this get from some. I don't know for sure, though. There could be other reasons, too.

[Hekate]

175. "Other reasons" definitely come into play.

Voter suppression doesn't just happen by itself.

[MineralMan]

176. While I think that could be a possibility,

I have no evidence to support it here. If someone or some group is trying to suppress votes for Democrats by trying to get Democrats not to vote, that will fail, I believe.

[Hekate]

179. Upbeat

[gopiscrap]

178. Good post!

[mick063]

181. I will not give a nickle to the Democratic Party.

Not until I see change.

[1StrongBlackMan]

182. Reading this thread ...

I come away with a simple fact regarding too many that have found DU as of late ... They want change but are unwilling to do the work to affect that change.

A prime example of this is your saying "get involved", only to be met with a back and forth about how a canvasser couldn't earn a vote because he/she could not answer questions about the/a candidate. Voting is the simplest, least effective political act for affecting change; second only to posting gripes on the internet.

MM, I applaud your efforts and hope others will follow suit.