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One of the biggest successes FDL had last year came when Howie Klein started doing his "Blue America" column every Saturday morning. While I enjoyed Howie's obsession with the minutae of congressional races on his site DownWithTyranny , I wasn't sure anyone else would share that but it seemed like something we should be doing, and it would keep Howie out of trouble. It soon mushroomed into one of our most popular features, and not only did we eventually turn over supervision of our FDL ActBlue page to Howie (since he was so scrupulous about vetting candidates), we talked John Amato of Crooks & Liars into joining forces with us and created one of the most potent fundraising aparatus for progressive candidates on the web.
We also formed a Blue America PAC and Howie produced the now-famous "Have You Had Enough" videos with Ken Mosher, Tommy Maxwell and Ricki Lee Jones that we customized for numerous progressive candidates who would never have had the budgets or resources to do so themselves. Tommy and Ken and their band also traveled to Connecticut to play rallies on behalf of Ned Lamont and Chris Murphy, and we were able to give platforms and publicity to candidates who otherwise would have had little in Howie's regular Blue America chats. Howie became the bet noir of all those who tried to silence any Democratic candidates from talking about the war in the runup to the election, and was able to effectively counter these same folks when they attempted to credit themselves with victories that their so-called "centrist" platforms did not deserve.
As we look out toward the new year, I think the Blue America project is one of the most exciting and viable tools we have for not only using the advantage that the left has when it comes to the relationship we have with popular culture (Lou Reed is probably not going to be doing a "Let's Bomb Iran" version of "Walk on the Wildside" for Powerline any time soon, no matter how many times The Big Trunk wants to whistle Hattie Carroll), but for re-branding the notion of what it means to be a "liberal" and creating a positive cultural identity around it after all the incoming grenades it has taken from the right wing for decades.
So, today's question. What would you like to see from Blue America in the upcoming year, and what suggestions/ideas do you have for accomplishing it? It's a program with tremendous potential and it achieves its successes thanks to those members of the community upon whose support and participation it depends, so please consider this your forum to discuss thoughts and ideas you might have for what we can and should be doing.
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Jane!
Jane - and congrats katymine!
Jane !!
… and our Hero Howie !
Begin coalescing around a presidential candidate for ‘08.
I’ve found all these years later, that Fortunate Son still works.
Jane! : )
Howie is safely out of Paraguay.
http://aroundtheworldblog.blogspot.com/
Blue America! Jane, are you still accepting donations to Esten Maxwell’s fund-raiser?
The ActBlue strategy is the way to prove that public financing of elections or removing corporate money from elections works. Candidates have to be accountable to the people.
As an FYI, my boyfriend who is a freelancer for ESPN on Monday Night football has been known to play “Had Enough” as part of his music shuffle when they are striking the games. I have head others in the crew “singing” along in the background during phone calls. Viral way to spread the message.
Music is a great way to do it, it puts the message out in a non-threatening way but gets the job done.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 4
Yes!
We’ve got to pull together all our resources, and use them for whomever we agree is the best Dem candidate for ‘08. : )
Bring the 2.9 million registered nurses into the Democratic party’s fold. Nurses make up the largest invisible profession in the US. They provide the majority of all healthcare services to patients, they lean heavily Democratic, and they have enormous potential political and policy power.
Devote scads more time in interviewing influential nurses (Linda Aiken, Patricia Moccia, Jeanette Lancaster, Kathy Kolcaba, Greer Glazer, Rebecca Patton, May Wykle, and Jean Watson, Joyce Clifford for starters) and in highlighting the many issues facing nurses and patients (that’s the rest of us) around patient safety, the intensifying nursing shortage, universal healthcare, and nurses’ workplace issues.
Resource information and articles at Universal Health
I suspect that if nurses’ interests were aligned with the public’s interest around universal health, that the tipping point could be attained in 2007, and that universal healthcare would be able to move forward in a real and significant manner.
When I first started reading the blogs, I found fdl. I was absolutely overwhelmed at all the information available.
So I sent a meek little email to lady Jane asking her if she could recommend which organization to contribute to. At that time I rarely commented and received no reply to my email that in retrospect, went to a very busy lady with an overflowing in-basket.
Slowly I saw other similar questions of financing. In typical blogospherical fashion, not liking the options available, we built one ourselves.
This lesson has taught me not to try to slip a self-believed stupid question quietly into an email. A great deal of talent exists on the ‘nets, and thankfully, the ladies of the lake are good at directing these efforts.
Good on ‘ya.
I’d like to see Blue America start earlier. Look at all the fine people who almost made it into the House. What if we had started earlier? It takes time to build up the cash to run, when said cash is coming from we humble working folk.
And we had one primary challenge in the House, Donna Edwards. That’s understandable, we had to get the
Republicanscriminal party out of the majority.I think now that we know what we can do, let’s make a bigger challenge to the Tauschers and Emanuels out there.
This year I would like FDL to take an occassional look at the House of Delegates race in Virginia’s 13th District. Some of you know we had one of those Get-the-Gays amendments on the ballot this year. It was put there by the current Republican incumbant Bob Marshall (not related) versus Bruce Roemmelt, former Vietnam Vet, former firefigher, current college professor and all aournd good guy. Winning this seat would set Virginia up to carry for the 2008 presidential nominee, win another US Senate seat and generally be a very good thing.
I almost forgot, Jeff Dion is running right now in a special election for Board of Supervisors in Prince William County.
Jane,
Sometimes I have ideas for political commercials, however, I have no time or ability to actually produce them. I’m certain others have this same problem.
Can Blue America form an ad hoc agency to produce spots generated from ideas on the web? Would it be better for me to try and recruit locally, as everyone else?
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 12
CA progressives are already worked up about Tauscher…
Now is there someone who’s preparing a nice primary surprise for Rahmbo?
Note from Esten’s mom on his “CarePage”:
For Esten.
To donate, click the paypal button or the visa/mastercard button on the upper-right margin, and make certain your donation ends with a .03 amount (His age) so they know the donation is for him!
Hi Jane– I love what Blue America did to introduce real, progressive candidates this last election.
I’m sure that FDL will focus on the new Congress as a way to further expose the incumbents and DINOS and hold their feet to the fire and highlight those who are fighting the good fight and reinforce their behavior as a means of encouraging others to join in the conversation and to indeed consider running for public office.
I would like to see us all better prepared for the next election– all of them, so perhaps we could focus very early on those candidates who are out there and start the support and conversation sooner. I, of course, agree that the Presidential election is of maximum importance, but I would hate to see all the oxygen sucked out of the Congressional and Senate races and I think Blue America is the perfect spot for it.
Hooowwwwieeee! Jane!
The success of BlueAmerica was indeed a high spot in the election. Our local DFA just sent around an email saying that the progressives are taking the lead in the CA state party, opportunities abound all around to influence the progress of the next 20 years.
I would love to see some sort of virtual organization set up, a sort of think tank/war room combination, sort of a wiki thing (pardon my rambling, I’m just sorting this out myself) to provide opposition research to our side and counter theirs. If we start building it now, it will be ready for ‘08.
The roots project substructure is in place (bless you, pach), could be built upon with ease. This being the internets and all, fact checking could be a problem, but it seems to be pretty self-leveling so far. People love to call bullshit and that is a good thing for truth, justice and the American way.
The potential for success is huge. FDL is an influential blog. For all their kicking and screaming, BlueDogs know blogs are part of the game now. Think of the power of JaneReddPachTrexscarecrowhughandguests, the access, via the community, to data bases the rest of us can’t access, the personal contacts, the sheer brains and talent of the netrootz. Virtually unbeatable.
Jacqrat @
8
Yes we are, people should just make sure to put .03 at the end of the donation.
In other words, will Blue America remain primarily a funding tool, or can it try to displace the DC consultants as best as possible?
Oilfieldguy @
21
great thought and question!
Oklahoma kiddo @
4
I think we may be waiting for the field to sort out a bit. Right now I have to say there is nobody who has distingued themselves (aside from Feingold, who is out) when it comes to speaking to the stuff we care about.
I think we’ll be focusing on House and Senate races for the time being (and Tauscher is certainly one of them). Surprises can always happen and I’ll be delighted if they do, but if the ticket winds up being some version of Hillary/Obama I think we’ll be focusing on building up progressive infrastructure, emboldening progressive candidates from the ground up and supporting the 50 State Strategy in whatever way we can.
There are plenty trying to make the party GOP lite, I think that the whole goal of Blue America is to combat that impulse.
Seems to me the next election, if it’s not still about the war (and it may be), could be fought about the meaning of populism. For liberals, it’s essentially about class war, or the narrower version that Lou Dobbs calls the “war on the middle class” and the need to redress the movement of wealth towards the super rich of the last few years. Digby’s posts have lately talked about that from the societal viewpoint, the notion that there is a privileged class in America and it’s only what they think and do that matters. A key defining point is whether populism starts to look like the liberal FDR version, with it’s focus on lifting up everyone in an egalitarian sense, or something much worse, something that’s based on demogoguery and exploitation of fundamentalist “family” values, while the wealth shift continues unabatted — as we’ve seen in recent years.
These two views are going to be contending for the disaffected who abondoned the Republicans this year and voted for Democrats. Our focus, I think, should be to keep them Democrats and help define what populism means, and it needs to include a strong dose of appreciation for the Constitutional separation of powers and Bill of Rights issues we care about, along with a repulsion against militarism, lawlessness and torture. The problem will be that the other view of populism can just as easily reject those values.
So what I hope for the next campaign is that we have that choice available to us and candidates that reflect our (my?) preferences. Cause you know the other side is going to have theirs, and the Rahms of the world will be out there trying to subvert us with the corporate perversion too.
Recall Pachacutec’s “three parties.” We need to be promoting the third one he discussed. JMHO.
Blue America ‘08 has been stuck at 10 donors for several weeks. Prime the ‘08 pump with a few bucks and get the donor number up.
www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica08
Here’s my $.02:
1. Stay true to first principles.
2. Stay Congressional.
3. Support 2007 candidates in special elections called to replace criminals and pedophile-enablers.
4. Build an infrastructure for 2008.
5a. Make a decision about whether to go Presidential. My suggestion: stick to our knitting in Congressional races.
5b. Allow BA and FDL to become a forum for wide-ranging views of Presidential hopefuls, maintaining strict neutrality in order for all Democratic progressives and liberals to voice our approval and opprobrium of those in the race.
You’ll notice that my proposed Congressional focus leaves me out of the direct fun; I doubt there’ll be a primary challenge to my Congresswoman. But I believe there’s lots of room for BlueAmerica to grow in other enticing Congressional races. Special elections in 2007 could very well include primary challenges to our 2006 candidates who might be swamped by DCCC poachers (e.g., IL-14).
Think global; act local; be agnostic on the Presidential.
Oh, and:
Troops
Home
NOW
After the first couple of hundred campaign commercials I saw this year, I stopped listening and seeing them. My suggestion is a series of informational commercials, al la Olberman: funny but effective on any number of political topics that we, the dems, want to bring to the public’s attention. Make people think, muse if you will, between election seasons, make them see the dangers and absurdities of where we are now and who got us here.
One of the best things Blue America can do is to be an early adopter of Progressive Populists like Jon Tester and Larry Kissell — this blows up the DC consultant lie that only blue dog centerists can win in red states, and helps take our party back from the K Street sellouts.
Here’s what we need to do — the question is with what and whether BlueAmerica can help:
1) Identify key seats that are on the bubble - not using the DCCC or DSCC benchmarks, but the benchmarks of the netroots. (What are those benchmarks, folks? What made any of the BlueAmerica candidates preferable to the annointed-disappointments of the DCCC/DSCC?)
2) Identify the resources needed for those key seats - is there a potential candidate that hasn’t yet been persuaded to run? is there a need for candidate training, or for local activist training? is there a need for money in 2008 that might take all 2007 to raise?
3) Identify trainings that the netroots can use at large, so that they are better prepared to hit the ground running in 2008 — could we work with DFA to encourage use of their Night School trainings throughout a broader audience?
4) Continue to distill best practices from 2006 season - what worked, what didn’t, and get them posted to the Roots Project.
For starters…
Oilfieldguy @ 21
No I don’t think it’s primarily a funding tool, although the ability to raise money certainly facilitates what we’re trying to do.
Anyone who hasn’t read the letter from Carol Voisin’s campaign should certainly familiarize themselves with it, because it really opened my eyes about what we are capable of. There are places that have been abandoned by the Rahm/Chuck show, where Howard Dean is starting to make some inroads, but our ability to affect and support was nothing short of miraculous, at least to me (I had no idea). I want to do a LOT more of this, and that has to do with building a positive progressive culture that people want to be associated with, even in areas where they feel bereft and alone. That’s how you build a strong majority, not by selling out the rights of those in the party least able to defend themselves.
I don’t see us as displacing the DC consultant class at all, but helping in a way that they just can’t. They’re a bankrupt bunch at best and some outside energy and enthusiasm can only be helpful.
Sage advice Ted
The most important thing to do is impeach bush, via willing congresspeople or state legislators, and have the nation prepped for Carter to finish the term. Despite however many of the 79 theses ass-wipe recommendations bush decides to heed, within the next 6 mths Iraq will fully implode. There is nothing the US can do to stop it. And US troops, concentrated in large bases, will be sitting ducks. Bush will want to go all in. Lots more troops. When this happens, an articulate, prepared impeachment choice needs to be on the ground. The only way to get a successful impeachment in risky war setting is to have a clear alternative. Carter is that.
I say we target a few Dem Senators that did not back Lamont (i.e. Schumer.) Let them know we have a long memory, and will fight against them when they’re up for re-election. We should also find and fund candidates RIGHT NOW for the 2008 House in which we lost close elections this year.
Keep the pressure on!
angie @
18
One of the biggest things BA had going for it in the last cycle was to give less well known candidates visibility and an opportunity to get funded. Looking ahead, presidential candidates are not generally in need of either - even the lesser well known ones.
I’d like to see Blue America keep its focus on the House and Senate - and step up efforts at recruiting and supporting possible candidates earlier in the process. Let’s force Rahm to play catchup . . .
Jane Hamsher @ 20
Jane, could you please edit my #17 comment to spell Esten’s name correctly? (Obviously going to get a my first cup of coffee just now was a GOOD idea… d’oh!)
Most of what I have for ideas has been expressed already, but I wonder if there is any way we can identify and recruit? I goes with out saying that we should identify those candidates who share our views and give them early support, could we not use a promise of resources to persuade some fine folks in our communities to run?
Rayne @ 29
Excellent suggestions, Rayne.
Let’s continue to build networks. Every time we link up in virtual space, let’s continue that at the YKos Convention coming up, with the intent to strengthening alliances all over the country.
Let’s continue to advocate to our legislators - invite Bob Geiger, who watches Congress, to keep us fully informed early on about pending legislation - so we can organize a response like we began to do last year.
Let’s encourage more of us pups to persue, research, and publish here stuff of which they well know - Prof Foland = nuclear physics; scarecrow = energy regulation; Pach = grassroots; Hugh = (i don’t know your specific expertise, but you got some!)
mmmm….thinking..
Hillary/Obama. Yuk. At this point, Hillary/anybody. Yuk.
The main thing is for Demo candidates to stake out clear positions. Wishy-washiness will not do. Otherwise: no money.
Jacqrat @ 35
Somebody beat me to it.
We have the best mods.
6. Take over local party organizations, just like our Rayne’s done so successfully.
[ps jacqrat — done]
Kathryn in MA @ 38
BTW, the Roots site has become more ambitious than we originally intended, and that’s why it’s been a bit slow in getting up. But it’s going to be VERY cool and I think it will be a valuable tool in all of this.
Jane Hamsher @ 40
They are the very model of progressive moderation;
They block the spam and stand on guard for Troll Eradication.
Howie seems to have such an impeccable eye for candidates.
Though it’s the fault of no one here, I was disappointed that there seemed to be no candidate to go up against some of the true and most egregious of the criminal class - Jerry Lewis coming most immediately to mind.
Is there any way that we/he/us/somebody can begin, right now, vetting viable candidates for 2008?
OT..Digby has a comment on Meteor Blades @ Kos
Both are worth reading.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
DFA Night School trainings are available on the DFA Website - DFA Training
DFA Night School DVD
DFA Night School downloads
atdnext @
16
Oh, Christine Cegelis for IL-05, please!!!
Jane Hamsher @ 30
I agree! Combining the energy and enthusiasm of the blog community with Howie’s focus, intellect and knowledge made Blue America force to be reckoned with. Starting earlier, like we are and with the lessons learned in ‘06, the sky is the limit!
TeddySanFran @ 41
Tuesday Dec 12th is our county Dem Meeting with election of officers and January will be the state elections. From all over the state we have been working to build a progressive slate of officers to do just that.
Perhaps, this early in the cycle, it would be wise to focus on seats rather than people. Identify some new seats that we would like to target, and get someone (head of local dem group, past candidate/rep, local FDLer, etc.) to host a thread to raise up that district - “here are the local issues, here’s how they tie into the national scene, here’s some history of their current players . . .” In some cases, we might have a name or two in play already, while in others we might be able to brainstorm some possibilities and ways to recruit them.
The biggest dilemma for this community is the Presidential campaigns, imho. Sucking all the oxygen (and $$ and time and resources) while splitting apart our community over well-thought-out and passionately-held views of Democratic patriots. Aren’t we lucky, really, that there are no Presidential candidates of illwill among our choices?
Of course, I could be guilty of both pre-11/7 and pre-12/6 (B/H-ISG) thinking. Could we instead, by midyear 2007, unite to elect President Pelosi to her own Presidential term? That would be great for our party, allowing progressive and liberal focus on San Francisco values implemented nationwide.
vachon @
28
good one!
oops - read first, type later…
What Rayne said @29 - especially at 1) and 2).
what she said.
Thanks, Jane. I’m still smarting over a seat we lost here locally for a mere 500 votes.
500 votes, or roughly .066%. (Yes, we’re recounting, but the prospects are grim.)
That would have been the difference between a winger BigPharma whore who actually voted to give immunity from prosecution to BigPharma for drugs that were knowingly released to the public in spite of studies showing that BigPharma hid negative data — and the first African-American state senator from this district, one with a distinguished career as a progressive.
There were 6 precincts that didn’t turn out in the numbers we needed; there are so many reasons why we came up short, but this one community and its 6 precincts only needed to produce 100 votes more in each precinct to win. Could have been as little as a handful of votes in each neighborhood. How can we change this? How does BlueAmerica’s efforts make the kind of impact that reaches down to these neighborhoods and compels them to vote? It’s this kind of reality we need to keep in mind as we formulate a vision.
Should we have had a different candidate? I don’t think so, but YMMV depending on your own district. Should we have done a better job with activist outreach and training? Probably, and I can’t think of a precinct anywhere in which this isn’t the case. Should we have done more in the way of advertising? Most definitely, since the opposition candidate outspent on primarily negative ads by 2 or 3 times over; this was common across the country. Should we have done a better job with precinct delegates? Heck yes, we know they were weak in those precincts, and your own precincts could be in the same straights.
So…how does BlueAmerica plug in?
DFA had a workshop at YKos Convention - let’s all sign up for another one1
katymine @
9
I completely agree. This is seminal legislation. IMHO, it’s more important than overturning the MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT. I think publicly financing national elections also fits well with the Congressional investigations of war profiteering […] that will dominate the news cycle in 07. The sooner we get this passed (presumably over a Presidential veto), the sooner we can select a candidtate indpendent of the size of their “war chest.”
I have a feeling that if investigations truly do go forward with the gusto that they should, there are going to be not only big opportunities for gain, but also a need for a message and candidates that go beyond “anti corruption”. Populism should be part of it, but by no means all.
“elect me, because I am not a republican” is not enough to sustain the long term change we need in this country.
(see Gates nearly unanimous confirmation because he was “not Rumsfeld”– but will he change course? Doubt it)
OT,
I heard Tony Snowjob say, in his Friday presser,
that we had WON the Cold War?
Was I snoozing, when was the date of victory?
Jack
What about bringing Dr. Dean in for a thread on the 50 state strategy, akin to Joe Wilson’s recent thread on Iraq?
I’d love to hear, from his standpoint, where he sees the 50 state strategy at this point. Are there places that need reinforcement, places that are going great guns and have some ideas to share, etc.
Another possibility would be to ask him for some suggestions of people who emerged in the 50 state strategy at the local level in the last cycle, and bring in a couple of them for a thread on how things went and where they are going next in their districts. Some of these are folks in districts who have been overlooked and written off by the national party for far too long, and now are starting to emerge. I’d love to hear how things went for them in 2006, to be able to spread the efforts in 2008.
We certainly need help in Oklahoma. Coburn and Inhofe? Yegads. I keep hammering them on my blog, especially Inhofe, the blantant homophobe and big oil shill. He’s up for re-election in ‘08 and however the Dem selection for President is will have a major impact on downticket races like his.
TeddySanFran @
42
Thank you, m’Lord!
2007 DFA Training Schedule
I do not see Chicago on the list for June.
Your local group can schedule the training here:
http://www.democracyforamerica.....g/requests
Steve @ 25
I’m in…I’ve been letting the credit card cool off since November. It’s finally safe to handle!
The problem as I am seeing it, is there are certain Demo candidate(s) for the presidency with mountains of money, connections and name recognition, and that issues will become, well…
We are getting steamrollered is the fear. With only twenty-three months left, I admit to being a bit antsy. Particularly about the WH. The Republicans have control of the Judicial Branch. We have a slim hold on the Legislative Branch (at least in the Senate). We really need the Executive Branch.
Ah, what Peterr (59) said!!
Heck, have Howard Dean one week on the 50-State Strategy’s current benchmarks.
Follow the next week with Jim Dean on how DFA sees itself assisting the DNC in spite of its inability to coordinate (legally cannot coordinate with DNC due to restrictions on 527’s).
And then the third week have Eli Pariser from MoveOn discuss its vision for 2007-2008.
Jane …
Keep the $5 a week going. Get some sort of good graphic …. Something maybe like “another drop in the bucket.”
Every time you make ten grand, park it in a CD.
IE Put the money to work, until it’s used.
Call these “CeeD CD’s” ….. Use them to help whatever and whomever may come-up during the next cycle.
Peterr @ 59
Wooo I like this idea….
He is the king of grassroots and “gets it”.
What Dr/Gov Dean sees the future of the DNC and how we can help. Let him see what we have done and can do…. Great Idea!
I would like a continued effort at a written progressive platform as Pachacutec has worked on in several posts.
Then start promoting it….
Also
Help recruit the next round of candidates.
Identify, examine and help progressive candidates for the next round asap.
And support a whole lot of excellent ideas I read in just the first twenty comments. You all are awesome!
Rayne @ 65
(continuing the dream . . .)
And then the fourth week, invite Rahm and Chuck to come in and chat . . .
Seriously, as much as we knock the two of them, I’d love to give them an opportunity to share in this discussion. They’re not going away, and neither are we - is is possible that we might be able to teach them a bit about the netroots and Blue America?
Thanks for all the DFA links to training, katymine.
For those of you interested in scheduling a DFA training session, keep in mind that you’ll need to help with a venue, getting 100 or more participants. At least these were the criteria for their training sessions last year. Don’t let these put you off, though; if you think about these issues first, DFA will be faster at getting your venue on their calendar. Food for thought.
Folks who don’t want to organize but might want to attend training should also check with their state party (I know Michigan Democratic Party will have their own training programs), as well as Camp Wellstone.
I agree that the effort, at the moment, should be toward electing members of the House. House seats can be swayed by efforts involving thousands of dollars, as opposed to the millions of dollars necessary in order to influence a senatorial, or presidential race.
What do we know now? Is Charlie Brown running again? Can we find someone viable to run against Jerry Lewis?
Can we identify, right now, those who truly need to become unemployed in late 2008?
(no I’m not from California - it just pisses me off)
Agree, agree, agree.
We are good at local/state/and national Gongress races, ‘coz we *are* the grassroots. Pres — that’s not our fault so much, but helloo? Nobody really there. Maybe Gore, but he’s maybe not running. I’d love Howard Dean but he says he’s not. Any choice of available candidated now could not make more than 20% pof us really happy and probably piss off or at least discourage the other 80%. I know I’d leave if FDL got behind either Obama or Hill. It’s one thing to hold nose and vote, another to campaign hard for a second-rater.
I would identify the priorities as:
1.) maintaining the means.
a.) keep Internet neutral. w/o the Net, no netroots and b.) free and fair vote tabulation. Get the machines the f out.
Beyond that, local, state and congressional seats as per usual.
Second the wiki or other permanent base for strategic and reference info.
Howie is da best for vetting candidates. One of the best things about Blue America was having Howie give us the real skinny through the bullshit on candidates websites.
Peterr @
60
Yes, yes, yes: let’s also invite Rahm!
The Blue America page shows a total of $545,000 raised, presumably this year. This site has 80000 viewers a day in peak periods, so the average contribution was $70. We need to find a way to raise real money in advance of next year’s election.
Pach points out that we are facing the money party and the theocratic party. Our own people are tripping over each other to work with that jackass president and to raise money from the money party.
If we want to beat the money party, we have to elect people with our money. We have manpower and brains, but they are worthless without money.
I do not think we should focus our efforts on presidential politics. We are too small and diffuse to have a realistic chance of affecting the outcome. We can make a difference at the State level and the Congressional level.
Among the readers of this site are plenty of people with enough money to make a difference in several races around the country. Surely ActBlue can identify the big donors among our Blue America contributors. We can organize behind someone like Howie or others to put serious money behind a few really progressive congressional candidates well in advance, when it does some real good. That way, when our people get to Congress they won’t turn to K Street to save the trouble of raising money for reelection, with the compromises that entails.
Regarding my comment at #66
Here’s the idea I’m thinking of :
http://mysite.verizon.net/myk15/tipjar.html
I’m sure the Professor will help out with it, He’s here :
http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/
Hi everyone.
Jane, I let Howie know before he zipped off to S. America but for your info as well, I’ve got the URL’s BlueAmerica08.com and several others and will be working with Howie to build them out into large and comprehensive resource sites for BlueAmerica.
I also own www.BlueAmerica.TV and I’m using my Producers status with LiveDigital to create a complete channel for it. Unlimited video hosting, channel features, citizen journalism upload capabilities, etc… Lots of media/video possibilities with that one.
I’ll keep working with Howie on building out the infrastructure and once we’ve got some stuff together, we’ll start getting feedback from the whole gang on site look and feel and what kind of online resources you’d like to see it have.
How are we going to keep honest the ones we helped elect in 2006? Haven’t there been some disappointments ALREADY? Didn’t Kristen and a Murphy join the BDDs? Didn’t some we worked for join the NDC?
How teh suck is that?
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 63..It’s a hard time of year to free up extra cash..but a few $ into the Blue America bucket, now and again, keeps it alive. At this stage, I think the donor number may mean more than the $ number.
TeddySanFran @ 78
Maybe a “are you a TRUE dirty hippie?” test before we endorse? :)
Blood oaths are so… messy, don’t ya know?
Big fan of BlueAmerica.
I recommend:
(1) primary challenges for Congress,
(2) that we NOT rush into a choice for President, too divisive for us.
i’d love to see Richard Dreyfuss (D-Jaws) do a guest post - i saw him speak (youtube?) about putting civics back into the HS curriculum - educate young Americans about how government is supposted to work - and about voting.
TeddySanFran @ 77
Invite our new BA-backed Reps-to-be back for a couple of threads, both to remind them of the folks who helped get them to DC and to give them a chance to share with us their impressions of their new jobs. Don’t let BA become the “once every two years” gig for any of them - or for us.
Here I sit - thinkin’ about money - readin’ about money. Fuck that.
Elections should be publicly financed, period.
What can we do about that?
Nate @
77
Holy Sh!t!
Jacqrat @ 62
TSF @ 77..Joe Sestak is a member of NDC, a real disappoint for me. Chris Carney is bad news but he wasn’t Sherwood. The question is how to change the Dem party, one primary at a time, without loosing the majority.
I’d like to see more research and links on the issues facing congress this next session to help us write letters of the editor. I really hope to get some letters out during the next two years.
And I truly enjoyed the Blue America series–got to know several great candidates. By the way, Kissell is gearing up to run again in 2008!
I kinda screwed up that zig. My comments were these:
Well…since Jane already brought up Carol Voisin’s campaign…
Even though she lost, she has been asked to run with the current Oregon Dem Chair as the Vice Chair. Rumors are the Chair will retire soon, so Carol could indeed end up in a position that will allow her more power to create change then she might have had as a frosh congresswoman. (Hope I got the details right, but that’s the gist of it.)
masaccio @
75
We need to remember our collaborative partners in Blue America, Crooks & Liars and downwithtyranny. On any given day, C&L’s traffic is probably double that of FDL and their contributions were a very significant chunk of the total.
Steve @ 86
We don’t have to beat them all, just make an example of a few of the worst.
I love all of the suggestions. Blue America impressed me the most of all the brilliant election work FDL did this cycle. And we have so much to be proud of.
I’m looking forward to the next two years to watch it flesh out even more, make more inroads, more groups networking with us, and implement more plans and goals to get Progressives elected.
FDL and Blue America rocks.
I would like to see Blue America pour all of its money and resources into defeating Lieberman in the 2007 election.