our key to delivering Alabama to Kerry (I'm serious.)

[Syrinx]

Is serious mobilization of the young, black vote. Help me figure out how to do that.

[Justitia]

1. Figure out how to deliver AL to Kerry?

Let me finish up finding the cure for cancer and I'll be right over.

Seriously, I'm in TX and even I don't dream that big.

Kudos to you for creative thinking 'tho.

[Syrinx]

3. I don't think you're trying to help

It can be done, if we have a massive campaign to register Democrats. Most black people in Alabama would vote Democratic, but a bunch of them aren't registered to vote. I want to change that. Do you disagree?

[Justitia]

4. Sorry, just tired & punchy....

...but on a serious note, I really wonder if AL will EVER be anything but a red state.

Occasionally I get glimpses of hope for my own state, but in the back of my mind I realize "not any time soon". And growing up here, I remember when TX was solidly a Dem state - depressing.

[Syrinx]

14. it's not going to happen "anytime soon" if...

If we don't try to come up with some good ideas and implement them.

[liberal72]

10. Seriously we need to change AL

Conservatism has wrecked this state and we need rescueing. I love how conservatives say California is what you get with liberlism, well Alabama is what you get with conservatism. Our schools are in need of help badly, not to mention other things. Also, how many people said that trying to stop segregation in Alabama would be useless, it would never happen, well it happened. Damn it, Alabama is sufferting and it needs help, do not write us off.

[Syrinx]

13. just checked out your blog

It's cool. :thumbsup:

Funny something called a "blog" could ever be cool. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Easy

Vietnam, Iraq, Draft...

It is coming, and it is coming fast, Murtha is talking of mobilization, full mobilization.

Now who exactly do you think will be first sent to the front lines?

You guessed it, young black men, the American way and if you think that has changed... not really

[cyclezealot]

5. Murtha is a Democrat.

Sounds like we need mobilize those young Black Newly registered Democrats to oust Democrats like Murtha..He is not their friend.
Full mobilization..No fool like a Democratic fool who wants to compound Bush's mistake and make it fully a Democratic mistake.
Murtha have any interest in Halliburton stock.

[RobertSeattle]

6. Here's another easy solution

Only allow those to vote who affirm evolution.

Instant Kerry landslide!

[bluestateguy]

7. Your dedication is admirable

but Alabama needs to be written off. Other southern states are more fertile ground. In campaigns you have to allocate resources and make some tough decisions about to invest time and money. Alabama is not one of those places.

[Syrinx]

11. thanks, I guess

But I wasn't talking about the Kerry campaign spending a bunch of money here. I was asking for help on what we good Democrats that live down here could do to try to motivate the base to register to vote, and then to turn out. I don't have any data, but I wouldn't be surprised if voting is lowest among young African-American Alabamians.

I think it would be terrible if Alabama Democrats "wrote off" Alabama.

[JessicaEast]

22. Alabama will be a Blue State soon

I must respectfully disagree. Of course, the limited money available shouldn't be concentrated in Alabama this year.

However, right now Alabama is about 40/60 Democrat to Republican in national elections. If we give up, next year it will be 35/65 and then 30/70 and so on. We can't just quit campaigning down here.

Turnout is EVERYTHING. There are more Democrats in Alabama than Republican, I promise you. The Dems just don't vote as much as the Repubs do. Registration and turnout would win this state for Kerry. And that's exactly how I will win this state for Democrats in the future. Mark my word---it might take me a few election cycles, but it will happen. Hard work can do anything.

Three years ago someone laughed when I told them that I was going to improve College Democrats at Auburn University, once rated the 2nd most conservative school in the US. Tuesday night I had 200+ people show up for a College Democrats meeting and today our email list surpassed 600. Hard work can do anything.

Jessica Eastman
President, AL State Federation of College Democrats

[displacedtexan]

8. Some info and contacts for you

http://www.activoteamerica.com/AL/al.html

State of Alabama
Voter Registration Information

Must register to vote 10 days before the election.
Can select party affiliation at the polls.

Can register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from:
County election offices (see county election offices list)

Probate judges' offices
License commissioners' offices
All public four-year universities and colleges
Select private four-year universities and colleges
Public schools
Department of Human Resources (Food Stamps and AFDC programs)
Department of Public Health (WIC program)
Department of Rehabilitation Services
Alabama Medicaid Agency
County and select Municipal public libraries
Can also register when you apply for or renew your State of
Alabama driver's license or identification card

Voter Hotline at Secretary of State 1-800-274-VOTE.

Obtain an online voter registration application at:
www.sos.state.al.us/election/vr/vr-a.htm -or-
www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm


What Is HAVA?
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 mandates that all states and territories have certain voting reforms in place by 2006. Included are such issues as voting machine and polling site accessibility for voters with disabilities, minority language accessibility, computerized statewide voter registration, election day registration, voter identification, voter bill of rights, and felon voting rights. For an update on how Alabama is progressing in complying with these and other areas of the law, visit www.sos.state.al.us.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Alabama) resources:

http://www.circ.uab.edu/Advisory/hava.htm

Catherine O'Hare
Consumer Coordinator
205-996-2158

Carol Braithwaite
Consumer Consultant
205-996-2088

[Syrinx]

12. thanks for the positive post!

:hi:

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

9. Moore the Merrier

Maybe the easier task would be to have Roy Moore just run for President as an Independent and siphon off the LIBERAL (in comparison) GWB's votes?

[AlabamaYankee]

15. The Other Key...

The moderate Evangelical vote. Seriously, think of Jimmy Carter. He's a full bore born again evangelical Baptist, but grounds his faith in the Gospels, rather than the Old Testament. There are more of these than you would think, and the Democrats nationally have written them off. A group of us in the Lee County Democrats will be doing an intensive GOTV effort and I will be working this group hard.

We may not deliver Alabama to Kerry, but if we can make it close it might just energize the Democrats in the state to begin taking it back at the state and local level.

[Syrinx]

16. good points!

I realize that winning Alabama for Kerry this year is a very uphill battle, but I don't understand why so many people think we should just surrender without a fight. :shrug:

[Jo March]

17. Don't give up

I don't know how many times I've posted on my site how much I miss Alabama. I just can't stomach the politics there. Also, there are no jobs and the schools stink. And yet, this state goes to the repubs every time! What is the deal with that??

I agree that the key is to mobilize the young black voters. They are the key and they need to get involved! They need some hope and the knowledge that their votes count.

Also, there are a lot of the more Gospel-leaning Christians who would vote for Kerry if they knew his policies better.

Kerry and Edwards could well do to swing on down and visit.

[Jo March]

18. Get Kerry and Edwards to visit!

They need to get to AL quick, fast and in a hurry.

AL can be won slowly but surely. First we need to make it competitive and then worry about carrying the state later.

[Syrinx]

19. just heard that Edwards is coming to Birmingham Tuesday

But I haven't got the details yet. I'd love to get a chance to meet him.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! :hi:

[SouthALdem]

20. Working on it here in Mobile....

Had a voter registration drive this past week and in two days registered 100+ minority students at a local community college. A VAST majority were definitely going to go vote and pull the lever for Kerry. It's a small start but at least we're moving in the right direction.

:bounce:

[Syrinx]

21. thanks for the help!

:thumbsup: