More Democratic Party Games

Last week, I pointed out how the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is becoming more and more like their counterparts on the farther right in that the party has become under the control of the establishment machine.

Unfortunately, it appears that I was just scratching the surface.

With the DPW convention just two short weeks away, the deadline for applying to be a delegate to the convention is close of business today.  To be a delegate, one has to pay the $25 membership fee ($10 for low income) and then another $25 to go to the convention.  And that's if you live in town.  If you are upstate, then you also need to get an overpriced hotel room for a couple of nights.

The number of delegates from each county is determined by the number of Democratic votes in the last presidential election.  Obviously, this would favor Dane County and Milwaukee County, since they have the largest populations and also have the highest concentration of delegates.

If the number of applicants is equal or less than the number of delegate seats allowed, there is no problem. All applicants should get a seat.

However, if the number of applicants exceed the number of allowed delegates, then the party officers decide who gets to be a delegate and who is slotted as a reserve delegate.  The problem with this is that it is rather arbitrary.

County party officials are supposed to make their decisions based on who is the most active and who are the strongest supporters of the Party - a rather subjective basis that gives short shrift to the grassroot activists in favor of the establishment members.

This is even more disconcerting when one considers that in places like Milwaukee County, party officials like Marlene Ott have come out in full support of Jason Rae.  Given the personalities of many of these officials, it is not a great leap of logic to believe that they would favor Rae supporters over others.  Or in other words, one would have to pass their purity test.

Then at the convention itself, they do not have a secret ballot. This way the Party bosses can make sure that the delegates vote the way they're supposed to.  I pity the delegate that doesn't vote the "right way."

Furthermore, the vote is a plurality vote, meaning that the winner is the one that has the most votes, not necessarily the majority of votes.  That means the winning candidate could get just 21% of the vote to carry the election.

Now, given that the bulk of delegates will be coming from Milwaukee and Dane Counties, and that Jason Rae has been out there working the system even before Mike Tate formally announced that he was finally going to step down, it doesn't seem that there is a snowball's chance in Hell that this will be a truly fair election.

I checked Rae's website and Facebook page, but I could not find his plan on how he is going to reunite the party when he has to game the system just to win the chair.

I tell you, the Working Families Party cannot get here soon enough.

Coming Soon - 72 County Strategy!

By Jeff Simpson

A year ago, the Wisconsin Democratic party and their chairman Mike Tate unveiled a "new" strategy called the "72 County Strategy", which would help them take back the great state of Wisconsin(emphasis mine). 

The Democratic Party if Wisconsin is laying out its strategy to try and regain some ground in the 2014 elections.

Party Chairman Mike Tate says Democrats are hoping to not only take back the governor’s office, but to also regain control of at least one chamber of the state Legislature. He’s hoping the party’s 72 county strategy will help make that happen. Tate says the DPW plans to recruit 1,000 “community captains,” who will know how many votes are needed in their neighborhood and town to bring in Democratic wins.

AUDIO: DPW chair Mike Tate (:12)

Tate says it’s not just about winning at the top of the ticket. He says the party wants to make sure voters heading to the polls also know about the candidates running for the state Assembly and Senate, so they go in to vote knowing about those races.

Tate says they also want to end the practice of writing off seats traditionally held by Republicans. That includes providing more support for candidates mounting a serious challenge in those districts. Tate says “never again, will someone come forward to mount a strong challenge in a tough seat and not have the support of the state party behind them.”

The problem with the 72 county strategy, is it either has yet to be enacted or they are having a hard time with the numbers.   Today was filing day and of the 99 Assembly districts in Wisconsin, the Democrats completely forgot about 26 of them!

On the flip side, the republicans have let 20 seats go unchallenged.  That means our districts have been gerrymandered to badly, and the two party system is so lazy and corrupt, that 46 Assembly districts will have no choice on the ballot.   That is roughly 2,641,648 Wisconsinites who were left without a choice.

The most extreme right wing government in a left of center politically state, and we could not find 26 people, pulled from local boards, etc... to throw their hat the in ring?

In simpler terms, there are now 26 districts in WI, where the republican candidate is running unopposed.   26 districts, where the republican candidate could say something like "some girls rape easy" on November 1st and on February 1st, be writing legislation banning abortion services amongst women who are raped. 


In a race where you need 50 seats to win a majority, the Democrats handed the republicans a 26-20 head start.   That leaves 53 seats where the people in a district have a choice, (granted some have more of a race than others),  which means they have to finish 30-23 to have the majority.  


Apparently, I need a refresher course on what the 72 County Strategy means, because right now it seems to be a 53 county strategy.  I also would like it explained to me, exactly what we pay the party chair to do? 

Maybe, if the Democratic party, had spent their time recruiting candidates, instead of trying to ward off challenges to the party picked governor's ticket, we would have been able to fill a few more slots! 

A good question to ask at the convention this weekend, is why is a 26% failure rate acceptable?

Another is, when will this 72 County Strategy actually start?

Open Letter To The Democratic Party of Wisconsin

We at CogDis, are always open to all views and want to generate discussion.   Today's version is a guest post from Democratic Activist Vivian Creekmore(follow her on twitter). 

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DPW

Congratulations all. The convention and elections for officers are over. Now, let's work together! Right? Yes! We are on the same side!

I began talking with people around the state a few weeks ago as soon as I heard that there might be challengers for Chair, DPW. I was originally just doing a little research for a radio interview about "The state convention is coming up isn't that wonderfully exciting..."

I did not know any of the candidates before the elections and felt somewhat like a movie critic.

But, as I talked to people, I discovered that many people had the same concerns. I talked to members, grassroots organizers, County Chairs, candidates, and people who earn a living advising candidates.

  

I and many people have had the experience of finding it virtually impossible to communicate with the state offices (over the course of years - not days), the CD leadership or the Administrative Committee.

Every time Joe Kallas made an accusation, I tested it. I could not find out how to run for state office – until I posted that on my Facebook wall as an accusation. I never received an official response. I could not find info about the Elections Committee until… likewise.

There is a lot of anger about campaigns being tanked by fellow Democrats or the DPW. I and many people have personally witnessed this.

I and many people in this very large state feel no connection to the state party -- that it is all about Madison and Milwaukee, maybe Waukesha? -- and, the rest of the state falls off the map.

Many people across the state don't think that the very young people in the state offices know more about politics, messaging, writing, PR, web development, FB and Twitter messaging, etc. than others who are actually experts in these fields and have a lot of experience.

So, here are my conclusions after a lot of listening:

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has a calling to be inspiring, empowering and uniting of its members in a strong fellowship where the leadership comes from the grassroots & not from the top down. We are a network - a family - of people committed to common values.

*New strategies are needed to reclaim Wisconsin. 

Democrats have lost the Assembly, Senate, the Governor’s seat and the Governor's Recall Election.The Democratic Party of Wisconsin cannot take credit for President Obama’s and Tammy Baldwin’s elections.

* As Democrats, we must support transparency and easy access in our Party and all DPW processes – or the leadership will never be trusted.

-- The information about the oversight committee (the Administrative Committee) should remain on the web-page all the time.

-- The Administrative Committee should strive for visibility and leadership to provide checks and balances -- and not just be a “rubber stamp” committee.

-- Access to the process of running for state party offices should be easily available by calling, in writing and posted on the web-page all the time.

-- Information about State Party Offices and Officers (salaries, responsibilities and job descriptions) should be easily available to the membership by request and/or on the web-page all the time.

-- The names of the Election Committee members should be posted on the web-site as well as when/how they are appointed and their term limits.

-- All active committees and caucuses and important information about the Party functioning should be available on the web-site.


*The process of running for DPW office should have few roadblocks – just as we oppose establishing arbitrary roadblocks to running for public office or the voting process.

The current, and fairly recent, requirement of 10 signatures from 6 of 8 Congressional Districts gives an advantage to incumbents (who travel the state as part of their jobs and have the bully pulpit) and is discouraging to challengers. The Constitution should be changed.


*The DPW and all County Parties must be a big umbrella party:  Grassroots groups, Democratic voters, liberals, progressives, moderates, Independents and independents, labor groups and various advocacy groups (environmental, GLBT, women’s rights groups, etc) should be encouraged to join the democratic process and to join the Party. 

-- There has to be a campaign facilitated by the state and county parties so that we are united by our shared values and not alienated by labels. Progressives, independents, union members, etc should not feel unwelcome in our party.


*The state party must be responsive to members and their concerns: Officers and employees must answer phones, returns calls and respond to emails.


*The state party cannot maintain the respect of its members unless it maintains it committees and caucuses, holds meetings, sends out notices of meetings, and follows up on committee recommendations.


*The power of a party lies in the grassroots (the counties) – not at the state level. Geography should not divide us. Madison & Milwaukee should not be the focus of the Party.

-- The DPW must operate as a “network” and not as a hierarchy or bureaucracy.

-- Madison and Milwaukee do not know the state. The county parties are the experts on their territory and should be treated as such.  There are party members across the state who say that they do not know/have never met anyone from the state party.

-- The state Party Officers must be assertive in developing relationships with county parties, organizations, grassroots and progressive organizations and labor unions.

-- Hold focus groups, solicit feedback via email, and do surveys about what members and counties need.

-- State officers and employees must actually visit counties, listen to their concerns and suggestions, and use the feedback they receive. Members and not just officers must be involved. It is the members who make the calls, make the donations and do the canvassing – not just the officers.

-- More authority must be given to the county in the running of campaigns and Coordinated Campaigns -- and not just to Field Organizers who do not know the area and have too little experience. 

-- The idea that nothing but dialing 5 times and knocking is all that wins elections has to be pulled out by the roots. That may be the icing on the cake – it is not the cake.

-- The difficulties with OFA, DPW and local counties working together must be resolved and true “coordinated campaigns” must be run.

-- The County and State Parties need to define their relationships with each other: How closely are they related? Is it hierarchical? Is it a network? Are they independent of each other?


*Many Democrats disapprove the $40,000 “buy in” for federal candidates for the “Coordinated Campaign” and believe that it is excessive and discouraging. 

*The state party has to do more to support labor and make union members feel supported.

*The DPW must define itself in no uncertain terms, define the issues that we are of paramount important to us and be single-minded in pursuit of our goals:

-- We must define ourselves in positive terms, keep our opponents off our literature and define what WE stand for.

-- The DPW must have a rural agenda or it will not be successful.

-- The DPW must have a poverty plan or it will not be successful.

-- Environmental issues are paramount in Wisconsin.

-- The fight for education is critical.

-- Labor issues are crucial.

-- Define the other "fight to the death" issues and address them in positive terms that speak to the hearts of "the people of Wisconsin."

-- Define the crucial national issues that are non-negotiable for us and fight for those within the DNC and national party. 


*It is vital that a state Democratic Party:

  1. Be much more technologically sophisticated than the current DPW and

  2. Have much better, more positive and more aggressive messaging:

-- People need to be drawn together, inspired and motivated;

-- The DPW has to define the conversation;

-- Lead the conversation;

-- Focus on issues and actions – not just candidates and money;

-- Be more aggressive;

-- Make members feel valuable and connected – because a handful of people in Madison just cannot get the job done.

-- Members will stop opening their mail and email once they know it is always a fund-raising letter – and, it is always fundraising.

-- The state party needs a more sophisticated web-page and every county party should at least have a very attractive Facebook page and active messaging via email.

-- The DPW Facebook page has to be more attractive, exciting, interesting and varied – with more emotional appeal.

-- Likewise, Twitter has to be interesting, relevant, age appropriate and have variety.


*Knowledge of local counties & leadership by local counties in the conduct of campaigns is vital to success of the state party.

-- It is crucial that the DPW make hiring WI residents and locals as Field Organizers and in other positions a top priority

FO’s often don’t know WI voting laws, the names or locations of municipalities in a given county, or cherished local customs (giving rides to the polls).

-- We must have well-trained Field Organizers. They report that they are judged solely on their “numbers” – phone calls made. In a very “blue” county, these calls would be made without any FO at all. And, an abrasive FO can cost a county very valuable volunteers and donors.

-- FO's have little public life experience and need training in “business etiquette” (customer service).

-- FO’s need an orientation to the county they are working in and that can/should be provided by that county.

-- A successful party empowers the county to use its own resources and train FO's.

*A successful state party supports the entire ticket - top to bottom - in every race in every district in every script for every call & canvass whether they personally like the candidate or not

-- Phone & canvass scripts must include the entire ticket. Literature drops must include all appropriate materials available.

-- Democratic candidates must support each other & work together so that “Coordinated Campaign” is more than just a meaningless phrase.

-- The DPW needs to work with Assembly and Senate members or caucuses who fail to support or who “tank” other Democratic campaigns.


*A state party that engages in activism and keeps its members informed of interesting activities, opportunities and actions will be more successful. Volunteers, members and the public care about issues and activities more than what celebrity is in the news or getting another fund-raising request!

*State/county parties must understand the importance of engaging the under-35 population and work actively to do so.

-- Memberships for high school & college students should be free.

-- An active committee to explore successful strategies for engaging younger populations should be formed – IF there will be an active committee and action will result.

-- Young Democrat groups can/should be developed.


*A successful county/state must be aggressive in working to involve gender, cultural, ethnic, racial, SES, age and issue groups.


* Every county party can and should develop themselves. But, it may not happen. A simple “best practices” guide for counties could/should be developed.

MY Dem Endorsement!

By Jeff Simpson

This weekend is the Wisconsin Democratic Convention and there is a race for chair.  The race is between incumbent Mike Tate and challenger Joe Kallas.  There is also a race going on for 2nd chair between Jeff Christensen and Jamie Shiner.  Apparently there are not enough chairs to go around in our state so they have to fight over the 2nd one.  (edit note: Full disclosure I know Mike Tate and Jeff C and only know Joe Kallas and Jamie Shiner via Facebook).

This endorsement is mine, and only reflects what I think, not @cog_dis as Capper is perfectly capable of giving us his own endorsement.  Also, this is the only place where my endorsement will matter, since I did not "sign up as a delegate", I would now be voiceless at the Dem Convention(were I attending).   (edit note take 2 - the fact that only "delegates" can vote is a ridiculous rule and needs to be changed. Any paid member at the Dem convention should be able to cast a ballot.  Period!   Its hard to have as a position on your platform, protecting the voting rights for all when internally we set up barriers that would make robin vos proud).

In Mike Tate's career, the democratic party(for various reasons) has lost control of all three branches of Government and then in the last election, lose them even further.   While this is not all Mike Tate's fault, he was the one in charge.  Now he has a vague but promising 72 county strategy(I need more information and guarantees) and a billboard.




Joe Kallas is someone who has been involved in the party from all angles including having run as a candidate(against Tax Avoiding Tom Petri) yet he seems sincere about focusing on the grass roots and breaking down the barriers that the party has set that discourages outsiders from getting to close to the inside(like the secrecy on Mike Tate's pay and forcing a potential candidate to travel the state  However his inexperience as party chair and the turmoil a tate loss would throw the whole party in.

Add that to the fact that the Democrats have been non existent in messaging since the Graeme Zielinski fiasco, the disgusting votes by ten members of the democratic caucus for AB 110, the lack of any comprehensive plan(long term or short term), no relevance in Government despite massive vote totals that show our state is a center left state, while we enact extremist right wing zealot policies, a subservient media to the right wing, internal strife, and as of printing this no candidate for Governor and most 2014 seats.

I also feel that this is the election cycle  to make a mark(despite the unethical redistricting), we have an extremist group of semi religious, bitter and unethical group of republicans, who have not only broken every promise, but also tragically and epically failed at them.   We have a Governor who has a very bad relationship with the truth and his economic record puts WI in the lower 40's(out of 50).

Our friends on the right have pushed an abortion agenda so extreme that it goes beyond planned parenthoods!   They have been so unethical in how they passed their dismantling of education bill, that they had to do it in the middle of the night.   The fact that they handed northern WI to Gogebic Taconite  with no strings attached and diminished DNR strength,   They also are attempting to cut out the Center for Investigative Journalism, unconstitutionally cracked down on free speech, and have borrowed and spent us into a huge structural deficit, and enacted a devastating pay cut on hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites. And much much more to list.

With the opposition being so incredibly untalented and just plain bad, how can we not win?

Well part of it is that Peter Barca, Chris larson and Mike Tate are not all on the same page and as a party we cant go forward when someone is going solo.  We cant win, when elder members of the party are telling younger members of the party, to calm down and do not be so strong willed and aggressive.  We can not win when we spend more time and research on our own candidates then we do the opposition.

I do not see anything changing regardless of whoever wins this weekend.

For that reason, my recommendation is to vote

NO CONFIDENCE!

Let them know that you are sick of the games, sick of the cowardice, sick of the letting the right wing decide our tactics, let them know that there is truly a sense of urgency and it is NOW time to embrace the grassroots and the base and give Wisconsinites what they want - a Statehouse full of sane, bipartisan, intelligent, ethical, mature men and women. 

If I were allowed a ballot(and I am not) my vote would most definitly be the write in candidate :

NO CONFIDENCE!

let them know there is still time to earn it back but make sure they hear you that the same losing techniques will no longer be tolerated!

NO CONFIDENCE! 

Then let's build our party up from the grassroots!