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