what I learned in the past three weeks

1. How to color code maps to target lit drops because we couldn't do mass mailings and huge printings. Fit me to a t.

2. The "poll-watcher lean". More fun than I'da thought. Once the poll workers understood I wasn't a challenger, then they were friendly and helpful. In my afternoon post they even let me sit next to them at the table.

3. Poll worker training is sadly lacking. I saw incompetent work. Misnumbering on the ballot-voter book that was corrected. Poll workers in two locations told voters to go to the second side of the ballot if they voted straight ticket, although there were two non-partisan candidates on the front of the ballot.
Sad.
Is it poor reading skills?

3. The Flint Journal will openly stab Progressive candidates in the back and still expect you to subscribe. AFTER THE EDITORIAL RESPONSE DEADLINE had passed, the Flint Journal printed smear letters that called my candidate extreme and implied he was a loose cannon, WITHOUT SUBSTANTIATING the slurs.
...when actually, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Fred's opponent, Dave Robertson, ran a dirty campaign, as he has in previous elections, but the Flint Journal endorsed him because he was the Chamber of Commerce Candidate. Their endorsment pointed to his "experience" as his sole qualification. DUH!
(Sharron, Skip this part:)
IMHO Fred should've used the insider dirt we had on Robertson, but he isn't a dirty player. I would have slung the mud. Fred is a better person.

4. "The party" doesn't appreciate grassroots power until the last month before an election. Then you get overwhelmed with the pleas for help, your money and your time.
They play personality politics among themselves, competing and backstabbing.
AUGGGH!
Our man Fred decided to work from an office centrally located in his own district and had very little help, money or time, from the Genesee County Democratic Party. What is that all about?

It seems to be par for the course, though. The Michigan Democratic Party did the same thing to one of the best candidates I've seen in a long time, Amos Williams, who was running for Attorney General. Jennifer might have decided he was politically undesireable to support, but now that obnoxious bully Mike Cox is positioned to grow in his party, and will be only more powerful next time we have to go up against him.

Here is a letter posted on the Michigan PDA e-list yesterday:
Michigan PDA elist
Posted by: _____________
Tue Nov 7, 2006
If this doesn't show you how this state sorely needs a
strong progressive presence, I don't know what does.

The Michigan Democratic Party has effectively NOT
supported our AG candidate, Amos Williams. There has
been NO financial/promotional support from the
Coordinated Campaign (which is what it is supposedly
there for), no support from Gov Granholm (which
disappoints me greatly), etc. etc. His support has
come 100% from the grassroots, who wanted him to win
the nomination at the convention and kept it up until
there was a floor vote.

The "annointed" candidate lost - and Amos Williams was
left hung out to dry by his own party.

I hope and pray that he wins - but if he doesn't, then
the state party has only itself to blame. He has run
an honorable, dedicated campaign and is progressive,
thru and thru.

Tell EVERYONE you talk to today to vote for Amos, even
if they have to split their ticket to do it. We need
him - and we need to send a message.
_____
I do complain, that's why I blog!
So to provide balance:

Spotlight on Rose Bogardus.
Rose is an absolute model of good politicking and what I think is an ideal grassroots Democrat. She was walking door to door to talk to voters about Fred, bringing wonderful warm nourishing food to the office for campaign workers, and showing us neophytes a personable model to follow. All of this, and she had her own campaign to run, albiet she was pretty secure in retaining her seat.Congratulations Rose.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER 9TH DISTRICT
(WITH 31 OF 31 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
Lanny Valentine (REP) . . . . . . 6,545 33.74
Rose Bogardus (DEM) . . . . . . . 12,760 65.
*****
With a little more State or County Democratic Party support, we could have done it!

STATE LEGISLATURE 51ST DISTRICT
(WITH 54 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
David B. Robertson (REP) . . . . . 21,812 50.68
Fred Starzyk (DEM) . . . . . . . 21,125 49.09
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 100 .23
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 13
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,936