Please, progressive Dems, run for office!

[proudbluestater]

We may have a chance to take this party back, but we need new blood!!!!!! The old standby establishment Dems are not getting the job done, with a few notable exceptions like Conyers, Tubbs, Boxer, etc.

You have 62,000 people here who would happily work on your campaign staffs for nothing if you would embrace "tradional" Democratic values like abortion rights, gay rights, fiscal responsibility, limited defense spending, etc.

I read so many letters complaining about the party, with good reason, but the only way to change things is to BECOME the party. Please, all of you who are complaining, give some thought to running for a local office, say county commission, township treasurer, whatever. We gotta get this party in shape and it's not gonna happen without progressive voices.

[elshiva]

1. Yeah, right on

I wish Kucinich or Dean had a chance. Does anyone here think they do? How?

[proudbluestater]

2. For President? Head of DNC, or what?

I fully support Dean as DNC chair and nobody else will do it for me.

[elshiva]

5. Dean for DNC Chair!

Kucinich for something higher up than Congressman! (For President is just one crazy dream, but still...)

[DaveinMD]

3. its vital that good people run for local office

the christian coalition took over the Republican Party because they ran candidates for school board and then other local office. They then had a base from which to move Republicans to the right. Progressives could do the same thing with the Democratic Party.

[Orangepeel]

4. exactly. people are too focued on national and even state races

concentrating on local races has three benefits:
1) an individual can really make a big difference
2) getting strong progressive candidates in local office builds a "bench" for higher office later
3) having Democrats in local offices makes it easier for Democrats running for state and national office to win in those areas because there is an intrastructure built