Progressive Democrat Issue 95: THOUGHTS

We won. We won big. We took both the House and the Senate and state legislatures in several states. We took Sec. of State in Ohio, hopefully leading to some reform there. This was HISTORIC. And, as I write below, it was done through a unity of action between progressive grassroots and more moderate/mainstream Democrats. THAT is what I have been talking about. We need a strong progressive grassroots, but we also need to respect diversity of opinion within our party and remain more united in the face of the anti-American, anti-Constitution actions of the corrupt Republicans.

Now our work really begins. The media is still Bush's tame lap dog. Bush still holds veto power. And divisions will emerge immediately in our Progressive/Moderate alliance. I predict a fight between Pelosi and Murtha. Murtha is gearing for a power play. That could ruin us.

But for now we have won and now is the time to take the initiative. I have two suggestions for you. First, write to the media and tell them your opinion on this election, but its national significance and its significance to your state and local area. Send your letters to me as well, telling me if they printed it or not. If they printed it, I should credit the paper. If not, I want the option of using it in a future newsletter. But be heard in the media!

But just as important, I strongly urge you, if you have a new city council person, new Representative, new state legislator, to reach out to that new elected representative and make a connection. People often thing that electeds lose interest in voters once they win. Well, having met MANY electeds I can tell you that some do lose interest, but many do not. If you write a letter or make a phone call or pay a visit to their office now, when they are new, you can make a lasting connection. Congratulate them. Tell them your chief concerns. If you are a member of an organization, invite them to speak at one of your events. Meet them face to face and talk with them. Most electeds I know LIKE meeting their constituents and if you make that special effort, and you do so a few times, they will probably notice. This connection can be made most easily right after they win a seat for the first time. We have many new faces. They need to see your face and hear your opinion. Reach out now.

Finally, I want to leave you with the biggest lesson of this election. Americans woke up and realized their government had been lying to them for 6 years. They saw the depth of Republican lies and corruption and they voted accordingly.

The Republicans forgot a very important lesson:



“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”

--Abraham Lincoln, the best Republican President