Yesterday’s kick off of the BMT Electoral Politics Project is still getting comments. If you didn’t see it, or, like many East Coasters, it got posted too late for you…you should feel free to add to the discussion in that thread or create a new comment below.
Here’s the Question again:
As a progressive, how do you intersect with electoral politics? ie. What has your experience been with elections and candidates and what does electoral politics mean to you?
For a couple reflections and tommorrow’s question…see below!
It was very interesting to read how many BooTribbers have had negative experiences with electoral politics.
Kahli’s comment is worth some thought and discussion alone. Here’s someone who has worked very hard for a variety of electoral causes only to feel, on some level, burnt by the process. Does that resonate with you?
Further, ignorent bystander writes of the utter isolation of engaging with electoral politics someplace where an anti-Bush bumper sticker makes a major statement. Are there any other BooTribbers who can relate?
Finally, when NL in St Paul writes:
What the Dems did to Dean left a mark on me in terms of involvement in national politics. It stung me bad personally and I’m not sure what to do with it. I don’t trust most of our national leaders, but see the importance of getting Republicans out of control. For example, I’ve been hesitating getting involved in Amy Klobuchar’s senate campaign here in MN. On one level, I know she just has to beat Kennedy, but she seems pretty careful and does not seem to be speaking out clearly on the really important issues. So I’m on the fence now about all that.
It seems to strike a common nerve. Are there others here who feel the same way.
All in all, while it may well be a very good thing that we’re doing this project on BMT, it’s also clear that electoral politics is not eliciting “rosy” images for many here. What are your thoughts on this?
Now, tommorrow afternoon West Coast Time I’ll post Pt. 1 of the next step of this project. I’ll be asking Bootribbers for your top Five “Progressive Platform Planks.” You are free to determine whether these planks are Issues, statements of philosophy, or, as northcountry refers to them, “rubicons.”
Basically, I’m looking to understand how we judge candidates…and what we expect to be able to “vote for” when we enter the voting booth.
Please feel free to comment below, and, if you are interested in helping with this project behind the scenes…mostly compiling lists and links and boiling down the ideas that get generated here…feel free to email me at kidoakland”at”comcast”dot”net.