UPDATE
First: Lots of great suggestions from the Kossaks "focus group". I appreciate everyone's valuable input. Since I will be making some adjustments to the Florida flyer (the template) this week, I ask that you NOT download this one as there are some great changes I'll be making based on your suggestions.
Second: I want reiterate that there is NO CHARGE for me doing these infographics. I had someone in the comments say they were waiting to get paid in order to make a donation. Not necessary! Donations are nice, but making it easier to helping local DECs and activists give Obama the legislature he needs to govern effectively and correcting the craziness in way too many state houses would be reward enough. So, don't "wait until you get paid" to make the info-graphic request. Just submit the details from your state using this form and I'll get it done. If you want to come back later and put a donation, fine. But don't let that hold you back today.
Thanks again for all your great suggestions! I'm SO PSYCHED! I'll post the revision Sunday.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
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Last week, with Willard Mitt Romney as their nominee, the GOP realized, perhaps, that the Presidency might just be out of reach. We theorized (probably rightly) that they would turn their attention and their money toward congressional and state and local races. But this weekend, the inept Romney campaign has given democrats an amazing opportunity in the person of Paul Ryan. By choosing Paul Ryan, the controversial architect of the much despised Ryan Budget, Romney has actually made it easier for us to fight back at the congressional and state levels.
This is fight we have to win. And we can. And we can do it stealthily while completely going around their mega-bucks.
BACKGROUND: One thing I noticed canvassing heavily in 2008 and 2010 was that there were tons of enthusiastic people voting for Obama but not voting for anyone else. This has stuck in my craw ever since and I've decided to do something about it. If we could just get 20-30% of the people who are planning to vote for Obama, but who are not "partisans" who typically vote straight ticket to vote straight ticket, we can take our congress back. We can secure the senate. We can take back our state houses (which really, up to now, is where virtually all the real damage is being done to people's lives).
Follow me below the squiggle and see how we're going to get this done.
This is a printable handout. I've done one for Florida, my state of residence. But I will be doing others for every state. The handout is an infographic that shows why voting "only for president" is a bad idea. It also shows a graphic of ONE important issue or benefit that was lost because of our state legislature. Below that, there's a place where volunteers can include the names of those pols the democratic party endorses.
It's simple, understandable, free to print and can help in every district in America. Print one, take it to your local Democratic Committee, fill it out and make sure people have it when canvassing or for any other activity. It can be folded in thirds and mailed, if preferred. It can be used by voters as a cheat sheet, if desired. And canvassers can use it as an educational tool.
Take a look.
With your help, I can create one for each state. I also need help creating Spanish language versions of the flyers. Simply
fill out this form. Please be sure to include ONE ISSUE that was lost to your state or that effected the lives of middle class people in your state because of the U.S. Congress or who was in your statehouse. Please remember to keep it simple and concrete. We're not dealing with partisans or political junkies who always vote downballot. Try to make your issue one that they can actually see the effect of in their day to day lives, if possible. The idea is to help them understand how their lives can be effected negatively by only paying attention to the presidential "box".
If you live in a blue state that didn't have too much damage over the last 2-4 years, then list an important issue that could be in jeopardy if the congressional or state representation doesn't stay in Democratic hands.
I have not listed individual local issues because there's only so much space.
I'd like to have all the flyers done as soon as possible so we have everything we need for the final stretch. This is grassroots but it's damned important.
Also: I will be creating GOTV and Early Voting PSAs in English and Spanish to be available by Labor Day. Target appropriate radio and PEG television stations in your community. The PSAs are non-partisan but stations are required to set aside airtime to run them. We can use these tools to really hammer it home to critical constituencies who might otherwise not vote downballot.
The link to the
FREE MEDIA page is here. Bookmark it. I'll be adding to it over the coming weeks.