Ground games matter between elections, too

[struggle4progress]

For just as long as I can remember -- and that's stretching into some decades now -- slack-jawed bozos have been complaining to me that they voted but after they voted, the folk they voted for didn't always do what they hoped they would do

Duh

An election isn't about putting in people who magically read your mind from a great distance and then by some wizardry carry out your desires: it's about putting in people who you think you can work with

And the way you get them to work with you is by having an organized presence, that makes them sit up and notice just how many folk outside the Beltway Bubble agree with what you're saying

That is: ground game

You know how to ring phones? You know how to knock doors? Can you put folk in motion? Can you get them to make phone calls and write letters? Can you get your agenda onto TV or the editorial page? Will your politician hear your view next time s/he's around?

I don't effin wanna hear about how the person you voted for isn't reading your mind and carrying out your wishes, if you aren't organizing for results

[freshwest]

1. It's hard work to meet people face to face and change minds over the year. Just because the election

is over, the ground swell must continue as much as possible to change the legislative backdrop that cost so much in 2010 and took us back so far some places will not recover. This process will continue if people don't stay active. In the smaller, less publicized races and beyond that, in churches, civic association groups, school boards and all the other things that happen day after day and created the GOP/libertarian/baggers effective.

[AndyTiedye]

2. I Have Great Appreciation for Those Who Can Do This

You know how to ring phones? You know how to knock doors?

Yes, but persuading the person who answers is another matter. That is a skill that I do not possess in any significant quantity.

Can you put folk in motion? Can you get them to make phone calls and write letters? Can you get your agenda onto TV or the editorial page?

No. No. No and No.

Will your politician hear your view next time s/he's around?

Probably not. This is a very blue state. They only come out here for big-bucks fundraisers.