There was a great diary last weekend called
"The elephant in the living room." It asked the question, "What if Bush steals the election?". The discussion was powerful -- powerful enough to make me want to take real action on organizing a base of resistance, in case it is needed (most seemed to agree that it was). Some concrete ideas were proposed and I jumped on the concept. A couple of others expressed their support. So I began making notes, outlining a project by which to facilitate continued discussion and help move that discussion toward on-the-ground action.
Was I being naive, silly and idealist? Maybe so. Three people volunteered down-thread of my comment. I emailed them but only one person actually followed up with me (via email) with an actual offer of support still open. Since that support was exactly what I was NOT in a position to supply (a server for instance, $ for purchasing domain, more tech expertise than I have), things seemed possible. But now something has come up for that person and he says he can't do anything till next week. I have no reason to believe he won't, but I'm concerned that time is a-passing and the opportunity is fading.
Surely, surely, of all the thousands of Kossacks, I and one other busy person were not the only ones who saw something real in that "elephant" -- real enough to respond with something more meaningful than a quick comment before moving on to the next titallating diary.
Here's the deal: I've been continuing to flesh out my plan. I have some 20 years in community organizing experience, so I don't think I'm completely off the map here. I'm unemployed and have time, but not many other resources outside of my background. I can't do this alone. If you are REALLY interesting in helping create a national clearinghouse type of site -- and other non-web resources would be good too -- then use the poll and the comments to volunteer what you can.
I'm reluctant to provide any details right now, I think it's better to keep them private until there is a more realistic possibility of this actually going anywhere. I just want to see if there is interest before I get myself any further in what is sure to be a major enterprise.
So, Kossacks, are you ready to go to the next level? Let me know.
P.S. None of this is to suggest, in any way, that we not put our collective bodies, hearts and minds into defeating Bush at the ballot box so overwhelmingly as to make my "project" just a fantasy-future Left-wing role-playing game that dissentigrates in 5 weeks. Nobody would like to retire him AND this project more than I.