Month: November 2006 (Page 2 of 5)

Wow, poking around the internet for a few minutes and I stumble upon the mother load of Blue Tiger videos. The following are parts of a talk on Internet Giving and Civic Engagement, but before that, read this section of the press release announcing the new arrangement between Blue Tiger and the Michigan Democrats:

The Michigan Democratic Party and Blue Tiger Democrats perceive the lack of respect and credibility for politicians and political parties to be a paramount problem.

Consider this:

• From 2000 to 2004, there has been a 21% increase in the number of self-identified independents;
• Membership in state and local political organizations has been cut in half over the
past forty years while financial contributions have increasingly replaced time commitment;
• 70% of all funds raised go to television advertisements that generally hurt the credibility of political parties; and
• $1.6 billion in 2004 campaign contributions went to political advertisements while nearly nothing went to local civic engagement.

The videos are three parts of a presentation and group discussion. If you follow this link to one of the videos, you should be able to find plenty of other videos of Blue Tiger activities in the sidebar.

I know I’ve said in the past that those Blue Tigers need to do a better job on the internet, but it is just sad that it has taken me so long to find these videos.

I need to do a better job keeping an eye on their site. The movies where here all along, but I wouldn’t have missed them had the Blue Tigers launched a blog.

Will Washington be the second? Probably not, we don’t get much for Blue Tiger Democrats up in these parts, but I love their mantra of “sending money to local organizations to serve their community and build the base.”

Here is Blue Tiger chair’s Bill Samuels’ Kos Diary on his Wyoming Trip (where the deal with Michigan was announced).

Said the Michigan party chieftain:

“Despite the gains the Democratic Party made in the midterm elections, many people still do not believe either party cares much about them. Our goal is to regain respect for the Democratic Party and for the political process.” Brewer said. “The Michigan Democratic Party is committed to making civic engagement an integral part of our state organization. By giving Democrats things to do between elections and providing meaningful services we Democrats can show citizens that parties want to engage them more than just on election day.”

This is beyond YouTube election stuff and moves us beyond “The revolution will not be televised.” Blue Tiger Dems suggest a way to move the party to the future where the old media won’t really matter and social connections will be the most important aspect of our organizations.

More on Michigan:

Samuels and Brewer were to give a presentation to the Association of State Democratic Chairs around 7 p.m. EST Friday on Michigan’s success with a Blue Tiger pilot project it ran this year. Brewer is president of the national organization, which is meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

The state party helped low-income Michigan residents in 10 of the poorest areas of Detroit and nearby Macomb County learn ways to be more energy efficient and lower their utility bills. The program reached more than 28,000 people, helping some families save more than $1,000 each, Brewer said.

He noted the outreach is important because too many people think the political parties don’t care about them except to get their votes. He wants to make the Democratic Party appealing not just for its candidates and principles but because it’s involved in improving citizens’ lives.

The Blue Tiger idea (as suggested by a commenter over at Michigan Liberal) is hauntingly similar to the Dean Corps idea that grew out of Dean for America. It was a good idea then, and I’m surprised honestly it hasn’t changed more local organizations.

I’ve been listening to Radio Open Source (donate here) consistently for about two months now. I always tried to listen to the show, since I fell in love with its format for a year and a half, but getting an mp3 player made the difference for me.

What I like about it is that they have, and use, a blog. They solicit audience input through the blog, asking “what should we ask?” and “Who should we ask,” and every month they have a thread on “What shows should we have.” In one week they used my suggestions to have on Kari Chisolm (Montana Senate show), Daniel Kemmis (Experiments in Democracy), and Noah Feldman (Somalia). My efforts earned me a t-shirt (score!).

Anyway, since I’ve started listening to the show and getting used to contribute on the blog, I’ve been wondering why other radio shows don’t pick up this format. Allowing listeners (the people formerly know as the audience) to conversate about whatever topic seems like a good thing.

So, in addition to the email I’m going to send to KUOW’s Weekday about Monday’s topic on Civic Engagement, I’m going to suggest they launch a blog, hire a blogger and follow the Open Source way. Washington is a bloggy state, we had more suggestions to Since Sliced Bread than any other state, per resident. We have a vibrant blogging community, we have political reporters who blog. We also have a major newspaper editorial board that lets you have a conversation on the next day’s editorials.

We should have more open source media.

Not what I hope to do long term at Washblog (more of a Daily Glean meets WSPR), but I think my first post fits more up there than down here.

Maybe there are some things, like the post 9-11 flag craze, getting all excited about the Yankees that just don’t travel all the way out West. One of these things could be overall dislike for George W. Bush, and maybe that is why Darcy Burner lost.

(Though, I like the grassroots argument that if there had been a couple of candidates in the 5th LD that it would have provided more room for Darcy. But, I digress.)

According to SurveyUSA, the top three “blue” states in terms of not hating Bush so much are Hawaii, New Hampshire and Oregon. Fourth is Washington State where Bush has a 37 percent approval rating, right around the national average.

New Hampshire is the last of the New England States that could be considered Republican, when there used to be those of Republicans. But, the other three states can only be explained because they’re the last states you hit before you land in Japan (aside from Alaska).

Essentially, I’m arguing that folks in the 8th CD just didn’t really buy into the anti-Bush mantra of of the on-air Burner campaign. Because of where we are, three hours behind all the jibber-jabber back east, things happening back there don’t seem to have the impact they would have in say New Hampshire (whose two sitting congressmen got booted).

Also, I’m wondering about Alex Alben.

At least if Tom McCabe listens to his wife he will:

…I have asked my husband the next time he feels the urge to get involved in a political campaign if he could please think of his family and instead get drunk, have sex with a female subordinate in a stall in the women’s restroom at a large public arena and, when the police are called in, resist arrest.

I’m urging this course of action since history shows he will receive more generous treatment on the editorial page of our hometown newspaper than if he pursued his interest in politics. He has kindly promised to consider this.

Susan McCabe, Olympia

Of course, she’s referring to this incident, which was a local fascination for about a day or two. But, still makes it a very strange letter to the editor. Almost like an internal thought that never should have been put down on paper.

UPDATE: I would kindly suggest to the McCabes that when they choose a local arena for which to arrange sex between Tom and a female subordinate, they should choose Husky Stadium. At least one person should be enjoying themselves during a game.

Yesterday I wondered whether they’d fight to name their own chair, now it looks like it might actually happen. Though in very slow motion.

Here are my efforts today on Kos and Redstate to attempt to get things going.

Here are some posts on their utter outrage (lets see if it translates into action):

Michelle Malkin remembers that the RNC chair is elected, not appointed
The Blogosphere is Quiet on RNC Chair Mel
An Underwhelming Choice For RNC
Whose party? Whose chairman?
Stupid is as stupid does… (updated)
Why it Should Have Been Steele
Mel Martinez, immigration, and hot blooded conservatives
The Blogosphere is Quiet on RNC Chair Mel
More Good News for Dems
Mel Martinez – RNC Chairman

Maybe I’m old timey (like 2005 old timey), but don’t they hold elections for these kinds of things?

From the point of view of CNN the chair of the RNC is an appointed position. From the view of one who read’s the RNC’s rules, it is an elected position and the President does not have a vote.

So, I ask Kos and I ask Redstate (and here).

Ironically, Kos is happier than Redstate about all of this.

From the WDFW.

I think this needs no explanation, but the introduction from Jeff Koenings, director of WDFW is pretty telling:

Quite clearly Puget Sound is at a tipping point. Above the surface, things appear calm and peaceful and beautiful. And, Puget Sound remains the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. But, below the surface, as you’re about to see, things are quite different.

I didn’t follow the Peter Goldmark campaign as close as I did other races, but it surprises me that he faired worse than the “no” campaigns on two right wing ballot initiatives in the 5th Congressional District.

Both No on 920 and No on 933 had better returns in the several east side counties that make up the WA 5 than Peter Goldmark. While Goldmark failed to win a single county, No on 933 won in four counties, while no on 920 won in every single county in Goldmark’s district.

Actually, if Goldmark had been either of these campaigns, he would be the congressman-elect.

I did up a quick and dirty spreed sheet comparing the votes that Goldmark got county by county, and the votes No on 933 got county by county, and estimated how Goldmark would have done. He would have won with 54 percent of the vote.

Voters in eastern Washington apparently liked the idea of keeping the state estate tax and defending growth management laws than electing a congressman who would fight for similar values in DC.