I just got back from signing up to walk my precinct, so don't give me any

crap.I do my part. I've been working with local unions for months doing phone banking, and registering voters. I've signed up to walk my precinct today. Since I'm the only one that signed up in my town, it may take me every evening and week-end until the election. I work full time, but I am doing EVERYTHING I can to get Kerry elected. I have also given as much money as I can afford, and plan to give more. I participated in the CNN virtual protest and wrote fifteen original letters on that day, which is difficult if you've ever tried it. Why am saying this? It sure as hell isn't because I think I've done the most. I know that others have done fifty times as much. It's simply to let you know that I am not content to sit around complaining and finding fault. I realize that that is counter-productive.

However, I do reserve the right to speak out about the Kerry campaign in a constructive way. Others may listen or not. That's fine. I would hope, though, that my motives wouldn't be questioned, since we are all on the same side.

So here's the deal: Why is it not OK to criticize the Kerry campaign's strategy? I have criticized it in the past, although I won't do it now. The major points have been made. Those of us that live in the real world where we meet people who actually EAT UP this swiftboat swill know how dangerous it is. We feel it in our bones. We hear our fellow citizens discussing it in the grocery store or our co-workers citing it as fact. We want a stonger response (although the reponse has been stronger lately, I admit) because we want Kerry to win. That's what it's about. It's not about sour grapes, and it's not about sitting around whining. I'm an activist, and I'm proud of it, but I also will speak out if I see things at the ground level that perhaps the campaign is missing. And I wish that others could speak out as well, without getting flamed.

the SwiftLiars, I think you haven't been paying enough attention.

Or maybe you imagine Kerry's Campaign has a magic wand that will make the Media fair and balanced?

So the only hope we have is the grass roots, just like senseandsensibility did today.

I just watched OutFoxed and I'm a bit upset, too, so take this as you see fit.

can i borrow it?

Just got it today.

I'll let you know when my hubby's friends are done with it.

All I kept thinking was, seriously:

THEY CAN'T HAVE MY FREEDOM! THEY CAN'T, I WON'T LET THEM.

I was a little perturbed, to say the least...

And I think you should be able to speak out. The response to the Swifties was in part because people spoke out. Look at Michael Moore, he's no wilting lily. Speak out and be proud of what you are doing!

that I see a lot of criticism but not many specific suggestions (pretty much none) about what should be done in advance to attack the upcoming lies.

It's easy to yell, they did it wrong, but it's a lot harder to come up with the way to do it right.

This has been debunked in the NYT and Washington Post. Call a press conference? I'm not sure what they should do.

Bush gone so badly!!

But there is a change...

I've noticed the change in the number of Bush bumper stickers I see now...huge increase, about triple the number of Kerry ones I see...

Not whining, just not shutting my eyes to reality...if we let Kerry live in a bubble of everything is hunkydory, then WE are doing him a disservice...

My biggest criticism right now, set the record straight about Kerry, and then STOP focusing on Vietnam, it is playing into Bush's playbook, because this crap about wearing a ribbon in a picture from 35 years ago...well, honestly, most people wont care...they cared about the swift boat lies because they were SO extreme...fighting back with the Bush medals is not were its at...

You have to fight back with the PRESENT:

What about THE ECONOMY NOW?!??!?!
What about the 1.2 million LOST JOBS?!?!?
What about the surplus going to a deficit in less than 2 years of Bush??
What about the war in Iraq where we have lost almost 1000 Americans?
What about the Patriot Act?
What about the view of America throughout the world that has decreased so steeply under Bush?

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT!!!

and in that vein, I wish every Dem representing Kerry on TV would make the point that the moveon ads are TRUE, and issue based. They are nothing like the swiftboat ads. But our reps let the mediawhores lump them all together, and don't even object.

the Bush campaign is so much worse than it seems like Kerry expected...

Being on the definsive is bad because it is letting Bush define the agenda...we have spent two weeks talking about what happens 35 years ago, it makes no sense to me...

AND, when Kerry fought back, Bush AGAIN defined the agenda by saying that he now wants 527s eliminated...

So now, AGAIn, Kerry has to defend why he doesn't...so AGAIN, he is coming across horribly in the press...

It IS NOT about the 527s, it is about blatant disregard for all the official records about the personal service of a man who served his country bravely 35 years ago...WHERE KERRY SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED IS that they dare claim that HE didn't serve the medals, because what does that say about any serviceman who earned them?

When you claim that Kerry did not deserve his medals, you are TAINTING EVERY serviceman who served an earned medals. Did some deserve them and some didn't? This is not about Kerry, this is about poltics DEFINING men risking their lives for their country. If a serviceman is given medals from the armed forces, it is because they have earned them. Too many good men have sacrificed so much for their country, letting POLITICS, letting wealthy republicans pick and chose how much a person needs to bleed in order to be brave enough is BLASPHEMY!!

And then, BOOM, move the fuck on, and let's talk about the present!!

We need you writing for the campaign. You're right, more than anything, we need to be on the offense. And there's only one way to put * on the defensive, boys, and girls. Let's just say that playing chess won't cut it.

The line"I know why you guys are focusing on Swift Boat stuff-because you sure don't want to focus on the economy and Iraq...repeated over and over again. THAT should be the Democratic talking point!!!!

nothing about Bush's service record...NO ONE CARES, even if it is the truth...

Focus on the present...

This should be the ad:

We know that Republican donors have been giving copious amounts of money to "Swift Boat Vets for Truth" which have produced ads against Senator Kerry. Those ads have been discredited by the official records and the men that were really there. But, WHY did Republcians focus on this...because it takes the focus off of what Bush has done to this country...
(black screen, and then Big word)
War in Iraq - NEARLY 1,000 Americans have died, no WMDs found
American credibility throughout the world has been shattered
1.2 million jobs lost over four years
Huge surpluses have now gone to huge deficits
Greenspan is now saying that YOUR S/S should be cut..
etc. etc. etc

"No wonder they want to focus on lying about the past, because if they tell you about the present, four years of Bush as president, then you will realize that we deserve better...

Let's focus on the present Mr. Bush...

BLAH!!

this election is so damn crucial.

People are taking it personally, rightly or wrongly, because so much is at stake for them if Bunnypants is re-selected. Also keep in mind that we are all incredibly nervous that this election will be stolen AGAIN.

You've earned the right, I agree, but we are all facing a disaster on November 2nd, and I think we are all a little nervous. I choose to channel those nerves into swing-state letter writing, and I may precinct walk tomorrow if my kid's not sick anymore.

As I say, we are all taking it personally, even you. Try to keep that in mind, and maybe you'll understand where all of our heads are at.

I know I'm not immune to taking things personally, and I do sometimes. But I wrote this more as a defense for others, who I felt were just trying to raise legitimate concerns, and were flamed. Now that I've been around DU awhile, I can sense a freeper or a disrupter. These posters didn't fall in that category, and I didn't think they deserved what they got. But I agree,we all need to be more understanding of each other.

I've been doing grassroots work for Kerry since last June 2003 and have come to the conclusion that you can't wait for the official campaign to arrive to give you just about anything unless you beg or just order merchandise online on your own dime. They usually take too long because of the chain of command deal and generally are too young to understand the hurdles of running a campaign. This is a year where on-the-job-training is NOT going to cut it.

We need feet on the ground armed with information (not a usual "Oh, go to the web page and the info is there"...) printed out and ready to go.

I have a site with all kinds of issue papers and other more defense-related issue papers to have at the ready for doing grassroots work. The site has things you can use for your precinct:
www.kerrysupport.com/issues.html

There is audio, video, PDFs and other info to use. Any recent issues (like SBVFT, Nader and other Bush lies/fears) have ready-to-go double-sided brochures to give to people after you or someone prints them out.

Don't wait for the Cavalry. It might be too late.

is the most basic get out the vote work you can possibly do. Congratulations! And not only talk to people about Kerry, but are there any Democrats running for local offices you can be informing the voters about? State House and Senate are two that most people never even think about, and if you have good Democrats running for those, contact their campaigns and let them know what you are doing, and get some of their literature from them.

I know. I'm running for office myself, and I'm walking door to door, introducing myself and asking people to vote for me. It is absolutely the most powerful thing a candidate can do, and for a local candidate it should be the one thing they do.

And to make you see just what you're accomplishing, get a map of the precinct -- your local election board should be able to supply you with one for free or very cheaply -- and mark off in colored markers, the streets you walk.

You'll be able to see what you've covered, and it won't seem so discouraging. One precinct should be able to be covered between now and November 2nd, depending on the exact geography you're dealing with.

Good luck!

I ask because I got an email tonight from another list I belong to reminding me of the types and frequencies of voter intimidation tactics that have been used. Nobody said we were supposed to do anything about it, but it made me think, hell, should I be volunteering to walk people to the polls or something? Just wondering what walking your precinct meant.