All of us are here because, to one degree or another, we have an interest in politics. My question for today is, where did it start for you?
In my case, my interest spiked at age 15 when my Dad ran for a county office. He ran as a Republican, and that shaped my political identity for a few years (I got over it, as y’all have probably figured out).
Dad’s campaign was certainly of the grassroots variety. There were no billboards, no radio ads, no TV ads. He ran a few ads in the two newspapers that were published in the county. He had lots of cards made up, the size of business cards, with his picture on them. Sometimes I accompanied Dad to church dinners and civic meetings where we’d meet voters and hand out cards. On Sundays, we’d put hundreds of cards on cars parked near churches (email had not yet been invented, so that was as close to spamming as we could get).
I had a 3-speed bicycle equipped with a very large wire basket in front. The basket came in handy for delivering newspapers. I fastened a campaign sign to the basket. Being an avid cyclist at the time, I rode hundreds of miles with that sign on my bike.
We’ll never know which activities brought in the most votes, but Dad won by a mere 134 votes, beating the incumbent who had been in office for at least two terms. His entire campaign cost less than $700. Even allowing for inflation, it was a seriously low-budget campaign.
Before that election, I had followed the 1964 presidential campaign. I was devastated when Goldwater lost. I wish that I could say that it was because I knew that LBJ would get us mired in the Vietnam war, but I was not that prescient.
I remember a little bit about 1960, but my age was still in single digits.
What’s your story? Was there one event that led you into politics, or did it happen gradually? As always, this is an open thread.
RSVPS
1. idlemoments, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. RickNelsonmn (can carpool)
3. slapshoe (can carpool)
4. Thutmose V
5.
MAYBEES :
Judeling
angry marmot
keepminnesotablue
Garrett
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WOMAN'S MARCH NYC 2017
Footage compiled from the 2017 Woman's March on New York City, directed by Joan Brooker, with support from the SVA community.
Organizers, remember to choose a place to meet in advance and that cell phone service will shut down before the events get started. Consider a sign to hold up above the crowd for people to find you with. Check with your local march organizers to find out what materials are not permitted, such as balloons or sticks.
NEW YORK RSVPS
1. joanbrooker, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. belinda ridgewood
3. gchaucer2
4.
MAYBEES :
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LONG ISLAND RSVPS TO RALLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT. 112 AND 347 IN PORT JEFFERSON STATION AT NOON
1. grannycarol, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2.
MAYBEES :
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RSVPS
1. EagleOfFreedom
2. Bleeding Blue
3. DoingBusinessAs
4. momomia
5. ptressel
6. Kay3295
7.
MAYBEES :
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Netroots Nation 2018