regardless of who wins, what's your game plan going forward?

[ulysses]

Things don't end next month.

Focus on winning the election to whatever extent you can, but what's next? Let's not get caught with our pants down this time.

[knowbody0]

1. no doubt we will win

but after this duel, we must retain this group energy and demand truth from the media.boycot all that support this suckie system now in control of information.

[wildeyed]

2. I am reviewing my options.

Allot depends on the outcome next month. Assuming a Kerry win and no pubbie cheating, I am interested in promoting same day voter registration in my state. Also, I registered voters at the homeless shelter last week. We got allot of folks signed up and have plans to transport them to the polls for early voting. I have been thinking that if I make a commitment to do this every year, every election, we could influence local politicians to deliver better social services b/c we have a good block of votes to deliver.

I dunno, I am kind of new to all of this, but I have resolved to keep working. I am sure I will find something productive to do.

[buddhamama]

3. national health care

reform of welfare reform.

it's time we got serious about taking care of the impoverished.

we talk all day about education, employment on and on

but without a place to live, food in the belly and a healthy mind/body
kids can't learn, parents can't work

it's disgraceful, shameful


time for change.

[tnlefty]

7. May I climb aboard your train?

I'm sick of people hatin' on those who are struggling and barely surviving. If there's one thing that I'd like to kick Rush Limpballs in the crotch for it would be spreading the myth that people are poor cause they want to be.

[buddhamama]

12. please do

the system has been designed to work with a certain number of unemployed and cheap labor is key too. 'we' speak of the Clinton yrs with a lot fondness, however we cannot forget that it was under Clinton reform welfare was enacted. during the economic good times brought increased rates. there were jobs created sure, but a large percentage of those jobs were low wage jobs and with the increase of living costs many slipped into poverty.

we must end the disparity. there is no 'middle' ground on this issue.

[Comadreja]

19. Aim for his assboil instead

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in
moral philosophy: that is the search for a superior moral justification
for selfishness." : John Kenneth Galbraith

[wildeyed]

10. That is so true.

It is immoral to have homeless people in the richest country in the world. Period.

[eridani]

31. Yes! We are now approaching a 'teachable' moment

Health care first--because universal health care does not require more money than we are already spending. It's the lowest hanging fruit, so let's go for it.

It is going to be a hard fight, and we need to start organizing now. An essential part of the strategy will be to get Republicans out of Congress.

Michael Moore's next movie is going to be about our health care system, and we need to be ready to roll organizationally. Let's revive all the single payer organizations that faded in the mid 90s. Let's also push the issue as a project for after the election for our district-level Dem party organizations, who are going to be faced with the problem of maintaining ongoing interest and involvement when the next election isn't going to happen for another two years. A nice issue project that just about everybody is in favor of (according to the Pew Foundation, 89% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans).

Kerry is going to be faced with the problem that his plan costs a whole buttload of money on top of what we are already spending in a budget environment that is not going to allow for extra spending. We need to be there with the current legislation which does cover everyone for the same or less than we are spending now. That's a powerful force in our favor, but only successful organizing will allow us to circumvent the insurance company noise machine.

[Robbien]

4. Regardless of who wins, the corporatists will be in charge

Way past time to organize to change that situation.

[ulysses]

5. I disagree there.

It's never too late to fight that.

[xfundy]

6. Criminal investigation of the BFEE

A real investigation into 9-11.

Investigations into fundie churches' blatant forays into politics to support republicans.

Jail for Tom DeLay.

Investigation into Carlyle Group.

Investigation into why World Trade #7 fell, even though it wasn't hit.

Truth, justice, and the American way, dammit.

[cmd]

8. Helping to elect progressives to office

I intend to build on the information I have gathered in this campaign and use that knowledge to make changes from the bottom up. I will never run for office. My strength is in managing a campaign.

[VOX]

9. The media -- they've got to be hounded about their right-wing bias....

The media has run riot over this campaign (regardless of its outcome), and the way they've reported the invasion of Iraq has been reprehensible.

It begins with raising public awareness of the extreme right-wing bias in the media, and by activism in calling the media out whenever they exhibit that bias, whether it's by e-mails, phone calls, letters, etc.

This is a tough challenge, since the media is driven by mega-corporations, but my feeling is that, if enough people express their disagreement and dissatisfaction with the manner in which they're conducting their business, and if consumers threaten to disengage from that business, then some changes may be feasible.

It's a long-term project, but this particular battle is essential for the existence of a healthy democracy.

[knowbody0]

11. it is not a democracy with out

a media based on truths.this form of thought control has been fine tuned to perfection. in my opinion it is the soul of the cancer that has contaminated our freedom

[Crunchy Frog]

13. I agree.

The media should be the number one priority. I really believe that Kerry won't even be able to govern unless something is done. They've gotten even worse than they were during Clinton's administration.

The media monopolies must be broken up, and there needs to be radical change in media ownership laws. Otherwise, the "free press" is nothing but a carefully maintained illusion.

If we can't get a truly free and independent press, ultimately, we can kiss our democracy good bye.

[Eric J in MN]

14. I want for a liberal billionaire to buy CNN from AOL-Time Warner (nt)

nt

[Ladyhawk]

34. Could 40,000 DUers buy time on a major network?

Probably not. I'm barely scraping by right now.

[Cheswick2.0]

15. I have faith in DFA

I am hoping we can make changes in Media ownership, get out of Iraq and work for real universal healthcare.
In the meantime we must work to get more liberal/progressive democrats in office.
I'd like to put the DLC on notice: it is fine to elect centrist democrats in conservative districts, however that is the only place they belong. Democrats are supposed to be to the left of the republicans and corporate suck up democrats are not welcome anywhere in the party. Just because From and his side kick Skippy want to get rich and have influence is no reason for us to allow them to do so.

[Comadreja]

23. Why no DWA/PDA?

I wonder why PDA and DFA didn't consolidate their efforts? Is it just a Kucinich/dean philosophical thing?


A Progressive Plan to Change America
No. 2--October, 2004
We believe that the greatest need of our nation is to redirect the resources of our government from destruction to creation, from war to peace, from military spending to social spending, from sickness to health, from selfish desires to universal needs. The future of humanity and our planet are at stake.

The question is, "What is the most effective strategy for wresting control of the government of the United States of America from the moneyed interests, the corporations, and the military industrial complex that now effectively control it?"

The answer is NOT armed revolution.
The answer is NOT the Republican Party.
The answer is NOT a progressive third party, because such a party is too divisive at this time and will only serve to leave control of our government in the hands of the Republicans.
And the answer is NOT the Democratic Party as it is now organized and controlled.
The answer is PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS of AMERICA. Let us tell you why.

The government of the United States can change non-violently only when sufficient numbers of legislators pass legislation that promotes the social changes we seek -- and when court rulings support the constitutionality of the changes we seek.

And there can be a sufficient number of legislators who support a progressive agenda only when enough people have banded together to vote such legislators into office.

And we can vote progressive legislators into office only when we have organized into effective popular progressive grassroots organizations.
Which brings us full circle, so that now the question before us is, "How can we organize into effective progressive grassroots organizations?"

This is PDA's answer:

A. Create local "homes," chapters, and caucuses inside existing Democratic Party structures at the state and local level (why reinvent the wheel?) where like-minded people can work together to articulate public policies that support human rights, economic equality, and social and environmental justice. Engage in a movement to bring progressives back into the Democratic Party and to revive the Democratic Party through active involvement in its existing structure, by becoming precinct chairs, party officers, members of committees, delegates, etc. The time has come for the Democratic Party to represent working women and working men, to succor those in need, to protect our environment, and to assure our security.

B. Work with the thousands of individual and organizational allies in each political district who also support civil and labor rights, real environmental protection, women's rights, the rights of the poor, consumer rights, and the right to live in peace, free from racism, discrimination, and institutional domination. Dialogue and network with the broad-based coalition of like-minded groups and people in our communities and states to create a common agenda and agreed upon plan by which to realize this goal.

C. Organize in each of the 435 Congressional districts in the entire United States. Build progressive Democratic caucuses in every one of them. Form state-level progressive Democratic caucuses in all fifty states. This is achievable. Sixteen state progressive caucuses are already formed or in the process of forming and numerous others are in the beginning stages.

D. Once the networks and caucuses are adequately populated, identify and promote progressive candidates and issues on which to organize and win. Progressive legislators will provide the representation to advance the progressive agenda and to pass laws that promote the progressive vision at all levels of government.

E. Forge links to the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Progressive Caucus so that PDA also operates at the National level (while continuing to help progressives organize at the state and local level). Together with our allies we will champion electoral and campaign finance reforms, give greater voice to third party campaigns, and address the serious issues that are undermining our democracy.

F. Literally take over, by electoral majority, the Congress of the United States by out-organizing the corporate interests that now control it. No amount of money or TV advertising can overcome the potent force of one-to-one dialogue and advancing of personal and community interests.

This is PDA's simple plan and strategy. Working together we can make it happen.

Working together we can bring heart, soul, justice, peace, and hope back into our own lives and into the lives of those we touch.

[IkeWarnedUs]

25. Are you with PDA?

Has PDA tried to consolidate with DFA? I wouldn't expect DFA to spend too much time reaching out to other grassroots organizations until after the election. They are pretty busy and focused right now. But I am pretty sure that if PDA wanted to join forces with DFA it would be welcomed.

[eridani]

30. That will probably happen after the election.

DFA and PDA will probably come to some kind of an agreement. The reason that there are separate organizations is that they directly grew out of the cameraderie of two different groups of people who have been through the primary wars with a particular candidate. That forms intense bonds, and there hasn't been time to get together and hammer out common platforms.

[Hutzpa]

24. Well Said, could not have said it better. n/t

:thumbsup:

[AgadorSparticus]

16. We have 2 republican senators that need to just get the hell out of

dodge. I'll be working to get rid of Vyle Kyl and McSellout.

[serryjw]

17. Nuclear Policy.........Helen Caldicott's......

www.nuclearpolicy.org.
There is no issue that is more important for the safety of this world. This entire planet MUST disarm. Even Obama was saying IF ( they have tried to assassinate Musharraf 3X) if they accomplish it Pakistan falls. The Moujahadeen will be over the mountains from Afghanistan. OUR worst nightmare..I rogue nation with nukes.

[IkeWarnedUs]

18. I have my sights on PNAC and the DLC

My objective is to expose these two groups - and their connections to each other.

I have personally passed out almost 8,000 copies of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article of September 29, 2002, "The President's Real Goal in Iraq." I am now passing out copies of "Hijacking Catastrophe" and am arranging public showings of the movie, which does an excellent job of explaining the history, message, mission and success of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) and the neo-cons. Win, loose or draw, that won't stop on November 3rd.

The fight against the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) won't really start for me until November 3rd. The DLC developed a support system for Democratic candidates - provided they agreed to support the DLC's neo-con lite, pro-corporate agenda.

I see two ways to combat the DLC influence. One is campaign reform so that candidates are not so dependent on DLC money to run. Of course, incumbents don't tend to favor real reform, so that's not the way to go. Better to provide another form of support. Grassroots support in the form of an organized, strong, active Democratic base. I hope that Democracy for America, 21st Century Democrats, Americans Coming Together and other like minded groups can and will do this. I have been talking to people in each of these groups and I think it can be done.

[Robbien]

21. That is also my hope

The progressives in the grassroots groups you mention are straining at the centrist leash. The only thing holding everyone together with the centrists is the common goal of 11/2.

After that all bets are off I believe.

[Comadreja]

20. Clean Money elections

Bribery aka corporate lobbying is at the heart of the problem.




http://washclean.org/

[G_j]

32. clean elections

would mean REAL change(for a change).

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Elginoid]

26. If the lil'dictator retains power, our game plan is New Zealand.

cuz this place is toast...

[jdots]

28. #1 cancel direct t.v. times 5,000,000 people

Boycott like crazy,check out all the services you have and deal with them.We may all have to not have alot of STUFF,but money is the only thing neo cons have a love and understanding of.
Then get on the Plane Jane,hop on a ship Chip and set your self free. I don't wanna leave this country,but in my 56 years it has gotten dumbed down so much i don't think i have much fight left in me to stick around and march when the media calls 500,000 protesters a " hand full of whiners " on second thought i'm gonna stay and make the greedy creeps suffer any way i can.

[G_j]

33. & a tax revolt...

[Zhade]

27. Getting out of Iraq, as soon as we can, without a puppet government.

Not allowing the theft of the Iraqi people's oil, either.

That's big enough for a start. Imperial America won't like losing that sweet, sweet crude.

[JCMach1]

29. hold their feet to the progressive fire!

We failed to do this under Clinton!

Also, we must have a working majority in the house and senate!!!

When Kerry wins, I believe we will gain the Senate (even if by one vote)...

that leaves the HOUSE... I don't think we will have enough competetive seats there unless it's a Kerry landslide...!

[Q]

35. Democrats don't seem to have a 'plan B'....

...but you can bet the farm that the Republicans have one.

- If it looks like Bush* is losing they'll rig a poll or send operatives to riot in the streets or harrass poll workers. They'll have their legions of talking head pundits proclaim that Democrats are trying to steal the presidency from King George*. Or they'll have their Supreme Court step in and stop any recount or dispute.

- And if Kerry wins? The GOPers will make it impossible for him to govern. They will block his agenda, hold hearings, investigate bogus charges and threaten impeachment. He will be forced to 'compromise' like Clinton.

- What will the Democrats do if Bush* cheats his way back into office? Or if they try to pull a Clinton/Gore on him? We should have a plan either way.