General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,386 posts)

15. I have no influence on presidential candidate selection.

Thu Nov 6, 2014, 02:06 PM

Nov 2014

Not a whit. My interest is in influencing local, state, and legislative politics. And, whether you believe it or not, those have more to do with how things are run than the President anyhow. I can influence who runs for Congress. I can influence who runs for my state legislature, and I can sure as hell influence who runs for city and county government. I can even influence Senatorial candidates to some degree. I've met Al Franken four or five times and have had conversations with him. He has to run in Minnesota, so he's been available.

If the only political position that concerns you is the President, you're not going to have any influence at all in that, except for your vote in the primary and general election. It's just not possible. If you could influence that, I guarantee you wouldn't be writing on DU.

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Want the Democratic Party to Change? [View all] MineralMan Nov 2014 OP

Agree 100% Proud Public Servant Nov 2014 #1

One great trend I've noticed in my own local party organization MineralMan Nov 2014 #2

Simple does not mean "easy". I agree with you 100%, but people have to expect to sweat. riqster Nov 2014 #3

No, it's not easy. Nothing worthwhile is easy. MineralMan Nov 2014 #5

worthwhile things can be easy. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #35

It is easy, because it's so rewarding. MineralMan Nov 2014 #36

My involvement grew fast as soon as I asked someone, MineralMan Nov 2014 #8

Absolutely!! Peacetrain Nov 2014 #4

Thanks for the reply. MineralMan Nov 2014 #6

Yep..you have to show up! Peacetrain Nov 2014 #7

+1 eom. 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #19

National candidates seldom to never mmonk Nov 2014 #9

Are you talking about Congressional representatives? MineralMan Nov 2014 #10

Where do those national candidates come from? jeff47 Nov 2014 #12

It's too late now with just tinkering mmonk Nov 2014 #13

Which act through.......... jeff47 Nov 2014 #14

You go ahead with your "movement politics." MineralMan Nov 2014 #17

And then a former first lady shows up.... zipplewrath Nov 2014 #11

I have no influence on presidential candidate selection. MineralMan Nov 2014 #15

You know, the thing is that those who choose candidates for Governor MineralMan Nov 2014 #21

So you would have had something to do with Crist? zipplewrath Nov 2014 #75

No. I'm not in Florida. I had nothing to do with MineralMan Nov 2014 #79

I'm not angry at you zipplewrath Nov 2014 #83

If you actually took the time to read what I wrote, MineralMan Nov 2014 #86

And I had a direct line to a Mass congress critter zipplewrath Nov 2014 #89

This was far more than a national election. MineralMan Nov 2014 #91

I've got a problem with you lecturing me about Florida zipplewrath Nov 2014 #92

"a tan with name recognition"? ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #24

I am trying to figure that one out too. bravenak Nov 2014 #28

Or, maybe ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #46

LOL!! bravenak Nov 2014 #55

Gotta laugh ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #58

It has been a funny couple of days, man. bravenak Nov 2014 #59

But I'm wrong in my assessment ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #61

And you make DU suck. bravenak Nov 2014 #65

Charlie Crist nt steve2470 Nov 2014 #38

LOL LeftInTX Nov 2014 #67

I'm giving the benefit of the doubt and assuming a typo, there. MineralMan Nov 2014 #52

I have said, on more than one occasion ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #56

oh for chrissake he is referring to CHarlie CHrist! m-lekktor Nov 2014 #62

Sorry ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #71

Whe he was a GOP governor zipplewrath Nov 2014 #85

See the comment you responded to. eom. 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #90

I did zipplewrath Nov 2014 #93

You don't find that particular phrasing ... curious? eom. 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #96

Not at all zipplewrath Nov 2014 #109

Okay ... 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #112

Ignorance? zipplewrath Nov 2014 #120

Okay. Done! 1StrongBlackMan Nov 2014 #121

Julian Castro was my City Council member LeftInTX Nov 2014 #32

That's an excellent example of what I'm saying. MineralMan Nov 2014 #64

Crist won a primary where only 18% of registered Democrats even bothered showing up. If people there Chathamization Nov 2014 #74

Sure blame the victim zipplewrath Nov 2014 #94

What? Asking people to spend 5 minutes looking at who's on the ballot and showing up and voting is Chathamization Nov 2014 #97

Can't I just write another blog post about how the Party doesn't represent me? brooklynite Nov 2014 #16

You sure can. In fact, I encourage you to. MineralMan Nov 2014 #18

Following up on brooklynite's post JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #57

Well, it doesn't rain ALL the time. MineralMan Nov 2014 #63

ITA on this . . . JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #66

Tip O'Neill was right. greatauntoftriplets Nov 2014 #20

He was. It is. MineralMan Nov 2014 #23

Thanks for the encouragement, MM leftieNanner Nov 2014 #22

You can spend as little or as much time as you can spare. MineralMan Nov 2014 #26

Oh brother... whatchamacallit Nov 2014 #25

I don't know. It depends what you think a "leadership position" is. MineralMan Nov 2014 #29

Fair enough whatchamacallit Nov 2014 #70

Simpler than you think, really. MineralMan Nov 2014 #72

Then what is your solution? Besides sowing discord and whining? FSogol Nov 2014 #31

Someone upthread recommended "movement politics." MineralMan Nov 2014 #42

My question was aimed at the guy poo-pooing working on the local level. FSogol Nov 2014 #43

Sounds to me like someone who has no interest in actually MineralMan Nov 2014 #50

Same here. Folks like that are just here to complain. n/t FSogol Nov 2014 #53

I have to spend at least 60 hours per week BubbaFett Nov 2014 #113

Excellent advice. If your available time is limited, find a candidate or cause you KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #27

Thanks! And thanks for being involved! MineralMan Nov 2014 #30

You nailed it, MM steve2470 Nov 2014 #33

Thanks, Steve. MineralMan Nov 2014 #34

Kinda simplistic... marions ghost Nov 2014 #37

Enough ordinary Democrats have to demand it steve2470 Nov 2014 #44

Well said. Aerows Nov 2014 #39

Or ..... As an alternative flying-skeleton Nov 2014 #40

I lived in California for most of my life. MineralMan Nov 2014 #49

Millionaires� Club: For First Time, Most Lawmakers are Worth $1 Million-Plus Zorra Nov 2014 #41

While that's true at that political level, it's not for MineralMan Nov 2014 #47

We have different ideas about what are constructive avenues for progress. Zorra Nov 2014 #101

I am getting way more involved next time around. Rex Nov 2014 #45

That's good to hear, Rex. MineralMan Nov 2014 #48

One thought on getting millenials on board is to trumpet our accomplishments (no matter how meager) FSogol Nov 2014 #51

We MUST get rid of the message, "both parties are the same" it is killing us. Rex Nov 2014 #68

Whatever we do needs to be bathed in optimism and a "can do" atttitude. FSogol Nov 2014 #69

EXCELLENT post... randys1 Nov 2014 #54

I don't know how, either. MineralMan Nov 2014 #60

Spreading the word can work well. Chances are, you know someone who shares your Chathamization Nov 2014 #78

Find the best Dem you can in every election ... support them. JoePhilly Nov 2014 #73

Agreed. MineralMan Nov 2014 #80

Eventually you will be corrupted by the need for donations and will be assimilated... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #76

Me? No. They don't care about me in any way. MineralMan Nov 2014 #82

When I became fredamae Nov 2014 #77

Yes. Exactly. MineralMan Nov 2014 #81

Been there, done that. 99Forever Nov 2014 #84

Not at the local level, which is what I'm about. MineralMan Nov 2014 #87

Thanks for explaining my real world experience to me. 99Forever Nov 2014 #104

yeah, you can stuff envelopes BubbaFett Nov 2014 #114

You're way off base. If you like stuffing MineralMan Nov 2014 #115

What I'd like to do? BubbaFett Nov 2014 #116

No, I'm not retired. I'm 69 years old, and my MineralMan Nov 2014 #117

Politics, by its nature, is authoritarian FrodosPet Nov 2014 #88

Thank you, MM! You've given me a goal csziggy Nov 2014 #95

Great idea! There's lots of work to do. MineralMan Nov 2014 #106

I remember as a local delegate for Obama in 2008 I offered whereisjustice Nov 2014 #98

being a delegate isn't like being an elected official. and party platforms aren't actual bills JI7 Nov 2014 #100

no shit, the precinct leader IS REQUIRED to collect all resolutions and is whereisjustice Nov 2014 #102

Yes, politics is not a spectator sport. The candidate we get is the one we choose in the primary. Chathamization Nov 2014 #99

MinMan, you are a voice of sanity and reason, backed by a wealth of experience. Hekate Nov 2014 #103

Several people in this thread have indicated that they will MineralMan Nov 2014 #107

Yes. Instead of standing at sidelines criticizing, you have to play treestar Nov 2014 #105

Well, there's a lot of rationalizing about why not to MineralMan Nov 2014 #108

It's a waste of time? zipplewrath Nov 2014 #111

Sounds like hard work MM lol. BootinUp Nov 2014 #110

And, run for office!! loyalsister Nov 2014 #118

Good suggestion. MineralMan Nov 2014 #119