The secret to success is showing up. Sounds like their local Republican party is having trouble filling low level volunteer spots. Folks are not showing up. Read about it in bowling alone.
Like rodents they're taking advantage of spaces vacated by human beings, and setting themselves up in a nice comfy nest. In that place they'll breed and multiply.
Ta, Dok. I've felt bad for every decent human being named Bundy since Ted. Dominionist, traitorous, insurrectionist Bundy & Co are doing their best to destroy democracy, and they have way too much help in Congress and other legislative bodies.
All this kind of depends on how well the local kleptocracy, I mean GOP, is organized. In my corner of the world, if you're not invited to the rally at the country club you're out of luck.
I've posted on a number of lefty sites on the topic of Gaza. Criticism comes at me from both ends. Those who feel that Israel can do no wrong and those who feel that"Genocide Joe" is really no better than Trump. I frequently urge the people who criticize Biden that if they don't like the direction that the Democratic Party is taking, it's not that difficult to get yourself elected Precinct Chair and start to turn the ship in a direction more to your liking. Everyone of them comes up with an excuse why they don't get off their tower of purity and engage their neighbors at the monthly Democratic Party meetings.
These here Bundy Boys, a bunch of mentally challenged assholes, are doing the exceedingly smart work that needs to be done if you want to take over a political party. Funny that all of the Frantz Fanon quoting crowd can't get this simple thing through their heads. I mean the meetings are boring and there's always one sweet, but annoying old person (he says as a 72 year old), that has to have everything repeated, but THIS is how you build a party that matches your vision.
I was in Iowa, when the Rs were taken over by the Evangelicals, using just this tactic, then running for down-ballot offices. I've said the left should start infiltrating the Democratic Party the same way, and maybe the US would actually have at least two parties for a change instead of two capitalist ones.
This is what happens when you treat insurrectionists and terrorists with kid gloves. If the Feebs had been willing to risk turning the Malheur standoff into a Waco or a Ruby Ridge, we'd probably have had more rightwing terrorism over the years, but we would not be worrying about an extremist christofascist takeover.
I may speak for myself only. But the problem is, that those of us who are human and want good representative government which cares for its citizens generally have lives. So we DON’T spend all our time and energy and resources running for stupid little political offices, despite the fact that in the aggregate they can have critical impact. But the asshats who want nothing more than DO WHAT I SAY AND FUCK ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY apparently have nothing better to do than dedicate their entire existence to creating political asshat groups.
We need to pull our heads out of our asses and organize better. Or the asshats will win. And that would suck.
Right and precisely my point. What should Democrats so easily cede this to the crazies without even a challenge. Even with a small chance of winning it forces the wingnuts to face the public with their nuttery and spend campaign money
Having made a couple of suicide runs for Town Board back in the '90s, I know what it's like to spend time and money on an impossible race. Are you willing to do the same?
I live in Douglas County, which is a small, rural county here in Southwest Oregon. In the past few years, I have seen a marked uptick in militia and white supremacist adjacent people, wearing proud boy merch and flying all of their fascist flags and sticking their III 3%'ers stickers on their vehicles. I point out all of these things to my conservative Aunt and I can tell she doesn't believe me. She thinks I've gone around the bend and that I'm pushing conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, she has regurgitated many examples of false right wing narrative at me in our conversations. She's completely unaware and uninterested in what's going on because she is so priveleged and really it just boils down to it being convenient for her to lack interest in those things. I try to point these things out but it's like hitting a brick wall with these people. And she's not even a trump fangirl. Just a privileged white conservative boomer.
Hi Cats! Do you follow Seth Cotlar? He is a professor of history in Salem at Willamette University. He has a Substack but I follow him on Bluesky for his wonderfully snarky comments on the doings of the Oregon GOP.
Hey DBTD... lol... Can't just call you blue anymore.💙 Thanks for the recommend. I have to admit that I've been somewhat underwhelmed by my Bluesky experience thus far. I'll check it out anyway because I know you give good recommends. Have you read my newest yet?
JFC Man... Also, how did I miss the Archer thing?!
"local GOP orgs didn't respond to my attempts to check on results"
>the true *deep state*
The secret to success is showing up. Sounds like their local Republican party is having trouble filling low level volunteer spots. Folks are not showing up. Read about it in bowling alone.
Like rodents they're taking advantage of spaces vacated by human beings, and setting themselves up in a nice comfy nest. In that place they'll breed and multiply.
Ta, Dok. I've felt bad for every decent human being named Bundy since Ted. Dominionist, traitorous, insurrectionist Bundy & Co are doing their best to destroy democracy, and they have way too much help in Congress and other legislative bodies.
'You people need to get your public lands out from under our cattle.'
All this kind of depends on how well the local kleptocracy, I mean GOP, is organized. In my corner of the world, if you're not invited to the rally at the country club you're out of luck.
I've posted on a number of lefty sites on the topic of Gaza. Criticism comes at me from both ends. Those who feel that Israel can do no wrong and those who feel that"Genocide Joe" is really no better than Trump. I frequently urge the people who criticize Biden that if they don't like the direction that the Democratic Party is taking, it's not that difficult to get yourself elected Precinct Chair and start to turn the ship in a direction more to your liking. Everyone of them comes up with an excuse why they don't get off their tower of purity and engage their neighbors at the monthly Democratic Party meetings.
These here Bundy Boys, a bunch of mentally challenged assholes, are doing the exceedingly smart work that needs to be done if you want to take over a political party. Funny that all of the Frantz Fanon quoting crowd can't get this simple thing through their heads. I mean the meetings are boring and there's always one sweet, but annoying old person (he says as a 72 year old), that has to have everything repeated, but THIS is how you build a party that matches your vision.
I was in Iowa, when the Rs were taken over by the Evangelicals, using just this tactic, then running for down-ballot offices. I've said the left should start infiltrating the Democratic Party the same way, and maybe the US would actually have at least two parties for a change instead of two capitalist ones.
This is what happens when you treat insurrectionists and terrorists with kid gloves. If the Feebs had been willing to risk turning the Malheur standoff into a Waco or a Ruby Ridge, we'd probably have had more rightwing terrorism over the years, but we would not be worrying about an extremist christofascist takeover.
I may speak for myself only. But the problem is, that those of us who are human and want good representative government which cares for its citizens generally have lives. So we DON’T spend all our time and energy and resources running for stupid little political offices, despite the fact that in the aggregate they can have critical impact. But the asshats who want nothing more than DO WHAT I SAY AND FUCK ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY apparently have nothing better to do than dedicate their entire existence to creating political asshat groups.
We need to pull our heads out of our asses and organize better. Or the asshats will win. And that would suck.
When we lefties have crazies in our Party we just suggest they vote for Jill Stein.
The Oregon GOP is hopelessly outnumbered at the state level; this is why they keep pulling quorum stunts, pushing to join Greater Idaho, etc.
(PCPs, which fits the rural Oregon vibe)
Thanks for reminding me of 70-80s San Jose
And this my friends is precisely why democrats should never downplay and ignore the state and local races
We are talking very rural, low population areas here.
Right and precisely my point. What should Democrats so easily cede this to the crazies without even a challenge. Even with a small chance of winning it forces the wingnuts to face the public with their nuttery and spend campaign money
There are far too many uncontested races and civic engagement seems to be very low. Maybe it has always been this way. Especially worrisome now.
Yes that is correct. In my state democrats pretty much cede at least half the races to republicans due to lack of candidates to run
That allows the crazies on the Republican side to dominate
We need to bring back Howard Deans 50 state strategy
It doesn't help when no one turns out to vote.
Correct. Turnout was pathetic for the primary in my state Something like 15%
Of course having compelling candidates running helps with reducing voter apathy
Having made a couple of suicide runs for Town Board back in the '90s, I know what it's like to spend time and money on an impossible race. Are you willing to do the same?
Too many skeletons in my closet
Of course if I were Republican that might be a plus
ASAP!
People's Rights Network purchased a compound near Bend just a hop, skip and a jump from Smith Rocks State Park in September.
https://www.redmondspokesman.com/news/peoples-rights-purchases-lone-pine-property/article_60443996-468c-11ee-9de7-a7d20fdcc238.html
There is help out there in rural areas.
Check out https://rop.org/ and get involved.
I live in Douglas County, which is a small, rural county here in Southwest Oregon. In the past few years, I have seen a marked uptick in militia and white supremacist adjacent people, wearing proud boy merch and flying all of their fascist flags and sticking their III 3%'ers stickers on their vehicles. I point out all of these things to my conservative Aunt and I can tell she doesn't believe me. She thinks I've gone around the bend and that I'm pushing conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, she has regurgitated many examples of false right wing narrative at me in our conversations. She's completely unaware and uninterested in what's going on because she is so priveleged and really it just boils down to it being convenient for her to lack interest in those things. I try to point these things out but it's like hitting a brick wall with these people. And she's not even a trump fangirl. Just a privileged white conservative boomer.
Hi Cats! Do you follow Seth Cotlar? He is a professor of history in Salem at Willamette University. He has a Substack but I follow him on Bluesky for his wonderfully snarky comments on the doings of the Oregon GOP.
He’s terrific. I used to follow him on Twitter before it became xitter.
Hey DBTD... lol... Can't just call you blue anymore.💙 Thanks for the recommend. I have to admit that I've been somewhat underwhelmed by my Bluesky experience thus far. I'll check it out anyway because I know you give good recommends. Have you read my newest yet?
I did not got an email! Thank you for mentioning, will definitely read! Love your stuff. 😋