And not by being an ATM for them.
Posted by Duckman GR at June 11, 2006 10:47 PMOne of the reasons I read this blog is that the egos seem less important than the content. And your suggestions are in the same vein.
The Dems don't have their own Karl Rove to threaten torture on the overgrown A-listers, and in a lot of ways this is good. It's bad for winning elections, though.
The whole thing sort of takes you right back to Will Rogers' words about not belonging to an organized party.
Seems to be utopian to hope that the bigheads will realize cooperation is more important than they are, but, who knows. Miracles do happen, or we'd all be dead.
Posted by quixote at June 11, 2006 10:53 PMHang in there Steve, you're doing a great job. Seems to me that herding cats is always harder and always takes more time than herding sheep.
And as I've heard on more than one occasion, the number one characteristic of a successful entrepreneur is perseverance.
Posted by Jim Faith at June 11, 2006 11:54 PMI'm not at all knowledgeable about what it takes these days to organize what Democrats need to win but I suspect what's needed is a more effective grassroots campaign. For two months, before the election in 2004, I worked for one or two days a week at a local Democratic headquarters and the one thing that seemed clear is that a lot more could have been done if we had started earlier. The other thing that was clear is that many people, even Democrats, have become weary of politics to some extent but it took almost no effort to turn people around (okay, mostly Democrats) if you simply listened to what they were saying and asked questions about what their concerns were. Howard Dean seems to understand some of this in some of his organizing.
Yeah, fundraising is important, critical I suppose but what people want I suspect is participation even if participation is nothing more than knowing somebody out there is listening and not simply taking their vote for granted (maybe somebody needs to raise money for a few good studies using focus groups to explore some of this). Democrats should be showing up at County Fairs and flea markets with booths; nothing intense, just user friendly give and take with lots of resources and interesting elements that some groups are learning to develop.
The role of blogs I suppose is still being explored. Local blogs are, I suspect, very important. The easiest thing anyone can do is type in the name of your city, county and/or state along with the word Democrat until you find a Democratic party headquarters and see what's there (usually there's a phone number but many headquarters are staffed irregularly by volunteers so one has to be patient and persistent or locate a more permanent, fully staffed headquarters). Volunteers who staff headquarters don't always have the answers and sometimes it requires a caller to be creative, friendly and supportive.
What bigger blogs can provide is more connectivity and perhaps sidebar kits on things that can be done and resources available.
For example, here's the link to County Central Committees in California:
http://www.cadem.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.980219/k.9772/County_Central_Committees.htm
As for election themes, many blogs, including The Left Coaster, are getting better at it at times than even the candidates but maybe once or twice a week, blogs should consider an open thread asking for specific ideas on some topic. I remember Eriposte looking for a name for one of his themes related to Bush's Iraq war bamboozlements; there were some great replies.
Well, this is getting long. But the potential for blogs to do more is still great.
Steve, I'm with those that say hang tough and keep producing those ideas. I think if anything at least people are taking notice (maybe not yet acting upon it) but not just blowing it off like I think they would have a year or two ago.
Nextly, As for the comments by Reid and others, the skeptic in me says I hope those comments weren't just the "quick pat on the back good dog" type of patronizing words that many (mostly repubs)are skilled at using. You know pretending they listen to you and need you but in actuality the don't hear and just use you. I am not quite sold on the current crop of dems based on their congressional failures over the past 5 years to stand up to those bullies. I have come to view them very hesistantly, (as I do with Bush and repubs), it's not so much their words it's their deeds! Until I see some bold in your face leadership on a series of principled positions, the Leiberman, Nelsons, Landrieus of the world continue to screw the American people time and time again. I am sick and tired of the failed keeping your powder dry mentality that the Democrats have used against a president with 33% popularity....it certainly hasn't done most average Americans any good on issues that they care about the most.
Posted by emal at June 12, 2006 04:55 AMIf you guys weren't working on strategy, then WTF were you doing in Vegas....
Is it all going to stay in Vegas?
I echo the comments about LC being full of ideas rather than egos. I am disturbed at the starstruck factor of YKos - the marquee names reveled in the attention, and the faceless minions were thankful to share the same hotel with them. FDL, a blog I love, posted Markos' military pic on its front page without comment - completing 'the messiah has returned' theme of the weekend. I don't mean to be snarky, really, but this hagiography isn't a new way of doing things - it's the old way.
Meanwhile, amidst this self-congratulation, Net Neutrality lost in the House, Arlen Specter caved to Cheney, and the administration revved up its propaganda machine to capitalize on Zarqawi's death. They're ready for midterms, and we're not.
Posted by outer borough at June 12, 2006 06:18 AM"C list"? You mean I check this site for new postings every few hours to be informed by "C list" writers? I don't think so.
Now you've got my ego engaged or is that enraged...
Posted by Cordier at June 12, 2006 07:04 AMI'm with Cordier above. Every time I get an email from my local campaign house asking what I will bring to the weekend potluck I want to throw up. I truly hope they are not the only campaigns who are so severely behind the times in strategy and methodology. THAT disconnect is what I want to see addressed by the DNC and THAT is one of several issues I want bloggers to bring to the table. Kos & Jerome have my thanks for the masterful way they have brought attention to the great brain trust that is the blogosphere, but it's time to let the ponies out of the barn and onto the track here.
Posted by mainsailset at June 12, 2006 07:22 AMWhile Rove's plan for the fall may still be veiled, all one has to do is pay attention to see some of what this Admin is doing. As outer borough says, "the administration revved up its propaganda machine to capitalize on Zarqawi's death". While that distraction captures the headlines, Rove let's his congressional shills get on the record opposing permanent Iraq military bases. However, even though both the House and the Senate vote against permanent bases, and while the weekend news is set to be dominated by the Zarqawi episode, late Friday (while few will be watching), the base ban is removed.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060609/pl_nm/security_congress_funding_dc
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For those of us that have been yelling about the PNAC since the early fall of '02, this comes as no surprise. Neither does the plan to keep 50,000 troops there to dominate the Middle East.
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So while the specifics of Rove's plan for the fall are yet to be seen, the PNAC component is "on track". In fact it's all but complete - scroll down to the "Mission Accomplished?" section of
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/11/AR2006061100739.html
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For those that missed the Q & A with Chalmers Johnson on C-SPAN yesterday, the game may already be over. His only hope for the country is bankruptcy. Very depressing, very distressing.
Arlen's talking tough again:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican chairman of a Senate committee said Sunday he is prepared to call telephone company officials to testify about a domestic wiretapping program if he doesn't get cooperation in talks with the Bush administration.
"If we don't get some results, I'm prepared to go back to demand hearings and issue subpoenas if necessary," Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter told CNN's "Late Edition."
Specter denied a report that he was ready to give amnesty to anyone who authorized wiretaps.
"If anybody has violated the law, they'll be held accountable, both as to criminal conduct and as to civil conduct," Specter said. "In no way did I promise amnesty."
Let's see if he really means it, though.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/11/nsa/index.html
Diebold.
Nothing else matters.
Posted by God Of War at June 12, 2006 09:08 AMWhat Does The Democratic Party Stand For?
The answer to this question is the difference between victory and defeat in November.
If all that our team can respond with is "Culture of Corruption" or "Together We Can Do Better" -- our goose is cooked.
Short sharp soundbites, three simple thoughts, that can be delivered in less than 10 seconds. What is so fucking hard about that?
Seriously -- a simple salient message that encapsulates what we are about is the key -- with it, we win; without it, the GOP message defines us.
Posted by ck at June 12, 2006 09:08 AMFer instance..........?
Posted by Duckman GR at June 12, 2006 09:26 AMYou beat me to it Duckman.
Posted by snark at June 12, 2006 09:32 AMlike ... Even John Wayne would have voted Dem today.
Posted by mainsailset at June 12, 2006 09:54 AMAnd I don't mean it to be, well, er, snarky, but, that's the point of Steve's post, to get past saying what we need, and doing it.
Just having a phrase isn't going to do it, but it is a piece of the puzzle. So lay out some phrases, run them up the flagpole, and see what happens. If they're any good they'll catch on, and can get pushed.
Posted by Duckman GR at June 12, 2006 09:54 AMFer instance..........?
I'm rather fond of ... Had Enough?!
I view this as an umbrella/starting point. It allows you to enumerate anything from tax policy, Iraq, Katrina, incompetancy and the culture of fear to whatever is most significant to your audience at the moment. Moreover, it then allows you to go further and present more reasonable alternatives. But having an overarching theme is important in campaigns. While one part of the Had Enough?! message will stick with one voter, a different part will resonate with another. But they both will agree, at the water cooler, that they have Had Enough?!
JMO
Posted by lurqer at June 12, 2006 10:20 AMThe wordier the question, the easier it is to ignore.
The Establishment Democrats love this -- give them a wordy question, they respond with a wordier answer. Next thing you know, three focus groups and ten polls and seventeen consultants later, they will produce a 500 page door stop.
Seriously -- the GOP Mantra is "Lower Taxes, Less Government, and More Freedom." It's a lie and a crock, but it's a killer mantra, that has been tattooed on brain of every dittohead and half the Independents in the country. Not only is it brilliant in defining the GOP, it also undermines Brand Democrat by implication.
It infers that we are the Democratic Party means "Higher Taxes, More Government, and Less Freedom" -- and it is that indelible message that we are fighting against. So until we can offer simple affirmative answers to the question -- What Do Democrats Stand For? -- we will be defined by GOP smears.
That's why the question matters, and that's what we need to pound into the heads of the Beltway Dems message mavens.
As counterpoint to the GOP Mantra, the Democrats should focus on words that neutralize their message, and affirm Democratic Values. The words Honest, Fair, & Real do just that.
Whether we use them in combination with a counterpunch to the GOP Mantra -- "Honest Government, Fair Taxes, Real Security" (choose your own subjects) or something else, this is the process we need to follow.
At yKos, one panelist quoted MT Governor Brian Schweitzer -- "Issues Divide, Values Unite." That is the most profound insight I've heard in years. The Democratic establishment is so hung up on process and issues, they've forgotten that passion is the driving force of politics.
Frank Luntz is the architect of the GOP ascendancy, and he did it with emotionally charged words that are content free -- what does that tell you? The Dems respond with language that is content filled but emotionally sterile -- and they lose and lose and lose.
Anyway, to return to the central question: What Do Democrats Stand For?
Hope. The Democratic Party gives Americans Hope.
The Republican Party has destroyed the American Dream, because they are the party of greed. The Republican Party divide us, because they are the party of fear and resentment.
Democrats give people Hope -- because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. That is the essence of the American Dream -- giving the American People the opportunity to succeed.
Security is more than an empty GOP buzzword -- it also means a decent job, good schools, and safe communities. It means securing our ports and going after our real enemies -- not invading countries that don't threaten us in order to steal their oil.
The touchstone words for Democratic Values -- Honest, Fair, and Real; Hope, Security, and Opportunity. Restoring the American Community for the benefit of everyone.
Posted by ck at June 12, 2006 10:34 AMHaving worked on a congressional campaign that got little attention and no money from the DCCC in the general election in 2004, I can say that they have no interest in being partners with the center left blogosphere, no matter how much money you raise.
Anything that threatens their hegemony over the process is to be shunned -- that's you hippy! I honestly believe that the DCCC would rather lose elections and control of the house than give up their power in selecting Dems to be in Congress.
mojo sends
Posted by vanmojo at June 12, 2006 11:06 AMHow about a space for progressive dem phrases. I'll start:
Fighting for YOU
Securing our Future
Representing YOU
Trust in Us
Posted by Cordier at June 12, 2006 05:26 PMNow we're talking, ck!
Now we need to repeat these things ad nauseum.
Rather than support our counter arguments or message argumetns with facts and figures, we just need to sling the message.
For instance, the goppers say they're for more freedom. Bullshit of course. And when you challenge them on it, they go crazy. But they don't argue with you about it, they throw up a gay marriage amendment, they challenge your credibility on some other issue.
The response is, and what the Senators should have been doing during that debate, was talk about one subject, and one subject only. More freedom? And the proper response is, "the republicans want to listen to your personal phone calls. That doesn't sound like more freedom to me. That sounds like they're spying on American Citizens."
And when they sputter and threaten and deny and refute, going into long winded explanations about how they're listening to terrorists, and how you want them to listen to foreigners calling traitorous Americans, you've won if you do one thing. Because now they're responding to you.
And that one thing?
"The republicans are listening to your personal phone calls. That isn't more freedom, that's a violation of your privacy. That's the gop, bush, etc, saying they don't believe that you're a good law abiding citizen, they're saying that you can't be trusted. Democrats believe in the First Amendment, believe in Privacy Rights, trust the American People, and we always have."
Posted by Duckman GR at June 12, 2006 07:20 PM