Rock the Vote Is Stuck in a Hard Place

[TheWebHead]

By Charles Duhigg, Times Staff Writer

For more than a decade, the youth-and-civics group Rock the Vote has been the coolest kid on the political playground.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1990 with the goal of politically empowering the MTV generation, Rock the Vote quickly became a cause celebre among Democratic and entertainment power brokers. At rock concerts, on college campuses and with ads featuring a near-naked Madonna, the group helped register millions of young voters.

But as it moves into its 16th year, Rock the Vote itself is being rocked by crisis.

Saddled with about $700,000 in debt, the group has cut its staff from more than 20 people in 2004 to just two today. Its president, who left last summer amid disagreement about the organization's direction, has yet to be replaced. And last month, Rock the Vote was sued for the second time in just eight months

more...
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rockthevote7feb07,1,3370120.story?coll=la-headlines-business

Dems NEED Rock The Vote
http://www.rockthevote.com/
http://www.justgive.org/giving/donate.jsp?charityId=6446&

[truthisfreedom]

1. sad to think something so important is on the rocks. takers?

supporters?

[Earth_First]

2. "...in 2004... youth voting surged by 11% to more than 20 million ballots.

Rock the Vote registered 1.4 million voters that election cycle."

Sounds like the organization has a problem with allocating and mismanagement of funds, rather than a lack of interest. Perhaps it's time to get the special interest (record executives) off the board of directors, and commission the help of individuals like Mimi Kennedy and friends who have the financial backing, and a vested interest in a transparent democracy emboldened by the youth demographic.

Just some thoughts.

[roseBudd]

3. I nominate Eminem

Scrutinize every word, memorize every line
I spit it once, refuel re-energize and rewind
I give sight to the blind, my insight through the mind
I exercise my right to express what I feel inside
Its just all in your mind, what you interpret it as
I say to fight you take it as I'mma whip someone's ass
If you don't understand don't even bother to ask
A father who has grown up with a fatherless past
Who has blown up now to rap phenomenon that has
Or at least shows no difficulty multi-taskin
And juggling both, perhaps mastered his craft, slash
Entrepenaur, who has helped launch a few more rap acts
Who has had a few obstacles thrown his way through the last half
Of his careeer, typical manur, moving past that
Mister kiss his ass crack, hes a class act
Rubberband man, yeah, he just snaps back

(Chorus)

Come along, follow me, as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark that we need, to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, come with me, and I won't, steer you wrong
Give your faith and your trust, as I guide us through the fog, to the light at the end of the tunnel
We gon fight, we gon charge, we gon stomp, we gon march through the swamp, we gon mosh through the marsh, take us right
through the doors
Come on

VERSE 2:

All the people up top, on the side and the middle, from the ghetto, lets all form and stomp just a little
Just let it gradually build, from the front to the back
All you can see is a sea of people, some white and some black
Don’t matter what color, all that matters is we're gathered together
To celebrate for the same cause, no matter the weather
If it rains, let it rain, yeah the wetter the better
They ain’t gon’ stop us, they cant, were stronger now more then ever
They tell us no we say yeah, they tell us stop we say go
Rebel with a rebel yell, raise hell, we gon let em? No
Stomp, push, shove, mush... Fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home
Come On

(Chorus)

Come along, follow me, as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark that we need, to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, come with me, and I won't, steer you wrong
Give your faith and your trust, as I guide us through the fog, to the light at the end of the tunnel
We gon fight, we gon charge, we gon stomp, we gon march through the swamp, we gon mosh through the marsh, take us right
through the doors
Come on

VERSE 3:

Imagine it poorin, its rainin down on us, mosh pits outside the oval office
Someone’s tryin to tell us something, maybe this is god, just sayin we responsible
For this monster, this coward, that we have empowered
This is Bin Laden, look at his head noddin, how can we allow something like this, without pumpin our fists
Now, this is our, final hour
Let me, be the voice, in your strength and your choice, let me simplify the rhyme, just to implify the noise
Tryin to amplify to times it, and multiply it by six-teen million people are equal at this high pitch
Maybe we can reach alqueda through my speech, let the president answer our high anarchy
Strap him with a AK-47, let him go fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil, no more psychological warfare to trick us to thinking that we ain’t loyal
If we don’t serve our own country, we’re patronizing our hero
Look in his eyes, its all lies, the stars and stripes, have been swiped, washed out and wiped,
And replaced with his own face, mosh now or die, if I get sniped tonight, you’ll know why, cuz I told you to fight

(Chorus)

Come along, follow me, as I lead through the darkness
As I provide just enough spark that we need, to proceed
Carry on, give me hope, give me strength, come with me, and I won't, steer you wrong
Give your faith and your trust, as I guide us through the fog, to the light at the end of the tunnel
We gon fight, we gon charge, we gon stomp, we gon march through the swamp, we gon mosh through the marsh, take us right
through the doors
Come on

[earth mom]

4. What's the name of that song? Thanks! nt

[roseBudd]

7. Mosh, I drove around blasting it for 3 days before the election with Kerry

yard signs in my car windows and VOTE NOV. 2 BUSH GOTTA GO in white shoe polish

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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

[xxqqqzme]

6. now, that's what I like 2 see first thing in the morning

a post overflowing with intelligence and insight. Just gets my day off 2 a good start. Hope you'll stay around 2 continue 2 enlighten all w/ your wisdom and vast vocabulary.