So do the Saturday marches translate to 2018 votes for Dems?

[titaniumsalute]

Obviously it takes some massive emotion, will, and dedication to attend rallies and demonstrations like on Saturday. I didn't see this passion and excitement about our well-being before the election from the left at all. My hope is that so many of these people, myself included, will take the time to gently educate people and to help GOTV in 2018 to help stop the bleeding from the Dem party. We really need to pick up House seats, Senate seats, and a few Gov offices. Also local elections as well.

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Agreed. Unless it translates into more of us. . .

. . .getting involved in politics on the local/state level, these demonstrations will mean shit.

It's as simple as, and it starts with, joining up with your local Democratic committee and going to their meetings, learning where the political levers are pulled, etc.

[justiceischeap]

2. It's hard to say because I've seen discussions

about the impact the rally had, how it can be sustained, will white women stand with women of color when called upon, etc. I've also read that certainly some of the women who attended the rally were trump voters and what to do with them.

I think our best bet is to find local orgs energized by Saturday and join them. And keep in mind this isn't a sprint but a marathon. First 2 years then 4 years. Democratic folk are notorious for getting complacent.

[titaniumsalute]

5. Indeed. Thank you for your feedback!

[FBaggins]

3. I guess that depends

How many attendees do you think failed to vote in November (or voted for Trump or another candidate)?

[uponit7771]

4. Comey, Voter suppression, Russia... !!!! No, they don't... it does represent energy against MiniPoot

[Wounded Bear]

6. That's the key point...

politics can be a grind. It's why Dems lose mid-terms. They haven't been active between the Presidentials.

I hear a lot of good talk about organizing locally. It has to happen, especially in Red states/districts.

[Mosby]

9. voting is easy

It's too bad more liberals don't try it.

[LanternWaste]

28. Except when your ability to vote is reduced little by little.

Except when your ability to vote is reduced little by little. Reduced statute by statute. Reduced closed polling station by closed polling station.

Easy-peesey to vote... except when the government of North Carolina deliberately sets out to prevent demographics from voting, or when Texas reduces the number of people who are allowed to vote. Or when the AZ GOP reduced the amount of polling stations by over 70%.

It's too bad more alleged liberals don't know this...

[Mosby]

36. This general election 90 million eligible voters didn't vote

It's even worse for the midterms:

[leftynyc]

16. Voting is NOT a grind

Stop making excuses for those too lazy to do it during the midterms. I don't need anyone to light a fire under my ass to know it's important to always vote.

[Wounded Bear]

17. Not what I said...

voting is easy, especially where I live (full mail in). Yes, by all means vote. It's our civic duty.

[font size=2]Politics is a grind.[/font] The every day get out there and be active, writing lettes, making phone calls, going to town halls and meetings...that's the grind. It's what the RW did to us the last few cycles, and it's what Dems need to do to get back in the game. Real politics is not just GOTV. If it was, we might have won last Nov.

Yes, voting is easy. Politics is work.

[titaniumsalute]

22. I see your point and agree

You work your butt off like the last election and then BOOM! Starting from scratch now.

[moda253]

7. We need to do these marches once a quarter... at least

Our Gov needs to know when the people are fed up and quarterly we need to be at their doorstep letting them know how we feel about what they are doing.

I wasn't able to attend this march because my wife didn't want me to bring our small children there as she wasn't sure what might happen. I thought it would be fine but I stayed with the kids and she kept me updated on what was going down. I hope that within the crowds there were people helping to let others know how to get involved politically.

I'd like to see these marches continue.

[ebbie15644]

8. We need to also go to representatives offices in groups and attend town hall mtgs

[Wounded Bear]

13. That's where the organizing comes in...

MM gets mixed reviews ( ), but he has at least one good idea. Find 5-10 friends in your district/area and do shit like that on a regular basis. Even a Repub Rep would notice a group of people showing up all the time needling them.

If you force yourself to do that a few times, it gets into a routine and becomes easier. Could be a coffee hour, or a book reading, whatever. Meet weekly, or at least bi-weekly. Organize letter writing campaigns to local papers. Lots of ideas bubbling up. Listen, and use the ones that best suits your situation.

If the DNC would support local offices in all districts it would help, but somehow I doubt they will be much help in the next year or so, if ever.

[MichMary]

10. It all depends on what happens in the next two years

If people are happy with their R Sens/Reps/Govs then they will be re-elected.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. I agree

The connection has to be made between protesting/marching and being involved in politics (i.e. calling representatives and senators and legislators) and, most importantly, voting in elections.

[Johonny]

12. Well the anti-Bush protests leading up to Iraq clearly eventually brought Dem voters

Even Trump had to pretend to be part of the anti-Bush war movement to get elected.

So I'd say yes, the anti-Trump movement is real, it is just started, and eventually every national politician will publicly need to denounce Trump. Is that 2018 when this all happens or 2024? I don't know, but word is even the GOP are preparing for the day already. They're planning to saddle Trump with their legacy and point out he was never their guy...

[brooklynite]

33. ...and then we lost the 2004 election.

[Tree-Hugger]

14. First...

2017. It is crucial to elect Dems from the ground up. In PA, we have an election in May.

I can't speak for the whole country, but I am involved in groups within PA (mainly Philly and suburban based) that popped up after the election. The people in these groups have been VERY active and multiple calls to action are posted and completed each day. There are many who weren't as politically active before the election who are now writing, calling, and visiting their elected officials. We have Tuesdays with Toomey in this state, started after the election. Each Tuesday, people visit his various offices statewide with messages, etc. for him. On Thursday, the GOP and possibly trump will be visiting Philadelphia. There are over a thousand committed to protesting that.

I do have hope for this movement. I was involved with The Coffee Party and with Occupy. I knew they would Peter out. This feels different.

[Wounded Bear]

18. Outstanding!

This is the kind of work we need done in all 50 states (but especially the red ones).

Gawd, did we really lose PA?

[Tree-Hugger]

20. Gerrymandering

Lines have been drawn to benefit the GOP. PA is highly gerrymandered.

[Wounded Bear]

21. I hear you...

My state has a rather fair system of re-districting that counters that to a large degree. That's how we've been able to stay blue (although we have too many red districts in the rural areas).

[crazycatlady]

25. What is PA voting on in May?

[Tree-Hugger]

27. Municipal Primaries

http://elections.mytimetovote.com/dates/pennsylvania.html

[leftynyc]

15. ALL the people who marched no doubt voted

It's the ones who sat on their asses in November and those who do so during midterms that need to do their part.

[crazycatlady]

26. Judging from NYC's march

(which by your screen name, I would assume you're near), I can tell you that a lot of people there didn't vote due to ineligibility (age). But it gives me hope for the future.

[RBInMaine]

30. That's great but not enough. You have to vote the RIGHT way AND help with campaigns.

[LongTomH]

19. Hopefully, the marches will help raise up a new generation of young leaders for the party.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

23. My guess

is that the marchers who were old enough to vote in 2016 voted for Hillary.

[joshcryer]

24. Not if progressives are delighted to work with Trump.

[YOHABLO]

29. I think that the women's march speaks volumes.

What I do not understand is .. where were all of these people during the election?

[brooklynite]

31. Answer: no

Two years is two years from now; assuming that the energy of the marches will still be there is naive. HOWEVER, that energy can be harvested to encourage political action which will generate votes.

[redstatebluegirl]

32. The women I marched with were very into organizing for 2018. They felt powerful

some for the first time ever.

[Hekate]

34. You can pretty much bet that the women there are habitual voters. Brian Williams, in his ....

...otherwise okay report on the March stuck his foot in it by plaintively bleating, "But where were they on Election Day?"

WE VOTED. HILLARY GOT OUR VOTES. SHE WON THE POPULAR VOTE.

Now, as to the "enthusiasm" for Hillary, see above. The reference to "the left" is really aggravating, because I've been amazed over the past decade at how "the left" is permanently pissed off at all Democratic candidates and officeholders. No one is ever good enough for them.

We lost the Electoral Vote. I live in a state that has more people than the nation of Canada, and my vote counted for a fraction of those cast in Small Town, USA.

[Skittles]

35. maybe not, but two years of Donald Fucking Trump might

[Hell Hath No Fury]

37. It's entirely up to Dems.

It is within their power to make everyone who marched Saturday into Democratic voters. Will they? If they're smart...