Kerry Takes Offensive--Clears Way For Us

We're in the final stretch now, folks.  Accordingly, Kerry has gone on the offensive and is clearing the way for a final huge push.  However, this isn't just about the actions of his own campaign--it's about the actions of all of us.  Despite what some of us here hoped earlier on--that this would be a blowout election--it is appearing that it will be down to the wire.  Not only do we need Kerry to be at his best these last few weeks--giving great speeches, going on the offensive and nailing the debates--but we need to be at our best, as well.  This doesn't just mean contributing to great discussion here on Kos and elsewhere, it means getting off our asses and winning this election.

It's time for those of us (me included) who have not been volunteering to change that.  There are myriad opportunities for us to make a difference and we have to take advantage of them.  The direction our country takes in November is up to us and our willingness to fight to save America from an increasingly frightening political and social future.

So act!  Want to change the country?  Want to change the world?  Then take action.  At the very least, write some letters to the editor.  Better yet, how about you write some letters to voters urging them to take action in November?  I know there are plenty of former Deaniacs around here--I'm one myself--so you should know how this goes.  Act4Victory has swing state addresses for voters that they have identified through their massive GOTV effort, so sign up and handwrite some letters.  This simple action could produce a vote and we all know how crucial every vote is.

Writing letters is great but even better is volunteering for the campaigns and doing some fieldwork.  If you have some time in the evenings, there are plenty of great Democratic campaigns that could use your help phone banking.  Have a free Saturday or Sunday?  Do some doorbelling.  You could put up campaign signs, pick up and drop off absentee ballots, or drive voters to the polls on Election Day.  Every one of these actions are crucial and can be the difference in a close election.

The Kerry-Edwards campaign would love to have your help.  The DNC is also looking for some good volunteers.  You know who else wants your help?  Your local Democrats.  Find a Representative or a Senator running a good race and help us take back Congress.  Without majorities in both houses of Congress, Kerry's ability to govern will be significantly reduced so volunteer and help give us a trifecta.  There are the state-level races, as well.  Find out who the Democrat running for local office is.  State Representatives and Senators have a huge impact on your life, as well, as do Governors.  The more Democrats in office, the better.  And Get Out The Vote efforts for state candidates will get more Democrats to the polls, who will in turn vote the Kerry-Edwards ticket and help us send Bush back to Crawford.

MoveOn is looking for some warm bodies.  ACT has put together a huge voter mobilization effort in the battleground states and they need you.  Go!  Help them!

This election is in our hands.  DailyKos gets thousands of visitors a day.  Imagine what could be done if even half of us logged off for a few hours a week and helped out our local Democrats, our local Democratic party, ACT or the Kerry-Edwards campaign.  We can win in November, but it now has come down to true activism.  Money is great and it helps, but now is the real crunch time.  Now is the time for ACTION.  Without it, we lose.  With it, we win.  It's simple.

You think America is on the wrong track?  CHANGE IT!

I'm going to write some letters now.  Next week I'm going to do some phone banking for a local Democrat.  Over the next few weeks I'm going to write letters to the editors, deliver absentee ballots, and drive people to the polls.

What are you going to do?  How are you going to change America?

•  Blowout Election

  This will be a blowout election, but we will not know it until November 4.

  So let's keep working and make it happen.

  by TarheelDem on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:19:29 PM PDT

•  I am recommending this.

  My list:

  1.    Write LTEs to newspapers, including some local ones.  I cannot stress the importance of this enough.  Keep it SHORT. Less than 200 words, and focus in on a topic. There's TONS of material here at dKos.  If you live in a swing state, you could write about how one of Kerry's bill quite possibly helped your state: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/8/231624/9236.
  2.    Complain to the news organizations when they get something wrong.  Praise the news organizations when they get something right. Keep the pressure up.  Give ratings and web hits to those who are fair, balanced, and objective.
  3.    Call in to radio stations, especially non-political ones when they talk politics.  Try your hand at calling into a wingnut radio station to correct the record.  
  4.    Listen to AAR.  Watch liberal/progressive/fair shows. Ratings = money = people will want to carry them.
  5.    Google your ass off.  You'll likely figure out who the lying liars (GOP!) are and what their lies are.
  6.    PROMOTE dKos, TPM, and other liberal/progressive blogs. Blogs educate people. We have to get people to these blogs.  Plug them at other sites you visit. Plug them in your email signature. Plug them in your personal blogs/journals.  Plug them in an instant messenger away message. Also, arm yourself with tons of facts.  I've started to keep every positive thing said of a KE04 plan by a Republican/libertarian/conservative.  Nothing like throwing a GOP person's word at a GOPer.
  7.    Engage other independents and Republicans.  Even if they don't move to this side of the political spectrum, at least get them to start thinking. You also never know with GOP true believers.  Sometimes the proper comment will strike a chord with even a true believer.
  8.    Give some money to the Democrats. You can choose to focus on specific campaigns, or give to the national party. You can also give money to ACT or the Truth and Hope radio ad drive (search "joan in seattle" for more).
  9.    Volunteer at the local Kerry or Democratic headquarters: stuff envelopes, phone bank, work fairs, etc.  You can also do all of those things at other groups (League of Conservation Voters, SEIU, etc.)
  10.    Register some voters; make sure they go to the polls or fill out an absentee ballot.
  11.    Check your neighbors. Do they need a babysitter on election day or perhaps a ride to the polls?
  12.    Call your local county Dem HQ, do they have events upcoming? Take a friend who's not been politically active before now.
  13.    After your "google" exercise (see above) send personal e-mails to friends and co-workers.
  14.    Host a social/political event with friends and neighbors. Have Kerry/Edwards literature and stuff for them. Then come back here and tell us about it!
  15.    Make one phone call a day a personal contact with a friend or family member that contains a personal political message.
  16.    Talk to Strangers in the Community. "There is no better way to understand what real people are feeling than asking them yourself.  Besides, if you ask, you might be surprised.  I have met friends of friends and a lot of other people connected to me in other ways (church, acquaintances, etc) simply by saying hello. I also now carry at least 10 voter registration forms with me at all times.  I ask first if someone is registered to vote, and if they say yes, I urge them to vote (no speeches at this point).  If they say they aren't, I whip a form on 'em.  It is so easy to be a one-person voter registration operation."
  17.    Wear KE04 or Democratic paraphernalia as a conversation starter.
  18.    That Christmas List? That address book?  Send out a personal letter of support for Kerry (and other Democrats you like) to those contacts.  Tell them that if they have questions, that you'd be happy to answer them. This idea comes from: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/14/222412/483
  19.    Donate food, office supplies, or equipment for local campaigns. See: http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2004/9/15/201727/699/5#5
  

  by Newsie8200 on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:28:38 PM PDT

•  You can start at the local Dem phone bank...

  Phone banking is the pick and shovel work of electoral campaigns, but it's useful, vital work.  Drop ins are usually welcome.  It takes ten minutes training, and another hour to get it down.

  My local congressional campaign has an Adopt-A-Precinct program as well.  Slam on the phone back at the office well enough, and they'll give you a list to take home!  

  Or what about working a precinct on election day?  Unbelievable as it sounds to you and I, some 4 -5% of folks haven't made up their mind before they walk into the election booth.  A friendly, smiling face working the polling place adds 1/2 to 1% to that candidate's total vote.  So why not have a friendly smiling face at every precinct near you?

  It's not glorious, it DEMOCRACY.  Gitcher self out there and get to it!

  by paleotek on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:31:09 PM PDT

•  Action speaks!

  Great job putting these links all together.  

  by musing graze on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 08:04:11 PM PDT