Howie!

Third zed in 10 days!

Good Morning, Firepups!

HOWIE! BLUE AMERICA!

It’s afternoon for some of us…

Hi Howie,

Good work as always.

I’m here and happy to answer questions from you rascals…

Welcome to FDL, Joshua. Can you tell us about the 4 congressional districts Progressive Kick got involved in? I’m assuming one was Kirk’s district in IL (since you sent that nice piece of art up top).

Hi, Joshua,

I especially like this point:

• feed sophisticated/detailed data on voting records to local blogs spotlighting unpleasant aspects of incumbents voting records

Good afternoon all.

The reactionary incumbent?

Call Sam Fox and ask him for some cash. After all, he did say under oath that he gives money whenever asked even if he doesn’t know the cause or doesn’t quite agree with the tactics used. :})

I have read Joshua’s earlier posts. I find a great omission from his strategy: the 50 state strategy, or as it applies to California, the 58 county strategy. Progressives in many rural counties are in control of their central committees and are working hard to undo the years of neglect so as to restore the Democratic pluralities in these counties. We do so with little money, and we will have less if your “Stockton” strategy is adopted.

This seems to me to be short thinking. To win back our counties, we need the long view. We need to elect local politicians so we can run against the entrenched politicians in the district elections. We have gotten ourselves organized in response to Chairman Dean’s strategy. We can do this, but not without outside funds.

We still believe we can turn the whole damn state blue.

Loo Hoo @ 10

The reactionary incumbent?

Rehberg in Montana

I bookmarked Progressive Punch, and will have fun using it in my ongoing communication with Darrell Issa.

One of the things we specialize in is looking at places that are generally being ignored. One of those was Illinois’ 10th district. We realized that many people there thought of Mark Kirk as a “enlightened” Republican and his voting record of course demonstrated quite the contrary. So we worked with some great people in the district itself, raised about $50,000 there and did a rich media email campaign along with a Polly award-nominated automated phone call to let people know what Kirk was really like. I can talk more about the other districts if people are interested, but I’ll say for now that we definitely skewer Democrats who betray progressive values, as well as Republicans. One great example of that was Henry Cuellar in Texas where we were the only people doing electronic communications in colloquial Texan Spanish as well as in English.

joshua grossman @ 15

I can talk more about the other districts if people are interested, but I’ll say for now that we definitely skewer Democrats who betray progressive values, as well as Republicans. One great example of that was Henry Cuellar in Texas where we were the only people doing electronic communications in colloquial Texan Spanish as well as in English.

My congressman here in North L.A. is Brad Sherman, and while not terribly toxic, he has a fairly weak position on some things.

So good for your work!

My Stockton posting has been somewhat misconstrued by people. When it comes to fighting Republicans and conservative Democrats, I’m kind of like MacArthur– I’ll fight’em on the beaches, in the mountains, the jungles, etc. But given a finite amount of resources, I’m always advocating focusing on the places that are a stretch, but not so far of a stretch that we get a hernia trying to reach them. So in the last cycle I advocated doing issue-advocacy messaging in many districts that others thought were hopeless, but conversely, there are places I don’t think are the best uses of our money as long as we don’t have infinite quantities of it.

So in the last cycle I advocated doing issue-advocacy messaging in many districts that others thought were hopeless, but conversely, there are places I don’t think are the best uses of our money as long as we don’t have infinite quantities of it.

Makes perfect sense.

Thanks Loo Hoo. WE think that ProgressivePunch is as informative a tool as has been devised for prying the lid off the dome of the U.S. Capitol and shining a spotlight inside. It’s not always a pretty sight when that happens, but sunlight is the best disinfectant. Thus far this year, there’s been great unanimity on the part of Democrats in Congress in terms of their voting behavior on the floor. It would be unrealistic to expect that that will last and the only way that they’ll continue to do the right thing– especially people like Brad Sherman– is if we hold their feet to the fire. That’s why ProgressivePunch is developing the democracy tools that Howie kindly mentioned in his intro.

joshua grossman @ 17

My Stockton posting has been somewhat misconstrued by people. When it comes to fighting Republicans and conservative Democrats, I’m kind of like MacArthur– I’ll fight’em on the beaches, in the mountains, the jungles, etc. But given a finite amount of resources, I’m always advocating focusing on the places that are a stretch, but not so far of a stretch that we get a hernia trying to reach them. So in the last cycle I advocated doing issue-advocacy messaging in many districts that others thought were hopeless, but conversely, there are places I don’t think are the best uses of our money as long as we don’t have infinite quantities of it.

Cool. What are best targeting goals for primaries and to knock out some reactionary Republicans in the ‘08 general?

Joshua - I have to be at the local anti-war vigil (right now) so I’m going to reply, then leave.

I read your comments last week concerning there being no point strategically in directing funds to “deep red counties” such as CD2/Herger. I REJECT THIS WITH BITTER FRUSTRATION!.

I invite you contact us at www.siskiyoudemocrats.org and see what we locals think is needed, and why we feel you are so very wrong!

If you decree that there is no hope for change, and if the notion that there is no need to direct funds to us becomes the common wisdom, then you will certainly plunge us into such depths as permanently Red.

We have an active central committee, and clubs in both the north and south parts of the county. Additionally, there are (at a miniimum) strong Democratic clubs/committees in Shasta and Trinity counties.

If you feel we are permanently Red, then I guess we on the central committee may as well just go tend our gardens, because apparently there is no point in our efforts to effect change in our communities. Is that your preference?

Before you make such sweeping declarations about where to direct funds and what fights are worth the effort, how about asking the folks on the ground what they think? Or do you have such knowledge of all things California that there is simply no need to ask the folk who are actually in that area?

As I say, I have to leave now and won’t be here to respond, but wanted to get this to you early. We object to your views, we reject the notion that we cannot change (BACK) to Blue (this used to be a Dem county), and we invite you to communicate directly with our central committee so that we can discuss with your our goals and how we feel we could achieve them.

Issa did a phone survey here in CA-49, and reported the results yesterday. More than half of those of us who responded want out of Iraq. Any chance of taking his seat? Any candidates showing promise?

To Greg D, up in beautiful Siskiyou county…
I don’t think that any place is “permanently red.” But when I deal with deep-pocketed funders and they’re pushing me against the wall saying “where am I going to get the most bang for my buck?” and “Grossman, you’re a wild-eyed dreamer who is trying to promote progressive ideals in places where Jesus Christ would have a hard time talking about them,” well, I have to be able to make a case that the funds that they contribute will have an impact in the short and medium term. That means making choices and I make no apologies for that. It’s called being strategic. I only wish more people on our side thought strategically. ProgressiveKick occupies a not very well inhabited niche between at least some of the DCCC types who would cheerfully support Benito Mussolini if he was running as a Democrat, and the wild-eyed dreamers who think we can win everywhere tomorrow. If you draw an x-axis and a y-axis on a chart, with one axis being pragmatism and the other idealism, and draw a line where the two axes come together, that’s where we try to live. I’ll post a response to Howie in a second.

Mr. Grossman, what are the chances you’d go after Barbara Boxer, who so brazenly lied after claiming she’d “support the nominee of Connecticut Democrats” and then proceeded to not support Ned Lamont one bit in that state?

I’d definitely like to see her brought down. I have no use for “progressives” who lie like that.

Joshua, Howie,

This is a great idea. Is there some goal for this fund-raiser? How much is it going to take to fund this operation for the cycle?

I understand that resources are limited, but that is not the issue. The principle here is that the Democratic Party is supposed to be everywhere. That is what Dean’s 50 state strategy means. You simply cannot ignore the needs of these “deep red” counties many of which were Democratic.

Frequently, small sums of money would make a huge difference. We can’t even afford to get phone numbers for our registered Democrats. 1K would actually make a real difference to us.

This is wrong. And no, I am not misunderstanding.

There are some very preliminary indications that there’s a sea change going on in the American electorate. There’s certainly good data supporting a strong decrease in support for and even identification with the Republican party by Americans. The data is sketchier in terms of people identifying with Democrats. Definitely people seem to be pulling more progressively on a wide variety of issues, not just the war in Iraq. That includes funding human needs, gay marriage, etc., etc. It certainly would take a dramatic sea change for Democrats to win Issa’s district. I don’t see it in the short term. Remember that ProgressiveKick runs issue advocacy campaigns as a 527 and expressly refrains from advocating the election or removal of any candidate for office. That said, Howie, I think some interesting places coming up in this cycle are: once again, Illinois 10, where we exposed Kirk a lot last time and will continue to do so. We’re also looking forward to illuminating for the general public in Albuquerque, NM what a wonderful job Martin Heinrich is doing on the city council there. His advocacy of sustainability issues is exemplary and that’s the message that we want to take to the public.

Joshua @ 23

I absolutely agree with this. We don’t have so much money we can spread it across the country. I want to win, and I want to put my money where we can win.

I sympathize with Greg D, but party-building has to be separated from winning in the near term. Howard Dean will do a better job of finding local party rebuilders than I will, and he can fund them with the money we give to the Party.

Excuse my pedantry, but short term thinking is usually called tactical thinking. Strategic thinking is generally long term.

You want to win elections. Fine. But I don’t see anything in your tactics that will ever take the Democratic party beyond the decaying urban centers. If you want to be strategic, you have to do both. Large sums for contests you want to fight - and no, you will not want to fight CA CD2 at this time - but some seed money for the wider struggle.

This is a great idea. Is there some goal for this fund-raiser? How much is it going to take to fund this operation for the cycle?

I’d like to raise a half million dollars or more in this cycle. We have historical relationships with both George Soros (in a very very small way) as well as another billionaire. They’re both quite progressive, but donate primarily to the Democratic party and better known organizations than we are. One of the things they’ve challenged us on is to prove that the net roots is interested in funding specifically progressive causes and if we can demonstrate grassroots and netroots support, we may be able to get more funding from them as well as other deep-pocketed progressives.

Larry Marks @ 26
Frequently, small sums of money would make a huge difference. We can’t even afford to get phone numbers for our registered Democrats. 1K would actually make a real difference to us.

It does make sense that all precincts have at least basic tools.

Would Joshua care to give some insight into the kinds of tech tools used to help understand or at least help visualize the political landscape? Do you have access to programs that dilineate political will and potential?

I’m good for $100. Please make a note of my information, the address under my screen name is real, and if more will help let me know.

I will keep track of your site, and hope you will list the interesting districts.

sorry i didn’t close code - refresh for Code-B-Gone

joshua grossman @ 27

We’re also looking forward to illuminating for the general public in Albuquerque, NM what a wonderful job Martin Heinrich is doing on the city council there. His advocacy of sustainability issues is exemplary and that’s the message that we want to take to the public.

I think he won some poll last year as the handsomest politician in America. It would be great to see him take on Heather Wilson, especially now that she’s been exposed in the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

Larry Marks, does Howard Dean know you don’t have money for phone lists? How much do they cost?

howieklein @ 35

joshua grossman @ 27

We’re also looking forward to illuminating for the general public in Albuquerque, NM what a wonderful job Martin Heinrich is doing on the city council there. His advocacy of sustainability issues is exemplary and that’s the message that we want to take to the public.

I think he won some poll last year as the handsomest politician in America. It would be great to see him take on Heather Wilson, especially now that she’s been exposed in the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

Plus…The Wilsons!

Let’s be clear about a few things. There are kajillions of dollars raised by the Democratic party and Democratic party organs to beat up on Republicans. As my people say to that, mazel tov (that means good luck and/or congratulations, depending on the context). We are not part of the Democratic party, at all. ProgressivePunch is about illuminating the voting records of members of Congress, and that certainly includes both Democrats and Republicans, and it most certainly includes members who represent very red districts. In other words, it’s free on the web for anybody and their sister-in-law to use. ProgressiveKick has been charged by its founder, me, and our funders to be in effect, the left-wing of the possible. We’re not trying to elect Democrats. We’re trying to move policy in this country in a progressive direction. For ProgressiveKick, that means taking our donors’ hard-earned money and putting it in places where we’re confident it can gain the most leverage. There are about two-thirds of Congressional districts in the U.S. that would qualify using our criteria. Where almost nobody else seems to be playing is in spotlighting the records of people like noxious Al Wynn in Maryland. We strove to raise money to spotlight his voting record last year and couldn’t get anybody to take it seriously. Events vindicated us, but it was too late at that time. So people who want to concentrate on ultra-red districts, go for it. We’re trying to make light-blue, purple, light-red, and even deep blue districts that don’t have progressive representation wake up and smell the coffee and realize what they’re missing! There’s really no one else doing this, and people are welcome to criticize us for how well or not well we’re doing what we’re doing. But I don’t think it makes sense to criticize us for staying away from things that aren’t part of our core mission.

Loo hoo, I don’t know if Howard Dean knows, but the California Democratic Party certainly does. It costs about $500 to buy phone numbers for all 8000 Democrats in our county, about 750 for all progressives. We are working on improving our fundraising, but this is a poor county.

“Surely, Mr. Scrooge, some provision for the poor at this time of year…”

joshua grossman @ 27

The data is sketchier in terms of people identifying with Democrats. Definitely people seem to be pulling more progressively on a wide variety of issues, not just the war in Iraq. That includes funding human needs, gay marriage, etc., etc.

I would submit that Democrats sometimes have trouble identifying with Democrats. We’ve got pissing matches at the “top” (DCCC vs. DNC), in-fighting in the trenches, and if you asked a Dem what their party stands for, I suspect you’d get myriad responses. Because we’re heading for Ireland soon, I’ve been reading some Irish history. There was a time when Ireland had great opportunity to boot the Brits out of their country once and for all. But they weren’t able to overcome the fractious nature of the clans and pull it together. Sound familiar? Short term or long, there is some infrastructure that needs building and/or repairing. But every cycle, the urgency of the pending elections pushes that off such that the back burner is on overload. How to do all of this in tandem, if you care to comment, and thanks.

joshua grossman @ 38

We’re trying to make light-blue, purple, light-red, and even deep blue districts that don’t have progressive representation wake up and smell the coffee and realize what they’re missing! There’s really no one else doing this, and people are welcome to criticize us for how well or not well we’re doing what we’re doing. But I don’t think it makes sense to criticize us for staying away from things that aren’t part of our core mission.

That said, is there a really progressive candidate in Meehan’s district (MA-05) that we should get behind? It looks like the Establishment is getting behind that dead senator’s widow.

joshua, appreciate the clarification.

Larry Marks @ 39

Loo hoo, I don’t know if Howard Dean knows, but the California Democratic Party certainly does. It costs about $500 to buy phone numbers for all 8000 Democrats in our county, about 750 for all progressives. We are working on improving our fundraising, but this is a poor county.

“Surely, Mr. Scrooge, some provision for the poor at this time of year…”

Write Dean a letter with all of you signing.

neokneme@32

As Howie noted above, we did a study on 21st study messaging technologies for campaign purposes. Texting has been used much more extensively in S. Korea and Spain than in the U.S. There are certain kinds of viral enabled email campaigns where you can simultaneously test messages and refine them over a period of hours and see what resonates the best and elicits the most response from people. We’re also seriously looking at developing online games to illuminate for people in an entertaining and highly interactive way how Congress actually works, and what it takes in our present system of government to buy what you want in terms of action. We’re definitely at the cutting edge in terms of rich media email, where we’ve worked on developing content that will open in almost anybody’s email box without them having to click on a link. Of course the key with email is to have it come from a trusted sender and it’s a very longterm project to build up those email networks. I go to conferences about “Word-of-mouth” marketing where there are all these people who are FORMER political consultants working for corporations on how to get people to buy their stuff since no one’s paying attention to TV ads anymore. I’m the only progressive political person at these things out of several hundred people. I hope that we can become better funded so we can continue to monitor these trends and act upon them on behalf of progressives everywhere.

Mr Grossman, Thank you for joining us today. I have a question about my Senator Mark Pryors rating on progressive punch. Overall score on War and peace votes, lists him at 84%. Do you consider that a good score?

Thanks again.

Constitutionally incapable of getting it all together in one comment. Sorry. In MN’s second CD, since redistricting, we have been unable to field a strong, winning candidate to defeat John Kline, Bush’s acolyte in all things. Kline is absolutely beatable. But not if he’s running unopposed. And frankly, I don’t see much help coming our way from any source. Let me repeat: This is a Congressional seat that can be taken back from the Republics if there is a concerted effort to do so.

barbara@40

People tend to get much more excited about shining a spotlight on politicians in the heat of an election cycle. We believe in skewering politicians and roasting them like tasty shish kebabs on a year-round basis. After all, as Will Rogers said 50-odd years ago, “For a politician to stand up straight, he has to be pushed equally hard from both sides.” In this day and age, I would modify that comment only to add, “She” as well as “he” needs to be pushed equally hard from both sides. Although, it needs to be confessed that the average “she” politicans doesn’t need to be pushed quite as hard as the average “he” politician– although there are plenty of exceptions on both sides. Because people pay more attention to politicians during election season, it’s harder to get them to contribute when we’re not in the throes of campaigns. That’s why I’m so pleased that Howie has invited me to join you today, and honored by all of you taking your citizenship rights so seriously.

Mr. Grossman, I certainly do not mean to impugn your good works. I know you accomplish a lot. I do believe, however that if you want progressives to win seats, you will find more fertile ground if you can find some support for development. Otherwise, you can only react to the situation on the ground each election cycle.

To Howie’s question about progressives in the Massachusetts district that Meehan is vacating– I think Jamie Eldridge has an exemplary record on progressive issues and we’re trying to raise money right now to illuminate the records of all of the people in that district since there seems to be a lot of confusion about what many of them actually stand for.

To the comment from Barbara about John Kline– again, ProgressiveKick does not strive to elect or unelect any individuals (as a matter of law). But I would certainly characterize that district as a light red Republican district, “pink” you might say– not as a deep a red as Judy Bachmann’s next door. Kline is actually more conservative than Bachmann, if you can believe that. Although not nearly as much of a nutcase. And Howie’s never accused Kline of vomiting in Congressional bathrooms the way he has Bachmann. :)

Mark Pryor is a tough call in general. His voting record on Iraq is mixed. He’s definitely running scared now, probably without reason. He probably represents the median political perspective in Arkansas. He could be replaced by somebody worse, but I think that he, Blanche Lincoln, and all three Democratic House members from Arkansas are disappointing. None of them is even really very progressive on economic issues, which is reprehensible given that Arkansas has the 3rd lowest per capita income of any state in the country.

Joshua Grossman:

Michele Bachmann. And yes, nutcase. I’m proud to say she’s not my Congresswoman. Keith Ellison is.

joshua grossman @ 23

To Greg D, up in beautiful Siskiyou county…
I don’t think that any place is “permanently red.” But when I deal with deep-pocketed funders and they’re pushing me against the wall saying “where am I going to get the most bang for my buck?” and “Grossman, you’re a wild-eyed dreamer who is trying to promote progressive ideals in places where Jesus Christ would have a hard time talking about them,” well, I have to be able to make a case that the funds that they contribute will have an impact in the short and medium term. That means making choices and I make no apologies for that. It’s called being strategic. I only wish more people on our side thought strategically. ProgressiveKick occupies a not very well inhabited niche between at least some of the DCCC types who would cheerfully support Benito Mussolini if he was running as a Democrat, and the wild-eyed dreamers who think we can win everywhere tomorrow. If you draw an x-axis and a y-axis on a chart, with one axis being pragmatism and the other idealism, and draw a line where the two axes come together, that’s where we try to live. I’ll post a response to Howie in a second.

I can completely understand where Greg is coming from because it’s so hard to feel you’re out there fighting alone…despite active local groups. I feel the same way here in Texas…where “local” is something rare unless you’re in a big city.

On the other hand, I’m sure you must deal a lot with so many of us feeling the need for urgent change. Kudos to you for making the hard decisions. Good on ya!

And thanks so much for Ciro. :)

Biodun @ 50

Joshua Grossman:

Michele Bachmann.

Thanks for the correction on Michele. My earliest girlfriend was a Judy Bachman, except I think she spelled it with one “n.” And she was almost as nutty as Michele Bachman, so I think I got them confused. Sorry.

Cool, sounds like you’re going after the young vote. Much needed.

Biodun @ 50

Joshua Grossman:

Michele Bachmann. And yes, nutcase. I’m proud to say she’s not my Congresswoman. Keith Ellison is.

You are SO lucky. I have John Kline, ergo, I don’t have a representative in Congress.

Biodun @ 50

Joshua Grossman:

Michele Bachmann. And yes, nutcase. I’m proud to say she’s not my Congresswoman. Keith Ellison is.

Yes, Michele, the secret puker. She’s also mixed up with a lot of crazy religionist cults and nutty sects. Her own church insists the pope is the anti-Christ. (Can there be two anti-Christs? What about Bush?)

Thanks for all the great data, Joshua. I referred to ProgressivePunch all the time last year when citing Mary Bono’s record. She, like Kirk, presents as a moderate, independent Republican. Howie pegged her correctly back in May 2006.

The CA-45th has potential, imo. We don’t yet know if Roth can run, it’s hard to support a family on nothing, especially after tapping one’s resources the first time. But Bono is weak, and her popularity among independents depends on an ignorance of her voting record.

joshua grossman @ 44

neokneme@32

As Howie noted above, we did a study on 21st study messaging technologies for campaign purposes. …

Thanks for the articulate response. There is some promise here for social networking software, perhaps highly interactive / massively parallel games or dedicated client applications distributed within existing networks. What would a protest march look like in “Second Life” ? (I don’t know since I’ve not been there yet.)

Nonetheless, a tool for visualizing the lineage and convergence of political issues and entities is intriguing to me.

Oh, that Michele Bachmann. Can’t make this stuff up.

Audrey–

Thanks for the thanks. It’s ironic and almost humorous to me that I’ve gotten some flak lately for being too pragmatic. When I talked to people about doing Spanish-language messaging in rural Texas about what nasty things Henry Cuellar would do in Congress while allegedly “representing” one of the poorest districts in the nation, I was scoffed at initially. The fact is that there wasn’t a high penetration of email addresses available in that district for low-income Spanish-preference citizens. But for the ones we were able to attain, we had tremendously high open rates, because people were pleasantly surprised that we took the time and energy to message them in their native language. I was directly involved with the translation of our issue messaging materials myself, and worked with people on the ground in Texas as well. We were also communicating with people about Bush administratio plans that Cuellar was endorsing to build monstrous fences on the border, not completely unreminiscent of the Berlin wall. This was while some of our national friends were messaging around cheap pharmaceuticals from Canada which didn’t make sense since anybody can just cross the border there and buy cheap drugs in Mexico. This is a great example of how we try to make our messaging spot-on and culturally appropriate by learning what people care about, instead of trying to impose our pre-existing assumptions on them.

howieklein @ 55

Yes, Michele, the secret puker. She’s also mixed up with a lot of crazy religionist cults and nutty sects. Her own church insists the pope is the anti-Christ. (Can there be two anti-Christs? What about Bush?)

I thought you said Tommy Thompson is the anti-Christ?

Michele Bachmann said (1) God wanted her to run for Congress, and (2) She has the hots for Jesus. I wonder what her hubby thought about #2. I also wonder what her hubby thought about her embarrassing fawning over Bush at SOTU–on YouTube for everyone to see.

A note to our congressional reps regarding the amorous World Bank president might not be out of order, given that the White House doesn’t seem to be backing down: Shorter White House statement: “Heckuva job, Wolfie!” Right. Love is a beautiful thing. Why shouldn’t a guy be allowed to install his girlfriend at the State Department and direct that she be paid more than the Secretary of State?

neokneme@56

Social networking software is fascinating. There ARE more of us. So if we can link together, there’s no limit to what we can do. The flattening of the world due to inexpensive electronic communications allows us to combat the omnipresent financial advantage that the right-wing has. It’s an exciting time to be a progressive. It would be a lot more exciting if progressive funders understood more the need to invest in the kind of infrastructure that we and others are trying to provide. If we were engaging in our activities on behalf of the right-wing, we’d be getting slathered in funds.

I’d like to put out to the Firedoglake community a question about ProgressivePunch’s plans mentioned in Howie’s intro. Which of them is most exciting to you?

I’d love to check out that networking software and the congressional game.

• combine our access to sophisticated databases of congressional voting records with cutting edge issue messaging technologies to inform & empower citizens to hold their elected officials feet to the fire in tremendously effective ways

the gif at top needs a little tweaking;

“they said there were weapons of mass destruction, there were none” should read;

“they knew there were none”

“they said there were weapons of mass destruction, there are not”

should read;

“they knew there were not”

“they said mission accomplished, it was not”

should read;

“every adviser told them it was far from accomplished”

this one the gif got right;

“they said they had a plan for after saddam fell, they lied”

We’re in front of our computers, now, and we need a way to hook up other than trying call-outs on the blogs.

Kathryn in MA @ 67

We’re in front of our computers, now, and we need a way to hook up other than trying call-outs on the blogs.

Kathryn, can you please elaborate a little bit? Hook up to do what exactly?

Howie and Joshua,

How about some general comparisons on issues the GOP has been secretly pushing - like voter suppression in African-American and Latino districts? Comparing amounts the DOJ spends on its misnamed division of civil rights compared to how much the FBI has spent trying to find the anthrax mailer?

This isn’t voting record stuff, but comparing amounts the GOP has spent on idiocies to amounts they haven’t spent on important issues can be a useful tool, especially if you have accurate numbers.

Biodun @ 65

• combine our access to sophisticated databases of congressional voting records with cutting edge issue messaging technologies to inform & empower citizens to hold their elected officials feet to the fire in tremendously effective ways

Yeah, that’s good - educating and empowering the voters.

Hi Howie and Joshua,

Thanks so much for all of this. Yes it would be better if progressive funders understood what was going on.

joshua grossman @ 59

Audrey–

Thanks for the thanks. It’s ironic and almost humorous to me that I’ve gotten some flak lately for being too pragmatic. When I talked to people about doing Spanish-language messaging in rural Texas about what nasty things Henry Cuellar would do in Congress while allegedly “representing” one of the poorest districts in the nation, I was scoffed at initially. The fact is that there wasn’t a high penetration of email addresses available in that district for low-income Spanish-preference citizens. But for the ones we were able to attain, we had tremendously high open rates, because people were pleasantly surprised that we took the time and energy to message them in their native language. I was directly involved with the translation of our issue messaging materials myself, and worked with people on the ground in Texas as well. We were also communicating with people about Bush administratio plans that Cuellar was endorsing to build monstrous fences on the border, not completely unreminiscent of the Berlin wall. This was while some of our national friends were messaging around cheap pharmaceuticals from Canada which didn’t make sense since anybody can just cross the border there and buy cheap drugs in Mexico. This is a great example of how we try to make our messaging spot-on and culturally appropriate by learning what people care about, instead of trying to impose our pre-existing assumptions on them.

That’s just it, Joshua. I don’t live in Ciro’s (new) district, but I operate on the philosophy of role modeling. We just elected a bunch of great progressives to Congress that not only caused a sea change in the rhetoric. It empowered those who were already there!

The same here in Texas. We get a few more progressives elected, we can empower more citizens to find and elect more. The progressive voice resonates.

That’s what I think you’re doing, isn’t it?

We firepups in MA got together to speak to our congresspeople - a group made appointments and we went in as concerned citizens. For a while there, we had a contact we spoke with regularly - we were probably being used as a focus group, actually. We had some articulate people in that group - RevDeb, Selise, Scarecrow.
From htere, we went to CT many times to campaign for Ned Lamont.

Ed*ard Teller @ 69

Howie and Joshua,

How about some general comparisons on issues the GOP has been secretly pushing - like voter suppression in African-American and Latino districts? Comparing amounts the DOJ spends on its misnamed division of civil rights compared to how much the FBI has spent trying to find the anthrax mailer?

This isn’t voting record stuff, but comparing amounts the GOP has spent on idiocies to amounts they haven’t spent on mportant issues can be a useful tool, especially if you have accurate numbers.

I think you’re onto something. When you start talking about millions and especially billions of dollars, it gets way to abstract for people. So the information needs to be depicted in an intensely visual fashion. But Americans are sadly confused about what the federal government actually spends the bulk of its funds on. A great example of this is non-military foreign aid. It’s a minute fraction of U.S. government spending, yet people think it’s 20% of the federal budget. I realize that this may not have been your exact point. But I think anything we can do to let people know where the money really goes is critical. Of course, illuminating government misspending is sort of a no-lose proposition for the other side. They spend government money on things like corporate subsidies for timber companies for logging in old-growth wildnerness in Alaska, and then when people get angry about it, tie it into the fact that government doesn’t function as efficiently as private business. The problem of course is that under the Bush administration, Republicans in general, and even with many Democrats; the federal government is excessively functioning on BEHALF of major corporations. They call the tune because they pay the musicians, i.e. they fund politicians’ campaigns. That’s why we desperately need public financing in election campaigns as well as TV/radio broadcasters compelled to offer free/ultra low-cost time to political candidates in exchange for their making out like bandits from their licenses to use public airwaves.

But, between election cycles, i want to get to know more people and form a ‘community’ even if just for encouragement, encourage each other to develop our skills, get over fears of public speaking, find artists, songwriters, web gurus.

I like the idea of getting data on the “underperforming” incumbent democrats. I think I may live in an underperforming district, TN-5, represented by Jim Cooper. It will be a lot easier to argue on specific votes if we can point out that this is a more progressive district, so he risks nothing. I note that although he is a real Blue Dog, he voted with the majority on the Iraq funding bill. I checked him on your site and found that he ranks 211, which is ridiculously low in a district that won’t elect a republican.

A Call to Arms

The clueless Richard Cohen had the audacity to write an article on Huffington Post. Perhaps we should give him a piece of our minds in the comments.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....45854.html

Audrey @ 72

joshua grossman @ 59

The same here in Texas. We get a few more progressives elected, we can empower more citizens to find and elect more. The progressive voice resonates.

That’s what I think you’re doing, isn’t it?

Responding to Audrey, sorry to sound so Joshua One-note on this, but again we’re not in the business of electing people. But you’re spot-on in saying that we’re about having not just A progressive voice, but rather MANY progressives VOICES resonate. Texas is an increasingly promising place to do that. Demographic trends favor progressives in Texas. And in the spirit of both Molly Ivans (may she cause trouble wherever she is now) & Jim Hightower, there is a strong progressive cohort among even elected Democrats in Texas that is more impressive than anything anywhere else in the South except for North Carolina. (Assuming you consider Texas a southern state, which many wouldn’t, but for political purposes is accurate enough). Some of my favorite politicians (and I don’t have very many) are from Texas. For example, Garnet Coleman is amazing.

masaccio @ 76

I like the idea of getting data on the “underperforming” incumbent democrats. I think I may live in an underperforming district, TN-5, represented by Jim Cooper. It will be a lot easier to argue on specific votes if we can point out that this is a more progressive district, so he risks nothing. I note that although he is a real Blue Dog, he voted with the majority on the Iraq funding bill. I checked him on your site and found that he ranks 211, which is ridiculously low in a district that won’t elect a republican.

massacio, you’re absolutely right about this. Due to extreme financial constraints, ProgressivePunch has been behind on updating our vote descriptions. We’re feverishly trying to catch up now, while still underfunded. But even now, you can click on Cooper’s name (or any other member of Congress) on the ProgressivePunch.org site, and select an issue and then drill down to the level of actual votes so that you can see precisely which votes he’s abandoning the progressive &/or Democratic ship and treacherously voting with the Republicans. And you’re absolutely right that you live in a strongly Democratic district that deserves to have someone vote much more progressively than Cooper votes. Howie uses ProgressivePunch every day, he tells me, as he’s composing his screeds about various members of Congress. And we’d like everyone else to find out what shenanigans they’re up to also.

I went to seee Obama today in Atlanta and everything you hear about his speeches is true. He hit on so many important issues including that Iraq would only be successful with diplomatic solutions but the thing that is important to me is the economy. If we work on global warming and cut are oil ties it would not only make us safer, our air cleaner it would create good jobs in America.

joshua grossman @ 79

Audrey @ 72

Responding to Audrey, sorry to sound so Joshua One-note on this, but again we’re not in the business of electing people. But you’re spot-on in saying that we’re about having not just A progressive voice, but rather MANY progressives VOICES resonate. Texas is an increasingly promising place to do that. Demographic trends favor progressives in Texas. And in the spirit of both Molly Ivans (may she cause trouble wherever she is now) & Jim Hightower, there is a strong progressive cohort among even elected Democrats in Texas that is more impressive than anything anywhere else in the South except for North Carolina. (Assuming you consider Texas a southern state, which many wouldn’t, but for political purposes is accurate enough). Some of my favorite politicians (and I don’t have very many) are from Texas. For example, Garnet Coleman is amazing.

Thank you, that’s exactly what I meant. We here in Texas can turn Texas into a blue state because the grounding is there. Something that gets lost on our progressive citizens at times. As I said earlier, it’s frustrating. I think the tools you’re offering will help to combat that. :)

Thanks again.

joshua grossman @ 80

Howie uses ProgressivePunch every day, he tells me, as he’s composing his screeds about various members of Congress. And we’d like everyone else to find out what shenanigans they’re up to also.

Yep, every day. Whenever you see a link on one of my posts to “a hideous, reactionary voting record” or “an heroic progressive voting record,” it always takes you to a ProgressivePunch page.

Kathryn in MA @ 75

But, between election cycles, i want to get to know more people and form a ‘community’ even if just for encouragement, encourage each other to develop our skills, get over fears of public speaking, find artists, songwriters, web gurus.

Kathryn, I really appreciate this input. I think a lot of people understand that this is where we need to head. I don’t think anybody’s pulled it off yet in a progressive political sphere. MoveOn elicits feedback and input from its membership, but certainly isn’t a social networking community of the type that you describe and that you and I both agree that we need. I’ll give this some more thought, I promise you. At this time, we don’t even have the resources to do what we’re currently doing, but what you’re describing is clearly the wave of the future and we need to surf that wave.

Joshua @#75,

You’re right on three things - American voters don’t understand very well where their money is going - your example was non-military foreign aid; that pie charts or visual graphics can help make understanding quicker; and that many subsidies go to corporations posting huge profits. I think comparisons between GOP boondoggles and what the voter really wants are most effective when they’re simple, visual and humorous.

Audrey @ 82 I lived in Dallas before moving to GA many years ago and most Texans have an independent spirit, not quite libertarian but close. The new Republican party is anything but libertarian. They have no problem spending money to support corporations. GA may not turn blue again because of the gay, abortion factor but I don’t count Texas out.

JPL @ 85

Audrey @ 82 I lived in Dallas before moving to GA many years ago and most Texans have an independent spirit, not quite libertarian but close. The new Republican party is anything but libertarian. They have no problem spending money to support corporations. GA may not turn blue again because of the gay, abortion factor but I don’t count Texas out.

This is a key moment for Texas progressives. There exists a major clash within the ranks of Texas Democrats in the state legislature. A minority faction treacherously helped the Republican speaker of the Texas House be reelected as even many Republicans opposed him. It’s up to Texas progressives to hold these right-wing Dems accountable for perpetrating the continuation of a truly evil regime in the Texas state legislature. This is the kind of thing that Progressive Kick would love to partner on.

Thanks, Josh - i love what you are doing. Go team.

I’d like to thank Howie for his friendship and both he and Jane for the gracious invitation to appear here. I hope you’ll all contribute to Progressive Kick to help us fight the good fight! And I can stick around for another couple of minutes to answer any last questions or comments from the community.

Kathryn in MA, is there anybody doing what you consider to be a great job of creating social networks that empower people, not necessarily around politics at all? I’d also invite anyone else to throw in their two cents on this.

We hope you’ll be back in the future. Joshua.

New thread with Emptywheel is available upstairs.

Re the netroots/grassroots community - Jane founded this netroots community, and she and Pachacutec encouraged us all to meet up. Janes’ vision.

joshua, don’t forget about us in GA. The idea that Obama had a free rally in town was great. Although I supported Kerry financially, I never got to see him. I just didn’t want to drive to Ohio.