So...what have folks here done for Kerry/Edwards this week?

Besides talk...I'm talking about on-the-ground stuff. Please check in and tell us, otherwise I'm going to assume you haven't done a blessed thing...except talk...which is, as we all know...cheap! :hi:

and pushing my cousin and a friend to get registered so they can vote for kerry I did this today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2218760&mesg_id=2218760

and took care of my mother. I'll be doing the same this week.

it's God's work. Just keep a good thought! :-)

Went to a planning meeting for our next Kerry Meetup
Gave away a couple of bumperstickers to people who asked for them

I really believe that at this point the best use of one's energy is registering new voters.

Do you have any good links to voter-registration activism groups, tactics, websites, organizations? I'd love to get them before as many eyes as possible.

Our county party did a great job of getting as many folks deputized as registrars as possible and finding registration sites where we could get our feet wet. Some of them were better than others, but the first batch of registrars got some experience and we've gone on to train loads of new volunteers. And we've identified sites which are productive to which we keep returning and abandoned those which weren't working.

One online tool which I highly recommend is DU. A whole bunch of us Austin DUers are deputized, and I've used PMs to mobilize registrars on short notice a few times.

Here's an idea from silverlib, who worked with me today: she set up a table at a garage sale and got a bunch of folks, many of whom had been registered but had moved and didn't know what to do about updating their registration.

The main advice I have though is to just plug away at it and never go anywhere without your voter registration materials. I keep my box of stuff and a table in the back of my car.

to promise they will vote, they are all for Kerry but not feeling particularly active. That wasn't much was it. Hmmm, last week I registered one person. I made a commitment to think of something good to say even if I disagree with some policy because I think it was time to stop qualifying my support (that was hard in some instances). Last weekend I saw Edwards and have talked it up with everyone I meet. Still not much, damn. After I move my kid I will get back to it.

I actually responded because I wanted to know if you were still walking and how it was going. You are my hero, you know that? My husband and I did it for a local candidate and although it was fun it was killer on the back and feet.

Yes, right now I am mostly talk. *ashamed*

but Ive given key info to family members.

Fortunately, Swanzey is so big...44 square miles...that we had to drive the route...it saved my back! We will be back there again next week. It is a real education, though, knocking on strange doors and talking to people who you either agree with or want to kill!

NH is a funny place...the more I do this the more I realize that 1) most peole don't use their front doors; 2) most people don't have doorbells; 3) everybody has at least one dog; and 4) even repubs are friendly up here!

Registering one person is the whole ballgame in this election. Every single vote will count. Believe me, you will be so proud on November 3rd!

to distribute and I convinced a woman where I am employed to get her butt out and vote for Kerry.

She is a 25 year old single mom who has never voted before. We talk of the job market often, as she is looking for something that pays more. She has been trying for the better part of a year and has had no luck. I told her you can thank our fearless leader * for that and if you want a better job, you better do your part to remove the tyrant from the White House. She said she doesn't follow politics really, but she hates * just the same.

That afternoon she came back to my cubical and told me she registered to vote on her lunch hour.

I think I read somewhere (most likely here) that women in that particular age group are the least likely to vote. That was a good one to get.

and general office cleaning. In addition to that, I donated 10 sheets of poster board, some sticky tack and a ream of paper.

literature. Tried to reach my Kerry Coordinator to schedule house meeting, and hope to reach her this week.

to endorse Kerry-Edwards and finished off the week attending a fanatstic Kerry rally. Through it all I met some very nice people with whom I hope to celebrate in November.

but as it gets closer to the election calls will be made on behalf of the Coordinated Democratic campaigns and will include urging people to vote for Feingold, Tammy Baldwin for congress and of course, Kerry-Edwards. Helping keep a man in office like Russ Feingold and increasing turn out on his behalf will benefit the entire democratic ticket.

Helped organize the training for getting folks out delivering campaign info and registering voters. My area is rural so am making phone calls and mailing info, updating voter registration cards. Next is to contact those who don't regularly vote, who will probably be the undecideds.

at my "bushbusting ammo" Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bushbusting_ammo/

After hearing so many DUers call for a one-stop site with subject-organized LINKS (articles, videos, editorials, speeches, info-sites, etc.) to all campaign issues, along with a massive collection of cartoons, photoshops, posters, and photos, I put together just that, 9 months ago. When I try to put the message forth here at DU, virtually no one takes 10 seconds to join the Group & use all this material.

It really makes me wonder about the old saying, "Talk is cheap," and has caused me to spend almost no time & energy here, with 2-3 hours a day going to updating "bushbusting ammo." I know there are some VERY committed activists here, but if about 20 out of 48,000 DUers bother to join a Group with more anti-bush Links & Images than any other site on the Internet, my efforts here are wasted.

Don't give up hope! Getting down and doing hard work is hard for people...many folks think that a candidate can "talk" himself into the WH. What many fail to see is the backbone of every successful campaign, the people on the street, on the phones, doing the hard, thankless, invisible day to day work that leads to a win. You will take a Kerry win very personally in November! :-)

nt

Also helping to organize our meetup along with our local Kerry rep. NC is officially a swing state, and it's time we get veeerrrrryyy busy!

After Labor day, I'll begin calling voters.

:)

I have registered voters on Fort Lauderdale beach. Hot work, but satisfying...

Our small group of volunteers in a two hour period on two consecutive Sundays registered about 70 new Kerry/Edwards voters!

Before this, I participated in a bake sale for democracy via MoveOn.org. We raised $1,330 in about 3 1/2 hours. People were throwing money at us and thanking us profusely.

I feel like I am making a difference and hope others will do what they can - even if it's just wearing a button. The other day, two servers at the breakfast diner inquired about my button and expressed a desire to vote. I went right to my car and got the registration forms for them to fill out. Easy as that. Just takes a very small effort to make a difference.

other than talk...too bad! I'm going to shame you guys into it... talk is cheap, cheap, cheap! Go out there and do something or...SHUT UP!

I'm sure they must be out canvassing potential new voters... :hi:

I maintain a website for Kerry/Edwards in Oregon.

http://www.oregonians4kerry.org

Got some updating to do, in fact...

They are voting Kerry/Edwards.

Oh and I donated to DU.

I start grad school this week. I am hoping once I get a feel for the political climate of my professor and the other students, I may take some voter registration cards to class.

Social Workers lean Democratic, I think.
(Edited to add: NASW supports Kerry.
http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/2004/062204.asp)

Here is what the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) has to say about voting:
"The 2004 General Elections (Presidential, Congressional and State races) are critical in determining the future of Social Work practice. NASW is committed to registering all social workers to vote." So maybe I can get away with taking voter registration stuff to class.

(If you're a DUer and a social worker and a member of NASW you can see online who the organization endorses.)

applied for a position with my local Democratic HQ, will register voters this weekend in Maryland, the following weekend in Virginia and plan to do some phone banking next week. If anyone wants to help, go to www.johnkerry.com or www.act4victory.com (maybe org) or try the Democracy for America website (formerly Dean for America). If all else fails, contact your local Board of Elections and find out what it takes to become a voter registrar.

Work with Kerry campaign daily doing organizing voter reg. Went to mountains this weekend, wore Kerry button and talked to lots of people. Met great couple from Oregon and local repub where I was staying had good conversation.

That's why its soooo important for us to wear our buttons or shirts that say ANYTHING about this election!! It gets us talking!!

Imagine if 20 or 30 more DU'ers did the same...and 20 or 30 more...!!! This is how elections are won...vote by vote...on the ground! Congratulations everybody and let's keep it going! On election night you are going to see your votes on the tally board and you are going to know that you helped to save America! :hi:

...against my better judgement, I donated $50 to the DNC when they came door-knocking in my neighborhood.

I probably should have given that $$$ to a couple local candidates who need it more than Terry McAuliffe and crew, but I finally got a job and I'm feeling generous.

I'm also helping out with getting the Minnesota DFL Progressive Caucus organized and chartered, so we can continue working for progressive issues within the DFL long after November 2.

Oh, and pointing out the idiocy of another four years of BushCo to anybody who will listen!

:D

Call it "proactive voter education". :)

Great question! Keep asking us ~ Keep challenging us!!!

You just reminded me that I was going to print out Voter Registration forms to put in the local subversive coffee shop (a plug for Small Circle Imports in Longmont, CO). They are now printed!

I also wear a 'No W' or a 'Kerry' button, and given an opening, I try to engage people in friendly dialog. I like to put political arguments into situations that individuals can relate to. Last week I spent a half hour with the UPS driver at work. I doubt I converted him, but I know I got him to wonder a little. I know I've gotten some more on-the-fence people to see the importance of voting for Kerry.

The question that made the UPS guy pause the most was a hypothetical Re: Bush's foreign policy - If he (UPS) had heard that someone wanted to screw me, would he be more or less likely to warn me if I had just pissed him off?

Turned the other way. If you're a 19 year old unemployed Palestinian, and someone asks you to help blow up a US Embassy, would you be more or less likely to help them? What if the US had been helping to develop the Palestinian economy, and you just got a job?

That may sound over simplified, but it's really what it comes down to. All politics is local. Again, I don't think the UPS guy will be a convert any time soon, but he may be a little less vocal in his support. The more friendly mini-debates we can have, the better. Calling people names (even Bush) only works with the choir.

& I keep a pocket full of 'No W' pins to hand out.

:kick:

Driving out there on Thursday with Kerry/Edwards plastered all over the car...