We need more liberals/progressives in Congress

[CT_Progressive]

We have to work at our local level/state level to get more Liberal/Progressive candidates elected to Congress (House and Senate). We need to look long term, here. There will be no quick fixes. We need to plan 12-20 years out. Get liberal/progressive people involved in politics, get them elected at the local/state level, get them experience with government, and then get them to run for U.S. House or Senate.

Its up to US to make this happen. Otherwise, we're just letting any-old candidate to be placed on the primary ballots, whether they are DLC, Blue Dog, or flat-out Conservatives (LIEberman). I'm serious. We have to plan long term or we'll never get the government that we want.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Start by taking over your local democractic cauccus and running

for literally dog catcher..

I am serious, this is exactly what the right wing did starting in the late 1960s

[CT_Progressive]

2. I am Vice Chairman of my town Dem Party, and running for Board of Finance.

Wish us luck!
:)

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I do

[daninthemoon]

4. Wish I could. I'm in Oklahoma, and our local Democratic party

is more like an undercover rethug cell. There is a phenominal stranglehold by activist rw "churches" here. Can't tell you how many times I've explained to various people that Iraq did not attack us on 9/11. I still don't know how we got a Democrat for guv, but my vote really doesn't count for much here.

[CT_Progressive]

6. Please don't give up.

Get involved with your Dem Party. Help out, do "go-fer" jobs for them, help during elections. Do whatever it takes to help. Then, run for secretary, treasurer, vice chair or chairman of the party. Get into a position of authority in the party. Then, what you say has WAY more clout. Influence people, talk to them, be nice, but be firm in your convictions. Avoid confrontations, make them feel comfortable, but talk about issues.

That is what I did in my very conservative-yet-Democratic Party in my town.

[daninthemoon]

7. It's hard not to give up. There is a real entrenched bunch here, and

they shut down anything "radical" straight away. By radical I mean for instance: doing anything other than a "bean and cornbread" dinner for a fundraiser. During the last general election, they didn't do any fundraiser. Rethugs have billboards and barbeques. Dissenters are ridiculed. I could go on, but you get the idea.

[CT_Progressive]

11. You need at least two good fundraisers for a local election.

Maybe one sort-of "cocktail party" oriented (formal dress, nice food, $100 tickets ($50 for Dem Committee members)).
And one with another theme, maybe Halloween (if your election is in Nov), or a BBQ-type theme, or something fun (informal dress, $50 tickets, simpler food)

Again, don't try to lead from the bottom - it wont work. Ask to help. Become their right-hand man. (or left-hand, if you know what I mean...). Get them to rely on you. Then, take a position in the party. Work towards vice chairman. Then speak with authority.

[AuntPatsy]

8. Visiting OK for the first time last week and being hit with signs for xxx rated stores and gambling

places every few miles I have no doubt that it is mostly a GOP thug laden area......

[daninthemoon]

9. LOL. Yeah, that's the place. See any damn "W" stickers? I saw one

yesterday. They used to be everywhere, but I'm just amazed to still see them from time to time.:banghead:

[AuntPatsy]

10. Not one and I did look, a bit amazed yet happy too, I actually didn't see one

on the trip up or trip down, not one, gives me hope that our countryman are not as ignorant as so many people believe.

[PATRICK]

5. The disadvantage is the advantage

The difficulty demands that they first be heroic. To win they have to be smart and charismatic. The politics has to be learned and the dirt defeated. What this means is that the average progressive,, distinguished or not will not get anywhere and only a quality of candidate much higher than any on the rest of spectrum is(or even CAN) be will get ahead. Now the usual problem is till that mavericks will be eased out in favor or establishment wingmen who are progressive yet establishment and pros.

So in the search for a candidate the gauntlets keep coming, so get the best with the most heart. There are very zealous and sincerely heroic people who keep running to the cause and losing. Beginners of even the best model have the beginner's handicaps. First the choice and then the organizational support(local and national progressives concerned about the campaign as much as the issues). If the central DNC is nervous or unenthusiastic the progressives will have the most influence on these candidates- a further plus in establishment adversity IF the progressives themselves are just as heroic and competent as their candidate.

Whether the incumbent is strong or weak should at some point make no difference. A swift kick in complacency's pants will have as much effect as increasing the actual numbers of progressives. They will WANT your help in the general election if you are strong in the primary. And it will cost them more than their big donors can guarantee. Bill Clinton will have to ride in. They will have to be seen begging for their policial survival, propped by people they already owe everything to. The pressure is more than the numbers, more than actual wins. If the progressives get on the battleground, the battle is half won against those relying on old, tired, paid and ad reliant campaigns. The responsibility of that pressure then becomes very serious- to advance what all Americans want and need, first and foremost- to keep the populism legitimate and leading the majority.

[AuntPatsy]

12. What we need is more competence and less partisan politics

[CT_Progressive]

13. I'll second the competence part.

Less partisan? No. More partisan, yes.

The political system works the same as the legal system. Two lawyers on opposite sides advocate only for their own side. In effect, they are 100% partisan. This is on purpose. Each side presents its view, and the judge + jury (or The People, in the case of politics) decide what they feel is "the truth", or "what's right."

That is how it should be.