Shout Out! How are you helping Dems retake Congress in 2006? Ideas?

[Tom Rinaldo]

The U.S. won't pull forces out of Iraq after May 15th no matter what happens to Iraq's government there, simply because Bush won't give that order, and Republicans control both Houses of Congress. No Congressional Committee will ever seriously investigate anything about the Bush Administration unless Democrats gain a majority in either the House or Senate in 2006.

If John Paul Stevens retires or is forced off the Supreme Court for any reason, just one more Bush Justice appointment in 2007 will seal a solid hard right majority on the Supreme Court for possibly decades to come.

I confess that I am not doing enough to help Democrats retake Congress in 2006. I already give support to Eric Massa who is running against a Republican incumbent in Upstate New York. I know I need to do lots more, and we all need ways to help the effort even when our checkbooks hit empty.

What are you doing to help Democrats retake Congress in 2006? Shout it out proudly, give us all encouragement! Got any good strategic ideas? Let's hear them!


edited for layout

[derby378]

1. I'm a new precinct chair...

Once I'm officially sworn in, it'll be time to rally the troops and get our precinct organized. Down here in Texas, Kinky Friedman's siren song is wooing too many Democratic voters in my precinct. Time to put a stop to that!

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Great! How did you become a precinct chair?

Maybe that's something more of us can do...

[NoodleBoy]

3. me too

already got appointed. do you have to get elected to that position in Texas?

precinct organizing kicks ass.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. How long have you been active in your local party?

Was it difficult to get that appointment, or were they desperate for a volunteer?

[NoodleBoy]

11. I was active for about a year and a half when I got the appointment

And it wasn't difficult, I just went to the legislative district meetings a few times and it came up that they needed some PC's in my precinct, so I applied for the appointment and got it. It's really nothing big. "Appointment" shouldn't be the word, it makes it sound waaaay more important than the position actually is.

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. LOL, but it IS important. It just was easy to volunteer for...

That's kind of what I was looking for. I get the sense sometimes that a lot of folks don't realize that Democratic Party organizations are usually eager to accept volunteers willing to do work, and important work too. If you wait to volunteer until the week before an election, "grunt work" is pretty much all that you can plug into on short notice (which is what I do most years), but if you plug in NOW you can help with the planning.

How would you describe your responsibilities?

[NoodleBoy]

15. are you looking to get more involved?

basically, I let my neighbors know that the Democratic Party does exist, who's running, and what they could do to help. For the last few months alot of it has been collecting petition signatures to get candidates & proposals on the ballot, and since Arizona has clean elections campaigns it's also been collecting those $5 contributions from people to get candidates qualified.

Other then that, I've been trying to get more PC's. There are enough registered Dems in my precinct that it's allotted 5 total, and so far I've only gotten one other person "maybe" interested. I'm thinking of asking people if they would want to do any block work... not being appointed as a PC or running for the position, just getting approved of by me and taking over my work on their street.

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. I'm involved through our local Democratic Club

On my Town level the Republicans are in control, so we have work to do on that level, but the County legislature went Democratic big time in 2005. I'm in upstate New York, so that makes Clinton my Senator and the Republicans have no serious opponent for her. I think Hillary is more concerned about avoiding a Democratic Primary challenger than she is about a Republican beating her. I already have a progressive Democratic Congressman, Maurice Hinchey, and he has a pretty solid campaign organization. If the Republicans throw big money against him I will plug into his campaign more.

So my efforts locally probably won't directly impact the Congressional Elections in 2006, they will mean more on the really local and State levels. That's one reason why I chose to give support to Eric Massa for Congress, I can drive to his district to help out in the weeks before the November election.

[crispini]

6. Start now, Derby!

You don't have to be sworn in to start doing the work! Put together a picnic for next month for your precicnt, that's what I'm doing. :bounce:

[NMDemDist2]

4. I'm working with Herb Paine running against John (Less Tainted) Shadegg

It's an uphill struggle for cash, but we're throwing house parties galore :bounce:

if you've got an extra $10 send it out to help us out www.paineforcongress.org

I've also planning on doing a lot of door knocking in my precinct to support the whole list of candidates this year from Janet Napalitano on down statewise.

and since I'm moving before the election, I'm already in touch with the County Chair in my new state to help with the last 6 weeks in New Mexico.

we have a dem running over there too against Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM 2nd). His name is Al Kissling... still looking into what's shaking there but expect to hit the ground running...

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. I am sincerely impressed. Organizing in your current and future home

Way to Go!

Got any good tips from organizing those house parties? Are you pulling in folks on local or national issues?

[NMDemDist2]

7. we get leads all over the place, word of mouth usually or they attend

a house party and then we hit them up to throw one. or from leads from the website.

I have a kit if you're interested.......

it's mostly local stuff we are targeting, transportation and education mostly are hot topics here, but the war and immigration follow closely. the district is a mainly urban area so folks are concerned with roads, smog and education.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Hats off to you

I am hoping activists will use this thread to pass on tricks that are working for them. If you have time to sketch out in a little more detail what is involved in doing a campaign like yours, maybe some folks may get inspired. I would hate to see you picking up the postage to mail out dozens of kits to folks who aren't sure they want to get into doing that type of work.

Pure nuts and bolts stuff should be available through the DNC I would hope, bit I wonder which issues are connecting for people in areas where Democrats are in tough races with Republicans. I rarely see people talk about transportation as an issue at places like DU. Have Republicans in your area really dropped the ball on that one?

[NMDemDist2]

10. we have 2 large new planned communities in the district 30 miles outside

town but Shadegg voted against more $$$ for roads and infrastructure for them. the folks who live out there have nightmares if there is an accident on either of the two roads into them.

whatever you say about our SUV culture, folks want to be able to drive 30 miles in less than 90 minutes yanno?

also we have a Light Rail system going in that is looking like a serious nightmare boondoggle and folks are passionate about that too.

as for the kits, they are PDF files I can email and folks can look them over and adjust them for their local needs. Herb's background is as a director of a major charitable institution so he's a real trooper about spending hours and hours on the phone asking for $$$. Bless his heart, what a crap way to have to run a campaign :cry:

[NoodleBoy]

12. you're moving???

that sucks. so what, are you going to change your name to NMDemDist2?

[NMDemDist2]

18. yes and maybe (if Skinner gives another name change amnesty)

I can't give up all my AZDD6 cred ya know??

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

13. YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR STATE SOS RACES

Support you state progressives in the Sec of State races. They run your elections.

We have all seen what happens when we let Republicans into those seats.

On edit: This may be the most important vote you cast. Find out who is challenging the Thuggery in your state. Here in CA, Debra Bowen needs volunteers and cash and press. She is a fine candidate and is taking on election fraud head on.

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. What seats are you working to flip? Take Credit!

What Democratic challenger for a House of Senate Seat have you donated to or volunteered for?