I beg to differ with Mr. Brauer apparently characterizing the phrase "hardcore DFL hacks" as an "inflammatory label." For reasons to now be explained, this is a substantive label which was supported by the content of my previous post.
My definition of a "political hack" is someone who actively participates in the political process but is not significantly motivated by any genuine commitment to principles, ideology, or other substantive philosophy or issues. Political hack motivations might include blind social group or party loyalty, desire for personal economic or political gain, a mere enjoyment of the game-playing aspects of campaigns, or any combination thereof. Although almost no one probably has pure motivations, it is a matter of degree. It should be noted that my use of the phrase "DFL hack" does not at all mean that all DFLers are hacks, or that all hacks are in the DFL. All parties inevitably have hacks. (A party with more clearly defined and more consistently followed principles is likely to have fewer hacks). There are also many principled DFLers. My underlying point is that Kallenbach's campaign is a product of the worst element of the local DFL - the most hardcore HACKS. This point is substantively addressed by my previous posts and many other posts which point out how Kallenbach's campaign stategy is totally based on negative attacks, and was completely orchestrated by party hacks through their connections and association with the most greasy parts of the DFL machinery. Such a campaign reflects soley individual commitments to personal gain and no commitment to principle - my previously-stated definition of political hack. I will take this opportunity to share an anecdote of what the Kallenbach campaign is about. This was confirmed by my conversation with Eskit, Dean Z's volunteer coordinator. Eskit is about the most dedicated campaign worker who I have seen (along with Dean Z and few others). I remember him callling me dozens of times about Wellstone campaign events and volunteer activities in 1990. His main interest has been in working on liberal DFL campaigns. Eskit goes back a long way with Dean Z has a fellow dedicated electoral activist. It sounded familiar when Eskit called me at strange hours to try to get me to volunteer for Dean Z. At a candidate forum the week before last, Rick Stafford (Kallenbach's campaign manager and longtime DFL party official) approached Eskit and whispered in his ear, "You'll never work for the DFL again." This is the sort of tactic that epitomizes the Kallenbach campaign. Dean Zimmermann and his campaign represent the complete opposite of the term "political hack." Dean Z made an independent and principled decision to run outside leaving a party that he did continous grunt work for 30 years, and run a campaign based on principles and long-developed local political connections based on merit and dedication rather than favors and intimidation. This is all reflected in Dean Z entirely postive campaign. (The only exception being a few of us argumentative supporters who act independently of the campaign). The 6th Ward race has become a unusually clear struggle between raw attempts at a power grab by a clique of political hacks associated with a downtwon political machine that has no commitement to the needs of the 6th ward versus an independent, crreative, and principled grassroots campaign that can challenge the corrupted power structure. Jordan Kushner Powderhorn, 6th ward neighbor List Manager wrote: > > I want to reiterate my note of yesterday and re-emphasize it for ALL > partisans: > > "Please stick to issues & facts and try to avoid characterizations or > inflammatory labels. This is especially important if you feel like > criticizing some for doing same." > > I try to send out decorum advisories to let "all sides" know when the > spirit of a rule has been violated, and to head off the inevitable angry > and bad-vibe-continuing response. > > We need spirited debate on the ISSUES, but we also need this to be a > place where all feel welcome to post and none feel intimidated by angry > personally directed and meant-to-insult rhetoric. > > Fierce logic, yes. Inflammatory labels, no. > > Thanks, > David Brauer > List manager > > -----Original Message----- > > Now the hardcore DFL hacks (Michele St. Martin, Tim Bonham) are finally > weighing in on the list to support their Dean (Kallenbach) 6th Ward > candidate. It is revealing that all they can do is continue to attack > Dean Zimmerperson and now anyone who dares support him, while remaining > completely unable to offer ANYTHING positive about their own candidate. > > _________________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
