Taking up Kos' offer, I attended most of the New Democrat Network Conference on Friday. (Missed the economic breakfast discussion and Gavin Newsom.) Kos was there, of course, and several Kossaks. The New Democrats are more hip and technosavvy, and most are a bit more liberal, than the DLC. The most positive things were:
(1) The group has drafted a positive agenda for New Democrats that includes (a) Expand prosperity and opportunity; (b) Assert responsible global leadership; (c) Ptotect the homeland; (d) Strengthen families and communities; (e) Modernize our health care system and (f) Leave behand a more beautiful America. All phrased in positive, not negative, terms and well framed. See their website at www.newdem.org for deets.
Second, everyone seems to see the need to match the Repubs in funding and organization, and it looks possible, putting all the avenues together. Everyone also sees the need to join and beat Bush, something this community needs to focus a bit more on, IMHO.
Jane Harmon (D-CA) did a good job of tying economic and homeland security.
David Brock gave a scary precis of how the Repubs built their "idea box" and distribution system. Simon Rosenberg agreed it is powerful, but progressives are starting to fight back, and we have the advantage in money, he thinks, if groups will offer "investors" organization, transparency and accountability, as well as results.
Two candidates gave their stump speeches.
Maria Cardona and Sergio Bendixen discussed Latino voters. Now a swing block, the majority are now foreign born, not born here, so have loose if any ties to the Dems. Main issues are education (90% send kids to public school), jobs and raise minimum wage, and health care. VERY important to approach Latinos with someone from the community who can endorse the candidate--much better than faux attempts to speak Spanish. Use Spanish-language media. This was Very interesting and informative.
Finally, Kos and Myles Weissleder of MeetUp presented how they have built communities on and off line. Kos was very entertaining, particularly for someone who doesn't like speaking. The audience wondered if all this wonderful activity would translate into more turnout and more votes for our guy--that is the real test. It seems the COMBINATION of the two (build an on-line community then get them together off-line to do word of mouth persuasion and GOTV is the key.
A good conference, although no one was mimimizing the difficulties, and very hopeful, as long as we all JOIN TOGETHER, NOT DIVIDE, AND GET INVOLVED.