Where Do We Go From Here?
Apparently, the GOP is not the only party that seeks to rewrite history to suit its own self-interest
Well,
the convention has passed. The steamroller of the insecure DNC/Kerry
Kamp has flattened all memory of other primary candidates – Howard
Dean, in particular - and the powers that be have pronounced that, like
good little soldiers, we have all fallen in line.
The only
problem with that little scenario is that we haven’t fallen in line,
and we’re not too thrilled with the whole situation in general.
Heck, the only reason many of us at Democracy for Iowa stay within the
Democratic Party is that the Independents have no formal, wide-spread
organization to work within.
It’s a
dilemma of extreme proportions. We know that it is imperative
that Bush lose, that Bush not be allowed to steal another
election. And yet, many of us cannot find it in our hearts to go
out and work for a candidate, our party’s nominee, after all the dirty
tricks he played during the caucus season – not to mention a laundry
list of other dissatisfying characteristics.
So, what
do we do? How do we fulfill our duty as progressive activists in
helping to re-defeat Bush and still be able to live with ourselves?
We take
a page from the playbook of Howard Dean, that’s how. One of the
things that Gov. Dean said this week that really struck me was that a
bottom-up structure can be just as effective as the traditional
top-down structure. Rather than the top of the ticket providing
coattails for the rest of the ticket, the bottom and middle of the
ticket can usher in a victory for the top.
That’s the way to play it and still live with yourself.
Choose a
progressive candidate in your area. There are plenty to be found
in the candidates list on Blog for Iowa, and we’re adding more every
day. Work for that candidate. Contribute your hard-earned
dollars to that candidate. Do whatever you can to aid your
candidate, and get out the vote for him or her. And here’s the
key to Dean’s strategy: the votes you get out for your local
candidate will probably go to the top of the ticket, too. That’s
the bottom-up structure Dean was talking about.
So, let
us renew our dedication to electing progressive Democrats to local,
county, state, and federal positions this year. Let us muster
that energy to get out the vote for our progressive candidates, and let
us do it now. There’s no time to delay.
Linda Thieman
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Friday, July 30
Where Do We Go From Here?
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 30 Jul 2004 03:53 PM CDT
Wednesday, July 21
DFIA To Join Progressive Democrats of America
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 21 Jul 2004 05:08 AM CDT
 Democracy for Iowa is pleased to announce
that we are joining a new alliance of progressive grassroots
organizations called Progressive Democrats of America. PDA, a
coalition of Dean, Kucinich, and other progressive groups, has the
distinction of being recognized by the DNC. Both Dean and
Kucinich will be speaking at the launch of PDA next week along with
other well-known progressives.
Check out the PDA list of partners. We, and our logo, are right up there. Washington, DC: A new political organization will be officially launched next week in Boston, at the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention. The group, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), will reflect a broad desire by many within the Democratic Party to champion progressive issues, along with working to defeat pResident George Bush. PDA has already won the support of well-known activists and political figures such as Tom Hayden, and actors Ed Asner and Mimi Kennedy. “The Democratic Party needs our help to regain its soul,” said Kennedy, who has been a supporter of grassroots efforts. “If this is to be the party of peace, of universal, single payer healthcare, of fair trade, then it needs people to speak out on those issues.” PDA will work to mobilize supporters within the Democratic Party on behalf of progressive office holders, including public servants and Democratic Party officials. “There are many progressives, newly energized by the Dean and Kucinich campaigns, who are also new to the Democratic Party. We’re going to do the hard work of integrating them into the party and shifting the balance of power in the progressive direction,” adds Charles Lenchner, acting director of PDA. Many newly established grassroots organizations who have sprung up in recent months – in the wake of the Howard Dean and Congressman Dennis Kucinich campaigns – are working together to ensure a Republican defeat and to empower grassroots efforts. “Our strategy is to work with the grassroots movement and with other groups established in the wake of the Dean and Kucinich campaigns,” says Kevin Spidel, former field director for the Kucinich for President Campaign. Spidel will serve as the field director for PDA. "Our goal is to win back the presidency from the Republicans," says Spidel, "and also to wrest the Democratic Party from the free trading, Iraq invading, Patriot Act supporting leadership it has now." PDA will campaign to transform the Democratic Party and resurrect the spirits of Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. A number of groups have signed on as endorsers, including: Progressive Vote, Citizens for Legitimate Government, WeCount.org, Grassroots for America, Latinos for America, Rapid Response Network, Oklahoma Grassroots Campaign, DIY Politics, Punks for Democracy, Grassroots for Democracy, Oklahoma Grassroots Campaign, Latinos for America and Educators for Democracy. These groups – and others – will meet on Thursday, July 29, for an event titled: “Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party.” It will be held at Roxbury Community College. This ‘progressive convention’ will feature talks and panel discussions with speakers representing the diversity of our movement. This includes individuals such as: Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vermont); Cynthia Peters, Fund the Dream DNC Coalition; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan); Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois) (invited); Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Senatorial Candidate (D- New Hampshire); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Dr. James Zogby, Founder and President of the Arab American Institute; Marianne Williamson, Global Renaissance (invited); Kevin Spidel, Progressive Vote; Boston Councilman Chuck Turner (District 7). Other names will be announced shortly. PDA supporters and members will also meet with grassroots organizations from around the country in Washington, D.C. on August 14-15th, to draft plans for strengthening Democratic resolve in supporting universal, single-payer health care, fair trade, human rights, and an end to the occupation of Iraq. With Ralph Nader still commanding approximately three to six percent nationwide in most polls, many observers are concerned about a backlash from anti-war voters left out by the Kerry campaign. Lu Bauer, an emerging leader in the Maine Democratic Party summed up some issues PDA will work towards. “While there are some efforts to win those voters back, they have not emerged from within the anti-war, progressive camp. This time around, it will take former Nader voters to win over real progressives and help defeat Bush. Kerry can’t do it, because his position on the war remains out of sync with most progressive voters, let alone with early and strong opponents of the invasion of Iraq.” Wednesday, July 7
A Second Look at Dennis Kucinich
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 07 Jul 2004 03:31 PM CDT
A Second Look at Dennis Kucinich
If there is one thing we can probably all agree on in this election year, it’s that we Dean supporters, especially those of us in Iowa, have been through the mill. The caucus season was a well-orchestrated symphony of invigorating hope that ended with a shocking crescendo. Among the many mind-boggling revelations for both long-time Dems and newbie activists alike were: 1) the backers of Kerry and Gephardt running ads that implied Howard Dean was in cahoots with Osama bin Laden; 2) the way the Democratic National Committee set out to systematically destroy the candidate who first stood up to the junta while at the same time bringing new life to the party; and 3) the way Dennis Kucinich, a man of such integrity, threw his support behind John Edwards, a pro-war, pro-Patriot Act candidate, at the Iowa Caucuses. Yeah, that third one is still rather hard to fathom. I mean, in the end, what did that back-room deal accomplish? What did Dennis get out of it? Will we ever know? Over the last several months, I’ve discovered that Dean supporters have very long memories and very hard feelings. I was reminded of this again yesterday as we were being cajoled once again to fall in line, get with the program, and support the candidate of the special interests. The candidate who can be controlled by those in control. As for Howard Dean, well, you have to admire the guy for doing exactly what he said he would do if he didn’t get the nomination – that would be 'everything in his power to support the pre Dem nom.' But it’s jarring. Blog for America, which used to be a place Dean supporters could congregate to exchange ideas and get organized, has deteriorated into a cheerleading page for the pre Dem nom, and the fights between the Naderites and the fall-in-line Kamp are getting more and more strident. In other words, there is no place like home used to be. Not anymore. One of the things about this fall-in-line business that is so jarring is that it always denies the individual his or her own healing process. No one can get over a serious disappointment by being told to “get over it.” It’s like rubbing salt in the wound. It only makes things worse. If the junta is unsuccessful in their bid to steal another election this fall, we will have taken the first step in passing a progressive agenda. The first tiny baby step. A step so small as to be almost imperceptible. But a step nevertheless. Healing comes in stages, too. And if it is possible to pick and choose which little piece of bitterness and sadness to let go of, I might recommend taking another look at Dennis Kucinich. Come hell or high water, Dennis is out there sounding the progressive call. He never deviates from his goal of moving the party to the left, of making the progressive platform a reality. No falling in line for him. Not even the appearance of temporarily falling in line to oust the junta. You have to admire the man for that. Separately, the Kucinich supporters and the Dean supporters are dedicated yet small groups. And, right now, the progressive voice is dangerously close to being silenced by the DNC-DLC-special interest juggernaut. Let the Dean supporters and the Kucinich supporters set their differences aside in order to work together to achieve a progressive agenda. Together we are much more powerful than we are separately. We need each other. Linda Thieman Tuesday, July 6
Kerry Picks Edwards For VP
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 06 Jul 2004 07:40 AM CDT
Kerry Picks Edwards For VP
Whew! Well, it could have been much worse, I say. If it had been Gephardt, as payback for the murder/suicide of Howard Dean in Iowa, I would have taken to my bed with a sick headache. As it is, John Edwards is an inoffensive, if inexperienced, choice. I won't bore you with the fluff about his selection that Kerry sent out in his email. Read more about it here and here. |
Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
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