Dean finally announces fundraising suprise

[Fleshdancer]

From the official blog:

Beginning Monday, Howard Dean is going up on the air in Austin, Texas. In a television commercial recorded late this week, he will invite the people of Texas to join us in building the great grassroots campaign of the modern era-- whether by signing up online or using our new toll-free number: 1-866-Dean-4-USA

The people of Texas know George W. Bush better than anyone. Throughout this campaign, Howard Dean has been standing up to George W. Bush, and what better place to stand up against what George W. Bush has done to the economy and our nation than in Bush's home state of Texas.

For more information: www.blogforamerica.com

[northernsoul]

1. hot diggity damn!

In your face, Shrubmeister!

:evilgrin:

[mefoolonhill]

3. Dean in Texas

YeeHaw ! This is goddam brilliant and gutsy!

[liberalnurse]

13. Let me piggy-back that YeeHaw!!!!

Trippi is brilliant!!!!

:bounce:

[jamesinca]

37. Piggy back is for IV's

your professional biasis showing.

[CMT]

2. I love it!!

He has quite a following in Austin already and I think he will do pretty darn well in the Texas primary.

[Fleshdancer]

4. And when Bush is on vacation!

Please oh please let this commercial run in Crawford

[w13rd0]

5. Fabulous!

Remember when Bush went into all the "Dem states" and crowed how they were going to be "close". Dean is turning their strategy in on them. Fighting for states they expect to keep, and they'll be forced to spread themselves thin. Do it Howie, make those fiscally irresponsible bastards blow their "massive war chest" and STILL lose in a landslide...let's prove money don't buy ya love!

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. I wonder whether they're trying to provoke...

...an outlet or two to refuse to run their ads.

That would put the cat among the sparrows.

[Cha]

7. Monday is going to be a Great day deep down in the Heart

of Texas! And Dean is gonna be on the ol' Larry King Live!

Here's some yeller roses for the Deans!

[wryter2000]

8. This'll be great!

Any type of support he gets in Texas is going to make Bush look really weak.

I wonder who over there is the freaking genius.

[Rose Siding]

11. Texas *should* be in play

Even conservatives can't be so stupid as to think Bush left them in good shape.

Check out this list I found on the DDF blog: (The following statistics are taken from a white paper entitled: Texas on the Brink: How Texas Ranks Among the 50 States.)

1. Education:
o Texas is 45th among the 50 states in high school completion rate.
o Texas is 47th among the 50 states in SAT scores.
o Texas is 30th among the 50 states in average teacher salaries.

2. Health Care:
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in percentage of population without health insurance.
o Texas is 44th among the 50 states in percentage of poor covered by Medicaid.
o Texas is 40th among the 50 states in physicians per capita.
o Texas is 45th among the 50 states in number of women receiving prenatal care.

3. Children:
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in percentage of uninsured children.
o Texas is 50th among the 50 states in percentage of fully immunized two-year olds.
o Texas is 9th among the 50 states in percentage of population under age 18
who are living in poverty.

4. Welfare and Workforce:
o Texas is 6th among the 50 states in poverty rate.
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in percentage of population that goes hungry.
o Texas is 44th among the 50 states in hourly average earnings.

5. Environment:
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in the amount of toxic emissions from manufacturing facilities.
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in number of clean water permit violations.
o Texas is 1st among the 50 states in number of environmental civil rights complaints.
o Texas is 2nd among the 50 states in the amount of ozone pollution exposure.
o Texas is 49th among the 50 states in park spending and acreage.

6. Democracy (political involvement):
o Texas is 46th among the 50 states in percentage of eligible voters that are registered.
o Texas is 47th among the 50 states in percentage of eligible voters who go to the polls.

[Fleshdancer]

17. I hope you don't mind

Party line, I've posted some of these facts over at the Dean blog (comments section).

These numbers are scary.

[mbperrin]

20. They ARE scary..

even more so when you've lived in Texas the last 50 years! I DAMN SURE never voted for anyone named Bush for anything, ever. No one is my family will admit they did, either.

Just to get it straight.

[Rose Siding]

24. Gloria, I'm so glad you did.

That's where I saw them and I hunted up the white paper, too. I copied them to word (because you had them formatted so nicely) so I could spread them around too. Hope that's OK.

My jaw drops each time I hear that Bush is actually popular in TX.

[Fleshdancer]

30. HELP!

party line - this is a BIG hit on the blog! After posting these stats on the blog I've had a several emails from people in other states wanting to know how to get their state stats as well.

On the blog I also mentioned I wanted to print this stuff on the back of the Dean For Texas flyer and now other people want to do the same. This is great, but truth be told, I don't know exactly where you got the information. You said you "hunted up the white paper" but to be completely honest, I have no idea what that means. Could you educate me?

I'm feeling very dumb right now so kid gloves would be great.

[Rose Siding]

39. Gloria

check your mailbox :-)

[stickdog]

22. Dem's 2004 battle cry, "If You Want to Be President,

Don't Mess Up Texas."

Bumper sticker:

"Bush Messed Up Texas"

[scarletlib]

40. Best Bumper Sticker I've Seen!

This bumper sticker says it all. Where did you get it? I want one too.

[knaveree]

44. That's a terrific bumper sticker

one of the best bumper stickers I've seen. Thanks for the post.

[Lexingtonian]

29. translation: Third World country

And that's how the ruling elite in Dallas likes it.

[fortyfeetunder]

42. My conclusion to this listing--

Was *'s goal to bring the entire fricking USA down to Texas standards? Sure feels like it!

[sham]

9. he'll have to reach farther than Austin...

it's great that he's starting there, but Austin is, without a doubt, the most liberal place in Texas, and if the people make a connection between Dean standing up to Bush* and our Dems standing up to Delay, then he's got a decent shot. But I think Democrats/Liberals/moderate swing voters in the rest of Texas are likely to go for a more DLC type. Does anyone know if he has plans to run ads or otherwise campaign in the rest of the state?

[Eloriel]

45. He has already campaigned in the state

in AUstin where 3200 people showed up for the rally. They were expecting maybe 300.

I think his Sleepless Summer Tour in August will include San Antonio. He's not coming here (Atlanta), so I haven't paid that much attention. Go here and take a look: http://www.deanforamerica.com

Eloriel

[AP]

10. Incidentally, Edwards has outraised all Dems in TX combined

(I believe...I linked the article here a few weeks ago). And Edwards did that without having to spend a penny on advertising.

[liberalnurse]

12. We don't care right now.....

[RetroLounge]

14. In your face Georgie Boy

Hope you got a TV in Crawford to see your next President!

[w4rma]

15. "This not only gutsy, it's smart in several ways"

The 'extra' $258,000 from the recent Dean fundraising drive was for a 'top secret' project, and after a week it has been revealed:
...
This not only gutsy, it's smart in several ways:

• It will get covered as a bold stroke by the media (and surely some will call it foolhardy, but at least they'll be talking about Dean, not the others). This coverage may be worth more than the ad itself.
• It attacks Bush, not the other D candidates, which may help allay some people's concerns about the tone of the race.
• It takes "Internet dollars" and leverages them "on the ground".
• Even if Texas is a 'safe red' state, there are a lot of people there who can contribute money. Showing that they're not written off is probably good for a lot of donors and a lot of general goodwill.
• It's a big symbolic flip-off to the President while he's vacationing in Crawford, which will make a whole lot of dissatisfied voters (Dem and Independent) cheer, even if they're not specifically for Dean.
• And because of all of the above, it leads by example.

I was hoping the 'surprise' would be something non-obvious but smart (we semi-called it by speculating on "an unusual ad buy", though obviously we lacked the details), and lo and behold, it is.

Like so many Dean tactics, it's the kind of thing that makes me wonder, "Why aren't the other guys doing anything like this?" And it reassures me that Dean's creative, nimble campaign is the one to put up against Rove-Cheney.
http://www.valuejudgment.org/archives/000070.html

[Fleshdancer]

16. Another reason why this is smart:

232 Delegates from the TX will be at the National Democratic Convention.

[tedoll78]

34. I'm am SO looking forward..

to the Travis County Democrats' Convention. I'm gonna miss a day at work so I can caucus for Dr Dean!


:party: :bounce: :toast:

[FubarFly]

18. Oh yeah...

that's why I love Howard Dean. :-)

This is beautiful. Once again, Dean has shown he the fight and the savvy to take on the rethug machine. Even supporters of other candidates should be able to admire this. If he continues with tactics like this, Dean will keep shrub off balance and on the defensive. Dean is running a non-tradtitional, outsider campaign, and he's doing it brilliantly.

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[frustrated_lefty]

27. I'm curious to see

if he comments on the re-districting mess in Texas. A carefully crafted comment could be used to great effect there, imo, providing a swift kick to the Texas thugs, Delay and shrub in one fell swoop.

[MODemocrat]

19. Dean, you're so cool

Such energy, and what a base.

[Guaranteed]

21. "Dean Takes Texas" - Nov 2004 hell yeah! n/t

[ProudToBeLiberal]

23. this is great

innovation=dean

[depakid]

25. A little Sun Tzu

for the Hungry Hungy Catapillar:

“If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

"If the opponent is nonchalant, upset his complacency. Disturb his center, and find the holes in his defense, and exploit them. If his is complacent, he will not be expecting attacks."

Now the pResident now has to explain (or ignore) once again his utter failings as governor- failings that every average Texan deals with on a daily basis- and it dovetails with Tom Delay's naked (and unsuccessfully decrepit) power play at midterm redistricting.

Talleyrand himself couldn't have devised a defter play.

[Eloriel]

46. EXCELLENT!

How delightful to read those Sun Tzu excerpts. Just fabulous. I wonder if one or both of them (Dean, Trippi) are Art of War afficianados?

Thanks for posting that.

Oh! I have to read it again:

“If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

So cool.

Eloriel

[NastyRiffraff]

26. Whoopeeeee!!!

::doing a happy dance::

I am so glad I contrbuted to the Cheney challenge...what a great use of the money!

BTW, watch http://www.blogforamerica.com :

"We'll have the commercial on the web at the right time, sometime over the weekend. There will be more coming. But on Monday, Howard Dean goes up on the air in Texas."

This is pure genius. Not only will it get the media's attention, it'll get the pretend flyboy's. Like someone said, I HOPE this will be aired in Crawford.

Go Dean! Go Texas 11!

[madfloridian]

28. Doggone it, Florida needs him, too!

We got a Bush here that needs attention!

Helloo!

I think our statistics are even or worse than Texas.

:hi:

[2548HR]

43. You are right Madfloridan

I am thinking the same

[sonias]

31. He's also making a couple of tour stops in August in TX

In Austin
Monday, August 25, 2003
At the Ruta Maya International Headquarters
3601 South Congress Avenue Suite D-200
Austin, TX 78704
5:00 p.m. ~ 5:30 p.m. Host Reception
5:30 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. General Reception

In San Antonio an hour or so later (same day):
Join thousands of Dean supporters at a free rally on Monday, August 25th at La Villita Assembly Hall, 418 La Villita in downtown San Antonio. Rally begins at 7:30 pm. Free, but bring a checkbook or credit card to make a small voluntary donation!

Now that's what I call messing with Texas. Taking Texas by storm.

Sonia

[Nlighten1]

32. LOL!

Brilliant.,,

[jamesinca]

33. Dean is going to grab the Bull(shit) by the horns

take him on in his home state. A year before the elections so people know his name there. They are all going to have to do it at some time, why not start now. If he can take advantage of the anti-Bush fever and get some attention before the next Bush boosting disaster he make take a few more votes. Remember how they all laughed that Gore did not carry his home state. Would that be nice to throw back on them. Asshole could not even carry his own republican home state as the incumbant. That has a certain ring to it, sorta rolls off the tounge.

[Egnever]

35. Hope bush enjoys his vacation in Texas!

Soooo GREAT! to start the add on bushes first day of vacation!

These guys amaze me time after time with thier ingenuity!

If this campaign cant beat bush I dont know if anyone can!

Give em hell Doc!

[0007]

36. Great balls of fire

What a fitting time for a great piece of rock & roll

Hit it Jerry er, I mean Dean

[shirlden]

38. OK...I'm convinced

and impressed. That does it....I am from hence forth a Dean fan.
If he can take on the Repigs and the DLC at the same time, he gets my money and my vote. This guy has no fear. "Power to and from the people" should be his battle cry.

Lead on Howard.....I will follow.

:bounce:


Going over to his site to sign on now.

[dajabr]

41. When asked on Charlie Rose...

What he thought people wanted in a Dem Candidate, Dean's answer: "Nerve"

Welcome aboard! :-)

[Eloriel]

48. Cool, shrilden! You won't be sorry.

Be sure to check out the Official Blog (link on the left of the official website) daily, at least. And read some of the comments for the various entries too. This is the first INTERACTIVE campaign!

Eloriel

[Rose Siding]

49. Blog link is a tab at the top now

They did a mini make-over.

None of the press I've seen indicates if the ad will have any Spanish involved (subtitles maybe?). I checked the 2000 census records for TX. I don't know how the Austin area breaks down but 32% of the TX pop is Hispanic, and 31% answered yes to the census question, "do you speak a language other than English in the home".

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48000.html

Trippi's so on top of it, he must have this covered, huh?

[THUNDER HANDS]

47. As a Kerry Supporter

I just have to tip my hat to Dean on this one. A very interesting move on his part.