A little humor makes for a lot of truth

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 11:16 AM
To: 'emora@cpusa.org'; 'emora@pww.org'; 'emoroze@cpusa.org'
Cc: 'swebb@cpusa.org'; 'jtyner@cpusa.org'; 'scott@rednet.org'; 'jleblanc@cpusa.org'; 'janetquaife@comcast.net'; 'Dean Gunderson'; 'Peter Molenaar'

Subject: RE: [CP-Action] Election Action #1: 8 Weeks To Go

Elena,

First of all let me thank you for all the good and hard work you are doing from your glass office up on the 7th Floor overlooking New York City. I assume, as each of the 314 remaining members of OUR Party across the country recruits three or four new members during this campaign, we will be in a position to expand those glass offices as planned.

I am a little confused here… but, could you explain why you wouldn’t have suggested that the CPUSA 2008 Election Program leaflet posted on the CPUSA website’s homepage would not have been included in materials for Communist Party USA members, friends and fellow travelers to use in campaigning?

I also noticed you inadvertently left off my blog on the official Obama for President Campaign web site… as far as I know, it is the only place people involved in the Obama campaign can receive all of your important information you get out, including Sam Webb’s essays and the CPUSA Election Program.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmaki

As a public service, I will be posting all of your “Election Action” bulletins someplace on the Obama Campaign website, too… what the heck, Barack might as well get used to the Communist viewpoint, eh? The CPUSA will be leading the struggles and its coalition partners in the fight for peace, democracy and social & economic justice once the Obama/Biden Administration is sworn in… I understand why you want to keep a low profile for the moment… its about politics, capitalist politics, eh?

I noticed in one article on the PA website, it calls on activists to put down their signs and pick up the ballot as the way to defeat the ultra-right. You and Comrade Sammy might want to go over that formulation again and suggest that it might be best to hold on to those protest signs--- and include them--- and protests, as part of the voter registration and other electoral activities… also, it might help to have those signs displayed at Obama rallies. People were carrying all these signs at the March against the Republican Convention in St. Paul… with the big crowd and all, I am sorry I must have missed you and Sammy. But, we want to encourage people to hold on to these protest/advocacy signs and use them often throughout the rest of this campaign at Obama rallies, conferences, for tabling etc.

Believe me, take it from one of Barack Obama’s fellow community organizers, Obama is not going to be offended in any way by people forcefully and militantly asserting their constitutional rights of freedom of speech in order to articulate their problems along with their demands for solutions--- Obama, the community organizer, understands this even if some of his backers and handlers don’t; I am sure Obama will give you a little wink and nod of approval--- anything he says to the contrary is just political maneuvering and posturing, you know, what he has to do to get votes and keep this coalition together. So, don’t be timid and don’t be shy. Get those CPUSA Election 2008 Programs out on the voter registration tables and out at all the Obama rallies--- print up a few million copies, they will go fast. Send out two or three people to follow Obama around and pass them out. This is the way Communists have operated for years, unless of course Joel Wendland is “rethinking” Communist activism and participation in the struggles of working people, too, along with the left-center coalition strategy. But, remember, we only have about two months left here and while Wendland is pondering and thinking out the strategy and tactics, time is ticking away. I see it has only taken Comrade Wendland a few years, utilizing his “new” Marxist thinking process and skills, to come to the conclusion that the views of those living in “Podunk Towns” might be of some importance when it comes to working class struggles (ok, I’ll try to find another word other than “struggle” to use… much to harsh and counter-productive; not to mention offensive to our newly found coalition partners, the “progressive” sections of state-monopoly capitalism.)

Anyways, I assume the Communist Party USA 2008 Election Program has been created for a purpose, with the intent to make it a central feature of OUR Party’s electoral activity… so, let’s put our name boldly on it and get it out to all these new people brought into struggle through Obama’s efforts… you know, if you put the PWW and PA websites on this Election brochure very prominently… maybe in a few places, these sites might start getting some hits from a lot of people attending Obama rallies and campaign events… 314 members of OUR Party can get out quite a few of these programs… but, you are going to have to get people out of those nice comfy chairs in those newly remodeled million dollar offices… in fact, you might suggest that Scott Marshall load up his shiny new pick-up truck with the brochures and start making some deliveries. What the heck… why not even put Obama’s and Biden’s pictures on the flyer and urge people to vote for the candidates since the PWW and PA are boosting them anyways. As you know, I don’t support these Dumb Donkeys… but, then again, I don’t want to see McCain and Palin win, either.

I’m assuming you will be getting out this “Election Action” bulletin at least weekly as we move into the final weeks and days of this important and historic campaign which promises to bring Barack Obama to power in a way that will shatter the very foundation of capitalism… so, you might want to include a little blurb in each “Election Action” bulletin on the CPUSA 2008 Election Program… maybe include a link, suggest people print it out, post it on bulleting boards where they work and go to school, at community centers and churches, on their refrigerators… you might think of highlighting each demand or two on each “Election Action” bulletin you e-mail out.

It would be helpful if Joel Wendland would have a link to the CPUSA 2008 Election Program on each of the PA Blog’s he e-mails out, too. Ditto for each page on the PWW web site.

Some people are beginning to think the PWW and PA are merely organs of the Democratic Party… I think you will agree with me, that we don’t want anyone thinking this. I noticed Harry McAllister and Peter Molenaar were having a little problem just trying to give away copies of the People’s Weekly World at the recent March Against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul… there might be a reason why they had difficulty giving away two-hundred copies to thousands of people gathered to fight the ultra-right agenda of the Republican Party. I’m putting up a blog with lots of pictures, and my opinion as to why there was a little problem giving away a Marxist newspaper carrying a $1.00 price tag to thousands opposed to the Republican agenda of war and poverty. Here is a link to the blog… I invite you to check it out often as additions are made… I am sure you will love the photos I will be posting of your favorite PWW distributors in the Twin Cities… you should consider giving Harry McAllister and Peter Molenaar a little Lenin button to wear for all their hard work:

http://saintpaulmn.blogspot.com/

Not much on this blog yet, but, it is a work in progress :)

Again, keep up the great work! Don’t let dwindling membership figures and Political Affairs and People’s Weekly World subscriptions get you down… dropping from thousands of members to 314 really isn’t any big deal… we just have to do what Communists have always done… get out into the streets and among the working people where they live, work, go to school and recreate with our message.

Keep those glass walls sparking and nice and clean… “WORKS Shine” works great!!!

Oh, my, I almost forgot; but, did you notice you forgot to include a link to the CPUSA web site? This is the Party we are trying to rebuild, right?

I am glad to hear you check out my blog and you check it out often.

Yours in the, shhhhhhhh--- Struggle; pssssss--- that’s the, shhhhhhh, CLASS STRUGGLE,

Alan

P.S.--- have you considered offering a free copy of Frank Marshall Davis’ “Livin’ the Blues… Memoirs of a Black Journalist and Poet” with every new subscription to the PWW and PA? Ask Gerald Horne, see what he thinks of the idea.

Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Check out my blog:

Thoughts From Podunk

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/




-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 6:57 AM
To: Alan Maki
Subject: Fw: [CP-Action] Election Action #1: 8 Weeks To Go


----- Original Message -----
From: Elena Mora
To: cp-action@cpusa.org
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 2:14 PM
Subject: [CP-Action] Election Action #1: 8 Weeks To Go



ELECTION ACTION#1

8 weeks to go: this bulletin will contain tools, resources and information to help maximize everyone’s contribution to a people’s victory on November 4th.



Voter Registration:

Everyone should be involved in voter registration – in most places, there are roughly 30 days left to participate. It’s also a way to meet people locally, for get-out-the-vote efforts, and for building the movement after the election. And it’s easy to get connected – there are events everywhere posted on the Obama website, Moveon is doing youth voter registration, and many other groups are too.


Election flyers:

Can’t find campaign flyers? In some areas of the country, it does seem hard to get good election materials for voter registration tables and street canvassing. We’re all assuming and hoping that this will change in coming weeks, but meanwhile, in those immortal (and overly used) words of Joe Hill, don’t mourn, organize. Mainly, that means finding things online and printing them ourselves, or finding people who will do some printing. The best material we’ve seen is on the AFL-CIO website:
aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain
aflcio.org/issues/politics/obama


The Real Palin:

For an excellent summary of the “facts and lies” in Palin’s speech to the RNC, go to:

news.yahoo.com

A simple two-column comparison of McCain’s record with Obama’s will be available next week, so stay tuned.



1 Million doors.
1 Million conversations.
1 Million voters.

On September 20th, the anti-war movement will reach out to registered voters who are the least likely to vote in an effort to convince them that this is a critical election. It is an opportunity to talk to neighbors about the war and its domestic economic consequences.

Be one of the 25,000 peace activists to knock on a Million Doors for Peace on Saturday, Sept. 20!

milliondoorsforpeace.org

United for Peace and Justice is joining with other major national organizations and scores of local groups across the country to send one message to Congress: "End the war in Iraq, bring all our troops home, and invest in our country's future."

In all 50 states, we will knock on a million doors to:
*Talk to our neighbors about the war and the costs to our community.
*Ask that they sign a petition to Congress that calls for an end to the war.
*Discuss what we can do in this important election year to build the antiwar movement in our neighborhoods.

When you sign up at:
milliondoorsforpeace.org

You will get:
*40 names of registered voters in your zip code.
*Hand-outs and petitions.
*Talking points and tips for effective door knocking.

In some areas, peace and justice groups will be hosting a gathering of volunteers for a brief training and to pair up volunteers who prefer to canvass in a team. If this is being organized in your area or nearby, you will receive a Million Doors for Peace email with the meet up information.


AFL-CIO: How we’ll win

In a previous email, you received the memo detailing the AFL-CIO’s ambitious and inspiring plan for a pro-worker, pro-union victory on Election Day. This should be circulated widely – it’s a great way to build labor-community unity, in the election struggle and beyond. And make sure you check out their election website, for lots of great resources got to:
aflcio.org


The (old) new organizing frontier: the internet

If you haven’t already, check out the many election organizing tools available on Obama’s website, obamaforamerica.com

If you don’t want to look through all of the information on the site (issues flyers, voter registration laws for every state, press releases and other articles, lists of local groups, a way to sign up to host or participate in local events, items for sale, and more), you might want to try going directly to something called “Neighbor to Neighbor,” which is a way to reach out to people who live nearby.

my.barackobama.com


Use the PWW and PA online!

The People’s Weekly World and PA have great articles on their websites every day. Sign up to receive regular notices by going to pww.org and entering your email address where it says “Headlines.” To receive articles from PA, go to politicalaffairs.net and enter your email address in the box titled “Participate.”

Most importantly: share the wealth – forward these articles to people you have met in the election campaign – if you don’t have an email list, start one!






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