What are we actually DOING to ensure we take Congress in '06?

[FormerRepublican]

I am personally motivated to ensure Bush and his criminal cabal do not retain power after the '06 elections. And maybe I'm wrong in thinking this, but... It really seems as if the Democrat Party is not really doing anything to ensure we win in '06. I read all my emails, I listen to the news looking for something to hope for, I read up on the candidates and the elections - but what are we doing different NOW that we didn't do in '04 when we got creamed?

Doing the same ol' same ol' isn't going to cut it if we want to wrest power away from the power mad Republican mafia. Where's the energy in the Party? Where's the fight? WHY do our people just lay down for the 'pukes?

How can we build our energy to win? To work together to defeat the criminals? To put forward candidates that blow the competition away in every regard?

I've been involved in politics and I know how it works - but heck, I feel helpless and without a thing to do to defeat those I consider to be enemies of our country! There's something wrong in our party and we need to fix it to win. But I just can't figure out what's wrong...

Has the Democrat Party structure sold out to the Republicans? Do we even HAVE a separate party anymore? What do we need to do to define ourselves and show America what we truly believe in?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. So tired of this whining.

You obviously are not paying any attention.

[FormerRepublican]

2. No, what I'm feeling is the lack of forward moving energy in the party.

Going after it half *ssed will not crush the Republicans, which is what we need to do to win.

If I'm feeling this way, then so are others. THAT is a problem.

To defeat the corruption and criminality, we MUST have overwhelming political force. Just going after it in bits and pieces isn't going to get the job done.

We need to ratchet up our efforts if we want to win. I guess that's what I'm trying to say. IMO, what we're doing already is just not enough.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Just because you feel that, doesn't make it true at all.

The efforts are incredibly high, considering we're still 11 months away from election day. Do you have any idea at all how difficult it is to sustain the kind of momentum you're talking about for 11 months? I'll help you - it's impossible. People will just tune you out eventually. The big push should start no earlier than June.

[FormerRepublican]

5. Is it too early to start building cohesive grassroot groups?

Isn't this an ongoing effort unrelated to the media blitz? How do we build cohesion in the party so we're all working together to get our people elected, instead of fighting over what should be done? How do we encourage new people to take a second look at the Democrat party? How do we encourage more voter participation? How do we overcome the malaise in the party, where everyone feels hopeless because of the criminal dirty tricks the Republicans are engaging in? How do we become more effective at getting the message of ALL Democrat candidates out to the public?

There are things that can be done to improve our ability to defeat our opponents that DON'T involve election campaigning!

We're being defeated by our own lack of effective strategy.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Just because YOU aren't seeing it, doesn't mean it's not happening.

Everything you're talking about is being done.

[FormerRepublican]

8. OK, then when does it reach me?

2025? It's not that an effort isn't being made, it's that the effort isn't sufficient to fight the corruption in the Republican party that is keeping them in power! The more power they have, the harder we have to fight to defeat them!

Granted, Utah is probably the last place the Democrats are looking at to make a difference, and this is the last place I'll see evidence of these efforts. But on the internet, at least, I should see and feel the growing muscle in the party fighting to get their place back!

Where's all the fight? Where's all the outrage? Where's all the people screaming daily to Howard Dean take my $$$ to fight this and give me my country back?

And we're being undermined by our own Democrat leadership in Congress, who more often partner with the Republicans there than support and defend us, the people who elected them! (Can you say Lieberman?) The silence from Washington is deafening, while at the same time the level of scandal and criminality is rising!

Our malaise is caused by a lack of effective leadership, cohesion, and strategy, and we must change this if we want to win!

We have to talk about where we're weak, and what we need to do to strengthen the party so we can be effective in pushing out the crooks!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. Yes, Utah is the absolute last place it will reach.

Spending any significant money there would be an enormous waste of resources.

Quite frankly, I can't see how you're outraged or shocked that you aren't seeing much activity in Utah, by far the most Republican state in the union. Further, I can't fathom why you'd think Democratic activities (or non-activities) that take place in Utah are in any way indicative of what we're doing everywhere else in the country. Seriously, what do you really expect?

[FormerRepublican]

10. Read my post again.

I said I didn't expect to see anything in this state. I do expect to see things on the internet. Given the level of corruption and criminality in the Republican party, I'm not seeing nearly the outrage and demand for change that I would expect from such serious problems. How many times have Democrat elected officials gone on the record about these scandals?

Why are you objecting because I say we need to be more effective at fighting against Republicans? How can we win if we're not willing to see where we can improve and do what's necessary to do so? Aren't we better off if we do more?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. I object because you claim we're not doing anything.

I'm sick of the bullshit "WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH! THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!" nonsense that so many people around here have taken to. We are doing quite a bit. Just because you don't understand or don't see what we're doing, that doesn't mean it's not taking place.

[FormerRepublican]

13. If we were being effective at what we're doing, we would see results.

That's the bottom line. If we were effective, food stamps wouldn't have been cut. If we were effective, Medicaid wouldn't be non-existent. If we were effective, would all those people have suffered so after Katrina?

Something we're doing is not quite right, or our voices would get things done.

And the risks of not getting things done is what's driving me to be so harsh in what I'm saying.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. What results?!?!?

Election day is A YEAR AWAY! There are no other results to be seen.

No matter WHAT we could've done, all of those things you said would've happened because we HAVE NO FUCKING POWER! What part of that don't you get?

[FormerRepublican]

17. We don't have the power to talk to people and get them to see our...

...point of view?

What happened to grassroots action to oppose some of the worst things the 'pukes do? Like torture? Like the response to Katrina (which is STILL horrific)? What happened to mailing and calling and emailing people to get things done? It's not all about what goes on in Congress. It's also about what we're doing to involve average, everyday Americans in what goes on in our country. Burying Congress and the White House in public revulsion STILL gets things done, despite Republican corruption.

The more we say we're powerless, the more powerless we become.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

18. Have you lived in a cave?

Please, give me an instance where Republicans (aka the people who have ALL of the power) and listened to and adopted our point of view, no matter how popular our POV is?

[FormerRepublican]

19. Bush's temporary adoption of Murtha's withdrawal plan is an example.

The silence on Social Security after trumpeting it as THE cause celebre is another.

We CAN be effective while they're in power, but we have to work really, really hard at it. If we don't work, they're going to get what they want (which usually kills someone).

[dennisnyc]

21. have you visited dccc.org?

check out:
http://www.dccc.org/campaignforchange/takeaction/

Taking the House back in '06 is doable and there's your action plan, right on this site!

[OneBlueSky]

4. the single most important thing that can be done for 2006 . . .

is to ensure the elimination of e-voting, and of vote tabulating by Republican corporations . . . unfortunately, both Republicans and Democrats seem bound and determined that e-voting will be the norm throughout the nation, as states and counties continue to certify and install e-voting systems despite strong evidence that they are not secure . . .

unless and until the Democrats take a STRONG stand against e-voting and FOR taking our electoral system out of the hands of private corporations and returning it to the people, our chances in 2006 and 2008 are slim and none . . . just look at what happened with the Ohio referenda this year . . .

[FormerRepublican]

7. OK, if e-voting is the problem, we need to DO something!!!

If the Democrat party won't act on the issue, then WE the people should act (and make our displeasure known to those who fail to act).

For example, can't we form our own lobby and public relations group to address the issue? Can't we join with other non-partisan organizations who are also concerned about the issue? Can't we do a letter campaign to educate the public that their vote is not being counted to build support for reform? Can't we advertise with prime examples of votes that were misdirected, with the proof to back them up?

We know what the problems are. What we need is effective strategy!

[derby378]

11. One thing you can do right now to help in 2006

Run for Precinct Chair.

There's a lot of Precinct Chairs on DU; if I'm lucky, I'll be joining the ranks in March.

Sounds intimidating, and there is a certain amount of commitment involved, but being a PC can be very rewarding. PCs are the frontline of the party in terms of organizing local voters, communicating with them, and getting them to the polls. If your precinct has an active and engaged PC in charge, then the precinct will almost always turn out a heavier vote for the party than if nobody's at the helm.

Reorganize the Democratic Party from the ground up. And the easiest way to start is by becoming a Precinct Chair.

[FormerRepublican]

14. That's a very good suggestion!

Especially here in Utah, where the Dem party is so demoralized. I think I will call or email them and find out what I can do.

The Dem party is so demoralized here that when you call and ask where your voting place is and who to talk to about registering, they tell you to call Republican party state headquarters.

:cry:

[derby378]

15. Wha-wha-WHAAA?

:wtf:

Oh, wow. We need some serious mobilization over there!

[dennisnyc]

20. precinct chair! absolutely! also:

join or form an Operation Democracy team at www.moveonpac.org. we're doing monthly actions to build cohesive teams--in any/every neighborhood!

also, www.dccc.org has been sending out action suggestions and constant fundraising requests. Raising money is important.

are you a member of your local DFA?

Regular information sharing and group formation ARE important.

Sorry- i don't mean to be rude, but if you don't think a lot is being done, you're not looking.

go to www.newdemmajority.org for an example of what's happening in NYC.

We are going to take back the House in '06 and we've been working hard!

[FormerRepublican]

22. Maybe that's part of what I'm looking for, too.

I'd like to see stories from areas where the Democratic party is REALLY working hard. This can inspire those of us in areas controlled by Republicans. We may not always know how to fight them effectively, and the stories from others can help.

I'm going to look into more ways I can personally participate. Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions, since they are EXACTLY the kind of thing I'm looking for!

[FormerRepublican]

23. Do you have any more links...

...to stories about how people have made a difference in their community? Do you know of other organizations that help people organize in their community?

Maybe the problem is I have to look for what's being done - where do I look? Who do I talk to? How do I find out what's being done and how I can help? If we could get the word out about what's being done, we can inspire more people to do the same. Know what I mean?

I think there are a lot of folks out there who want things to change. Part of what needs to happen is to give those folks the information and tools they need to make that change.

[IndianaGreen]

24. I may not care about most Beltway Democrats, but I love our Democrats

We are going to working our buns off again to get our Democratic Congresswoman Julia Carson reelected to another term.

I would like to see the state Democrats field a real candidate against that ass-wipe Lugar. He has been in the Senate for too long, and he hasn't done jack shit for me!

[pinto]

25. Opportunities to participate in contested races listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x351

[dennisnyc]

26. OK, more links:

at www.democrats.org you can get regular emails. This site is run by the DNC and Dean's roll out of the national strategy was announced in an email alert they sent out. Info on house parties, helping out, etc is there.

How about asking these people what you can do?

Utah Democratic Party 455 South 300 East Ste 301 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 801-328-1212 801-328-1238 (fax) http://www.utdemocrats.org/ Chair: Wayne Holland, Jr Vice Chair: Robert D. Miller Executive Director: Todd Taylor...

keep an eye on www.ourcongress.org and

at http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com you can keep track of any changes in races in your area...