The Business of Politics. Count me out. Yes, even though I started a political business you can count me right the fuck out of the Business of Politics. Because for me, it's personal.
I don't much give a shit whether I get invited to the "right" parties or get to rub elbows with the big wigs. You will never see me yukking it up with GOP adversaries or their staffers or volunteers. Because for me, it's personal.
You will not get hair-on-fire emails to join our email list "sign a petition" for the latest focus-tested, metrics-measured (but practically irrelevant in the lives of actual people) crisis. Because for me, this shit is personal. I also happen to believe people can give a shit too, even without all the emotional manipulation. (Crazy, right? Maybe. We'll see, I guess.)
I don't care to be civil to the GOP. That ship has long since sailed, baby. I will treat idiots like idiots. But only for a few seconds. It's not really worth more of my time than that. I'm not planning on mincing words. I'm tired. I'm fed up. I'm too pissed off to be diplomatic. I'm no longer "outraged" at their stupidity. I expect it and I want to eliminate them. I'll channel my outrage toward doing that, thank you very much.
And with respect to my own "Team", I'm not playing the game. The old wink, wink, nod, nod capitalize on the latest crisis. I'm not doing it. I live in DC, but DC isn't living in me. I don't have to secretly rejoice when the GOP fucks up because...emails and list building and donations! Because what we have to do has exactly zero to do with how much they fuck up. Nothing to do with crisis. But rather, a slow methodical PUMMELING and ELIMINATION of the GOP - a full on attack in real life in real districts all across this country. Because to me it's deadly serious and intensely personal.
Are you ready to get something done? Are you tired of endless pixel-battles? I am. I think we've passed the point where we have the luxury of pie fights and ideological battles and speculative inside baseball bullshit.
People are dying and more will die if we don't start getting serious. Because seriousness works even in places you don't think it should. Democrats in Texas have recently blocked both a "drug test for welfare benefits" bill and a hideous abortion restriction bill from coming to a vote. And in Kansas, Democrats and the state board of education have adopted (strikingly, blessedly) non-crazy science standards.
Please don't talk to me about walking and chewing gum at the same time. We are not doing well "walking and chewing gum at the same time". If we were, states like Michigan and Wisconsin and cities like ILLINOIS (!) wouldn't be such a fucking mess. We wouldn't be passing ultrasound bills in blue states and closing public schools in metropolitan cities. We are NOT "walking and chewing gum at the same time" very well.
It's time to get serious. Are you in?
Here's what we're doing in July and August:
Launching the Sabotage States campaign.
This is a campaign to attempt to force states that have rejected the medicaid expansion to reconsider. You can help by telling your storyfor the website. Or by becoming an "evangelist" in your local community or state. I'm thinking of a setting up a listserv for this, but I'm not sure. Six million people will be locked out of the health care system because of these asshole republicans. Many of those people will die. Many more will suffer irreparably. This is not a joke. We have time to make a difference.
Populating the Training Center
We've secured one of the best Media Trainers in the country for our training center but we need others to lend their expertise in a few critical areas. This training center is profit shared with our trainers and will be made available to Dem candidates and progressive causes - in some cases at no direct cost to them - across the country. You can help in a few ways. If you're an expert in any of these areas, let's talk. Kosmail me or email me at m.paige@boldbluemedia.com. If not, would you be willing to be a point of contact in your state as we make the Training Center available to county committees? If so, let's talk!
Publicity and Awareness
I'm not a famous person. I never ran for president or senate or the house. I'm not a well known blogger and my name is not connected with the high profile "insiders". I'm just a person with a passion and a reasonable amount of frustration who decided to try to do something to make a change. If you are a publicist (or know one) and think you can help get some eyeballs on what we're doing, let's talk.
And of course, the Magazine
The premier issue is coming out in just a few days. I'm so excited. I believe I've gathered up some interesting stories, done some amazing interviews and am looking forward to sharing it all with you. If you haven't subscribed, consider it. Here's a link to a free sample and an easy way to spread the word about it. Thanks!.
From here out, it's got to be all hands on deck! There's work to do. You can go back to the debates anytime. But right now, just for a few minutes a day, let's work together on this; to get the destructive GOP out of political power everywhere - and move our country forward.
If you're on Twitter, hit us up!
If you're on Facebook, come on and play!