Project for a New Democratic Party (update)

[Teaser]

the group is configured.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pndp/


People are joining.

And all you have to do is wnat the following:

A list to coordinate grassroots takeover of local Democratic Party machines for the purposes of an invigorated, results oriented Democratic party. We will coordinate our activities at the local level, involve ourselves in local candidate selection and attempt to inculcate innovative idea-framing strategies into the parties day-to-day operations.

As our influence grows, expect this group to generate themes and messages for local parties to emphasize. But for right now, to join, you simply need to:

1) become active members of their local party apparatus within 30 days of joining the list. This is an honor system requirement. We can't check up on you. If you tell us you've become a ward leader, we'll believe you. But it hurts us all if you aren't honest.

2) support the broad *tactical* principles of reframing progressive issues as values issues. Examples: "taxes" -> "tax fairness". "Gay rights"->"personal freedoms"
a la George Lakoff.

3) Accept of our role as *opposition party*. In other words, no more "bipartisanship". We don't have to be mean, or nasty. We just don't try and help the Republican majority. Let them ram through their policies. Our point is to oppose them using the tactics from
2. Even though we will lose all these battles. The purpose of the party now is to articulate a Democratic set of values the public can recognize as such. Acceptance of these values we'll worry about later. First thing is to get them out there.

[madfloridian]

1. Here is a summary of many groups already going.

I prefer DFA for now, but here are some others.

There are many indications that the progressive/liberal groups within the party are getting very involved. I am seeing now that the progressive label for all intents and purposes stands for "change" from the rightward swing of the party. It is an attempt to get us back to what we once were, not so beholden to corporations and big business. As Conason mentions in his new article at Salon today, they are working together to get Kerry elected right now. However, they will continue in new ways after November.

A quote and link to Conason's article:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/07/30/john_kerry/index.html
SNIP...."At the Royal Sonesta, meanwhile, the labor, minority and community organizations gathered behind the banner of the Campaign for America's Future and Progressive Majority, were laying their own plans. They too were looking beyond November as they talked about recruiting a new generation of candidates and building grass-roots pressure on a prospective Kerry administration to carry out the candidate's progressive promises -- and go further. Their model might be the Christian Coalition, which used modern campaign techniques a decade ago to build a grass-roots right-wing movement at the base of the Republican Party, and won substantial influence over the GOP in the process. "Take Back America," the title of CAF's conference at the Royal Sonesta, could just as easily have been the slogan of the religious right a decade ago. " END SNIP

For now, the differences between the donors at the Four Seasons and the organizers at the Royal Sonesta matter far less than their shared goal of ousting the Bush administration.

Here are a few I have compiled, all a little different in purpose, but many supporting the same candidates and ideals.

Take Back America
http://www.ourfuture.org/projects/convention/index.cfm

A group, founded by Howard Dean, supporting various local candidates who share the values of the progressive movement:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
And the blog and other links:
http://www.blogforamerica.com/

And the congressional leaders at the Progressive Majority:
http://www.progressivemajority.org/leadership/index.asp
Home Page
http://www.progressivemajority.org/

And the group that is connected to many Kucinich supporters, and at which I see various DFA groups signing up:
http://www.pdamerica.org/sponsors.php

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Don't forget that new parties still have to face

the same election system we have now. Unless we get to work.

-----------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT! Take this country back one town and state at a time!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[Teaser]

3. This ain't a new party...

It's the Democratic Party...and it's our plan to colonize it. But your point is well taken.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Feel free to put my election reform page in your links section :^)

The more folks who act on this now, the better chance we have of cleaning up _some_ cities and towns (and dare we hope, states) before the next Congressional elections.

-----------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT! Take this country back one town and state at a time!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[Teaser]

5. deleted.

deleted.

[Teaser]

6. will do.

have to work now, but if I forget to do this, mail me and remind me.