Saturday, June 7. 2008
I got sent a survey from MoveOn.org, which was very broad - interesting approach. Here are the questions and my slightly snarky answers (it's the end of a long day/week/month):
1. Share with us what you personally are thinking today. What is going through your head?
That if the Democratic Party doesn't get its act together and unite NOW, McCain will have us by the short hairs within a month. He now has the full power of the GOP behind him, however grudgingly, and we could easily lose this. Again!
Senator Obama pulled a lot of support from college students - they have the attention span of *gnats*, so you will need to do a new push in September to get them to the polls in November. Gear up for that. Get leaders amongst their peers on your side and work it! GOTV is particularly important to make sure all those kids are registered to vote - they often forget until too late.
2. What do you think Moveon.org should do next -- either right away or between now and Election Day?
Keep pounding away at the issues. Come up with talking points about McCain (Keating Five! Has everyone forgotten?!) and whoever his running mate turns out to be. Don't let up...but don't get so negative that everyone stays home like in 2000 and (to some extent) 2004. We have a candidate to get excited about, but he's also a candidate the GOP thinks it can beat. We must put all our might behind him. Now! No dithering about until the convention - we need action and a strong sense of purpose NOW.
3. Have you thought about what you personally want to do to help before Election Day? Do you have anything in particular in mind? Is there anything MoveOn as an organization can do to help you do that?
I always work to get out the vote, via my county central committee (calling, stuffing, etc.). I refuse to participate in Rove-ian negative campaigns, so I will not be helping in our Iowa District 3 Congressional race, as I think the Dem primary was offensive and deplorable. However, in November, I will vote for the Dem candidate, because it's the better alternative and he's a basically good man (who should fire his entire campaign committee). I blog, I talk, I cajole, I even pray a little. These things I do, and others, to keep people interested in the process and keep my own hopes up for a massive change in November.
How can you help? Make sure you, your members, and progressives in general don't do anything STUPID between now and November. Which means, don't do anything you wouldn't be proud to tell your grandmother you did for the cause. That is all.
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