Run for political office

[IronLionZion]

Just Do It.

Why piss and moan about politicians not doing what you want them to do...when you can do it yourself? We need some good leaders in this country. Why not you? I'm thinking about doing it myself someday after I've lived a bit and done something with my young life.

Do you have what it takes to go the distance? Do you want it bad enough? Can you deal with the fact that no matter what you do, somebody will think you're an asshole?

Talk is cheap fool! Go out and make a difference.

Here's how from ehow.com:
http://www.ehow.com/how_18207_prepare-run-political.html

lots more info on Google:
http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=how+to+run+for+political+office&btnG=Google+Search

Stop and think for a bit before flaming me. If you still feel pissy, then go ahead. Let it out here instead of someplace less anonymous where you may actually regret it.

:toast:

[Califooyah Operative]

1. I will, just give me some years to get my education and networking on...nt

[IronLionZion]

2. kick for morning

why did I post his at 2 AM?

[goddess40]

3. you're right but I'm an atheist

so that would knock me out of the running for too many bigots. I saw a poll that said many people wouldn't even consider voting for an atheist.
I'll have to be content to work behind the scenes.

[IronLionZion]

4. try a local office

start small and build up grass roots support. Religion doesn't have to be a major issue.

[pbartch]

18. You're right. What do you suggest for a first run?

54 and live in Oregon

[IronLionZion]

19. School board, city council, mayor, sheriff,

Look around at what your local government positions are and see if any of them sound interesting or in need of help. And you can always get involved in a campaign when someone else is running too. Keep in mind that it can get nasty if you hold some unpopular views. And there is literally NO WAY you can please everyone.

[katinmn]

22. county offices, too

[IronLionZion]

5. kick for afternoon

come on people

[ZombieNixon]

6. I will.

But first I have to turn 18, graduate from high school and complete college.

That aside, I want to be president some day. Seriously.

I'll probably run for something while I'm in college.

[DaveinMD]

7. this is an important thread

Its vital that progressives run for local office. This is how the right wing took over. They started running for school board and other local races.

[IronLionZion]

11. thanks

It is extremely imporant. I don't care so much about "progressive" vs. "conservative" (labels are meaningless). But we definitely need GOOD PEOPLE to run for political office. I'm sick of the corruption and dishonesty in politics. Good people make good political leaders.

[DaveinMD]

12. completely agree

I've worked for some great people running for office. But we need more people running, even if the races are non-partisan.

[Orangepeel]

28. They aren't non-partisan on the republican side

even if the race is labeled non-partisan, the republican party often makes a strong effort to field and support a candidate. We need to do the same.

[DaveinMD]

29. that is

exactly my point. We are in complete agreement.

[Orangepeel]

30. :-)

Yep! I wasn't arguing! I was trying to give you a non-religious "amen"!

:D

[DaveinMD]

31. cool

I'm more used to arguments here. Plus its my NY personality. :-)

[Comicstripper]

9. Hey, you and me both!

What grade're you in? Maybe we can run as a ticket!

[ZombieNixon]

20. I turn 18 in March

and graduate in May. I'm looking at 2036 at the earliest. I'll be 49 by then. Young, but Kennedy was younger.

[IronLionZion]

10. glad to hear it

good luck

:toast:

[IronLionZion]

8. kick

because this is important

[raysr]

13. There's a box boy

at my local store I'm trying to get into running for office someday. Been giving him my read "nation" magazines. He's been taking on schoolmates on the right wing.

[IronLionZion]

14. kick for today

I need to start threads during normal hours

[iwantmycountryback]

15. I do want to in the future

However first I should probably graduate high school and college. I want to be the Governor of New York and President someday. With the way the Democratic Party is going these days I feel like something needs to be done.

[Hippo_Tron]

16. I fully intend to, after my short career in investment banking

I can't stand the thought of starting out in politics. I'll either run for office, or be a strategist.

[IronLionZion]

17. I'm thinking about it myself

I don't want to be a legislator but I would be interested in executive offices like mayor, county commisioner, sherrif, governor, but certainly NOT president.

Running for president sounds like a miserable thing to do considering the way they raked Kerry over the coals (and some DUers are still doing it).

[katinmn]

21. I do not want to be a candidate

but I will be helping some true progressive candidates get elected.

BTW, Wellstone Action has a weekend training program that it offers around the country for people thinking of running for office. I know some people that have gone through it.

They also offer tracks for activists and campaign workers.

Two newly elected state reps said that it really helped them decide to run, and it made the difference in their campaigns.

http://www.wellstone.org/camp/category_page.aspx?catID=3752

[B0S0X87]

23. I could never be a politician

But I definetly want to work on the Hill or something after college.

[DaveinMD]

25. why not

good people need to run for office.

[B0S0X87]

33. I'm not very good at pandering

nor am I very charismatic and not very good at shaking hands, getting my picture taken over and over, paying lip service to various issues I don't care about, etc.

I did run my friend's campaign for student council and got him elected vice president. I was considering emailing Karl Rove and asking him how best to smear my friend's opponent.

[DaveinMD]

34. working behind the scenes is important too

its what I do for a living. I like to encourage as many young people to run as possible no matter the size of the office.

[IronLionZion]

24. Please help keep this kicked

There are some excellent people on this board who should seriously consider running for office. We are desperately in need of good honest leadership in this country.

[Orangepeel]

26. Can't do it? Then work for a LOCAL candidate

most people are too focused on national campaigns. When you work for a local candidate:

1) YOU can really make a difference
2) You can work for a candidate that more closely represents your views, because they aren't trying to represent as many people
3) You can help build a bench of state and national candidates so that years later, people who represent you will have the opportunity to affect broader policy
4) You can help state and national candidates get elected because being in control of a local infrastructure helps a party win in those areas

This is how the republicans did it, you know. they didn't take over from nowhere. They had a concerted effort to take over school boards, county commissions, city councils, etc. We need to take this things back.

[knight_of_the_star]

27. I will be

It won't be easy mostly due to religious bigotry, but I refuse to allow that to drag me down.

[IronLionZion]

32. kick

:kick:

[IronLionZion]

35. kick

I'll kick this forever if I have to. :P