Here's an idea, in an email from MoveOn. It just happens to be the worst one I've heard in a long time.
Somehow, I don't think they singled me out. It must be going to everyone on their massive list, so don't be surprised if there's a surge of new people with an interest in running for something. That wouldn't be a bad thing, as long as I'm not one of them:
Dear Bill, You should run for office. No, really. You, Bill Christofferson, should run for elective office: maybe city council or school board in Milwaukee, or the state legislature in Madison. Here's why you're exactly the kind of person who should run: 1. We need more true progressives in office—more MoveOn members!--and fewer career politicians.
2. This is exactly how the tea party took power in 2010—running grassroots candidates in as many districts as they could. 3. With a wave of at least 2,012 American Dream candidates running up and down the ballot, we can start to defeat corporate Republicans and disappointing Democrats, and not just for one or two election cycles but for a generation.
Would you ever consider running for office? It's easier than you think, and there's lots of help available. So what do you think? Are you in? The tea party movement has recruited thousands of candidates for office over the past couple of years, and used them to spur a wave of attacks on progressive policies across the country. We're working with partners like Progressive Majority to find strong progressives to run for office and fight for our rights, state by state. That's how conservatives are working to change America, and that's how we're going to beat them in 2012 and beyond. It's a whole new strategy for MoveOn. We can connect you with the resources to help assess what running for office would take, to find an elected position that could be a good fit for you, and to provide you with expert training, winning strategic advice, and other campaign help. If you've ever thought you might be willing to take your local involvement to the next level by running for office—or if this is the first time you've considered it—let us know and we'll help you get started. Thanks for all you do, –Adam R., Elena, Tate, Kat, and the rest of the team