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What type of "political action" works best for you?
I had to laugh the other day when a not-so mild-mannered FrontPager made this admission.
I've never been a real activist, never attended a protest in my life.
I am a classic armchair/keyboard warrior.
I always admire the courage and gumption of protesters for all causes - but that's never been who I am.
So I am [loath] to tell people who actually do it how to do it.
I laughed because that's true of me as well.
I've done a few direct actions, some canvassing, making phone calls, etc. But I am most comfortable with pen, paper, keyboard, wifi connection. And, at times, I get a little offended when some people say that "classic armchair/keyboard warriors" are not true "activists."
I've had a number of family members that were or are involved in politics. One of my cousins worked on Capitol Hill for about 30 years (I worked on The Hill for about a year and a half). Another cousin ran for a high-profile municipal office. Politics was (and still is) always a regular part of family discussion.
My first job on a political campaign was as a volunteer for Carl Levin's Senate reelection campaign in 1984. I remember going up to Senator Levin's campaign office on Gratiot near Seven Mile Road doing various menial tasks like stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and whatnot. I've always been a geography freak, so my favorite task was studying the turf maps, preparing those maps for canvassers. I was at that campaign office on Election Night 1984 and I remember the atmosphere as being one of a very subdued jubilance.
In 1987, I moved to Washington D.C. and (just prior to my stint on The Hill) I worked as a canvasser for SANE/FREEZE. I was pretty horrible at the job, actually. Part of the reason is that as nervous as I am about my "people skills," it did feel a little creepy for me going up to doors talking about the nuclear arms issue and asking for money. My two most memorable experiences in my unsuccessful stint as a SANE/FREEZE canvasser both occurred in Alexandria, Virginia when I talked with a Reagan Administration official (who I won't name here) for a few minutes; he dutifully informed me that he was an official in the Reagan Administration (I looked his name up on my own time and verified it) and that he probably wasn't a person that I wanted to talk to (well...yes and no) and wished me luck. My other favorite experience was talking and debating the issue with an Archie Bunker-type who was, nevertheless, cordial (personally, I think that he was a little fascinated by my being black), rather witty, he offered me a beer (which I accepted) and we talked for about 30-45 minutes even though I knew he wasn't giving me a check. I had that job for three weeks, was fired but I do remember some of my fellow canvassers taking me to a beer bar near George Washington University and got so drunk that I didn't dare try to go home; I spent that night in the dorm room of one of my co-workers.
After SANE/FREEZE, I did no other political action work until I discovered the liberal blogosphere in late 2008, after the election of President Obama and. more importantly, in the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The first political blog that I read and commented at was Huffington Post. I read a post there written by blogmistress extraordinare Pam Spaulding, and drifted to the gay blogosphere. The best feature about Pam's House Blend, though, was that it offered me an opportunity to write my own stuff and I did that
One of the writer/activists at Pam's posted a 2009 diary asking for volunteers for the No On One marriage equality campaign in Maine. I tried to do the canvasser/phonecaller thing again but once I found a computer and enormous stacks of volunteer and donor data that needed to be done, I felt right at home.
I found my niche.
I did a little more canvassing and making phone calls while working on No On One. For example, I had a decent day when I canvassed in Kennebunkport, Maine (and rode past the Bush compound). But found what I liked doing and was pretty good at what I did; another No On One volunteer from the Chicago area, a Log Cabin Republican, gave me his business card and asked me to call him when we returned to Chicago to work on a local campaign here (the card is somewhere around the house).
Sure enough, I've done a little canvassing and phone banking since No On One. But the keyboard is where I feel I work magic and where I can best utilize the gifts bequeathed to me by The Universe.
As Armando notes, that might not be "real" activism in the literal sense of the word.
But being a "keyboard warrior" does allow me to utilize my best gifts to do my part in making this world a little bit of a better place. And if that's not "activism," then I don't know what is.
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
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Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Colorado:
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kos
Rhonda, matts2, cat2cate, KatSkahnne, 714day, Chiwere, Teen Loner, Moody Loner, (in back) otoelbc, Zack from SFV, gmats, susans, Shockwave, Frank Vyan Walton, rserven and Joe Bacon's legs
You can join
Los Angeles Kos by sending a Kosmail to
susans.
Houston Area Kossacks had a great meetup
by Chrislove ♥ for Houston Area Kossacks
L-R: scott5js, JJR1971, Blood & cosette, Mary, and Chrislove
You can join Houston Area Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chrislove.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, July 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Ojeda's Mexican Restaurant
4617 Maple Avenue • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT's a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday AND Sunday, July 25th & 26th
Boston & New England Kos Meet-ups
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Applebee's
200 Hancock Street • Quincy
ORGANIZER: Send GreyHawk a kosmail to attend
SATURDAY RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. Hawk Wife
3.
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Maybees:
Mad Mary
gmoke
CwV [Will drive you from south or west of Boston]
Knockbally
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SUNDAY RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. Hawk Wife
3. ialonelady
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Maybees:
Mad Mary
gmoke
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Latest diary: BosKos & NE Kossacks
DAILY KOS COLORADO ROAD TRIP!
Sunday, July 26th
Denver Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Mercury Cafe is powered by the Wind and the Sun. We serve Local, Organic Food, and Community is our purpose.
2199 California Street • Denver
ORGANIZER: Send ColoTim or Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. ColoTim
2. Leftcandid
3. Meteor Blades
4. navajo
5. acpa
6. Ginny in CO
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Maybees:
Sol Fed Joe
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Monday, July 27th
Colorado Springs Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: MacKenzie's Chop House
128 S Tejon St • Colorado Springs
ORGANIZER: Send thanatokephaloides a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. thanatokephaloides
2. Meteor Blades
3. navajo
4. Madam Poopsy
5. Piano Guy
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Maybees: |
Wednesday, July 29th
Four Corners Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Private Residence
[Address will be given to RSVPers, Entrance is mobility impaired - there are steps going down into residence that are unavoidable.] • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. Meteor Blades
3. navajo
4. nzanne
5. Gary Norton
6. redmoondog
7. relleno
8. mnguitar
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Maybees:
vexed weasel
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Saturday, August 1st
DKos Asheville Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send [organizer's linked user name] a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Lamont Cranston
4. Joieau
5. DawnN
6. Otteray Scribe
7. FarmerG
8. Gordon20024
9.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.