It can not just be rallies and marches. A REAL movement means SUSTAINED political action!

[RBInMaine]

The problem with the left is that it is disconnected and disorganized. The right is much more organized around their thinking, their purposes, their media, their think tanks, and their political action.

A REAL movement is like the Women's Suffrage Movement or the Civil Right Movement of the 1950's and 60's. They were organized and SUSTAINED with committed people who worked on these for YEARS, even decades. And it involved tremendous POLITICAL ACTION to get the laws changed.

So we shall see. Will these marches become a REAL movement or just one feel-good day? The main thing is to organize POLITICALLY and VOTE OUT THE REPUBLICANS IN 2018!! THAT must the NUMBER ONE GOAL, PERIOD!

[Squinch]

1. Did YOU call your senators yet, RB? I did. 202-225-3121. Call them and tell them not to

approve DeVos and Pruitt. Then call them tomorrow and say it again. Then the next day.

That is how to make this a "real movement."

PS: it's already a real movement.

[NCDem777]

11. It's not a real movement unless they get crap done

Not to denigrate my fellow young people but way too freaking many of them only sign online petitions (the biggest fraud ever pulled on the Progressive movement) and go out and protest when that doesn't work.

God knows how many people there don't know who represents them or care to take the 10 minutes to learn their names or contact info. God knows how many people have never attended a city council meeting,or a party precinct meeting or even a YD's or college Dems meeting.

How many of these protesters made hats but won't dare join the Dem party because they think parties are evil?

[Squinch]

16. You guys would slap the hand that gave you a million dollars, wouldn't you?

If you don't consider what you saw yesterday to be real, then I don't know what to tell you.

So fine. The rest of us will be following up on these things. You should sit home and complain and tell everyone else they're doing it wrong.

[NCDem777]

20. Actually

I've set up a meeting with Thom Tillis' Representative at his office and I've been making phone calls

[Squinch]

21. Then stop complaining about others and assuming that you are the only virtuous one.

Just do the work.

[DURHAM D]

2. I guess the men will need to take over and tell us women

what we need to do next.

jftr - I am tired of the non-participants damning us with faint praise.

[BlueMTexpat]

3. + a million! eom

[sheshe2]

8. 1000!!!!!

[RedWedge]

10. Marchsplaining.

[Squinch]

18. .

[AgadorSparticus]

28. Bwahahaha

[bigtree]

31. .

[Squinch]

17. Jesus, the posts in this thread! Idiotic!

[SunSeeker]

40. Thank you, Durham D. nt

[kimbutgar]

4. I think 2018 will be like 2006 when the DEmocrats won in even rethug areas

The carnage chump will inflict on this country will increase the anger and disgust and might even be the biggest mid term election ever. When the rethugs cut social security and Medicare after doing away with the ACA and communities are plagued with chemical spills in their water because of deregulation and getting screwed over the ones that stayed home willl come out.

[bekkilyn]

6. Also don't forget 2017

Some states may be having some elections in 2017 due to redistricting issues. There also may be municipal elections in many areas. Please don't forget these. They are IMPORTANT!

[justiceischeap]

5. Have you visited the Women's March site and signed up for their 10 Days of Action?

Have you called and or written your local representative? I have.

[Squinch]

7. Here's the link for the group justiceischeap mentioned to you in the post above, RBinMaine.

https://www.womensmarch.com/100

They're going to give you 10 things to do in the first hundred days.

Go there after you call your senators and tell them not to approve DeVos and Pruitt.

Seems this REAL MOVEMENT got started without you noticing, and you need to do some catching up. Now scoot. Get your work done.

[NCDem777]

12. They've started with snail mail post cards

This is a bad start. Snail mail gets lost or damaged by security guys.

[compsports]

13. Totally agree

According to former congressional staffers, phone calls are the most effective way to communicate with Congress regarding various issues. It is too easy to ignore written communication when that can't be done with a phone call.

[Squinch]

15. Then you should feel free to call. Use the number above.

[Squinch]

14. Then you should feel free to call. Use the number above.

[Cha]

22. Mahalo, Squinch!

[qwlauren35]

23. Thank you for posting this.

I just went and "spammed" it all over Facebook for all of my friends who went to the Marches or were paying attention but don't know what to do next.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Squinch]

25. This isn't me. Michael Moore suggested the calls to the senators about DeVos. And the

march organizers put together the 10 things in a hundred days.

I am really glad they did it too.

[JI7]

27. local involvement is also good because you can start something yourself also

that's how california ended up getting a statewide plastic bag ban. it started locally and spread.

[Wounded Bear]

32. Local involvement is crucial...

as the old saying goes, "All politics are local."

[Guilded Lilly]

35. Attending one meeting at daughter's house next weekend. We were both at the March in Washington.

The passions and determinations were higher than anything I have ever seen. It was overwhelmingly uplifting. Women from every walk of life and a wonderful representation of men, too.

Not a freaking judgmental or patronizing killjoy in sight. (Unlike message boards)

Younger generations are being fired up and loaded with older generation experiences and suggestions. Older generations are catching the passion and vigor of the ferociously passionate young. The combination is awesome. The potential is incredible. an awakened beast, even.

Call, write, email, call, petition, tweet, call, post, attend local meetings...EVERYTHING.

Ignore limited suggestions of how to RESIST and fight.

[still_one]

42. This is excellent Squinch. Thanks, will start today

[Squinch]

43. .

[TomCADem]

9. 2018 Elections Are Key. We Can't Just Wait Until 2020

Look at how much damage Trump and the Republican Congress have already threatened.

[JustAnotherGen]

41. 2017 - we start now

County Clerks around America will have "how to run" meetings the next few weeks. Gather the seats. Town Councils, School Boards, etc etc. The TEA Party didn't want for Federal Elections. In NJ - New Governor in 2017.

2018 will be much easier if we jam the most local elected offices to provide oversight over voting rights.

[bdamomma]

19. this is good brainstorming.

I think calls are good either at Washington office or local state offices.

Just a question what was the name of what people have been using it was mentioned on Rachel Maddows show?

Also I tried to make a call to Senator Schumers office this morning about venting properly the Pompeo nomination all I got was the phone line kept ringing.

[Wounded Bear]

33. I think you mean Indivisible...

good stuff there, too.

http://www.indivisibleguide.com/

[JI7]

24. you sure love to lecture those who actually support democrats. why don't you tell the racists Trump

voters that you keep defending to do the right thing instead of voting for bigots ?

[Jim Beard]

26. What kind of movement do you people want? One like the Tea Party that is giving the

Republicans hell? Do you want them to be a completely different party?

How about constant communication and contact and then funnel everyone into the Democratic Party.

[pnwmom]

29. The Women's March organizers are calling for 10 actions in 100 days.

Are you on board?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028518194

[bigtree]

30. "the problem with the left"

... more 'like the problem with those who can't find room to do more than criticize and finger-wag.'

[AgadorSparticus]

34. Ugh. Your tone is really condescending. The message was pretty loud and clear that this

Is not a 1 day affair, but an EVERYDAY affair. Everyone knows this.

People ARE doing something about it. I am seeing it in my universe. People are organizing and forming teams for the long haul. People are a shifting their lives to ready themselves for this new activist part of their lives. I am one of them. And there are a lot of people with me that never were.

To quote Dan Rathers, "these are not normal times" to be expecting normal responses.

[Guilded Lilly]

36. Update from Michael Moore...

https://www.facebook.com/mmflint/posts/10154117033496857

"So many of you have called the Congressional Switchboard since I gave out the number from the stage at the Women's March. Now nearly every Senator's voice mail is full! If you can't get through to your Senator or member of Congress by calling 202-225-3121, then email them at: (his/her last name).senate(or house).gov. And keep trying to phone. Calls have a big impact. In the morning, we have to call our Senators and tell them we expect them to vote NO on making Betsy DeVos the Secretary of Education. 202-225-3121."

[democrank]

37. Contrary to your suggestions, this is a REAL movement.

Too bad you weren't in Montpelier, Vermont yesterday, where we had one of the largest marches in Vermont's history.... somewhere between 10,000-15,000 marchers in a town with a population under 8,000. There were people of all ages, all income brackets, with signs representing many issues. People were motivated and determined....and there were thousands of young people.

According to Robert Reich, the Democratic Party has lost about 1,034 federal and state seats in the last eight or so years and 32 states are under complete Republican control. So, I don't think it's a good use of our time to haul out a water cannon whenever we see "the left" starting fires under everyone in a positive way. We need to work together, not against one another.

If you do a little more research, you'll find that people weren't just marching, they were sharing contact numbers and lists of things to do. From all accounts, Saturday's marches were a historic success, so maybe you could wait another 24 hours before you offer more criticism.

[bravenak]

38. You could always try doing some work yourself instead of obsessing about how much we need to do

Last edited Mon Jan 23, 2017, 05:43 AM - Edit history (1)

So many directors, not enough players.

[aikoaiko]

39. What makes you think these types of OPs are effective?

You should rethink your posting strategy.