[Peace-discuss] [OccupyCU] Progressive Fest 3 this Sat - Getting Out The Progressive Vote

Fri Aug 1 17:37:42 EDT 2014

>  “Progressive Fest 3: Getting Out The Progressive Vote” is hosted by Central Illinois Progressive Democrats of America...

PDA was founded during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Massachusetts by Tim Carpenter, Steve Cobble, Kevin Spidel, Mimi Kennedy, Laura Bonham, Joe Libertelli, Bruce Taub, and about two dozen other former staffers and supporters of the Dennis Kucinich for President Campaign—as well as Joel Segal, and other progressive activists who helped organize delegates and activists concerned with the centrist and right leaning trends in the Democratic Party. Currently PDA consists of "a large group of progressive grassroots activists from across the country who want to support progressive grassroots activities both locally and nationally."

Appearing at the first PDA meeting in Roxbury, Massachusetts were leaders, activists, and politicians including Dean and Kucinich, U.S. Representatives John Conyers, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Barbara Lee, Rev. Jesse Jackson, James Zogby, Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, John Lauritsen, and Current PDA Executive Director Tim Carpenter.

PDA's mission is to strengthen the voice of progressive ideas inside and outside the Democratic Party by using "inside/outside" and "grassroots fusion" models of working both in the Democratic Party as well as working with other progressive organizations both inside and outside the Party.

"Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and our country. We seek to build a party and government controlled by citizens, not corporate elites-with policies that serve the broad public interest, not just private interests. As a grassroots PAC operating inside the Democratic Party, and outside in movements for peace and justice, PDA played a key role in the stunning electoral victories of November 2006 and 2008. Our inside/outside strategy is guided by the belief that a lasting majority will require a revitalized Democratic Party built on firm progressive principles."

The "stunning electoral victories of November 2006 and 2008" were votes against war in the Mideast (and elsewhere). After each of them, the Democratic Congress and President betrayed their voters and expanded the war, killing thousands - while pretending not to. (Obama's secret drone strikes alone killed 5,000 people, concluding 200 children; now he has - once again - allowed Israel to massacre 1,500 people in Gaza.) 

Is the only option co-option?

On Aug 1, 2014, at 4:03 PM, Stuart Levy via OccupyCU <occupycu at lists.chambana.net> wrote:

> For me the most valuable part of this meeting will be discussing what happens beyond the elections - at least to the extent of working to influence our elected officials (which is of course not the only sort of influence progressive people could hope to have, but it's important).
> 
> It is absolutely *NOT* a premise of this Fest that our job as citizens should be to find which party best represents us, and then go get lots of people to vote for that party's candidates.   However engaging people to vote, who wouldn't otherwise vote, is worth doing - and that kind of engagement can change political outcomes.   Jesse told a nice story about this at an event this spring: of a Joliet, IL plan to bring in an immigration detention center which looked sure to pass, but because of local mobilization of mostly-unmobilized people, it didn't.
> 
> Engaging people to be politically active outside of campaigns is 'way more important, and I think we'll be spending a good part of this Saturday's event talking about that.   (See "power training".)
> 
> Personally this season I'm looking forward to voting for a few candidates, reluctantly voting for others, and then after campaign season trying to lean on whoever gets elected to act the way we want them to.
> 
> I'd be very interested in being part of a strategic discussion which would look more broadly, and where getting-out-the-vote would be a less immediate part of the picture.    Its results might influence the tactics we'd choose going forward.   But I don't see why one needs to wait for the other.
> 
> 
> On 8/1/14 11:58 AM, David Green via Peace-discuss wrote:
>> It seems to me that those in our community who define themselves as Progressive should be having meetings to openly and honestly discuss what a consensual and moral position might be, and at that point discuss if/how it might be worthwhile to engage in the political process either within or beyond the current boundaries. It's understandable that many who call themselves Progressive might want to vote for Carol Ammons or even Quinn, but we must also develop a strategic vision, electoral and otherwise, beyond that. Tactical approaches should wait for this broader discussion. This event puts the cart before the horse.
>>  
>> DG
>> 
>> 
>> On Friday, August 1, 2014 11:50 AM, C. G. Estabrook via Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> How can anyone regard the Democrats in state or national office as "progressive"?
>> 
>> From support for mass murder by Ukraine and Israel to the refusal adequately to fund social supports in Illinois by adequately taxing the rich, the Democrats have shown that they're working for the interests of the 1% - and therefore against the directly opposed interests of the majority. 
>> 
>> It's nothing short of a crime against the community at home and abroad to "Get Out the Progressive Vote" for Democrats. As Glen Ford eloquently pointed out, they are not the lesser evil but the more effective evil: <http://www.blackagendareport.com/print/content/why-barack-obama-more-effective-evil>.
>> 
>> --C. G. Estabrook
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 30, 2014, at 12:33 PM, Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, GEO & Progressive Fest <aaron at uigeo.org> wrote:
>> 
>> > C. G.,
>> > The November election is coming up and the stakes could not be any higher.  Republican Candidate for Governor Bruce Rauner, who earns $25,000 an hour and who has proposed cutting the state minimum wage , has been ahead in the polls by an average of 9 points since January*, and he is running on an anti-union platform similar to that of Scott Walker in Wisconsin.
>> > This Saturday we are holding an event for community groups, unions, and student organizations for us to work together and strategize on how to register new voters and make sure to turn out irregular voters.
>> > Are you able to come?  please let me know by replying to this email , or RSVP on facebook .  Details:
>> > Progressive Fest 3: Getting Out The Progressive Vote
>> > Saturday, August 2, 2:30 - 5:30PM
>> > Champaign Public Library, Robeson Rooms A&B
>> > This event is non-partisan: we will not be telling people to vote for a particular candidate or party.  However, we will be making commitments about voter registration targets, and discussing how to talk to our members and the public about the issues that matter to us.  This will allow members of non-partisan organizations to join us, as well as those who are part of a partisan organization.
>> > Will you come?  Please let me know if you can.
>> > In addition to union rights and workers issues, we will be talking about immigrant rights, reducing mass incarceration, increasing environmental protections, LGBTQ rights, women’s reproductive rights,  and other key issues.
>> > Please also forward this to your friends and allies.  The agenda is below.
>> > in Solidarity,
>> > --aaron
>> > Aaron Johnson-Ortiz
>> > GEO Staff Organizer
>> > Graduate Employee's Organization
>> > IFT/AFT 6300
>> > www.uigeo.org
>> > 217-344-8283
>> > What is Progressive Fest?
>> > Progressive Fest is an event for all sorts of progressive organizations and individuals, including community organizations, unions, faith-based organizations, student groups, environmental activists, etc.  Each Progressive Fest is hosted by a different local organization, but it is open to any and all groups.  Progressive Fest is a non-partisan informal network of progressive organizations in the Champaign-Urbana area and its surroundings.  Some of the organizations that participate are partisan, other are not.  “Progressive Fest 3: Getting Out The Progressive Vote” is hosted by Central Illinois Progressive Democrats of America.
>> > FLIER (feel free to print and distribute):
>> >      
>> > * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_gubernatorial_election,_2014 and http://www.buzzfeed.com/iftaft/who-is-the-real-bruce-rauner-the-top-10-things-yo-ji42
>> > Progressive Fest
>> > for more info about PF, please contact Aaron Johnson-Ortiz at 1001 S Wright St, Champaign, IL
>> > Unsubscribe
>> > 
>> >  
>> 
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