As much and as many times as I've joked (half-joked?) and thought about moving to Canada in the past year, this election has made me think seriously about my future in this country. I am here to state once and for all that I am not going anywhere.
Here's my plan, and I fully intend to follow it. Hopefully a bunch of you will do likewise.
(more after the break...)
- Write the DNC and let them know that they'll get no more contributions from me until Howard Dean replaces Terry Mac.
- Once Dean is in, send them periodic donations to build up the war chest for 2006.
- Write the leaders of the Georgia Democratic Party and bust their balls for not giving full support to the state and local Democratic candidates. Withhold donations until new leadership is selected.
- Once new state leadership has been selected, send periodic donations to build up the war chest for 2006.
- Run for local/state office, and encourage other progressives to do the same. I'm sick of living in a red state (that officially went solid crimson last night).
- Never give in, never give up, and be prepared to lose friends in the fight. I have a few conservative friends that may just have to get left behind.
- Begin fighting NOW for real, lasting election reform in my own precinct.
That's just the beginning. I'm sure I'll think of more later. But for now, it's a start. And what better time than right now?
Update [2004-11-3 14:46:2 by Bob in Atlanta]:
Here's the letter I just drafted to the DNC, using Kos' note on the front page as a template (because time is of the essence and I'm having a hard time thinking for myself today... thanks Markos!):
Dear DNC,
With the election now behind us, it's time to take a long, hard, serious look at the DNC leadership. The Democratic Party in worse position electorally than when Terry McAuliffe came in as Chair in February 2001. We have lost seats in both the House and Senate, and failed remove Bush from office.
Terry McAuliffe may be a skilled fundraiser, but funds alone don't cut the mustard. The party is sorely lacking the ability to develop or maintain a clear message or properly frame the political debate. And it's been killing us.
The Democratic Party as currently constituted is on its deathbed. It's not just me saying this. Democrats all across the country are saying it. The media is saying it. Observers from other countries are saying it. The Democratic Party needs reforms, and it needs them now. To continue going forward doing the same things the same way is sheer folly.
Please consider Howard Dean as DNC Chair. His ability to not only raise funds, but rouse the Democratic base, would make the Democratic Party strong again. Look what he accomplished during his candidacy! He outraised each of his competitors, and got people (including me) who had never been excited about politics before, truly excited about the process. He is exactly the infusion that the DNC needs if it is to continue.
That being said, I will not donate another cent to the Democratic Party until Howard Dean is the party chairperson. The sooner Dean replaces McAuliffe, the more donations you'll get from me. I am prepared, right now, to donate to the party to start building up a war chest for 2006. But not one cent until Howard Dean is named party chair.