Want New, More Progressive Democratic Candidates?
Well, it's too late this year. The primaries are over. Here in Minnesota, turnout for the primary elections was extremely low. Not as low, however, as turnout for the state's precinct caucuses in February, nor as low as the turnout for the endorsing conventions in May. Those two events, along with the primaries, chose the candidates who are on the ballot for the November 4, election. I'm lucky in my districts. We've selected excellent, progressive candidates for November's election. Not every jurisdiction did that, though.
Do you want better Democratic candidates? Then you have to go do the work required to get them on the ballot. Are you thinking about not voting, even in the November general election? Well, that's a lousy idea, but not as lousy as not participating in choosing the candidates who will be on the ballot. In November, you'll have two viable choices. One will be a Democrat and the other will be a Republican. In some places, there isn't even a Democrat on the ballot at all. If you don't even bother to vote in November, why should you expect the Democratic Party to present strong, progressive candidates?
It's very important to show up and vote in November. We have the Senate, House, and state legislators to vote for. Not every Democrat will be as progressive as you might like, but every last one of them is better than the Republican on the ballot. So, go vote. Get to work on GOTV efforts. Let's do the best we can with the choices we have.
After November, though, you have an opportunity to select better candidates for the 2016 election. The process of selecting candidates begins not long after the 2014 general election. Get involved. Help pick the candidates. And then, GOTV for every damned election, including the primaries. GOTV for the elections that choose your local officials, too.
Every election counts. Everything you can do to help find and elect the best possible candidates helps. What doesn't help is waiting for others to do the job. They're not you. They may well not think as you do. It's up to you, finally.
BTW, if you're already involved in local Democratic politics, I'm not talking to you in this post. If you're already working to get the best possible candidates on the ballot, I'm not talking to you in this post. If you're not doing those things, though, I sure as heck am talking to you.
GOTV 2014 and Beyond! Get Involved!
= new reply since forum marked as read
"101st Chairborne"! 
We can be angry at the Democrats, who aren't acting progressively enough, but that should stop short of actually helping to put a Repuke in their seat by not voting at all.
Look I agree with those who think too many members of our party's leaders side with Wall Street over Main Street. That's wrong and we need to have that fight with them undeniably.
HOWEVER, at least the majority of them are still at least SANE, a good number of the other side isn't. They reminisce with longing about slavery and talk like rape shouldn't be illegal. That's scary crap at least for me as a woman.
So yes I am pissed as hell at the Democrats who didn't prosecute the banksters, who side with polluters, and talk about making grand bargains with Satan aka the G.O.P. I'm not mad enough, however, to risk my own future by taking the huge risk that the Pukes take back the Senate. I'm am not willing to gamble that a lame duck President's veto power will be enough to protect my Civil Rights.
Look at your daughters and sons, think about women, African-Americans, Hispanics, the LGBT community,and Go Vote Democrat even if you are disillusioned right now. Don't put our future in the hands of the right wing lunatics, please!
