Its getting ugly, huh? Must be getting closer to June 13, 2006, Virginia's Democratic Primary Race. It seems like both Democratic Party hopefuls are claiming wins every time they go out, which actually is fine by me. They aren't getting the coverage they deserve, so people are bound to come to their own conclusions. Well, let's just get a few things off of our chests, ok?
YES, Miller has some supporters.
YES, Webb seems to (I know he does, but for the sake of argument...) have more supporters, especially at events.
YES, Miller is more experienced in the politics of politics.
YES, Webb would like to have less politics in politics.
YES, Miller has gotten better at speaking in public and saying what the voters want to hear.
YES, Webb has remained consistent and held his and his (hopeful) constituents values near and dear (without robot talking points we all get so used to in election season).
YES, Miller has work to do before winning the primary (I don't think he will, but AGAIN, this is for the sake of argument).
YES, Webb has some work to do before winning the primary.
Follow me and learn why this is more of our problem than you may think.....
Now, as I outlined in my recommended though not really popular diary, "Time to put your $$ where your mouth is," it is time to put our money where our mouths are. It took Bush stealing 2000 and then the 2004 debacle to get me to realize that if I am not talking up my candidate, making phone calls, picking up and hanging signs, writing letters to the editor plus my state reps, AT ALL TIMES, well then sorry, Jaime (or "me" I guess, in this text); I have no fucking room to complain. Listen, I was a vegan for 6 months, do you think I sat there and took it when my cheeseless veggie filled pizza came out with loads of cheese and mushrooms that tasted like they were cooked with someone else's pepperoni? If I had, well then what the hell was the point of my dietary choice? "I will work to live the lifestyle I want in MY OWN KITCHEN but after that I am fair game to be treated the way OTHERS see fit?" Um...well let's just say if you haven't met me yet and aren't sure what my reaction would have been, straight up, that ain't me. That never has been and never will be one of my personality traits.
But I digress. Enough about me, this is about all of us, and our love and admiration for Jim Webb, Virginia's next Senator.
Now let's go. Let's get the hell out there and get this done. Even if there is no event scheduled, are you wearing your t-shirt? They better all be sky blue by the time November rolls around, folks. Is your bumper sticker on your car? Are your signs out in your yard? Are the addresses to the state reps and Virginia journalists saved in your email address books? Do you have talking points ready for when you may want to grab someone's ear? Guys, yesterday I left a dance recital for my 5 year old niece, and I made it a point to smile brightly and say hello to everyone I saw getting in a car with some sort of Democratic sticker on it; I then smiled even bigger and reminded them of a Democratic Senate primary on June 13, 2006. If they looked confused, I said oh yeah, it's to beat George Allen...just go home, and google Jim Webb, that's with 2 b's; he is running and he is really great. Only one person asked me who the other Dem running was; I gave his name, and said he could be found by google as well. I wish I had some lit to give to people; I may make some of my own and keep it in the car. I may (and let me know, if anyone does know, how legal this is or is not) print out little 1/8 or 1/4 pages with the web address for Jim Webb, and a little note reminding people of the primary date, how a defeat against George Allen is a defeat agaunst Bush, and I may stick them under people's windshield wipers if they look like they may be ineterested (ie, again, bumper stickers already on their car).
Now, I am no angel, guys. I am still working on an assignment given to me almost a week ago, and I should have been done already. I just ordered my shirts, so I can't even wear a dark navy shirt yet. I am VERY far away from sky blue. :) I should have gotten home from the dance recital yesterday, and raced to get ready and get out somewehere with a few signs, just for visibility. I didn't. I should be going to an Arlington party today, but I don't have the funds available. But hey...I know there are areas I need improvement. We ALL can improve, and we ALL can do more. The question is, will we? And just how far are we willing to push ourselves?
Again, it's time to put our $$ where are mouths are guys. Let's "put 'em (Allen and Webb) in a field and let 'em fight it out."
(And yes, I am still waiting for someone to name that song, if you can. I gave Lowell a clue...he asked me about my "Save Gamehendge" bumper sticker...anyone?)
I've got a diary coming up.
Have a nice day pj, and keep on smiling :)
I am going to a rodeo in a little while.
;)
Brain dead and made of money / no future at all
Pull down the blinds and run for cover / no future at all!
i>"Again, it's time to put our $$ where are mouths are guys. Let's "put 'em (Allen and Webb) in a field and let 'em fight it out."
I think she ref'd it in the other diary she posted, which is linkd here.
Nice, btw. Always looking for more to take a phishing trip with...
Thoughts?
And the windshield thing? Lots of localities, especially cities, have litter laws concerning fliers on windshields. Be careful, and check the law first. We don't need negative publicity.
I am very disheartened by your behavior today. I thought you were one of the "good guys," you know, when members of the PARTY OF INCLUSION disagree, but still remain cordial out of respect for Democracy. Go ahead and keep troll rating me, who cares? You don't have the courage to write something in case we troll rate it out of existance anyway, so believe me; this is one woman not afraid or affected by you.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Not Larry Sabato! Shame on you.
By the way, the name is a literary reference from one of my favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut. It has nothing to do with Jerry Kilgore.
And I'm not a Republican either.
2) get a rally sign or two. When you park your car, point the front of the car where people are more likely to walk and put a rally sign behind your sunvisor -- far more visible than a bumper sticker when the car is parked.
3) don't be afraid of initiating conversations with people you know - or don't know. Perhaps you hear someone say something that gives you an opening. Then you can find a way to talk about Jim. And remind them - anyone can vote in a Dem primary in Virginia.
4) Make sure you tell all your neighbors that there is a primary, that is on the 13th of June, where your voting precinct is ... you'd be surprise how few people know. And in a low-turnout situation a few extra votes in each precinct can make a real difference.
5) Write a short letter to your local paper reminding people that there is a primary, and with a few short reasons of why you will be voting for Jim Webb. Your local paper includes not only the regular paper, but the free community papers that often get distributed -- they are often hungry for content and might be more willing to print anything they get.
The name of the game is visibility. If you have extra yard signs and stickers in your car when you go shopping, if people ask what they can do pass out the material, and make sure you get their contact information to forward to hdqtrs.
Many elections are one or lost not by the effort by the official campaign, but because of the dedication of volunteers like you. You can - and must - make a difference.
As for the “handbills†I think it’s an excellent idea!!! Jamie’s right we could all do a lot more. The other day at the dentist’s office, OUCH, I had a batch of the original “Born Fighting†bumper stickers with me and I left one under the windshield of every car in the parking lot with a Kaine and/or Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker on it. I hit four cars in the parking lot. Maybe they threw them away, but more likely they took them home and I’ll be willing to bet that at least one makes it to a bumper. Yesterday, I put up two yard-signs near the entrance to my office complex off Monument Avenue. They are still there as of 3 p.m. today
Now let’s go do the calls at the phone banks, put the yard-signs up, talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and strangers, put out “handbillsâ€, pass out lit. if you have it. I need more!!
We’ve got a job to do, now let’s get off asses and get it done!!
We all certainly do quite a bit of bitching, so are we ready to put the rhetoric aside and move with this? You all heard the robo calls last night from the Miller campaign spreading lies and misinformation about James Webb, VA's next Senator, and we aren't going to win this primary or this election by sitting on our cute asses! C'mon now...don't be shy! WHO IS WITH ME!?!?!?