Now I know why my county is ruled by Republicans

[Pacifist Patriot]

I have exactly three Democrats representing my interests.

-A school board member, which is actually a non-partisan race but he is a registered democrat.

-The county tax collector who has probably been in the position since before I was born.

-One of our two U.S. Senators.

Every other position from city council to President of the United States for my address is a Republican.

I attended the DEC meeting for my county last night. Oy!

We have 233 precincts and we're supposed to have two precinct captains for each precinct, a man and a woman. We have 30 captains. Total. The woman chairing the committee is a harpie who is more interested in preserving her authority than building the committee. New members were subtly insulted and steered away last night. Basically told to go form or join democratic clubs rather than the democratic party. Supposedly they average about 30 people each month and last night they had almost 200 show up. The committee chair expressed concern with the presence of new people! Halfway through the meeting at least half of the people had left.

Fortunately, they are on the cusp of a coup. There is a group of relatively new and committed members who are preparing to oust the old guard. Elections for new officers are being held on December 1. I'm not eligible to participate, but my contact in the group seems confident the rebels in the party will prevail. I sure hope so. The rancor in the room was palpable. Popcorn and beer would have made the drama complete. The chair had also been refusing to pay some bills associated with a recent fund raising event. People had to browbeat and shame her into agreeing to pay them at which point she started spinning like Karl Rove. Pathetic!

I'm going to stick with it, but now I know why a county with 44% registered republican can win elections with a 65/35 margin of victory. Damn!

My parents are involved in a county in another state and report a similar distressing situation. Is this typical? Is it like this at the state and national level? It sure would explain a lot.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Sadly...

it is past time from top to bottom party reform. Well past time.

So get involved. It won't happen without you and your friends in the mix.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Don't worry about us. We're in for the long haul.

Both of us are pushy broads who are used to getting our way. We're the type that can tell people to go to hell and they'll thank us and ask for directions.

We've got to get the twenty-to-forty somethings out in droves. That way in twenty years we can dominate. I'm all for working like the devil to make change in 2006, but I've got my eye on 2024 too.

[crispini]

3. Been there, done that, got the shirt.

Our county party's just as much of a mess, and there is a similar coup in the works. Luckily, 95% of the yellow dog dems around here are DELIGHTED to get the extra help and are frantically mentoring as many of us as they can and are more than willing to turn the reins over to the new people.

You and your parents are doing exactly what you need to do to take the party back. There's a LOT of grassroots energy out there.... help make sure it finds somewhere to go...

[Turn CO Blue]

4. Thank you for the post...

Everything I've been learning about this election has made me realize that we have to steer this country's direction at the local level.

Look out old guard, I'm coming to your meetings...and I'm a blunt-spoken, firm-but-polite, well-read, educated, fed-up, REFORM Democrat!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. In Minnesota, many people from the Kucinich campaign

and Dean campaign are busily insinuating themselves into the party structure.

Unfortunately, the DFL has become a bit complacent in recent years, and it needs a wake-up call. It's not as bad as some states, but Ventura won the governorship because the three Dem candidates for governor turned people off during the primary season by arguing personalities and political pedigrees rather than issues.