Why Vote?

[Emit]

... BECAUSE YOU CAN

I need help, DUers. I'm looking for a hook phrase.

I have a team of volunteers who will be walking with me twice a week, every week, until the election.

My goal: Trying to motivate voters to vote, especially 'drop-off voters' who do not usually vote in mid-term election years; finding new volunteers during our walks; and registering people to vote at their doors, if necessary.

I've never been good at choosing catchy phrases -- So my question to all is how does that intro sound?

... WHY VOTE? ... BECAUSE YOU CAN ...

Followed on the back of the flier with some specific details on why this is an important mid-term election as far as restoring balance to our government; upseating the majority, one-party rule that the Republicans have; and borrowing heavily from Kevin Spidel's PDA "A Progressive Priority: TAKE BACK THE U.S. HOUSE"

Got any better hooks or catch phrases you care to share? Any help and words of wisdom would be very much appreciated!

[proReality]

1. Why Vote?

If you don't, they won't have to cheat.
If you do, we'll eventually prove they are cheating.

[Emit]

2. I caught just a brief part of Palast on Randi Rhodes the other day

A similar comment was made, something to the effect of, "Make them work to steal the vote..." as in, they'll eventually have to go to more extreme efforts, maybe, and become more vunerable to being found out.

I also have a statistician on my team who is all over the 2004 election fraud. He came to us because his thoughts are, get out in droves to vote -- it's the only way to catch them cheating.

[spag68]

3. Catchy phrases

are nice to have, but what you need is a specific plan to actually get out the voters. That means motivating volunteers to make phone calls before the election, find ways to get into the local pennysavers etc., and finally have people who are willing to taxi people to and from the voting places. There is nothing like old fashioned methods for getting out the vote. I don't know if it's allowed here, but posting the town you live would allow DU people to volunteer. I'm on Long Island and I would do this here if asked.

[Emit]

6. We have a plan for GOTV

(Get Out the Vote)

In 2004, we ran a team for my precinct from my home, and were very successful (we turned our area blue). Our goal is to do the same this time, in more precincts.

This year, I'm coordinating the entire District, so, it's a bit bigger project for me. That's why, first, I need more volunteers.

I live in Reno! Come join our team, Reno DUers!

The catchy phrase bit is necessary for this first task at hand. I've done the phone calls to previous 2004 volunteers who are considered 'activists' and have developed a team of about 20 people. That's not enough -- My District covers over 12,500 voters. Now it's time to hit the streets and talk to people face to face.

[Vincardog]

4. GEt a picture of KKKARL and just say "Because HE will".

[Minnesota Libra]

5. It should be....."Why Vote - - Because you still can" nt

[Emit]

7. Excellent!

Thank you -- that may just be what was missing!

I'll definitely keep that one in the running, top on my list.

[Philosoraptor]

8. Why vote when the machines alter the results?

If you use THEIR machinery, you may as well stay home on election day, literally.

[Emit]

9. So I take it you're not voting this year? n/t

[Philosoraptor]

11. Absentee, like the last 5 elections.

[Emit]

13. Our plan will include

encouraging absentee voting this year. It is difficult to do without volunteers to talk with voters, though.

Hence, my first goal...getting more volunteers. We'll work on the absentee voting discussions closer to election day.

Also, in Nevada, discussing election fraud with the powers that be in our local party has been very difficult for those of us who are concerned because we have a "paper trail" for what that's worth. It gives a false sense of security, IMO, but it has been a big excuse for our Republican SOS (and our own Dem establishment) to avoid discussing election fraud. (Ensign, in 2004, was often quoted in articles as saying we have a paper trail, where, in reality, many machines, esp. in Clark County -- that's Las Vegas -- the machines were never retro-fitted with paper. Also, our paper trail is totally misleading, IMO, as just because the paper spool in the back of the machine says you voted for candidate "A" doesn't mean the machine didn't tally a vote for candidate "B")


Anyway, I appreciate your concern. But, I have to get people to the polls regardless. I see no other alternative at this point.

[pooja]

10. Why Vote?

Because young men are fighting and dying everyday until you pull the plug.

[Peace Patriot]

12. "Help us beat the machines--VOTE!"

"Never give up your right to vote--NEVER!"

"The machines CAN be beaten--VOTE!"

"Beat the machines--vote ABSENTEE! It's a start!"

(--the "It's a start!" is very important--central tabulators still a prob)

[Philosoraptor]

14. It literally is man versus machine.

And the machines are made by the republicans. We've lost the last several elections to the republican trick voting machines.

[Emit]

15. Thank you, thank you!

These are exactly some of the points I'm trying to hit on.

[Minnesota Libra]

16. Another one that you might want to consider is......................

......have a poster with a full equipped Army/Marine in Iraq and the caption above and/or underneath............

Do you want to vote now.....

....Or wish you had later?.......

Try to picture this............

what I really wish we could find is an American Military trying to help a wounded friend with an oil well in the background with Cheney/Bush/Rumsfeld/ and also has to have Rove super-imposed by the oil well with the saying of .....

Do you want to vote now.....

....Or wish you had later?.......

Or have that damned American Embassy in Iraq in the background with all the above people around it and then the soldier helping his wounded friend......with that saying

[Emit]

17. These are great ideas for our voter registration tables

We have a separate team of volunteers who are setting up voter registration tables weekly at various events and in specific locations throughout the city. I will pass this idea on to them, because they can accommodate the large visuals. In some areas, though, they are not allowed to have partisan signs, t-shirts, etc. But, for many, they can.

Thanks for the help!

[skipos]

18. Why vote? Because you should.

Sitting on your ass, letting republicans continue to control all branches of government, does nothing to help America. Voting them out of office does.

[Philosoraptor]

19. Voting them out? Did you get the Diebold memo?

Seriously, voting them out is history, as long as they make the voting machines.

[skipos]

20. Did you hear about VA, NJ and CA in 2005? We won.

So no, voting them out is not history. It isn't easy, but it can be done.

[Emit]

21. Good point

The fact that Dems are winning in certain areas leads me to believe they do not have a blatant machine stealing process going on.

Yes, the machines are a problem.

But, we still have to vote.

[Emit]

23. BTW

After having thought about what skipos posted, another thing that comes to mind is local politics -- infusing local politics right now with as many Dems as we can. They can't rig all the elections, and likely won't risk rigging them in some of these local races. So, I say, let's get out the vote even if it's just for these little races -- starting back at the local level.

What's your take on that?

[Emit]

22. Well, thanks everyone, for your help...

our team meets tomorrow. I'll pass on the ideas.