Feedback to the DNC - I pulled no punches

[eileen from OH]

Anyone who's signed up on the DNC website has probably gotten the email from Terry McCauliffe regarding feedback about the election to be sent to the party. But if not, here's the link

http://www.democrats.org/feedback/

First of all, I vented about the primary system. That is, the system that allows a caucus and a tiny state to virtually choose the candidate, and then spends the general election trying to figure out how to win the states who were ignored during the primary. Yes, this is my hobby horse and, no, it has nothing to do second-guessing Kerry as the choice. He was a fine candidate and it may have been no different even if the swing/big electoral vote states were in it from the beginning. It does, however, have everything to do with basic logic - if you want to win OH, MI, PA, and FL you find out which candidate appeals to them. DUH! Giving the states that you NEED in the general a STAKE in the primaries energizes those states early. Plus, we need a shake-up, and there would be no greater shake-up than to change the stranglehold that the Iowa caucus and NH primary have on the choosing the candidate thing. We want attention and media? This would be a good way to start.

Second, I blasted my county and my state's (OH) Dem party. There's a reason why the Republican's have a virtual lock on all state offices, judges, etc., And the reason is the dysfunctional Dem Party (not all over the state, but my county - Portage - is the poster child for ineffectual. They did nothing - and I mean NOTHING to help, and mostly hindered. WE grassrooters, WE amateurs, WE newbies, won our county for Kerry, with absolutely, positively, NO help from the "official" Dem party. How many of the smaller, rural counties did not have this? Case in point - my precinct turnout was 89%. I repeat - 89%. How's that for GOTV?

Third, related to the above, I suggested that they take some of the $$$ they use for the theatrics of a nominating convention and use it for a grassrooters convention, devoid of marketing gurus, the DLC, party hacks (yeah, we got 'em too) and find out about what real people think. How many times have we been frustrated that the Dems couldn't see what was so obvious during the campaign? How many times have we felt that the power was vested in leaders that were totally unconnected with what we see every day? How many times have shoes been pitched at televisions by inept messages or messengers that were totally blowing it? It ain't enough for us to know what they were trying to say - we saw how it played when the same lame-o "spokespeople" were trotted out time after time.

Anyhoo, I gave 'em an e-mail-full, go ahead and give yours.

eileen from OH

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. You gotta speak the truth.

So speak it. To power.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. whre to start?

Well first I asked for Terry's head on a platter, with an apple perhaps...

(Yes the image is not exactly waht I wrote to them, but I still deamnded his head)

I demanded a clean up from top down

Oh I told them to stop bending over and surrendering to Pukes,

What else?

Oh yes, I actually told them, I gave, I volunteeered I gave a lot, but quite frankly I am considering going third party now and who knows, maybe they need to be replaced just as the Whigs were replaced.

Now truth be told is... chances are I will not abandon the party as third parites have no chances, and it is BBV stupid, but they need to hear that anger right now, maybe I will get my wish and get Terry delivered in a platter for Xmas... what do you think?

[eileen from OH]

3. Well, Terry is stepping down

Already announced it - several months ago.

I have mixed feelings - he was a total hack, but then the job almost calls for a hack. It's primarily a raise-money-show-up-on-cable position. Can't speak to the former - don't have the stats. Was uneven at the second. I REALLY didn't like his connection to the DLC wing. If they'd have had their way Lieberman would have been the nominee. Just think - months and months and months of Joe-mentum.

The mind boggles.

eileen from OH

[Demoiselle]

4. Thank you for your words and your help

I speak as a local Philadelphia Democratic Committeewoman. We "official" Dems worked hard, but there was a great group of dedicated, and I MEAN dedicated volunteers who worked very very hard too. Dogged determination to get absolutely everybody on the street list to the polls. "Dammit, I got her to pledge her vote for Kerry and I'm going to call her house until she shows up!" was an actual statement from one volunteer. Usually we're working alone at it...it was wonderful to have so much company...and I'm hoping to keep them working at it.

[Eloriel]

5. Those are Great points! n/t

[marlakay]

6. Just filled out my survey

I told them if the party doesn't start getting some balls that I would try to talk everyone I know into voting third party and leaving them. That it was a slap in the face to work as hard as I did and give as much money as I did while I was out of work and have them give up so quickly.