Moving On Then: On Open Source Call For Priorities
Well I guess it is time to shake off the confetti of the last election and start looking to the future as bloggers and blog readers.
Kavips looks ahead by glancing backward in this awesome post, and I’d like to move the ball further still.
What should the Delaware Blogosphere’s objectives be for the next year and beyond? Naturally, the economy will loom over everything, but i htink that there are some actionable items for us and it seems like some action might be good for my spirits right now.
So here is my list, please revise and expand on it in the comment section.
1) Open Government. This is a good target for citizen activism and citizen journalism. We need to hold people accountable for standing in the way of progress and help out the folks who are working in the trenches.
2) Moving the Primary. The current system is an incumbent protection scheme. This may take a few years but our efforts, if successful, will have a huge payoff.
3) Local RD Committee Recruitment. If you think the US Senate is an old boy’s club, get a look at the people running the Democratic Committee in your RD. I think 40 people determined to change the democratic party could have a huge impact in the RD level.
4)…
*smirk* Whatever happens with the Senate Pro Tem seat and the rules for the desk drawer veto… will determine the course of action, as well as the targets, for the open government battle.
If it is Adams, and he decides to run again in 2 years, you’ll see me actively working against him. I already have a catchy slogan: “Ditch the Desk Drawer Diva!”
We won’t know what the course of action will be until we know who is in charge and what they will decide to do concerning open government.
It is a battle I am waiting with baited breath to fight.
Thruman Adams Watch or, better
Desk Drawer Watch
Tom Carper Watch
All of these (we probably couldn’t do all three or even two) would involve tracking legislative and public activities to highlight the real issues with any of these.
4) Carper primary opponent
But, I really think you can only do a few things at a time, so I would say 1,2 and 3 should be the focus.
I’m actually working on 3. I’m in the only RD that doesn’t currently have a committee. I contacted the party about it, so we’re going to start it up again and it will have at least one progressive on it! So, if you know anyone in the 24th RD who is interested on being on the committee, tell them to contact me.
Adams isn’t going to run again. He’s gettting tired. Look for Joe Conaway, Bridgeville’s commission president, to emerge as an endorsed successor, or for Aaron Chaffinch to make another run.
People in that district will not take politely to a bunch of folks coming in and telling them what to do. The Democrats there are more conservative than some Republicans I know. Best bet is to find a young, energetic local teacher or attorney (and I’m not sure there are any lawyers in that corner of the county) to run on a good-gummint, pro-law enforcement, pro-seniors platform, announce early and pre-empt the old guard.
1. Civil Unions (assuming we don’t have the votes for gay marriage)
2. Medicinal Marijuana
is Kavip “SPIVACK” spelled backwards?
After reading the homelessness thread below, I think we should add on “homeless shelters for women”.
I agree.
DV,
“Kavips” is. Although I’m not sure that means much when it comes to figuring out who Kavips is.
Sports Gambling
Single payer health care!
Environment…millions of dollars in fines for the big poluters
Sports Gambling
You are, no doubt, in favor of it.
Jason’s #3 is spot on. UI – how are your conversations with the state party folks going about that?
While were on new local committee leadership, how about:
4) new leadership at the state party?
The state party folks seemed pretty excited. I don’t think it’s me personally, but the prospect of getting fresh faces. I think the party realizes it needs some renewal.
Now is the time to be thinking about leadership in the State Party. Reorganization happens every four years following the presidential election. New committee members, new committee chairs, right on up to State Party Chair will be chosen between Jan and June 2009. Get ready and get active.
Actually there is the case of a missing “c” in Donviti’s query?
Therefore the accurate interpretation does not follow.
Some people overlook it; some people use it as proof for naught.
how about the missing “S,” Paris?
Whoever is at the helm, causing the desk drawer veto to be used, will bear the brunt of my attentions. The deal would only be sweeter if it was Adams.
The missing “c” would just defeat the purpose now, wouldn’t it?
1. Term limits
2. DRBA overhaul top to bottom
3. Legally mandated transparency (prob. related to Jason’s point #1)
4. Curb developers bait and switch as aided by corrupt local officials.
Serious question — what is wrong with the DRBA?
Hey Rebecca — what can the Progressive Dems do to help folks get more involved with the committees and other positions? I had commented a long time ago that it would be really awesome if the Progressive Dems could conduct workshop(s) or something to brief newcomers on the rules of the road for getting involved with the local committees…
Cass:
DRBA has been mismanaged and crying poverty to the tune of millions. How this can be so is a little suspicious. They’re raking in eleventy billion dollars per day in tolls.
I like your top three except I would say party committee of your choice. We have 6 significant parties Repub. Dem., Lib., Constitution, Ind., and Blue Enigma.
I would add form a Lead Committee for each of the remaining cabinet departments.
I would also propose increasing the campaign finance contribution limits to deal with inflation.
Moving the primary will be harder than you think. There has been a bill in nearly every session of the GA since I can remember. You run up against the vagaries of the legislative calendar. No one is going to vote to move a primary to during the session and be a primary target for doing their job. The electorate is unlikely to pay any attention to a July or August primary. I suppose you could try to move it to the traditional JFC break in Feb/Mar, but that would make JFC members sitting ducks for primaries and would put a primary loser in the legislature in an untenable position for the remainder of the session. If you are serious about this goal, you have to look at shortening the legislative session, yet another bill that has been introduced in some form or another for years and years. Delaware is unlikely to be seeing an earlier primary any time soon, even if it does make sense.
Thanks for that. It helps with the prioritizing. In addition to everything you said, it does not seem like the kind of issue that would get much public enthusiasm behind it.
The electorate is unlikely to pay any attention to a July or August primary.
I have heard this expressed by many as a concern by way of how many voters will be on a summer vacation. That’s what an absentee is for.
Considering the normal 20% or less turnout for primaries, I don’t see that as a valid concern. It’s painfully obvious far too few take it serious enough as it is now.
Smitty, if the goal is to increase voter awareness and promt interest in getting rid of “Old Boy” politics, moving it to the summer would be an even worse idea for the very reason you state. You most certainly would lose some segment of the electorate to vacations – and who thinks about absentee ballots when you are packing for the beach. The contest would come down to those who can organize most effectively for a short term, intense contest and get their couple thousand folks to the polls, something the “Old Boys” may well be better prepared for at least in the short term. Coverage of the legislature would dissipate any campaign message intended for the general populace until the end of June. I suppose retail politics could be worked on hard by a challenger who could sneak up on an incumbent in the legislature. But again, do you think any incumbent is going to vote for that – even the progressives – if it means their jobs are on the line?
I didn’t see eminent domain on this list anywhere. It has fallen off the radar a bit, but I don’t believe the city of Wilmington has abandoned its plans for those properties. With Markell in office, if it passes the GA again, it will be signed.
I agree that the top issue has to be open government. It will be HB1, but how far will it get this time?
Also, I’d like to see the deadline for submission of the state budget be moved up 3 to 5 days so legislators can actually look at the thing before they vote on it.
I have seen states with summer primaries and the voting is no worse than our normal September primary. It is the interest in the election not the timing which drives turnout. Obviously some times would hurt. You wouldn’t want the election July 4th week or on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I would propose the end of July. It gives incumbent legislators a month to campaign after session, yet it is early enough to switch gears and run a general election campaign.
It avoids holidays and doesn’t get the political literature drowned in back to school advertisement. Candidates will have plenty of events available and good weather for door to door.
I would prefer a May primary but that won’t fly in the GA besides all of their votes will be on the record for the previous two years by July.