February 01, 2004
Things To Do For Dean
I'm feeling edgy or itchy or something... like there's a whole lot of space open up right now, more opportunity to fill it and turn things around for Dean.There are so many people and so little time, so many possible things to do.
This week in Oregon there are things we can do to help out for the caucuses in Washington State. People can also canvas in Vancouver. I'm considering doing something but I'm also nervous.
The big challenge for Dean supporters is to figure out how to keep oneself close to the surface - so many people deciding the vote are forming their points of view almost arbitrarily. "Well, I really want to beat Bush, so I guess I'll vote for the guy with the best shot of doing that. Who would that be?" And then they just sorta pick one.
I personally think that the lesson to pound home over and over again is the 2002 mid-terms. In 2002, hopes were high that the Democrats would gain on the Republicans. So since everything was about foreign policy then, even though many of the Democrats had reservations about the Iraq war, they went along with the Republicans, thinking that would make them more electable. And it turned out they got absolutely stomped.
This included Kerry and Edwards. They focus on electability instead of convictions, and when you do that, it turns out you're not as electable. Dean's the guy who stood up for what was right when it wasn't popular, and that's what led him to gaining all the support later on, after everyone realized the so-called "electability" strategy was a bust.
What's happened recently is that people's memories are short. They're scared again, and they're focusing on diagnostic electability, rather than integrity, guts, and passion. They need to be reminded of 2002 and what happens when people focus too much on electability. They'll learn the lesson again eventually - all you have to do is keep a close eye on Kerry and watch how he folds when he's given a tough choice - but we need to help them learn it before it's too late.