Defeat Bush: The Guide

If George Bush is to be defeated this year, he'll be defeated on the ground. He'll be defeated because we want it more than they want it. He'll be defeated because we swallow our fantasies of a candidate who doesn't exist and recognize that John Kerry is a manifestly superior positive choice. And he'll be defeated not just because we vote for Kerry, but because we urge cynics and undecideds to vote for him too. This work will not be easy or neat—new campaign finance rules make figuring out where to help a job in itself. But no one is overqualified for it. Don't think blue-staters like us can't make the difference in swing states. And don't forget that even in New York, pluralities count—win or lose, every vote for Kerry makes us feel better and Bush look worse. There are still two or three weeks to register voters, and there's plenty of follow-up to do in October. Examine the options outlined below and decide how you might best donate your time. Then tell your friends to do the same.

---

The Big Umbrellas

McCain-Feingold doesn't permit the Dems to coordinate the many 527 PACs stoking the anti-Bush fires. The groups below provide invaluable organization and overview.

Cosmopolity.org: The most thorough and coherent website dedicated to anti-Bush progressivism. Click "Act More" for an extensive listing of volunteer options. Click "NYC Swingers" (also at nycswingers.net) if battleground states are your obsession.

ACT (Americans Coming Together): "The largest voter contact program in history." Enter your zip code at acthere.com for events near you, or sign up for anything from letter writing to out-of-state Election Day work at actforvictory.org.

MoveOn.org: Get on their e-mail list and pick an action—pick several actions—from the dozens Eli Pariser & Co. will throw your way before Election Day.

Women's Voices. Women Vote: Phone banking to register women voters nationwide. Sign up online (volunteer2004.org).

Activate.us: Visit this website to subscribe to the Activate e-newsletter, a detailed weekly summary of anti-Bush cultural events nationwide.

Involver04.org: The culturally oriented site that birthed Activate. Click "Participate" for links to youth-targeted anti-Bush and progressive groups.

---

Be Here Now

You can get involved this week. Pick a project, any project.

Election Protection Training (ElectionProtectionVolunteer.org): Saturday, September 18, from 2 to 5, Columbia University Law School, 435 West 116th Street, will host a multi-sponsored training session for volunteers who can travel to swing states on Election Day to help protect voting rights. Anyone can enroll, but lawyers, law students, clergy, and Spanish speakers are at a premium. You must RSVP at the website.

Get on the bus: Saturday, September 18, at 7:45 a.m., buses will take volunteers to talk to voters in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. For info and seat reservations call Michelle Shapiro, 212-523-0180, ext. 24, or e-mail mshapiro@citizenactionny.org.

Democracy in the Park (democracyinthepark.org): Every Sunday afternoon from 3 until 7 volunteers use their free cell-phone minutes to canvass swing-state voters for ACT. Active locations include Central Park at 93rd Street and Central Park West, Union Square Park at the 14th Street statue, Tompkins Square Park on the lawn, and McEachron Park (Waterfront Park) in Hastings-on-Hudson next to the NYC-bound Metro North platform. The group is seeking organizers to run other sites.

---

Purple States

Pennsylvania's next door. New Hampshire's nearby. Maine and Ohio are within reach. And in this day and age, you can talk to anyone who doesn't hide behind caller ID.

Citizen Action of New York: Two-decade-old progressive group has numerous swing-state actions scheduled, including a Missouri phone bank, Saturday trips to Pennsylvania in October, an October weekend in Philadelphia, phone projects in other states, and a massive final Pennsylvania push from October 30 to Election Day. Sign up at their website (citizenactionny.org). Coordinator: Jesse Dixon, 212-523-0180, ext. 43.

Downtown for Democracy has scheduled an Ohio weekend ($20 for transportation and housing) from September 23 to 26. Contact getonthebus@downtownfordemocracy.org.

Calling Ohio!: Phone banks Monday through Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m., until Election Day at SEIU HQ, 330 West 42nd Street, seventh floor. Contact acthere.com.

Seniors for America: The former Seniors for Dean are targeting Arizona retirees with a letter-writing campaign. A hand-written return address will open envelopes, they advise. E-mail Tracey at hellskitchen4dean@earthlink.net to host a party.

Driving Votes: This grassroots organization (drivingvotes.org) helps road dogs plan car trips to register voters. Get on this one—most states end registration Monday, October 4, or a few days earlier. Contact Elana, 646-245-2935.

---

The Democratic Party We Rode in On

Working against Bush is only half the job. Here's where you get to work for Kerry. The campaign's Manhattan office is at 1560 Broadway, ninth floor, entrance east of Times Square on 46th Street, 212-764-7104. Walt Townes (walttownes2003@yahoo.com) is Kerry's New York volunteer coordinator.

Voter Protection: Henry Berger (nylawyers@americansforkerry.com) signs up and trains attorneys for swing-state residencies from October 30 to November 2. RSVP via e-mail.

Women for Kerry: Julie Ehrlich (womenforkerry.org) trains "truth squads" Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 in the atrium of the IBM building, Madison Avenue and 56th Street. Asha Cherian (hypatiareinc@email.com) heads a women's letters-to-the-editor operation.