I'm frustrated and it's too easy to get cynical

[cally]

I went to hear George McGovern today. He was terrific and it was great seeing many elderly folks out to see McGovern. Many had worked on his campaign and there was lots of conversation of what might have been. I also learned much about that campaign (I was 14 at the time) and it's just appalling that it feels like we are repeating history once again. Didn't we get rid of these maniacs then???

Here's the frustrating part. Before the event, I passed out literature for a local Assembly candidate--Jared Huffman. He's a true progressive and a great candidate. About half the people walked right past me and wouldn't even take a piece of paper. How in the hell can you go to see McGovern and not have the decency to look at the campaign of a local candidate? It's no wonder we lose so many elections. When informed, aware, folks can't even take the time to look at the new candidates and pay attention to local elections then we are lost. I'm pissed.

Many folks were very interested and glad that folks are working on politics. Still, I was surprised at the reaction of many. I guess they want to complain about national politics and wonder why it's not better.

All politics is local.

[serryjw]

1. Cally, I go thru this all the time when petitioning

The y just don't care, too busy, too frustrated, have given up?? How can a parents NOT care enough about their kids education to give me ONE minute??

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Maybe they WERE informed

I'm also one of those people who does not like having flyers pushed on me. I've also campaigned that way, and found it to be a low-return, high-annoyance method most of the time. It's a counterproductive way to inform the public in most cases.

I admire that you got up off your computer chair and actually DID something -- it's far more than most of us do -- but it's simply a tactic that didn't work well, and generally doesn't work well. Yet you still got about a 50% response, which is much better than it usually got me when I did it. And absolutely, it doesn't mean that either you or they -- or both -- are defective or anything.

DU is a good place to brainstorm about what works. There may be some leafleting opportunities you have overlooked. Analyze your success and/or failure, and adjust your tactics accordingly.

--p!

[cally]

4. I think in this type of campaign it works well

It's a complicated situation but this early it's all about name recognition and momemtum. It's a crowded field and a couple candidates will emerge as the front runners soon.

We're doing much else of other types of campaigning. We've only leafletted a few times.

I do think it's wrong not to take leaflets. It's a political audience.

[Greyhound]

3. I know just how you feel, and I've become pretty cynical.

You see the same stuff here all the time.
BTW it's the same maniacs as before, we made the mistake of trusting that the sheeple wouldn't let them back in after what they did.

[bleedingheart]

5. Been there...seen it happen...

pisses me off.

[KoKo]

6. From what you describe I wonder if the McGovern voters haven't just

had enough and never thought they'd have to live to see another Vietnam. It could be that...or just "apathy" from Dems...but looking to hear a voice from the past to tune out all the crap that's gone on.

I would assume that Dems would look at your flyer and take one...but as I said, theres a LOT of Apathy amonst the Dems out there who aren't as informed or full of fight as DU'ers are.

I can't blame them...most of us went way down after the Alito vote. And folks have been watching this for decades.

I'm so glad to hear you were out there. I work in my lonely precinct so I understand some of what you might have felt.