DFA Training Academy Returns to New Jersey

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue May 26, 2009 at 05:16:14 PM EDT

Registering is easy!

DFA Chair Jim Dean will be here, along with top campaign consultants with decades of experience to give you the skills to run a winning campaign. Topics include: field planning, voter contact, fundraising, communications, volunteer recruitment and more.

It's a tremendous opportunity for candidates, campaign staff, volunteers, activists and anyone who wants to learn from the best at one of the most fun, inspiring and informative trainings you will ever attend.

As the saying goes: "You have the power, now learn the skills!"

So, what are you waiting for? RSVP now!

Will you join Blue Jersey in signing this to Sen. Menendez?

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 02:00:11 PM EDT

Join us and sign the petition at www.StopFakeReform.com. You'll be joining dozens of progressive bloggers - including several of us -  and more than 2,500 signers, more every minute.

We're sending it to our Senator, Bob Menendez, because he is in the position to make great change, as Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which he chairs. We call on him to follow the example set by our president.

President Barack Obama pledged not to accept PAC and lobbyist contributions. That puts him way ahead of the curve in Washington in terms of making efforts to avoid conflict-of-interest, or the appearance of conflict-of-interest, which is itself an issue for weary voters who fear the worst from the cozy relationship between, for example, corporate interests and those who make decisions every day who those corporate interests want to influence.

But Obama stands alone there. At least so far. DSCC and DCCC, the two campaign committees responsible for electing Democrats to the Senate and Congress respectively, still accept contributions from PACs and lobbyists.

Except on June 18, when the Dems have a star headliner coming in to help them rake in cash: Barack Obama. And for that one day, they're giving up PAC and lobbyist money.

We want that reform to last 365 days a year. Read the letter - here.

This is about not accepting donations from bailout recipients like AIG, and Enron. And it's a call to move Congress toward public-funded elections.

If you agree, will you join us and sign?  

Howard Dean's in New Jersey tonight

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 01:34:29 PM EDT

Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, DNC Chair, DFA founder, and strong proponent of a public option to safeguard American health care needs, is in New Jersey and speaking tonight at a free public event at Kendall Hall, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). More info here.

TCNJ College Democrats are the sponsor of tonight's event and they promise there will be time for an extensive Q & A with Gov. Dean.

TCNJ students will be admitted for seating one hour before the general public, at 6:30pm.

I know I can't get there tonight, as part of my family is celebrating Passover. But if you go, Blue Jersey would love to hear about it, and see your pictures.  

Last night's DFA parties in NJ & Howard Dean's new mission

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 03:43:57 PM EDT

Last night, Howard Dean rolled out an initiative on health care on the occasion of his return to the organization he founded - Democracy for America - and its fifth birthday. NJ DFA members and allies, including Gov. Corzine, were at gatherings all over the state and connected on a national conference call.

There was outrage in some quarters when President Obama passed Dean over for HHS Secretary once, then again. But Dean has a history of walking right past disappointment and finding alternative ways to make change. This time he navigates right between those demanding nothing less than single-payer and the culture of those worried that that would mean losing their own insurance options, and suggests we can accommodate both.

Dean lauded President Obama's actions on health care reform, and the president's assertion that those who like their current health insurance policies should be able to keep them. Dean's focus is on pressuring Congress to make sure there is a public insurance option for those who cannot get, or cannot afford private health insurance. An option to buy-in to a Medicare-style insurance coverage.

The health care system is broken, even for those who are covered, some of whom find themselves denied coverage when they get sick, can't get coverage for pre-existing conditions, or get private insurance where their dollars are funneled into profit-making for the insurance company. We know that, and it's revolting, that this country cannot do better.

Dean anticipates using DFA's million-strong email list to generate a quarter-million petition signatures, clearly aiming to pressure Congress for a public option, and perhaps to encourage Obama not to step back in that resolve. Much of DFA's focus over the next year will be about this, including here, with canvasses, house parties and lobbying among the tactics.

Sign the petition.

New Jersey was well-noticed in last night's Dean hook-up. There were several mentions that Corzine was in attendance, at the party in Hawthorne organized by Jeff Gardner, where Corzine spoke for 30 minutes in a packed house of about 75 people. And DFA presented three stories, recorded in the voice of DFA activists, telling Dean what he's missed since he's been gone from DFA for 4 years. One of them was mine, about how we used both DFA and Dean's 50-State Strategy to win in crimson red Flemington. The New Jersey story and the rest of the call are here.

Full-disclosure: Jeff Gardner & I are both co-Chairs of DFA-NJ, and staff members here. Blue Jersey & DFA are separate entities, but there sure is a lot of cross-over.

A Victory Garden in Flemington

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Mar 20, 2009 at 12:57:36 PM EDT

Today, next to her kids' shiny new swingset, Michelle Obama will begin digging for a little vegetable garden, the first food-producing garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt planted her Victory Garden.

Cilantro, tomatilloes, hot peppers. Lettuces. Spinach, chard, collards, kale. Berries. Herbs and heirloom tomatoes. That's what the Obamas will plant, alongside school children and a local-foods expert the family brought to Washington.

On Monday night, some people in Hunterdon will ask Flemington Borough Council for permission to plant on a grassy plot by one of its water towers. Iff they say yes, we'll plant an organic garden we'll call The Victory Garden.

It will be a community garden, meaning many will participate, growing things together on one blessed, slightly sloping piece of land.

How is this political? This idea emerged from a group I've worked with for five years, Hunterdon's Democracy for America (DFA). These folks have become a permanent progressive community where - believe me - nobody expected one.

The group's met in the same hip little coffeehouse since 2004 in Flemington, a red town in a red county. We've made that town a kind of workshop for grassroots action. A tipping point came one frigid February day in 2007. That same heady night, the first candidate to emerge wholly from Hunterdon DFA, announced she'd run next. And with that win, this town's direction shifted. Democrats now drive the agenda.

None of them owe us anything; they owe their voters more. But we hope that this new Council will see The Victory Garden as an opportunity to strengthen community bonds, improve nutrition and environmental awareness, and provide for our neighbors in need, some of whom will tend garden and some simply receive good food.

This feels like a very American, progressive and patriotic thing to do right now, and we're encouraged by how many people show up ready to work and advise. We have a new President who speaks of self-reliance, community-building, and responsibility for the people around us. The economy is dark, and the times are challenging. But we remember our elders and the resourcefulness, how 20 million Americans on the homefront produced up to 40% of the vegetables consumed nationally.

Community gardens are popping up all over, in nearby Readington, East Amwell, maybe in High Bridge. The Victory Garden, if we get the land, will have a built-in mission of addressing some of the needs of people living paycheck-to-paycheck, or worse. If you're a local, join us Monday.

How Linda Stender Lost

by: Blue Jersey

Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:23:23 AM EST

This has been a four year effort for many of us, starting before Linda even decided to run in 2006.  It is hard for some of us because we know Linda personally and like her very much, and worked so hard and invested so much in getting her to the finish line.

In 2006 we came within 1.5 percent of the vote against a three term Republican named Mike Ferguson.  It was a stunningly unexpected effort that shocked the national party which gave secondary support to the campaign while dumping millions in others where the margin was seven points or more.

In 2008 Linda lost by a little less than nine percent, a stunning defeat in a race where we saw polls putting Stender even or just behind State Senator Leonard Lance in the days before the election.  It was made all the more stunning in that 2008 was a better year for Democrats than 2006, yet the Stender campaign fell far behinds its previous result.

How could that happen?  Lance didn't run a great campaign.  Stender had lots more money.  The DCCC dropped over a million dollars into the district, while the NRCC walked away and focused on NJ3.  Registration for Democrats jumped dramatically.  And then there was that guy running for President who brought Democratic turnout to amazing levels.  The environment couldn't have been better.

But she lost anyway.

Because, as near as we can tell, they forgot all the lessons of 2006 that got them close.  Instead of building on the energy and volunteers from the previous election they brought in an entirely new team from outside the district, ignored the organizations like Democracy for America that supported Stender in 2006, and blew off local expertise in favor of a cookie-cutter campaign.

Goal: Raise $10,000 for Tom Wyka, NJ's best DEM challenger.

by: FogerRox

Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:09:18 PM EDT

But Tom Wyka knows how to talk to the libertarian leaning republicans in his district, and after his run in '06, is making serious inroads against this so called safe seat.

In NJ-7 Linda Stender ran in '06, she lost by 1 pt. She's looking to close the deal in '08 and win big. In NJ-5 Dems have improved steadily, year after year, Dennis Shulman looks to make NJ-5 even more competitive in '08. But Tom Wyka has the audacity to run against the Frelinghuysen Dynasty in NJ-11, and has shown he has what it takes to be New Jerseys best democratic challenger. Tom's 2006 campaign set district records for the number of democratic votes. To paraphrase what  Bill Clinton said recently "history is on our side", with that kind of Mojo, it just might be the year that Rodney Frelinghuysen is vulnerable. So its time to get out there anddeliver the change New Jersey needs.

Allow me to introduce you to Professor George Lakoff

by: Jeff Gardner

Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 04:30:00 AM EDT

Hi again, from Netroots Nation. Hey, are you busy today at 5:30p EDT? Because, Professor George Lakoff will be here in Austin with Democracy for America, presenting a special afternoon edition of DFA Night School.

Howard Dean called Professor George Lakoff "One of the most influential political thinkers of the progressive movement."  Professor Lakoff returns to DFA Night School as we go live from Netroots Nation in Austin, Texas for this hour long online training. We'll discuss his latest book, The Political Mind, and the frames and metaphors we need to use to win in November.

DFA endorses Linda Stender

by: Jeff Gardner

Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 03:53:27 PM EDT

DFA chair Jim Dean:

"Linda Stender has been working for change her whole career.... Thanks to the hard work of DFA members on the ground in groups like New Jersey for Democracy and Hunterdon DFA, Linda came within 3,000 votes of winning her election for Congress in 2006.... This year Linda will take it over the top and deliver a powerful victory for Democrats in November."

"The deep-seeded desire for change that has sparked passionate organizing campaigns across the country is also fueling our campaign here in the 7th district, along with others up and down the ticket. I am incredibly grateful for the DFA community?s early support. Together, we will win in November and work together to fight for New Jersey families."

(Check out Linda's full diary on the endorsement.)

So many of us worked hard for Linda in 2006, and this year we have the chance to seal the deal. Let's celebrate! Come out this Sunday and join Linda and the Hunterdon and Somerset DFA groups at a picnic at the FREE concert on stage at beautiful, riverside Duke Island Park (near the middle of NJ-7, in Somerset County). All the details are here. See you there.

DFA endorses Lautenberg

by: Juan Melli

Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:30:47 PM EDT

"Frank Lautenberg has shown time and again that he is a champion of progressive values and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign. Sen. Lautenberg's commitment to the grassroots is well established and New Jersey is fortunate to have his expertise and representation in the Senate."

"Frank Lautenberg has been a leader on the issues that matter: ending the War in Iraq, expanding access to health care, and standing up for working men and women. Sen. Lautenberg's long-record make him the only real choice for progressives on June 3rd in New Jersey."

"I am proud to accept Democracy for America's endorsement. DFA and I are both committed to changing direction in Washington after the failures of eight years of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Together we will work to end the War in Iraq, boost our economy, protect the environment, and make health care and higher education more affordable and accessible. DFA members know that they will always have an ally in the United States Senate as long as I am there."

Pump your progressive campaign muscles at DFA Training Academy this weekend

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 05:54:24 PM EDT

Looking for something cool to do this weekend? There's still time to RSVP for the national DFA Campaign Training Academy, rolling into the Garden State in a matter of hours.

Field strategy and targeting, volunteer recruitment, fundraising strategy, candidate call-time discipline, voter contact, GOTV, media, running phone banks & canvasses, internet strategy, issue organizing, precinct organizing, and voter file are all among things covered in the fast-paced, comprehensive and fun 2-day session, which starts tomorrow morning on the campus of Monmouth University.

It's not too late to RSVP, right here.

Newark Councilman Ron C. Rice and DFA Chair Jim Dean will sit in on a session we'll do just for the candidates in attendance Sunday morning (let us know if you're running!). Rice was the first nationally-endorsed DFA-List candidate from the Garden State. He's also a founding member of Essex DFA and governs from the West Ward (pop. 66,000) in the state's largest city. Sponsor of one of the most sweeping ethics reform packages in the state's history, developed with input from Center for Civic Responsibility, Rice, a delegate for Barack Obama, credits his success to a bedrock progressive outlook, and that's what he wants to talk to candidates about.

As heard on Blue Jersey Radio last night, with DFA Training Director Matt Blizek guesting, DFA Chair Jim Dean will be around all weekend along with progressive organizers and candidates from all over the state - woo hoo!

DFA is looking for a Grassroots All-Star - Let's Give Them One From NJ

by: Jeff Gardner

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 12:19:32 AM EST

The DFA Grassroots All-Star isn't your typical endorsement.

The winner earns the financial support of our 675,000 nationwide membership, hundreds of volunteer hours by local members on the ground, and the media buzz generated by our national spotlight.

In addition to Tom Wyka in NJ-11, you can vote for Linda Stender in NJ-7, Camille Abate in NJ-5 or Dennis Shulman in NJ-5. You get to pick 3.

Seriously, it only takes 30 seconds. Go Vote!