Login Here"To secure [our inherent and inalienable] rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
--Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776.
Yesterday, Iowans were the first citizens of this nation to get the Presidential selection process started for the 2008 election. And there are a lot more votes to come before we elect a new president in November, let alone the next Congress.
Citizenship is not something you just have -- it ought to be something that you DO. To that end, I wanted to send out some kudos to folks in our FDL family who got involved in the process and worked for candidates of their choice or participated in their local caucus. Good on you!
There are a lot of folks who have gotten involved working for various candidates -- not just in Iowa but all over the country -- but I wanted to highlight a comment from Jim Clausen from yesterday morning:
Good morning firepups. I am off to knock on doors for Edwards for 4 hours this morning, phone calls this afternoon, and precinct captain for the caucus tonight.
Thanks to CHS, Jane, and the crew who got me off my cynical butt and out fighting for progressive values!
To every one of you reading out there who haven't been involved much in doing the work of politics, I say this -- what are you waiting for? To everyone who saw the results of last night's vote in Iowa and were unhappy with the end result, your chance to change it may be coming up in the next primary. Or one down the road. So pick a candidate in your area -- local, state, federal office, whatever they are running for, just pick someone you think would do an exceptional job in representing you. Or pick a presidential candidate, contact their office in your area, and see what you can do to help out. And then get to work.
Your nation and your community will thank you for it. Our system is only as good as the people who do the work to make it better -- isn't it time you added your voice to the national debate? And to those of you already working for better government, I say this: thank you.
(YouTube of Chet Atkins playing an acoustic version of Stars and Stripes Forever.)
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Zed?
Thank You, Christy!
Zed!
And thanks, Christy, for keeping this in front of us!
I do what I can, but I can do more. I will.
Have turned in a volunteer form for Jim Himes in neighboring CT. Y’all seemed to have such a good time in the Lamont campaign, thought I’d give it a try. He also said that he would take advantage of my economics expertise.
Thanks Christy!
Thanks to Christy, Jane and all the FirePups! BTW trying to explain the Iowa Caucus system to the Aussies is about like trying to explain cricket to Americans, you get to a certain point and eyes glaze over or they think you’re having them on. It can’t really be that complicated.
Christy,
Great post …and it was inspiring to read yesterday about all of the firepups and their participation in this process.
I’m a more than a little bummed about the coverage/direction of the presidential races. However, will be actively involved in NC in a state senate race and a Supreme Court race. I know the candidates personally and feel this is where I can make my difference.
Not sure I would have committed to these efforts w/o the great examples you fine people are setting. Thanks for that.
Oh, well. But here’s another “Stand up and cheer” line from Christy:
“Citizenship is not something you just have — it ought to be something that you DO.”
How can I convince my friends and family about this?
Bob in HI
If you are not ready for party politics….. find out where your local DFA (Democracy for America) or PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) meets.
I started directly into party politics and became disillusioned with the machinations and DFA saved me. Our local DFA chapter taught candidate & campaign team training, canvasing and how to be a precinct person. Now, both the State & county party are doing the training. Of course a lot of our members are now are officers of various organizations.
Now we support & help the lower level races such as school board, city counsel and Justice of the Peace. That is growing the farm team.
Right on Christy. And, thanks for Chet!
Guess I should see who wants to run against Rahm in IL-5, eh?
Now that would be REAL work for democracy.
If every person reaidng here, gave only on 4 hour afternoon to the candidate of their choice……?
What a progreassive army that would be!
Local races are really where the sea change needs to occur. Too many communities have the same old folks running for the same old offices, things get really stagnant and we don’t spend nearly enough time using those positions to nurture leaders for the future for our communities and the nation as a whole. Local decisions make such a HUGE difference in people’s everyday lives, yet we don’t hear about them nearly enough. It’s one of the issues I’m hoping to push a bit more as we move forward — it truly can make a huge difference in people’s lives. Think about school boards and zoning decisions and all sorts of things that happen in your community.
Most folks never bother to pay attention. It’s about time we all started taking notcie — and making that better as well.
Aloha, Bob! I haven’t crossed threads with ya in quite awhile… 8-)
Even though Edwards lost last night, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I helped and participated in the process. Ironically, in all my efforts, I never reached out to my next door neighbors. I looked up and they were caucusing for Hillary. Had I spent the extra time and effort to visit with them it would have made the difference between 1 electoral vote and 3 that Obama and HRC each recieved. You just never know. My neighbors did invite me to visit with them ahead of time next time.
Please chip in to Edwards campaign if you are a supporter. They can use the help and it will be matched with Federal Campaign dollars up to $250.
Love that Chet Atkins. America live on forever!
IrishJim — I just got an e-mail from the Edwards campaign folks with a header of “Now, More Than Ever” — really like that phrasing on their part. Their materials have been really sharp lately in terms of matching them to John Edwards’ message instead of trying to do some sort of convoluted targeting of message to receiver.
Thanks so much for your participation yesterday — along with so many others. It really was inpsiring to see so much activity on behalf of so many folks!
Well, I was giving money to Dodd. I guess now I’ll donate to Edwards. (Can’t yet hold my nose long enough for any of the others. Sorry for that, all.)
I’m the volunteer coordinator for Bob Hamilton who is running against Issa. I need military connections!
I gave last night.
Good luck. You’ll need it!
http://ap.google.com/article/A.....AD8TUQ2N80
You can choose a candidate such as Crazy John McCain. He was asked, How long will we be in Iraq? A hundred years? No. A thousand years? No. A million years? No. But, would you believe ten million years.
OT: Sometime, track down either (preferably both) of the ‘Window in Time’ CDs of Rachmaninov. He does a version of ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ that sounds like he plays with four hands. (These were made from recording-piano rolls, so you’re hearing, in effect, a direct-to-disk performance.)
Wonderful post, Christy, & great Chet Atkins vid to go with.
Democracy is a messy process when done right. Get your hands in that bread dough- fold & knead & fold again…
SInce our Dad & Mom took all of us into the voting booths w/them starting back in the stroller era, my brothers & myself have been active in the Democratic party. Pop used to tell us that if you don’t do something for the candidates you choose or don’t vote in every election, you’d better shut it up & not bitch about what happens after.
Yes, it’s shoe leather/envelope stuffing/phone call time once again. On the days of the primary & general election my daughter & myself take off work/school to drive folks to the polls. Every volunteer act is appreciated ten fold by the local Dem offices, believe me.
Loo Hoo: Have you tried Iraq Vets Against the War? I’ll bet there’s an active chapter in your area. Their national link: here
Thanks for your efforts in replacing Issa!
I’m not deluding myself!
Great post, Christy. Democracy is not a spectator sport. The punditocracy and those living in the sterile Beltway bubble only wish that it were. Nothing troubles them more than the citizens actually becoming activists for their ideals and values. There is change in the air and the Russerts and Matthews of the world had better take notice.
Might you be able to dig up a few of Hamilton’s old Navy buddies? From Hamilton’s website:
Even if they aren’t in the district, they may have connections with folks who are. Find out what ship he served on, and see if you can find some of his old friends who could help him out on the campaign.
This is pretty much my history, too. Dean rescued me from depression in 2003, and after my move to Hawaii and work with DFA here, Progressive Democrats of Hawaii was born and DFA and PDH are working together here. Both organizations are a great way to get into political activism.
Bob in HI
Thanks Laura and Peterr.
I hope that John Edwards has been receiving a lot of donations over the last 24 hours. He was out spent by Obama and Hillary in Iowa by a very large margin. We need Edwards tomorrow, he needs our money today.
Elizabeth said outspent by 6 to 1 in her intro to his speech last night. Edwards has always been my choice. Sent him $$$ yesterday when someone requested matching donations.
Starting very small with a friend’s run for family court judge (you may know him from WVU, Christy). I’m doing his campaign website. Geez, I wish I had better skills, but it’s a start.
FDL inspires me to keep on keepin’ on. It’s the virtual equivalent of Powdermilk Biscuits: give[s] shy people the strength to get up and do what needs to be done!
Thank You Christy and all the FDL’s. I was a live blogger lurker during the Libby trial who stuck around and have learned a few things about being a civic minded citizen. I am a better person because of it.
“Aloha, Bob! I haven’t crossed threads with ya in quite awhile… 8-)”
Its hard to keep up during the holidays while traveling, so I mainly lurked, trying to read up on my smart phone.
Its good to leave the snow and ice behind, and return to the Isles!
Bob in HI
Great post, and great phrase, Christie “democracy is domething you DO.” I teach a college freshman course (sort of a “how to be a college student deal) and we’re going to be spending time on the Bill of Rights next semester. I think I’ll add your phrase to my syllabus!
MoJo blog on how Obama won.
MarieRoget
YGM
Nice of McCain to make more explicit the Bushian intent to stay in Iraq until victory or forever, whichever comes first.
Is Iowa winner take all? If not, Obama’s “win” won’t get him that much of a delegate differential. IIRC, the caucuses don’t really decide the delegates in Iowa, do they?
Bob in HI
Ms. Redshift is in New Hampshire for Edwards as we speak. I’m doing what I can, and wishing there was more to do locally. I’m also on the committee putting together a meet-and-greet brunch this Sunday with our local Dem state legislators before they head off to Richmond.
We’re you in the Big Easy with my Dawgs?
See Petedownunder’s comparison to cricket above. *g* I’m guessing IrishJim is referring to delegates from the caucus he was attending, not statewide, right?
Got it, & back @ you :-)
I used to subscribe to a newsletter by Frances Moore Lappe, I think she called it something like Participatory Democracy. It’s where I first heard “democracy is not something you have, but something you do”. And it has been my motto ever since. All the people participating in the caucuses yesterday and reporting here, added something that the mainstream has been missing - our voices.
Eventually it is winner take all. We caucus for delegates and each candidate will have delegates at the county level. We then have a county convention in March to determine who goes to the state convention and so on. By then the Democratic nominee will more than likely be known and the delegates will then switch to the national winner. So it is somewhat academic.
Suggestion. Before the primaries, a DKos frontpager listed all the active diarists who working for candidates. A kind of DFH Honor Roll.
Back in the day, I was a McGovern delegate at the county caucus in KY. We elected to the Congressional District convention which then elected to the State party convention. Those were back to back over a weekend a month after the county caucuses so things had not bee decided at that point. Plus the then governor was anti-McGovern so the state delegates were split between McG and “uncommitted.”
OT, but democracy even more in danger. Ghouliani just said he would consider Cheney for Veep, via Think Progress. How do we campaign against a Republican in the primaries? Someone think of something before Ghouliani blots out the Iowaglow.
Actually, it does decide the Iowa delegates, IRCC Obama received 17, Edwards and Hill each received 14 apiece…
Hey, if GOP candidates think it’s a good idea to link themselves ever more closely with Bush&Cheney, who am I to argue?
Alternatively, Rudy may just be looking for the only VP candidate who will be less popular than him by the time the nomination is decided. *g*
Some folks out there are spinning how the Iowa Caucus means nothing. Here is the meme…that’s even being presented as fact on major networks:
“No one who has one the Iowa Caucuses has won the nomination of their party”.
Well let’s see, shall we?
Democrats
January 19, 2004 - John Kerry (38%), John Edwards (32%), Howard Dean (18%), Dick Gephardt (11%), and Dennis Kucinich (1%)
January 24, 2000 - Al Gore (63%) and Bill Bradley (37%)
February 12, 1996 - Bill Clinton (unopposed)
February 10, 1992 - Tom Harkin (76%), “Uncommitted” (12%), Paul Tsongas (4%), Bill Clinton (3%), Bob Kerrey (2%), and Jerry Brown (2%) [Note: Harkin was a favorite son candidate and the others chose not to run actively in Iowa as a result]
February 8, 1988 - Dick Gephardt (31%), Paul Simon (27%), Michael Dukakis (22%), and Bruce Babbitt (6%) [Both Gephardt and Simon were viewed as saring a sort of favorite son status]
February 20, 1984 - Walter Mondale (49%), Gary Hart (17%), George McGovern (10%), Alan Cranston (7%), John Glenn (4%), Reubin Askew (3%), and Jesse Jackson (2%)
January 21, 1980 - Jimmy Carter (59%) and Ted Kennedy (31%)
January 19, 1976 - “Uncommitted” (37%), Jimmy Carter (28%) Birch Bayh (13%), Fred R. Harris (10%), Morris Udall (6%), Sargent Shriver (3%), and Henry M. Jackson (1%)
January 24, 1972 - “Uncommitted” (36%), Edmund Muskie (36%), George McGovern (23%) , Hubert Humphrey (2%), Eugene McCarthy (1%), Shirley Chisholm (1%), and Henry M. Jackson (1%) [Many feel that Muskie would have won the nomination but his candidacy imploded after the hit-job made on him by Nixon operatives]
Republicans
2004- George W. Bush (unopposed)
2000- George W. Bush (41%), Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%), and Orrin Hatch (1%)
1996- Bob Dole (26%) , Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%), and Morry Taylor (1%)
1992- George H. W. Bush (unopposed)
1988- Bob Dole (37%), Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush (19%) , Jack Kemp (11%), and Pete DuPont (7%) [Dole was a near state “favorite son”]
1984- Ronald Reagan (unopposed)
1980- George H. W. Bush (32%), Ronald Reagan (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%), and Bob Dole (2%)
1976- Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan
So it seems to me that Iowa chose the Republican nominee in ‘76, ‘84, ‘92, ‘96, 2000, and ‘04. That’s 6/8…and it was very close in 1980. 1988 was the exception and that was when Bob Dole from Kansas was running. For Democrats (from 1972) the iowa caucuses have selected the ultimate nominee of the party SIX times (’76, ‘80. ‘84, ‘96, 2000, 2004). Twice Iowa selected “favorite sons” (or nearby Farm State Senators). 1972 was the odd one out, otherwise.
But it’s pretty clear that Iowa DOES usually select the party nominees. Admittedly may of these years there was an incumbent President that won the Iowa race unopposed. But even extracting this Iowa still seems to be a harbinger of things down the road. The question arises, is Obama something of an adjacent-state “favorite son” coming as he does from Illinois? Did that really provide a big advantage in his case?
“We’re you in the Big Easy with my Dawgs?”
Sorry to be so dense, but I need a translation for that. I was in Illinois (Urbana), Wisconsin (Madison) and Michigan (Detroit-Romeo-Ann Arbor). Got to meet emptywheel, too.
Bob in HI
Thanks to Christy, Jane and all at FDL, I have been more active than I have been in the past several years. In addition to BlueAmerica donations as best I can, (sent money again last night to John), I worked to help elect the first Democrat in my district to the MN house last two elections, and will work for her again. I will attend the MN caucus in my precinct, and plan to work to replace Ramstad with a Democrat. It isn’t much, but it feels good. Thank you all. I like the “Democracy is something we DO!”
hhhhhhmmmmmmmm didn’t get it. Last time I vaguely remember an e-mail from you taking something like 4 days! Try other address?
Memorial to Oscar Peterson upstairs. Jazz is something to do too.
I’m fairly certain he was asking (in his inimitable way) if you were at the Sugar Bowl cheering for the UH Warriors against the UGA Bulldogs (aka the Dawgs)
Big Easy = New Orleans.
I officiated at her father’s memorial service several years ago. Quite a remarkable family and her father was the catalyst. She learned how to “do” from him and passed it along to her kids as well. It’s a legacy we all need to encourage.
That would be New Orleans where the Warriors played the Bulldogs in th Sugar Bow. Of course I am from Urbana so I can see where there might be confusion.
I’m just one of the fellas.
Just sent a copy to yr. alt addy.
This comment is very seat of the pants. It seems to me that most FirePups are Edwards supporters. I know that Jane & Christy claim to be unaligned or whatever, but the vast majority of FirePups seem to be Edwards supporters. The Iowa caucus results suggest that the Obama campaign did something that wasn’t picked up on here, they mobilized a lot of university students.
I don’t think that university students are automatically Obama supporters, but Obama connected with them somehow that Edwards didn’t. Edwards needs to understand how the Obama campaign motivated university students, and get the Edwards message to that same audience. If it’s a generational message that got to the students, then Obama may have the advantage. But if it’s a change message that resonated with them, then Edwards should do very well with them.