Malloy is sick of the Democrats. You may be too. Are you a precinct chair?

[helderheid]

I ask this because I have the same answer to you as I do those who complain about the government but don't vote. If you have a problem with the Dems, time to roll up your sleeves. Get elected precinct chair. Volunteer for a caucus within the party that speaks to your condition. Join the PDA ( www.pdamerica.org ). Change the party from within. We have a 2 party system so we have to work with what we have.

[bahrbearian]

1. You are so right , and I thought going to a Caucus was something.

[helderheid]

4. Our local caucuses will be in March where I hope to be re-elected PC, and

I am the Vice Chair of the Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus. Caucuses galore! Admittedly, I've not been active in either for the past several months due to health issues.

[me b zola]

2. We all need to hear this

I am as guilty as some as not being as involved as I should be in my local Democratic Party.


Recomended because many of us need this call to action.

[helderheid]

48. thank you very much!

[helderheid]

3. I should say too that I love Malloy. Don't get me wrong! :)

[radio4progressives]

5. kicked and recommended!

:kick: :applause: :hi:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. Progressive Democrats of America? About time!

I'm going to seriously look into this. You're right that until such time when we can change the two-party system, we've got to work to make the Democrats liberal again.

[helderheid]

7. yeehaw!

Y'all are making me smile!

[helderheid]

8. dupe!

doh!

[helderheid]

9. Speaking of PDA, here is a must see video

http://pdamerica.org/video/2005_DC_Summit/PDA-2005-Promo-HIGH.ram

[mopinko]

38. send them a couple of bucks

political armies move on their wallets, ya know. every dollar counts.

[helderheid]

49. I am set up to send them $15 every quarter. I don't even think about it

nor do I miss it. :) I sell campaign management software and 20% of my sales I donate to PDA.

[DemGirl7]

63. You never heard of them?

Not all Democrats are centrists,or DLC, the PDA has been around for a while.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

64. No, I haven't!

And it's not like I've been sheltered. I worked on Kerry's campaign.

[PassingFair]

10. Don't forget DFA

Dean's doing the hard work within the party. We CAN effect change.
I am a precinct delegate and VERY vocal at local dem functions.
Getting more vocal as I go along.

[helderheid]

11. You're right - DFA is doing good work too! PDA really made me proud with

the Ohio election fraud and I was a part of the Kucinich for President movement so PDA was a natural segway, but DFA is definitely doing great things!

Just get involved! Get elected! Let's take our PARTY back! :)

[LittleClarkie]

12. Malloy is sick of the Democrats -- Day 342

Lemme know when it changes.

THAT, sports fans, is why I prefer Randi.

[saracat]

13. I can bitch. I am an elected Democratic District Chair. And one of the

major problems with Dems is the lack of support for candidates! And that goes for PDA as well. We need to put our efforts and money into electing candidates.Marching and protesting and giving money to Prigressive organizationa is all well and good. I do that as well but all of it is for nothing if we don't elect good people to vote our interests.And we won't get them elected if we don't focus our money and time on them! The Party won't do it. They will only work select targeted districts.We must take back Congress and our legislatures ourselves. And it must really be a grassroots effort.

[helderheid]

16. but that is why I love PDA - it's not all about protests - they put their

money where their mouths are. That's why I've pledged to donate 20% of all sales to them. I'll be donating a hunk to DU as well for all the software I sell. I want the grassroots - those who are not beholden to corporations - to take back our party and our country!

[saracat]

21. Money should go directly to the candidates, not to any of the organization

(not that you shouldn't donate to organizations like PDA as well) but the candidates make the most effective use of the money themselves.

[helderheid]

60. why not both?

[Stephanie]

14. I am a member of the County Committee

Duly elected! :)

[helderheid]

18. Good on ya!!

[Patiod]

37. Unelected Committeewoman

Someone had just moved out here from the city and really really wanted the job, so I let him run unopposed for my seat, thinking if he wanted it that much, he'd probably be able to devote more time than I can, since I travel so much for work. He thought this was too good to be true.

Sadly, he forgot to ask how much Committeemen get paid out here (evidently, it was a paid job in the city).

Pay in the 'burbs: $0 He resigned as soon as he found out.

So I'm back to being committeewoman again.

[helderheid]

50. wow they pay for that in some places??? I didn't know!

[Patiod]

52. Evidently, Dems in Philadelphia get some bucks

I don't know if it's annual, or per-election or what. The Philadelphia Dem Committee coffers are far fuller than our coffers out here in the suburbs. they probably have better parties too -- out here, the Republicans party at the country club and we Dems hold our get-togethers at the fire hall!

[helderheid]

62. I'm in the wrong town! LOL

[NVMojo]

15. my local party leaders are corrupt and want to keep control so they

can bend over Harry Reid for more pork. I feel slimey being around them. I do what I can outside of their sick cesspool.

[helderheid]

17. do it anyway.

[helderheid]

19. if this is a discussion we need to have, k&r this.

[helderheid]

20. 11 pm mst is a bad time to ask that question. :)

[eridani]

22. WA state Dems are going to elect a new chair.

Progressive, women's, labor and other caucuses are going to grill all the candidates next month as part of a "unity" caucus.

[Cooley Hurd]

23. K&R - change begins from the bottom up!

I'm not going to give up on the party, but that does NOT mean that I approve of their repug-machine-enabling asses!

[JNelson6563]

24. Don't stop there

Many of the local county parties are about worthless. I urge all to join local Dem board and get your party moving.

Julie

[helderheid]

25. Absolutely wonderful suggestion!!

:thumbsup:

[LincolnMcGrath]

26. on edit

Yes and Yes

Precinct chair

Executive Board; County Central Committee

[lonestarnot]

27. Paperwork is still sitting on my desk. Time to turn it in I guess.

[helderheid]

28. Good on ya!

[lonestarnot]

44. Thanks helderheid need all the good I can get.

[helderheid]

29. one more recommend... :)

[LincolnMcGrath]

30. Done

[helderheid]

34. Thank you!

[rpgamerd00d]

31. What is a caucus and how do you join one?

I am a member of the Democratic Town Committee in my little (16k residents) town. What is a caucus and how do you join one? (I'm in CT)

[helderheid]

33. Every local party has caucuses within the party... let me look for you

Here's your state party site: http://dems.info/index2.php

My local party site has a list of local caucuses on its site - I don't see a list on yours. You can call and ask them. As far as a local state Progressive Caucus, here's a list from PDA:

Caucus and Chapters in Connecticut

< CONNECTICUT EVENTS >
State Caucus

The Connecticut State Caucus needs your help in forming. For further information, contact our State Coordinator listed below.
Chapters

Qunnipiac University School of Law

Qunnipiac University School of Law
Congressional District:
Contact: Jennifer Murray
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

PDA State Coordinator

For support in organizing within your state, contact Bert Garskof at [e-mail] or 203-393-3213

For other States, go here:

--------> http://pdamerica.org/orgs/findstate.php <---------

[rpgamerd00d]

35. Yeah, but what is a caucus?

I don't understand what it is.

[helderheid]

42. here's the definition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucus

and here is an example:

www.udpc.org

[tavalon]

32. Good answer!

Is Mike Malloy one?

[helderheid]

45. excellent question!

[ananda]

36. I vote. It's just that..

.. my vote is mostly meaningless because of the way neighborhoods are formed
and districts are gerrymandered here in Texas.

But I will always vote as liberal as I can.

Sue

[mopinko]

39. that won't do it.

if you don't at least donate to the few progressive candidates that make it into the primaries, the party will always hold the keys.

[wildeyed]

40. I am!

Does that mean I get to bitch now? Yeah!

Actually, I rarely go to any of the meetings. I don't completely understand the inner workings of my local dem organization, so I never know who to support in the elections. I did walk my precinct in October, though.

[mopinko]

41. work in the primaries

the main weapon of the pork suckers is the manipulation of the primary fields. there are progressives in races across the country who are being shoved aside for corporate whore dems. if there isn't one in your district, find the nearest one. if you cannot give money, give time. if you cannot give time, give money. good progressive candidates are out there. maybe they do not have a prayer, but we have got to support them. our votes and support in the primaries is how we flex our muscle.
here is my favorite progressive candidate that is under attack by the whores.


http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/contribute

[derby378]

43. I've already filed my papers to run...

The election isn't until March, though. I still need to see if I'm actually running against someone else - that won't happen until after New Year's Day.

[helderheid]

46. It Utah it's easy - just show up! Last caucus meeting my sister and I

were the only ones from my precinct. She voted me chair and delegate. Be sure to become a delegate if you can! You have a lot of power being a delegate!

[msturgis524]

47. DONE 87%

[goodhue]

51. You bet!

Actually I'm not precinct chair but would do so if needed. I am a state central committee member and a director of my senate district. Everyone who spends any amount of time on DU would be well served to get involved in their local party unit.

[mod mom]

53. This is a great organization.

[burythehatchet]

54. he made a great comment yesterday

If you're upset with me because I hate Democrats, just remember, I'm not the problem boobie.

[helderheid]

55. hehehe - well, WE are the solution!!

[me b zola]

56. kick it up for saving democracy in the US!!!

:kick:

[helderheid]

58. big thanks to you!!

[dorktv]

57. No, actually I am not sick of the Democrats even I did get

burned by my local party in the last election.

[politicat]

59. I am a precinct chair.

And I'm still sick of the leadership. Or lack thereof. At my county level, it's fine, but above that, it's wimpy and wishy-washy.

We don't have a spine and my little 700 household corner of the world isn't enough to grow one.

[helderheid]

61. hang in there and run for party chair. :)

[helderheid]

65. Kick for David Van Os :)

:hi: