NO CARBON COPIES, PLEASE It must an original.
The segment of the American people who are interested in a vibrant, new Democratic Party will not accept, much less support, a carbon copy or even a smartly re-manufactured version .The Nast-inspired donkey icon is still valid; it remains and an emblem of stubbornness to some and reliability and tenuousness to others. Let it remain as mark of identification to which former members might easily adhere.
The opposition party's elephant emblem, inspired by the same cartoonist Thomas Nast, may be praised for the same qualities.
The most recent resuscitation team named to bring about such a revival was a comedy-orator duo which made windy TV efforts to get off tarmac. The comedy wasn't prepared with purpose. It was loose ad-lib without direction and the other member orated to an audience the like of which has been extinct for many years. Methods of reaching new people have changed. We live in a new age. The old ways are no longer sufficient and one example is easily found: Harry Truman made good use of doing his campaign speeches from the rear end of a Pullman car at the local railway yards. Those sites are rare today. The only identification of a railway yard I meet with is that old part of town where someone is eager to build a new and larger sports arena.
I, personally, don't like to use the term "old" Democrat. It more or less describes anyone who remembers F.D.R. It makes no difference who you are, where our are from, or what you do for a living, your life was, in some way, you were influenced by that remarkable personality. There are a few such old-timers remaining among us today on one of the political edges or ledges - ever electable Teddy Kennedy is one; Robert Byrd of West Virginia, another - a pork barrel expert and also a passing-good fiddle player as well. They are typical. They cannot be ignored if you are set on reviving the depths of the democratic party.
Indications are that Howard Dean, of Vermont, will be chair-person to get the party re-organized. Good choice. Remember the innovative method he used so skillfully in the Democratic primary race. He used Internet news, E-Mail storms of notes urging people to "be there"" and Blogger background business as an important follow-up. Howard Dean has demonstrated how he obtained such a strong lead as a favorite in the primaries. He has proved himself to be a person who has the remarkable ability to cause others to want to "do it themselves". He is adept at getting other people to work hard making him look good.
All chair-persons need such a knack
A.L.M. February 11, 2005 [c472wds]
