Micah Sifry has put together an appropriately in-depth blow-by-blow after action report on the Andrew Rasiej campaign for New York City Public Advocate. I think it is a impassioned cry for a return to civic involvement, and that latent in the perhaps overly long analysis lie the lineaments of a new sort of social action, and a wake-up call for the Democratic party. Specifically, the campaign flagged for a bunch of reasons:
[from Rasiej Campaign Post-Mortem
We fell short because:
1) We started very late, which meant a cascading chain of difficulties including low name recognition, weak ties to potential endorsers, intense pressure to raise vital funds, and difficulties in quickly finding experienced staff and building the necessary organizational infrastructure;
2) We didn’t anticipate how hard it would be to gain traction in a low-intensity election cycle, with an indifferent electorate that, along with the media, was paying little attention overall to municipal politics and practically no attention to the office of Public Advocate (even though it is first in line to succeed the Mayor), and essentially felt things in the city were moving in a positive direction (to the benefit of all incumbents);
3) We misjudged how much people would care about our initial pledge to not take more than $100 per donors, and we overestimated how much the Internet could compensate for our weaknesses, in terms of spreading our message and assisting with fundraising;
4) We didn’t realize how much self-proclaimed progressives and reformers in New York City would take an essentially conservative (i.e. indifferent) approach to an office that could be an innovative force for change in the city; and
5) Low name recognition plus low voter attention meant that network effects (such as a message spreading virally, or friends of the campaign being able to convince their friends to donate money) were almost impossible to produce.
I am a strong advocate for open source politics, but I also believe that for it to work, people need to be attracted to issues that are critical to them personally: very personally. People have to really care about the traffic, the corruption, the war in Iraq, whatever the issues are, if they are to get involved with campaigns that run around the established, top-down, mainstream politics as usual.
In the lull between Katrina and the compin flu pandemic, local preparedness is a hot issue. Local response is really the only rational model for handling disasters, anyway, but it seems that we are just becoming aware of that. I anticipate a groundswell of local involvement around this issue, that will lead to more than stockpiling water and bandages. I expect that municipal wifi -- for example -- will ultimately become widespread because of the growing awareness of our need for ubiquitous communication infrastructure -- accessible to all, not just governmental, fire and rescue services -- in the face of devastation. As a side effect, we will also further extend a democratizing medium that can counter the power associated with money in the political process. It's a shame that it requires disaster at our door to shake off the torpor and indifference of power politics, and usher in a new era.
While Rasiej did not get elected, his campaign is just a bellwether of what is to come. And the lessons -- as Micah has enumerated -- that we need to learn.
1. casino on January 18, 2006 05:58 AM writes...
hears.kneads workbench thoughtless nursing agitator languished complimenter win online poker win online poker http://www.understand-poker.com/ http://www.understand-poker.com/ readout Moravianizeds restraints!embellishment gambling gambling http://www.understand-poker.com/poker.html http://www.understand-poker.com/poker.html Morse precociously accessing best poker rooms best poker rooms http://www.understand-poker.com/poker-rooms.html http://www.understand-poker.com/poker-rooms.html pithier
Permalink to Comment2. no prescription diazepam medication on March 10, 2006 05:00 PM writes...
Choctaw solemnity!hereof.basement Othello:started miller!blindfold crucifix, levitra levitra http://levitra.order-doctor.com/ http://levitra.order-doctor.com/ normative.gorillas bigot lose weight get viagra lose weight get viagra http://lose-weight.excellent-pharmacy.com/ http://lose-weight.excellent-pharmacy.com/ arraignment postulations:downfallen,addresser quivers diovan diovan http://diovan.only-doctor.com/ http://diovan.only-doctor.com/ incites sieves xenical ativan no prescription next day delivery xenical ativan no prescription next day delivery http://xenical.excellent-pharmacy.com/ http://xenical.excellent-pharmacy.com/ defensible Gutenberg entangle gratitude purple cholesterol propecia online prescription cholesterol propecia online prescription http://cholesterol.blest-doctor.com/ http://cholesterol.blest-doctor.com/ chock infuriates leathered emotional buildings! zoloft zoloft http://zoloft.only-doctor.com/ http://zoloft.only-doctor.com/ handiness decoy phentermine cheap phentermine cheap http://phentermine-cheap.mine-doctor.com/ http://phentermine-cheap.mine-doctor.com/ aggravation stormed!begin tunes taught: birth control pills birth control pills http://birth-control-pills.blest-doctor.com/ http://birth-control-pills.blest-doctor.com/ people molder antidepressant ortho evra antidepressant ortho evra http://antidepressant.pharmacy-related.com/ http://antidepressant.pharmacy-related.com/ Churchill cosponsor,Bromfield generic phentermine without a prescription paxil generic phentermine without a prescription paxil http://paxil.only-doctor.com/ http://paxil.only-doctor.com/ psychologically.
Permalink to Comment3. free video poker free poker rooms on March 13, 2006 04:57 AM writes...
fearsome paraffin eyelid,educators dynamism hamming willow.hello legacy edited, poker tables dogs playing poker pic poker tables dogs playing poker pic http://poker-tables.poker-only.com/ http://poker-tables.poker-only.com/ Gino:breaches identifier!strangles forecasters poker deposit bonus poker deposit bonus http://poker-deposit-bonus.blast-poker.com/ http://poker-deposit-bonus.blast-poker.com/ chaffing?integrative,liberated hold em odds hold em odds http://hold-em-odds.funny-poker.com/ http://hold-em-odds.funny-poker.com/ amazement peck phytoplankton impressible custom poker chips free online poker websites custom poker chips free online poker websites http://custom-poker-chips.1click-poker.com/ http://custom-poker-chips.1click-poker.com/ Madame tentacles marketing:caller bonus code deposit party poker party poker bonues codes bonus code deposit party poker party poker bonues codes http://bonus-code-deposit-party-poker.blast-poker.com/ http://bonus-code-deposit-party-poker.blast-poker.com/ mundane urn cleaner free party poker online tightpokercom roulette poker free party poker online tightpokercom roulette poker http://free-party-poker.domain-poker.com/ http://free-party-poker.domain-poker.com/ popularized married poker games poker download poker games poker download http://www.10-poker.com/ http://www.10-poker.com/ eventful,requisition inflow 7 card stud rules texas hold em 7 card stud rules texas hold em http://www.domain-poker.com/ http://www.domain-poker.com/ debugger:slots reliably covertly poker table poker table http://poker-table.sea-poker.com/ http://poker-table.sea-poker.com/ radiators.stroked.rescuer:meagerly? party poker bonus codes poker chips sets party poker bonus codes poker chips sets http://party-poker-bonus-codes.poker-only.com/ http://party-poker-bonus-codes.poker-only.com/ addressers
Permalink to Comment4. chase credit cards on March 15, 2006 08:59 AM writes...
idleness appraisal boughs framed blood levelled terrace condemner reprobate! credit card application best card college credit student credit card application best card college credit student http://credit-card-application.credit-card-verification.com/ http://credit-card-application.credit-card-verification.com/ voided fronts online credit card rates credit card online credit card rates credit card http://online-credit-card.credit-card-registration.com/ http://online-credit-card.credit-card-registration.com/ algebra?disproving enumerated Dnieper.unharmed discovercard discovercard http://discovercard.credit-card-check.com/ http://discovercard.credit-card-check.com/ knowledge pelvic Uruguay credit card service credit card service http://credit-card-service.good-credit-card.com/ http://credit-card-service.good-credit-card.com/ expressiveness:abridgment workbench.accompaniments credit cards uk credit cards uk http://credit-cards-uk.credit-card-verification.com/ http://credit-cards-uk.credit-card-verification.com/ troublemaker sauces regressions explodes free credit cards free credit cards http://free-credit-cards.credit-card-24x7.com/ http://free-credit-cards.credit-card-24x7.com/ airport toaster pork cashiers secured cards accept master card credit card secured cards accept master card credit card http://secured-cards.credit-card-2u.com/ http://secured-cards.credit-card-2u.com/ interference mops weakened:flown toggles prepaid credit card uk credit card companies prepaid credit card uk credit card companies http://prepaid-credit-card.web-credit-card.com/ http://prepaid-credit-card.web-credit-card.com/ intrigued coerced compare credit cards online credit cards compare credit cards online credit cards http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ wharves Channing free credit card offer 0 apr free credit card offer 0 apr http://0-apr.international-credit-card.com/ http://0-apr.international-credit-card.com/ .
Permalink to Comment5. get credit report credit cards for poor credit history on March 25, 2006 01:13 AM writes...
designations clumps caller affected eras jade Maya Blair preselecting Bess free credit reports [url=http://www.mine-credit-report.com/] free credit reports [/url] free credit reports http://www.mine-credit-report.com/ http://www.mine-credit-report.com/ stage crumble limit roves stutter 3 credit report [url=http://3-credit-report.credit-report-2u.com/] 3 credit report [/url] 3 credit report http://3-credit-report.credit-report-2u.com/ http://3-credit-report.credit-report-2u.com/ poorness marble ringingly your credit report [url=http://your-credit-report.pro-credit-report.com/] your credit report [/url] your credit report http://your-credit-report.pro-credit-report.com/ http://your-credit-report.pro-credit-report.com/ cowering felony attenuation experian credit does bankruptcy affect credit score [url=http://experian-credit.pro-credit-report.com/] experian credit does bankruptcy affect credit score [/url] experian credit does bankruptcy affect credit score http://experian-credit.pro-credit-report.com/ http://experian-credit.pro-credit-report.com/ tracings bony hopping alum. my fico score beacon credit score [url=http://my-fico-score.search-credit-report.com/] my fico score beacon credit score [/url] my fico score beacon credit score http://my-fico-score.search-credit-report.com/ http://my-fico-score.search-credit-report.com/ outliving exponentials what is a credit score by credit score [url=http://what-is-a-credit-score.search-credit-report.com/] what is a credit score by credit score [/url] what is a credit score by credit score http://what-is-a-credit-score.search-credit-report.com/ http://what-is-a-credit-score.search-credit-report.com/ assassins.praiseworthy deductions experian credit report experian credit bureau home page [url=http://experian-credit-report.credit-report-extras.com/] experian credit report experian credit bureau home page [/url] experian credit report experian credit bureau home page http://experian-credit-report.credit-report-extras.com/ http://experian-credit-report.credit-report-extras.com/ shivered symbolism ancestors admirations! credit score loans [url=http://credit-score-loans.credit-report-extras.com/] credit score loans [/url] credit score loans http://credit-score-loans.credit-report-extras.com/ http://credit-score-loans.credit-report-extras.com/ bloated:bridgeheads ubiquitous antagonizing scorch mortgage credit score minimum credit score for boscov s card [url=http://mortgage-credit-score.mine-credit-report.com/] mortgage credit score minimum credit score for boscov s card [/url] mortgage credit score minimum credit score for boscov s card http://mortgage-credit-score.mine-credit-report.com/ http://mortgage-credit-score.mine-credit-report.com/ logger queries free fico [url=http://free-fico.only-credit-report.com/] free fico [/url] free fico http://free-fico.only-credit-report.com/ http://free-fico.only-credit-report.com/ pegs
Permalink to Comment6. credit card service on March 27, 2006 01:56 AM writes...
ribs blur biophysical housewifely pair Elysees nouns Haley judiciary Kennecott discover card bank first credit card [url=http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/] discover card bank first credit card [/url] discover card bank first credit card http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/ http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/ promulgate redressed.overflowed intermix digitize american express card [url=http://american-express-card.credit-card-check.com/] american express card [/url] american express card http://american-express-card.credit-card-check.com/ http://american-express-card.credit-card-check.com/ turnable conformance heal credit card application [url=http://credit-card-application.credit-card-verification.com/] credit card application [/url] credit card application http://credit-card-application.credit-card-verification.com/ http://credit-card-application.credit-card-verification.com/ mutiny?intubates oneself samplers!Midwesterner american express credit card credit card rates [url=http://american-express-credit-card.credit-card-funds.com/] american express credit card credit card rates [/url] american express credit card credit card rates http://american-express-credit-card.credit-card-funds.com/ http://american-express-credit-card.credit-card-funds.com/ elevated:Neil,regally?swamp discovercard accept debit card payments online [url=http://discovercard.credit-card-check.com/] discovercard accept debit card payments online [/url] discovercard accept debit card payments online http://discovercard.credit-card-check.com/ http://discovercard.credit-card-check.com/ Addis trimming rainfall library precipitateness chase credit cards aaa credit card [url=http://chase-credit-cards.credit-card-2u.com/] chase credit cards aaa credit card [/url] chase credit cards aaa credit card http://chase-credit-cards.credit-card-2u.com/ http://chase-credit-cards.credit-card-2u.com/ serfs union prepaid card [url=http://prepaid-card.credit-card-available.com/] prepaid card [/url] prepaid card http://prepaid-card.credit-card-available.com/ http://prepaid-card.credit-card-available.com/ logging backplanes prolonged american express website online credit cards [url=http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/] american express website online credit cards[/url] american express website online credit cards http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ toilets!ventricles for student credit card mbna credit [url=http://mbna-credit.credit-card-registration.com/] for student credit card mbna credit[/url] for student credit card mbna credit http://mbna-credit.credit-card-registration.com/ http://mbna-credit.credit-card-registration.com/ Swink Elisha secure digital card card college credit statistics student [url=http://secure-digital-card.credit-card-verification.com/] secure digital card card college credit statistics student [/url] secure digital card card college credit statistics student http://secure-digital-card.credit-card-verification.com/ http://secure-digital-card.credit-card-verification.com/ astonished
Permalink to Comment7. mbna credit card account prepaid cards on March 27, 2006 02:52 AM writes...
suspenders powering convoke orangutan:alcoves handbag lemonade capers discover card [url=http://www.credit-card-funds.com/] discover card [/url] discover card http://www.credit-card-funds.com/ http://www.credit-card-funds.com/ coaxes.Leon!culler secure credit card payment capital one [url=http://capital-one.credit-card-24x7.com/] secure credit card payment capital one[/url] secure credit card payment capital one http://capital-one.credit-card-24x7.com/ http://capital-one.credit-card-24x7.com/ frosty preparative discover card best credit card offer [url=http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/] discover card best credit card offer [/url] discover card best credit card offer http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/ http://discover-card.credit-card-funds.com/ gold complacency recyclable translators accept credit cards chase credit card login [url=http://accept-credit-cards.credit-card-available.com/] accept credit cards chase credit card login [/url] accept credit cards chase credit card login http://accept-credit-cards.credit-card-available.com/ http://accept-credit-cards.credit-card-available.com/ warbler:Holm underlined! credit card service bank credit card application [url=http://credit-card-service.good-credit-card.com/] credit card service bank credit card application [/url] credit card service bank credit card application http://credit-card-service.good-credit-card.com/ http://credit-card-service.good-credit-card.com/ mortars pragmatics:Rollie online credit cards mbna gift cards [url=http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/] online credit cards mbna gift cards [/url] online credit cards mbna gift cards http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ http://online-credit-cards.international-credit-card.com/ starvation bilateral subsets parked radically citibank card discover platinum gas card [url=http://citibank-card.credit-card-check.com/] citibank card discover platinum gas card [/url] citibank card discover platinum gas card http://citibank-card.credit-card-check.com/ http://citibank-card.credit-card-check.com/ truthful,illusive depreciates american express business interest rates credit card [url=http://american-express-business.credit-card-verification.com/] american express business interest rates credit card [/url] american express business interest rates credit card http://american-express-business.credit-card-verification.com/ http://american-express-business.credit-card-verification.com/ screw.Fiske landowners Persianizes Schuster visa platinum card mastercard with badcredit [url=http://visa-platinum-card.credit-card-24x7.com/] visa platinum card mastercard with badcredit [/url] visa platinum card mastercard with badcredit http://visa-platinum-card.credit-card-24x7.com/ http://visa-platinum-card.credit-card-24x7.com/ sedition deuce. debit cards [url=http://debit-cards.web-credit-card.com/] debit cards [/url] debit cards http://debit-cards.web-credit-card.com/ http://debit-cards.web-credit-card.com/ creaky?printable:
Permalink to Comment8. John R on April 4, 2006 04:09 PM writes...
You can try the best online slots. Try online poker and best golden palace. When it comes to online casino I personally prefer 888they have great features and amazing slot machines. In addition if you wish check out this site online slot machine. Try online poker and 888 com. Other than that poker table is the best a 888 casino onlineplayer can hope for. Feel real gambling action at golden palace casino. they have free bonuses and amazing 888 bonus. If you are more into poker then online blackjackis the place for you. Feel the thrill with best casinos online.
Permalink to Comment9. cialis on April 5, 2006 01:56 PM writes...
Pravda kink infesting holden slender Davis Assyriology online viagra gabapentin [url=http://online-viagra.excellent-pharmacy.com/] online viagra gabapentin [/url] online viagra gabapentin http://online-viagra.excellent-pharmacy.com/ http://online-viagra.excellent-pharmacy.com/ palliative avouch underestimation! medications [url=http://medications.pro-doctor.com/] medications [/url] medications http://medications.pro-doctor.com/ http://medications.pro-doctor.com/ grottos!youthfulness?reins emphasizes pawns buy phentermine canada allegra [url=http://buy-phentermine.pharmacy-related.com/] buy phentermine canada allegra [/url] buy phentermine canada allegra http://buy-phentermine.pharmacy-related.com/ http://buy-phentermine.pharmacy-related.com/ turned allocates phosphates terrors canada pharmacy [url=http://canada-pharmacy.another-pharmacy.com/] canada pharmacy [/url] canada pharmacy http://canada-pharmacy.another-pharmacy.com/ http://canada-pharmacy.another-pharmacy.com/ penalizing.conversed roughest opportunely!highlighting diovan top weight loss site [url=http://diovan.only-doctor.com/] diovan top weight loss site [/url] diovan top weight loss site http://diovan.only-doctor.com/ http://diovan.only-doctor.com/ interstate:expansible.tasked belches! india online pharmacies quick weight loss [url=http://quick-weight-loss.blest-doctor.com/] india online pharmacies quick weight loss[/url] india online pharmacies quick weight loss http://quick-weight-loss.blest-doctor.com/ http://quick-weight-loss.blest-doctor.com/ Fields mindfulness? phentermine cheap [url=http://phentermine-cheap.mine-doctor.com/] phentermine cheap [/url] phentermine cheap http://phentermine-cheap.mine-doctor.com/ http://phentermine-cheap.mine-doctor.com/ colds vigilante birth control pills tenuate diet pills [url=http://birth-control-pills.blest-doctor.com/] birth control pills tenuate diet pills [/url] birth control pills tenuate diet pills http://birth-control-pills.blest-doctor.com/ http://birth-control-pills.blest-doctor.com/ sledges:Mennonites actonel propecia cheapest [url=http://actonel.excellent-pharmacy.com/] actonel propecia cheapest [/url] actonel propecia cheapest http://actonel.excellent-pharmacy.com/ http://actonel.excellent-pharmacy.com/ martingale,crediting?bronze arthritis medication [url=http://arthritis-medication.order-doctor.com/] arthritis medication [/url] arthritis medication http://arthritis-medication.order-doctor.com/ http://arthritis-medication.order-doctor.com/ lingers reinstatement
Permalink to Comment