Any tweeting cutting-edge technology?

By a MAYDAYPAC Facebook posting on July 10th, MAYDAY announced that

MAYDAY.US has formed a Voter Outreach Team! These activists will use cutting-edge predictive dialing software to call voters in key districts. The goal is to spread awareness about the movement and offer supporters a variety of options to connect with their representatives.

Is MAYDAY aware of any cutting-edge predictive software for tweeting voters in key districts, as may spread awareness about the movement and offer supporters a variety of options to connect with their representatives?

Same question for emailing too, please.

Thanks.

What are MAYDAY's limitations?

As 2015 progresses, consideration ought to be given to whether there are limitations that MAYDAY may not be able to get beyond.

Consider Steve Stokes' initiation of his 2016 #WaveofIndependents Campaign, together with the below email interchanges which have taken place between Steve and me, on which MAYDAY has been copied.

Basically, MAYDAY has been solicited to comment on Steve's campaign and say whether or not MAYDAY believes Steve's efforts can help MAYDAY's plan and whether or not interested MAYDAY supporters ought to involve themselves with Steve's efforts.

This is after MAYDAY's inability to comment on whether synergy with Bernie is a good idea or not. See Can I get any help from MAYDAY?.

MAYDAY's goal is to elect a reform minded Congress in 2016. How much time can go by with MAYDAY limiting itself to communicating to current Representatives in Congress, and not turn attention to the 2016 Congressional races and candidates?

Isn't it time for MAYDAY to consider and make decisions about something like Steve Stokes' campaign and give guidance about the same to MAYDAY supporters?

I think it is.

Others will need to decide what they think.

Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>	Jul 13 (2 days ago)
to info, MayDay, Steve

FYI, Steve. I sent the below tweet message to MAYDAY supporters who have recently tweeted using the #lead4reform hashtag:

MAYDAY supporters should consider Steve Stokes' 2016 WaveOfIndependents Campaign. http://campaignfinancereformers.blogspot.com/2015/07/2016-waveofindependents-campaign.html

I got 100 page views of the tweet link.

I have no idea what MAYDAY will think of your 2016 WaveOfIndependents Campaign, whether MAYDAY will publicize or promote it in any way, and/or MAYDAY will allow you to post about it on the MAYDAY social media.

Sincerely,

Rob Shattuck

Steve Stokes <steve@stokes4congress.com>	Jul 13 (2 days ago)
to me

Thanks for posting Rob. Are you thinking about running against Gary Palmer in #AL06?

What does it take to get an independent candidate on the ballot in Alabama?

-Steve

Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>	11:20 AM (21 hours ago)
to Steve, info, MayDay

Dear Steve,

The answer to your question is that I suspect not.

This is due to a nut which I think cannot be cracked, and which besets Prof. Lessig and MAYDAY as well.

Prof. Lessig's message basically continues as: The money corruption in politics is the first issue. Until that is fixed, our President and Congress are and will be impaired in addressing the other big issues confronting the American people. The American people know this, and it is high up on their list, if not at the top, that the country must do something about the money corruption in politics.

In a recent July 4th talk to the NHRebellion (video here), Prof, Lessig says there needs to more effort to get the politicians to talk about the money corruption. While the politicians don't want to talk about it. Prof. Lessig says progress has been made by the reform movement, and the 2016 Presidential race is notable because practically every candidate in the race is talking about the issue. While this is good, the problem, Prof. Lessig indicates, is that fixing the corruption is only one item on the candidates' lists. Lessig even mentions that Bernie Sanders seems to put reform as something that can be taken care of later. Thus, Prof. Lessig says,the reform movement must press harder on the candidates to make reform the first issue it needs to be.

How can it come about that the reform issue will become the first issue it needs to be?

In trying to answer this, keep in mind: "What is the reason the politicians don't want to talk about the corruption of money in politics?"  

A quotation from a Forbes article which MAYDAY.US has on its front page is suggestive. The quotation says:

The mortal struggle at hand today is not between the right and the left. It is not between Republicans and Democrats. It is not between the Congress and the president. It is between us (currently outsiders to our own government) voters and the Washington Insiders.

That is dire. 

If accurate, massive public mobilization would seem needed. See  MAYDAY's 2015 plan and public mobilization, Soul searching re Gov't By The People Act, and Where's our massive public mobilization.

Further, the mobilization needs to be unified. The Washington Insiders will work to undermine unity, because unity is the one thing that can defeat them. 

If Congressional campaigns are not "first issue" campaigns, and are instead multiple issue campaigns, the other issues will operate to undermine unity, because of significant voter divisions that are likely to exist on the other issues.

On the other side, as you and I have discussed, "first issue" campaigns are difficult, if not impossible, to win (or even do well at), because voters will not vote for a candidate who is running such a campaign and who seeks unity by minimizing taking positions on other issues. My campaign in 2014 is good evidence of that difficulty.

In the face of the foregoing conundrum, Prof. Lessig's "trustee President" idea is almost as if he has concluded that the situation is impossible at the Congressional level.

I have spent the past 16 months trying to publicize in the Alabama 6th Congressional district the problem of the money corruption in politics. I cannot discern that I have made any headway. At this time, I believe it would be pointless to challenge Gary Palmer, and. unless something changes in the next few months, I do not expect to run again, as an Independent or otherwise, in the 6th Congressional district.

To answer your question about what it would take to get on the ballot as an Independent, I believe a number of signatures from qualified voters would be needed that is equal to 3% or more of the votes cast in the 6th district election in 2014, which signatures must be obtained before the 2016 primary date in Alabama. 

I hope, in your 2016 #WaveOfIndependents Campaign for getting money out of politics and restoring democracy in America , you have more optimism than I currently have.

Sincerely,

Rob

Steve Stokes <steve@stokes4congress.com>	12:20 PM (20 hours ago)
to Daniel, James, me, info, MayDay

Rob,

If you are not running, can you focus your efforts on talking to professionals to find individuals of like mind willing to run?

We should target college professors, doctors, real estate brokers, business owners, insurance agents, lawyers.

To me it is incomprehensible that an individual can be genuinely against money in politics and not be against the negative effects that money creates.

·         Out of control military-industrial machine. Blanket authorization for use of military force (AUMF), intervention in Syria, unlimited, unaudited military budgets.
·         Big agri-business money opposing labeling of GMOs.
·         Militarization of our police departments.
·         Civil asset forfeiture by citizens who have not been charged with a crime.
·         Unconstitutional surveillance to control the population which is oppressed by Washington Insiders.
·         Partisanship which distracts and divides to the benefit of Washington Insiders.

We must be able to find ordinary Americans whether Democrat, Republican or independent who agree on these issues.

We need leaders to run otherwise these issues will not be discussed.

Adam Schiff recently made a fuzzy statement in support of GMO activists only after I called him out on voting for H.R. 933 Mar 21, 2013 (113th Congress) Monsanto Protection Act.

I publicly opposed the Citizens United decision and called for an amendment to overturn in my last campaign.

Now Schiff has taken the position that he supports reform of Citizens United.

Of course Schiff stated that he supported NSA surveillance reform and then on May 13, 2015 voted for the USA Freedom Act / Patriot Act extension.

Please help me find credible, committed candidates in Alabama that support the six issues above along with strong opposition to Citizens United.

Best regards,

Steve Stokes

Rob Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>	2:29 PM (18 hours ago)
to Steve, Daniel, info, MayDay, James

Dear Steve,

I appreciate your quick reply to me.

I am going to hold off a few days (maybe even a week) in making a response, because I would like to provide MAYDAY an opportunity to say something first.

There is a good chance MAYDAY will decline to say anything. 

If MAYDAY is willing to say something, what it says could affect what I say. 

If MAYDAY is not willing to say anything, I would interpret that as expression by MAYDAY that MAYDAY does not consider trying to recruit candidates in the manner you are urging as being helpful for MAYDAY's carrying out its plan. MAYDAY's not considering it helpful, whether or not MAYDAY gives an explanation of reasons, would probably suffice in essence for my answer as well, provided I might try to articulate a rationale (which you can probably derive from my preceding email).

So, please, if we may, let's wait on MAYDAY for a few days..

Sincerely,

Rob 

2016 #WaveOfIndependents Campaign

[I think MAYDAY supporters should be informed about and consider involvement in the below 2016 #WaveOfIndependents Campaign being initiated by Steve Stokes of California.]

Introduction of 2016 #WaveOfIndependents Campaign

Steve Stokes <steve@stokes4congress.com>	5:02 PM (23 hours ago)
to me

Dear Rob Shattuck,

I am seeking collaborators in my effort to flood the 2016 elections with a #WaveOfIndependents.
Please use this email as my introduction to individuals who may want to participate in policy
discussions, assist in other states, or who may consider running themselves.
I am recruiting candidates to run in 40 of California’s 53 congressional districts.

13 California incumbents score 70% or higher on my KeepScore™ voting record research.
If I raise the bar to 75% the number of satisfactory representatives drops to 10.

Those 10 representatives are: #BarbaraLee, #TedLieu, #MikeHonda, #TomMcClintock
#MarkTakano, #AlenLowenthal, #MaxineWaters, #JackieSpier ,#DorisMatsui & #KarenBass.

The rest of our representatives, including both Senators must be replaced.

I am hoping to find #Leaders4Reforn to spearhead housecleaning efforts in all 50 states.
As you may know ballot access is easy here in California under top-two.
The challenge is finding 40-43 credible, committed candidates to run.
I am running in #CA28 against blue dog incumbent #AdamSchiff.
His #KeepScore™ has recently doubled to 14.29% thanks to his welcome opposition to the #TPP.

In other states I need help researching ballot access mechanisms and fielding #independents across the country.
Once we have a strong group of independent candidates committed to 2016, we will schedule
#CandidateSummit policy meetings within the districts to craft legislation and video stream the events.

In March of 2014 I placed my business as a Los Angeles real estate and mortgage broker on hold to run for Congress in #CA28.

I won the top-two jungle primary as an INDEPENDENT and appeared as the only challenger to six-term incumbent Adam Schiff.

I am committed to getting money out of politics and restoring democracy in America.
Please see my attached campaign one-sheet and my work-in-progress #KeepScore™ congressional voting record.

I have developed strategies in my last campaign which I want to share to help like-minded candidates in 2016.
Please reach out to me if you wish to be involved with our growing effort.

Best regards,

Steve Stokes

www.stokes4congress.com

  

Steve Stokes for Congress
28^th Congressional District
1301 W. 2nd Street, Suite 102
Los Angeles CA 90026
United States
Ph: 323-223-1000
Fax: 323-662-3500
Email: steve@stokes4congress.com

Web: stokes4congress.com

Tweet for CFR in #Bernieham

A 1st #BerniehamMeetup will take place tomorrow at 4 pm in Birmingham, AL. Help make campaign finance reform a top issue in Alabama.

Send or retweet this tweet:

Hello #Bernieham, please make campaign finance reform a top issue in Alabama. http://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2015/07/1st-bernieham-meetup-tomorrow.html #alpolitics

Thanks.

And after you tweet for campaign finance reform in #Bernieham, get with a Bernie group in your area and instigate tweeting for campaign finance reform where you live. See Proposed messaging re: Congress.

MAYDAY says "get involved in your district"

Today, the MAYDAY PAC Facebook posted

MAYDAY.US

Have you signed up to get involved in your district yet? It makes a HUGE difference (see our recent success??)

Now's a great time to do it! https://mayday.us/local-action/

Make your voice heard. Get involved in your district.

I’m getting involved, and I hope you will too. Sign up to attend a meeting with your members of Congress or write a letter to the editor. Let them know that you want them to reform the way campaigns are funded. It’s easy, and it makes a difference.

MAYDAY.US

For the past month, the amount of grassroots activity of MAYDAY supporters getting involved in their districts has been extremely small compared to the exploding grassroots activities of Bernie Sanders supporters. (A sense of this can be gotten by comparing the tweeting going on under the Twitter hashtags MAYDAY is using (#lead4reform, #maydaypac, #maydayus)  with the tweeting going on under Sanders hashtags (#Bernie2016, #feelthebern).)

In its pronouncements and social media postings, MAYDAY has been expressing satisfaction with how its campaign is going, it has taken no note of the fervidly expanding grassroots activities in the Sanders campaign, and it has not raised any discussion or posed any questions about how MAYDAY might more mobilize its MAYDAY supporters.

It is hard for this MAYDAY supporter to know what to make of this situation.

Help needed on synergy with Bernie

I have been working for more than a month on trying to foster synergy between the Sanders candidacy and campaign finance reform.

I have received favorable reactions from scores of Bernie supporters.

The past few days I have been endeavoring to put forth to Bernie groups this Proposed messaging re: Congress.

It would be great if a campaign finance reform organization took an active interest in trying to foster synergy with the Sanders candidacy.

Currently MAYDAY has been silent and has expressed no interest. See Prof. Lessig's July 2nd email.

I know the Proposed messaging re: Congress fits best with MAYDAY's approach for electing a reform minded Congress by 2016. Possibly it can also be fitted to the approaches of other CFR organizations.

If MAYDAY is not interested in trying to foster synergy with the Sanders candidacy, I would like to find another CFR organization that is interested, and with whom I can work on the same.

Please let me know if this appeals to your CFR organization.

Thanks.

Proposed messaging re: Congress

[Edit. South Hampton Roads for Bernie Public Group is the first Bernie Group I have made this specific proposal to. I will proceed to put the specific proposal to other Bernie Groups for their consideration, without changing the South Hampton Roads for Bernie Public Group name used in the proposal.]

Proposed messaging campaign for South Hampton Roads for Bernie Public Group re: broken Congress

This sets forth my suggestion for a messaging component about Congress as part of advancing the candidacy of Bernie Sanders. See Cong'l front for advancing Sanders candidacy.

This would initiate as a tweeting campaign, and would call for volunteers in the Group to do sustained tweeting of hundreds or thousands of tweets over several weeks. The tweeting that is envisioned can be done efficiently, with it being easy for one volunteer to send 40 to 50 tweets in 15 minutes.

The tweeting will be "directed" tweeting, Some complaints about "spamming" may be expected. I have had experience with the "spamming" issue. Volunteers would need to subdue qualms which they may have. To help volunteers get comfortable, please read Spamming on Twitter.

The Group should have one or more "Statements" on a Facebook page or other Group webpage that tweets can give a link to.

A suggestion for a "Statement" is the following:

STATEMENT OF SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS FOR BERNIE PUBLIC GROUP 

RE: CONGRESS

Bernie Sanders believes that Congress is broken and not doing its job properly for the American people. Bernie Sanders believes the primary cause of this is the corrupting influence of money in politics. Bernie Sanders believes this corrupting influence adversely affects most all the American people, Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.

Our South Hampton Roads for Bernie Public Group strongly agrees with Bernie Sanders, and we believe Bernie Sanders is the only Presidential candidate whom the American people can trust to labor mightily on their behalf to fix our Congress.

Fixing Congress will take monumental effort and pressuring.

Our Group will be doing widespread messaging in Virginia and in our 2nd, 3rd and 4th Congressional districts about this. We will bring as much public attention as we can to our broken Congress, and the reason it is broken. We want to draw in Republicans, Democrats and independents alike. We will make a focus of this our Representatives and Senators in Washington.

We believe doing this will help coalesce and grow the support for Bernie Sanders, and ultimately increase his strength, as the only Presidential candidate we can rely on to carry through for the American people on this.

Volunteers in our Group will be doing massive tweeting in our region about this. Their tweets will give links to statements of our Group about this matter such as this Statement. Our volunteers will be sending individual tweets to Twitter followers lists on selected Twitter accounts in our region. We will ask voters in the region to send their own tweets to our Representatives and Senators in Congress. Our volunteers will seek to recruit other Twitter users in our region to send tweets as well as part of our Group's tweeting effort.

We will demand that our Virginia Representatives and Senators in Congress take a public stand and say they are with the American people and against Washington Insiders. If they don't take that public stand, we want them to know that we are going to make them #FeelTheBernHeat in the 2016 elections.

It is to be expected that a variety of tweet messages would be employed, depending on who the recipient of the tweet will be.

Tweets to the Virginia Representatives and Senators in Congress might say:

Dear @_______, have you started to #FeelTheBernHeat?. You need to #Lead4Reform now. [link to Group's Statement.]

Tweets to other persons might say:

Tweet this to your Rep. in Congress: "@___  you need to #Lead4Reform, or else #FeelTheBernHeat [link to Group's Statement.]"