DUOSRDE2K4DCCMS Afficianados, listen up:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

I just emailed Rich McGrath, Dem Party Charman in NJ. What follows is the text of the email, with strategic redactions:

<redacted>

Mr. McGrath, I, with the participation of a few other technologically-minded
souls, centered around the website Democratic
Underground(http://www.democraticunderground.com) have begun developing a
plan to offer free website installation and setup of a web-based content
management system(AKA: Dynamic Website or CMS), to any Democratic candidate
in the US. Also, another kind soul on Democratic Underground, who runs a web
hosting service based in New Hampshire, has offered his service at a very
competitive rate to Democratic Party candidates, at any level or from any
state.

Here is why:

It is no secret that the RNC and associated Republican funding mechanisms are
eating everyone's lunch in dollar amounts collected. That means that their
candidates, at any level, will have access to Internet strategies no matter
the price. Well, that means that we Dems have to get creative and now, in the
runup to the elections, and with a little hard work, we can prototype this
idea, for the national elections, here in NJ.

We do need entre' to the DNC. We are dead serious on this. We have the skills.
The CMS software is free and excellent. It sets up, on a properly configured
hosting solution, in less than an hour. It can give every Democratic
candidate a very inexpensive solution for taking their message to the people,
no matter at what level they are campaigning. We can add features, easily,
that can only enhance that communication, from blogs, to high-traffic
forums(secure or public) and picture galleries. All free. As in beer.

We are highly motivated Democrats and progressives who just want a chance to
contribute our skills and talents and kick Republicans to the curb in 2004.
At every level and in every race.

Mr. McGrath, I cannot call you to give you more detail. I am afraid that I am
unemployed, as so many others are in Bush's America, and cannot afford the
call. I invite you to call me to discuss this more. My ph# is <redacted>.
After 6:00pm is always good. If you wish to pursue this tonight, I will be
home all evening.

I look forward to your call. Thank you for your kind attention.

[PaDUer]

1. Check this out...

http://www.rncfc.org/

and all the links, especially the RNC's Donor Group Websites..and, here's something that appeared on one of their pages--

http://www.rncfc.org/news/newsitem.asp?NewsID=3087

and they have the nerve to talk about candidates!--
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11055-2003Jul31.html

Also, their links for propaganda--

Political News Links:
The Washington Times
Drudge Report
Fox News
CNN All Politics
NewsMax.com
ABC News
MSNBC
WorldNetDaily.com is a great source of links to major newspaper and electronic media sites

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Yup.

And therein lies both the rub and why we gotta do this, come hell or high water.

[PaDUer]

6. Definitely..

eom

[WilliamPitt]

2. Yep. I'm definitely behind on my DU lingo.

DUOSRDE2K4DCCMS

:wtf:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Click on the link...

In my .sig, brutha man. Click on the link. All will be revealed.

[WilliamPitt]

5. Gibberish

I am not a techie.

P.S. Your sig thread got moved to another thread, so you have to click twice to get there.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Remove the gibberish...

With your mind and consider the concept. Blows against the empire.

[ConsAreLiars]

8. Good start!

It might be useful to make a direct appeal to the progressive caucus members. Ask them to pass this on to candidates in their district who might appreciate some help. RThese folks:
http://bernie.house.gov/pc/members.asp
They're more likely to get it.

It would probably also help if you could link to some sort of sample site, one which highlighted the kinds of performance capabilities that the site designers could offer - stuff that helps them as candidates, since a lot of folks don't grok this. Do one for a John-al-dennis-carol-howie-wesley type candidate.

Another consideration may be cost over time for maintenance, trouble-shooting and such. Let them know what it will actually cost them. Emphasize the collective nature of the project, that by using a common (shared) template the labor involved in developing individual sites is minimized.

Also, instead of a generic DU link you might like to link to the technogeeks thread, wherever it might now be, since it discusses these issues a bit more directly, and they can find DU-home easily from there, but the reverse is impossible for a casual visitor.