This is a new Group. Letting people know that they're not alone, that there are others just like them, that those others behave themselves and don't bite, and those people that think they're alone will run to join the others just like them in a heartbeat. NN12 provides that once a year.
Herding 438 will attempt to provide that every week, 52 weeks a year.
Cedwyn had a Diary about this very idea Here, and said, "What I am on about is the desire to have diaries like this and this for every state. It looks like the California diary hit the rec list, but fell off before it inspired other Kossacks to write similar diaries for their own states.
So here I am, writing this diary in the hopes that we can get this kind of local flavor info on all the races. Think of it as a 50-state strategy on steroids. I think this kind of information will be invaluable this election season, given how critically important downticket wins are."
Then, gizmo59 chimed in on his own Diary, "We need to give. We need to communicate effectively. We need to make phone calls. We need to wear out some shoe leather. We have a lot of work ahead of us to do what Van Jones properly said we need to do: Re-elect Obama and hold him to progressive principles...
Almost more important than that, we need to keep our eye on the ball after the election. We need to ride our Representatives' asses to make sure they deliver what we ask of them, or at least let them know our thoughts on issues. It's exhausting to do. I know I lose track of what's going on because there are all those other aspects of my life that don't involve politics directly. But we have to stick with it... Otherwise, we will be perpetually stuck in the current gridlock... "
Then, I added in a comment to gizmo59's Diary, "We need to get our asses organized right down to the precinct level. There should be 438 Daily Kos "Chapters" aligned with the congressional districts. Then, break those down to precinct level. When we ever get organized at the precinct level we'll begin to kick some Teabagger ass. Until then we're whistling Dixie."
Which is something I've been preaching for years. Becuz, until we start acting like Teapublicons, and get every bit as organized as they are, we will continue to lose to them. Not only lose, but have our asses handed to us as they were in Wisconsin.
And, I know, I know, we can't use the name Daily Kos. That's already been taken. So, we'll have a "Name the Organization" Contest if indeed we get up and running.
So, just wtf are we talking about? We're talking about building Daily Kos "Chapters" in every Congressional District. Every last one. And, as indicated, we can't use that name. That's understood. I just use it here to get the concept across. Think about breaking down the 300,000 users here into their own "Daily Kos Chapter" (congressional district). Now, sure, many here wish to remain anonymous and that's fine. No one here trying to "out" anyone. But, for those of us that wish to do more than bang on a keyboard I can't think of a better way to do just that than break this monster Orange site into 438 smaller versions. Not literally, of course. But, breaking it down by herding the masses here. Local Chapters could hold their own monthly meetings; bigger quarterly meetings with adjacent Chapters; and semi-annual Spring and Fall meetings at the state level. The summer reserved, of course, for Netroots Nation. So, we're looking at a meeting somewhere every month. And, breaking the "Chapters" (congressional districts) down even further to the precinct level where each precinct could meet once a week, (even if that meeting took place "only" online somewhere using the latest social networks platforms).
The point being we need to get our asses organized. We need to know who's who in our "Chapters" (Districts). We need to bring more people into our "Chapters." To do that we need to provide an atmosphere that suggests purpose - and action - as well as a sense of ownership. Ownership in the sense that the noob that shows up at a precinct function or Chapter function feels s/he has some say and some clout, is not just some pawn in the machine, is not just there for "numbers."
How do we do this? One, by wearing our Obama 2012 t-shirts everywhere except work. Yes, we will get flipped off. Plenty. But, if we don't advertise that we're on board with reelecting Obama how are we going to attract the 7-11 clerk to get on board with us? "Interested in joining us in reelecting Obama? Here's our FB Page and email addy... " That's how we do it. Now, let's get started! I call the recently redrawn NY-21 home. Let the herding begin!