ALL DUers: Devote NOW at LEAST 20% of your primary TIME and money to Congressional races!!!!!!

[cloudythescribbler]

I see enormous energy poured as in 2008 into the clash of forces between the Democratic presidential nominees. I would say that the relative attention given to Democrats in all Congressional races on DU to be less than 1% of the time given to the Bernie/Hillary clash. I have been a Bernie supporter from day 1 donating multiple times. But if the relative attention given to the Congressional races is any indication (and I think it is, though perhaps not one-to-one) I would guess that my own general formula of donating at least half or so of what I donate cumulatively (in a series of modest donations) to Bernie to Democrats in Congressional races is probably not widespread at DU. And that is a great weakness on DU. The tendency to draw attention to a fight (fight!fight!) like in grade school accounts for much of the disproportionate focus, and why attention usually declines once the primaries decide on the nominee.

It is true that many of the Congressional races are undecided -- still to have primaries, like the FL senate race -- but I see almost no attention paid to these competitive races (as in the national media). But DUers need to rise way above high-school type thinking or reflecting the attention given to political matters in the MSM (and online too to some extent) and focus on how to try to bring the GOP down to a goal of being the defunct -- as in the Whigs -- party that they deserve to be. At that point, the polity might redivide along new lines, most likely would, but at least the present total veto power in the hands of a Party with ZERO of relative benefit in their national platform relative to the Democrats (who need to change drastically, which is one reason I support Bernie) would be brought to an end and not a minute too soon

[LWolf]

1. I don't feel like I need any suggestions

about how to manage whatever small donation I scrape up.

Right now, Bernie gets everything I've got.

After the convention, I'll look to see what people have earned my support: those whose positions and record speak for them being the antithesis of neo-liberal. Those are the candidates who will get whatever I've got to give.

Neo-liberals will get nothing from me. Not now, nor ever.

[Live and Learn]

4. +10,000 nt

[cloudythescribbler]

5. I am NOT suggesting blanket contributions to Democrats regardless of whether they are neo-liberals

The idea of devoting time and money to Congressional races along with the contested presidential primary is NOT a call for blanket loyalty to the Democrats no matter what. Though I can foresee a day when the party system has the conservatives and neoliberals are together in one party, and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party is the other party (w/plenty of internal divisions, to be sure), I myself do vote for neoliberals like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and (to my disappointment, at least in 08, Barack Obama) against a RW Republican party. There are lots of people who can't stomach that just as I have lots of political colleagues (being on the Left for the past 40+ years) who can't stomach ANY association with the Democratic Party including Bernie Sanders.

As for suggestions, I suppose if you are not able to scrape up much, then 20% of that not much wouldn't be much either. But overall, looking at DU, I get the sense of ENORMOUS time and attention (I don't know your particular case) is focused on the Bernie v Hillary campaign, and I understand the importance of Bernie's campaign including to the longer term future of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party (as well as progressive politics outside the framework of the two-party system), which is why I strongly supported the idea of him running -- AS A DEMOCRAT, so he wouldn't be ignored, as 3d party candidates have been since I started voting in the 70s -- before he announced his candidacy and have been supporting him, including with small donations, since day 1. If even a modest fraction of that time and attention (and for many DUers, money as well -- and I gather that like myself, DUers are virtually all "small" even if repeat donors) were devoted to Congressional elections OF THE DUER's choice, it could make significant difference

I can't speak for Bernie but I suspect he would strongly agree

[99Forever]

7. Precisely.

The "DNC" just sent me another snail mail begging for a "donation" and threatening me with losing my "DNC membership" if I don't pony up. I wrote in large letters in black magic-marker "Have you fired Debbie Wasserman Schultz yet?" on the donation card and I'll now return it to them and let them pay the postage.

It's just the helpful sort of guy I am.

[riversedge]

2. Been phone banking for Russ Feingold

here in WI. Need to get rid of Ron Johnson the teabagger

[TheBlackAdder]

3. Nope: Local and National party won't release voter roles to party boss incumbant's Dem challenger.

.


The money boys who control South NJ want their son in office, to keep the bourgoesie in power!

He's a corporatist, and the challenger is facing the same crap that DWS let stand to protect her ass.


While she's finally capitulated (probably has another gig lined up), the lock on other challengers remain.

.

[cloudythescribbler]

6. this message needs to be kept in DUers face somehow

=

[Autumn]

8. I donate to Bernie. After Bernie I will donate to DWS's challenger.

After that I will spend money on me.

[cloudythescribbler]

9. don't you think that Bernie would agree that you should focus on Congress?

and I TOTALLY agree w/dumping DWS from leadership in the DNC. Indeed, Bernie's delegates should unite around a long list of demands should Hillary be the nominee (and be able to accomplish these demands far more easily if Bernie takes it); making sure that the leadership of the DNC isn't simply stooges of neoliberalism, like DWS, is one demand, and another is a platform stance categorically calling for NO "closed" primaries.

I gather that your sympathies, like mine, are not in a blanket way to the Democratic Party including the neoliberals, but rather to the 'progressive' wing of the Democratic Party, which includes Bernie's very beneficial candidacy. But all across the country there are progressives who are in competitive races that need support. I suppose you might be tapped out of money by the end of the primary season, but the (relatively) PROGRESSIVE wing of the Democratic Party still needs your support and that of all the Sanderistas. Starting the day after the November election, if either Hillary or Trump are in, there will be a need for a progressive opposition both inside and outside the Democratic Party. In that hypothetical, I would imagine Bernie would play a central role in that opposition (unless there is a situation where he is too busy preparing his cabinet and such). Myself, I am sure that even electing Bernie would NOT be enough of a political "revolution" in and of itself, so there is never a time to just call it a day and just focus on one's private life. Democracy is a burden that never goes away no matter what

[Autumn]

10. Here's the thing, I think for myself and I make my own decisions.

I support politicians that support me.

[cloudythescribbler]

11. merely ADVOCATING doing this or voting that IS NOT telling anyone what to do ...

Obviously every one of us thinks for ourselves and makes our own decisions. But I urge folk to do what is best for progressive political goals, in my arrogant opinion

Political advocacy is not like enservitudement -- it is the essence of democracy that we seek to persuade others and urge and advocate and so forth. Now, of course, some are simply not convinced, but there is no wrong in trying