Rank and file Dems learning how to run campaigns and how to be candidates and teaching those things...learning how to create and wield political power at its most fundamental level……
IMHO is the most important thing to do in 2017.
I live in Westcheter county NY. At the end of January I am hosting a phone bank for my Town Dem Committee, we’ll be calling Dems in districts where we have no district leaders and recruiting people to fill those vacancies. No one thought to do that before…..
I started working for and volunteering for campaigns in earnest in 2004 when I was hired by the Kerry, Edwards campaign. In early 2005 I attended a Camp Wellstone 3 day campaign training. Between carrying petitions and managing a campaign, I’ve been involved in 19 campaigns since 2004.
Roger Fox began building his political resume at 14, volunteering on George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign.
In 2004, the 58-year-old Harrison resident was a paid staffer in Broward County, Fla., for John Kerry's presidential campaign. Since then, he's been involved in 14 political races throughout the East Coast.
Westchester Journal News
Ok, I’m probably not like a lot of people at DK. And not everyone is cut out for this kind of work. But I think a lot of people would be very good working in campaigns. Many people already have important skills and life experiences that cross over into working in campaigns.
So when I proposed the mundane proposal to phone bank to fill vacancies in our local committee, my chairman thought is was a great idea. So now I’m in charge of outreach. But yes its mundane…. to anyone who has ever worked in campaign field ops.
If these campaign skills are more prevalent, enough so that every Dem running for local office in 2017 can get quality support from their Dem committees, then Dems would have a much better chance of winning town council seats, city council, state senate, county legislature seats in 2017. And if we are successful in 2017, our chances in the midterms are going to be far better with even more experienced campaign staffers and more and better candidates.
Can you do graphics for palm cards? There’s a campaign that needs your help. Do understand how geo filters are used in a social media campaign? Its your turn to step up. Have you hosted phone banks and canvasses, and taught volunteers how to phone bank and canvass? You should be a campaign volunteer coordinator. You’ve done some of these things and want to learn more? Email the Wellstone Foundation and tell them you want to attend a Camp Wellstone training in your state, and after the training, step right into running a state senate race.
So in a way I’m making the same old pitch, get involved. Except that 2020 is the most important race ever. And we’ll all heard that before, except… if we don’t do the ground work now...in 2017...we hurt our chances in 2018 & 2020. And don’t assume we’ll get another chance. Its time to step out of your comfort zone and step into a leadership role. Your help is needed.
Yeah I know Trump sucks and is nuts, but stop letting Trump being the pretty shiny thing. Expanding our foundation in 2017, allows us to build on those victories in 2018. And this my friends …..
…...Is a bit more important than Trumps latest tweet.