Is it time to take over the Democratic Party?

[genius]

Poll question: Is it time to take over the Democratic Party?

The DNC doesn't seem interested in backing the voters or supporting us in any way. So it has occurred to me that we should form an outside Democratic Citizens Committee to dictate who our candidates shall be. We can use it to put together massive grass roots efforts. We can even have our own conventions and put together our own platform. The DNC will have to go with the primary candidates who get the most votes. Why does the DNC have to represent us when we can form some type of people's committee that is more powerful within our party? WE can do so within the states also - forming alternatives to the California Democratic Party and other state Party leadership groups that often support props (like 57 and 58- CA) that they know their memebers strongly oppose.

An example is that, in Orange County, CA, the Central Committee did nothing to help candidates get elected. Their "victory fund" did not even bother to contact the people who signed up to precinct walk and it failed to provide voter lists to help people walk and call for Kerry. Although the victory fund took in a great deal of money, they were weeks behind on their bills and no one could figure where the money went. However, the grass roots campaign and groups like the PHDC (formed as a progressive think tank within the county) put together such a strong grass roots campaign that a significant number of declines to states voted for Kerry, along with the registered Dems. These outside groups had people and kids who volunteered 12 to 20 hour days for Kerry and they were certainly more effective than the Party, itself, which actually was discouraging voters and volunteers.

[demnan]

1. If we're going to lose every election

we might as well do it on issues we believe in. I wish we had had a stronger anti-war candidate like Howard Dean.

[genius]

16. Or at least one who isn't looking to the Repulbicans for his ideas.

[ever_green]

17. I love Dean

I agree completely. I feel cheated by having to vote for Kerry.

[jimmyp]

21. I love Dean too

I'm happy to see someone else say it. I am all for Dean having more say in whatever capacity that is. I was never more inspired by any candidate than during those exciting early primary days with Dean.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[demnan]

4. Welcome to DU

but if you link to "newsmin" you're not going to make many friends around here.

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. What has he been smoking?...Or

in whose vortex is he spinning???

[KurtNYC]

8. Kerry didn't support gay marriage

and gay marriage is already illegal/unrecognized.

Kerry lost because he ran a terrible campaign. His prompt concession hurt even more than his poorly run campaign.

[hinachan]

9. It's the voter fraud, stupid.

Clinton's just trying to make the party more right-wing, and that is NOT the answer. The swing voters complained that they couldn't tell the difference between Bush and Kerry...making future Dems more Bush-like is not going to clear up this confusion.

Gay marriage was just one issue of many. Bush's scaring the hell out of the "sucker moms" was a far bigger issue than gay marriage, which only was an issue in a few states. Fear was an issue nationwide. Using gays as a scapegoat is utterly despicable, and appalling, coming from a Democrat.

Howard Dean had the right idea. With all due respect for your past achievements, Bill, it's time for you to go. We need to bring back the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

[genius]

15. The voter fraud cost us the Presidency ad the DNC won't back its

own members in fighting the theft of the 2004 election. We need new leadership that we can trust to represent us.

[hinachan]

10. Another problem with Clinton's "logic":

"Clinton said Democrats needed to reach out to conservative Christians and do better in explaining how they share the same values."

He's living in a dream world, if he believes that there's a conservative Christian who will vote for a Democrat over a Republican, any time, ever.

[KurtNYC]

3. With 35% of the country registered 'independent'

there is room for issues-based groups which can appeal to dis-affected Dems, moderates and independents.

We need to be more pragmatic than just running a candidate because it is "their turn to run."

[paula777]

6. I think it's time for an economic civil war

I'm not buying any products that come from any red states (Cars, agriculture, produce, etc), nor am I going to contribute to any charities that go to any red states. Since many of the red states are 'welfare states' I guess they will just have to depend on * for help. I know it sounds mean, but I'm pissed.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi paula777!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Inland]

7. "Democratic Party?" Qu'est que c'est? nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Fix the election system first. Then switch your primaries

to instant runoff voting and hold them all on one day.

THEN if you still aren't winning elections, re-examine your party's message and agenda.

-------------------------------------------------------
Fight the election fraud! Help fund the recounts!
http://geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[shib]

13. It's time

Time to tell the DLC to step aside and empower Dean's group, the Black Congressional Causus and the Progressive Caucus.

[BattyDem]

14. I like that idea!

:toast:

[donachiel]

18. I agree

First fix what's broken, see if it works, and then try again. If it still doesn't work, find out what else may be broken. :)

[genius]

19. I didn't use to believ in those but there's the possibility they

could bring new faces from new parties into offices. The number one reason I don't like the Greens is because they don't have a chance.

[Dolphyn]

22. Instant Runoff Voting - worked great in San Francisco

I heard one of the candidates on KPFA talking about how well Instant Runoff Voting worked in the recent city election. In addition to the more obvious benefits, it revolutionized the CAMPAIGN process, because candidates with similar views were able to work together to make their ideas heard by the voters. It became more of a cooperative effort among the candidates, with less cutthroat competition and more dialog about issues.

http://www.sfrcv.com/

Imagine how the primaries might have turned out if Kucinich, Dean, Sharpton, and Moseley-Braun had been able to work as an anti-war coalition instead of competitors.

[Hobbes199]

20. dnc comment -- A sort of Nominee Committee

It's part of the corruption in the 2-party system, caused by the groups that decide it. But a huge internet consortium nominating the candidates we see fit, sounds like a *huge* step forward.