First some background for those of you who have not followed South Park. Underpants Gnomes refers to an episode of the animated series in which gnomes steal underpants as a part of a business plan.
Their business plan is:
- Collect Underpants
- ????
- Profit
I had a comment on a diary about Michelle Nunn's campaign for Senate.
Basically, it was in response to a complaint about purity trolls complaining about Nunn. (I will almost certainly complain about her, but I am waiting until after she is sworn in)
I took issue with this.
While there are states, and districts, where the electorate is sufficiently batshit conservative to require that a ConservaDem runs, and it is not unreasonable to put Georgia in this column (though I would argue that it is far less of a sure thing than Mississippi or Alabama, particularly with a growing a Hispanic population, and a suburban government around Atlanta that is about to screw their taxpayers over a ballpark deal*)
My point was something different. Specifically that the Democratic Party establishment, particularly in the House of Representatives, has a long history of dumping huge amounts of resources to, support potential Blue Dog members in uncompetitive districts, while ignoring, or spending money against more liberal Democrats.
Witness Rahm's million dollar folly in 2006. (Dick Durban's fingerprints are on this one as well)
The DCCC, and to a lesser extent the DSCC, and the DNC seem to feel compelled to disproportionately throw resources at races, and candidates for which there is no logical justification for doing so.†
So we have the Underpants Gnomes of the DCCC:
- Dump resources in ConservaDems in non-competitive districts
- Intervene in primaries in competitive districts to ensure that the most conservative Democratic candidate wins.
- Demoralize the base
- ????
- Win Elections(?)
To be fair, it is Nancy Pelosi who has chosen the heads of the DCCC lately, and Chris Van Hollen was a bit better than Rahm (not a difficult thing to do), so we are getting the DCCC chair, and the DCCC that Nancy Pelosi wants.
While being better than Rahm Emanuel is not a difficult thing, being worse, is a difficult thing, but Pelosi managed this when she selected Steve Israel, who she admiringly called reptilian. (Reptilian as a compliment, still having a problem wrapping my head around this)
In addition to being a "former" member of the Blue Dog Caucus, he appears to be determined to increase their size, even at the cost of not regaining the majority in 2014.
I really cannot for the life of me figure out why they do this, and why Pelosi seems to enthusiastically endorse this strategy.
Like I said, Underpants Gnomes, and I do not understand, even when taking into consideration the Iron Rule of Organizations‡.
So, what to do?
Let's look below the 1,650,763.73 wavelengths per meter squiggle. (Yes, this is a metrology joke)
The basic technique to handle this is to do your own damn political homework, and if the DCCC, DSCC, or DNC come calling, get a rundown on the district, and the candidates.
It's your money, so make sure that it goes directly goes to the candidates that you favor.
It's easier with the internet, and you can donate via Actblue, and you can check out candidate web sites.
The Google machine is your friend.
Personally, I highly recommend Howie Klein's observations on these matters highly.
Here are his tags for the DCCC, DSCC, and DNC.
But note that none of this is an excuse for your not spending a half hour doing online research.
Also, when in doubt, see if there is a local candidacy to which you can contribute sweat equity as well.
*Why do I think that the ballpark deal will fuck the taxpayers of Cobb County? Because sports venue deals always fuck the taxpayer to benefit some millionaire players and billionaire owners.
†One of the reasons that I liked Howard Dean's 50 state strategy was that it placed far greater control of the candidate selection process in the hands of the local parties, who actually know the districts.
‡People will pursue power within an organization, even at the cost at the power of that organization.