Keep the pressure on...
I sent the following note to my local DFA group this weekend. The democratic "powers that be" are starting to pay attention. We have their attention.
Lots of good discussion below about what is and is the a special interest or the voice of the people but that is a sideline to the main point I think which is that we here have a direct voice and are building a direct form of communication with the party leadership and they are starting to try and figure it out... and yes, fear it in some cases. They need our help in figuring it out. We need to keep the pressure on, scold them when they need scolding, appalud them when they deserve applauding, and direct them in a loud, clear, and firm voice on things we consider of the utmost importance...
Filibustering Gonzales for instance
Anyhow... this is communication and bond building vehicle is very important... and frankly it has nothing to do with Howard Dean at this point... this is ours to do and benefit from. Dr. Dean has helped make it possible but this is ours.
Anyhow... here is what I wrote to my local DFA group:
Hi Folks,
I just forwarded to you the following email from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. A week before I received another email from him announcing a new web site, http://democrats.senate.gov/, which I also forwarded to you.
In the last week, the Senate Democratic Communications Center, which Sen. Reid opened at the beginning of the year, http://reid.senate.gov/record2.cfm?id=230369, began posting diaries at DailyKos, http://www.dailykos.com/user/Senate%20Democratic%20Communications%20Center/diary. Also, Senator Barbara Boxer posted a "thank you" diary at DailyKos, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/27/124226/410.
Also, Donnie Fowler one of the candidates for DNC Chair, has been posting diaries at MYDD, http://donnie.mydd.com/. Likewise, Simon Rosenberg one of the other candidates, made a brief foray into commenting at DailyKos but has not followed up though one of the regular posters there and at MYDD, Matt Stoeller, is working for him and presumably posting for him.
I find this all very encouraging. I think some of the Democratic leaders and beginning to "get it." Certainly Harry Reid appears to get it. A direct two-way communication with the on-line activist community and a real effort to reach out to all of us. I say two-way because Ari Rabin-Havt, Reid's Director of Internet Communications, is the one posting under the name Senate Democratic Communications Center, and he is reading and responding to the comments. He even went so far as to directly email me to respond to a comment I made thereby giving me the opportunity to respond directly as well. I took advantage of the opportunity to suggest that they have more Senators post diaries about what projects they are working on thereby building that two-way direct communication between them and us. I also told Sen. Reid to make sure the Senators take a hard-line stand on Gonzales and filibuster his nomination. Gonzales must not be AG and Bush needs to be handed the defeat.
We are already making a difference. They are listening. They may stumble around a bit and I'm sure they won't do everything we want or the way we want it but we have an opportunity that has not be present before. Direct influence and communication with our parties leaders.
If you get to feeling down about what is happening in this country recognize that we have already made a difference and that we are turning the tide. There is still much to be done and "miles to go before [we] sleep" but the process has begun and we just need to keep the pressure on and not let up for a minute.
Peace,
Andrew
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt
It's about time the Democratic party started paying more attention to the grassroots than they do to Limbaugh and O'Reilly. Once we rid the DLC of its Deanophobia, we can go to work on America.
It is unfortunate but the DLC needs to be neutered.
It's more fun to envision a 'DFA/Reform' vs. 'DLC' epic smackdown, but that's not really needed or useful.
What's useful is to integrate the active online community, one by one, into the stale or defunct precinct / town Democratic committees and incalcitrant state parties, fully in contact with each other along the way.
I know this process is already in full swing, but there are lots of well-meaning and blog-unsavvy DNC folks who don't really understand where Kos and MyDD folks fit in to the big picture. There shouldn't be a doubt in their minds in the months and years ahead.
Staying positive, staying focused...
We could do worse than emulate Hoho. There is a reason why his supporters would walk through hell for him.
Since March 2003, I have seen him grow in stature and credibility, and look forward our friends finding out about Dean what the rest of us already know.
Of greater importance is strengthening the Party at the local and state levels. One of the reasons I am fully on board with Democracy for America is the drive to get grass/net roots folks to take seats on their local town, city, and county committees as well as running for local office wherever they are. This can result in nothing but goodness for all concerned. Our experience here in New York is that in many places we are welcomed with open arms but in others it is the "barbarians at the gate" syndrome. We're working on it though and enough are open to us, and enough existing committee people supported Dean and us, that I have no fear but that we and the Democratic Party will come out much stronger for the relationship.
I strongly encourage everyone here to contact their local committees and find out how to get involved. Most committees have open seats available to be filled.
As for blog-unsavvy DNC folks and elected officials... there is much work to be done but some folks are starting to get it. See my comments on fear. It is a work in progress but we are succeeding.
My own experience with the New Haven Town Committee and others in CT is that the average age is somewhere near 105 and their eyes popped out when a handful of young folks walked in the door.
I imagine also that, despite all the differences across regions (organizing in Manhattan vs. Cobb County, Ga., for example), there are a LOT of shared problems with jumpstarting (or modernizing)old precinct bodies.
What's the best way to share strategies and stories about local organizing? Is DFA already doing a good enough job here?
Anyway, glad we see eye to eye...
