Andy Argo's Big Activist Adventure

For those who know not, I am in the middle of some thoroughly 'next-level' stuff. As I speak and breathe, my life has involved such things as:

-Sending out strategy platforms to presidential campaigns.

-Developing national civil disobedience tactics.

-Stumping and campaigning for Paul Clements.

-Watching music videos to help me unwind, because seriously, this is cray-cray. I was making $10.80 an hour and suddenly I'm in the company of capital 'A' activists and anti-establishment politicians?

I am currently in the midst of a trip around the United States. The primary goal is to get to Los Angeles by August 24th, where I will be presenting a strategy platform to Sanders' surrogates (see below for details). Money and time permitting, I would also like to lend myself to the effort to stop the oil pipeline in North Dakota.

I am usually too prideful to directly ask for money, but I told my mom "I only have about $600 in my savings account" and she was all like, "Start a GoFundMe you fool! You can't talk to celebrities and activitists if you're panhandling by the side of the road."

So that's the basic problem. I miscalculated my travel costs a bit. I'm getting about a grand back from my (former) job as a vacation pay-out, but I'm very much running by the skin of my teeth.

Throw me whatever amount of ducats you are comfortable with. And thank you! If I manage to pull of my zaniest political strategy yet, you may get some SISTA MISTA swag in the near future...

BELOW is the strategy platform that will be presented in Los Angeles:

PROPOSAL FOR SANDERS SURROGATES
On Maintaining the Revolution’s Momentum Via Down-Ballot Berniecrats

This is an overarching strategy to ensure that as many Bernie endorsed politicians (Berniecrats) as possible are elected in their down ballot races in the November election. This involves the deployment of Bernie Sanders surrogates from his presidential campaign in a strategic and proactive fashion. Involving high-profile public figures in a stumping campaign for down-ballot politicians will elevate their own public profile in their districts, and help achieve their success in the November election.

GOALS

1. UNIFY THE MOVEMENT
Following the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the political revolution has been left in a fractured state. The focus being on presidential politics, the original support base of Sanders’ political revolution has splintered into differing factions (e.g., Bernie-or-Bust, tactical Hillary voters, and those voting 3rd Party). Shifting the focus onto down-ballot Berniecrat candidates allows for a point of unity and a new rally point for the political revolution. Getting Berniecrats elected is a point that all factions can unite behind, regardless of whatever decision they make for president in November.

A certain level of camaraderie and shared principles will be very good for this message. Imagine seeing a Hillary voter (e.g., Sarah Silverman) and a JillNotHill (e.g., Dr. Cornell West) surrogate at the same rally, standing together in common interest! The Sanders campaign has talked much lately about how installing progressives across the board of government is more important than a presidency. This will lend powerful credence to that message.

2. CAMPAIGN FOR BERNIECRATS
The wind has been taken out of a lot of people’s sails. So we should shift the narrative. Instead of just one ‘Bernie’ for people to focus their attention, we have a veritable army of Berniecrats to rally and fight for his progressive policies and viewpoints. Those involved in stumping for Bernie Sanders during his primary campaign should continue in that capacity, but for progressive candidates running down the ballot.

Public figures, celebrities, and well known activists are instrumental in the strategy for this campaign. We should make a detailed and strategic deployment plan for those surrogates interested in stumping down the ballot, where their prestige and messaging will be most effective for particular Berniecrats (e.g., different regions have different cultures. Different kinds of public figures have different degrees of impact in different places). For many average Americans who typically do not devote the same level of attention to congressional races as presidential ones, utilizing ‘star power’ in a strategic fashion with galvanize and ignite interest at the local level.

This of course includes Bernie Sanders himself. While I am not privy to his specific strategy for stumping down the ballot, the concurrent and protracted deployment of his surrogates will keep and maintain interest beyond just a single Bernie stump speech.

3. IMPRESSIVE TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER IS GOOD MOMENTUM
The successful deployment of this strategy will give us the strongest possible leverage for the continuity of the political revolution, and set a precedent for similar future strategies (e.g., Brand New Congress). For both the American people and the political establishment, it will indicate a turning point in our political body politic, and also hammer it home that Sanders’ success in the primaries was no fluke.

It will also be the best possible strategy for dealing effectively with the executive branch. The most likely scenario in November, barring some 3rd party political ju-jitsu, is a Clinton or Trump presidency. A strong progressive wing in the democratic party will be able to ensure that Clinton holds forth on her campaign promises, and effectively push her further left. In the event of a Trump presidency, it will be a strategically vital stop-gap for his more abhorrent policies.

4. HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF DOWN-BALLOT CAMPAIGNS
Many Sanders supporters are in a 'licking-their-wounds' phase. While many understand intellectually the importance of down-ballot, there is a general despair about our loss for presidential candidacy. Direct messaging to this from Sanders and his surrogates will lift people out of this funk. It will both re-ignite hope for people in the political revolution, and give individuals further motivation to directly participate in politics themselves.

CONCLUSION
The events of the Democratic National Convention were a hit to morale. But with the correct action and messaging it can be but a tiny blip in the overall trajectory of the political revolution. Our struggle is far beyond just one man's presidential campaign. As soon as you are ready, we must take the reigns and move forward. This would be a very good way to do it.
On a personal note, any surrogates are warmly welcomed to help me get Paul Clements elected in Kalamazoo, MI. We are a nice, quirky, well-educated college town that has an incredible music scene and brews delicious craft beer. First round's on me.