Want to fix the broken Democratic Party? Steps you can take now

Regardless of whether Senator Obama manages to win the election (which I do not think he will - check out the this data and compare it to the maps of electoral college votes in 1996, 1992, and 1972), the Democratic Party needs fixing. This will be no easy task because those most responsible for breaking it are powerful people. And you can be sure that they are working very hard right now to shore up their power because of the state of the polls, especially in the key electoral college swing states. The entire general election race so far is an embarrassment to the DNC and internal Party leaders including Dr. Dean, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid, Ms. Brazile. But it is during this time period - the last time all of these folks will be regularly in Washington DC for the final session of the 110th Congress - that jockeying for power in the national Party and in the Senate leadership in the upcoming year is already beginning. Come November 5 reform for the long haul will have to begin but there are some crucial immediate steps to be taken.

Heidi Li's tips for those who want to swing for reform

• Support efforts to shore up Senator Clinton's wing of the Democratic Party. Help make sure that she and her supporters are not scapegoated for any loss suffered by Senator Obama in the general election. (For more information on one way to aid that effort consider a donation to Democrats for Principle before Party. Learn more.) Or simply



to the Democrats For Principle Before Party initiatives to bolster the Clinton wing of the Democratic Party.

• Watch for a forthcoming  "slate" of downticket Democrats who take seriously democratic and Democratic practices, principles, and traditions, and who are in tight races. Support these candidates even if they are not from your state and especially if they are in states where Senator Obama has very short coattails.  Clinton Democrats need to show they have muscle not just by refusing to accept Senator Obama as a legitimate nominee or appropriate President but by showing that they can put into office politicians whose views and character they respect.
• Support the effort to make Senator Clinton Senate Majority Leader. Learn about specific measures to do that in this earlier post on this site.
• Sign up to become a poll worker in your district so you can watch for election fraud.
• Feel free to abstain from voting the top of the Democratic ticket. Conscientious withholding of one's vote is not copping out. Nobody should vote for a candidate they do not trust. If you don't trust either major party candidate, don't vote for either of them. Leave the Presidential line blank.

Comments

[Car54wru]

Dems to Win, I do not think Professor Feldman has made unfounded accusations. Tell us what accusations you consider unfounded. Be specific.

[carol]

As always, great ideas. However, I believe leaving the top of the ticket blank is signing up for taking the risk to have your ballot tampered with, especially in states that use paper ballots. In addition, unless voters know for sure how an incomplete ballot is handled, there's a potential risk there as well. Voters can always call the Secretary of State's office to find out about write-ins or voters can vote 3rd party. But, somehow, some way, I would NOT recommend leaving the top blank.

[Donna Mohler]

i think the dem. party is too far gone to fix it! maybe we should just start a new one! I cant believe i have always been a dem. and thanks to N.P./H.D./D.B./H.R.and others i consider myself an Independent or leaning republican because there is only one man i will trust in the whitehouse and that is John Mccain!! I Am Honestly ASHAMED To call myself a DEMOCRAT/after those PEOPLE CHEATED SO BADLY IN THE PRIMARIES! WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE???

[truthisgold]

I would love to see Lynn Forester de Rothschild heading up the DNC. Courage, vision and demonstrated leadership abound with her.

[truthisgold]

Dems to win, Professor Feldman as made NO unfounded accusations whatever. It is always a good idea to do one's one Due Diligence and fact checking before making accusations, and as a professor of law, Ms. Feldman is more aware of the importance of stating only substantiable fact than most. I have never once found an error in fact from any of her posts because there ARE none.

[truthisgold]

I have to agree with those who express concern about blanking the top of the ticket. Perhaps in days gone by it might have been a viable plan for a noble gesture but, things being what they are in this race which has already demonstrated incredible and boundless corruption and voter fraud, I cannot support giving an opportunity to the opposition by leaving the top of the ticket blank. It MUST be filled in so as to prevent someone else filing it in for you. Witness the Michigan chicanery that took place with voters who chose not to vote for either Kucinish or Clinton, the only names on the ballot: they of the DNC RBC arbitrarily took votes from Clinton and GAVE them to Obama, who was not even ON the ticket. These people are far too dishonest to honor a blank top of ticket vote and we need to realize that, lest they once again seize our votes and claim they know for whom we voted [or didn't].

[rablib]

I would just vote for McKinney. She's right on the issues, is a woman, and has experience. No need to go for McCain or leave it blank.