Jazzed about the debate? Translate it into action!

DONATE to the DNC: https:/www.democrats.org/support/kerry.html?dsc=NETA505&team=3

DONATE to KE04 GELAC fund (pays for legal fees): https:/contribute.johnkerry.com/gelac.html

DONATE to moveon.org: https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/creditcard.html

Be active:

1. Write LTEs to newspapers, including some local ones. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Keep it SHORT. Less than 200 words, and focus in on a topic. There’s TONS of material here at dKos. If you live in a swing state, you could write about how one of Kerry’s bill quite possibly helped your state: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/8/231624/9236.

2. Complain to the news organizations when they get something wrong. Praise the news organizations when they get something right. Keep the pressure up. Give ratings and web hits to those who are fair, balanced, and objective.

3. Call in to radio stations, especially non-political ones when they talk politics. Try your hand at calling into a wingnut radio station to correct the record.

4. Listen to AAR. Watch liberal/progressive/fair shows. Ratings = money = people will want to carry them.

5. Google your ass off. You’ll likely figure out who the lying liars (GOP!) are and what their lies are.

6. PROMOTE http://www.dailykos.com and other liberal/progressive blogs. Blogs educate people. We have to get people to these blogs. Plug them at other sites you visit. Plug them in your email signature. Plug them in your personal blogs/journals. Plug them in an instant messenger away message. Also, arm yourself with tons of facts. I’ve started to keep every positive thing said of a KE04 plan by a Republican/libertarian/conservative. Nothing like throwing a GOP person’s word at a GOPer.

7. Engage other independents and Republicans. Even if they don’t move to this side of the political spectrum, at least get them to start thinking. You also never know with GOP true believers. Sometimes the proper comment will strike a chord with even a true believer.

8. Give some money to the Democrats. You can choose to focus on specific campaigns, or give to the national party. You can also give money to ACT or moveon.org or the Truth and Hope radio ad drive (search “joan in seattle” for more).

9. Volunteer at the local Kerry or Democratic headquarters: stuff envelopes, phone bank, work fairs, etc. You can also do all of those things at other groups (League of Conservation Voters, SEIU, etc.)

10. Register some voters; make sure they go to the polls or fill out an absentee ballot.

11. Check your neighbors. Do they need a babysitter on election day or perhaps a ride to the polls?

12. Call your local county Dem HQ, do they have events upcoming? Take a friend who’s not been politically active before now.

13. After your “google” exercise (see above) send personal e-mails to friends and co-workers.

14. Host a social/political event with friends and neighbors. Have Kerry/Edwards literature and stuff for them. Then come back here and tell us about it!

15. Make one phone call a day a personal contact with a friend or family member that contains a personal political message.

16. Talk to Strangers in the Community. “There is no better way to understand what real people are feeling than asking them yourself. Besides, if you ask, you might be surprised. I have met friends of friends and a lot of other people connected to me in other ways (church, acquaintances, etc) simply by saying hello. I also now carry at least 10 voter registration forms with me at all times. I ask first if someone is registered to vote, and if they say yes, I urge them to vote (no speeches at this point). If they say they aren’t, I whip a form on ’em. It is so easy to be a one-person voter registration operation.”

17. Wear KE04 or Democratic paraphernalia as a conversation starter.

18. That Christmas List? That address book? Send out a personal letter of support for Kerry (and other Democrats you like) to those contacts. Tell them that if they have questions, that you’d be happy to answer them. This idea comes from: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/14/222412/483

19. Donate food, office supplies, or equipment for local campaigns. See: http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2004/9/15/201727/699/5#5

20. If you see a KE04 volunteer, say something nice to them. “Keep up the good work!”