Dr. Dean and the 50 State Strategy IS working, as has been pointed out over and over, the pugs took 30 years to learn how to "take" America. Now they have total power and look how they have handled it. Even their chair, Mehlman admits that they are a "culture of greed" and not protectors of America, Americans or our constituion.

Although the 50 state strategy is not an "immediate" cure, it is working. Dems are being elected in red areas...dems are again energized.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FOR A RETURN TO THE AMERICA OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FORMED

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST
IMPEACH BUSH - ARBUSTO - BUSHCO - BUHS NEXT!!!

Right now we don't so much have a political crisis as a crime wave. Criminal minds have taken over our government.

The sooner Democrats acknowledge this to the Citizenry-at-Large, the sooner Democrats will be fulfilling their leadership DUTY.

To take back our nation and remove the Republican Bush Renegades, it is imperative to do this NOW. The longer the Democrats wait to tell the People what Bush is perpetrating, the nearer Bush/Negroponte cleansing actions will treat Truth as if it were treason and extremism (Please note: Bush has turned "extremism" into a crime).

Indeed the Bush Crimes are the inevitable extreme of the anti-social opposite of the social consciousness and inclusion and progressive worldview of the Left that Dems are charged with representing in American politics and governance.

Our government is OUT OF BALANCE.

Moderacy is a societal fulcrum. The Bush Renegades are a heavy weight on one end of the lever. The fulcrum alone cannot bring the lever back into balance. The opposite end of the lever -- the Left in its full representation -- must be incorporated.

Wake up, Dems! Embrace and utilize the full range of Liberal Idealism to expose and defeat the Usurping Bush Crime Menace.

The truth is simple
Use your civilian intelligence
Can America afford two more years
Republican President
Republican Senate
Republican Congress
Republican Constitutional values
Republican Democracy and Freedom
Republican International Law
Republican American Law
Republican Corporate lobbying
Republican green-blooded religion
Republican poverty retirements
Republican outsourcing America
If this is not enough to scare you then
Vote Republican to see the worst scenario.
Republican theatrics it is a horror picture.

David Young

the republicans have a new political strategy for november

it's called the "cut and run" strategy.

like the "flip flop" strategy...

...the republicans have chosen...

..."a new simple minded catch phrase"...

...that the republicans will market to the uninformed swing voter

the republicans will attempt to paint the democrats as the "cut and run" party.

the republicans will attempt to convince the masses that democrats are the party that will not stay and fight a holy war...

...that the right wing evangelicals support

...that the oil industry sponsored

...that the men and women of the US Armed forces are dying for

...and that the corrupt republican administration lied about.

so beware Democrats...

...beware of the new republican "cut and run" election strategy of November 06.

The fifty state grass roots concept could work. The party needs to focus on voters one by one and seems to be doing so.

Wedge issues and red vs. blue states is a smoke screen to cover the real story. The government has been purchased lock stock and barrel.

So...it's up to the individual voter to clean up and get the money changers out of the temple.

I would have to agree with Alex; having moved from relatively liberal Miami to Naples, Fl; I've come to realize precisely what he said, people ARE SOCIALIZED into voting repub, even though it's against their own interest and the better interest of the middle/working class to which they belong. They actually still think the repub. party somehow still stands for 'values', when their rhetoric clearly proves the opposite. That's why I wholly support the 50-State stragedy, if people somehow at least got the Chance to listen to the Democratic alternative, then I'm sure this most red county would begin to turn around, I've seen they're open for change at work and most don't have an ideology, most people I found ARE open to change...

It's about time that the Democratic Party de-centralizes, and extends the political punch to the people in the hinterlands. We out here in the trenches, who are trying to get and keep Democratic candidates elected to office, are finding out that we have as much pull as the higher-ups in Washington D.C. and New York City. More will be accomplished, when more are alowed to actively participate.

I personally never thought in my entire life there would be a more effective tool to get things organized than the 50 state strategy.

I think this will be the one tool that will bring the energy level up and spark alot of organizations around the nation that could win us alot of races that we've never won before.

So for those who are down or depressed who tried all they could,given up or might not have noticed it yet when you see what this strategy is and what it can do,one day someone will have a smile on their face and say "The 50 State Strategy is a real,effective tool and it really changed my life for the better."

To even consider a 50 state strategy, the Democrat Leadership needs to reconsider its stance on illegal immigration. The illegal immigration crisis is the #1 issue in America today, it will most certainly play a key role in the November elections.

Those Senators who voted for the Senate Immigration Bill need to be removed from office as they do not represent American interests. Those who voted against the bill should be re-elected to another term to finally address the crisis by securing our border and enforcing our laws instead of granting amnesty.

The following highlights the 33 Senate races this November. I urge you all to not only vote, but share this with all your friends and families to vote too. There are a few close races that need your support, so please try to donate your time or a few bucks to elect these immigration reformers!

http://stoptheinvasion.blogspot.com/

When I was in MN in April 06, I saw in either the St. Paul Star-Tribune or USA Today an article about Walmart paying workers in Mexico $US 4.33 per day. Get the greedy Americans businesses down there to pay decent wages and border crossing is reduced by 90%. Interesting thing is that I've not seen that article elsewhere nor any Democratic office holder mentioning it. Clinton's campaign had it right when they posted signs: "it's the economy stupid" so I just hope stupid isn't in charge.

For a Winning 50 State Strategy there needs be:

A Critique of Lefitist Bloggers and Our 'MSM' Counterparts

Now, I do not mean to say here that bloggers and MSM commentators of our ilk have not made important inroads in the course of our deliberations with the reactionary right over the last few years, concerning our doubt of government competency and the longing for a better past. I applaud the statements and writings for 'the cause' and 'good fight' during the developement of the so-called 'information era' in our most recent movement against the fascists. We will continue to do so, I think. Thank you to all.

What we must remember is that the right has been at it's successful 'propaganda' game longer, presenting it's cause to a complascent public better than we have- just an historical fact. They have recruited the 'best' educated, most strident and most presentationally effective crowd of reactionary apologists to their end, effectively. This is not a fluke. It is a decades long, calculated program of public opinion manipulated by a fat-cat repug party, from the slimey roots of 20th century fascism and stalinism.

We are right. They are wrong. Our world view just needs to be articulated better! Let's not be afraid to be smart, just because the right thinks we're stupid. . .

What I suggest for liberals' ascending success in these forums are the continued, yet not fully realized, honing of our written and orally explicated debating skills in defense of our principles. This should be based on quality of argument, not just fervor of position without subsquent coherence of thought and theory. This, I observe, is not the general and consistent content of blogs and MSM presentations on our side, now.

The right has been able until of late to take advantage of this basic flaw in our just armor. We now have begun to find at our backs a new wave of quality forums, online writers, radio and television pundits who have finally and effectively come to the aid of the humanist faithful! Too late? I don't not think so.

Still, I believe that if some of the talented and insightful liberal bloggers, radio and television presenters of whom I have have had the privilege to read, observe and debate would spend more time honing their writing styles and argumentation skills, instead of trying to match the stridency and confusing thought processes of the right; we all might find a better way to convince a wavering public of the justice of our cause, which is in all of our best interests. They are not as stupid as you may think.

Just an observation. . .

On to Victory in the Fall!

BLOG ON
PLANET REVOLUTION Blog

I guess the 50 State Strategy and this blog only work on the weekdays. No new threads...

Great way to win back the hearts and minds, part time.

I am thrilled that the Democrats are going to reclaim their rightful tag as the party of the people. We will define ourselves, and no longer be defined by the republicans. We are no longer fire fighters, we are community, state and nation builders!

If you want to win the White House in 2008 by diminishing the red/blue divide, the key will be the candidates themselves. I say this as a life-long Republican who voted for Bush twice... I would almost certainly vote for a Gore-Obama ticket in 2008. If the Democrats field any other candidates however, the Republican candidate can rest assured of getting my vote by default, as Bush did.

The democrats constantly loose in the public arena of impression management. Their behavior makes them look like they can't come up with a cohesive unified approach on the most important issues like the war in IRAQ. The republicans constantly outdo them in strategy. Until they get it together in the how they appear strategically, and learn to counter campaigns like "cut in run" they will never win. First, they need to agree on what approach should be taken on these major issues. Second their approach must be clearly distinguishable from republicans. Third must take a strategic KICK ASS approach to beat the republicans. Note the same crappy strategies used by the republicans for the mid term elections...anti-gay marriage, flag-burning amendmend, vote to support war. Problem is these strategies work to change public opinion. What's our strategies??? Unfortunately the dems campaign sounds like the SOS (same old stuff) that they always say. It lacks strong statements or memorable phrases. GET IT TOGETHER DEMS! WHERE's the TEETH.

Democrats need to differentiate themselves from the Republicans. There are too many Republi-lites who have stabbed their fellow Democrats in the back, and who have been retained in leadership positions.
The people, who are waking up to their betrayal by the Republicans, look at the Republi-lites, and say there is no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats.
Point out a stand-up Democrat like Murtha, and they will point out a Republi-lite or two who stabbed him in the back by repudiating his stand. They ask why the minority whip in the House supports Bush and not his own party.
They want to know why the Democrat leadership lets it happen.
Democrats need to take a stand now, or you will have no credibility in 2008.
There are signs of a new philosophy in the Democrat party, don't let the Republi-lites squelch it.

SoccerDad -- Unions on their own are not a problem. The problems they cause is only when they become as stale and self-absorbed as the Dem establishment has been up until recently. Active, participatory, energetic unions like SEIU are great resouces of support for the party.

The real problem is inside the Beltway, in that sick, insultated echo-chamber culture of campaigners turned lobbyists turned sellouts... This isn't just a fight against the radical republicans we have to fight, but one within the party to reclaim it for the rank-and-file from the Shrums, Eskews, McCurrys, Greenburgs, Clintons, and Emmanuels who have been sniffing each other's corporate-friendly farts for so long they think it's all roses.

Thank you, Dr. Dean, for pushing the 50-state strategy. Honestly, one of the reasons some beltway types are so upset by it is that it threatens to bring in a flood of new blood and people with fresh ideas and enthusiasm, who haven't yet been indoctrinated into the cozy team mentality that dominates in DC circles...

i went to the florida democratic training and it was good but i asked if how many DNC field organizers they had, and they said none, just two staff who dont do field. how come we don't get any but south dakota gets 4? at least we come close to going blue, and we gotta chance with jeb being term-limited (finally). i don't think some of the states that have organizers have big races this year. also we are the largest swing state so you'd think we'd get some help down here. what's going on?

I am concerned that Democrats do not seem capable of framing the issues. The Congressional show about "cutting and running" totally overwhelmed the more basic issue of defining what winning is. Currently there is no measure of success...or completion. If the admin. can't abide by a timetable then let them define success. It seems we continue the war with the same ill-advised "trust me" that got us into this.

Also this "culture of corruption" theme is getting tired already. Too narrow to play in 50 states for very long. How about branding these "new republicans"...the big government...diminish liberties....budget busting...tax breaks to the wealthy...religion is politics new republicans. There is already a disaffected republican center that understands this. Why can't demos figure it out.

Democrats are having a hard time framing the issues, because there are too many Republi-lites in positions of power within the party, who are trying to drive party issues.
The Republican culture of corruption seems to have reached into the Democrat party as well. I'm not accusing anyone have taken bribes, power corrupts as well as money.
The Republi-lites seem to have sold out the Democrat party principles for power within the party, and within the legislature.
They stand up for Republican scemes to pander to the rich and greedy, kiss Bush's butt on the issue of his War of Lies, and rabidly attack those real Democrats who stand up for social justice, ethics, and against corruption and Republican spin issues.
Hopefully we will be rid of enough Republi-lites, and have more real Democrats after the November election, that we can turn the party around and put it in a position with a viable candidate and a platform which will stand up for the American people in 2008.
Otherwise, the fed-up swing voters and former Republicans will have nowhere to go and will either stay away from the polls or go third party.
If the Republi-lites prevail, then we will have more of the same, even if we get the majority in Congress, and worse, likely get a Republi-lite candidate who won't be much better than Bush.

Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to vote Democrat, as a rural citizen, the Demo party's continued lack of support for family values, anti rural, and anti-gun is why so many rural voters will NOT vote democrat. The Demo party today apparently represents the majority of voters in highly populated areas only, just look at the red/blue map from the last elections.

You want wide spread support in 50 states, start listening to the rest of the voters that would really like a choice other that the Republican Party. You have to decide if you are going to be a party led by extremist that will NOT get traditional family and rural votes or if you are going to be a party that really listens to and represents the values of the middle class working white, black and hispanic families, spread across rural America.

The extremists that are “driving” the party are representing are a small minority of voters, not the main stream middle class working people and their families. I hate voting for who I think will do the least damage to my rights, and who I think will do the least to erode family values, but, the Democratic party has not provided a candidate that "Rural Middle Class America" believe will stand up for our values, and thus, does not get our votes.

I'm sure that the campaign guru's are saying that it is too hard to get the message out to all of the rural people, easier to spend "marketing" money on more populated targeted areas...but that's missing the whole point.

Represent the values and concerns of the majority of all of your constituents; clearly communicate the platform without the double talk jargon. You can NOT please everybody, so quit trying to please the extremists, and stand up tall for all that you do represent. I will vote for someone that is clear about what they do and don’t stand for clearly, even if I disagree on some issues, as opposed to voting for someone that tries to maintain the middle ground on every issue.

The issues that I, my family, and my friends discuss and are of concern on a regular basis are the following:

Employment and retirement security
Education of our children
Health Care
Tougher stance on criminals, not more meaningless laws that only affect law abiding citizens
Immigration and National Security

God Bless America

Bill in downstate Illinois,

I'm from the Midwest originally but I have lived in Idaho for 17 years. I'm very active in Dem politics here. We are very thankful to Gov. Dean and the DNC for investing in our state via the 50-state strategy.

The top three issues you mention are the exact top three of the Idaho Democratic Party these days. As a result, we are seeing gains in places like Idaho County (a county bigger than some Eastern states!) and Lemhi County, because people are starting to realize that Democrats are the party really fighting for living wages, strong education, and affordable accessible health care.

Democrats also are the candidates fighting against coal-fired power plants (Idaho is one of only a few states that doesn't have 'em) and for continued hunting and fishing access to public lands. (U.S. Rep and would-be governor Butch Otter, a Republican, said last year he wanted to sell public lands to pay for Katrina reconstruction. Dem candidate Jerry Brady cried foul and Otter backed off.)

It probably doesn't hurt that we made up a bumper sticker proclaiming "I'm a gun-toting Idaho Democrat."

The GOP and Karl Rove have snookered rural Americans into believing Democrats are weak on security and "values" and that we'll take your guns away. But more and more rural Americans are refusing to buy the GOP line. Bush may still have a 50-something-percent popularity rating here in Idaho (the highest in the U.S., groan), but when you figure he got 69% here in 2004, we are making progress!

I supported Kerry for President because I didn't want America invading Iraq. Now, Kerry said he made a "mistake" for supporting that invasion. I consider myself an independent, who votes for the person I think can better serve the country. Just look at that riged phony immigration debate. Both Donkeys and Elephants voted together hugging each other,while all the time scamming the American people. Cheap labor for corporations and more voters for the Democrats. Yet, in poll after poll, the American people favor by 2-1 the house plan that calls for securing the borders - stopping the invasion. When will the Dems ever learn? The hottest topic beside the war is "ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION."

When George Bush said the US had proof Iraq had
WMD, I did not belive him or his party for one moment. I said so, to anyone who would listen.
I know democrats in power must have had the same thoughts. Yet, not one of the future candidates for 2008, spoke up. Not one of them vetoed the resolution to invade Iraq? I want to know why?
Was it because they were afraid, they would lose their political clout? Why would anyone vote to send the United States to war, with such flimsy
evidence. What isn't Hillary Clinton and other potential front-runners, screeming their heads off, to end this war and end it now?
I challenge anyone of you to step up and say what needs to be said.
Bush is a liar and this war is a fraud. Get our troops out now. Enough politics! Our troops and innocent Iraqis are dying for an unjust cause. LIES. And if anyone think this is unAmerican, I ask since when is wanting PEACE unAmerican?

I have a message for all the Democratic leaders who are still not fully behind the 50-State Plan (Schumer, Reid, Emmanuel, Et. Al.): spending all this money would not be necessary if Democratic leaders hadn’t neglected these voters for so long to begin with.

I’m donating a total of $100 to the DNC for the 50-State Plan. Until recently I’ve never felt donating to the DNC was money well spent. Eventually we’ll be rid of Democrats like Leiberman, who won’t endorse a Democrat unless it’s him. And not to sound too crazy, but maybe someday we’ll have elections financed by citizens, instead of corporations.

You’re probably not independently wealthy either, but get out there and throw in your $20-100 for the 50-State Plan.

Thanks

Downstate Illinois: The Republicans talk family values, rural issues, and anti gun control.
The reality is quite different. They don't support a raise in the minimum wage, leaving parents working two and three jobs to make ends meet, and leaving little time for their families. They don't support assistance for poor workers for food or heating, there were kids sleeping in their coats around here last winter. They talk rural issues, but all the legislation they pass helps the big agri-businesses, such as ADM, Monsanto, and Con-Agra, while the family farmers suffer. I have family in Missouri who are in farming, and I have talked to ranchers around there. They are all in the same boat, and it's slowly sinking.
What we need to do for all these issues, and for the gun control pandering to the limosine liberals in the Democrat party is to stand up and let the DNC know how you feel. Keep the pressure on them to support the real base of the Democrat party. Support the local candidates who are for the people and not for pandering to big business.
In short, help take back the Democrat party for the working people.
The Republicans have been lying about issues and stabbing people in the back for years. Why help them do you in?

If any democratic canditate such as Hiliary Clinton supports this war in Iraq that canidate will NOT get my vote!

I thought I'd post some of the talking points you might want to use against the Republican smear campaigns and 'talking points'. Sorry about the length but we were on a roll.
*********
When the GOP begin to smear Democrats, either individually or collectively, here are the talking points on how to respond:
1. Do not repeat the smear or defend against it.
2. Acknowledge that the Republicans are very good at character smears of their opponents.
3. In fact, this is the only thing they are good at. They excel at finding an inconsequential fact and spinning all kinds of lies and innuendos around it in their grabs for political power.
4. At everything else, they are completely incompetent, as we have seen
with the out-of-control and ballooning deficit, their irresponsible monetary
policy of spending money without knowing where the funds will come
from, the still-unresolved Katrina devastation, the totally incompetent
war policy that has cost us thousands of lives and untold treasure,
the Medicare prescription drug morass, etc. In short, they are
incompetent in everything except the vicious and dishonest smear campaigns against their opponents.
5. Sadly, they have manipulated and tricked the American people with their
lies and deceit and false posing of righteousness. In fact, all of their policies have benefited the big global corporations at the expense of everyday Americans.
The short version: When you are asked about any smear of a Democrat or Democrats, simply respond that Republicans are very good at smearing, but sadly this is all they are good at. They are incompetent at everything else. If Americans want their government to continue to be incompetent at governing but good at lies, deceit, and character assassination, they should keep the GOP in power. If they want competence and a government that will actually serve the people of this great nation instead of the interests of big money, then they should vote for Democrats.
What this accomplishes:
You don’t acknowledge the smear or try to argue against it because you give it power if you acknowledge it at all.
You make the issue about the GOP who are smearers and incompetent rather than about the recipient of the smear.
You make the issue about all of Bush and the GOP’s failures and USE the smear as a segue to talk about them.
Counterstory to Rove’s “Cut and Run” Attack
Murtha has it right. The attack on Zarqawi was done from outside the country using Iraqi information and a US airstrike, based elsewhere. This is the way to fight the remnants of foreign terrorists in Iraq. This is the way to carry on any remaining elements of the war on terror in Iraq. Special ops missions, airstrikes from outside, based on local intelligence (US and Iraqi).
Otherwise, what we are doing is a peacekeeping mission in the midst of a civil war, not a war on terror. The Iraqis need to determine if we should stay or go. Recently, the Prime Minister and the President and the Vice President of Iraq have all asked us for a timetable for withdrawal. A majority of Iraqis want us to
withdraw. If this is a sovereign nation, we must respect their wishes.
Republicans are not interested in a real solution to this war. They are interested in demagoguery and riling up the voters with baseless, politically motivated attacks. They are more interested in maintaining power than in taking care of our troops and pursuing the best interests of the nation.
1. Bush Republicans have cut and run from the American people.
They have cut and run from our soldiers, denying them armor and appropriate equipment, leaving them in a war with no exit and no strategy, etc., etc.
They have cut and run from the needs of everyday Americans – health care needs, job needs, minimum wage needs, the need for a clean environment, etc., etc.
They have cut and run from intelligent immigration policy, refusing to dry up the big pot of honey that draws illegal workers – substandard wages for immigrants that Americans can’t live on that are outside of American labor laws and minimum wage requirements. And they have refused to enforce already existing laws against hiring illegal workers.
They have cut and run from the American people and into the monied arms of Big Business. Every one of their policies has harmed everyday Americans and benefited Big Business: tax policy, immigration policy, environmental policy, war policy, health care policy, etc.

I'm getting very tired of e-mails which tell me the Democratic Party is going to wage a "50-state" campaign in 2006. From my experience here in District 1 in Arizona, this is a blatant (and unforgiveable) lie. There was a good, liberal Democratic candidate, a Native American, who was going to run against the very reactionary, utterly corrupt, and anti-environment, pro-Pombo Republican, i.e., Rick Renzi. He has had to withdraw from the race because the Democratic Party would not fund his campaign. How does this square with the promise to campaign in EVERY district? I am beginning to think Howard Dean does not fulfill his grandiose promises; it's all blather to gain more campaign contributions. I am VERY angry about this, because I have to look forward to another two years of being "represented" by Renzi.

Yavapai; This is what I've been talking about. There are too many Republi-lites who are in important positions in the party even down to the state level.
We had something similar with Tester and Morrison. Tester won anyway, even though Morrison had more money.
This is the reason I will support my local candidates, but not donate to the DNC.
Hopefully we can pick up enough real Democrats in November to make a difference. In the mean time we need to keep pressuring the Republi-lites who claim they represent us and then vote with the Republicans.
Email is a good thing, and if you and your friends, relatives, and your cousin's yellow dog keep pressuring your legislators, we can keep the pressure on the Republi-lites.

It is time to start proactive slogans like: NO MORE LIES! NO MORE LIES! NO MORE LIES! VOTE DEMOCRAT. TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

I canvassed for Jim Hansen here in Idaho. I know it will be tough to win in "Bushlandia", but with the 50 state strategy I feel like there is someone support us here.
Jackie from Boise

I was reading a report for May in a message sent to me by a Republican internet site feedblitz.com showing the Democratic Party separated into thirds, which is a conquering strategy and is not the way to go for the best interest of the Political LEFT-Democratic Party, as follows:

*****DNC ***** Money Raised in MAY: $5 Million
*****DSCC **** Money Raised in MAY: $4.7 Million
*****DCCC **** Money Raised in MAY: $5.5 Million

In order to get the Republican funded DLC, Democratic Leadership Council's Republican Light candidates re-elected into the Democratic Party the Republican funded and Republican Light led DLC, Democratic Leadership Council, Congressional/Senate followers have divided the Democratic Party in thirds to have 2/3rds of the fundraising separated from the DNC and working against the DNC, the Democratic Party, as a whole.

The Senate is 1/2 of the Congress, the DSCC, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the House of Representatives is the other 1/2 of the Congress, the DCCC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. House of Representatives Campaign Committee, HRCC must not have satisfied the Republican led DLC, so they just left it out, after all, ALL 70% of the working people of the WORKING AND POOR CLASS are suppose to be represented by the House of Representatives, but they don't need any representation anyway, we can just tell them what we want them to do, they don't need to think they have rights.

With the Political RIGHT led DSCC, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Political RIGHT led DCCC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, both led by the Political RIGHT DLC and working separately it makes it difficult for the Political LEFT-DNC, but the DNC will overcome. Real Political LEFT Democrats are going to be elected and we the people through the Democracy For America Movement are going to kick the Political RIGHT clean out of the Political LEFT. We may not get it done all at once, but it will be done.

The DLC's division of the Democratic Party into these Campaign Committees breaks up the party where the Democratic Party would have raised in MAY a TOTAL of $15.2 Million dollars, the Democratic Party only has $5 Million to work. The DLC will have gained for theirselves in MAY $10.2 Million to work toward the protection of the Professional Class's own little feifdom and to Hell with the 70% greater majority working people.

The DLC's division of the Democratic Party into these Campaign Committees breaks up the party where the Democratic Party would have raised in MAY a TOTAL of $15.2 Million dollars, the Democratic Party only has $5 Million to work with. The DLC will have gained for theirselves in MAY $10.2 Million to work with toward the protection of the Professional Class's own little feifdom, and as far as they are concerned, to Hell with the 70% greater majority working people.

I am having a difficult time getting my posts in because of the internet keeping wiping out my posts, so hopefully this post will get in.

Butte:

The Swing Voters are fed up for certain because they are not getting any representation, just getting to help elect a winner for either the Elites or the Professionals; but, going to a third party is not the thing to do, as it will make it even easier for the Republican/Republican Lights to take complete fascist control of our country. What we need to do is stick with Governor Dean and his brother Jim who is leading the movement to take back our country through the DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA MOVEMENT. It is a MUST to Vote in the Primaries and only vote for candidates that are endorsed by the DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA MOVEMENT at http://www.democracyforamerica.com

My Internet Service provider is AT&T Yahoo that is Republican owned, but provide on my home screen a choice to have the the Democratic Party site, the Democratic Party Blog, the Democracy For America site, the DemocracyNOW site; but make it very difficult to acquire the use of these sites on your home page, but I have managed to get them set up with the exception of updates, they just will not allow the Democracy For America site to be current, even though the site is currently updated. I have checked the site and they are up to current June dates, but Yahoo will only allow to be shown on my home screen May's dates, as if the site is behind and not concerned about politics. The Republicans use every tactic they can and they have a lot of tactics.

Much of the information needed from Democracy For America can be found at Blog for America, which is a Democracy For America site at http://www.blogforamerica.com

At Blog For America you will find a Petition that ALL members of the Democratic Party that want to stand together need to sign as a show of support for a strong undivided Democratic Party. The Petition can be found at
http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/petition/standtogether/

It is important that the whole Democratic Party and all other Political LEFT parties come together under Governor Howard Dean, M.D. at least for the Primaries because Governor Dean is the physician with the cure for the Democratic Party and the whole Political LEFT regaining their power.

When, the whole Political System is set up for only TWO PARTIES, then any other LEFT parties only make it more difficult for the Political LEFT to regain power. You notice that the Political RIGHT never have but one party, the Republican Party and they do not ever divide. The Elite stand together, they may put out propaganda that they are dividing, but don't believe it, the Political RIGHT Republicans will stand together and ALL the Political LEFT needs to stand together, especially for the Primaries under the Democratic Party banner to kick out the Republicans and restore power to the Political LEFT. Dividing the Political LEFT is never the solution. Division is how conquering is done.

YavapaiDem:

Did your candidate contact Democracy For America? If not, then it wasn't the Dean Democrats that kicked him back. Contact http://www.democracyforamerica.com/dfa-list.php

This "Red State vs Blue State" stuff is a lot of balony and obviously designed by the far right to divide the country. It goes along with their "Liberal vs Conservative" name calling strategy. The Democratic Party should not fall into this devisiveness trap. It seems that Democrats are letting the far right set up the playing field (Carl Rove, manipulation again). Democrats have been divided and are being readied to be conquered. That's why so many of them have become disenchanted by finding themselves "helplessly placed in a Red State" (boo,hoo). Forget the partitioning of the U.S. to the liking of the right wing radicals. Democrats need to go to it with tooth and nail and nail these dividers by breaking down the colour barriers. The cry should be, "We are an All-American Party for All Americans"- NO MORE COLOR STATES!!

This "Red State vs Blue State" stuff is a lot of balony and obviously designed by the far right to divide the country. It goes along with their "Liberal vs Conservative" name calling strategy. The Democratic Party should not fall into this devisiveness trap. It seems that Democrats are letting the far right set up the playing field (Carl Rove, manipulation again). Democrats have been divided and are being readied to be conquered. That's why so many of them have become disenchanted by finding themselves "helplessly placed in a Red State" (boo,hoo). Forget the partitioning of the U.S. to the liking of the right wing radicals. Democrats need to go to it with tooth and nail and nail these dividers by breaking down the colour barriers. The cry should be, "We are an All-American Party for All Americans"- NO MORE COLOR STATES!!

The Democratic Party will surely get my vote, but until they stop tearing each other apart, they will not get one more penny from me. They are so frightened by the republicans' pinnng the "Cut & Run" label on them that they have forgotten who their target should be. A misbegotten war, the unthinkable deficit, the destruction of our habitat and the benefits to the very wealthy at the expense of the rest of us are a few of their misdeeds. Why not label them the "Smash & Burn" gang who are doing such great harm to our Country? If they couch their language in the proper terms, their plans will be clear to all.
Right now, I see no point in supporting a cause that is intent on its own defeat.

The only Democrats who are frightened are the Republi-lite sell-outs, who seem to feel that if they loose control of the DNC that some of their activities will be questioned.
This November election is extrememly important, because the number of new real Democrats vs the number of returning Republi-lites will determine the Democrat party platform and the course of the presidential election in 2008, and whether or not the Democrat party wins, or whether fed-up voters will either go third party or stay away from the polls in droves, thereby handing the election to the Republicans. Of course if a Republi-lite wins, the American people still loose.
The point is that we have to stay and fight, and keep up the pressure on the legislature. Support the real Democrats and keep pressuring the Republi-lites to start doing the right thing and not what the lobbyists want them to.
Email is our friend, and the more people emailing these politicians about issues, the more they, especially the less hard-core Republi-lites, will listen, especially with the November election coming up.

Below is a post from a person who leans Democratic on a Yahoo! message board. Rather than saying much the same myself, I choose to present you with his words.

>i see where, for the umpteenth time, the democrats have been blindsided by the republicans and are permitting the republicans to define the issues. after six or seven years of total responsibility the republicans have proven themselves to be both extremely corrupt and incompetant to manage but very competant politically. debate over the cheney/bush war in iraq is now being defined in simpleminded jingoistic terms of: democrats who are cowards and want to "cut and run" and republicans who want to "get the job done".

the issue is not whether or not to have a withdrawal timetable. the issue is: we can only assume that the lack of a timetable indicates that, after 3 1/2 years, the situation remains out of control. what is being done is not working. what will you do to change what you are doing to get the situation under control so that a timetable can be established. generalities like "we will stay the course until the job is done" are inadaquate.

I agree with the poster that you guys are MORONS. There are only 4.5 months until the midterms and there is no coherent message coming from the Dems. NOT ONE. Not on Iraq, not on foreign policy in general, not on any domestic policy issue other than the "culture of corruption"--which most people discount because they figure ALL pols are corrupt.

You have been handed a glorious, once-in-a-generation gift--an administration which has been so duplicitous and incompetent while in office that 3/4 of the American people think the US is on the wrong track, headed by a President whose approval ratings have been in the 30s for most of the year and a Congress which hasn't even managed to do its job and is even less popular than the President! The chance to overcome all the many disadvantages a minority party suffers under and take control of one or both houses of Congress from the other party. And what are you doing with it? Not just dropping it, but throwing it down and STOMPING on it, so no one can even see it any longer.

I can reel off what Republican positions are on a whole host of issues. I can't do that for Democratic positions--ANY OF THEM! The Reps have shown their election strategy for the midterms: War on terror, Stay the course/Support the troops in Iraq and Seal the border. The first two represent policies which have either failed or been executed horribly, while the third is a popular populist message that voters will like a lot. They will pound those three themes into voters' heads through Election Day, along with a smattering of local and wedge issues.

What is your election strategy? I DON'T KNOW!!!! I have yet to hear one! I have yet to hear even the beginnings of one--and you idiots are going to lose the next two months to the summer doldrums. By the time you start putting a comprehensible message out there, it will be September--AND YOU WILL HAVE ALREADY LOST THE ELECTION TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT IS HELD WITHOUT EVEN PUTTING UP A FIGHT!!

Coming into the year, you knew that the Reps would be able to set the timing of many things to favor them, you knew that they could get their message out whenever and however they wanted during the campaign and you knew who most all of the candidates for office would be for both parties. All of that was outside of your control. The one thing which you knew was NOT outside your control was that you could formulate the Democratic message for the election and GET IT OUT THERE EARLY AND OFTEN ENOUGH THAT THE VOTERS WOULD KNOW WHAT IT WAS COME NOVEMBER!

AND YOU DIDN'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

trucon24:

What you are saying would be easy if we of the 70% majority of the democratic side of the Democratic Party had a smidgeon of control over the Republican Corporate Media that owns and controls ALL the television stations and channels, with the exception of two or three satellite channels. With the corporate Republicans and Republican-lites having control of ALL the media, except the two DISH Satellite Channels 9410 and 9415, it makes it most difficult for the Dean Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party to be able to have their voices heard.

I agree, it would behoove the Dean Democrats of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party to be getting their message out constantly on the two DISH Satellite Channels 9410 (LINK TV) and 9415 (FREE SPEECH TV) while they can, before the Republicans and the Republican Lights; together, have a Congressional vote and take away the majority of the people's last straw of free speech on even these two channels, as well as the internet; then, we the people will really be in trouble as freedom and democracy will be no longer available to be reached in any way for the complete 90 - 95 percent of the greater majority of the people, and the people of the United States will never again know freedom because DEMOCRACY will be history. There will be no way to contact all the people.

WITHOUT A FREE MEDIA, THERE CAN BE NO FREEDOM FOR DEMOCRACY. TELEVISION MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES IS NO LONGER FREE; BUT PRIVATE.

The Corporate Republicans will be able to talk their Republican propaganda on the PRIVATE Corporate Television Media 24-7, and all Republican-Light "butt wipers" for the Corporate Republicans will be able to talk Republican propaganda on the PRIVATE Corporate Media, but the Dean Democrats of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party that are literally fighting for freedom and democracy will not be allowed to debate and speak freely in debate; and what little time the Dean Democratic-Wing Democrats are allowed, what they say will be taken out of context and spinned into whatever the Corporate Media can to make the Republicans or the Republican-Light candidates look good to the public and debase the Dean Democrats of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party because they are fighting for freedom for all.

It would be good if FREE and OPEN Primary DEBATES could be set up on the Corporate Media's Prime Time, but I sincerely doubt if the few Corporate Media Owners will allow anything like FREE and OPEN SPEECH for the Dean Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party candidates. The Primaries are the most important to democracy. For the Democrats, the Republican Light must be removed from the Democratic Party and for the Republicans, the Radical EXTREME Conservatives must be removed from the Republican Party and the Corporate Media must be made open to free speech for democracy to remain in the United States.

Believe it or not Governor Howard Dean, M.D. and the Dean Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party are all that can save freedom and democracy in the United States, and I just hope people realize it before it is too late.

Butte:

How much FREEDOM would you like? Do you want Liberal FREEDOM or would you prefer Conservative FREEDOM? You had better think about it.

Conservative Freedom doesn't exist.
Liberal is FREEDOM.

Butte:

How much FREEDOM would you like? Do you want Liberal FREEDOM or would you prefer Conservative FREEDOM? You had better think about it.

Conservative Freedom doesn't exist.
Liberal is FREEDOM.

I think the democratic message has been heard loud and clear. They give aid and comfort to the enemy by bashing the president and our troops. Why ? Because they do not care about anything but power. Giving away our national security secrets. What about the treatment of our troops from the enemy? Beheading is not an outrage. Giving informantion insighting insurgants. What about the war strated by president clinton? It is still going on! Why not send those troops home? our troops are still there without an objective of any kind. How many years now-8? You people need a reality check and think about our country first instead of your thirst for power. Support the president for our nations sake and our troops.

*******Divisive Political Strategy*******

The LEFT under the leadership of Democracy For America, DFA, and DFA Democrats is becomming strong and more and more united under the umbrella of the 50 State Strategy of Governor Howard Dean and Jim Dean, the leaders of the DFA MOVEMENT and DFA Democrats.

There are divisive elements within the Democratic Party that have independent agendas and want to use the Democratic Party as their own personal Special Interest Club to further their own greedy agenda at the expense of the 70% majority population of the Working and Poor Class and Culture.

Some examples of organizations that have, do and will continue to use the Democratic Party as their own political feifdom are the Democratic Leadership Council, DLC, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, DSCC, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, DCCC.

The DLC, DSCC and DCCC act and raise funds independent of the Democratic National Committee, DNC, and are in competition with Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, DNC, and leader of the DFA Democrats of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party MUST divest itself of divisive elements within its own membership that are in competition against the DNC for leadership of the Democratic Party against the best interests of the 70% majority population of the United States, the Working and Poor Class and Culture, and those elements are the DLC, the DSCC and the DCCC.

So long as the DLC, the DSCC and the DCCC have their own self interested divisive political strategies, are representative of their own political interests apart from the interests of the 70% GRASSROOTS MAJORITY that "IS" the Democratic Party, and are raising money in active opposition to the Democratic Party, the grassroots majority, the DFA MOVEMENT; DFA Democrats MUST be actively engaged in purging the DLC, the DSCC and the DCCC from the Democratic Party.

Loyal:

Let's talk about your patriotism and loyalty, "loyal".

With regard to your frame of the REPUBLICAN PARTY'S patriotic and loyal support of someone else fighting and dieing to secure economic advantage for others without benefit:

How many bullets have you taken, and how many body parts have you lost in support of your patriotism and loyalty?

How many bullets have your family and friends taken and how many body parts have been lost by your family and friends in support of your patriotism and loyalty?

How many lives have your family and friends sacrificed to your patriotism and loyalty?

The troops that are in harms way, need patriotic and loyal support from the American people to get them out of harms way, fighting in an illegitimate war where they were sent to fight and die for RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN imperial dreams of world domination over the resources, economies and markets of a global economy.

The troops rely upon those of us that are not restricted by the Uniform Code of Military Justice to speak on their behalf and we are their ONLY hope of getting home alive.

If you want to support the troops to support patriotism and loyalty to the troops, support efforts to get the troops home alive, rather than efforts by the RIGHT-WING REPUBLICANS to use them as cannon fodder in support of imperial greed and dreams of world domination.

The Corporate Media is always talking about "The Democrats", when; in fact, "The Democrats" as an all inclusive majority does not exist. In fact, there is a 70% Majority Population of the United States, the Working and Poor Class and Culture that make up the "Grassroots Base of the Democratic Party", the Democracy For America, DFA, Democrats; and there is a 20% Minority Population of the United States, the Professional Class, the New Class, that comprise the Democratic Leadership Council, DLC, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, DSCC, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, DCCC, that supports Republican/Democratic Party duopoly.

When talking about Democrats and the Democratic Party, it is of utmost importance to talk about the precise faction of the Democratic Party relative to the conversation, rather than a generic "The Democrats", that, in fact, does not exist as a homogenous group.

Niccolo Machiavelli in his book, "The Prince" published in 1532, states as follows:

"There are three different kinds of brains, the one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanation of others. The first kind is most excellent, the second is also excellent, but the third is useless."

Loyal, we cannot do anything about lumpen-proletariat Republicans that are threes, but twos can be shamed into coming to realization and understanding.

It is not possible to separate a fool from foolishness and have the fool be grateful, appreciative and like you for efforts to separate him/her from his/her foolishness.

Truth will set a fool free from foolishness; but, it is a painful process for the person who has been fooled. The person who has been fooled will in the fullness of time, when separated from foolishness, come to appreciate being separated from foolishness, like the wasteful son spoken about in bibical scripture. Political truth works exactly the same way.

The truth will set you free, but first it will be painful and piss you off.

you never answered the question. What about the troops that are still in Bosnia? Why will the democrates not request their return home? All you can do is insult not answer. Your hatered of truth leaves you blind to the truth. You will defend any actions president clinton took and support him because of his office. I believe the war would be over if it were not for the treasonous actions of the press and leaks of the democrates to undermind our country. That is the truth. This has turned into a party of loathing and hatred. Kerry is and so is Dean dangerous to our nations health for setting deadlines the terrorist can use against us. The reason the WMD were not "found" is because Russia our allie helped to move them into Syria. I believe the president is trying to keep them as allies Russia knows the president knows that they did this. Blackmail and I think it is working. We need to stay out of this and let our leaders handle and we need to support them. They know more than they can safely tell us and we don't need to get in the middle and jeopardize our troops safety.

I am currently a registerd Democrate, but have been a registerd Repbulican, so you can see I dont really have a party affiliation. I vote for the people who I think will represent what I believe in and what is best for the country.

As of this moment I Do not know exactly what the Democratic Party stands for, I have not seen a Specific Plank on which they stand.

But I did receive in the mail from the Republican Party a 60 question 2006 Nation Wide Policy Survey called Ask America. They are trying to see what America wants, now why has not the Democratic Party presented such an appeal to their consituients?

I also would like someone in the CT Democratic party to contact me so we can discuss what I can do , IF we can have a discussion on what is the plan... In advance thank you for your speedy reply

loyal:

The Project For the New American Century is your answer. This project is being carried out by Right-Wing REPUBLICANS and their helpers, the REPUBLICAN-LIGHTS on the Left-Wing Democrat side of the Political Spectrum. Here is the site:

http://www.newamericancentury.org/

This plan was put in place by the Republican funded DLC, Democratic Leadership Council, who formed the DSCC and the DCCC and the members of these organizations are carrying out the Republican Plan of world domination. Here are the sites documenting the rise of the Republican DLC in the LEFT:

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1463

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1534

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1295

One can't just say Democrats and get the whole of the Democratic Party. The real Left-Wing Democrats are under the Dean democratic wing of the DNC that is the Democracy For America Movement to reclaim the Left-Wing of the Democratic Party and democracy in the United States. Anyone who loves democracy should get behind and support the Dean Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party through Democracy Bonds and support of the Democracy For America Movement at the following links:

http://www.democracyforamerica.com where you will find:

http://www.blogforamerica.com

Democracy For America is the ONLY political place where a political stand for democracy in the United States can be made and be of any help in the upcoming elections for the Political LEFT.

I am angry and offended with the state of things and the direction our country is in - but no one listens to a whiner or a raging nutcase - that is no way to sway public opinion - just the facts please.

Specific problems with succinct ideas for change:

Cause: The current Congress and Administration are spending money like it grows on trees, money we don't have. We Americans are required to pay our bills, why is our government not?

Effect1: We are in debt (US deficit) to the Chinese (and others) who buy up our American dollars so our government can keep spending money it does not have. One day we are going to anger the Chinese once too many and they will dump all their American dollars - which will send our economy into a free-fall - the next Great Depression. We are their bitch. This is the greatest threat to our country and our way of life as we know it.

Effect2: In conjunction with the out of control spending, Tax cuts to the rich, and Baby-boomer retirements - we will no longer be able to sustain Social Security and Medicare (that is not even including funding the never-ending, never-necessary war in Iraq). Instead of the political suicide of ending these New Deal programs that the majority of Americans want and depend upon directly, this Congress and Administration will get their way by bankrupting the system (government) that funds them. When all this stuff hits the fan - we will go to austerity status in government and only the absolute necessities will survive funding. That means funding the military and Congress - nothing else. The lines to the soup kitchens will look like people in third world countries lining up for rice and flour donations.

Solution: roll back the tax cuts, adopt the fiscal policies of former president Clinton - pay down the budget deficit while also decreasing the amount of poverty in this country.

Cause: The current political climate has polarized America so badly; no-one can agree or work together.

Effect1: This carries over into American lives - the hateful words and feelings of our elected officials seem to sanction this behavior and deteriorate the patriotic feeling of one-ness we used to share (especially after 9/11). When our kids watch these politicians on television spew their hate and contempt - that is worse than the stuff on cable TV that we block from them. The respect for ideas other than our own, the willingness to have a CIVIL debate with facts and not lies - that is all gone now.

Solution: Voters should remove the politicians who promote hate and contempt between parties - no matter what party they are affiliated with - this is no good for America - it will divide and conquer us. I am a Democrat working with a majority of Republicans in a large global manufacturing company in the sales department - we are all still able to work together with respect and compassion and friendship, even though we have our political differences. First we are Americans, we must protect our country.

All Americans should be entitled to free health care and American owners of manufacturing should be pressured (through taxation)to bring manufacturing back to the United States so that Americans can work in their companies. Americans should be buying what American workers produce. If the Democratic leaders would just fight for and get us those two things, we Americans could fight together for all the rest of the issues that plague and are present before us.

There has been a loss of community under this administration. This government was founded on the principles "of the people, by the people and for the people".
Under the Bushies it has become, "of the oligarchs, for the rich, and screw the people".
WE need to start with taking back the tax breaks for the rich, and helping the working poor, the elderly and the disabled.
WE need to restore the betrayed promises, that the Americans who serve in the military had been given for their sacrifices.
WE need to ensure that the minimum wage takes people out of poverty, and not thrusts them deeper into poverty.
WE need to ensure that all the children have the best access to health care and education we can give them, for they are our future.
This country has been betrayed by the Republicans, who have thrust us back into the 19th century era of the robber barons, which had it's roots, not in the Magna Charta or any other democratic traditions, but in the despotic feudalism, where the serfs live only to serve the convenience of the ignoble "nobility".
This is not a model that sustains a viable national economy, but is one which drives us back to the past, to the era of the "Clearances" in Ireland, to the era of the Germanic barons who conscripted young men and then hired them out to other rulers for pay to increase their own coffers, while wives, mothers, and children stayed at home and starved.
It was these abuses which brought waves of immigrants to this country to escape from these desperate conditions and to find a life where they could live without being exploited.
We built this country with the promise that such things could not happen here, yet within the last generation much of this IS happening here, and within the last six years, we have lost much of the American Dream and the American vision.
We need to work together, and fire those who will take the dream, the very building blocks of this Democracy away from us.
For thirty years I kept my oath to defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic.
Little did I realize that the greatest threat would come from within and do so much damage in such a short time, or that I would have to do so much to defend that Constitution after I retired.
We, as Americans need to fight this evil, this rot from within, and we need to support those who will help us.
We should not let ourselves be betrayed by listening to single-issue-voter issues that the Republicans are throuwing up like a smoke screen to hide their nefarious actions.
The Republicans keep talking about "staying the course", well, we should stay our course here, and vote these scoundrels out in the November elections, and then do whatever we need to restore our Democracy and ensure that is truly "of the people, by the people and for the people".

The bulk of American youth, and I’m not talking about valedictorians, just your regular kids, have a much harder time starting out today than we boomers did. Most of the high-paying jobs for non-college grads evaporated while they were playing videogames in their childhood. Now they enter the working world without job protection or health insurance. They are the most disposable working generation since the depression. They have no rational expectation of ever owning a house, and they barely eek out enough to make each month’s rent.

And who will speak for them? Certainly not we boomers, who are too preoccupied with our retirement portfolios to give a thought to the tough row they have to hoe. Certainly not the fatuous boneheads in Washington indulging in antic sideshows like the flag burning amendment!

If you want boomers to care about the poor, perhaps you should point out to them that their own sons and daughters are the new poor.

Until last week, I worked for Grassroots Campaigns Incorporated, canvassing door to door for the fifty state strategy.

I feel that I was misled on many levels when I took the job.

First, I found out only on my unpaid training day that in order to become a member of their staff I would get two days in the field canvassing door to door, and that if I failed to collect $100 on one of those days, I would be out of a job. I probably would have tried out for the post anyway if I had known that, but I went in for my unpaid training day not knowing it.

Second, I was never informed, and still have not been, about the pay situation, which is far more complicated than I was led to believe at the interview. The presentation I received was that the base pay was $300 per week ($60 daily) plus commissions (30% of donations after the first $100 daily). [Thus, a collection of $160 would pay $60 base plus $20 in commissions for an $80 day at work.]

In fact, the base and commission structure works that way only if an employee "makes quota," which means that their average for the week meets a standard. The standard is 83% of the office average. However, the quota is never allowed to fall below $100 (though it can go above). Hence, an employee who brings in the needed $500 (or whatever number) for the week gets his or her base plus commission, while those who bring in less than that (failing to meet quota) do not. What do these employees get?

Here is the terrible part: nobody really knows (except, perhaps, management). What one hears is that one gets 48%. But, I ask, 48% of what? Of the base pay? Of the collections? Of the commissions? As of last Thursday night, no employee in my office understands what they get.

We have just had a very rough week. In my fourth week on the job, I failed to make quota for the first time. So, in fact, did almost all of the employees on the staff. The reason why is that we canvassed in neighborhoods that were not supportive of the democratic party. Hence, the office average was around $60 over the first four days of the week.

As you can see, the corporation scored a huge profit. Fourteen or more people will get only 48% of something, rather than their $300 base.

I have been what is called a field manager -- in charge of a group of canvassers. On Monday I worked a 12 1/2 hour day. Field managers have a base of $68, but still have to make quota. Thus, I worked that long day for a mere 34 bucks or so.

That brings me to my third complaint: the quota never drops below $100 even when the office average does. If the office average comes out to $80, the quota should be 83% of that. Instead, it will be $100, and most, if not all will get screwed.

Had I entered into this situation knowing about quota, and about the 48% thing, I would not feel like I do now.

As it is, I believe that Grassroots Campaigns Incorporated is an unethical corporation. I believe that their hiring practices are deceptive. I think it is morally wrong to have people working for you who cannot tell you how they get paid.

Grassroots should put their pay plans in writing, and every employee should read and sign a description of it before they start.

The term exploitation of labor comes to mind every time I think about what is going on there. People are hired on the basis of incomplete information. They are idealistic, wanting to do something for the democratic party. They accept the base plus commission story. They show up at 1:00 and work until 11:00 for some time. Then they find out that they could end up working five ten hour days for a mere $150 dollars.

I would like to hear opinions about this. The democratic party is employing rip off artists to spread the word about the party that allegedly stands for fairness, honesty and a fair shake for the worker.

The irony is deep. Does the party care about workers? Then either fire GCI, or make them change their ways.

There is a website that makes some interesting points about the 50 state strategy in comparision to dumping money into specific local races.

blog.donkeyrant.com

There is a website that makes some interesting points about the 50 state strategy in comparision to dumping money into specific local races.

blog.donkeyrant.com