Me? Running for some office? Haha, never will happen -- but it DID. Why?
Well I finally decided to become a Democratic PCO in my local Precinct. Tiny area, but it's my area. I'd been saying no for years. It's a thankless job than no one ever wants. You sign up for it, and it's yours. Right?
Reasons NOT to sign up:
--Hate the local District meetings, they're deadly boring
--Lots of wierd icky politics in the local District meetings (I mean, over the top wierd)
--Might be work involved
--People might pester me to do the work
--How would I find the time?
(Reasons TO sign up, and a Surprise Twist below fold)
Reasons TO sign up:
--I want a list of
very local Dem-leaning people to invite to house parties, movie showings, etc.
--The local District would NOT give that list to me "You're not a PCO." Noooo, I'm a well-meaning person who wants to further the Dem party in the area, but apparently that's not enough, fine.
--I think if people socialize, do potlucks, etc., we build a stronger party. I think some of them would volunteer occasionally for a Democratic cause, once they get connected.
--I think if things get worse in this country, either more spying or climate crises, we'd be better off to know our neighbors.
--I'm sincerely on fire to build connections in my local area among liberals (and build bridges to conservatives).
Like I said, You apply, and you have the job, end of story, pretty much, right? EXCEPT!! Turns out the LaRouchie Youth Group is fielding a bunch of people to run for PCO in our local District... 6 days before the election I find out there's a LaRouchie running against me!
Someone called begging me to campaign so our District wouldn't be taken over by LaRouchies. "You have to go door-to-door! And get 30-40 votes!" they frothed into the phone. Me door to door? Never in a million years.
I had NO IDEA how strongly I would be affected by the concept of losing to a LaRouchie, of having him have any power whatsoever in our local district.
SO. Sigh. If I'm going to do it anyway, what do I need?
--Gotta leave them with my name, so that means a low-key flyer of some sort. Not too fancy, add a dash of humor, add some other local news. I can't beLIEVE how long it took me to get something I liked. (Yes, hours.)
--Can I get a list of people to contact or call? Why yes, it turns out I can get a "walking list" for my precinct. The local district person printed out a) a map b) a list of names, phone numbers, etc. for me. Refer back to Motivation #1, why I'm running... to get those names. Bingo!
Now on to the... the... ACK, I gotta Leave The House and Go Up to People's Doors. Oh. My. God.
First I called my neighbors I knew, and knocked on their doors. Some had voted for me. Some had voted, and not known it was me on ballot. Found out more are Dems that I thought. Cool.
Found 3 people at the end of the block who're on MoveOn's list... and might be interested in my house parties, DNC door-knocking etc. YEAH!
This is working out differently that I expected. It gives me an excuse to talk politics with them, so we do, right out the gate, and that is kinda COOL.
Occurs to me I may as well start building my email/phone list, so I start asking people for their email addresses if they'd be interested in attending political movies or potlucks. Whoa nelly. I'm not moving fast, but I'm connecting.
The next day, I hit the next block over. I know people there from yard sales, etc. Not tooo hard. I walk by the one with the snarling dog, huge pickup and burly guy in the carport working on something mechanical. (Nevermind!) I give myself permission to walk by ANY house I don't like the vibes of.
Last night I hit two other blocks, had some dnyomite conversations with people. Guess what? They lividly hate the local meetings and don't want to go, BUT they want their country to change. They're worried. They're politically aware and caring. YES, they want to come to a potluck or movie, and I got more email addresses and permission to contact.
Then I did some phoning. More people who said they'd vote for me (tho they don't know me from Adam and didn't ask what I stand for, go figure). Got another person who wants to know if we do something social.
I am SO signing up for Dean's next DNC door-knocking day, this door knocking REALLY WORKS. October 7th: http://www.democrats.org/...
Circling back to the diary title -- Yes, I've already won, in two ways. I have the list of names I want, no matter the outcome of the election. And I've learned that if I door-knock, I can connect with people. But I don't know if I've WON the election.
It's pins and needles day. Voting is today. Will I win? Will I lose?