What are you doing, personally, to win this election for the democrats?

[lebkuchen]

I got a letter published this week in a local paper, and have gotten family/friends to write their own to newspapers in key states headed Kerry's direction. A friend should have his letter published this week. I'm writing another letter to stateside papers in response to Doug Feith's editorial praising the benefits of base closure in Germany. Feith, who never served in the military, doesn't know squat about running an army.

[JuniperLea]

1. encouraging

a long time politically active friend to write ltte, and he has been published many, many times in his home state of iowa. i pass the links to his stories to friends and family knowing they will pass them along as well. gave $$ to the kerry campaign. honk and give the peace sign to demonstraters against bush:)

[lebkuchen]

3. IA is a key state, which should go to the dems

I convinced my brother to start writing to newspapers, and he'll start in our hometown of IA and branch out beyond. I hope IA State and U of IA are heavily involved in this campaign.

[Melodybe]

2. Volunteering and fund raising with the County Dems and College Dems

registering people to vote, talking to damn near everyone about how evil Bushco is, and I am about to write an article about the Fascists for our college paper.

Plus I call and bother the "news" people as much as possible.

I have organized a few democrat events and will be doing more in the next 2 months.

I still feel like I am not doing enough.

[Chuletas]

4. talking to senior citizens

I try to have civil, respectful conversations with senior citizens about the war in Iraq, the economy, retirement plans etc., point out the positive reasons to vote for John Kerry.

Yesterday, a 75 year old woman told me, "that man (W) just has no idea how he's going to get out of Iraq, I see the pictures of those young men, so handsome, being killed, it makes me so sad" (she lost her own son in service to his country)

I think if everyone talked to an aunt, uncle, grandparent or someone at the supermarket, it would help our cause greatly.

[lebkuchen]

6. A guy on my hotel shuttle bus in Minneapolis told me

that Americans think about the troops from time to time, but the news about Iraq/Afghanistan isn't "in everyone's face" all day long. He seemed pleased with that.

I gave him a reason to wish such news were in his face more: the impending draft.

[lebkuchen]

5. I saw a huge inspirational sign on the HWY between Minneapolis & Brainard

It said, "Bush lied, our soldiers died."

I saw lots of anti-Bush bumperstickers and T-shirts in New Mexico, especially around Taos and Santa Fe. The small town of Chimayo posted a huge homemade sign saying "This is Kerry Country!"

[iconoclastic cat]

7. A few different things.

I hope these help the cause:
1. About 2 LTTEs per week (both TV and print)
2. Donating to Dem candidates, ACLU, etc.
3. Researching the products before I purchase them, boycotting Repub supporters, and writing to tell them that I'm boycotting them.
4. Encouraging non-voting family/friends to discuss the issues and vote
5. Hassling congresscretins

[lebkuchen]

10. Have you been writing to Minnesota papers?

The Star Tribune has had a litany of Bush-bashing letters for the last week, at least.

[iconoclastic cat]

14. I may have written to one of them.

I've lost track of how many I've written. I try not to bash, but to intellectually dismantle.

[swag]

8. I'm DUing a lot of polls!

No really, I've done a lot of unofficial fundraising (had a Kerry party in May where me and my buds raised $1200 - everybody contributed via the web or in envelopes with pre-printed donor forms). I think this was the most valuable thing I did, not just for the money, but for activating the crew. At least 5 hardcore Dem volunteers sprang out of that party - people who had never been involved before, and now a ton of new folks are on Kerry and DNC's mailing and email lists. I think the money raised on that night was just a start - most of those people have probably donated again since that night.

I've written letters to officials, media, editors (only one has been published, but what the hey), tried to post important news items to DU when appropriate.

I've also given a lot of cash to moveon.org, moveonpac.org, America Coming Together, and DNC (not to mention the less campaign related groups like ACLU, Human Rights Campaign, Stop Prisoner Rape, etc.)

I buy about 100 buttons and 50 bumperstickers each month. I always run out before the end of the month, being the button and bumpersticker guy for my office building and my neighborhood. Same with yard signs. My block is a big Kerry block for folks driving through.

My friends and I talk a lot, exchange new (valid) information, and pass it on.

You know, just shit like that. But every little bit helps, I think.

I would get out and register voters or canvass, but I'm an extreme introvert guy and lazy to boot, so I prefer to try to do the money side of things as much as I can.

I would try to persuade my parents and brother, but they live in Montana and are pretty brainwashed by Clinton-hatred (yeah, stupid, I know) and FAUX news, so I don't make much of an effort with them any more. But my Internet buddies here from me on a fairly steady basis, many of the messages containing my favorite bits of impactful info from DU, truthout, talkingpointsmemo, etc.

Anyway, good for you, persons, and keep up the good work. I had thought back in April when I was organizing the party that I could do just that and walk away, thinking I had done my part. But the work hasn't gone away, so I'm going to continue doing the dumb lazy shit I know how to do until we have a decent president. And even thereafter. We can't let Kerry be Clinton'd, and we need a decent media in order for democracy to function. Gotta keep hammering the media into shape. I know some folks say its hopeless, but what is the fucking alternative?

[lebkuchen]

12. I think your letter-writing crusade is key

A friend and I are sending an e-mail to all at work to ensure they are registered to vote. Bush has hurt my job field tremendously, so, although I can't recommend who to vote for on work e-mail, there is a 90 percent chance those registering with me will vote for Kerry.

I only wish I could be stateside for the election to drive dems to work. I did that once, several campaigns back, either driving or going door to door on election day to ensure the dem of the household had voted. If democrats could organize on that front, especially in key states, it would be a big lift.

[Larkspur]

9. I've been writing LTTE's, donating to my district's US Rep Dem challenger

donating to my local Dem Town Committee, of which I'm a member, and attending my Dem Town Committee monthly meetings. Next month, we'll start phone banking for our local and district's candidates.

[lebkuchen]

13. Phone banking is important

I used to do that for a conservation organization in an effort to save a river.

I hope you're in a town/state where Kerry/Edwards might be visiting. Your committee sounds like it has its act together, and the candidates could always use a boost.

[Larkspur]

17. I live in Northeast CT and no K/E will not visit us

Edwards supposedly was to visit central CT but it cost $500 per person. I'm not a fan of pro-Iraq-war Edwards or Kerry, so refuse to give them money. I'm an ABB'er right now.

My Dem Town Committee is the most active in the region, but like the Dem Party as a whole, we have our factions.

No one in my town has Kerry/Edwards signs on their lawns. A few have Kerry bumperstickers on their cars. I've ordered these bumperstickers and to go on my car. That's as enthusiastic as I'll get for K/E.

[WilliamPitt]

11. I put sig links up on DU

:)

[lebkuchen]

15. Thanks

for your past efforts on behalf of soldiers' families.

[MGKrebs]

16. We better win, because I can't keep this up!

- serving with the county Dem party
- working on various campaigns
- lots of voter registration
- getting ready for 'october surprise' http://groups.yahoo.com/group/octobersurprise/

- working with these folks : http://www.georgiafordemocracy.org/ (not for democrats per se, but for progressive issues.)

- and making hundreds of "bring back complete sentences buttons" and sending them all over the country! There will be hundreds in NYC for RepCon04. http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/images/merch.html


Kerry better win, or I will have to (try to) kick his ass before I drop dead from exhaustion.

[amjsjc]

18. I've spent the last two months canvassing in and around Portland...

Knocked on 2500-3000 doors. Will probably do some more work in Nevada during weekends. BTW if anyone lives in Orlando,Portland Ore, Alberquerque or Milwaukee and wants to do some canvassing I highly recommend volunteering with the League of Conservation Voter's Envirovictory project. Best.

[liberal N proud]

19. I feel responsible (at least in part) for several new voters

I have been using the Internet for almost a year, alerting those that I know are rupubs. of news that is not aired on FAUX, CNN, ABC, NBC, or CBS. I know that I have at least made a few of them think about it. I have not let up on that.
I talk to almost everyone I meet, to see if they are voting this year and the conversation always leads to a debate and I have even made a few inroads there, Totally pissed some people off too, case in point I was debating a co-worker, mostly friendly, until he started in on the right wing moral majority crap, I responded with facts to some of the rhetoric and he got pissed off. Problem is he is in charge of the office movers, I have been in a temporary office for 3 weeks.

Another place that I feel responsible for voters is a co-worker who was working for us temporarily who had been out of a job for months and was on dire straights until we hired her. She was pretty hot about how things are going in this country and wanted to know what she could do.
After several conversations, she decided to take it upon herself and go get people registered to vote. She now works with Rock the Vote. I have even sent several others to her to get registered.
Grass Roots really does work, it's amazing.

:crazy: