Some thoughts after reflection
by kmwray, Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 08:46:25 PM EST
- Forget fighting voter intimidation, we need to fight to protect voter registration - The real quest, over the next 12 months and the next two years, is to ensure every one of our voters is legally registered to vote. As important as fighting voter intimidation, protecting everyone's legal right to vote and providing legal protection at the polls is, we need to fight the day to day problem. Ken Blackwell and Katherine Harris won in 2000 and 2004 by making the problem last minute. Federal judes are not interested in last minute legal todos. Give them a pattern and a trail of documents and their hands are forced, we get an order in equity that makes voting easier.
- In 2006, we need to focus on governorships and statehouses --- The 2006 and 2008 state races will determine how redistricting will go in 2010. We need to squeeze the radical right by making backroom deals impossible and putting ourselves in the position to make maps where it counts (i.e. CA, NY, PA, OH, IL, TX, FL and anywhere else where the map can gain more competitive or safe seats for progressives to run in)
- Its time to fight for political reform --- It is inane that the two most powerful players in vote counting in 2000 and 2004 (Ken Blackwell and Katherine Harris) were not simply the Secretaries of State of battleground states but chairs of the Bush Cheney campaign. They were in position to do the dirty work without question for months and years. This is wrong and we ought to make the job a political neutral zone by making it non-partisan as a matter of federal law. Of course, if the GOP wants to oppose this, then tuirnabout is fairplay and the importance of iem 2 becomes readily apparent.
- Fight every battle --- in 2004, we only fought 398 out of 435 House races. This frees up a lot of cash for close races elsewhere. A credible campaign can be run on less than $50k. The DSCC and state party operations must put field operations in every candidates hand. Nothing less is acceptable
- Its time to hire Ted and Louise --- In 1993, two liberal Democratica ctots played the role of a couple considering Health Care Reform. We need them to point out how in 10 years the GOP Congress has achieved nothing and as a result the pooor, the working class and the middle class have suffered. I cannot fathom why this was not done this year but we must start attacking not one but five do nothing Congresses
- Make their agenda the issue --- In 1984, the GOP had a ball with the Dems platform. We need to make every member of the GOP defend the idiocy of the radical right and force them to reject the same or change parties. The dynamic of playing independent and being a party loyalist will create the fractures and tension we need to succeed.
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