Attended the special called meeting of the Saluda Co SC Democratic Party this evening with husband and 10 yr old daughter.
Held in the picturesque Saluda Co Courthouse, the special meeting was called because only eight people had shown up for the county convention several weeks ago. I'll tell you how many showed up tonight below the fold...
Eighteen. Eighteen, not counting my daughter. We sat in the pew-like seats of the elegant Victorian-era courtroom, which displays a painting of a judge who happens to be a cousin of my husband's. We probably could have used the judges' washroom and had plenty of room left over.
Did anyone have any ideas on how to bring more people out to Democratic events, to vote Democratic? Not really. At both of the meetings I have attended, several well-meaning folks have stood and talked about the need to do something, but what was needed, they weren't sure of - and as their voices trailed off, they shrugged a little bit, and sat back down. Tonight, several mentioned that they knew many "closet Dems" (my term not theirs) who were so intimidated by their Repug neighbors that they did not wish to be seen at a Democratic Party meeting. I'm sadly not surprised, although of course the ones who should be ashamed are the Republicans, as we all know.
I am already my precinct president, and as of tonight, I am the county party 2nd vice chairman, a delegate to the state convention this coming Saturday, and on the state executive committee as well. I will do my best to be up for all this, but I am a complete novice and have no experience with political things - other than spouting my opinion - but I feel strongly that it is time to put my money where my mouth is. I just can't sit by and watch our country, and everything that makes life good and worthwhile in it, get flushed by a greedy bunch of troglodytes.
How can we re-invigorate county parties like mine - counties that were once almost exclusively Democratic, and are now part of the nauseating Repug "Solid South"? I know that mine is not the only county to have suffered this fate. Is there anyone working on resuscitating local parties at the county level?
Any suggestions, ideas, advice would be greatly appreciated - maybe there is already a group working to brainstorm on this question that I could participate in?
Please help!!