NCDP

I’m a big believer in grassroots politickin’. So much so, that I’ve been spending my Saturdays going door-to-door with candidates across North Carolina – something I’ll be doing each Saturday between now and the election.

While I spend a lot of time raising money and communicating through paid and free media, I know that there’s just no substitute for having a real conversation with voters about the things that trouble them.

That’s why here in North Carolina we have established a Training Committee that’s been hard at work teaching people the basics. So far they’ve trained over 500 people in 25 counties. And between now and the election, they’re expected to reach another 300 people.

Recently, this committee – under the leadership of Jeff Marsocci and Beth Secosky – produced an outstanding video on how to do door-to-door canvassing. Whether you’re new to this, or an old-timer, you should check it out. Watch it at www.engagingthegrassroots.com.

I hope you’ll be out there canvassing with me between now and November 7th.

Crunch time.


You've all probably received emails from Mr. Meek today, but just in case you haven't, the NCDP has announced it's launching a voter registration drive to get everyone to register 10 new voters over the next six weeks. Sounds like a good plan.

Everyone interested in creating a strong roots based Democratic Party should read E.J. Dionne's column in todays Washington Post.

He addresses some of the conflicts we are seeing between Howard Dean and the DCCC and why it is important for the Democrats to create a party that is active all the times, not a group of special interests that just come together for a Presidental election.

I got back into Raleigh Sunday just in time to catch Jerry Meek giving a talk at the Quail Ridge Bookstore on Wade Avenue. The speech by Meek, which focused on the book "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff, attracted many locals, a few candidates for the General Assembly, and a sitting General Assembly member, Grier Martin. The speech focused on ways to frame the debate and successfully convert moderates and conservatives to the position of the Democratic Party. But to me the event highlighted Jerry Meek more than the book.

The event shows both that Meek, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science and Law School from Duke, is a serious thinker of politics able to articulate his thoughts coherently and a person willing and even excited to go out amongst us common Democrats. Meek gave his talk and then received questions from the audience members, most of whom Jerry addressed by name. The speech included many astute tips on how to frame the debate with Republicans; my favorite was his tip that when addressing hunters concerned with gun control you should reply that Democrats are not going to take guns from hunters but 20 more years of Republican environmental policy will render the gun useless.

Blue NC readers:

You saw it in Connecticut on Tuesday—Democrats are energized. The November election will be a referendum on Bush's failed policies and Republicans clearly see the writing on the wall. Incumbents who appear to be too close to President Bush, or are seen as out of touch, have a higher risk of being swept up in the anti-incumbent wave.

In 89 days, we will send that message loud and clear. And I need your help.

Today's discussions about Lamont's victory and the question of extremism got me to thinking ... and hunting for insight. My search took me to this commentary about the new world we live in.

In this new era, partisanship is a virtue. The conservatives rise to power, and their utter failure to govern responsibly or effectively, requires a new progressive politics of confrontation, not accommodation. This new politics may be uncomfortable to those used to an America governed by Democrats and progressive values, but for our politics and values to triumph progressives must and are learning how to resist “cutting deals,” working to “get things done” on terms set by an irresponsible governing majority.

This afternoon brought a nice contrast to the lack-of-agenda NC Republican's campaign to take the NC General Assembly (i.e. Jim Black is a bad guy). The North Carolina Democratic Party's blog posted an entry on the federal GOP controlled "Do Nothing" Congress. So, Democrats running against widespread incompetence; Republicans running against lack of integrity of one man. Now I think that is a good argument against Black, but it is not a good reason to dump our Democrat

This is my first post, but I'm an avid reader. A lot of us have been working hard on this branding initiative in Western NC. If you live west of I-77, you might have seen these signs. Blue NC's own Drama Queen has been instrumental in this project, which was established by the NC Democratic Party's Western Task force.

Here's a cross-posting from The Political Junkies:

Western North Carolina Democrats are taking the first steps to build the Democratic Party “brand.” Using the “Burma Shave” advertising technique from the first half of the 20th century, mountain Democrats are erecting groups of signs touting Democratic Party messages.

Jerry Meek, head of the North Carolina Democratic Party, called me this afternoon to discuss my response to his post on his BlueNC blog. We've corresponded and talked several times in the past, and I think he's doing an outstanding job.

In my response I had asked another blogger to substantiate his claim that

The state party has a wealth of resources, despite what some may tell you....

I had read that comment as accusing the NCDP of having lots of money and not sharing it, and Jerry wanted to confirm that the state party does indeed have a wealth of resources that they want to share with county parties.

Jerry Meek is Chair of the NC Democratic Party

You’ve probably heard a lot about the DNC’s “50 State Strategy” lately.

When Gov. Dean ran for National Chairman, I voted for him in part because he promised that Democrats wouldn’t give up in any State and that State Parties would be true partners with the DNC. He’s keeping his promise, and it’s paying off right here in North Carolina.

After his election, Gov. Dean sent a team to North Carolina to find out what we needed as a State Party. Ours was the first State in the nation to which a team was sent. And, as a result of this assessment, North Carolina now has three new regional political directors – paid for by the DNC, but managed by the State Party – who are traveling the State, training local party leaders and helping to build local organizations.

Hi, Blue NC. I hope everyone is having a great holiday. Today, I posted the following blog entry on MyDD and I wanted to share it with you.

One year ago, I welcomed President Bush to Fort Bragg – located in my home county – with a list of questions that I hoped he would answer about his Administration’s mismanagement of the war in Iraq.

Every question I asked last year has gone unanswered—not to me, but to our men and women he sent into harm’s way and to the American people whose trust he has broken. Read for yourself.

This Independence Day, President Bush is again at Fort Bragg. Once again, it appears that he is just coming for another photo opportunity. He owes our troops much more.

The NCDP State Convention is Saturday, June 24 in High Point at the High Point Theatre and Exhibition Centre. The state party's put together a number of related programs surrounding the convention itself, including activist training, a polling presentation by the DNC, and the first annual Sanford-Hunt dinner.

Unlike the Republican's convention, ours is open to all Democrats, though non-delegates won't have a vote. The whole weekend ought to be a good time -- we've come a long way and involved a lot of new people in the last year and a half.

There's more information below and at http://www.ncdp.org/stateconvention

I was raised in a Southern Baptist household and spent the first 17 years of my life with parents who called black people niggers. We were right-wing Republicans through and through, who steered clear of debt like we steered clear of Commies like we steered clear of Satan. We were so conservative that when I left home to be sworn into the US Naval Academy, it was like stepping into a parallel universe of liberalism. For all its faults, the Academy taught me to think critically about god, the military, war and freedom. By the time I became an officer in the middle of the Vietnam debacle, I was thoroughly radicalized. I had turned completely Blue.

I'm appreciating Matt Hill's comments about feeling left behind by the Democratic party, but you don't have to be gay to feel that way, Certainly not here in North Carolina, where the main difference between Democrats and Republicans seems to be which industry they're beholden to. I'm sure there are some great people somewhere down there in NC House and Senate, but the leadership in both parties gives me the creeps. With Art Pope owning a solid core of right wing wackos and Jim Black trafficing in favors among favors, it's hard to stomach sometimes.

Do you have a Senator or Representative in the NC legislature that you're particularly proud of?

I'd really like to know who the next generation of leaders will be, because from where I sit, it's not very encouraging.

Matt Stoller listed NCDP Chair Jerry Meek among such notables as John Edwards, Bernie Sanders, and others today at MyDD, saying:

These are all people that I think are courageous and smart about wielding power, as well as interested in pushing the progressive populist agenda forward in their own way.

He listed Massachussetts gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick as his fave, but here are the runners up (my emphasis added):