In a previous post I extolled Northside DFA as an effective model for building political power at the local level (with local money).
I explained the external stuff that people see, but this post is going to get into what makes NDFA work. NDFA has bylaws, but it's really the steering committee that makes it happen.
So, this blog entry will deal with the details of the steering committee. The final paragraph will explain how this connects to the 2020 Dem primary campaigns.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
theory of building political power
In 1994, I returned to the United States, after 4 1/2 years of military duty in Asia (one ship homeported in Sasebo, Japan, one ship homeported in Yokosuka, Japan (greater Tokyo area) and the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia).
My final tour in the Navy was Navy Recruiting District Chicago (1994-96). Even during that time I was already engaging in activism and political activity. Since getting out of the Navy, I have interfaced with lots of parts of the nonprofit world, media, political organizations and political campaigns.
The best political organization for empowering people where they are at and letting the members set the direction is Northside DFA in Chicago.
While the organizing model used by Northside DFA is excellent at what NDFA does, it needs to be complemented by organizations motivated by the same valued that do other things.
Four organizations necessary to build political power:
I'll explain below the fold.
My final tour in the Navy was Navy Recruiting District Chicago (1994-96). Even during that time I was already engaging in activism and political activity. Since getting out of the Navy, I have interfaced with lots of parts of the nonprofit world, media, political organizations and political campaigns.
The best political organization for empowering people where they are at and letting the members set the direction is Northside DFA in Chicago.
While the organizing model used by Northside DFA is excellent at what NDFA does, it needs to be complemented by organizations motivated by the same valued that do other things.
Four organizations necessary to build political power:
- electoral campaigns
- issue advocacy
- fundraising, foundation-ing
- media
I'll explain below the fold.
vision for state blogs preparing for 2020 Dem primaries
One of my visions for DPI Watch, aka Democratic Party of Illinois Watch, is to inspire other state level blogs/media outlets that give audiences a chance to see which progressive candidates are worth supporting and which races are worth following.
So, I want there to be copycat blogs around the United States, but particularly in states with early primaries.
So, I want there to be copycat blogs around the United States, but particularly in states with early primaries.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
what campaigns should seek from organizations
Politics is a form of warfare practiced in collective delusion. There are measures of real world power that shape the delusion--money, volunteers, etc. But most of what happens in politics reflects what people believe to be to be the power relationships.
If this first paragraph doesn't make sense, ask more in the comments.
So, a campaign might pursue endorsements from organizations like they deliver votes. Some organizations deliver a significant number of votes, but mostly they don't directly move many votes.
Organizations can serve as "third party validators". Organizations can give money. Organizations can mobilize campaign volunteers.
But the campaign should have a plan. And organizations should be courted in the context of the plan.
If this first paragraph doesn't make sense, ask more in the comments.
So, a campaign might pursue endorsements from organizations like they deliver votes. Some organizations deliver a significant number of votes, but mostly they don't directly move many votes.
Organizations can serve as "third party validators". Organizations can give money. Organizations can mobilize campaign volunteers.
But the campaign should have a plan. And organizations should be courted in the context of the plan.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
fact checking political attacks, particularly direct mail & robocalls
What would a system of fact checking political attacks look like?'
Carl Nyberg, publisher
Carl Nyberg, publisher
editorial board(s): one for content & one for endorsement
In "Welcome to DPI Watch", I identified different types of contributors, the voices they write in.
In cases where there is significant dissent on the endorsement decision there will be "endorsement board (majority)" and "endorsement board (minority)".
- publisher
- blogger/columnist
- activist
- journalist
- editorial board
In cases where there is significant dissent on the endorsement decision there will be "endorsement board (majority)" and "endorsement board (minority)".
The Problem with "Strength" & "Unity" as Values
Yesterday U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (Dem, IL-14) tweeted:
The idea that what USians need is political "unity" is a hustle. It's simply untrue, a lie. And "strength" is a problematic value for Democrats to espouse too.Friday, September 13, 2019
Mariyana Spyropoulos drops as Clerk of the Court candidate in March, 2020 primary
According to The Daily Line (Alex Nitkin) has quit her campaign for Cook County Clerk of the Court.
The filing deadline for the March 17, 2020 Democratic primary is December 2, 2019.
The incumbent is Clerk Dorothy Brown, who on August 14, 2019 announced she was not running for re-election. See ABC News (Will Jones).
Because Democrats win general elections in Cook County & Republicans lose, the next Clerk will be decided in the Democratic primary.
The other candidates recognized by the Chicago media as running are:
Cabonargi has been slated (endorsed) by the Cook County Democratic Party.
(1) Did not link to the website I believe is Cabonargi's campaign site because Firefox flagged it as a security threat.
Carl Nyberg, journalist
The filing deadline for the March 17, 2020 Democratic primary is December 2, 2019.
The incumbent is Clerk Dorothy Brown, who on August 14, 2019 announced she was not running for re-election. See ABC News (Will Jones).
Because Democrats win general elections in Cook County & Republicans lose, the next Clerk will be decided in the Democratic primary.
The other candidates recognized by the Chicago media as running are:
- Richard Boykin, attorney and former Cook County Board Commissioner
- Michael Cabonargi (1), attorney and member of the Cook County Board of Review
- Iris Martinez, State Senator (Wikipedia)
- Jacob Meister, attorney and 2016 candidate for Clerk of the Court
Cabonargi has been slated (endorsed) by the Cook County Democratic Party.
(1) Did not link to the website I believe is Cabonargi's campaign site because Firefox flagged it as a security threat.
Carl Nyberg, journalist
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Welcome to DPI Watch
There are a bunch of things happening internally to Democratic Party politics in Illinois and there is a lack of media coverage. This blog seeks to provide coverage that pulls back the curtain somewhat on the internal stuff within the party. It's also a vehicle for covering stuff that should be covered.
I do want to attract others to be part of this as contributors and editorial board members.
Right now this blog is a volunteer project. I'm open to monetizing it in the future, but right now, it's just people participating in the public discourse.
One of the things I want to do with this blog is to be clear what voice people are writing in. The categories I have so far:
Publisher is when the publisher of the blog (at this point, me, Carl Nyberg) is writing on matters that are written from the perspective of the publisher. They will be focused on the blog as a media outlet and a community.
Blogger/columnist is when someone is writing the blog equivalent of an op/ed. These pieces will include opinions, speculation and have a perspective. This is not a license to be inaccurate.
Activist is when someone is writing from the perspective of someone "in the game" of trying to advance some goal through action beyond opining.
Journalist is when someone is writing from the perspective of covering an event or stuff that has been researched. These pieces will have minimal opinion content in the blog entry.
Editorial board is when the editorial board of the blog has reached a conclusion on an issue and has decided to express itself in writing.
Carl Nyberg, publisher
I do want to attract others to be part of this as contributors and editorial board members.
Right now this blog is a volunteer project. I'm open to monetizing it in the future, but right now, it's just people participating in the public discourse.
One of the things I want to do with this blog is to be clear what voice people are writing in. The categories I have so far:
- publisher
- blogger/columnist
- activist
- journalist
- editorial board
Publisher is when the publisher of the blog (at this point, me, Carl Nyberg) is writing on matters that are written from the perspective of the publisher. They will be focused on the blog as a media outlet and a community.
Blogger/columnist is when someone is writing the blog equivalent of an op/ed. These pieces will include opinions, speculation and have a perspective. This is not a license to be inaccurate.
Activist is when someone is writing from the perspective of someone "in the game" of trying to advance some goal through action beyond opining.
Journalist is when someone is writing from the perspective of covering an event or stuff that has been researched. These pieces will have minimal opinion content in the blog entry.
Editorial board is when the editorial board of the blog has reached a conclusion on an issue and has decided to express itself in writing.
Carl Nyberg, publisher
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