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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDU will not win any elections.
However, DU's sharing of information and education across the broad scope of the Liberal Left here on DU, does encourage and empower Liberal Left activists to do more in their communities, which leads to many more Party votes.
DU is a magnifier. It has little power except that which it gathers and focuses.
The VRWC knows this; they send their hordes against the DU gates time and again. MIRT's busyness is a witness to that onslaught.
I'm sure all of you have personally witnessed attacks on the very core of DU. Did you see that post the other day about how RW trolls get banned, but the ""LW trolls post on and on and on""?
The best reason to post on DU is to ensure DU continues to be a powerful magnifier of the Liberal Left in the coming elections.
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Warpy
(111,252 posts)Right wingers must be at a loss on Limbag's two days off, not even a rerun to listen to.
CFLDem
(2,083 posts)our most important mission as Dems is to vote Dem and encourage others to vote Dem!
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)the very last steps of the process?
I really think that it would be far easier to convince Dems and Dem leaning types to vote and vote more continuously, if they were enthusiastic from the start. Ie, do more legwork in the 'off' seasons, and you won't need to work nonstop right before elections.
Get candidates out in the public eye EARLY, get their names out there, and get them on record as to standing for things people show they approve of in poll after poll. And that starts with state and local level elections, not just federal. Keep track of everything the opposing candidate says or writes that shows them opposing polled majorities of voters, and be able to recite such a list of oppositional stances when talking to apathetic voters. And build social networks with which the candidates actually interact with constituents in the year(s) up until the race.
Simply voting, phonebanking, and pounding pavement to encourage others needs to be the last step in a long process, not the 'most important' part.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)The Democratic Party has failed somewhat with not having a bigger presence on the tubes. The Obama campaign used the tubes wisely and spread the message far and wide. It is how I found out about Obama and having read about Obama encouraged me to go to work for him.
But the way things are, the GOTV at the local level is the most important part. Because even if the message is out there, we need overwhelming numbers to counteract the various and sundry ways the opposition uses to restrict and deny votes and voters.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)At least traditional last minute GOTV. If you've let it get that far, you've wasted a lot of opportunities and made the path to victory a lot harder. By that late in the game, you should be worrying simply about getting people to the polls who WANT to vote for your guys. Not still trying to convince them that it's worthwhile. They should already believe that it is worth their time, months before the elections ever roll around.
50 state is certainly a good piece of the overall tactical map. But we need to spend earlier, and not simply on sound bites and 30 second commercials. On getting our candidates out interacting with people early and often.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)You have just pointed out the beauty of DU; Getting the message out 24/7.
Now, our message, heretofore, has not been as clear and succinct as it could be. But with people like you chiming in, we may be able to make it into a message which is clear and well managed?
Our biggest problem seems to be that we may be too honest. The opposition party does not share that problem, and their control of the mass media spreading their manure does make it harder for us to coagulate.
There is a thread from Alan Grayson, on Latest, which follows that factual consideration. He is fighting the Koch lies in his own district which has him fighting them, leading him away from being able to just get out the Grayson message. Here's the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251358958
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... are actually neo-cons just pretending to be Dems. The Third Way frowns on such exposure.
Sarcasm thingy here for those without the gene.
Corey_Baker08
(2,157 posts)I can remember vividly coming to DU during the heat of the 2004 elections and I can honestly say everyone treated me like family & encouraged me to become active in politics even before I was eligible to vote. DU provided me with an outlet of sorts to share my thoughts, my feelings & my knowledge of a 14 year old living in John Boehner's district in Ohio.
I was and still am such a huge John Kerry fan and it was on DU I learned so much about him as our candidate, as a person, and about his legislative accomplishments. I also remember the heat of the fire of the many many Dean supporters, Edwards supporters and it was from the opposition of John Kerry as the Democratic nominee that I learned that here on DU, we can truly disagree without being disagreeable...
Maybe more so importantly I remember learning so much about Election Fraud here on DU that at the age of 14 I actually went to our local parties spring dinner because the Democratic nominee for Ohio SOS was the guest speaker, and I just remember so vividly the look of shock & awe on the faces of my local fellow Democrats when as a young 14 year old stood up and asked him the tough questions about election fraud & what he would do to ensure the here in Ohio that every vote counts & that every vote will be counted...It was largely in part a question based on the abundance of knowledge about Election Fraud here on DU, and for that moment in time I remember feeling as if I was DU's ambassador to question directly the individual running for what was and probably still is one of the most important elections in the country for the future fate of Ohio Elections which many thought and I certainly still do believe was aimed at being the Florida of the 2004 elections, which sadly in my opinion it did become.
I also remember becoming united behind the anti-war base in which DU basically supported the logistics of when & where you as an individual could participate in an anti-war rally around your community even if you couldn't afford to make it to DC's many large protest. I also remember the many DU Meet-up Parties going on all over the country and I was so in awe of DU that it was truly revolutionary in my life, I remember writing some of the most passionate post, which I wish I could find in the archives?, being in some of the most heated debates...
DU truly changed my life and I write that, I say that, because its the absolute truth. When my family fell on hard times & I was on the brink of homelessness members of DU actually helped me financially which truly changed my life in a sense that not only did my family avoid eviction because of the help, it showed me that some of the smartest, kind-hearted people where members of Democratic Underground, and I was and still am proud to be part of this, the DU FAMILY....
So I say to you pessimist, maybe DU will never be the main factor behind who wins or loses an election, but I am living proof that DU can and will always be a place where you can gain knowledge, which in my case translated into power at the age of 14 campaigning for Democrats & asking the tough questions. DU has and will always have had a huge impact on my life, and I meant that, on my life.
DU is about empowering anyone & everyone who like me was so hungry for real life facts & comprehensive information on ways that they too could make a difference! DU provided me with the real news & facts that you simply cannot find anywhere else, whether its your local news of the Mainstream Media, I knew that perhaps I could trust MSNBC but I would always turn to DU to verify it!!!
I believe DU will be around forever, and while I'm not sure if I'm verifiably the youngest and most active ten years later, I have had the PRIVILEGE of growing up as a part of the DU Family, and believe me, while we may not always agree on everything, we should always respect others Democrats posting on this site, because if we don't, who will?
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)
LuvNewcastle
(16,844 posts)
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I miss the way it used to be here - when people could argue but remain civil.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)You've done well. Others? Not so much.
Some can be educated, others not.
G_j
(40,367 posts)It would make an excellent OP, if you are so inclined. Thank you! 
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)
name not needed
(11,660 posts)
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Obama and other Democrats, then maybe DU will have a "Liberal Left" message worth "magnifying".
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)That's funny.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)Happening. Many try to beat us down, but the hippies are always right.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Progressive candidates.
Don't see many on DU.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)You haven't seen the pro-Warren posts?
How about Grayson's?
Who is your favorite, Joe?
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Grayson posts his own.
OPs attacking Obama and other Dems out number even those 10-1, easily.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)Obama's not running for anything. And I rarely see attacks on him, just his policies.
And the questions of his policies make us as Democrats stronger and wiser. It's all good, Joe. Sorry you don't like DU as much as the rest of us.
But if there is something you feel you need to say, post an OP.
Who is your favorite progressive?
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)First, its a great place to find out what's going on around the country.
Second, its a great place find out which outrage will be making the rounds (right wing and left wing outrages) before they start to make their way out to regular people. That's helpful because by the time the folks I know in real life hear about the latest outrage, I've already heard it, looked for credible sources, and can point them to meaningful info.
Third, my favorite progressive in NC right now is probably Clay Akin (I live in NC). I like Grayson, Warren, Sanders, Sherrod Brown, and Raul Grijalva. The problem is after that, we start running thin ... not near enough candidates to really impact the House, or shift the Senate.
My one problem with DU is a simple one. Lots and lots of complaining, but very thin on proposals for how to move forward. And let me be very clear on that last part, complaining, and then declaring the final end point goal, isn't putting forward a plan to move forward.
You see that a lots with the ACA. Lots of complaining, and then the declaration .. "we need universal health care" ... as if stating that goal is the same as proposing a plan for how to get there.
As for attacks on Obama, there's one at the top of the Greatest page now (apparently he's irrelevant now). And there's almost always one near the top of the list (it helps if one uses the word F**K in the title).
So again, you want to magnify a message on DU ... cool ... propose and promote some new candidates ... propose some PLANS.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)I look forward to hearing your plans.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)current affairs and politics - I'm better-informed than almost everyone I know. In part because of all the things I learn here on DU. Being a paid member here is well worth it, despite DU's flaws.