Some thoughts on 2008 and the Democratic Party

[Blue_In_AK]

I don't think we have the best people this country has to offer representing us today. Our politicians are working for themselves, not for the good of the nation and the world. We need to seek out, support and elect honest, ethical, diplomatic, PROGRESSIVE Democrats who aren't afraid to make tough decisions and do the right thing. AND THE PARTY NEEDS TO GET BEHIND THESE PEOPLE.

We had the experience in Alaska last year of having as our Democratic nominee for Don Young's House seat a charismatic, honest, straight-from-the heart, brilliant Alaska Native woman, Diane Benson, whose son lost both his legs in Iraq in 2005. She was mentored by Max Cleland who encouraged her to run. She has met our congressional delegation, and all of the members of the administration -- **, Darth, Rummy, the whole gang. They all came to her son's hospital room, except for Don Young. It was that experience that conviced her that she had to take on the seemingly impossible task of defeating the "Congressman for All Alaska," (except me and many others) and his $3 million campaign warchest fueled by lobbyists and outside corporate interests, VECO, Big Oil. We all knew he was corrupt to the core up here, but it wasn't widely known that a criminal investigation was going on.

After she won the Democratic primary, she asked the state Democratic party for financial help to run her campaign. They were all tied up trying to get Tony Knowles elected governor and didn't offer her any money. So we volunteered and we told our friends about her and went to hear her speak. Even before her son was injured and she decided to run, she was showing up at peace demonstrations. I remember her giving a very impassioned speech at a rally about how her son didn't have proper armor and they were having to send him supplies from home. Then we read that he lost his legs. It was horrible. She feels this war very personally. The good news is that her son has become a competitive hand cyclist and will soon be certified in scuba diving and is working to encourage other injured veterans.

Diane's mother was Tlingit, her dad Norwegian. She is a peace warrior of the best kind. When you hear her speak, she touches your heart.

We did everything we could to raise money for Diane from the grassroots, and the support began to swell. More and more contributions were coming in from individuals and tribes and then from progressive people Outside. Even Sarah Palin, who is now our new Republican governor (with a 90% approval rating!), said she would publicly support Diane if Diane would support her. Sarah's great and everybody loves her, but Diane stayed true to the party (even though she had once run for governor as a Green back in the '90s).

Meanwhile, she was asking the DCCC for some financial help. Alaska is a big state, and plane fare is expensive out to the Bush. You can't drive anywhere here, to speak of, and she needed to get out to meet people and buy TV and radio ads. Once they talked with her, even some old die-hard Alaska Republicans were throwing their support to her. She just needed to be able to reach them.

Don Young's machine was powerful. He agreed to debate Diane only once at a very structured public TV debate with all the other minor party candidates. At the end of the debate, in his closing remark the Libertarian candidate said, "I know I'm not going to win this race, so, please, supporters, vote for Diane." I'd never seen anything like that. Finally, the night before the election, our local NBC affiliate told Diane they would give her 10 free minutes on the 6:00 o'clock news if Don refused to show up for a debate. He had to come. We carried Benson signs to greet him upon his arrival. She kicked his ass, and a lot of people saw it. People were stunned. Democrats in Alaska didn't act like this.

We were so hopeful we could win, but in the end the money and the power won out. But Diane had done something that no one thought possible, taken on the mighty Don Young with only grassroots support here in "Republican" Alaska and gained 40% of the vote. Her campaign did some projections afterward which showed that with $80,000 and two more weeks she could have beaten him. The momentum was that great.

My point here is that a wonderful candidate got no help from the national party. They didn't think she stood a chance. She asked for so little and yet they poured millions into establishment races all over the country. It's disheartening.

But she is running again, starting early this time. People are paying attention. I saw her get a standing ovation a couple of days ago.

(A footnote -- Her campaign treasurer, who is also her ex-husband and father of her son, told me that they learned after the election that all three of our congressional delegation went out to the tribal leaders and told them if they encouraged their people to vote for Diane they wouldn't see another red cent. That is appalling to me, criminal vote suppression. The Alaska Federation of Natives were afraid to even invite her to their convention, but the People got her in and forced them to let her speak. The response was resounding.)

Anyway, either the national party MUST get more progressive or we at the grassroots need to really start working our butts off. Things have to change, and it's up to us.

[Selatius]

1. It's difficult to get good people to run when they have to fight supremely wealthy, powerful groups

The game is stacked against poor candidates. It's not impossible to win, but the game is stacked in favor of people who are supported by wealthy interests in the business world.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Stacks are meant to be knocked down.

:evilgrin:

[knight_of_the_star]

5. Just as a reminder

This country was considered a lost cause until Yorktown.

[Selatius]

6. Give me a fight on a battlefield over a fight over money any day.

At least on the field, I have a good chance of killing the other guy as he has with killing me. The size of his wallet would matter not.

[radfringe]

9. yes, but

at Yorktown General Washington didn't say "we don't have the votes" and go on vacation

[niceypoo]

2. The democrats are professional politicians

All they care about is how they might be perceived (by republicans apparently, they could give a shit less about how 75% of Americans feel) and getting reelected (which they are totally blowing). They no longer represent anybody or anything. They enable the Bush administration in its war against the US constitution. The republicans take advantage of the democrats timidity and use them as doormats. This country just doesn't exist any longer. Anymore, the mere thought of the democrats in congress makes me nauseous, particularly after the FISA vote. Listening to them in interviews talking about, "healing," and BS like that, shows how truly incompetent and out of touch with the country they have become. There is no, "healing," with fascists running the show. There is no, "healing," with the republican party. The democrats are the ultimate disappointment and are no more, or perhaps even less, competent than the GOP.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. The progressives need to take back the Democratic Party

I'm not sure how to do it, but we need to keep trying. I really don't think a third party is the answer...I think we just need to keep hammering away until we get rid of these people one by one. Last year we had to take out a bunch of Republicans. Maybe next year we need to concentrate more on our primaries and THEN take out the Republicans.

[RFKJrNews]

7. RFK Jr. is the progressive dream candidate

Great thread, BlueInAk! You wrote:

"I don't think we have the best people this country has to offer representing us today. Our politicians are working for themselves, not for the good of the nation and the world. We need to seek out, support and elect honest, ethical, diplomatic, PROGRESSIVE Democrats who aren't afraid to make tough decisions and do the right thing. AND THE PARTY NEEDS TO GET BEHIND THESE PEOPLE."

Couldn't agree more with you. This is EXACTLY why we MUST ask Bobby Kennedy Jr. to enter this race. He is the one who meets (or exceeds) all of your requirements listed above.

He's the right man, at the right time, for all the right reasons, IMHO.

Please SIGN THE PETITION to Draft RFK jr. for President:
http://RFKin2008.com

[KharmaTrain]

8. The Work Has Just Begun

I'm sorry to all those who thought one election was gonna turn the world around. The problem is more systemic than that and your story is a perfect example.

In 2000, did any Democrat stand a chance to win in Alaska? The other day I saw Mike Gravel...and IRC, wasn't he the last elected Democrat in the state? It wasn't just Alaska, it was nationwide...the Democrats were so damn focused on winning Presidential elections that they let the state parties shrivel up. For years, there were many areas around this country were there was no functional Democratic party and this led us into a lot of the problems we face now.

It was Repugnican control of state houses in the 90s that enabled crooks like Young and others to get comfy and sell their votes as there was no real organized Democratic resistance.

The first steps back from that abyss was in the wake of the '04 elections. Dr. Dean, the DFA and other groups started to get involved in rebuilding the party from the local level...but this takes not just money, but time. '06 was an important election as it was the first in recent memories where the Democrats started to flex muscle on the state level...winning control of many state houses that bode well in 2010 (redistricting) and is introducing many red states to a different picture of who Democrats are.

Keep fighting the good fight up in the 49th state...and in other purple and red areas..."help is on the way" as the DLC should have more money next year to promote candidates in areas once considered "red" territory. The other day at the YKos Presidential forum, a question was asked about supporting Dr. Dean's 50-state policy in '08 and almost every candidate (Hillary) all but enthusiastically braced both Dr. Dean and his strategy.

[tblue37]

12. This is so true, KharmaTrain!

It wasn't just Alaska, it was nationwide...the Democrats were so damn focused on winning Presidential elections that they let the state parties shrivel up. For years, there were many areas around this country were there was no functional Democratic party and this led us into a lot of the problems we face now.

In 2004 my son was working in Chicago for a PR firm. He called the number for the local Democratic Party several times and left messages about who he was and what his skills were, saying that he would like to volunteer those skills to help the Dems in the 2004 races. He never heard back from them. Then, just as an experiment, he made one call to the Republican headquarters. They called him back almost immediately and set up a lunch meeting with him. The guy he had lunch with gave him a business card and said that with his skills, the party would undoubtedly be able to find him a paid position if he wanted one.

The Republican Party had the money and the organization, and it was looking to recruit very smart, talented people with the skills needed to win elections. The Democratic Party had a phone number and voice mail, with no manpower to follow up on calls, so that they couldn't even bring in someone who wanted to offer his considerable marketing skills for free.

Howard Dean's 50-state strategy is quite simply the best thing that has happened to the party in years.

Another of your points is particularly important, because it operates at the individual level as well as the party level:

. . . the Democrats were so damn focused on winning Presidential elections

The drive to win the presidency is to a large degree an ego trip. If people like Clinton, Edwards, and Obama would take more seriously their work as senators rather than just seeing it as a stepping stone to the real prize, then they could go far toward reestablishing the Congress as a co-equal branch of government. But nowadays any powerful politician in congress, especially those in the Senate, is always thinking about jumping into the presidential race rather than taking care of his or her real job. When Ted Kennedy finally accepted the fact that he was never going to be president, he turned his attention to his senatorial work and became one of the most powerful and influential political figures of his generation.

Hillary is a smart and powerful political figure with a constituency that backs her up. She could do so much in the Senate—if she were not so concerned about not offending those she needs to back her or at least not to undermine her in her run for the White House.

John Edwards, who will be my choice if Gore and Clark really don’t get into the race this fall, spent just one term in the Senate before running for president and then accepting the vice-presidential slot on Kerry’s ticket. Imagine his populist appeal and political skill operating in the Senate. He could do a lot of good there.

I really would love to see us “take back Congress,” not just in the sense of winning really strong majorities in both houses, but in the sense of having really fine candidates choosing careers in the House or Senate in order to make those bodies function as they are supposed to, as co-equal with the presidency and the judiciary.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Mike Gravel was indeed the last national Democratic

officeholder from Alaska, although we have had Democratic governors, state legislators and mayors. I've always thought it ironic that neither Ted Stevens nor Don Young would have their positions if good Democrats hadn't died. Ted Stevens was appointed by Wally Hickel in 1968 to finish out Bob Bartlett's senate term after he died in office. Don Young was defeated in the election of 1972 by Rep. Nick Begich, who had already been missing and presumed dead for several weeks but managed to win in a special election in 1973.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Wow what a neat story

Inspiring! Good luck in 08!!

[Anita Garcia]

11. Well said - keep the faith -

"My point here is that a wonderful candidate got no help from the national party. They didn't think she stood a chance. She asked for so little and yet they poured millions into establishment races all over the country. It's disheartening."

One day, we won't refer to it as "grassroots activism".
It will just be the way that it is - if you want to get elected you will follow the will of the people, not the money.
Money does not vote - we do!

[JeffR]

13. Benson's lack of support from the DCCC was outrageous

but there's a lesson for all us frustrated progressives in the happy news that she has not given up. If she hasn't given up, then none of us should.

Great post, Blue!

[derby378]

14. Well, here's part of the problem...

I feel for Diane Benson, truly, but look at some of the Democrats in the other 49 states:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1519118

[KoKo]

15. Thanks for this post....it's really important to try support candidates like

Diane Benson. And hopefully with all the corruption coming to light with Alaskan Reps...she will win this time.

I understand about the DCC...and the party funding. We had a candidate here in our state who just couldn't push forward without more money...and it wasn't there for him. He did pretty well with individual donations, though, and is running again.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. An update on this situation...

Last week Jake Metcalfe, the chairman of the state Democratic Party, announced that he will too will be entering this race. He is a former state legislator, school board member and lawyer for the IBEW, owners of KUDO, our local 'progressive' radio station, which almost assures that he will get lots of air time. He gave no heads-up to Diane's campaign nor even to the party organization that he was going to make this move. His statement at the time was something to the effect of "Since everybody was waiting around for a 'serious' candidate to enter this race, I figured I might as well be the one to do it." I assume by "serious" he meant either Anchorage mayor Mark Begich or former state representative Ethan Berkowitz, both of whom have been lobbied hard by the national party. I found his comments to be extremely offensive and condescending, given Diane's performance last year (without any real help from him or the party). The good news is that a lot of other people were offended, as well, and Diane's contributions spiked. I hope at primary time next August the voters will remember the woman who bravely took on Don Young and his mighty machine at a time when he appeared invulnerable with his money and connections and tenure.

But again we find ourselves fighting an uphill battle. An article in the Anchorage Daily News this morning about the corruption scandals had this quote: "For the first time in years, Rep. Don Young has a challenger with fundraising juice: Jake Metcalfe, a former Anchorage School Board president and former head of the state Democratic Party, who announced his candidacy last week. Democrat Diane Benson, who challenged Young in 2006, is also running. There may be more." Diane said at a talk on Wednesday that when she interviewed with Bill McAllister, the political reporter for our local NBC affiliate, that the first question out of his mouth was "Who are your backers and where will you be getting your money?" Pathetic.

Pardon me for stating the obvious, but it was candidates with "fundraising juice" who got us into this whole corruption mess in the first place. And as long as money trumps great ideas, the pattern of corruption will continue.

[dkofos]

18. Those people are unelectable!!

:sarcasm:
But don't look to the national party for help.

I'm sure in her case paper ballots would have made a difference.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. We do have paper ballots

but they're counted electronically. I would feel much better with hand-counted ballots because we've had some dubious results up here the past few years.

[dkofos]

20. Your'e half way there. But with the crooks Alaska has in office I don't

doubt a bit that the elections are for sale to the highest bidder.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. I wanted to post this earlier, but PhotoBucket was down.

Here are Diane and her son and daughter-in-law leading last year's Independence Day parade. True patriots.

[northofdenali]

22. They certainly are patriots, Blue -

When I heard Diane speak here in Fairbanks during her race against Young, I heard what the Democratic Party must once again become - the party of the people, for the people. With Young and Stevens under investigation, and Murkowski next, I truly believe we need Diane in national office. Hardworking, honest and a true :patriot:

I believe her election would turn this state around, and hopefully begin kicking some Big Oil ass!

[eridani]

23. We need to popularize the notion of "losing forward"

by Laura Flanders
Blue Grit: True Democrats take back politics from the politicians

Gena Edvalson chose to engage rather than duck when she moved back to her native Salt Lake City from California. "People from outside Utah are shocked when they hear I come form an LDS family and live in a conservative suburb of Salt Lake. They're even more shocked when they find out I'm a lesbian, that I have a partner who's about to have a kid, and that my father, who is eighty-three years old and very Mormon, lives in the house with us."

On Utah's DOMA amendment: By Edvalson's account, it was a forward loss. Progressives in many red states talk about "losing forward." It't the notion that you can end up ahead of where you started--even if you lose, because during the fight you pick up allies. "Our job is to build bridges to potential allies," says Gena. "If you don't go near the water, it's hard to build a bridge."

[Blue_In_AK]

24. That's very true...

It's why I was heartened by all the "Republicans for Benson" last year, all the cars I saw with Sarah Palin and Diane Benson bumper stickers, and yards with signs for both women. Sarah Palin is a socially conservative Republican, but she at least ran on an ethics platform (which she so far seems to be honoring) and she is approachable, a governor of the people as opposed to our former governor, Frank Murkowski, who was owned by the oil companies. It's why she enjoys a 90% approval rating in this state right now, one of the highest for a governor anywhere.

It is most likely true that a lot of Republicans are just as sick of the direction their party has taken as we are of ours. I think we can make great inroads into this demographic with the right message.