Open Thread: Organize!

I knew this Nation article Screwy links to was in the works and that it would highlight Watauga, Heath Shuler and Jerry's work, but no idea that my Margaret Johnson post here would get a hat tip! Way to go, Margaret!

And the Democrats came within one win of a clean sweep in "red" Polk County. In a blog on the statewide progressive website, BlueNC, Polk chair Margaret Johnson chalks it up not only to better organizing but to "walking the talk about what it means to be a Democrat." Where grassroots Republicans often rally around religious issues, the Polk and Watauga Democrats have turned themselves into quasi-civic groups year-round, organizing roadside cleanups, planting gardens, helping the needy, putting on fundraising walks to benefit the environment. "Even Republicans come up to me," says Johnson, "and say, I may not agree with your politics, but I sure like what you're doing."

And way to go, Betsy and the WOW gang. Those women of power posts were a direct result of our brainstorming at the Sea-whatever pottery place this winter.

And here's the mister:

North Carolina's first hire, Mark Hufford, knew the turf. He also knew that Democrats in a few of these mountain counties had already begun to dig themselves out of the doldrums--particularly in Watauga County, where a band of progressives had taken over the party apparatus in the 1990s and, despite a sizable Republican majority among registered voters, slowly built toward dominance in local elections. The Watauga organizers were soon being deployed to help Hufford train and inspire other county leaders on recruiting good candidates, motivating volunteers and getting out votes. Last fall, as Watauga county chair Diane Tilson happily recalls, "We were the first county in the nation to do a countywide canvass. Yes we were! It was freezing cold, but we did it."

BTW, Mark was not only NC's first hire, he was the DNC's first 50-state-strategy hire in the entire country. Thanks for that goes to Patsy Keever (and daughter, Betsy, for their foresight in hiring an "amateur") and to Jerry, of course!

Wooo hooo, WNC Democrats!!!!

 
News of the 10th district: See Pat Go Bye Bye,

That is a great article. I dont have time to read all of it, but I loved the start. Will finish later. Thanks for the link

"Keep the Faith"

I've been laying off Bob Orr lately, mostly because I got to know him a bit through a series of email. But it looks like the question of his income stream is bothering at least one Republican.

From what I can tell, Mr. Orr gets income from his retirement (in other words, We the People) and from work as an attorney for various entities, including the NC Institute for Constitutional Whatever, which he left in order to run for Governor. That Institute is funded by Art Pope.

Feel free to stop by the Dome and add your two-cents.

Rep. Hackney, Uncle Creepy, and several other representatives from the central part of the state will be hosting a hearing on education in Asheboro on Thursday night.

The hearing, scheduled from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at North Asheboro Middle School, will focus on improving the graduation rate and dropout reform.

An e-mail message from Boylan's office says that the hearing is called to allow administrators, teachers, parents, students and communities from the region to share information with legislators on how to improve the state's graduation rate. The event is open to everyone

.

I think you folks will be interested in this:

Watch Your Foodometer

Molly Schwartz & Donna Schaper

thenation.com

Have you called to support H. Res 333 Impeach Cheney Today? call 202-224-3121 & ask for your Congress member by name

I don't know what the DSCC expects us to do to help them defeat Elizabeth Dole. I hate seeing her stupid face every I log in to BlueNC and know that there's not one Dem who has stepped up to run against her.

I'm not saying pull the ad! I'm saying dammit dammit dammit - someone run against her!