Thomas Georghegan, labor lawyer and author of the recently published book Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? How the European Model can Help You Get a Life has come up with a revolutionary idea for how the Democrats could avoid electoral disaster this November, and coincidentally save Obama's bacon and the remarkable achievements of his first 18 months in office, not to mention saving the country as well. Writing for The Nation, and reprinted in AlterNet, Mr. Georghegan suggests that Obama do something for his base. I assume Georghegan means, quit complaining about "leftists" who are never satisfied, as Rahm Emanuel did recently, and Do Something For Your Base, something really clear-cut, simple, spectacular, and easily explained, holding however many feet to the fire as necessary, but just, uh, do it. He has some very interesting ideas of what that could be.
The election for DPVA 1st Vice Chair is this Saturday, less than 72 hours away. I wanted to update everyone on Susan Mariner's endorsement list, which just keeps on growing as the vote nears. Here are a few endorsers since yesterday.
*Phil Burnette, 5th CD Dem Committee Vice Chair, who says, "Susan Mariner is one of the hardest working, most effective, and most dedicated Democrats I know, as highlighted by her attendance at the 5th CD Democratic Committee's nominating convention for Tom Perriello this past weekend. In addition, Susan's commitment to Democratic committees and communities across Virginia, including in rural parts of the Commonwealth, is unsurpassed. I strongly endorse Susan Mariner for the DPVA 1st Vice Chair position and urge others to vote for her!"
*Lovely Lall, Catoctin District Chair and Asian American Community activist
*Thom Beres, Potomac District Chair
*Joe Fitzgerald, Vice Chair 6th CD
*Elaine Owens, Secretary 6th CD
*Lorene Martin, 5th CD Treasurer
*Sam Crockett, 10th CD Chair
*Linda Wyatt, 6th District Committee Chair
*Mike Lieberman, Arlington County Democratic Committee Chair
Thanks to everyone for their endorsements, can we say "momentum?" :) Go Susan!
Well beyond this particular election, what Susan is committed to doing is listening to Democrats doing the hard work "on the ground." That's why she's traveling around the Commonwealth, asking for people's thoughts, meeting with local elected officials and party leadership, and learning firsthand what's happening with the Democratic Party in key battleground counties like Loudoun.
Susan points out that many Democrats "downstate" tend to think of Loudoun as Northern Virginia, which to many people is synonymous with Fairfax County. That, of course, is not the case. And, Susan adds, it's important that the 1st Vice Chair have the time to commit to understanding and representing all of the state, not just one part.
Susan reports that last night, in speaking with the Loudoun County Democrats at their meeting, nobody could remember any members of the DPVA leadership attending any event other than a fundraiser. Having worked on campaigns professionally (Susan served as the general election Political Director in Hampton Roads for Barack Obama, also as an advisor on Senators John Miller's and Ralph Northam's tough Red to Blue election victories in 2007, etc), she understands numbers, campaign strategy, and tactics. Even more importantly, perhaps, Susan also understands how critical it is for campaigns to listen to Democrats who know their communities and their voters better than any staffer.
Last but not least, Susan believes that a key aspect of the 1st Vice Chair should be to interface between the DPVA and statewide campaigns, which makes understanding the entirety of the state absolutely critical. Fortunately, when Susan is elected DPVA 1st Vice Chair in 8 days, we will not only have someone who understands Virginia and meets the other criteria cited above, we will have a committed, hard-working, dynamic, inclusive leader who takes the DPVA to another level of excellence. Go Susan!
On June 12, 2010, the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) will select a new 1st Vice Chair. The following statement is from former Webb "ragtag army" superstar Susan Mariner, who I am strongly supporting for this position. Also supporting Susan so far are people like Sen. Chap Petersen, Del. Scott Surovell, Roanoke County Clerk of Circuit Court Steve McGraw, Prince William County Democratic chair Pete Frisbie, 10th CD Democratic Committee member Charlie Jackson, Isaac Sarver, Joe Montano, Joseph Puckett, 316 Facebook fans, and more. I hope you'll support Susan too. Thanks!
WHY I AM RUNNING for DPVA 1st VICE CHAIR of ORGANIZATION
I'm Susan Mariner, and I'm asking for your vote on June 12th
First and foremost, the job of the DPVA 1st Vice Chair of Organization is to elect Democrats. I am running for this seat at this particular time because I believe I am uniquely qualified to accomplish that goal. Here's why--
*I have the proven ability to grow, strengthen, and diversify the Party: In 6 months as Chair of the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee, I have increased our committee membership from 80 to 175, brought in a critical infusion of energetic young people, and vastly increased participation of minorities. If you want a 1st Vice Chair of Organization who has the skills to grow, strengthen, and diversify the Democratic Party across the Commonwealth, I ask for your vote.
*I will leave no committee behind: Over the years, my work with urban, rural, and suburban Democratic committees has made me acutely aware that the challenges faced by committees throughout the state are not the same and cannot be met with a "one size fits all" solution. If elected, I will personally and actively support all committees across this great state. If you want an energetic and knowledgeable 1st Vice Chair of Organization, one who will spend time helping any committee that seeks my assistance in creatively energizing, professionalizing or expanding their organization, I ask for your vote.
I just got back from the Fairfax County Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner. The keynote speaker was Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and he was very funny. Durbin's biggest laugh lines poked fun at Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (about Confederate History Month) and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (about being a "birther"). Great stuff!
UPDATE: Here are a few photos from the dinner, starting with Susan Mariner, who is running for Democratic Party of Virginia 1st Vice Chair. Tonight, Susan demonstrated her tremendous energy and enthusiasm, driving all the way from Virginia Beach, then working the crowd at the JJ Dinner for several hours, meeting (and making) a lot of friends. Go Susan!
On June 12, 2010, the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) will select a new 1st Vice Chair. The purpose of this newly-created Facebook page is to (strongly) support Susan Mariner for that position. Some background on Susan follows. Thanks for your help!
Currently, Susan Mariner serves as Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (VBDC) Chair. As VBDC Chair, Susan has been focused on uniting and growing her committee, in part through the use of cutting-edge grassroots and social networking techniques and tools. In addition, Susan has focused on grassroots training to strengthen the VBDC and make it more effective. She has worked tirelessly to generate support for Democratic candidates in the 2nd Congressional District.
Susan in an inclusive leader who brings people into the party. As VBDC Chair, Susan has worked with urban, rural, and suburban committees in the Hampton Roads area, collecting and sharing "best practices," doubling membership in the committee this year, as well as diversifying the VBDC in age and minority participation. In addition, Susan has professionalized VBDC communications and its website, increased the committee's visibility, and created an active and effective public service committee.
Many of us know Susan from 2006, when she was one of the most important - and effective - leaders in Jim Webb's 10,000-strong "ragtag army" of grassroots volunteers. Hard working. Personable. Professional. Organized. Motivated. Passionate. Dedicated. Articulate. Creative. Inclusive. Progressive. Experienced. New media savvy. Effective. What more could you want from a Democratic activist and leader in the year 2010?
In 2007 and 2008, Susan was a 50-State Organizer and Deputy Political Director for Hampton Roads. She also served as political director for Barack Obama's general election campaign in Hampton Roads. By all accounts, Susan did an excellent, highly professional job for the Democratic Party and for the Obama campaign. Susan worked closely with Deputy Political Directors from across Virginia, which gave her an excellent understanding of the issues and concerns facing Democrats in all regions of the Commonwealth.
The bottom line: Susan Mariner will make a superb 1st Vice Chair for the Democratic Party of Virginia. She's done a superb job as a member of Jim Webb's "ragtag army," as a DNC 50-State organizer, as Deputy Political Director for Hampton Roads, and as political director for Barack Obama's general election campaign in Hampton Roads. Now, it's time to promote Susan to the next level - DPVA 1st Vice Chair. Go Susan!
UPDATE: See after the "flip" for a segment from my book (co-authored with Nate Wilcox), Netroots Rising, on Susan's stroke of genius - the "Webb Wagons" - and why that one episode epitomizes all the reasons why Susan Mariner should be the next DPVA 1st Vice Chair!
The Conventional Wisdom, repeated ad nauseum is that America is a center right nation, the corollary being that, if those lefty Democrats want to win elections they have to "move to the right," and if Obama ("the most extreme radical leftist President ever") is to have a prayer of passing any kind of legislation he'd better drop this socialist garbage and start acting like a Republican. You know, that Republic Party representing the majority of Americans, ahem. This CW is displayed front and center day after day on the mass media, repeated so often that most national Establishment Democrats believe it themselves, and it looks as though even President Obama swallowed the CW hook, line, and sinker, as he strove to re-create a bipartisanship in Congress which in reality had frayed apart long ago, and which most certainly became a total dead letter upon his election.
How, then, is it that Barack Obama, that "radical leftist" ever got elected in the first place? How, in heaven's name, did he carry so many so-called Red States, including Virginia---- which promptly turned around two years later and elected a hard right conservative (masquerading as a moderate) as Governor, and an Attorney General openly so far over the cliff on the right he is almost certifiable? Why is it there is such a powerful, reactionary movement like the Tea Party dominating the public square and, it seems, the Republican Party? Why do I have the gall imagine that America is not center right, but center left?
According to the Democratic Party of Virginia, "It's shocking that the Governor would unnecessarily stumble on Virginia's history yet again." Actually, some of us aren't "shocked" at all, but that's another story. :)
P.S. How did the 2nd Amendment get in here, I must have missed something? Also, as far as I'm concerned, there can't be too many barriers for felons to get a hold of guns. No thanks!
Virginia Democrats called on Gov. Bob McDonnell on Monday to remove an unnecessary additional barrier to restoration of rights for non-violent felons who have served their sentences.
The McDonnell Administration will require non-violent felons to write a detailed essay in order to have their voting and 2nd Amendment rights restored, according to news reports this weekend.
Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director David Mills released the following statement Monday:
Now that Peter Rousselot is former Arlington County Democratic Committee chair, my new favorite chair has got to be Susan Mariner, of Virginia Beach. Aside from being a kickass Democrat and progressive, Susan is a spitfire of energy, a superb leader, and a great friend, all of which she demonstrated during the Webb for Senate "ragtag army" days. For more on Susan, see here. Oh, and can someone please draft her to run for Congress? :)
RICHMOND - In less than a week, more than 10,000 Virginians have signed a petition calling on Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to "stop wasting our tax dollars on his personal political agenda."
The petition, which the Democratic Party of Virginia launched on Wednesday, already has 11,267 signatures from Virginians who want Cuccinelli to focus his time and state resources on pressing issues such as rising utility rates, predatory lending and combating foreclosures.
"Every minute you spend on this frivolous, politically motivated lawsuit is time spent away from battling the real legal issues we expect our Attorney General to work on," wrote Diane Perkins of Burke, Virginia, in signing the petition.
Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director David Mills writes about Ken Cuccinelli's "apparent comments in support of Virginia pursuing legal challenges to federal laws based on questioning President Obama's birth certificate."
Unlike Republican leaders, Virginians are more concerned with their jobs and their children's schools than with pursuing conspiracy theories and a narrow social agenda. But in the last month, under the leadership of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia is rapidly becoming a national laughingstock.
Attorney General Cuccinelli owes Virginians an explanation for his out-of-whack priorities. While our Commonwealth struggles with a $4.2 billion dollar deficit, the Attorney General has shown that he's willing to use the resources of his taxpayer-funded office to push his own radical agenda. Virginians shouldn't be asked to foot the bill for Ken Cuccinelli's irresponsible behavior and missplaced priorities.
The Attorney General should pledge today not to spend a dime of our tax dollars pursuing ridiculous conspiracy theories about President Obama. We hope Governor McDonnell is making plans to rein in his 2009 ticketmate and protect Virginians' money from being spent on Ken Cuccinelli's extreme political agenda.
I absolutely believe that President Obama was born in the United States. I don't buy into the claims that he wasn't. On the recording, I was asked a hypothetical legal question, and I gave a hypothetical legal answer in response. As I said previously, this issue was not a part of my campaign, and it is not part of what I am doing now as attorney general.
What a bunch of bull, "hypothetical legal answer" my a**.
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The election for DPVA 1st Vice Chair is this Saturday, less than 72 hours away. I wanted to update everyone on 
Yesterday, Susan Mariner once again demonstrated her work ethic and commitment to the Democratic Party by driving all the way from Virginia Beach to Leesburg to meet with the 
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