Crazy Person Greg Ball Backtracking on Redistricting Reform

What we need (4.00 / 1)

If it's a bunch of NYC residents going up to Peekskill it will have zero effect. We need to contact people who live in the district and have them show up.  

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue May 10, 2011 at 12:21:07 PM UTC

That's already being done (0.00 / 0)

But the NYC residents help the size of the crowd, which in turn, creates media ettention

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by: Roatti @ Tue May 10, 2011 at 17:04:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sam Goldwyn was wrong (0.00 / 0)

It was Sam Goldwyn (the "G" in "MGM") who said, "Publicity is good ... and good publicity is even better."

The problem is that we don't want the local papers to lead with, "A busload of activists from NYC drove here to protest..." Frankly, I'd as soon see a gathering half, or even one-third, the size if it were composed entirely of local residents.

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue May 10, 2011 at 18:13:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Event will be heavily local (0.00 / 0)

Hi Dan,

Your concern is well taken.  That's why a large percentage of Saturday's attendees will be from the district.  

I disagree with the notion that anything else will have "zero effect."  Ball is going to be running in a very difficult 2012 reelection campaign -- he won by just 1%; he's way right of his district; and Dem turnout will be far higher in the 2012 presidential year than it was in 2010.  Peekskill is only an hour away from NYC.  If NYC progressives decide to target Ball heavily, we can contribute significant volunteer numbers and dollars to a strong Democratic alternative.  One of the factors that will affect that decision is Ball's ultimate stance on the crucial issue of fair districts and elections -- which affects all New Yorkers.  We want him to understand that.

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by: ams125 @ Tue May 10, 2011 at 18:18:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Effectiveness (0.00 / 0)

If the crowd is significantly "out-of-towners," that fact alone dilutes the message and diminishes, to a limit approaching zero, its effectiveness.

On the other hand, phonebanking can be done from outside the district with little or no degradation of effectiveness. So an argument could be made that bringing people in for the rally could be sending a message. On the other hand, if Sen. Ball doesn't already know what he's going to be facing next year then he's just politically stupid -- and he may be a lot of things we don't like, but politically stupid ain't one of them.

So we're left with ... what? Getting people fired up to
go after Ball next year? I suppose.

Meanwhile, let's help get those local District 40 folks out there on Saturday!

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by: Dan Jacoby @ Tue May 10, 2011 at 19:52:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]