Posted on 03/19/2006 6:42:01 AM PST by Libloather
Democrats hold camp to train election activists
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Sat, Mar. 18, 2006
Jim Dean, brother of ex-presidential candidate and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, will deliver opening remarks today at a campaign activist training camp in Stockton, a site chosen because it's in one of a dozen congressional districts that Democrats hope to seize from Republicans this year.
"Absolutely, we're in Stockton for a reason and that's Richard Pombo," said program director and East Bay Democracy for America volunteer Kathy Klein, referring to the seven-term incumbent Republican congressman.
Nearly 200 people have signed up for the Democracy for America Training Academy, the only California stop scheduled this year. DFA is a grass-roots network formed by Howard Dean as part of his 2004 presidential run. Jim Dean took over after his brother left to head up the Democratic Party.
The two-day, $60 conference at the University of the Pacific will offer workshops on everything from setting up a phone bank and managing the media, to raising money. Participants will also learn the 27-9-3 rule: Deliver three key points in nine words in 27 seconds.
Instructors will include Daniel Chavez, field director for state Treasurer Phil Angelides' campaign for governor, and Ralph Miller, executive director of Latinos for America.
But the focus of the seminar, said Dean during a telephone interview Friday, remains the importance of personal contact.
"I'm not saying that TV isn't important," Dean said, "but you have to have a ground game if you are going to win."
Democracy for America has joined a growing number of liberal and environmental groups that hope to capitalize on public dissatisfaction over GOP ethics scandals and the war in Iraq to turn this district from red to blue.
But the Democrats face a steep climb. Republicans hold a nearly 8 percent advantage over Democrats in Pombo's district, an edge political consultants say will be tough to overcome.
Three Democrats are vying for the primary nomination. The district encompasses Dublin, Brentwood, San Ramon Valley, Discovery Bay, Tracy, Manteca, Morgan Hill and most of Pleasanton.
The Democratic challengers are airline pilot Steve Filson of Danville, wind energy consultant Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton and electrician Steve Thomas of Danville. Democracy for America endorsed McNerney when he ran against Pombo in 2004.
The winner will face the victor in the Republican primary. In addition to Pombo, the GOP ticket includes retired Tracy farmer and grocer Thomas Benigno and former Peninsula congressman Pete McCloskey Jr., who recently moved to Lodi to run in this race.
From left to right: Paul -V- (blogger), Bryan Freeborn (Carpenter and City Council Candidate), Anne Walch (Asheville DFA co-chair), Jim Dean (National DFA Chairman), Unknown (Face hidden), Ellie Richard (1st Vice Chair of the Buncombe Co. Dems), Issac Coleman (Campaign manager for Terry Bellamy), Michael Connolly (Asheville DFA co-chair).
Gawd, he looks just like Howie. Wonder how well he does the family shriek.
The training will surely include tire slashing and other tactics widely used by democrats.
I especially like the "personal contact" part. Oh I so love telling these people I would rather cut my member off and feed it to the fish than vote for a dementacrat. That gets all kinds of replies back.
hey - i was just getting to that. I hope we have some moles in their training classes - it would be fun to see the syllabus.
Jimmy Dean.... that's just too good.
Remember the faces.
Glad to see that Howlin Howie is focused on putting family members on the DNC payroll. I was beginning to worry about his true Democrat Party credentials until now.
"Participants will also learn the 27-9-3 rule: Deliver three key points in nine words in 27 seconds."
So I guess most of the time at the camp will be spent teaching them how to tell time and adding 7 words to the only 2 words in their complete vocabulary: "Bush lied".
Refresher course available here:
When Goons Attack-Bullies Storm Republican Office ( vandalism, shooting, more-)
various FR links | 10-06-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1236613/posts
We Hate Bush! Bush is a Liar! Bush is Hitler!
They have to make sure all the family members are in on the gravy train. I wonder if all or part is at the taxpayer expense.
As luck would have it, I just got a copy of their agenda:
DAY 1
9:00 a.m. Check-in.
9:15 a.m. Opening remarks "Why we hate Bush"
10:00 a.m. Bush loathing workshop
12:00 p.m. Organic lunch
1:00 p.m. Roundtable discussion on despising Bush
2:00 p.m. Lecture "Abhoring Bush: the Moral Imperative."
3:00 p.m. Team exercise: who reviles Bush the most?
4:00 p.m. Bush detesting workshop
5:00 p.m. Team exercise: rolling on floor, pounding furniture, jumping up and down and screaming in your out-of-control rage over Bush.
6:00 p.m. Organic dinner
7:00 p.m. recover from day's trauma (chemical substances provided)
DAY 2: See day 1
A couple of lesson topics:
"Containing glee when a military overseas ballot goes into the trash can."
"Dead people voting, is it wrong?
That's telling...and what we see everyday, day in and day out on abccbsnbccnnmsnbcfox.....
.
For very good reason...
TRAN Blasts DEAN: Calls for Solidarity in Iraq
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536289/posts
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.