What's Your Opinion About How the DPVA's Doing?

By: soccerdem
Published On: 7/25/2007 9:11:47 AM

With just 3+ months to go before our state elections (which will determine who will get to manage the next Virginia redistricting), I'm curious what Virginia Democrats are thinking about how the DPVA is performing this crucial year:  supporting our candidates, communicating with the voters, letting us know what is going on, letting us know of upcoming events, communicating and implementing strategies, outreach to natural Democratic constituencies, and most important a Get Out the Vote Plan, etc.

Last fall there was heated discussion here about DPVA support (or lack of support) in the 2006 elections to the candidate and to the committees, volunteers, and voters.  Has communication improved, are they providing the grassroots tools to the workers and volunteers, are they dealing with the blogs (at all), are they insuring that "new blood" is being brought into the Democratic family? 

How are they doing in your opinion?  What do you think?

Comments



State Dem. Party (2 out of 5) (Matt H - 7/25/2007 12:50:46 PM)
As a member of the Alexandria Dem. Comm., it's hard for me to objectively judge the state Dem. party.

I rate of local Dem. party a 5 out of 5.  I rate the state Dem. party a 2 out of 5.  Unlike our local party, I think that the state party is out of touch with the voters, and aloof to our needs.  It does a lousy job promoting "our" candidates, and looks timid when it comes to standing up to the horrible Republican policies.

In my humble opinion this stems from our system of unlimited campaign contributions from the wealthy.  On the state level, both the Republicans and the Democrats are feeding from the same trough, and therefore the inherent advantages of having a true opposition party is severely compromised.  I think most voters (at least in my mind) would love to see our state party take bold leadership positions that are of greater value to us.  If we learned anything from Sen. Webb's campaign, it's that populism wins!

The state party needs to cede its elitist image to the Republicans.



I see what you're saying....` (Dianne - 7/25/2007 6:49:40 PM)
Yeah, to me the DPVA seems to be for "the insiders" and those with money.  I think the biggest example of that is they are still not communicating with the everyday. average Virginia Democratic voter (no e-mails).  From my understanding, they only communicate with the committees,  but still haven't implement the Demo Memo!!!  If you don't know to go to their website, you're in the dark about whether there's a Democratic Party or not. I'm surprised the DPVA doesn't see or understand that it's all about communication. 

And on the money issue, I couldn't agree more.  We'll see if all the $$$ they are taking in will result in net gains for the Dems in the GA.  With all the current ill-feeling towards Republicans around the country and the state (abuser fees), if Virginia Democrats don't make a substantial gain, I'd have to blame it on the "head office" and the "party bosses".

Where's a blog?  Geez, even Alabama (state party) has a blog!!!



RK every day -- not the DPVA (Dianne - 7/28/2007 9:20:10 AM)
The gauge of a good website is that folks want to visit it every single day to see what's going on....thus the impressive success of Raising Kaine.

For instance, wouldn't it be nice if there were a page that linked you to more information about the party staff, what they do, and what they are doing, where you could feel more like you know them. 

But the ultimate improvement would be a blog where stories could be posted that could be commented on by those that visit....hint, hint....just like RK....

I would like to commend the DPVA on the current "story" under Party News/Features:  Summer Celebration Letter to Virginia.

The "letter", on the jump page (unfortunately), gave the reader excellent political facts about some of the Virginia Republican agenda that make great talking points for Democrats: 

Tricia Stall wants to get rid of public education.

Del. John Cosgrove tried to criminalize women who didn't report their miscarriages.

And 14 Republicans fought against attempts to include dating violence and the warning signs of abusive relationships in schools' family life education curriculum.

The letter goes on to say:

Saturday will begin the 100-day countdown to the November elections. The result of that election is important because it will set the tone for Virginia and our values for decades to come. If extremist Republicans dominate the General Assembly, they will carve up the Commonwealth, drawing legislative districts that allow only extreme, right-wing candidates to be elected. Those guys don't get Virginia! They don't understand our values and what's important for our families.

Duh!!!  These are the types of facts and opinions that need front page coverage by the DPVA and would be great in A BLOG!!!