Getting Votes in the South

If we are to get some control back in Texas (or else where) we have to show people we are ready to take the issues to the mat.
Here in Texas we have people in and out of state who are just pissed off that people in New Orleans. We have to remind these people, get them involved, get them established, get them REGISTERED TO VOTE. I am not an organizer or planner. Just a guy who thinks that with the right campaign we can give the REP. a run for their money down here in Texas or in the whole of the south.

Here are the issues as I see them:

- if the storms had been a terrorist attack we would have been screwed. this was not 9-11 we had 4 weeks to prepare.

- the Reps. where prepared for the storm (they where setting up construction contracts for there buddies)

- it wasn't a matter or black or white in New Orleans it was a matter that the poor (uneducated, non-voting poor)where left to suffer.

I am willing to work very hard for this effort. Can anyone help me? We need to:

-get these people established as citizens of the state they are in so the REP. Party cannot block them at the voting booth in the 2008 elections.

-remind them of what the REP. party did for them in the first 24 - 72 hours after the storm.

- get other states in the south doing the same thing.

The biggest problem in Texas is that the only thing that gets people to the polls is having a chance to vote on whether two people of the same sex who love each other "should be allowed" to be married to each other. They mostly just tossed a coin on the other ballot propositions since there were so many confusing words.

Now that they've shown their true turd blossom colors (the turd part of the blossom) and voted to support a constitutional amendment proposed by the Ku Klux Klan, ironically, all the church buses and minorities I saw at the polls who voted three out of four to screw my family really don't even know who FEMA is at the end of the day unless their preachers tell them.

It doesn't matter how sensible the information is that you give to some of them - they are incapable of thinking for themselves or putting themselves in anyone else's shoes, and we're not talking about rich arrogant republicans here.

Yes, still bitter. Remember, these red states DON'T WANT unwashed liberals or ex-cons to even be ABLE to vote, and in Texas where the legislation meets once every two years to decide earth shaking issues like should we let the homos have families or should we make every highway in Texas a tollway but we're not for raising taxes, it will be a difficult battle.

You have to get through to the preachers. You have to move more liberals down here and we have to put a democratic leadership in place, one that isn't afraid to talk about morality in terms of leaving poor people to die in the inner city during hurricanes in a planned land grab, and one that isn't afraid to say that family values are about all kinds of families and marriage is about love, not animal husbandry.

Never underestimate the power of letters to the editor or op-ed pieces. Or even bumper stickers.

Contact your local Democratic Party office and speak with them. Remember that they will have their own ideas of strategy, so don't tell them their strategy is wrong (even if it is), just let your ideas be known.

Find your local Democratic clubs. Most areas have a few clubs, usually regional, which are formed mostly to endorse candidates during the primaries. At these meetings, you can meet the campaign managers, the strategy people, the candidates, and lots of people who know these people. A well-reasoned discussion with some of these people might start the ball rolling.

If you don't like the local clubs, start one of your own based on your own issues. Contact the local Dem party HQ and tell them what you want to do. Chances are they'll know some people you can contact. They can help you create a mailing list for your first couple of meeting announcements. It's easier than you think--the hardest part is deciding to do it. They'll also know the guidelines you'd have to follow if you want to spend money through your group to influence people's votes (basically you have to register as a PAC--not hard, but you have to do it right. Ask Tom DeLay.)

You could even form a paper with this PAC money, or advertize a blog.

Once you get involved in these groups, be prepared to play politics. You'll have to compromise, listen to others, play petty political games--all part of it.

I was president of one of these local clubs for two years, and they are a lot of fun, but they aren't for everyone. They spend a lot of time worrying about their own club structure and little stuff, and it gets frustrating. One group around here came to one of my meetings and got so mad at the petty politics they formed their own group, and spent every weekend canvasing neighborhoods, handing out literature, and talking to people who would listen. Very effective group.

There are also organized groups to get voters registered and get them out on election day, and your local party can tell you about them. I'm sure they are working to register the newcomers. They can fill you in, and you may give them an idea or two they miss.

Usually, these groups don't lack ideas. They lack people and money to put the ideas into play. So volunteering and donating helps a lot.

So there are a lot of ways to get involved in campaigning, from handing out other people's opinions to leading a group to spread your own. Depends on your ability and ambition. If you post your location, you could probably find some like-minded folk here to start your group. Now is the time to do it.

As for the larger picture--affecting the entire south, or at least several states, write to the state party HQs and tell them your thoughts. If you form one of these groups, have all the members sign the letter, to get more attention. Chances are, they are already working on these types of ideas.