How I made my town safe for Democrats

[lapislzi]

You guys might remember that a couple of weeks ago I got into a pissing contest at our town's community day with the local GOP machine that basically runs the town. They were mean and tried to intimidate me (and my fellow Dems) into removing the signs we had permission to display. A few were downright nasty.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=800447

I refused to back down. (I'm the one with the biggest mouth, so it fell to me to hold our position.) Our signs stayed up. Sadly, the GOP hadn't made a plan for community day, so their signs (hastily erected) had to come down. Quel dommage.

Apparently this little tempest in a pisspot had legs...people have been calling me and the other committe members to say "Bravo! It's about time somebody stood up to those bullies!" Many have told me how relieved they are to see a Democratic presence in the town; they were afraid to show their faces. Two have asked to join the committee, and our e-mail list has exploded.

Having been caught flat-footed, the GOPers are running scared. The head of the town council said to me, "Don't get too much more organized. I like my job." Yeah, watch this.

My point (yes, I do have one), is that it really doesn't take much effort to make a difference. Michael Moore is right. There are more of us than we think. All you need to do is connect.

OK, so I didn't save the Republic or anything. Just working on my little corner of the planet.

[Beetwasher]

1. Run For Office

Seriously. Take over.

Kudos!

[Melodybe]

2. I'm in MS and I could have told you that

Bravo, for sticking to your guns.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Adn this is how we retake the country

one town at a time

Bravo, you are the real patriot here

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. way to go lapis!!!

we're in the same boat here.

85% Repug County. When I moved out here from "liberal" Dallas, I nearly lost my mind until I found our Democratic club.

When I began going to meetings last year, we had 15-20 people, most getting up there in years, and things were stagnating.

My first meeting, I jumped in with both feet, was enthusiastic and said what I thought. I had one of the older ladies come over to me and say it was so wonderful to see a little firecracker like me there (and I'm 38 now)

This last year, I've helped to bring in a few new members, and so have some others. Our AVERAGE meeting attendance now is somewhere between 45-60 a meeting.

We're all doing good work! And those of us with big mouths are like GOLD! Keep that trap open and don't shut it for anything! It scares the hell out of em!

FSC

[lapislzi]

6. Huzzah!

You're da bomb, FSC!

...and a shameless

:kick:

pour moi.

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. So are you, darlin!

Huzzah indeed! :D
FSC

PS- Keep us updated on this!

[Rambis]

5. Give em Hell!

:kick:

[HootieMcBoob]

7. We need a million more like you!

Excellent work. You're doing it! Thanks for getting down in trenches and fighting the good fight! :toast:

[LisaLynne]

8. You rule!

The Repugs want us to feel isolated and alone, but it's not true. I work at a very conservative university and this year, we started a progressive alliance. At the first meeting, we ran out of chairs. There were so many people there and everybody was saying the same thing -- that they thought they were alone on campus.

And don't be so modest -- what you did was incredible. We all have to work on our little corner and eventually, it will all come together.

[crispini]

9. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

go you!

[el_gato]

10. You Rock!

Keep up the good work.

[Aznar]

www.shortnews.com forums are been overtaken

check out the posts by YARE believe me it's worth it It takes me an hour or so to calm down

[Aznar]

19. www.shortnews.com forums are been overtaken

check out the posts by YARE believe me it's worth it It takes me an hour or so to calm down

[tilsammans]

11. Great job!

And VERY encouraging!

[Javaman]

12. One corner at a time is all it takes. :)

[Jane Austin]

13. Bravo!

Thanks for you courage.

[JimHarper3]

14. In my area of upstate NY

we have a liberal college town surrounded by a Republican county. It has done my heart good to see both sides in this election being represented in many of the rural sections. Along one stretch of road there were "Bush Must Go" signs, "Kerry/Edwards" signs, and "Bush/Cheney" signs alternating. It is nice when one does not have to worry about "what the neighbors think" and are free to state your political views--that is what truely makes America a stronger country.

BTW, a local group has been making tons of great "Bush Must Go" yard signs, and distributing them all over the nation. Check them out (and support them!) at http://www.bushmustgo.net/Signs.htm
You can even purchase them in bulk, and/or customize them with your own sticker.

Good going lapislzi!

[lapislzi]

16. What county? I'm in Putnam

A tiny "red" blotch in the otherwise blue NY metro area. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I think the current combination of working-class base (which is finally learning to see its own interest and not be distracted by wedge issues) and NY bedroom community is nudging it gently towards bluedom.

And of course, I am nudging it not so gently. So there you are. Bravo to you, too!

[JimHarper3]

20. I'm in Tompkins, home of

Cornell University, Ithaca College, and beautiful Ithaca, NY--which was designated "America's Most Enlightened City" by the Utne Reader in 1997. ( http://visitithaca.com/ )

I know repubs in Westchester/Putnam, you have a lot of moxie to take them on--good for you!

[lapislzi]

21. Beautiful part of the state

I used to go camping up that way when I was in college (Binghamton)...before I discovered that sleeping in a hotel is a lot more comfortable than sleeping in a tent.

Welcome to DU, by the way!

:toast:

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. I have ancestral connections to Tompkins!

My Smith family came from there, in Newfield. I've been trying to find out some more about my GGG grandfather and where he is buried. I know there is a wonderful archives there somewhere. Don't know if I'll ever make it.

I could be your very best friend Jim....:D
FSC

[sandnsea]

15. There ya' go

The slightest showing by Dems and they DO run scared. Same thing in my town. This should be motivating for everybody. Enough of this Republican intimidation already.

[AgadorSparticus]

17. keep it up!!!

:toast:

[Aznar]

18. www.shortnews.com forums are been overtaken

take a look at the posts from a guy called YARE at www.shortnews.com he's an insane republican the www.shortnews.com forums are been overtaken by these guys ...you'll see what I mean when you read the posts ...need to rally some troops to back up the brave few who are trying explain as YARE said in his last post "this is our damn planet"

[dave123williams]

22. AWESOME!

Tip O'Neill once said that 'all politics is local'. You're doing the right thing; time for us to stop being afraid of these cocksuckers.

[Killarney]

25. Thank you!