MeetUp Billy Reed's tonight, November 3, 7:00
Lew Frederick
Each day I try to run at least a mile. Some days it is a lot more. Each day I remind myself over and over that it takes this kind of work to make a difference for my body and mind. And each day, each step is a bargain with myself that I will feel better when I reach my front steps breathing harder and feeling like I accomplished something first thing in the morning.
I began running around the same time that I decided I had to step up again to do something more directly political about our country. That initially was fueled by the comments by Howard Dean. I kept those ideas with me while I worked at nights and on the weekends for John Kerry these past few months. But Howard Dean's comments continue to resonate with me. He said, "This is not one race, one campaign."
Tonight, in addition to a project to get support to our troops and their families, our MeetUp will begin the process of finding out what our next steps might be to truly take back this country.
Each step makes a difference. Each step can mean you breathe a little harder, a little freer. Each step is an accomplishment. Please join us.
7:00 pm Billy Reed's Restaurant (2808 NE Martin Luther King, Blvd)
(No running gear required.)
Lew
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9:13 a.m.
Nov 3, '04
Lew, great news. I won't be able to make it, but I sorely miss the opportunity to commiserate. It's now time for realism, looking at things as they are, not as we'd wish. This is no time to stay on the mat. Gotta dust ourselves off and get back in the game.
Wat to go.
9:48 a.m.
Nov 3, '04
Although I won't be able to make it (long commute from the UK), may offer a few thoughts?
Let's get those court challenges to measures 36 and 37 started. Despite those issues, Oregon's one of the few sites for Democratic victories this year. Let's do a little leading by example, show the rest of the country how it's done.
For the bigger picture, let's get our marching shoes dusted off. We've got four years ahead where we need to make our presence known, and our dissatisfaction felt. No one's going to do it for us. Protest. Write letters. Speak out. March. Get the Impeach Bush committees organized early. Take inspiration from the 1950s/60s civil rights movement, and be prepared for the long haul to fight for the civil rights of future generations, in our country and abroad. And let's follow Evan Manvel's good advice over in the "Too Close to Call" thread and have some fun while we're at it.
Meanwhile, I'll be doing my part to remind Europeans that half the country doesn't agree with the Bush administration and doing what I can from over here to support the progressive causes that represent the best our country has to offer. We're down, but far from out.
Nov 3, '04
I'll be there.
Can the Billy Reed's meeting get posted to meetup.com? The only meeting I see there is at the Fireside.
Nov 3, '04
Count me in. While last night brought many disapointments, it also brought many opportunities to move forward. The Oregon Senate moved solidly Democratic, we picked up important seats in the House, and we retained our wonderful Congressional delegation.
We can't let the momentum and energy that have been driving all of the important campaigns this year dissipate. We should begin meeting immediately and discussing how to keep people involved and energy high, as well as how to best advance the progressive agenda nationally and here in Oregon.
I think that having this meetup is a good start. I'll be there
Jeremy
Nov 3, '04
Congratulations to the activists who had the commitment to work hard and achieve the victories they did achieve, despite the disappointment of the presidential election.
Lew, Jeff , Barbara and Jeremy have the right attitude. Rachel too, but I think this is the wrong way:
"Let's get those court challenges to measures 36 and 37 started."
Yeah, screw what the people want. If we can't get what we want through the democratic process, let's look elsewhere.
How about working to repeal the amendment through persuasion of the voters?
Nov 3, '04
Anthony said:
"but I think this is the wrong way:
"Let's get those court challenges to measures 36 and 37 started."
Yeah, screw what the people want. If we can't get what we want through the democratic process, let's look elsewhere."
I tend to agree. Instead, let's use the courts to give them what they've wanted. I want to see every city, county and school district start to have to pay the hundreds of millions of dollars for property owners who have been "hurt" by government regulations. I want to see polluting business sited in Forest Heights. I want to see jails closed and schools closed and electricity for traffic lights shut off.
If the voters of this state want to repudiate the public compact, then I want to see them live in what they've created.
Me -- I'll be marginally OK if that all happens -- I live in Vancouver.
1:33 p.m.
Nov 3, '04
Here's the note I just got from Howard Dean.
Dear Supporter,
Montana, one of the reddest states, has a new Democratic governor.
First-time candidates for state legislatures from Hawaii to Connecticut beat incumbent Republicans.
And a record number of us voted to change course -- more Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history.
Today is not an ending.
Regardless of the outcome yesterday, we have begun to revive our democracy. While we did not get the result we wanted in the presidential race, we laid the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leaders.
Democracy for America trained thousands of organizers and brought new leadership into the political process. And down the ballot, in state after state, we elected Dean Dozen candidates who will be the rising stars of the Democratic Party in years ahead.
Tens of millions of us are disappointed today because we put so much of ourselves into this election. We donated money, we talked to friends, we knocked on doors. We invested ourselves in the political process.
That process does not end today. These are not short-term investments. We will only create lasting change if that sense of obligation and responsibility becomes a permanent part of our lives.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
We will not be silent.
Thank you for everything you did for our cause in this election. But we are not stopping here.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Nov 3, '04
I still proudly display a Dean for America sticker on the back of my car. The great thing about the Dean presidential campaign was that it was not just about getting one person out of the White House and putting another one in. At least that is the was I always felt. Dean communicated quite clearly what I already thought, that we needed to begin a long and steady journey to take back our country, something that may take a generation, just like the taking ouf our country by the current regime took a generation. Something that may need to start in our neighborhoods, in city councils and school boards.
In that spirit, we had a good year here in Oregon. We lost some but we also won even more. We planted a seed and we need to keep working so that that seed takes root and grows over the next few years.
And I was not one bit surprised when Democracy for America was born like a phoenix fom the ashes of Dean for America, to continue the fight. The Dean campaign will have a lasting impact on American politics. I am still hopeful that the same may be said of the Kerry campaign.
Nov 3, '04
I think that the Howard Dean message is right on. I encourage everyone who is reading this post to forward that message on to their friends, family members, and colleagues who volunteered or worked on a campaign this cycle. With it, urge them to come to tonights meet-up or a future gathering. Send it today.
Are these meet-ups the first Wednesday of every month? Who gets the alert about them? What other opportunities are coming up to discuss how to move forward?
Sorry for the questions...but I'm very stoked about continuing the hard work and keeping as many people involved as possible.
3:23 p.m.
Nov 3, '04
Anthony says: "f we can't get what we want through the democratic process, let's look elsewhere."
Thing is, the rule of law is part of the democratic process. Amendments by initiative are, among other things, by law supposed to amend only one part of the Constitution. If a court finds that, for example, in addition to amending the definition of marriage, Measure 36 repeals Article I, Section 20 (“No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges, or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.”) or Section 21 (“No… law impairing the obligation of contracts shall ever be passed….”) or Section 3 (“No law shall in any case whatever control the free exercise, and enjoyment of religeous (sic) opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience.”) then it should be overturned. The lawful process for determining that should commence immediately. Likewise, 37 should be examined to determine whether it is a lawful initiative. Courts have always been loathe to determine this prior to passage.