RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW: Get involved or get off the damn boat!!!

[LynneSin]

I've been a member of the Democratic Underground since sometime in June 2001. And seen folks come and go but one thing has always remained the same for these past 3+ years and that is BUSH HAS GOT TO GO.

Folks, it's time to stop bitching and starting doing something about it. We need to all get out 'on the streets' and do whatever it takes to get Bush out of the White House (legally please - I don't want no secret service visits).

Got some money burning a hole in your pockets: Why not donate to one of the many great causes out there that is working to help unseat Bush. You can't donate to Kerry, but you can donate to the many groups out there helping to get Bush out of the White House. Some of my favorites include: MoveOn, ACT, HRC and Emily's list. And of course my personal favorite is this website, Democratic Underground - I plan on finding a few dollars to help them out during the next fundraiser.

Got Time: Then get involved with one of the many groups out there trying to help unseat Bush. Now is the time to help canvas the streets and register the voters. Move On has a great site to adopt a swing state (although their list doesn't include many of the new swing states out there like Arizona and Colorado). I had a great time in 2002 on the Ed Rendell campaign organizing with other DUers to go canvassing around Philadelphia. I hope to organize the same thing in 2004 and get more philly area DUers involved

Got time, but can't get out of your house: Maybe you're limited do to health or other reasons, but you can still get involved at home. Maybe you can make calls to voters in your area or write letters to voters in swing states. Check with many of the groups out there who need volunteers and I'm sure they'll find a way to help you get involved with ousting Bush.

Finally - put a sign in your window and a bumpersticker on your car. Buy some extra campaign or anti-bush buttons and hand them out to folks who are interested in them. YOU are a walking billboard - make your voice HEARD!!!!

I love you all, but this is it - I don't want to spend the next 4 years bitching about Bush being in the White House. I'd rather be bitching about other things instead.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. TESTIFY, Sister LynneSin!

:thumbsup:

[demnan]

2. Yeah

I posted earlier in the week that I gave a check to the DNC and someone posted that because they were a Dean supporter, they wouldn't give money to the DNC! :eyes:

Well I do give money to the DNC and I'll work for the DNC. Sure Kerry might not be perfect, but no one is. And we've got a shot if we all stick together. Please let's stop the nightmare!

[LynneSin]

3. You know what I say!!

Then give money to Move On, Give money to ACT - volunteer for both of those organizations.

Heck, if you can't stand Kerry the least someone can do is go out and register voters and wear a damn Anyone But Bush tee-shirt

And btw, never feel ashamed for donating to the DNC. Dean is welcomed in that group - I'm thinking he'd make a great head of hte DNC!!

[underpants]

4. My wife and I have donated and are going to first meetup on the 18th

Our names also have been given to friends of friends who are/were state reps here in Va.

We are on board and just waiting for the call, going to first meeting

PEOPLE DON'T WAIT FOR THE DEM PARTY TO COME BEGGING YOU TO HELP YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE FIRST STEP GO TO A DAMNED MEETING!!!!!!!!

[mermaid]

5. Right ON!!

Do you know what I was doing yeasterday, and what I will be doing most of today?
Using up the last couple days of my unemployment to drop by the Travis County Democratic Party HQ, and offering up my help in any way I can!
I bopped into their offices yesterday, and told them that if me getting them cups of coffee would help get Bush outta office, then I was their girl!
I ended up pulling staples all day. Works for me!

I'm also going to get deputized as a voter registrar. And I plan to only help Democrats vote. I will not register any known Repukes. they can go see another deputy registrar...not me. Because my cards are gonna be filled DEMOCRAT in advance!

Screw it, if the Repukes can do it to immigrants, then I can do it, too! I'm taking a leaf outta their book! Let 'em TRY calling me on it.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Way to go everyone!

Mermaid's right. I would definitely suggest the becoming a deputy voter registrar if you folks in other states can do that. I know we can in Texas.

It's helping me a lot.

Wear your anti-Bush wear proudly, hold your head high and look past the braindeads. When you get someone who asks you about it, give them the facts, and measure their interest. If they act even remotely anti-Bush, ask if they are registered to vote. If they're not, register them on the spot.

Keep a backpack, purse or fanny pack on you at all times, with your voter reg cards and various issue papers in it. Use them to bring people around to your way of thinking. If you're a vet, reach vets. You're their demographic, and they might trust you to tell them the truth. Print articles about how Bush has cut veterans' benefits.

Speaking to boys about the draft? Print articles about the upcoming draft.

Speaking to young women about choice and reproductive freedoms? Print articles about that.

Try to target an audience you know something about and can help to see reason. Then, DO IT.

reprehensor and I have been trying to have move-on parties and I volunteer with several groups. When you have a party, invite your friends from various groups. Once they meet, they can begin socializing and becoming friends too. That weaves the grass roots tighter and tighter. We can all be of use to each other.

Several weeks ago, ginbarn invited her friend Tom to our move-on party. I ran into Tom at meetup again last week, and Saturday, Tom got me to help at their voter registration event. That's how it works! Keep meeting more and more people and help at more and more events.

Years ago, I would have thought I was incapable of doing this much at once. But you know, this is the most personal satisfaction I've gotten out of anything my whole life. Busy or not, I'm lovin it.

Lynne's right. There is more to life than DU. Find it!
FSC

[mermaid]

15. REVISE....

found out that, in Texas, you do not declare party on your voter registration at all. As a deputy registrar, you must register anyone who ASKS you to register them, even if you know they are a Repuke.

So you just do your best to avoid letting Repukes know you are deputized...and of course, yes, carry them forms everywhere, and anyone who appears even REMOTELY anti-Bush, try and get 'em registered!!

You CAN be partisan as a deputy registrar. what you can't do is refuse to register anyone who asks you to register them.
but you CAN like, not advertise to known Repukes that you are deputized....
So I may end up having to register some that will later vote Repuke, but I won't know about it...and, of course, I will just do my damndest to try and make sure I register more people that I know are likely Democrats...

[goobergunch]

7. Kicking

I'm not letting this fall off page 1.

:kick:

[qwlauren35]

8. A few more ideas...

In another thread, there was the issue of getting more young women to vote, because they are 65% Democrat. When they're not in college, they can be hard to find, but consider the nail, hair and tanning salons.

If you're NOT in a swing state, but you have that wonderful "unlimited long distance", contact a swing state and volunteer to make phone calls.

ACT (www.actforvictory.org), like Moveon.org, has an extensive voter mobilization program going on. For those of you willing to canvass, please contact them.

Bumperstickers, buttons, etc. COST MONEY. So, you need to think strategically about obtaining them. The www.kerryparty.com site has the best bargains for acquiring smaller quantities of such. If you're going for a larger quantity (I just bought 500 bumperstickers), contact a Dem HQ office and try to piggy-back one of their orders. I got my bumperstickers for 10 cents apiece...

If you have or can take Election Day off and have a decent sized car, please volunteer to EITHER drive folks to the polls OR BABYSIT!!! Consider organizing an Election Day Babysitting service at a local church, so that people can drop kids off, go vote, and come back at a nominal charge. Say free for the first hour.

I know we all have our favorite cartoons and bumperstickers... Make a collage of them, and put them on your front door, or somewhere on your car, or, if allowed, in your office. Try to get the thought-provoking ones, not the highly inflamatory ones.

Oh... one other thing.... there are a LOT of meetings going on. Meet-ups for Kerry, for Dems, for Democracy for America, Houseparties, etc. These are NOT for activists. They are somewhat a waste of time. BUT!!! They CAN be used for two great purposes. 1.) Helping other dems in red states feel less isolated, and hooking them up to activist organizations and 2.) helping fence sitters hear why anyone would want to vote for Kerry instead of Bush. If you know people in category 1 or 2, please invite them to a house-party type activity so that they can get their feet wet...

That's all that comes out of the brain so far...

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

9. kick - Read It. Live It. Do It.

.

[AgadorSparticus]

10. i just have to share this one story....

back in march or april, i got my kerry welcome packet and immediately put up the sign on my garage door. unbeknownst to me, some bored bush hags in my subdivision complained to my home association about my kerry sign. fast forward a few months, one prominent member came up and asked me where i got my kerry bumperstickers. she then told me that we recently passed an amendment allowing the display of political signs in the neighborhood--thanks to my sign. lol

btw, both of our cars have kerry bumperstickers on the back. we have a window next to the front door that has my 'take back america vote democratic' sign. there is no mistaking who we support in this house.

[liberal N proud]

11. Doin it!

When not on this forum, I am sending emails or talking to people trying to get them to see what dubya has done to this country.

[GalleryGod]

12. You Heard CPO Lynne! Huddle Up or Get the Feck Off the Boat!

No Retreat. No Surrender!

Your Man in the Faculty Lounge, Lookin' for Extra pens:shrug:
G.G.:evilgrin:

[sandnsea]

13. Remind people to VOTE

Even if you think you're preaching to the choir, remember to tell them that the biggest reason Democrats lose is that we get lazy and DON'T VOTE. There is nothing more important to do this year, the whole entire year, than to VOTE. You might think it's stupid to tell a crazed anti-Bush activist that, but it's actually the most important thing you can say. When Democrats VOTE, Democrats WIN. It's that simple.

[sampsonblk]

14. Signed Up!

Thanks for the good heads up.

[Proud liberal Kat]

16. I've registered 6 Kerry voters who have never voted before

Of course it is in RI, but hey every vote counts, at least to landslide the popular vote!
Kathy