Washblog

PCO's - e-doorbelling? Online activism creeps forward.

A friend of mine from work, we'll call him "Rick" (because that's his name, HAR), has put together this fine website, just for his precinct.  Rick is in the 45th, which enjoys the fine leadership of Ralph Gorin (friggin' salt of the earth, is that man), and bestowed upon us Laura Ruderman, one of our pioneer eastside Democrats in the state Legislature.  I know I'm leaving folks out, but they'll have to get over it, because they're not the point.

The reason I highlight this website, and Rick, is because this is exactly the kind of thing we need to be doing to start winning at the local level.  Rick is in a large rural district, and it can be tough to get out to every house - not to mention the propensity of rural folks to keep you the hell off their land - so he needs a backup method for reaching Dems in his neighborhoods.

NOTE:  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HOST A PCO WEBSITE AT THE EXPENSE OF ACTUAL DOORBELLING.  RESULTS MAY VARY.  MISUSE OF TECHNOLOGY CAN RESULT IN ELECTORAL LOSSES OR ASS-KICKING FROM SWITZERBLOG.

I don't have a ton to add - there are some issues with this website, and Rick's heard about my concerns, things he could improve, etc. (and he's heard from many others).  I'd like to add your voices to his consideration - take a poke around the site and offer your feedback in the comments thread; I'll make sure Rick has a link to this thread so he can take your thoughts into account and perhaps get a dialogue going (I bet he'd be willing to put one of these together for your precinct, if you're nice to him).

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My PCO (who's also my housemate) has had a precinct blog for a little over a year. It's not too fancy and it's by no means intended to replace doorbelling. The idea behind the blog was to maintain contact, especially with progressive folks who are only marginally engaged in the political process. You never know what local situation might draw someone in and produce a new progressive 'activist'.

by citizensteve on Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 06:58:16 PM PST

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  • Cool! by switzerblog, 06/15/2006 09:47:51 PM PST (none / 0)
1. I tried a yahoo group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Precinct361392/

and had no one ask to join / email me / call me.

It is my hunch that people have enough crap they have to belong to?

2. I am using the following site

http://calendar.m3047.inwa.net/bamboo/

so that I can make sure people have a list of campaigns to work on.  

I do NOT trust / like the coordinated campaign , and want my neighbors to have some alternatives to supporting all the great things going on.

( see my letter to my neighbors

http://www.washblog.com/story/2006/6/11/18116/2412

FYI - as I tell my neighbors, if you don't like me, vote for someone else. )

3. I have my site of save the world grand stratergery, they were developed when I was at Yalta with Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

I always provide a URL with my little lit drops, again, so my neighbors know what they've voted for.

BTW, I wasn't at Yalta.  However, IF one does not envision him/herself as a great Rodin penser, a strategic stratergerizer, one will never attain greatness.

Clown: Why, 'some are born great, some achieve greatness,and some have greatness thrown upon them.'

http://www.rhymezone.com/r/ss.cgi?q=some+are+born+great&mode=k

rmm.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 05:48:08 AM PST

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When we started the blog a few weeks ago, we decided to created categories for each precinct with an active PCO.

Boy, was that a boring few hours of cut and past.

Since PCOs and members are allowed as front page posters, they can tag their stuff with their precinct, allowing other folks to come along and find each post based on their location.



________________
I blog here.

by emmettoconnell on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 06:36:39 AM PST

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I've tried lots of stuff too. In my county doorbelling in the rural north (militia, right wing) part of our area is totally worthless -- and I live here. Not only are you in remote areas among non-sympathetic people who want to be left alone, but you are also running the risk of stumbling down an unpaved road and knocking on the door of a meth house. BAD IDEA.

I support, at least in this climate, a far more subtle for of networking that does not draw bounadries, the silly little "precinct" designation dissolves.

I find joining the "antique engine" club, helping in the little parade and working on a food drive for the little church to be far more porductive. It is also respectful of the rural lifestyle.

Last thing in the world that impresses people who labor or toil on land or in a rural environment is having some unkown in clean shirt show up on your doorstep with a desire to discuss a political situation. This is an elite model.

Rural people work. When you help them load boxes, or fix an engine you establish an equity. It is respectful of them -- and boy oh boy do they deserve respect -- it does not lord over them an elite talking head. I call it the "helping hand" model.

It establishes commeraderie, and lots of barriers fall with a job done well. Discussions are then held between respectful equals.

I do have to say, the party does not get this. I became a thorn in their side because I refused to be their automaton in an ignorant and insulting process.

Cheers to rugged iconoclasm.

by andromeda on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 07:52:23 AM PST

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Of course I didn't start out here in SEA 36-1295 by being PCO, I started out leafletting and one thing led to another.

This precinct is smack dab between Phinney and Ballard, and votes overwhelmingly Dem. But people don't like any of the political parties very much. I am completely sympatico with Bob: You want to edjubicate my neighbors or rattle the ATM? HAHAHA!

Nobody is interested in a web site. After several years of it showing up every three months, people do read the leaflet (I hit every doorstep, regardless of Party affiliation or lack thereof). That said, I put all of my leaflets up on my own server, I am the precinct stats for all of King County on-line and in various other small ways I try to help provide the small guys and fellow grunts with tools that the Party fails to provide which are necessary to build the grassroots and make some informed decisions about local politics in an electoral context.

I really like the animated banner on Rick's homepage which cycles through "Headlines on the Republican legacy of consipiracy, corruption and incompetence...". I've had this discussion several times recently (and as recent as last night) about where can I get a list of bullet points about what separates Rs from Ds: The DNC doorhanger is completely vapid! I'd like something which was even more local, but this is at least a start. I wish I could download the list (Rick?).

On a technical note, I am tragically impressed that the people who own 45thdemocrats.org managed to set up a DNS entry for this guy, and here in the 36th they didn't get it together to do that even when I went to the trouble, at their request,  to brand precinct stats for them.

by m3047 on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 08:39:17 AM PST

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I think it is important to do both, online and offline doorbelling, using one to compliment the other. But, I think that was your point, so I'll lay off.

Also, on your suggestion for comments on what is missing/needs to be done on this site:

1. More linking to other state blogs, saying "isn't that great what he wrote," and not to the ones everyone here already reads, but to smaller ones that might not get noticed. Be like a clearing house for good thoughts around this place.

I remember Brian doing this everyonce in a while, and it got good fealings.

2. Do this idea. I'm serious, I know it sounds like I hocking this idea off on everyone, but I really do think its a good one.



________________
I blog here.

by emmettoconnell on Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 12:37:56 AM PST

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