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At this point in the election cycle, besides sharing information in this wondrous forum known as DU, we should all be *working* to elect Kerry/Edwards and worthy candidates for Congress and for our state legislatures.
Here are some things to consider:
(1) Include your state forum in every visit you make to DU. Actively post useful information there. I haven't visited every state forum of course, but my visits to my own state's (Colorado) and to a few others show spotty activity at best. What's posted there is useful, but I'd love to see every state forum buzzing with activity.
Things you might post there:
o When and where your local Kerry volunteer group is meeting next, and afterwards, what decisions were made. ("Larimer County Kerry volunteers meeting Thursday, Sept 16th...")
o Events related to your Congressional races, breakfast meetings by the candidates, etc. If your news is about a county race, begin your headline with "Name of County".
o Anything that would help make the case against Repugs in Congressional or local races, such as pointers to websites that reveal the ugly truths of their voting records (www.defeatmusgrave.com , www.defeattancredo.com).
(2) If your state is either solidly Democratic or hopelessly Republican, adopt a swing state and help them. There are folks in California who have adopted our Colorado county to do phone banking or whatever else we need. Another option: If you're within driving distance of a swing state, the website www.drivingvotes.org can provide you with a packet that helps target likely Democratic voters in that state.
(3) Make full use of the Plan/Attend Events link at www.johnkerry.com . Find and attend local events/parties. *Create* local events/parties. As long as you contribute something to the DNC from that event, you can also make it a fundraiser for all of your Democratic candidates. Also, on vacations, incorporate dropping in on a Kerry event in your vacation spot. Just type in the zip code of that place and see if anything's planned. Vicki and I spent a great evening in Santa Fe at a Kerry party, where we watched his acceptance speech and traded information and encouragement with a house full of progressive New Mexicans.
o Find precinct information. Walk your precinct by yourself or with other local volunteers, and/or write a personal letter to Unaffiliateds in your precinct about your heartfelt concerns and why you're voting for Kerry/Edwards; don't neglect a mention, even if in a list at the bottom of the page, of your other candidate picks. It's easy in Colorado to get precinct information, because the Dean folks have put together www.democracyforcolorado.com , which makes it easy to get a full voter list for your precinct, including addresses, party affiliation, etc. Other states must have ways as well. (If you know of them, please post website information here, and in your state forum as well.)
The point of this posting is that we need the troops out in the field now! I urge all of you to add lots of volunteer work to your mix in the next two months.
Two months in a political year can be an eternity, even as it goes by in the blink of an eye. We have only until October 4th to register new voters. That's less than a month away. Act now. Act often. Support Kerry/Edwards. Support your state and local candidates. Let's restore sanity to this nation's politics.
And let's vow never to drop our guard again!
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