Did anyone hear Joe Trippi on Moyers? Did you listen to what he said?

[KoKo]

Incredible... And, I know that some DU'ers and myself have been very hard on Trippi because of what happened with Dean...but here's the thing.

Trippi said .."They think it's all about the "internet money" that Dean raised...they missed it...it's about folks getting together for House Parties and DISCUSSING issues and to realize that you can go on the internet and have folks come to your home that you don't even know...and they are not there to steal the silverware or take your china from the cabinets they are there to DISCUSS ISSUES!" According to Trippi...Dean gave us the opportunity all over America for folks of "unlike backgrounds" to come together and DISCUSS!

I liberally quoted a "composite" of what Trippi said...and he's "promoting his new book" but he really spoke to ME even though I'm working my butt and shoes off for Kerry/Edwards. What Trippi said went to what some of us need to do after "ABB" is over...and we try to "re-build" our party from "grassroots..up."

Kerry might not be able to do this. He will have his own battles. It's up to us here to do MORE!

[klook]

1. Yes, I saw that interview

I thought it was inspiring. Trippi said people got together not just to "discuss issues," but to get involved:

"In the Dean campaign, hundreds of thousands of people were putting their name and address on the internet and inviting anybody who stumbled across that site to come to their house and get involved. And it happened. And the most amazing thing was 40 people would come to your house who you didn't know.

They'd all talk about doing something together to help change the country. And the amazing thing was when they left, the jewelry was still in your jewelry box. The silverware was still where the silver was supposed to be. And the fine china was still in the china cabinet. No one stole anything. Americans are good. And somebody has to start reaching into that goodness and moving the country in a purposeful way for the common good."

more - http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript344_full.html#trippi

Definitely, win or lose on Tuesday, there is much long-term work to be done. I thought Richard Viguerie's comments were interesting, too. He said Democrats too often sprint every four years instead of running a long-distance race over a period of many years. He says every day he wakes up saying "What are the five or six things I can do today to advance the conservative cause?" He's been doing that for something like 40 years. That's the kind of long-term dedication and groundwork we need if we're going to build a lasting movement.

(edited to add last paragraph about Richard Viguerie)

[KoKo]

3. Trippi also said: "In 40 yrs. Americans have not had their "Good" appealed

to. He said that no politician in 40 years has appealed to the "good" of Americans. (I assume he's going back to John Kennedy)

I thought Clinton tried to do that before the Mellon-Scaife hounds of hell in "Hunting of the President" brought him down.

And...Jimmy Carter had the RW on his tail from the time he came into office, which NO ONE talks about.

So...I think our Dem Presidents came into office trying to appeal to the Good side of American People and America...but the "dark, evil side of the RW REPUG MACHINE/VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY/COLD WAR MONGERING BASTARDS...Always brought them down.

We have to be vigilant because they will bring Kerry down...if we don't organize "GRASSROOTS" and fight like HELL to TAKE BACK OUR PARTY from HACKS who really might not have wanted Kerry to win the Dem Nomination...and who in some cases in many states are closer to Zell/Lieberman than to the principles of FDR/JFK..

[gumby]

4. Richard Viguerie along with Rush's

'good friend' Paul Weyrich were the ones to purposely politicize abortion for personal political gain. Their actions so many years have come to fruition. Abortion is now the major "issue" that divides this country. Abortion has become the catch-all "issue" that the wing-nuts find the "morality" for their hateful and racist agenda.

I really dislike these old white men.

[KoKo]

7. That was an amazing discussion! Putting: Richard Viguerie against Trippi

and remember the thread here on DU where we were trying to "Out" Viguerie's targeting of Seniors and "Home Aloners" who are being targeted with "Mail" saying: "Save Social Security...Your Rights Will be Denied" (unless you give us $____Amount to save SS and fight for it...and it was all Right Wing Scams funded by Mellon-Scaife/Wyrich and the Viguerie Mass Mailing Campaigns which have brought in huge BUCKS for them...just like the "Fundie Ministers" do who ask for donations for prayers and healing?

Viguerie was so smug about what he had achieved built on the backs of innocents out there in America who thought they were getting involved and having a "voice" in the Government with their littel $5 and 10 dollar contributions.

I thought what Trippi was saying was...WE DEMS can do the same ...but let's do it by building "Networks" amongst people for discussion rather than "scamming" folks who live alone but want to do SOMETHING about what they are told in these "mail order" campaigns is "working" as a group for your cause. :shrug:

[gumby]

11. Dems DO need to do the

same infrastructure building.

Everything has come down to the Reality Based Community fighting back against the fascist coup who uses the fetus as their rallying cry.

[DebJ]

2. As Dean said, 'You have the POWER' (now use it damn it!)

[fabius]

5. You bet! And I agree, we have a lot of work to do yet!

Trippi is great. I totally agreed with him. The Viguerie segment was instructive too, because he is right, the Democrats organize for series of sprints, not a marathon.

My County Democratic party more than doubled our number of precinct committee people this time and probably quintupled the number of informal volunteers, yet it really needs better long-term organization.

The Dean movement (which I was a part, of including money and volunteering)has given a lot of us belief in the power of grassroots action again. It has helped us meet a lot of other dedicated people and given us ideas for enlarging sphere of public political activity.

My wife and I are new precinct committee people (since May). We've knocked on hundreds of doors, registered voters, done GOTV, and gotten a real education - about politics and about the people who live around us. We see the need to continue to organize on a long-term basis. We've talked to other politically involved people in our area and they support the idea. We need to keep recruiting and keeping people involved after the election and do outreach to young people just coming of voting age.

We have the power! Let's do it!

[KoKo]

10. Yes...I'm very active here in NC with Kerry/Edwards, but much is lacking

and we do need a "long term focus." Thanks for pointing out that Trippi said the "Repugs build day to day" but the "Democrats only go from Election to Election." (I've botched the quote, but think I got the meaning of it and tried to convey it).

We need to be as "relentless" as the Repugs...working for "Good" and not Economic Dominance and Deprivation" like the Repugs.

I wouldn't use the Repugs as a model for anything more than seeing that without the "Grassroots" support our party will be "Top Down" and the Media will always trash us.

We don't have the think tanks and big funding the Repugs do...we just have nickle and dime and a very few 527's and one "budding think tank" and Move On. Org. and maybe two other Progressive Groups who could become "Dem Think Tanks" with enough time and support.

But we are in big trouble if we just say "Kerry WON!" and now we can go back to being "couch potato's" We will end up with another Reagan and more Bushes if we think that just getting Kerry/Edwards elected is the start of the "Roll Back" of Bush. Kerry's going to need major help on this...:shrug:

[madfloridian]

6. That is what DFA is going to do. That is what it is about.

Community. I just watched the DVD of the July Dean/Democracy Fest in MA. It was put together from the ground up by DFA folks. Dean spoke, Trippi spoke. Musicians like Laramie Crocker played.

There is another being planned for next year out west somewhere, and I think voting for the location is still going on. Dean has said he will speak.

Our group here, our community, is staying together through meet-ups and email lists.

I blame Trippi for a lot about Iowa, but he is still a Deaniac at heart. It is about community and organization and starting from the ground up.

Howard Dean feels it is mostly about enabling your groups to organize, then providing minimal leadership from the top down...very minimal...just a skeletal group.

[NoPasaran]

12. Democracy Fest 2005

Voting for the three proposals is still going on at http://myvoteismyvoice.com/html/deanfest_2005.html
I hope y'all agree with me that Democracy for Texas has the best proposal and will support the Austin location. If you want to see what can happen with grassroots politics, come here. Between DFT and Austin for Kerry we've mobilized hundreds of volunteers, registered thousands and thousands of voters, blockwalked, phonebanked, and on November 2 we are going to kick Republican ass!

[madfloridian]

13. I have been so very impressed with Democracy for Texas!

You guys are awesome, really. Florida for Democracy has a website up now.

www.democracyfortexas.org

www.democracyforflorida.com

[NoPasaran]

16. Thanks, MF!

That's a nice website. I bookmarked it.

One of the things that contributes to the apparent success of DFT is the fact that the state party was so weak after years of defeat---this is a real fixer-upper---of course we are rebuilding it as a progressive, responsive party. And of course Austin has a long activist tradition of its own. But most important we have some very savvy and hardworking people who know what a huge task turning Texas blue is going to be and have committed themselves to that job.

[KoKo]

18. That's great news...thanks for posting it. We are going to take it back..

it will be long and hard...but we can do it..

[KoKo]

17. I think Dean and Gore are going to play a big part in this. Dean's

campaign and even Dennis Kucinich's were part of a "new start" for Democrats.

I expect great things. Also here in NC there's the new Progressive Party which I suspect will be the engine for Dean/Gore/Kucinich and others to give voice for those of us who have been ignored.

I'm working on the ground for Kerry/Edwards..but my heart is with the Progressives. I will and am doing everything I can to get Bush out...but it's like pulling teeth with the creaky apparatus of the "Old Democratic Party." The disorganization boggles the mind when we've had over four years to get our act together, and we have a Democratic Governor!

The stories I could tell....OMG! But, the Party doesn't want change, it wants volunteers, but doesn't give them tools or instruction to do their jobs. Turns folks off who are creative...they don't seem to even recognize that Gore Won...and it was stolen and that Dean had huge support here with house parties and funding and that Kucinich won two counties here in the Primaries. To them...it's just business as usual.

It's creaky and outdated.. If Kerry/Edwards win NC (which they might) it will be because of the effforts the Dean/Kucinich activists made in getting our voter rolls on computers and creating an organization to canvass. GOTV and MoveOn...all did more for Kerry/Edwards than the machine which put Edwards in as Senator. And, I gave money and time to getting Edwards in as Senator...but I'm not one of the "Good Ole Boy" network...which is the way it seems to work.

Anyway...there's much work to be done, and it's damned hard working with the "powers that are in place."

[Sara Beverley]

8. He is so right. Taking our country only 'starts' with Kerry, not end there

We will need to hold Kerry's feet to the fire if he does not hear what we (meaning the people who partcipated in these discussions, house parties, and Internet meetings) are saying and what the majority of good, decent Americans are saying. We need to put the media (OWNERS) on notice that we are not going to take their crap any longer either. We will need to call out all media pundits who are not telling the people the truth. Win lose or draw for Kerry we need to keep on the move. God love ya' Dean, you alone have been the turning point for getting people together aganist the "great divider" George W Bush. I give Dean the credit for lighting this fire within me!!

[tech3149]

9. Saw it Fri night

The best thing he said was regarding the money vs community issue. In the last 30 yrs living in rust belt and upper middle class communities, there has been a decreasing community dialog. In many cases you don't even know your neighbors name let alone discuss politics and beliefs. If we don't find a way to share ideas and feel connected to those around us, there is no way to improve the situation.
You're right that Kerry can't change this, WE have to do it. I pray that JK gets through the election process and challenge to take the presidency. Either way, it's up to us to provide cover fire and beat down the big lie machine that has become the Republican party.

[KoKo]

19. What's really upsetting is that in Canvassing we had Dems who said I can't

voluteer even though I vote Democratic because I would lose business from the people I work with and have to do business with if I worked as a volunteer for the Dem Party or helped you canvass houses.

One person is a salesmen of products to Surgeons and he said if they saw him at the polling place as a volunteer he would lose sales.

Others gave us the same story, from real estate salespeople to other folks who have to deal with the public. They kept saying they admired our efforts and can't stand Bush, but couldn't help us by volunteering because they didn't want even their Neighbors to know much less their fellow workers or businesspeople.

We had a terrible time finding "Poll Monitors" and Greeters at our Precinct because people were fearful.

This isn't the America we were taught about in High School...It's something dark... When Democrat becomes something to be shunned what kind of country is this?

[mikehiggins]

14. Forget rebuilding the Party. We have to rebuild the Country

and we have to hold our leaders feet to the fire to make sure that "politics as usual" doesn't take over once again.

We have to keep going to meetups and other stuff and get involved in the way our lives are being conducted, or else we will be faced with the same sort of shit a few years down the road.

Remember, the rich are STILL rich, and the powerful are STILL powerful. We can't allow this to just become a change in staff while the hotel continues to deteriorate.

[madfloridian]

15. No, we have to start with the party.

Sorry but we do. We have to force them not to do the things that got us the Medicare bill and the invasion of Iraq and the huge tax cut.

You start at the bottom and work up.

[KoKo]

20. We have to find and support candidates who work for us, and not lobbyists

or big business...We have to identify them early and follow them through from the state level up into the House and Senate. That's how the Repugs did it.

How we keep them accountable, I don't know. The "big bucks" and the "lobbyists" are ever there with their deep pockets, and convincing arguments.

There has to be a way. But, I think the Moyers show, pointed out that our Democrats are not accountable to us. That's why they didn't fight for Al Gore...and gave Bush all his appointments in the beginning even when he hadn't WON! That was the shocking "eye opener" to me. Bush didn't have a mandate, but he was given EVERYTHING he WANTED.

I remember days when this just wouldn't have happened. There are just so many in the House and Senate willing to do NO WORK but just coast with the Lobbyists writing the bills.

Moyers said that the Democratic Party was fat after Johnson and stayed in Washington and never went home. He was cautioning Viguerie that this is what's happened to the Repug Party. But, he was really condemning both parties, it seemed to me, at least.

We've got to stop these folks with the "revolving door" where they serve in Govt. and then go to the Corporation of Lobbyist groups. I don't know how one does that. It would be illegal to deny a government employee the chance to work in the private sector, but some kind of "moratorium" or "waiting period" would be in order. Something has to be done. That's how we ended up with PNAC/Cheney/Rumsfeld...the Revolving door. And Kissinger, Baker and the rest of them...they NEVER LEAVE...and the cronyism means they don't care about average Americans...they are out of touch with us. Same with our Million Dollar Media. The salaries of those folks are way out of line. They hob nob with the politico's, lobbyists and corporate types and they become them. It's a CLUB...and NONE of US will ever belong...:shrug: Out of touch....Out of touch..

[KoKo]

21. Kick for night crowd, and be sure to check out Moyers NOW website for

the transcript or audio. It's really worth seeing...Great show about politics from folks who've seen it all.

[madfloridian]

22. And also people should check out these sites to see where we're going.

Go to
www.blogforamerica.com

Scroll down on the left until you see the state Democracy for America forums...there are more every day getting organized.

Here is the listing so far.

State & Local Groups
Alabama
Democracy for Alabama
(Huntsville, Mobile)
Aviid-Alabama Voters Involved In Democracy
(Montgomery)

Alaska
Northern Enlightenment

Arizona
Blog for Arizona
AZ-Vote

Arkansas
Democracy for Arkansas

California
California for Democracy
California Teens for Democracy
Democracy for California
East Bay for Democracy
North Bay for Democracy
North San Diego for Democracy
San Fernando Valley for Democracy
San Francisco for Democracy
San Mateo County Democracy for America
Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley
Ventura County For Democracy

Colorado
Democracy for Colorado

Connecticut
Democracy for Connecticut 1
Democracy for Connecticut 2

DC
DC for Democracy

Delaware
Progressive Democrats for Delaware

Florida
Central Floridians for Democracy
Democracy for Florida
Miami-Dade
North East Florida Patriots for Democracy

Georgia
Georgia for Democracy
Blog for Democracy

Hawaii
Hawaii for Democracy

Idaho
Democracy for Idaho

Illinois
Democracy for Illinois

Indiana
Indiana for Democracy
Indiana Progressives
Democracy for Indiana

Iowa
Democracy for Iowa
Blog for Iowa

Kansas
Midwest Grassroots

Kentucky
Change for Kentucky

Louisiana
Democracy for Louisiana

Maryland
Democracy for Howard County

Democracy for Maryland
Annapolis for Democracy

Massachusetts
Democracy for Massachusetts

Michigan
Democracy for Michigan
Democracy for Metro Detroit

Minnesota
Democracy for Minnesota

Missouri
Change for Missouri
Democracy for Missouri


Montana
Montana for Democracy
Democracy for Montana

Nevada
Democracy for Nevada

New Jersey
New Jersey for Democracy
Hunterdon for Democracy
Union County for Democracy

New Hampshire
Democracy for New Hampshire

New Mexico
Democracy for New Mexico

New York
Democracy for New York
Democracy for NYC
Democracy for Long Island
North Country Folks for Democracy
Rochester for Democracy
New Democratic Majority

North Carolina
Democracy for North Carolina
Democracy for NC

North Dakota
North Dakota for Democracy

Ohio
Wake Up Ohio
Democracy for Ohio

Oklahoma
Democracy for Oklahoma
Oklahoma Grassroots Campaign

Oregon
Democracy for Oregon
Linn-Benton for Democracy

Pennsylvania
PA Action Network
Philly for Change

Democracy for Pittsburgh
Democracy for Lancaster

Rhode Island
Democracy for Rhode Island

Tennessee
Democracy for Tennessee
Democracy for Nashville

Texas
Democracy for Texas

Utah
Democracy for Utah

Vermont
Democracy for Vermont

Virginia
Democracy for Virginia
Arlington for Democracy
Tidewater for Democracy

Washington
Democracy for Washington
Democracy for Vancouver
DFA Snohomish

West Virginia
West Virginia for Democracy

Wisconsin
Democracy for Wisconsin

[IrateCitizen]

23. I didn't just listen to what he said -- I FELT it!

My first real foray into electoral politics was actually back in 2002 with the Carl McCall gubernatorial campaign in NY. Through that, I became involved with my local Democratic committee, and also spent time stumping for local candidates.

I must say that the experience was far less than inspiring. The local committee did NOTHING that dovetailed with the other campaigns going on. There was absolutely NO discussion of strategy. The party organization was in the hands of a few people who had controlled it for YEARS. Fundraisers and party-building activities focused not on getting out and "pressing the flesh" with the community, but rather on exclusive brunches and dinners with higher elected officials and party apparatchiks.

Now, I don't really blame all these people all that much. The fact of the matter is, they're only doing things the only way that they know how. But the problem is that it's a self-defeating cycle. They aren't going to attract any new blood by doing things this way. I know that I've been incredibly turned-off by it, and if I weren't in school part-time in addition to working full-time (and still spending time in anti-war activities with IVAW) I would want to take steps to change things. But, I really didn't have things "click" for me until I saw the Trippi interview.

Now, I realize that all it really takes is bringing people together. A short while back, I gave a talk on behalf of IVAW to a Democratic Club further upstate from me, for a showing they gave of the movie "Uncovered: The Truth About The Iraq War". They had about 40 people there. The organizer said that they did these about every two weeks, and their attendance had been steadily increasing in a largely Republican area. And prior to the movie starting, the organizer of the event explicitly told people to take a few minutes and introduce themselves to the people around them, because the real purpose of these gatherings was COMMUNITY BUILDING.

Now, I must say that I don't at all agree with the sentiments that the emphasis must be on party-building with regard to these activities. It should be first and foremost about building a spirit of community with others. Now, these activities will naturally settle around party divisions to be sure. But the problem we encounter, as Trippi identified, is that we've become increasingly isolated from one another over the past 40 years. The first step is to reverse this, and the party-building will then commence on its own momentum.

Don't try to control the process. That's what the people who have ruined the party have done. Instead, allow yourself to be swept up in the process, and allow it to take you where it naturally wants to go.

On another note, I also thought that Richard Viguerie's comment was extremely telling. "I wake up every morning and think, 'What 5 or 6 things can I do today to help advance the conservative cause?' Liberals look at it as a sprint every few years." He's exactly correct, and it's a primary reason as to why conservatives have begun beating us so much over the past 30 years -- so that even in instances where we "win", like the Clinton years, the conservatives are STILL able to turn our "victory" into a strategic retreat (which is how I would describe the Clinton presidency).

[KoKo]

24. Interesting comments about the Moyers show," Irate." Thanks.

People meeting people and discussing issues, as Trippi said is something we've lost, too.

The media won't discuss but gives one sided or in some cases extreme arguments of each side of issues. There has to be a way for us Progressives to get a dialog going with others.

Where I live now, there's no one to discuss anything political with. So, finding DU was really important. When the Dean Campaign and Move On.org. started their "House Parties" it allowed those of us who did want to talk about issues to meet like minded folks who lived outside our local neighborhoods and circle of friends. And, in my area it was an alternative to the "Old Boys/Gals Network."

[KoKo]

25. kick

[Fleshdancer]

26. Dean's campaign was very empowering for me...

Trippi was right, but I'll go a step further. When I was at my MOST frustrated and MOST angry at an administration that didn't care about me, my opinions as an American, or my family (ex: sending my brother to an unnecessary war) it was the Dean campaign that gave me an outlet for all that emotion and energy.

Pissed off at something Bush said? Then write a letter to someone in Iowa. Angry at hearing about another death in Iraq? Go to a house party. Volunteer to canvass, sign a petition, vent on the Dean blog. I and 3000 other Austinites got together for a rally in June of 2003 for cryin out loud just because Dean was going to be there. Summer of 2003. 3000.

I was able to constantly surround myself with people from all walks of life who felt the same way as I did...they were just as frustrated and just as motivated to make a change. And the best part? The campaign listened and accommodated me and all the other supporters. It's the first time I really felt the power of Democracy.