And there's the problem in a nutshell.

the evidence is overwhelming

we gonna sit still and take it or fight back?

ever shown up at any of the local or district meetings or conventions where I am. Just people who live and work right here in St. Paul. We've endorsed and elected progressives to every elected office in my districts. We're a dedicated bunch of people who are devoted to getting progressive candidates elected to office.

That's my evidence. It works. Don't believe me? Then go right on as you are and you'll keep getting what you get.

Check out our Congressional Representative, Betty McCollum.

Goldman Sachs has no representatives on the party organization I belong to. Nobody in any way connected to them does, either.

Maybe it's different where you are. I can't say. I'm where I am, by choice. I'm working to elect progressives. That's what I can do.

Minneapolis/St.Paul (where YOU are) is EASY for Democrats.

If you pat yourself on the back any harder, you might cause serious injury to yourself.

is that so much effort over so many years has been put into making St. Paul a Democratic city. Much of that work happened before I moved here, but the work continues. Now that I live here, I'm just one part of that work. Do you suggest that I stop? Really?

Nothing happens overnight, and everything depends on people working to make things happen.

Do you have a better method to offer? Or are you just suggesting that people simply accept what is there?

Prior to moving to Minnesota, I lived in a California congressional district that regularly elected Republicans to Congress. I lived there for 35 years, and worked with the local Democratic organization that entire time. We finally flipped that district. Now, it is a reliable Democratic district.

Hard work over time made the difference. I didn't do it. I helped in doing it. I"m not patting myself on the back. I'm describing how this works. It's hard work and it takes time. But, you knew that, didn't you?

and I got multiple Goldman Sachs appointees.

I helped to elect the most anti-war President of my voting lifetime and got multiple wars, too.

The problem is deeper and broader than who we elect.

The results were nil, but hey, if you want to keep on selling that fantasy, more power to ya.

You get out of it what you put in it, to be quite frank.

You're speaking in past tense. I'm speaking in present tense. So, I take it that you're not involved now. Too bad.

I know it when I've been played. I choose to not be used again. False promises register a lasting affect on me. It'll take a whole lot more than political weasel words to regain my trust. My main regret is that I didn't awaken sooner.

your voice is not heard. DU has zero impact on local elections, and all politics are local.

It's your choice. I choose to continue to work at electoral politics.

I don't have the kind of cold, hard cash that's required "to be heard."

All the rah rah cheer squad happy talk in the world won't change that reality.

What I have is hard work to offer to help a candidate get the votes needed. At every convention here, the candidates come up to me and we have conversations. I ask them questions and they answer. When our state senator didn't give the right answer, we refused to endorse him at the convention and he withdrew his candidacy, because he knew he couldn't win without our endorsement. We elected a progressive Senator for our district, a Hmong immigrant who did give us the right answers. He's been doing a great job.

I don't have any trouble being heard, despite a lack of cash. Go to that precinct website in my signature line. Look at the list of people elected from the districts I'm in. Research them. I'll be talking to them all next year, face to face. They hear my voice just fine. I email all of them from time to time. They respond.

You don't have to have cash to have a voice. You just have to have something to say and be in a position to say it so they'll listen. You also have to listen and to talk to others in your area. You have to make some sense. You can't use insults and derision to communicate. You have to speak clearly and plainly and logically and you have to demonstrate the ability to bring out voters.

Or, you can just say it doesn't work and stop trying. That's just not my style.

if you go in with a huge chip on your shoulder, people tend to keep their distance.

It makes for a frustrating experience all the way around.

Instead, the right approach is to come in and volunteer to help with election efforts and show up at meetings, caucuses, and other events. It doesn't take long to get noticed, and there's always time to put your views forward. If you come in, say "You suck" and then leave when that gets a poor reaction, you have failed to be heard.

If, instead, you make a case for something, logically and in a reasonable way, you'll be heard and your position will be considered. But, you have to work with others, as in all aspects of society. That's impossible for some people, I suppose, but those people are never very effective in making progress.

We live in a diverse society, with a wide range of opinions, even in a political party organization. Ideas are varied and recruiting people to your point of view requires tact and dedication. That's hard work, but rewarding in the end.

If you come into an existing organization angry and disrespectful to people who are already working toward similar goals, it's no wonder you're not welcomed and your opinions aren't taken seriously. I've seen a few people who come into a caucus and impatiently don't wait for the normal time for ideas to be offered. Sometimes, they interrupt the necessary processes and insist that they be heard immediately. We use Robert's Rules of Order in the MN DFL party meetings, etc. They help the process move along smoothly. There's always time for people to put their positions forward. We're a very welcoming organization. We'll listen carefully and discuss any ideas.

Anger and disrespect for the regular process, though, isn't a workable strategy.

insisting that you are smarter, more committed, and have a better plan (that begins with, "IF ONLY&quot , than the people that built the house you are standing in (i.e., Democratic workers), before doing a single volunteer effort, the people (i.e., Democratic workers) tend to shy away from you.

Too many bright activists act like that new kid in the neighborhood that shows up to the play ground and insists that everyone stop playing football and play baseball, instead.

The older kids on the playground are pretty happy playing football ... but, like playing baseball, too. In fact, a lot of the older kids playing football, actually like playing baseball better; but, they are playing football because ... well ... they have a football, and they don't have a baseball, a bat, or gloves.

So, And when the older kids say, "fine, do you have a baseball, gloves and a bat?", the "new" kid says, "No ... but can play without them."

Then, the older kids say, "Okay, go get a baseball, some gloves and a bat, and we can play baseball." But the new kid say, "We don't need any of that ... besides, football sucks!"

And, when the older kids go on with the football game, because the new kid doesn't seem to want to find a baseball, the gloves or the bat, the new kid tries to take the football ... so what once was a game everyone enjoyed becomes a game of keep away, that no one other than the new kid enjoys ... and he/she enjoys it, not because she/he enjoys Keep Away; but, he/she is happy because no one is playing football.

Admittedly, many just like to talk. But also, some donate. That buys coffee for volunteers. I don't knock it!

Truly. I don't think there's another DUer from my congressional district. That's how thinly distributed we are.

Every single area of politics and social justice that are of special interest to me have progressed greatly during my lifetime, particularly in States that vote Democratic. You speak in catch phrases and vague generalities that make it difficult to understand your complains. Apparently LGBT rights and marijuana reform mean nothing to you, nor the vast expansion of Medicaid which gave so many people I know health care for the first time ever. The fact that when I was a kid the idea of a black President was unthinkable, now it is reality has some heft, I watched them hosing protesters and sicking dogs on people trying to eat lunch. I watched smug straight people, including most of 'the left' 'the right' and 'the center' keep their distance from AIDS protests, no organizations, no leadership from outside our own community was offered, so we did it all on our own. But we did it.

So what was the thing you were unable to accomplish, I ask as a person who can get married while legally smoking a big fat joint.

like it is not working.

I am in MN also and it is working all across the state.

of organization, and is very welcoming to people who want to participate. Almost everywhere in the state, anyone who shows up at a precinct caucus can be a delegate to the State Senate District or County Convention. Too few people participate, though, so usually there are many delegate seats that go unfilled.

I encourage my neighbors and others to show up for the caucuses and to become delegates. Still, too few show up. People think they are too busy to participate in the very fundamentals of our system. It is their loss, and their voices aren't heard as a result. The people who participate have real influence, both in the selection and endorsement of candidates and in setting the platform of the party. It's a shame that so many can't find a few hours to make a difference. Those who do participate have far more influence than those who do not. I do not understand people who don't bother, but who then complain about the results. It makes no sense.

Delegates to the various district conventions have opportunities to speak directly to candidate, right up to the level of members of Congress. They're there. They listen. They shake hands and ask about issues. Even Senator Franken has been more than accessible to people who participate in the DFL organization process. I've spoken with him more than once, and I'm just a lowly precinct chair.

And, a good reason to ask you this question. I would like to know if you started this thread from personal involvement in your local Democratic Party organization or if you have run for office.

If so, would you care to elaborate how long and what your experience has been (or is)?

Thank you.

to Minnesota in 2004. Before that, I was active in the equivalent organization in California. I'm a precinct chair here, and have been a delegate to our conventions up to the state level. You can visit our precinct website, which I maintain, at the link in my signature line.

My experience has been as an active participant, precinct leader, and delegate. We've successfully replaced a state Senator who was not sufficiently progressive with one who is. Every office in this district is filled with a progressive. We work hard to make that happen, have an outstanding record of voter turnout and average a 60% winning percentage across the board in every election.

I have not run for a general elected office, only local party offices. I have helped candidates win elections, though, since 1960, when I was in high school. I've been active in Democratic Party electoral politics since that time. I've seen it work.

What is that reason? How is it an important reason? I'm curious. You didn't respond to my answer.

My Saturday tasks after checking into DU was to do yard work and take time to exercise after a stressful work-week. Had I known you expected such a quick response, I would have taken the time to warn you, which I will have to remember from now, should I ever ask you a DU question …

Anyway, my response...
Your experience with local Democratic party is admirable. I wish all committees from the municipal to state level ran as you've described. I congratulate you on that success. I see you ran for public office and so did I.

From the time of my first win in a special election, I was an aberration to locals in this community and to those serving them on municipal council. They didn't know who I was and didn't take me seriously. The council members all but one were Democrats. I asked appropriately hard questions to account for any risk in the way our post employment benefits were being handled. This infuriated the mayor, council and some those in the shadows who were interested in leaving that and other things alone. This developed into a bit of a witch hunt (make no mistake, I was routinely targeted on camera). Still, I ran the following year and won again. But, after what followed in those four years (primarily about responsible budgeting and managing the police force), I stepped over the line where the chief of police was doing, so, as I expected, I not win my primary in 2013. Now, a few years later, everyone who questioned as I did are all still held up in frivolous law suites and we have is less transparency than ever. Well, this was what I worked hard to assure. But, I still have the words documented, and I imagine it will take some time for people to really see what is currently a festering problem.

Do I regret? Absolutely not. It was a lesson in life that I carry on and incorporate into what I know and how I continue to act, which is to say, to thine own self am I true. I can explain probably better than most (certainly than most serving local government here) what the issues of public safety and public works should focus on.

While in office, I followed through with every constituent and recognized good neighbors from bad. But, I will tell you that my colleagues who served with me, save for two or three, responded less than admirably. I can tell you all about good cops and bad cops. I can tell you all about good solicitors and bad ones. I can also tell you that for hard work and speaking truth to power, I rubbed some very influential people the wrong way who knew I would not join the inner sanctum of a very corrupt Democratic party. I've often referred to what happens here and in some other local municipalities as "a jobs program". It was pretty much in the way Tammany Hall ran NYC throughout much of the 19th century.

I'm proud of what I tried to do during this time, but for reasons that cannot be discussed, I'm the poster-girl for the saying, "no good deed goes unpunished". I wish all Democratic committees were like the one you are involved in.

The truth is, power corrupts in all places where people do not stand up to it. Where I am, I can at least say I tried. But, if anyone at this point in time ran against the members of municipal council with the intent of examining budget, police and favors "in the sunshine", they would be met with the same group mentality, which unfortunately comes from the local Democrats the same way it comes from the local Republicans in my little burg.

I'm glad I had the time to report this to you. I wish you and everyone who tries to make a difference all the best. Realize that you must be strong. We must all be that way, and I am peppered to stand up to anything now.

it's like the Mets vs the Yankees.

A losing proposition.

The machine sucks people in.

I've lived in California and Minnesota, and in both places, I found a way to be an active participant in Democratic Party organizations and to have my voice heard. Can you provide some details of how it did not work in Philadelphia. Were you not welcome? What did you try to do that was thwarted? Now, I live in St. Paul, MN, which is not as large a city, but I find that people are welcomed into the local organization and, if they are willing to put out some effort, are rewarded for that effort.

Maybe you can tell us what happened to you in Philadelphia.

Progressives are an endangered breed around here.

I fear, to a large extent, those who bought it.

At the local level, it's not about money. It's about work. I can tell you this much: I've gotten more voters in my precinct to the polls to vote for DFL candidates than any corporate contributor. I do it by talking to them while canvassing the precinct. The Democratic Party operates from the ground up. Local organizations make an enormous difference, at least where I am.

In a presidential election year GOTV is crucial, of course. Ground up can tip an election.

But how much of a factor is that in who wins the POTUS primary?

We make an enormous difference in congressional races and state legislative races. I don't even pay attention to presidential campaigns until after the national convention.

I'll tell you this: it is legislative races that make the difference in how our government functions. Right now, the Republicans control Congress. Every congressional seat is determined by a local election, and Senate races are statewide elections. You can have an influence in those races at the local level.

The Presidential election is another thing entirely, and is a huge money event. My only influence on it is my vote in the primary. My influence in other races, however, is much greater. The presidency isn't the main thing. Congress and state legislatures are. If the only race you care about is the one for President, you're on the wrong track. Who are the state legislators in your districts. Who is your congressional representative. You can affect those by participating in the local Democratic organization.

There's more to politics than the President. Much more.

GOTV is the key, and a POTUS candidate people are enthusiastic about will help get the unmotivated majority to the polls. In the 2014 mid terms more than 63% of eligible voters did not bother, and the R's took control of the House & Senate.

I don't like this paradigm one bit. Policies set at the national level affect us all. Citizens should be motivated to be engaged at every level of their own governance without the hype of a charismatic candidate featured in the mainstream media.

But it's the reality of politics in America today. In a presidential election year and throughout the term of a POTUS, getting people off their butts to the polls is the key to progress. Local activism is good, but national leadership at the top is paramount.

You can go on to read my response to see every local government is different, and that part about, "at least where I am" is the most important part of your statement.

I'm hoping to support Donna Edwards for Senate. I did some math. If I get up in the morning, I can offer Saturdays and Sundays from 9-12 and Mondays and Thursdays from 6-9. That's IT. So, I'm pretty much stuck with phone banking and maybe some AM canvassing.

Oh, and I live in a Republican county.

Maybe after my mom passes away, I can get more involved. It's something to think about. But right now, my family gets my time.

That's excellent. And phone banking is a great way to spend them. Don't underestimate the value of that time. You make a difference. Thank you so much for your help. I also canvass, but only in my own precinct, where I try to knock on every door. I don't reach every voter, but I reach a good portion of them. I only canvass on weekends, and only during campaign season. Right now, there's nothing to do, really.

The other stuff I do in the organization doesn't take all that much time. A little time on the precinct website, a few days at the conventions, etc. I work for myself, so I just take the time that's required. I talk on the phone quite a bit, but those calls are usually short, and come from the website. I answer some emails, and that doesn't take too long.

Any time you can spare is very important, and you're doing an important thing.

Not many people pay attention to even congressional/gubernatorial primaries. Very few pay attention to local primaries, and almost no one seems to pay attention to Democratic party elections. After ignoring these elections, they go on to bemoan the results. Hell, I've seen a number of people complain about the state of the Democratic party but who refuse to register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries (in states where that's a requirement).

We shouldn't need so many volunteers to get people to pay attention to what's going on around them. But are completely ignorant of 95% of the candidates on their ballot, because they'll spend hundreds of hours on the latest political gossip, but won't spend one hour looking at the positions of a local candidate.

I think most activists would be ecstatic if a lot of people merely paid attention to things. It's not that everyone has to go out collecting signatures (for example), but if you see people collecting signatures for a progressive cause or candidate, take 30 seconds to sign it. It shouldn't be such a huge effort to get 5% of registered voters in a liberal city to sign a liberal ballot measure (for example).

Anyway, thank you immensely for volunteering for a good progressive candidate like Donna Edwards.

Nomnomnomnomnom...

Let's say you run for local office, having been involved in the local political structure. You get elected to the County Commission. While there, you work a couple deals, supporting something wasteful to get something good done. Then you capitalize on that and move up to the State House. There you sacrifice a little more, to get something done. Now, you're ready for the State Senate. You need campaign contributions, you get them from the Business's that your party normally looks to support their efforts. You have to remember who paid for you to get there. You sacrifice a little more to get something done. I mean, you've already sacrificed a bit to get this done, and that done. What is a little more?

Congress, the Senate, and finally the White House. You got there. You have done the nearly impossible. You made it. Unfortunately, now you're principles that mattered all those years ago are distant memories. Now, it's all about the deal, the discussions, and the negotiations. You started out as Mr. Smith goes to Washington, you ended up as Colonel House. From the courage and power of a Lion in your small community, you became little more than a Jackal at the national stage, taking great pleasure in rubbing elbows with the powerful. How many times have we seen that happen?

Remember Kansas, our great hope to stop Pat Roberts. Greg Orman. We withdrew our candidate from the race, because we thought that if we could get Orman to win, we would have a sort of victory. A victory that would be pyrrhic at best because Orman had already said he hoped to caucus with whatever party was in control of the Senate.

Make your changes about the parking regulations in your county commission. Declare victory because you got a stop light installed at a blind intersection. Cheer because you got a majority Democratic County Commission, and pretend that the policies they are putting forth are really all that different than the Republicans would. Because far too many of us know it doesn't matter.

If the Republicans get elected to the White House in 2016, the Koch Brothers get their pipeline to carry tar sands oil to the gulf. If the Democrats keep the White House, Warren Buffett get's to keep his trains carrying the Tar Sands Oil to the refineries in the Gulf. The only difference is who's mega rich backer gets the payday. The oil is still going to the Gulf. Unless of course, your local Democratic Party can somehow stop Warren Buffett from toting that oil to the Refinery in rickety oil tankers on tracks that get maintained about one fifth as often as they should.

It is one thing to be precinct chair in one of the most Liberal precincts in the country,
and saying "Gee. This is easy. Why doesn't everybody do everything just like me?
I know because I lived in the precinct next door to yours along the river.
It is EASY to be a Democrat in Minneapolis/St Paul,
It is another story for those of us in the trenches.



The Arkansas Democratic Primary of 2010 was a heart breaking eye opener for the Grass Roots and Organized LABOR. We were given a Look Behind the Curtain,
and it wasn't very pretty.

[font size=3]We did EVERYTHING right in Arkansas in 2010.
We did EXACTLY what the White House asked us to do to "give the President Progressives in Congress that would work with him."[/font]

We organized and supported Democratic Lt Governor Bill Halter, the Pro-LABOR/ Pro-Health Care challenger to DINO Obstructionist Blanche Lincoln's Senate seat.
Halter was:

* Polling BETTER against the Republicans in the General,

*was popular in Arkansas in his OWN right,

*had an Up & Running Political machine,

* had a track record of winning elections (Lt. Governor)

*Had the full backing of Organized LABOR and The Grass Roots activists

*was handing Blanche her Anti-LABOR ass

...and we were WINNING!

Guess what happened.

The White House stepped in at the last minute to save Blanche's failing primary campaign with an Oval Office Endorsement of The Wicked Witch that Wrecked the Obama Agenda who was actually campaigning at that time as the one who had killed the Public Option!!!

Adding insult to injury, the White House sent Bill Clinton back to Arkansas on a state-wide Campaign/Fund Raising Tour for Blanche,
focusing on the areas with high Black Populations, and bashing Organized LABOR and "Liberals" at every opportunity.

For those of us who had worked hard to give President Obama Progressive Democrats who would work with him, it was especially difficult to watch his smiling Oval Office Endorsement for DINO Blanche Lincoln which played 24/7 on Arkansas TV the week before the runoff Primary election.

White House steps in to rescue Lincoln’s Primary Campaign in Arkansas

Thank you Bvar, for reminding us of the difference.

...we must keep fighting.
I will.

I just won't be played again. My efforts will be 100% given to true progressive, populists. No more corporate shills. Ever.

When the Third Way feels comfortable writing an op-ed in the WSJ whining that Liz Warren is getting out of hand, and the big banks openly threaten to withhold donations if Liz Warren does not STFU - do we really think we can change that with local elections? Or, should step one be - First - get yourselves a billion dollars. At least. Because at the top levels, ya pay to play, and all the principles are gone.

Although I do see where your OP will provide helpful assistance in blaming liberals if Hillary is the candidate and she loses. Sort of setting us up, playing the long blame game.

The big money gets to pick the president and the Congress, by and large. They decide who to back.

Can;t people just write another blog post about how the Party doesn't represent them?

We don't have multi-million dollar salary lobbyists in congress working for us.

They're not a substitute, though, for activism in local electoral politics. Especially in GOTV efforts. That can make a huge difference in a close election. Al Franken is an excellent example. His first win, requiring a statewide recount, was by only a few hundred votes. Turnout make all the difference between having him in the Senate, as opposed to a turncoat Republican. GOTV across the board in Minnesota was the reason for his victory. The only reason.

is what it seems some DUers lack the ability to do. IDK why this is. It does take fortitude to deal with all the different memes that folks in the real world are being fed.

This is an area that some seem to be temperamentally unwilling to do, they'd rather insult them. I know that disparagement of the Democratic Party and its leaders as if or they are the enemy does not encourage people to vote. No one I know IRL does this.

It would be like saying, 'Ah, that bunch of no-good crooks. And this and that one in that gang, look at how awful they are. But, you will have to vote for them in the end, even though they are no different than any other group.'

It's not 'cheerleading' or 'idol worship' or being a 'sheeple' or 'brainwashed' or whatever that convinces anyone. Negativity toward the DP does not result in votes, quite the opposite is true. It helps turn out the Tea Party, though, and I don't believe those who push that, like the media, turn it off when they leave DU or get off their show. That is who they are.

It works against Democrats and more importantly, it's counter to the values being claimed. The government is what we make it to be, and if we don't get in it, others will.

There is no spoon.

In my canvassing, I begin by asking everyone what his or her most important issue is, or what problem they want solved. I don't start by pitching candidates. When I know their concerns, I can tell them how a particular candidate or candidates plan to address that specific issue.

I study candidates' websites and literature, and have talked to most of them. This strategy works very well, generally. If I can, I go on from there. Each person gets a unique conversation. No scripted stuff or stock answers. I canvass independently, but have the literature and handouts with me too.

People I work are often not even hard line Democrats, but when you explore what is going on, it lets them know that you are one of them. Not to get their vote and run away, not at all, but because their concerns are really ours.

And we don't talk to those who are committed to going against what we are trying to do for those who need help, except when we have a level of agreement. Some will not talk to us at all, they are so narrow minded.

But in all cases, theirs and ours, meetings go on, in community centers, churches, wherever people can get with others and meet - and that is going on daily, like it or not, on both sides. That is grassroots om action. There is little surprise in election results if one really gets out enough.

We also network with those who can go to the capitol to get the ear of elected officials, so they can gauge the interest in legislation. Those who don't bother to talk with respect to a legislator's time - and it is quite valueable, representing the interests of thousands of people not the corporate boogeyman we hear trotted out - is limited. We show respect for them and they vote our way when it's explained to them.

We follow every segment of bills that are being written and add our input and nurse along those who support Democratic values without even bringing up party affliliation. We bring up our case and oppose those things that will hurt people.

It's not the 'blind partisanship' some accuse others of having. It is about principles and ideals. Some would be surprised at DU, I guess, that some of their legislators actually do have those that can be called upon to effect their votes. It's no mystery if you know which chords in them to sound them out on, to see if they support our values.

We often find support for social safety net programs that entail public work employees who are union, it just so happens. We are grateful to their organizing power, as their goals are the same as ours. It just so happens these people will vote for a Democratic candidate and bills. Others who are against unions, public work, the Commons, the safety net, while not all, are often Republicans and always Libertarians and Tea Partiers. And I will add in DINOs. We've really got a big problem with those groups, but they have a big problem with us, too. And it's not about the label. We have even been able to get a GOP to vote with us at times, by appealing to religion, the YET (you're eligible too) for a need that you can't meet, or just whatever they still remember from high school civics class. That we all are Equal and we all deserve a chance to live.

Got to go now, but appreciate the success of your method in the real world. It needs to be explained here more often. I know it doesn't get a lot of Recs often because I don't see many here who seem interested. For every person who says it does not work, you are an example that it does, and you keep your area more liveable for all.

Unfortunately, many people choose "I don't care enough to pay attention one way or another" or "I'll vote for whoever they like on TV." I think many people don't realize that "whoever, I don't really care" is a choice. A terrible choice that opens the doors to some very bad people and very bad things, but still a choice. Sure, people will complain about Debbie Wasserman Schultz, but then pay no attention to the elections for their state Democratic party, when those are the people who are keeping her in power.

Having said that, though everyone should at least be paying attention to what's going on in their local party, in many places spending a lot of time with your local party politics isn't worth it (you don't have to spend much time to vote for good candidates, though). Fortunately, there are many other ways to get involved (both locally and with national progressive groups).

Hey, maybe the Dems can co-opt a movement like Occupy to sell their tired corporate-wares.

Do tell, please. There will be elections in 2016. How do you propose to get better candidates into office than are there now? How will we regain control of Congress?

I'll wait right here.

You can build your "list" from there.

I have a list of them, by party. I'll be talking to them next year again.

How you vote is entirely up to you, and that's not what this thread is about, anyhow.

I know what you WANTED this thread to be about, and I thought I'd mention the killing fields that Hillary voted for.

I'll vote for a Dem that didn't condone that slaughter....How YOU VOTE is entirely up to you

There is no candidate yet for that election. I will support whoever is the candidate of the party after the national convention. This is about the Democratic Party and how people can participate in it. My interest is almost exclusively in legislative races, both state and federal. The presidential election is the least of my concerns. Both major parties will have nominees for that office. As I have since 1968, I will vote for the Democratic candidate.

Nothing I do affects who the nominee will be, except for my vote in the primaries. I don't know who will be on the ballot yet. Once I do, I'll let you know who I'll be voting for in the primaries. If Bernie Sanders is on my ballot, he will get my primary vote. I've said that multiple times on DU.

Frankly, unless you're in the same districts as I am, I'm not that interested in who you vote for, since you won't be voting for the legislators on the ballot.

I will NEVER vote for someone who voted for the IWR. That was MY line in the sand in 2003 and I will NEVER vote for anyone who helped start that fucking awful killing.

I for one am dying to endorse a Dem candidate who would inspire me...there hasn't been anyone on the Dem ticket yet. Good luck with the current crop...yawn.

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