Dean Knows DU! (Just back from the "Town Meeting")

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

And, apparently, likes it!

I just got back from a “Town Hall” meeting where I didn’t get to ask a question in the forum, his handlers only wanted to allow two, he stayed for three.

The last question was about black box voting. An Aerospace engineer brought up questions about the secrecy of the code, security and accountability. His answer included a brief description of Diebold’s CEO saying in a fundraising letter that he would do whatever he could to assure Bush was re-elected. He continued, saying, (I paraphrase) that he first heard about this from “conspiracy theorists” but will make the question MAINSTREAM and that it was a symptom of a Right Wing effort to take over!

There were no Repugs or Freeps, just a lot of supportive locals and Alabama press. It was sweet to be around so many Dems in one place. You could feel an electricity of hope afterwards.




And…. I got to shake his hand. I was a couple of rows back after the speech and thrust my hand through the crowd. He was going to pass, so I nearly yelled, “Greetings from Democratic Underground!”

He stopped moving and looked to see where the DU mention came from and took my hand. “Really? Hey, That’s great!” He then autographed a list of DU questions (didn’t read them) that I had and moved on.

His reaction was such that several people asked me about DU afterwards.

What a great morning.


(and I’m not even one who would put himself entirely in the Dean camp yet, but I will say that he strikes me as a man who would do well for Americans if he is given the job as President).

[demnan]

1. I'm glad he knows us.

and Governor if you're reading this I'm throughly in your camp!!!!

[meegbear]

2. His "handlers"?

Gee, the man of the poeple.

[anti_shrub]

5. That's a cheap shot

Everyone has "handlers" in politics, even the guy you support.

[cjbuchanan]

6. Um, they all have handlers

Most mayors of mid-size towns even have handlers. I don't think this is a reason to say he is not a man of the people.

[jcgadfly]

8. A small difference

Dean's handlers take care of the details so that he (Dean) can do his job.

Bush's handlers craft policy so that he (Bush) doesn't have to do his job.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. These were the people taking care of logistics, time schedules

and the other detritus that any celebrity or politician has to put up with.

If the man did not have a staff to take care of things like that, I'd be worried.

Perhaps I used the wrong word.

[Brian Sweat]

13. I agree. Howard Dean is not a man of the POEPLE.

I also agree that you post was totally out of line or just plain ignorant. I cannot decide which.

[Jim Sagle]

70. Yer guy has handlers too - people who tie his shoelaces.

[RetroLounge]

78. God you whine like my 5 yr old about Dean

pathetic post...

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

79. Trying to make an issue out of a non-issue,

[cjbuchanan]

3. Good use of the DU connection

Sounds like you had a great time. Let's hope other candidates know (and read) DU.

[underpants]

4. Poop fart yaks

Hello all you Dean people checking us out :hi:

[seventhson]

14. Dear Howard - some people just like to make spectacles of themselves

Others like to change the world.

Underpants is both -- so , like Klinger on MASH - we let him act however he pleases.

Ultimately in a fight you WANT him on your side.

[underpants]

15. HA!

Thanks that was a great compliment.

Do you think these earrings go with these shoes?

[JNelson6563]

18. haha

you do spice the place up, no doubt. I love the local color here at DU!! Keeps me comin' back!

Julie

[JPace]

27. Dear Underpants....

just curious, why do you look so angry?

P.S. I like the earrings with the shoes,
but i think the purse clashes.

[underpants]

28. They aren't angry

They are straining

[TeeYiYi]

32. Underpants . . . that's funny that so many DUers are . . .

. . . paying attention to your moniker today. I noticed for the first time that there is yellow in the crotch area, so to satisfy my curiosity I had to pull your underpants into Photoshop for a thorough examination. Suffice it to say, you have pixels containing yellow that range from 2% to 78%. Is this a recent soiling or have your underpants always been pee permeated?

Your friend,

TYY B-)

[underpants]

33. blame matcom

I think he "soiled" them.

The original link is gone. SoCalDem and matcom had saved them (I dunno how). Well it is Monday which historiclaly is laundry day.

:bounce:

[dolo amber]

72. My 3 year old disagrees

Anytime I pass one of your posts she says "Look, it's the mad panties!" :D

And well done on the DU plug. :)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

74. Mad Panties... Sounds like a new Female Grunge Band.....

:toast:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

17. I think you have seared a new mental picture of what I imagine

underpants to look like. LOL

:toast:

And if Doc Howard or Howard staff is looking, let me say...

EMAIL ME! We need to do lunch and I have to know for sure who really came up with the Trent Lott/MLK line in the last debates!









Reich Marshall Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trial: "The people can always be brought to the bidding of leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

[knight_of_the_star]

25. Underpants is such a kick!

You rule underpants! I love the local poulace that exists here on DU. One reason I can't stay away for too long. Everyone needs a fool to liven things up and point out the idiocy of things that others do.

[underpants]

26. That happened once at camp

:cry:

And NO it wasn't band camp. It was men's field hockey camp ...thank you.

[Capn Sunshine]

49. You forgot DR. Mike Hunt

But Deans organization is well aware of us, and his heavy support. I work for Dean as do many of us.

[Le Taz Hot]

56. You WORK for him or

you volunteer for his campaign?

[Robb]

57. poop fart yaks

I'm embarrassed at how hard I just laughed out loud! :)

[Andromeda]

80. Underpants, I'm so proud that you...

are on your best behavior. Can't give the wrong impression now. :silly:

[alphafemale]

7. Great! It is a kewl name, though.

The name usually gets a reaction and smile even when people haven't heard of it.

The name tingles with the promise of organized resistance. :bounce:

[SuffragetteSal]

10. shameless...I like it!

So glad you got to meet him.

On a similar note: I had to do some airline traveling last month and I stuck my 'Democratic Underground' bumper sticker on my luggage!

[deutsey]

11. Hi, Gov. Dean!

:hi:

[CMT]

12. Great

was it a big crowd? how enthusiastic?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

16. The crowd was SRO. However, the room probably held 250-300

people.

There was lots of spontaneous applaus and cheering. Especially when Dean started slamming Bush's economic policies. Plenty of signs and buttons as well as television cameras.

[JNelson6563]

19. Wow! Very exciting!!

Whoo-hoo!! DU gets a nod! I just had a feeling someone in that camp checked in here!!

Sounds like an exciting time BP. Thanks for the great report!

Julie

[CWebster]

If anyone ever checked in

We were probably rude. ;-)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

24. LOL... Hell, we're always rude!

(mebbe not ALWAYS)

:evilgrin:

[janx]

23. Actually, I think more often, people here post on the DFA blog.

I'm not the only one who has mentioned DU there.

So even if Dean himself doesn't know about DU, we can rest assured that the Dean campaign does. They're very good about that kind of thing. It would not surprise me at all that Dean has heard of DU.

[FDR2004]

29. I'm new to DU but

This will be a very exciting place to keep eyes on the campaign in the next year. I hope the list owners plan on having an exclusive interview with our candidate in the months ahead.

FDR2004

[Egnever]

34. WEEEHAAA welcome to DU !

That would rock! but I wouldnt hold my breath.

Still I think you will be very pleased with this place. Its a regular treasure trove of knowledge and information.

Hope you enjoy your stay!

[juajen]

81. Wow, that graphic is kool!

N/T

[proud patriot]

44. Welcome Underground FDR2004

Exciting is right ... This is the Only place
to watch politics :hi:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

45. Warning: DU Can be habit forming and hazardous to your health

causing carpal tunnel syndrome, being better informed than most, and the development of bulging eyes from too many hours at the monitor.

Hope to see you posting more in the future!

[AP]

20. He only scheduled two questions and stretched it to three???

Are there other forums in which he takes lots of questions, like, say an hour's worth?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

22. They only gave him an hour here....

He took additional questions (which were still covered by the press) outside after the meeting.

After overhearing his people saying "we have to be (couldn't understand) at 2:00," Iit was pretty obvious they were trying to squeez as much as they could into the day.

[w4rma]

31. Here is a ~45 min audio of Dean at a meetup. He answers lots of questions.

http://www.wordsandgraphics.com/dean080703-audio.mov

[xxqqqzme]

35. @ the *whack party last Saturday

there were all sorts of questions from all over - @ the party I attended, CA was linked w/ NY during our conference call. It was a good forum.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

36. You just reminded me of one of the funnier moments today...

Dean was talking about the economy and how the tax cuts weren't going to help and finished a sentence with "I don't know why Bush doesn't understand this."

Then, a lone voice from the back of the room cried out: "Because he's stupid!"

After the laughter died down, Dean smiled and said, "I love these forums. Always someone wanting to write my speeches for me."

[hedda_foil]

51. He often takes an hour or more ....

He'll take all the time he's got and more to answer the questions of the folks at rallys, forums and town hall meetings across the country. And he never panders in his answers. He explains his reasons and lets folks make up their own minds.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

53. That's the impression I got.

He assuaged an earlier difference of opinion I have had with him.

I was speaking with a local reporter after the event who said she was a Republican but was now considering changing her affiliation. Now THAT'S the sort of candidate we need.


(an Edwards line)

[wryter2000]

21. Way cool, Billy Pilgrim

Thanks for the report

[David Zephyr]

30. Nice!

Thanks for this story, Billy_Pilgrim! :hi:

[Gman]

37. Your post is refreshingly exciting

It reminds me of the time I got to shake LBJ's hand when I was 10 years old. Thousands of people showed up for his appearance here in San Antonio and the whole place was electrified. That was when I got bit bad by the politics bug. It was an exciting experience for me at that young age. I'm sure at your age it was just as big an experience if not bigger because you understand the issues so much more than I did at that age.

No matter what happens in November next year, stay with it and make a difference.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

39. What do you mean, "At your age?"

Just don't try to do the math when I tell you that I watched my Dad campaign for Adlai Stevenson and carried my first Protest sign at a Nixon speech and that I'm only 24.

LOL

:-)

:evilgrin:

(Now doing math ... Born in 54?)

[RevolutionStartsNow]

38. Thanks for the report, Billy...

Great job getting DU mentioned!

I met Dean last weekend in San Jose, it was exciting. He was very much NOT handled, just one security guy nearby but he may have been event security not Dean security. He walked into the crowd twice and stopped and talked to a lot of people, including my 11 year old daughter.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

41. He wasn't handled here either...

He had a schedule and pushed his alloted time as much as possible. The detractors of my use of the word "handler" are really trying to turn a non-issue into an issue. After the event, he spent quite a bit of time talking outside on his way to the car.

[juajen]

82. Gee, I hope he's better guarded than that!

These are dangerous times. Me thinks as he gets stronger and stronger that he should beef up the security. I don't want any shenanigans or tragedies to follow our great candidates. God, they are all looking great. I can't wait for Wesley to join the fray. This is an exciting election.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

83. There were plenty of cops around that I could see and I am sure

there were others that I couldn't. Personally, remembering Bobby Kennedy and George Wallace, I wouldn't mind if the candidates had more protection. Especially with the hate filled RW talk show hosts spewing the hate they spew.

I'm sure that if Dems asked for more security, the repugs would say we were asking for entitlements.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

42. Welcome to DU, Paul!

I don't agree with you. I see him as being very concise and not avoiding issues.

[gristy]

43. A man who tells you EXACTLY where he stands

(that would be a VERY long position paper) is a man who could never be elected.

Personally, I just want to know the character of a man, how he has governed in the past, and what his general position is on things important to me and our country.

[maggrwaggr]

46. I disagree. I think he's just not that easily labelled

Everything Dean says, I like. I've found him to be very direct and forthright. I see his positions changing a bit as he gets more experience and learns more.

A man who changes his mind as he learns is a smart man.

Unlike, say ..... well you know

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

47. Paulroberts has been tombstoned. He came out as a RWer in a different

thread.

RIP, dude:

[ComerPerro]

48. Thats a great .gif

eom

[Brian Sweat]

50. It cost me a dime

but it was worth it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

52. Well spent dime!

[musiclawyer]

54. I forward stuff to info@deanforamerica all the time.....

...stuff from here as well. I try not to waste their time by providing only stuff I think they're not likely to find easily. I'm sure that they read it and pass along to the higherups. That's the only way Joe Trippi could have know who I was when I met him in San Jose. That's then best thing about the campaign, and why it has endurance.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

55. I can believe it. I was really surprised when he brought up the

Diebold letter. He seems to have a good crew and his internet/email campaign is heads and tails above any of the other candidates.

[MODemocrat]

58. You're making me jealous

That would be a dream come true for me, if only I could see DEAN in person and talk to him. What is it about him that draws people to him?

[hedda_foil]

59. Where in Missouri do you live?

He'll get close enough for you to see him. And you'll see exactly what it is that draws so many people to him. He's the real deal.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

60. He seems to come across as easy, unaffected and honest...

No noticable uh's or pauses as if he were trying to figure out what to say (like you know who) open body language and a realistic demeanor. He was pretty much the same guy that was on K Street last night.

Either he's an Acadamy Award winning actor or he's who he appears to be.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

61. I agree

He was very relaxed when I met him, looked us right in the eye, wasn't rushing through our little "photo op". (I was with another mom who wanted her daughter's picture taken with him.) I noticed this when he came into the crowd as well, he was very patient, stopped and listened to people who talked to him, even though he was being mobbed.

Joe Trippi was like this too, and then some -- he was just standing in the crowd making coversation with people.

Of course I know this is just the personality part, has nothing to do with the issues, but to me this is major icing on the cake, that he's comfortable and relaxed talking to the general public.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

62. People in the crowd were commenting on this even as he was giving

his speech.

[Cha]

63. Hello to you, Billy_Pilgram! And a Big Shout Out to Govenor

Dean and All his "handlers" whom I think should be more accurately described as Helpers!

Don'tcha know bush has given "handlers" a Bad Name!}(

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

64. Shoulda said liasons, don'tcha know! LOL

[Cha]

67. Yes! Liaisons! In french, no less!

[pruner]

71. Bush doesn't have handlers… he has enablers

n/t

[Demobrat]

65. When I saw him a week ago

I would have called the people he had with him assistants, or in Arnie's case, assistant producers. People who are there to make sure you get to the right place and on time. Hardly handlers, although I think they themselves might find it more flattering.

[Eloriel]

66. Thanks for the report,, Billy_Pilgrim

I esp. appreciate your sharing the info re the BBV question. That turned out to be an awesome set-up for when *I* met Gov. Dean a little later today and got my 40+page report providing a fairly darned good overview (and loaded with hotlinks) in his very own hands in Atlanta late this afternoon. I told him that he may not win Georgia and if nominated may not win the General election unless we fixed this problem.

All in all, I say it's been a GOOD day for BlackBoxVoting.

Alabama had its own BBV debacle last election. From my report:

ES&S and Alabama’s 2002 Governor’s Race
ES&S was implicated in another upset and fiasco for the Democratic incumbent in Alabamba’s 2002 Gubernatorial Election. Every Alabama county save one uses ES&S computerized optical scan machines. On election night, it appeared that Governor Don Siegelman had won the election, though narrowly. GOP challenger Bob Riley refused to concede, saying that it might take until dawn for all the election results to come in.

According to published reports, at about 1:30 a.m., Riley’s son announced that there had been a “computer glitch” in Baldwin County, a GOP stronghold, and after it was fixed, Riley had received enough additional votes to win the election by a little more than 3,000 votes out of 1.3 million cast.

Siegelman charged that GOP operatives had “fixed” the election in Baldwin County after pollworkers had departed, and he made immediate plans for a state-wide recount. The Republican Attorney General issued an opinion that state law precluded opening the sealed ballots (the paper ballots which were fed into the optical scan machines) under these circumstances, though the ballots from the non-computerized county could be recounted. Siegelman spent several weeks fighting legal battles, but eventually withdrew, conceding the election.



Link: “Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman concedes,” USAToday, Nov. 18, 2002, http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-11-18-siegelman-concedes_x.htm

Eloriel

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

68. I guess it was (good for BBV)... But *I* wanted to talk PNAC!!!!!

<stomping feet and shaking fists>

There are soooo many facets of this administration and the radical right that need to be exposed that any of the candidates would have to have week long Thown Halls to address even half of the issues.

Good Gawd, DU needs to organise into research forums after the primaries. A staff of 10,000 researchers might give a candidate a little ammo.

So, tell me. What was your impression of the man since you have met him?

(& congrats on getting the info to him)


Feel safe.
Ashcroft watches over us all.

[Cha]

69. So you got to meet Governor Dean? Good for you and him, too!

Thanks for all your hard work concerning BBV and the report "in his very own hands"! Woo Hoo! :D

[Eloriel]

76. Billy and Zidzi

He's awesome, of course. VERY human, very warm, engaging. His stump speech this time had a wonderful segment on racial issues. Just wonderful. I hope to hear it many more times.

The friend I was with thought he might have been a little surprised that his audience was as liberal as it was (as opposed to -- cough, sputter -- the Zell Millers of the world and Georgia). *I* was fairly impressed that he said "Georgia" and "Georgians" so many times -- impressed that he actually knew where he was. After all, that man gets around. It would have been just as easy to not have to bother remembering where he is, ya know?

At the fundraiser, all 3 of his college roommates were there. One of them introduced him. Two African Americans and the other guy is Italian. He had a few fun remarks about his college days, laughed a bit, was loose and easy, and did a bit of his stump speech. Had a great turnout. I was expecting a nice, intimate little gathering, but it wasn't. Several hundred, and quite a few name tags left over, which means he raised more money than it looked like, and it looked like a pretty good haul.

It was a great day.

Eloriel

Eloriel

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

77. Sounds like his visit here....

He mentioned his support of the manned space program and a few other items of local interest. I'll bet he sleeps well tonight. I just wonder how many places he visited to day.

[sonias]

73. Dean knows DU - Woo Hoo

Doesn't surprise me one bit. He has a whole lot of grassroots people volunteering for him and they are using the Internet they way it was meant to be.

Reminds me of something Al Franken said at his book signing this weekend about his own Team Franken. He said something like young kids today are totally amazing and you can't pull anything over them. All of them have their wireless laptops and if you want any kind of information, 10 seconds later they have the answer for you. Team Franken were a group of college students who did all the fact checking and research on his book. We mentioned the Diebold scam and black box voting at Franken's talk too and asked him to get Team Franken working on that one ASAP. We need everyone shining more light in that black hole. Bev Harris has done a fantastic job but I know she wouldn't mind more people talking and writing about it either.

I love Dean's campaign and I think he's very straightforward. I've seen him a couple of times and gotten to shake his hand. He's made me a believer that we will win.

Sonia

[Cha]

75. Just Beautiful, Sonia, thank you!

What a sweet, chipper, post! That I could use about now! :-)