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I got a letter from MOVEON.org; are we all going to support?

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BigBearJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:09 PM
Original message
I got a letter from MOVEON.org; are we all going to support?
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Liberty Belle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:12 PM
Response to Original message
1. I just posted ont his, too. Heck, yes! It's the best idea...
I've heard yet for getting the word out. I sent them an e-mail back and offered to host a party in my neighborhood, where most of the folks are clueless conservatives.
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Griffy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #1
43. Move on is right.. not that we shouldnt prosecute the fraud too...
but we need to dig deep and geet people envolved at the local level and take back 15 house seats... then the house is ours and we can impeach!
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Helga Scow Stern Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:13 PM
Response to Original message
2. I didn't get the letter, but this seems very misguided....
until we fix the voting system, these kinds of efforts aren't likely to make much of a difference.
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Bubblie Donating Member (30 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. I thought the same thing...
I also got the letter and it's sound like a great idea to unite and work together...better in numbers. The problem I have is we can get as many people mobilized to vote as we like. If we don't fix the system then it really doesn't matter. :( I hope they address that more. It's not that we didn't have enough votes but that they were NOT counted correctly!! Duh!
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corbett Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #2
21. They Are Naive
In principle, their idea is great. However, you hit the nail on the head – until we have genuine and meaningful election reform, much of its value is lost. Now, if they can concentrate their efforts in states with minimal fraud, like my home state of Maine, then that would be a good place to start and I'd support them.
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jdog Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
23. I disagree.
People have to begin to get organized on a much larger scale now. We're going to be fighting against a huge assault in the next, at least, 2 years, and the more ways we use to get people together. Don't you think?
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Helga Scow Stern Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #23
39. Yes, I thought that too, jdog. But
If the purpose and the conversation is going to be mobilizing and donating to put new candidates in office and to get out the vote, I am afraid the voting problems will be drowned out like before.

I can't face the heartbreak again of such an effective campaign, where so many came out to vote, they defeated the incumbent in their power, but then it is all swept under the rug like they lost. And some of them, people of color and the young, are even blamed for not coming out in strong enough numbers.

I could never in good conscience commit again to getting people to vote unless I know their vote is going to matter.

This especially means a lot to me because I know a whole crop of kids who will be voting for the first time in the next elections. If the voting problems are not corrected, instead of GOTV, we may be getting out the protest in the streets that the vote doesn't matter.
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 02:25 PM
Response to Reply #23
63. Perhaps I'm too cynical and embittered from '04...
but I don't see WHAT we can do better than we did then. I mean, wow!
People were so motivated, SO much money was raised... and then, kerplooie.

But since I'm a "we wuz robbed" person, I think sending MoveOn **MORE** money after they ignored fraud is just a waste. For some reason they are reluctant to take the issue seriously, even though their contributing members and house party attendees (moi) are all over it.

I'm sure as 2006/08 looms a bit more closely I'll get involved with trying ONCE AGAIN to pick perfect, unbeatable candidates. But for now fraud is my issue.
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RaulVB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
3. I pass on these guys (n/t)
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LittleClarkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:22 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Why
What are your "issues" with them? I ask because I have one or two of my own "issues."
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RaulVB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:31 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Their level of response to feedback: NONE, ZIP (n/t)
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kitkat65 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:42 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. I've had the same problem.
They sent an e-mail saying they were going to target the issues of media and election reform based on a house party conference that was held after the election. Then the next thing I know I'm getting mail that concerns the tsunami victims and social security. Both noble aims, but it makes me think, huh? Can't you stay focused?

And they have NEVER responded to my questions regarding advice on grassroots activism.

I'm not saying they're useless, I'm just saying this has been my experience and I find it a frustrating one. Every other organization I've contacted has taken the time to respond, but not moveon and it's beginning to feel like driveby activism.
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #9
45. Same here.
I'm sure these are hard working, dedicated people with too little time to respond to all the mail they get.

But, that's an organizational problem, not an excuse to ignor feedback.
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davidgmills Donating Member (651 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
7. I supported MoveOn at the beginning of the war
As they were very anti-war. I was chosen to be the local spokesperson to approach our Representative Harold Ford, Jr. (Harold is turning into Republican lite despite his minority status).


But MoveOn has taken a huge pass on election fraud. Really too bad because they can raise money.

We need to tell them they have lost the progressive community's support because of MoveON's position on the election fraud issue and until they take it up, expect no further support from us.
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kitkat65 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:52 PM
Response to Reply #7
12. The most they did on the fraud issue was sponsor Jesse Jackson's
Edited on Thu Jan-20-05 07:58 PM by kitkat65
Rainbow Coalition Democracy Rally in Columbus, Ohio and their only presence was a logo.

One of the things I had tried to contact them about was getting precinct captains for the Get Out the Vote campaign in Ohio to go back into their neighborhood to begin documenting voter suppression, the impact of not enough machines, etc.

I tried to point out that the network they had in place was a golden opportunity but it totally fell on deaf ears.

Thankfully, I still have some contacts and they've led me to caseohio which is where I plan to volunteer my efforts to help expose the truth.

On edit and a little more thought:

They really did do a hell of a lot for grassroots campaigning - amazing really. It's just that for me, personally, I would like to work on the issues and help endorse candidates with a network that is locally-based instead of relying on people out in California somewhere. I wish they would stick with their original plan of media and election reform since they have the perfect setup for it.
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KoKo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 10:00 AM
Response to Reply #12
35. They gave money and support to the WA State recount. Remember
they have a PAC and then their main organization. The main organization seems to be wanting to just move forward and not get into voting issues in an obvious way. I think the PAC is "behind the scenes supporting" efforts by Conyers and others. They might be concerned about being too visible since Kerry conceded, it would seem they would be going against the wishes of the Democratic Establishment if they openly crusade against the voting machines.

But...that's just my opinion..
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Helga Scow Stern Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #35
42. I hope you are right. I have been surprised by them in the past.
They said they had thousands of volunteers on the ground in the recount campaigns, for instance.

They are awfully smart not to know what is going on.

But then why are they asking everyone to put on a clean shirt when no one has taken a bath, so to speak?
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rainman99 Donating Member (283 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
8. That's how I feel. Unless those machines can be audited,
we'll never know if our donations will do any good.
I'm not giving money until I know my vote counts.
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newyawker99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 01:32 PM
Response to Reply #8
60. Hi rainman99!!
Welcome to DU!! :toast:
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BigBearJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:43 PM
Response to Original message
10. I'm torn on this -- would sure appreciate more opinions.
I do want to make sure we take over the Congress in 2 years.
The way I look at it is this. I will put my all into getting
the Congress changed. Sort of like a "dry run" for the 2008
election. If they pull this vote fraud shit again in 2006, then
we really really really put on the heat. Whaddaya think?
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Peace Patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:12 PM
Response to Reply #10
15. BigBearJohn, here's my read on it.
The Dems in Congress do not have the votes, the power or the focus (if history is any guide) to restore our right to vote. And I worry that if the issue is opened up in Congress, we will end up worse off than we are now. (The BushCons have all the power--and they aren't going to give up their nice little Republican-controlled election system.)

Right now, the states will pretty much control state election rules, and it's there that we must put the pressure for

a) paper ballots
b) hand counts

or at least

a) voter verified paper ballot in electronic voting that takes precedence over electronic tallies in any recount
b) open source code in all machines including central vote tabulators

and c) honest exit polls to verify elections and check for fraud (as they do elsewhere in the world - by honest, I mean they don't "adjust" the exit poll to fit the "official results" as they did to us on election night, thus depriving us of the information that Kerry had won the exit polls).

If we can get this done with local grass roots effort, state by state, in a sufficient number of states, we can elect a progressive Congress in '06. We are the majority!

State by state is doable. Federal is not going to happen.
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bush_is_wacko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #15
67. I agree with this . However, just like the Repubs used the identical
marriage amendment in each and every state they had it on the ballot we have to do the same. I want to see a team working on the EXACT wording for us all as a grassroots effort to take to our state legislators. THAT is really the only way we can keep track of who's doing what to who and how they are doing it! You know what I mean? Washington State is working on something now. I saw a thread yesterday about this! We should try and find the exact wording as a group.
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jdog Donating Member (569 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #10
24. What other well-established organization is there to attach to? nt
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HomerRamone Donating Member (460 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:17 PM
Response to Reply #10
29. NO! Not "waiting till next time".
I worked with MoveOn as they committed the stupid error of thinking that sufficient turnout could overcome computer fraud. Not again. And while I would probably still vote Democratic, the Democratic Party will get nothing else out of me either.

No political organization gets my time or money unless they tackle election fraud and media reform...
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FreepFryer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
11. Yes. SUPPORT THEM! Their perspective was wider than Election Reform...
Edited on Thu Jan-20-05 07:45 PM by FreepFryer
...and it would be mindless not to support such a groundbreaking grassroots organization because they did not lead the election irregularities issue as some would have (rightly) hoped.

Help them understand the crucial importance of Election Reform, by becoming a donor and making your opinions known while helping them to be even more effective!

And while you're at it, donate to the ACLU at http://aclu.org
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #11
54. Do you know how to make your opinions known? I have emailed them SO many
times, starting about three months before the elections, about the e-voting issues, and have not ever got one response. I don't know anyone who has ever got a response from them. There is no way to know if they even read what you send. See my post number 47
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helderheid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 07:55 PM
Response to Original message
13. I would write them
Edited on Thu Jan-20-05 08:27 PM by helderheid
and say you'll be happy to support if they promise to put election reform on the agenda.

*edit because "I saw write them" isn't English.
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kitkat65 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:00 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. I would if I thought they woud actually respond to it.
I never get a response.
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jsascj Donating Member (425 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #14
40. I'll bet if you wrote and said
After,and only after, I receive a response from you, I will donate...They'll write you back.

In fact, Just like "Not a damn dime", if EVERYONE demanded a response prior to donating, they might get the message.
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marions ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 10:17 AM
Response to Reply #13
36. yes I agree
don't ditch MoveOn. Put pressure on them. As somebody said above --tell them to work specifically on media and election reform. If enough people say that, they may come to see that it's ALL going to have to be addressed. It's not either/or.

I'm watching MoveOn (they did do a lot right)-- IF I see them getting on board with these issues, THEN I will support them again. But not before.
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Peace Patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
16. MoveOn...?
I never much liked their attitude. They seemed non-responsive, onto their own agenda, which I sometimes agreed with, sometimes not, but it didn't seem to matter to them. . But I never participated in meetings, so I don't really know them that well, just through their web site.

I heard they had a whole bunch of those meetups just after the election, and asked everybody what the issues were now, and everybody (or a whole lot of people) said election fraud, election fraud, election fraud! Then they just ignored it.

I was appalled by their failure to follow up on election fraud. I felt about them just as I felt about the Democratic leadership--promises, promises, then utter abandonment. I think we've seen a great sorting out of the wheat from the chaff on this issue.

And I don't mean anybody who isn't into election fraud is nothing or worthless. I just mean a certain sort of radical grit that some folks and some groups have, and others don't. I was at a protest at a gate once where I was facing the mean guy with the dog, and I looked behind me and everybody had vanished. It wasn't very funny at the time. But I have to smile now.

The kind of people who always have your back vs. the kind of people who might just vanish on you.

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helderheid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. Perhaps we should all contact TrueMajority
which DID take election fraud seriously. ASk them to take this on and we'll pledge to get them the same amount of money so long as election reform is included.
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Peace Patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. I have to say one thing more about MoveOn. I didn't work nearly as
hard on the election as I imagine they did. And when the campaign began, and the Dem leadership had given up at the start (remember that?), that's when MoveOn said, "Uh-huh, we're going for it!" And then Dean emerged. I really respect them for that, and I think it is one of the greatest tragedies of our time that that kind of energy and committment--which we were seeing all over the country, in all kinds of groups--an amazing democracy movement, such as I have never seen in this country--was smashed by the BushCons as if by a bunker buster--by the most nefarious means, their secret source code.

And a lot of them then, with hearts hurting, and heads spinning, shattered all into little pieces inside, just gave up. Couldn't face it. Went into denial.

I think we're recovering. And we must be careful of any emotional blowback type of splits and fractures. Disagreements, criticism, even expressing a feeling of betrayal--all right. We need to know who we can really rely on, and who we cannot. But there it stops.

We simply have to pull together as a people--as an injured populace--not necessarily as Democrats but simply as believers in democracy, or we're going to lose it.



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rainman99 Donating Member (283 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #18
20. I trusted all these groups to be making there wouldn't be fraud
before 2004. They knew it was possible. Lou Dobbs
talked about it on his show. If withholding funds is what
it takes to get them to get an audit trail, then that's what
I'll do.
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marions ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 10:58 AM
Response to Reply #18
37. so well said, peace patriot!
I agree with every word of this.

Echoing your thoughts:
The fledgling "democracy movement" is recovering from a Major Whammy. Time to help each other pick up the pieces...constructive criticism, rather than blanket rejection...that's what's needed.
To those who worked so hard and are depressed by this state of disarray and confusion, I say--find your OWN way to stabilize in the midst of flux. Especially Beware the Victim Mentality, where you either surrender immediately, or go on a quest looking for the Perfect Savior. There is so much to be done on every front. If MoveOn is a disappointment, tell them why (even if you don't get a response) and in the meantime move on--to a group that works better for you right now. We can become even stronger now that so many have seen the lengths to which the opposition will go. We REALLY have a mandate for change now. Keep the big picture.
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 01:04 AM
Response to Reply #18
55. I don't see anyone disagreeing with this, but the point it that if they
Edited on Sat Jan-22-05 01:07 AM by Amaryllis
don't get the election fraud issue, there is no point in working to get people elected. So far they have not given any indication they get it, in spite of hundreds(thousands?) of their members giving them feedback to this effect. Not only that, they never acknowledge any feedback. And so far they aren't doing anything to act on the feedback they got from the house parties after the election saying election reform was the top priority.

I finally gave up on emailing them about it and moved on to other areas where I feel I am making a difference, like working locally with groups to educate congress members, etc.
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #16
64. I was at one of those meetups.
About half the people at my party, and about half nation-wide, chose election fraud as their NUMBER ONE priority. Everyone else was split between better media/communications for Dems, media reform, opposing the war, and maybe some other issues I'm forgetting.

The MoveOn people were totally surprised. You could see them already trying to spin the whole thing in a new direction, calling it "election rights" or something instead of FRAUD.

They lost me for good. We were there, we were ANGRY, we had MONEY to give and they just wanted to pursue their own agenda: it was a farce.
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rdmccur Donating Member (622 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 08:57 PM
Response to Original message
19. I sent them a letter
telling them that I cannot donate (nor will even bother to vote in the next national election) unless the problems with election fraud and suppression of votes is corrected.
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BigBearJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #19
22. I'm going to make some monetary contributions to them
and include a letter about fraud. I will see where they head
with the program. If I like where they are going, I will contribute
more.
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rainman99 Donating Member (283 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #19
26. That's what I said, too.
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rainman99 Donating Member (283 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #26
28. Actually, I meant that I said what rdmccur said.
They have a 'contact us' spot but it is hard to find.
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garybeck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #19
27. how did you "send them a letter"??
they don't even have a "contact information" page. that's ridiculous
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garybeck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
25. WHY IS IT SO FRIGGIN HARD TO CONTACT MOVEON??
I'd really like to tell them that I"m only going to support them from here on in if they make election reform a top priority. But I've already spent hours combing their site for a fax number, phone number, or even an email address. I think that sucks. Why do they make it so hard to contact them?

If there was an easy way to contact them maybe we could all let them know that we would get on board with them if they made election reform a key issue.

Yes, they have a petition about "investigate the vote" but that's about it. it should be included in their "big plan" and i'm not sending anyone a dime unless they're going to use it towards election reform.
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trudyco Donating Member (975 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 09:32 PM
Response to Reply #25
30. I contacted them early on and never heard from them - I'm a donor
to Moveon, ACT, democratic party. None of them responded to my request to use their network to prove the vote was a fraud or not. No response.

They've all asked for more money from me. No more. I'm not going to participate in donation without representation. I'm tired of giving money or signing petitions unless the purpose is explained and the main thrust is the 2004 election investigation. Barbara Boxer wants my siggy/money. Kerry does. Common Cause (at least they explained exactly how much they wanted and why).

Only Arnebeck et al, and the lady in New Mexico are doing something constructive from what I can tell. Shrub and sprouts are going to keep hitting with outrageous legislation and ridiculous nominations and terrorist fear mongering. They need to keep the left preoccupied. I'm not taking my eye off the ball. Investigate THIS election. Put people in jail (or they'll step even further past the line next time). Get a separate media voice so people can find out what's happening. Organize- by state - election standards with paper/audits and stiff penalties for cheaters. Independent true exit polls for the public. The rest is just distraction.

Perhaps Moveon will get a clue. I hope so.

trudyco
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rainman99 Donating Member (283 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 08:57 AM
Response to Reply #30
31. To find MoveOn's contact page:
http://www.moveonpac.org/whoweare.html

I'm going to start telling the Dems that I'm
afraid to donate until I'm sure my vote can be verified:
http://www.democrats.org/contact/
Then, maybe, they'll join Conyers in getting an investigation
started.

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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #31
68. Now that is a good idea about contacting the DNC about that. Maybe you
should post that as an election reform action item? And while we're at it, tell them we want Dean as the new chair since he will work on election reform and he knows the perils of e-voting.
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Hugin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 09:00 AM
Response to Reply #30
32. Heh... Speaking of not a damn dime day.
My feelings exactly trudyco.

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Peace Patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #30
34. trudyco, I felt exactly the same way and have now since 11/3...
...there is no other issue...

...there is nothing else that can be done about ANYTHING...

...sole focus, sole concentration, 110% effort 24/7...

until we have recovered our right to vote.

For two months now. Then I got distracted, just this week, by supporting Boxer and the Dem upstarts in Congress BECAUSE they AT LEAST said SOMETHING on Jan. 6, and if there is going to be any further investigation--with at least educational value (I have zero faith that BushCons in Congress will give us back our right to vote)--we had better support them in what they're doinig (C. Rice, the congenital liar and warmonger for Secretary of State, this week).

I think there is only one avenue left open to get back our right to vote, and that's with a state by state effort. I'm working on that, trying to find the right group or groups, and organizing web site to get it done. There is a lot of effort on many fronts, but no central place for info, contacts and help.

It is mind-boggling that neither the Democrats, nor MoveOn, nor anybody with big bucks and clout, is helping. The only thing of importance, and they are doing virtually nothing, from what I can see. Utterly baffling. Especially the Democrats. You'd think they'd be concerned that there will never be a Democratic president or congress ever again.



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Freddie Stubbs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #25
48. You can contact their press office:
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Zan_of_Texas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #25
61. I totally agree with you, garybeck.
Edited on Mon Jan-24-05 02:11 PM by Zan_of_Texas
And, I went to one of the Move-on house parties where they have a map of the US, interactive on computer, and asked for people to call in from the house parties and make suggestions, and they SAID they would put it on the screen all over the country for people to see.

I think either that thing was fake, or the, um, software didn't work. Our place, with a neighbor's fancy equipment, called in LOTS of suggestions and feedback, and it never got up on the screen. All that showed up was some short sweet things about how we will all fight together and isn't this wonderful. NADA about election fraud issues (this was before the mock election), even though we were typing our hearts out, hoping it would be posted.

The thing people have to understand about Move-on is, it is NOT a membership organization with representative governance. It is, by their own self-description, a small group of people who got together to try to do some things. They are not bound by your opinion or mine.

ON EDIT: Just read your response, Trudyco. Totally agree with you! Help those who are REALLY DOING the work, fearlessly. And, those who are building independent media to REALLY TELL THE TRUTH!
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 10:43 PM
Response to Reply #25
65. Link to their feedback form but I have used it dozens of times and they

NEVER once have responded even thought it says this:
Please enter your comment, suggestion or request -- A real person will review your request as soon as possible and get back to you if necessary. If you are experiencing a problem, please include as much detail as you can.

http://www.moveon.org/feedback/index.html

I think we should all use this form and send them the link to this thread so they can see how people are feeling! They are SO hierarchial and non-responsive. And they come out witht things where they don't know what they are talking about. THey finally (after I and many many many I know bugged them about e-voting) came out with something about asking for a voter verified paper trail! And lots of people had been wrriting for a long time giving them links and info about the whole issue.
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dmac Donating Member (414 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 09:15 AM
Response to Original message
33. I personally intend to write
not only MoveOn, but every other entity requesting donations. I contributed heavily in 2004, praying that it would make a difference. Even as I wrote out the checks, deep inside I felt that it wasn't going to make a difference because if Bush didn't have the numbers, the numbers would be changed. I have no intention of throwing good money after bad. Every organization who wants anything out of me is going to hear just that. And I will make it clear that I intend to support any organization that is keeping the horse before the cart and putting their everything into election reform and accountability for the theft of '04.

I believe if everyone who normally contributes start flooding these organizations with letters like this, they would have to take notice. It is sad but it is the American way - hit 'em where it hurts - and that is pretty much always in the pocketbook. If this is the only power we have to get these organizations to go to bat for us, use it. I hope others will do the same.
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marions ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #33
38. Agree, we should flood them...
thanks to bigbearjohn for bringing this up about MoveOn. We need to write to all these organizations and explain to them how sweeping the election issue under the rug is detrimental to them. We will know after awhile if they heard our collective voice. We hardcore "it's the elections, stupid" crowd gotta stick together and keep nipping at their heels. No immediate plan of action by these progressive groups is complete without inclusion of the election issues. Anything else is totally illogical, as we know they KNOW. If they choose denial, then we will not choose them.
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BigBearJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 02:44 PM
Response to Reply #38
44. YES! YES! YES!YES! YES! YES!YES! YES! YES!YES! YES! YES!
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #44
46. Another way to contact MoveON
Through their action forum (listed near the bottom right of their homepage).

In the past, I've directly addressed them there. If people started asking for a feedback mechanism in numbers, I bet it would work.
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 08:06 PM
Response to Reply #38
56. HERE IS AN IDEA. What if we all email them and give them the link to this
Edited on Sat Jan-22-05 08:19 PM by Amaryllis
thread and ask them to read it so they can get an idea how people are feeling?
MoveOn feedback form:
http://www.moveon.org/feedback/index.html
maybe if they get it from enough people they will get the idea.
We can tell them that directing their efforts to "winning back Congress" as they suggested in their email is a misdirected effort if election integrity is not established first.
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kster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 08:19 PM
Response to Reply #38
57. Well said.........nt
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jsascj Donating Member (425 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 11:47 AM
Response to Reply #33
41. "Not a Damn Dime"
Until we get some reassurances...or at least a reply
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kster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 09:17 PM
Response to Reply #41
58. While you get
reassurances from moveon can you put a similar message together for the DNC. Not a damn dime to the DNC either unless it is to pay for paper ballots accross the nation....
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:06 PM
Response to Original message
47. Election reform was OVERWHELMINGLY the winner when people voted at MoveOn
Edited on Fri Jan-21-05 03:11 PM by Amaryllis
house parties right after the election about what they wanted to be the focus of efforts now. THey didn't get on board until the day before (Jan. 5) with asking people to contact their congress people to stand up. They seem to have major cognitive impairment both in terms of understanding that if the elections are rigged, nothing else they do will matter, and in terms of being responsive to their members and hearing what they are saying.

I have found them to be completely unresponsive. They seem to be a top down organization and I and many others I know have sent them dozens of emails (long before the election) trying to alert them to the dangers of e-voting and get them to take some action. It will be interesting to see if they act on what their members said they wanted to be the main focus of activity (reform). So far I have heard nothing. Seems they could start with just keeping people updated about what Conyers is doing; letting them know he is asking for suggestions about how to improve the system.

I could see having house parties and then bombarding them with info and feedback and input about election fraud and reform. they do always provide a method for feedback at their house parties. Forget their normal feedback form; I have never heard a thing back when I have used that, nor has anyone elso I know. I think it will take thousands of people continuing to hammer them before they get it. But it might be worth the effort if we could actually get them on board.

If anyone knows a way to actually contact them and know that they are getting the message, I'd sure like to hear about it.
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loudsue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:21 PM
Response to Original message
49. I just contacted them, too: NOT ONE DIME until Paper Ballots-HandCounts
becomes their state-by-state activism priority. They have the organization to do it, they have the money to publicize it, and if they don't "get it" -- they WON'T "get it"...my $$ that is.

I'm not going to encourage one breathing soul to vote again unless I can assure that voter that his/her vote will NOT BE STOLEN by some right-wing controlled tallying machine.

THAT is something MoveOn can take to the bank.

:kick::kick::kick:
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BigBearJohn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:33 PM
Response to Original message
50. On a positive note -- Let's really assure them that if they support
us in election reform, we will work our HARDEST for them.
Can you imagine what we could REALLY do if we all joined hand
and worked our hardest towards this end. I know I would.
MoveOn has the structure; let's encourage them to help us
help them.

Love,
John
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Zan_of_Texas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 02:17 PM
Response to Reply #50
62. Disagree.
Move-on has a brilliant structure to raise money. It has done so big time, and has changed the nature of politics and money raising.

It is quite apparent from the responses of all of you, not just my experience, that their structure is lacking in the most rudimentary thing that we all want -- D E M O C R A C Y!

We send the money, they do what they want. What does that remind you of? C O N G R E S S !!!!
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Misskittycat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-21-05 03:47 PM
Response to Original message
51. I am dismayed by some of these responses.
I'm firmly in the camp that until we have election reform and new media outlets, we're totally screwed.

But their idea of mobilizing the entire progressive base on a precinct by precinct basis is an essential means by which we get more support for these key issues.

Most Democrats I've talked to have no idea about the nature and extent of election irregularities and probable fraud. Few knew that the January 6th electoral challenge occurred.

We need to educate the base about these fundamental problems, and this local organization and outreach has got to be a key step in that goal.

Nobody else seems to be stepping up to the plate with this. I don't see the Democratic Party doing it yet.

I think we should encourage this strongly. By the way, I went to a post-election MoveOn house party locally, and it was a great core of progressive folks who were really anxious to get going with local organizing. BTW, election reform and media expansion got high votes from our group as to issue priorities.
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marions ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 12:48 AM
Response to Reply #51
52. yes, we need to help educate the base
--and glad to hear that election reform and media expansion were high priorities in your local group...I think a lot of people have just HAD IT with business as usual. The more the information gets around, the more support there will be.
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Amaryllis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-22-05 12:53 AM
Response to Reply #51
53. See post 47. I went to one of those parties too. Election reform was
voted as top priority by quite a wide margin when they tallied votes from all the different house parties.
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joevoter Donating Member (167 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-23-05 12:24 AM
Response to Reply #53
59. Kick
Time to Kick MoveOn into gear on election investigation... If they are doing it now, they need to be visible. The election is over and it is no longer a partisan issue. It is THE universal rights issue.
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Melissa G Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 10:53 PM
Response to Original message
66. Any one who asks me for money is evaluated by their stance on
election reform. If it is not top priority they get a letter or email advising them to make it top priority. I praise those who have it right and send them money. Not enough places to put money besides Boxer and greens right now.
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Kip Humphrey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-24-05 11:31 PM
Response to Original message
69. MoveOn == Georg Soros == take over the Democratic party
MovOn has its own agenda With mouse-click vote manipulation controlling elections, they can recruit whoever they may to no avail. Until our votes count and are counted, we will continue to be powerless. MoveOn's members know this. MoveOn has its own agenda.
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