Washblog

I've heard through the rumor mill that Hong Tran may be interested, and I look forward to the debate and working with her in whatever capacity works for the people who vote on Saturday.  This is an election.  If you want to vote, either for me or for someone else, please show up at 8:00 am on Saturday morning in Olympia.  I'll see you there.

My thoughts and musings are posted on left.wikia.com.  You can go there to add/edit. Important clarification: This site is mine, and is completely unofficial as far as the WSPC goes.

Here is a sampling of my suggestions:

• Finish the merge between the WSPC and the PDCW. It makes no sense to have these be in competition with each other.  This is not about competition, it's about finding ways for collaboration and working together.
• Congressional District chapters of PDCW should be the same groups as the PDA chapters.
• Promote the use of the LD & CD level mailing lists, and establish a blog presence so we can keep each other informed.
• Partner with Washblog to encourage the use of existing infrastructure.
• Put people in charge of watching our federal and state elected officials and keeping the grassroots informed of what they are doing.
• We should work towards the formation of a formal Legislative Progressive Caucus within our elected representatives in Olympia. The Congressional Progressive Caucus is a very strong group in Washington DC, and they are a good example to follow.
• Encourage existing local LD, County and City caucuses to follow our lead, join our network and really have an impact.
• Get candidates' attention with house parties and serious organizational skills.
• Host candidate forums and events all around the state to encourage people to stand up and articulate our values. The more people we listen to, the more candidates we will be able to find for national delegate or even local office. We dropped the ball in '04, and didn't follow up with our national delegates, most of which were already involved with the party. *Let's not drop the ball in '08, and continue to build on what we know to be true, that the leaders in our country are our community leaders, not our political leaders.
• Pull in Wellstone Action and Progressive Majority to give training, and really develop our candidates. PM is willing to do this already.
• We need more Handbooks out of the state party. The PCO Handbook is a great resource, and the idea has merit. Two additional subjects that should be developed are a Candidates Handbook and Local Party Handbook. Give candidates and local party officers the lessons learned to get off the ground running.
• We should work with the American Legion and send progressive students to Boys' State and Girls' State in Ellensburg this upcoming summer. It's $350 per seat. Start empowering our youth.
• Another potential point of contact we should use for this is Generation Engage, but they are not operating in Washington yet.
• Don't ignore our base! We need a Seattle Democrats group. We cannot and must not take any vote for granted in any precinct, regardless of how that precinct votes.
• Put the word out that we are looking for great progressive candidates for Washington Attorney General , Washington Secretary of State and Washington Commissioner of Public Lands. Start finding those candidates now.
• Start collecting information on who in Washington is building infrastructure for the 2008 Presidential Primaries. Start building our candidates for delegates at the Precinct level, LD, County, CD and State. Who wants to go to Denver?!