I went to the county Democratic Party meeting last night.

[Ron Green]

There were 62 people in attendance, the most anyone could remember at such a gathering (this is a heavily Republican county that voted overwhelmingly for Trump.) Many new PCP's were elected last night, and a reorganizational meeting is now on the calendar.

The Bernie group is the reason for the turnout. They held several high-profile events during 2016 and energized quite a few apolitical folks. It was the consensus and general tenor of this latest meeting that there will be a new way of being Democrats from now on.

I'm guessing that similar events are happening all over the country. Have you seen this?

[elleng]

1. Good to hear.

Where are you? I haven't seen such, but I rarely participate in such a manner.

[Ron Green]

7. I'm in Western Oregon. n/t

[Yurovsky]

2. The progressive wing of the party is energized...

and I think it would be stupid to try to silence them or minimize the "Bernie Effect" on the party. The party has been inching ever Leftward for the past 20 years, and I can't see what good trying to stop it would do. In a lot of ways, Trump may turn out being the best thing that ever happened to Democrats... and the GOP's downfall.

[elleng]

3. Could be.

I sure don't want to hear about minimizing the "Bernie Effect." I'm pleased to have seen this today:

OMalley: Im Going to Use My Voice to Bring Forward New Leaders.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12816111

[CentralMass]

53. I got an email about the more tickets being avaliblle for event on Friday but i could get the

morning off

[montana_hazeleyes]

18. I don't feel trump may turn out being the best thing

that ever happened to Democrats or barely anyone!

Are you saying you are glad he "won"?!? No care for all who will suffer and die because of it?!?

[RBInMaine]

38. No no no. He is saying Trump's election is ENERGIZING Democratic opposition and reorganization.

As to people being hurt by Trump, with all respect WAY too many refused to vote, WAY too many changed their vote from Obama to Trump, and WAY too many voted 3rd party. Grown people made DECISIONS, and this is what happened because of them. If they aren't happy after what Trump and the GOP do to them they should have made a different decision. Elections have CONSEQUENCES and this was among the most consequential in history. So if people suffer, then they should have made a different decision. For all of us who made the right decision, we can rest knowing that and it is now our job to tell OTHER people to make a better decision NEXT TIME.

[montana_hazeleyes]

39. Those are not including all the things that affected this election.

I'm not falling for that hook , line and sinker like some have.

I will say this, NOTHING is good about trump winning. NOTHING.

[Yurovsky]

50. I think it's better that he won than another Republican...

but I agree it was not a good thing that he won. My point is he is much more likely to inspire strong opposition by Democrats than say, a Jeb Bush or a John Kasich administration might have.

[Yurovsky]

49. Thank you - that was my point...

a milqtoast Republican might have just muddled through and co-opted enough centrist Democrats to keep folks lulled into a false sense of security while disenchanted progressives wandered over to the Greens, Socialists, or other 3rd parties.

Trump will get Democrats off of their asses. He may win a few battles, but he'll lose this war.

[bdamomma]

25. hmmm......

your last sentence is quite possible.

[classof56]

4. I'm heartened to hear of your experience.

My most recent involvement with local Democrats has been frustrating not to mention discouraging. I too live in a heavily republican county, not uncommon on the east side of Oregon, and I'd be open to step up to the plate once more, but reluctant to do so if I'm only setting myself up for more negativity similar to 4 years ago. Thanks for sharing your positive words. Maybe when the snow clears I'll reconsider. Be nice to get re-energized about my party!

Peace.

[pkdu]

5. If they are anything like these people you KNOW what they can do in my opinion

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/faithless-electors-so-far-are-democrats-not-republicans-2016-12-19

[Ron Green]

8. "These people" is an appellation I'm trying

not to use.

[pkdu]

9. Since they are specifically named in the link you didn't read , you misread "These People" nt

[Ron Green]

22. Sorry, I misunderstood. They are NOT like

those people.

[Gore1FL]

24. Apparently, all Sanders supporters are the same as faithless electors in some people's eyes.

That is especially true specially the ones really energized by Sanders....

DU is a weird place anymore.

[Gore1FL]

17. Energized Democrats inspired by Sanders are clearly going to be the same as faithless electors?

Wow. Many of us are pretty excited that apolitical people would become political allies and not arbitrarily disparage them for not readily apparent reason.

[pkdu]

19. Fail on reading comprehension 101...or maybe you didn't read the full link?

The Faithless Electors WERE "energized Democrats" thats how they became "Democratic Electors". (only they really weren't)

[Gore1FL]

20. I read the link.

You are disparaging people because they were energized by Sanders. There was no relation between your article and the OP. You are simply dealing scapegoats and sour grapes.

[pkdu]

21. "There was no relation between your article and the OP"...at least we agree on your lack of reading

comprehension.

See my tag-line

[Gore1FL]

23. I don't care if you put me on ignore for questioning your divisive post.

It says more about you than it does me.

[LonePirate]

6. Thanks for the good news. We are easily the majority party in this country. We just need to show up!

[HassleCat]

10. The important thing is to be inclusive.

The Bernie people may gain the majority on some counties, but they should be looking to enlarge, broaden, expand and diversify the party. It would be a mistake to have a revolution and squeeze out the party faithful.

[Binkie The Clown]

11. Be careful saying "Bernie" here.

There are a lot of DU people who have a real hate on for him. All you have to say is "Bernie would have beaten Trump" and they start screaming hysterically, and repeating Trump's mantra "get over it."

[rwsanders]

12. Dang, you beat me to that one!

[Feeling the Bern]

14. But if you call them out on their blind, illogical Bernie hatred, they scream you're a fool and they

don't hate Bernie. . .but their words and actions dictate otherwise. Party over principle.

[Binkie The Clown]

30. And to top it off, they tell you that you belong at JPR with the rest of the "traitors". n/t

[Feeling the Bern]

31. Party over principle. That "D" means more than being a progressive or a liberal. That "I" is evil

even though he is more of a New Deal Democrat than most "real" Democrats.

[RiverStone]

45. Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie!

Did I say Bernie?

Bernie!!!

[dembotoz]

13. so far ANY and ALL new blood in the local party has been due to bernie

not a political anti hrc thing...just a statement of what i have seen as vice chair in my local county party

[zentrum]

15. Yes, they are

....widespread.

Bernie is intent on re-galvanizing the small local offices for Democrats in each state.

This local organizing, BTW, is what the Kochs started doing 30 years ago and it's why this election, down-ticket, was such a disaster.

[NBachers]

16. San Francisco Residents: Show up Sunday to vote for reform Dem delegates to the State Dem Party.

It's a progressive movement to determine whether the party will become grassroots-focused and innovative or will remain beholden to big money interests. This is where we start - Check out their outstanding platform and impressive candidates. One of 'em is my brother-in-law.

If you show up, you will make a difference.

http://www.reformdems.com/platform

You get 14 votes for delegates. East Side San Francisco residents are in District 17; West Side residents are in District 19. Find out District 19 information here: http://www.reformdems.com/vote-1

District 17 voting information:

Date: Sunday, January 8
Candidate Speeches Begin: 10:00am
Registration & Voting Begin: 10:30am-12:30pm
Counting of Ballots Begin: 12:30pm
​
Location:
Local 261 International Laborers
Union Hall
3271 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
​
Cross streets: Shotwell street
​
*Any registered Democrat living in the district is eligible to vote. On-site voter registration is available for those not registered as Democrats.

Cross-posted in the California Forum.

[Ron Green]

29. +1. There ya go. n/t

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

26. K&R

[TeamPooka]

27. Usually a focused group of two dozen or so people can take over a county party organization. nt

[fleabiscuit]

28. I swear, "It's deja vu all over again." nt

[AnotherMother4Peace]

32. k&r

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. It's Oregon. I'd be much more impressed if it were Alabama. n/t

[Ron Green]

35. Trump took 57.2% to Clinton's 31%.

What's your understanding of Oregon's demographics?

[Tarheel_Dem]

36. Hillary Clinton won Oregon. n/t

[Ron Green]

37. But not my county, not by a long shot. n/t

[druidity33]

40. check out

sarah FAILIN's comment at the end of the string...



impressed?

[sarah FAILIN]

34. I'm going to one next week

My small Alabama town did not even have a dem party office to support local elections for years... During this election they opened up an office and rep heads started spinning. There were threats of violence on them. I did not attend meetings before, but I will now.

[MineralMan]

41. Good! I hope more people do this throughout the country.

The Party belongs to the people, but only those who show up have a voice.

[mopinko]

42. dupage county democrats, a group that didnt exist,

that was just forming when obama was elected to the senate.
they are holding a big informational meeting about getting involved.
they have almost 600 people registered.

one of my better political stories- the night i met a young, skinny guy w big ears and a funny name. it was a night to remember, and knowing him, he remembers it pretty well.
it was an electric evening for all.

[Eleanors38]

43. Sounds good. We need to be on the lookout for these events.

[Wounded Bear]

44. Good to hear, but you are in a blue state....

If you can flip a red county/district in a blue state, I'm all for it, we need that too. What you are doing is important and needs visibility and support.

I'm just hoping we'll see this in some red states.

[bahrbearian]

46. Rec

[Piedras]

47. Tremendous Turnout for CA AD 35 - San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara County

The turnout to vote for delegates for California Assembly District 35 was tremendous. I would guess that hundreds of people came to vote today. People patiently lined up in the rain outside of the IBEW Hall (which was much too small for the turnout) waiting for their chance to vote. SLOPREGRESSIVESLATE.ORG was very organized with handouts for a slate of 14 progressive candidates. It's notable that Heidi Harmon, a Bernie delegate and newly elected mayor of the City of San Luis Obispo was one of the slate of 14 progressives running to become a AD 35 delegate. I voted and left while many people were still in line. I do not know the final outcome of the vote. It was heartening to see so many people come out on a very rainy Saturday to support democracy.

[Piedras]

48. Over 700 people showed up to vote in SLO, CA for CA AD 35 delegates!

http://slocdp.org/2016/12/09/assembly-district-elections-january-7th/

The SLO Progressives slate won!

Thanks to the over 700 voters who showed up--and stood in line in the rain-- for the ADEM election! Congratulations to the new AD 35 delegates: Rosemary Canfield, Quinn Brady, Violet Cavanaugh, Heidi Harmon, Erica Reyes, Sherri Stoddard, Julie Zafiratos, Nick Andre, Eric Baskin, Michael Costello, Thomas Dunne, Brian Ivie, Steve Lacki and Giacomo Longato. BIG thanks to our volunteers who made it happen, too!

[Exultant Democracy]

51. Yeah I saw a big turn out to the one I went to in CA-10

I'll looking forward to seeing how the CO-6 meeting goes later this week.

[RandySF]

52. I'm expecting a strong resistance movement over the next four years.

Nothing galvanizes like a monster in power.