Go ask Nancy; I think she knows

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 19, 2008 10:39 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

 

(Crossposted at InnermostParts.org)

I'm here at Netroots Nation (of course) at the 'ask the Speaker" event. Nancy Pelosi will be here for about 2 hours answering questions from all these grassroots activists. Gina Cooper (the charming / kick-ass organizer of the conference) is introducing the event.

One item - any  organized disruptioon  will end the event and the offenders will be thrown out of the conference.

Congressman Lloyd Dogget goes onstage. Lots of standing ovation.He seems to know what he's talking about re-blogging. Calls out the party last night , the local bloggers (well, state bloggers.) Pot-shots at Delay, Gingrich, Bush-Chicanery administration. Now he's boosting Nancy Pelosi. It'll be interesting to see how she's recieved.

OK, she's onstage now with universal standing ovation.Jokes about "I hope I'll get this warm a reception throughout". She's settng herself up for a lot of applause lines.Talks about youth. Talks about how the war isn't over and uses the whole "60 votes / veto dodge". Of course, leaving Iraq requiers defunding the war, not passong ay bills. We ended Vietnam through specifically *not* passing any bills, to defund the war.

Read on for more questions and answeers. Ned Resnikoff is also liveblogging the event.

Update: AL-fucking-GORE is here. HUGE Applause. And the crowd goes wild.

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Notes - How to stand out outline

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 3:09 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

(Crossposted at InnermostParts.org)

John Hlinko (of Grassroots Enterprise) teach. I type. You read.

Lessons -
1: Measure, don’t assume

2: Give people what they want

3: Find the multipliers
Find the influential people who can spread to their friends.

What content inspires multipliers?
topical. in the news
emotionally impactful (humor, anger, etc)
cognitive dissonance
Dash of Beavis and Butthead
117 emails - if inbox has 117 emails, and yours is 118, will they read it?
Ignore the “joy sponges” - people who suck the joy out of life

Joy sponges aren’t offended, but think others will be.

4: Get Creative
use a villian
focus on multipliers in specific community

Find creative / funny friends and bounce ideas off each other.
There’s nothing stopping you from using lots of micro-sites and targeting each to a specific audience.

Markos-Harold Ford Netroots Nation Liveblogging

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 2:17 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

(Editor's Note: Sahar was one of the Netroots Nation scholarship winners.  Meeting him and the other 29 winners this past week in Austin was a true pleasure.  I know this post is a couple of days old, but I wanted folks to see it.  Thanks.  Danny, Communications Director.)

(Crossposted at InnermostParts.org)

Arshad Hasan of DFA is moderating. Hooray for DFA!

For a more amusing take on the whole thing, check out my friend Ned Resnikoff’s liveblog at Veritosity. Much more concise and easy to read.

Arshad talks about his status as a non-impartial person. But oh well.

Markos gives his standard speech. Talks about standing up / trusting Democratic core values. Talks about netroots, how its good for democrats electorally and morally, etc.

Harold Ford talks. This is interesting. He has a very lecturing / speechlike tone. Talks about the history of DLC, how it’s composed of elected leaders, etc. He’s pretty frank, talking about how he represents conservatives and moderates. Talks about how the DLC has people in the Clinton, Obama, Edwards, biden campaigns, etc.

I respect his demeanor. He’s not trying to kiss ass. He’s trying to speak his position / his mind. I still think he’s wrong, but at least he’s proud of what he believes in and not trying ot sugarcoat it. And isn’t that what progressives ask Democrats to do?

Arshad: Howard Dean talks about “not left vs right, but culture of incumbency vs culture of activism”. Harold, how do you encourage a culture of activism?

HF: Not really answering the question. Talks about how Obama, etc needs to attract people who don’t identify as proud Democrats.

Kos: Activists / Voters are encouraged to get involved when theres a real race. People have no incentive to vote in gerrymandered districts. We are the mainstream media. Tallk about the “traditional media”. When media asks about “Obama’s move to the center.” Media has a narrative, won’t listen to what I tell them. In one ear out the other. We weren’t upset about anything really except FISA. We pushed him to reject campaign finance. And we were mad because he didn’t move to the center. THere is no mass of people who want to be spied on. We support conservative candidates who represent their district if its conservatie, as long as they’re proud to be Democrats.

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Success Stories at Netroots Nation liveblog

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 1:29 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

(Crossposted at InnermostParts.org)

I’m at a panel called “Working from the Inside Out: Success Stories in Netroots Organizing”

Tim Karr of Free Press: Talking about the COPE Act in 2006. (Dealing with Net Neutrality) Worked with MoveOn and the netroots. Mentioned Ask a Ninja even doing videos in favor of net neutrality. Killed the bill. Wonky peeps at free press worked with bloggers to figure out how to do messaging.

Joan McCarter: Talks about FISA.

Liz Rose of the ACLU: How to deal with bloggers: pretty much the same as reporters. Give them information, make sure they understand it, understand who you’re talking to (read their stuff beforehand). pretty much the same as reporters, but 24-hours-a-day. “Know who you’re sending stuff to, do it on a regular basis and have a dialogue with them”

Andre Banks of Color of Change: There are lots of people who don’t think of themselves as activists but talk to their friends about politics, etc. Here’s a success story - Jena 6. No one was paying attention to this except Democracy Now!. So we needed to draw attention, pressure governor, and raise money for legal defense. Partnered with black bloggers. THey did research, investigations, asked the right questions and turned this into a story people care about. We mobilized people to go to Jena, raised money for their defense.

There seems to be a lot of emphasis on wonky institutions (ACLU, Free Press) taking complicated legal issues and turning them into digestible issues that people can understand. Perhaps blogs contain people who are good at that sort of thing?

Adam Green of Moveon: When I was lobbying re:Net Neutrality, I heard a lot of this sort of talk: “Net Neutrality is a golden ring, we have to be incremental, etc” What I realized was that staffers on the hill didn’t know that there was a movement of people willing to go to bat for them. Byron Dorgan knows it, because he works with us a lot. We can put pressure on his colleagues where he can’t. We can do stuff a lot more quickly than meetings on the hill - Open Left project of calling a bunch of candidates to see where they stand on net neutrality. Last year re-NN. August last year was a unique opportunity. Senators left the beltway, and then we had constituents see them during recess. 6 new senators came off the fence then because they outside the lobbyist/telco axis. Lesson - look for opportunities to strike, and strike then. For 2008 - we wanted to get people on the record during the primary. We couldn’t do it during the YearlyKos questions, but we got MTV and Myspace forum to ask it to Obama (through 10Questions), and he rsponded beautifully.

Adam Green’s lessons - wait for a moment to strike. And put as many of your people on the inside as possible.

joan McCarter - have an ally in the senate, for example, to tell you who to target, etc.

Tim Karr - 1 million petitions gives us leverage and opens doors in Washington.

Time for questions!

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At Netroots Nation - Energy Liveblog

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 11:44 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

Yesterday I was at the Open Left caucus:

"You need to set up an enemy as the antithesis of everything  you're for. We at <organization> use CEO's. People go crazy when you even mention CEO's"

There was a discussion on how to talk about energy policy and the environment.

"Our energy policy basically consists of a blank check to Saudi Arabia"

Joe Garcia (candidate for house in Florida) showed up and talked about energy. He impressed me with his grasp of the issues and intelligent/competent demeanor.  He said soemthing along these lines:

"Why haven't we seen our electrical bills quadruple in the lat year? Oil prices did. I'll tell you why: Planning. The electricity companies saw it coming and invested in alternative sources, more coal plants, more nuclear, yes, but also more wind solar etc.

We've known for a long time that oil was going to be scarce. But instead of planning, the 2005 energy bill cut out all incentives for investing in alternatives, etc.  Republicans are great at hobenesian choices - where the outcome is always undesirable-. The real solution is investing in alternatives."

Now I'm at the Energize America panel. Energize America is a community of people who connected through Daily Kos and now think up solutions / ideas / policy on the internet. They're really cool actually. Read on for the liveblog!

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Oil Crisis: Oil Industry's method of raising prices and cutting their own taxes

Written by: James Dunn on Jul 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Ocean County DFA/PDA, ALBUQUERQUE NE HGTS DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA, DFA-Democracy for New Mexico - Albuquerque, Florida DFA, Democracy for Florida, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for New York, Democracy for NYC, Human Rights Campaign, "FreePress.org" OhioHonestElections, Connecticut DFA, Connecticut Greens, Democracy for America - Georgia Chapter, Democracy for America - Rhode Island, Democracy for America-South Dakota, Democracy For Arizona, Democracy for Colorado, Democracy for Hawai`i, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Louisiana, Democracy for Maryland, Democracy for Mississippi, Democracy for Montana, Democracy for New Hampshire, Democracy for North Dakota, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for Oregon Leaders, Democracy for Tennessee, Democracy for Utah, Democracy For Vermont, Democracy for Washington, DFA Oklahoma, DFIA, FairElections Oregon, Georgia Arabic DFA, Georgia Asian American DFA, Georgia for Democracy, Georgia Indian DFA, Georgia Latino DFA, Georgians for Clean Renewable Energy DFA, ImpeachThem, Michigan Democracy for America, NY Department of Peace, PA for Democracy, PA Single Payer Healthcare Action Committee, PB/OS in New York State, Progressive Healthcare Reform, South Carolina Progressive Network, State of Oklahoma DFA, The Mass Media Group, Washington Fair Elections, Wisconsin Members of DFA, American University, Babson College, Brandeis University, CU-Boulder Generation DFA, Democracy for IUB, East Carolina University/Democracy for Greenville, FIU Campus Corps, GenDFA Student Leaders, GenDFA UIUC, Generation DFA Regional Leadership, Howard University Generation DFA, NU DFA, Ocean County Young Progressives, UI-DFA, University of Oklahoma GenerationDFA, Vassar College, Youth Enlightenment and Liberation League, 46th District Progressive Caucus, 7 Mile Beach Democratic Club, Acadiana DFA, Acton Area Democracy for America, Acworth DFA, Alabama For Democracy-Montgomery, Alameda for Democracy, Albany DFA, Alpine/Tenafly Draft Al Gore Meetup, Arlington DFA, Arlington/Alexandria Democracy for America, Asheville Democracy for America, Athens - Clarke County DFA, AthensDFA, Atlanta DFA, Atlanta DFA - African American Outreach, Atlanta DFA - Fundraising & House Parties, Atlanta DFA - Latino Outreach, Atlanta DFA - Press & Media, Atlanta DFA - Voter Registration & Education, Atlanta DFA GLBT Outreach, Augusta DFA, Austell DFA, Bakersfield Democracy for America, Baltimore for Barack, Bend Redmond DFA, Benicia for Democracy , Bennington Democracy for America, Bergen Grassroots, Berks for Change, Billy Reed's Democracy for America, Birmingham DFA / PDA, Blairsville DFA, Bloomsburg Area Meetup/DFA, Blue Ridge DFA, Boise D.F.A., Boulder DFC / DFA, Brevard Workers for Democracy, Brook Park Democrats for Change, Broward County Democracy for America, Brunswick DFA-Link, Calhoun DFA, Canton DFA, Capital Area DFA (Harrisburg PA), Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , Carbondale DFA, Carnesville DFA, Carrollton DFA, Cass County Democracy for America, Cedar Rapids Democracy for America MeetUp, Cedartown DFA, Central Florida for Democracy, Central New York DFA, Central Susquehanna Citizens Coalition, Central Vermont DFA Link Up, Chamblee DFA, Change for Kentucky Hardin County, Change For Kentucky Lexington, Change for Ky. Danville, Change For Louisville, Change for Missouri, Change for Northern Kentucky, Cheyenne DFA, Chicago South Side DFA, Chicago South Suburban DFA, Chicago-Goose Island, Chicagoland Supporters of Barack Obama for President, Chittenden South DFA, Citizens Action For Southern New Hampshire, Clarkson University Democracy for America, Coastal Empire DFA, Cobb County Democracy For America, Coles County Democrats, College Park DFA, Colorado Trained Activists, Columbia Blue, Columbus GA Democracy for America MeetUp, Coos Bay DFA, Corpus Christi Texas DFA, Crawford County Meet-up For Change, Cumberland for Democracy, Dayton DFA, DC for Democracy, Decatur DFA/GfD, Democracy for America (DFA) Dallas, Democracy for America - Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Democracy for America - Kent County, Democracy For America - Metro West of Boston, Democracy for America - Orange County, Democracy for America at Quenchers, DEMOCRACY for America in Frederick, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Democracy for America Sierra Vista, Democracy For America, Columbia University, Democracia para la Frontera: Reaching across Borders , Democracy for America- Gig Harbor, Democracy for America- Tacoma, Democracy for America--Wichita, Democracy for America-Greater Milwaukee, Democracy for America-Quad Cities, Democracy for America/Gainesville, DEMOCRACY for Baltimore, Democracy for Brevard North, Democracy for Carroll County, Democracy for Chattanooga, Democracy for Chester County, Democracy for Chicago, Democracy for Cincinnati, Democracy for Clarksville, Democracy for Cookeville, Democracy for Cumberland County, Democracy For Downtown, Democracy for El Paso, Democracy For Fargo/Moorhead, Democracy for Gloucester County , Democracy for Howard County, Democracy for Knoxville, Democracy for Lake County, Democracy for Lancaster, Democracy for Lititz, Democracy for Long Island, Democracy For Memphis, Democracy for Metro Detroit, Democracy for Monroe County, Democracy for Monterey County, Democracy for Montgomery County, Democracy for Newton (MA), Democracy for Otsego and Delaware Counties, Democracy for Pittsburgh, Democracy for Riverside, Democracy For Saratoga Springs, NY, Democracy for Spokane, Democracy for SWLA, Democracy for the 14th District, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, Democracy For the Heart of America, Democracy for the Hudson Valley, Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region, Democracy for Vancouver DFALink, Democracy for West Linn & Lake Oswego, Democracy for Wisconsin - Madison, Democracy for Yolo, Democrats United for America, Des Moines DFA, DFA - Tracy, DFA Anchorage, DFA Bookclub -- Chicago, DFA Boston, DFA Central Coast, DFA Central Ohio, DFA Fort Collins, DFA Highland , DFA HQ Grassroots, DFA Indianapolis -- aka Indy for Democracy, DFA Manatee, DFA Nashville, DFA New Haven, DFA Pasadena, DFA Reno/Democracy for Nevada, DFA Santa Monica, DFA Tallahassee, DFA Tampa Bay, DfA-Bellingham, DFA-Columbia, DFA-Denver, DFA-Evanston North Shore, DFA-Honolulu, DFA-Iowa 2nd District (DFIA-2D), DFA-Link Ocala, FL, DFA-Marin, DFA-MC, DFA-Temecula Valley, CA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, DFA: Columbia County, DFALA, dfaROCHESTER, dfatucson, DuPage Democracy For Illinois, East Bay for Democracy, Eastside DFA, Emerald City DFA, Essex County, NJ, DFA, Essex Freeholder Watch, Fairfax Democracy for America, Fairfield County Democracy for America, Glendale DFA, Greater Kansas City Democracy for America, Hoboken Progressives, Hudson DFA, Illinois Sixth Progressive Dems, Lake Democracy for America, Lake Park, Lane Democracy For America, Lehigh/Northampton Progressive Alliance, LGBTKC, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens, Elmbrook Progressive Coalition, Falls Church Area DFA Link-Up, FDR Democratic Association, Findlay Democracy for America, Flagstaff DFA, Gettysburg Area DFA Meetup, Greenwich Impeachment Committee, HR 676 "SiCKO", Hunterdon DFA, Inland Empire Department of Peace & Nonviolence Alliance, Iraq Veterans for Democracy, Jersey City for Kucinich, L street Progressives, Lakeland DFA, Longwood Progressive Public Awareness, Loop DFA, Lower Merion Teens for Democracy, Manuel's Tavern - Democracy for America Meetup Group, Mason County, KY, Melrose DFA, Mercer County Democracy for America, Mercer Island DFA, Metropolitan Democratic Club, Middlesex County DFA, Minneapolis Democracy for America, Minneapolis Dulono's Meetup, Monmouth for Democracy/PDA, Montco DFA, Morris County DFA, MoveOn.org, Multnomah County Democrats, Naperville/Aurora, NE Minneapolis MNwrites, NEODFA, Netroots4PaulFeiner, Newport Democracy for America, North Baltimore County DFA, North Seattle DFA, North Shore DFA, North Tampa Bay DFA, Northeast Philadelphia for Democracy, NWNJ for Democracy, Oak Park DFA Meeting, South Side DFA Meetup, Olympia/Thurston DFA, Panhandle Democrats, Philipstown for Democracy, Pequannock DFA, Philly for Change, Pinellas Democracy For America, Portland Area Democracy for America, Prince George's - Democracy for America, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of Cambridge - DFA, Progressive Democrats of Jamaica Plain, Progressive Democrats of Somerville, Progressive Democrats of West Michigan, Raleigh DFA Group, Rhodes College, Roanoke Democracy for America, Rohnert Park for Democracy, Rolling Meadows DFA, Saginaw DFA, Saginaw Sickos, Salsa for Democracy, San Antonio Area Progressive Action Coalition (SAAPAC), San Diego DFA, San Fernando Valley Grassroots for Democracy, San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, San Francisco for Democracy, San Mateo County Democracy for America, Santa Cruz County for Democracy, Sarasota County DFA, Seattle DFA, Sonoma County DFA, South Mountain Peace Action, South of Boston DFA, South Valley Democracy For America, Southside Democracy For America, Southwestern New York for Peace, St. Paul & Mpls DFA IRV & Election Integrity Group, Stamford Impeachment Committee, Stockbridge Progressives, Stone Mountain DFA, Student Conservation Alliance, SW Portland DFA (Downtown), SWMO Democracy For America, T-Town DFA, The 99% Solution, The Original Broward County DFA- DFAB, The Pomona-Claremont Democracy for America, The Saint Paul Democracy for America Group, Tigard DFA, Topeka DFA meetup, Union County for Democracy, Upper Green Side, Upper Michigan DFA, Upper Valley DFA, UWEC College Democrats, Ventura County for Democracy, Walnut Creek DFA, Washington Public Campaigns Tacoma, Washtenaw County Democracy For America, Watertown DFA, We the People..., West Hartford Impeachment Committee, West Seattle DFA, West Virginia for Democracy (Morgantown), West Volusia Democracy from Below, Western PA-DFA, Westland DFA, Weston Impeachment Committee, Westport Impeachment Committee, Will County Young Democrats, Willamette Falls Progressives , Wyandotte Democratic Club, York County Democrats, Young Activists Group, York DFA, Downriver Young Dems, Kalamazoo for Democracy, Livingston County Dems, MidMichigan Democracy for America, Mobile DFA, Democracy for Gallup-McKinley County, Margee Grounds, QC AZ DFA, Conejo-Simi-Agoura DFA, Democracy for Sonoma County, Oakland DFA Meetup, Riverside County Young Democrats, San Bernardino DFA, Pali High DFA, What are Progressive Values? Study Group, Democracy For Daytona, Democracy for Lake Mary, Dems Do Good Deeds, DFA Charlotte County, DFA for the Florida 8th, First City DFA, Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus, Hispanic Democracy, Blog For America

Regarding opening environmentally protected areas for mining and pumping oil:

There is over 200 years of oil in the 48 contiguous States that are capped up by oil companies to monopolize world energy. There is no need to violate our environmentally protected areas, just to allow oil companies to further monopolize their strangle hold over our lives.

They are creating a media frenzy just to increase the price of oil; very successfully I might add. However, there is no immediate threat for an oil shortage !!! The oil companies have ONLY created the perception that there is a shortage !!!!

I personally believe that ALL mineral rights belong to the American People, NOT souless corporations!!!

I applaud Venezuela for nationalizing the oil assets in their country!!!!

We should be doing the same thing here in the United States !!!!

Ethically Eliminate ALL Political Corruption

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/jamesbdunn?p=57

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Delivers the State of the Commonwealth Address

Written by: Phil LaCombe on Jan 27, 2008 11:46 PM EST

Linked to groups: Brandeis University

At a rally in October of 2006, Deval Patrick’s campaign song “Proud” by Heather Small captivated my attention and my emotions. The song asks, “What have you done today to make you feel proud?” That day he spoke out against the biting attack ads put out by his opponent Kerry Healy before the November election. I and the rest of his many supporters felt proud to support for a candidate who ran a campaign of hope and change.

Last Thursday at the State of the Commonwealth address, Deval Patrick made the people of Massachusetts feel proud all over again. The Governor described his fight over the past year to make the American Story real again in the Commonwealth with an agenda of schools, jobs, and civic engagement.

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What a Progressive Governor Does

Written by: Ari Fertig on Apr 15, 2007 10:48 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University

Quite awhile back, Democracy for America endorsed Deval Patrick for Governor of Massachusetts. Not only did he win that campaign, but he did it with class and substance. He's gotten a lot of flack for a few things, but I think it's worthwhile to take this time to recognize what it means to have a progressive governor of our state, because it was members of DFA--and the Massachusetts grassroot communities as a whole -- that made it happen.

Here is a very long list of accomplishments within the first 100 days. It outlines what he has done for job creation and economic growth, education, health care, crime, and local aid. For this post, I'd like to look at the environment, since that seems to be what DFA is focusing on lately.

Find out what DFA endorsed GovSolar Inc., a manufacturer of solar power products, said today it plans to build a $150 million manufacturing plant in Westboro. ernor Deval Patrick is doing for the environment after the jump! 

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Tuesday Meeting: Bring a Cell Phone for Phone Bank!

Written by: Aaron Voldman on Oct 23, 2006 11:23 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University

Hi DFA'ers!

Please join us Tuesday, October 24 at 9 pm in Pearlman Lounge to discuss our Get Out The Vote strategy and how we will elect Deval the next governor of Massachusetts and take back Congress! After the meeting we will have a phone bank to support out of state progressive candidates, so please join us and bring a cell phone.

Thanks,

Aaron Voldman

Flyering for Scott Harshbarger event

Written by: Julia Sferlazzo on Oct 21, 2006 9:41 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brandeis University

We made flyers for the Scott Harshbarger event on wednesday. I was hoping to get all the flyers up by Monday. If one person from each organizational team could e-mail me with a time they can pick up flyers (tomorrow or Monday) to distribute to the group that would be great!

Thanks,
Julia