Unhappy that Hackett is out? GET OFF YOUR ASS.

[derby378]

Even after hearing from WilliamPitt and Skinner and others who say that Sherrod Brown is a wonderful progressive candidate to run against Mike DeWine in Ohio, the controversy of Paul Hackett still continues. And there's a lot of passion in the debate even today.

But here's what I've figured out. Both Hackett and Brown are progressives, so either one against DeWine would have been a great choice. And although a lot of us blamed the DLC for meddling in the primary race via Schumer (who is not DLC, but interfaces with them sometimes), I've realized that it's not even a DLC issue. I get mad at the DLC for some things, and I feel I have a right to be angry, but I have to be honest with myself and with you.

Here's the big deal - and I'm not even the one who came up with it. Brown is perceived as the establishment candidate, while Hackett was considered the grassroots candidate. And DU is a Democratic grassroots activism site. Hence, the tension between a lot of us now that Brown's the only one in the "D" column in that particular race.

So, once again, my advice to all grassroots Democrats is simply - GET OFF YOUR ASS.

It's a lesson I've had to learn the hard way. During John Kerry's 2004 campaign, I registered people to vote, built yard signs, manned phones to GOTV, walked apartment complexes to GOTV, all sorts of stuff I never did before. And all of that stuff is great. It's wonderful.

But if you want to change how the Democratic Party does business, don't leave the party - become the party. I'm running for precinct chair, myself, which means I may be one of the loudmouths at the state party convention this year. Some folks on DU are already precinct chairs. A few are even running for public office. "Some" is good. "More" is better.

Take over the Democratic Party at the local county level. Then you work on the state. Then you work on the national level.

This is how the Republican Party did it in 1994.

This is how we can do it today.

Kick ass.

[derby378]

1. KICK!!

This is important, folks - we can do this.

We are the party of Jefferson, of Kennedy, of Roosevelt!