Dean in DC tonight: "Republicans are the party of the past."

[madfloridian]

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=988159&tw=wn_wire_story

SNIP..."The Democrats "are a party of the future, while Republicans are the party of the past," Dean said."

"We have to never be afraid to say what we believe," Dean said, as the crowd roared its approval. "Above all, we need to stand up for a different vision."

On the steps of the restaurant-brewery where the event was held, he urged supporters to look behind them at the brightly lit, white dome of the Capitol.

"After 2006, we will make major strides in regaining that building, and in 2008 we're going to have it," Dean said. "In 2008, there will be a Democrat walking down Pennsylvania Avenue to the other end."

Supporter Rebecca Cague watched Dean with a wistful smile. I feel like he is what we need to revive the party," she said. "He's not afraid to speak his mind; and when he does, he speaks for us."

Dean promised to work closely with top congressional leaders such as Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and with Democratic officials at the national, state and local level.

As Dean worked up the crowd, one of his supporters shouted: "Give 'em hell, Howard!"

"I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," Dean said with a mischievous grin. "I may be looking for a three-piece suit ... He paused and then burst out laughing.

"Fat chance!"

Talking to a large crowd in DC which stretched a long ways. More at the blog now.

[newsguyatl]

1. no doubt in my mind

he'll run in '08.

THIS time, he won't be backstabbed from the establishment, he'll BE the establisment, the NEW establishment.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

He publicly said no...only way is if we draft him

wink wink :P

[Voltaire]

7. Then let me be the first to add my name to The Draft Petition

nt

[Clark2008]

13. No.. no draft.

You got him chair.
Let us red-staters pick the Blueman - Clark.


That's grassroots, now, isn't it?

;)

[Yuugal]

22. You got that right

I'm positively giddy over Dean as DNC chair. All we need now is a candidate who can get votes across the whole country. A red-state populist would suit me fine.

[ultraist]

79. Edwards is a red state populist, he was at the DNC meeting today

[Larkspur]

60. Clark will never have my vote or support

I wasn't impressed with him in 2004, and I'm not impressed with him now.

[Crunchy Frog]

76. OMG! Really?

I never would have guessed such a thing in a million years. And here all along I had been thinking you were a hardcore Clarkista.

You'd better make sure to post the exact same thing a couple hundred more times, just so no one else makes the same mistake I did.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. I thought chairmen couldn't run??

But if he does run in 2008 and is the canidate I'd surely vote for him. Of course I'd vote for any dem who makes it through. :) I can't wait till Dean is certified!!! YAY! :bounce:

[MadisonProgressive]

53. That's the second time I've heard that

but somebody show me where in the constitution it says that. Maybe you mean they can't run WHILE they are chairman? There is an easy solution to that problem.

[Crunchy Frog]

26. So you're claiming that Dean is a liar?

It doesn't sound like you have such a high opinion of him.:shrug:

[sendero]

51. Well...

... it would be interesting for you to post instances in the past where Dean lied, or "changed his mind" on a crucial (non-trivial) issue.

I'm not saying he hasn't, but I can't recall any offhand.

While I'm not as convinced as you that his ultimate plan is to run in 2008 (maybe later, after all he is relatively young), if he does for the party what I think he can do, he'll deserve the white house.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, Clark would be my preferred 2008 nominee at the present time. :kick:

[ultraist]

78. Dean wont go back on his word, he made a gentleman's agreemt

and I highly doubt he will break that agreement. He's better than that.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. I love the photo, thank you, Dean is DNC chair, the world is brighter

:kick:

[juajen]

21. Yeah, it cheers me up a lot, too!

I believe the good Doctor is very good for the people of America, of all persuasions.

:bounce: :bounce:

[MissWaverly]

71. am I seeing things right

He's standing in the street in DC talking, where are the barricades, the police, the security posts??????? You mean he doesn't have to worry about the little people????

[burythehatchet]

3. very warming story

[SteveIrving1]

4. Thank God for Howard Dean

[madfloridian]

5. Another pic of the overflow.

Dean is in the upper right background, so large crowd. Well over a 1000.



www.blogforamerica.com

[Califooyah Operative]

31. awesome. nt

[ClayZ]

41. Yay Dr. Dean!

Oveflow! I can feel it comming!

:kick:

[janx]

54. That's a beautiful sight, MF.

Thanks for posting!

[Zenlitened]

6. *Sigh.* Love that man

:loveya: Keep on tellin' it like it is, Dr. Dean. :)

[roguevalley]

8. God, I am so happy. Thank you, Mr. Dean.

[BlueInRed]

9. Did you guys see the article over in Editorials

A Republican is warning the GOP if it's not careful, Dean could switch the power back to Democrats as early as 2006. (Of course, you have to hold your nose at all the slaps at Democrats to read it.)

[Gloria]

11. GO, HOWARD!!!!!

He gives me hope because he has a spark of life in him....

[struggle4progress]

20. Bush's budget clearly shows America that the Republicans ...

... are extremists.

[madfloridian]

10. Jeffords was there also. I love it.

Thanks to Tiffiny at the blog...she won't mind if I share.

[GetTheRightVote]

12. nice to see two buddies together, go Dean go, dems behind you

all the way !!!!!

:kick:

[madfloridian]

72. A friend saw this pic of the two of them on CNN headline news....

She thought it meant Jeffords would go Democratic. I said who knows?

I thought it was good for them to appear together.

[Akno21]

14. Face Facts

Bush won 97 of the 100 fastest growing counties. The Republican party is not going anywhere. They are not going to self-destruct in the next two years. They were so bad the first 4, and yet increased their majorities. If the American people voted stupidly in 2004, why will they vote smarter in 2006?

[madfloridian]

15. Time for GOP to face facts....they are like a house of cards right now.

They are going to overplay, and overkill, and people are good enough at heart that they will not let them destroy this once fine country.

They need to face facts. We are going to take our country back.

[toymachines]

16. who the hell are you... Mr. cynical

[thedailyshow]

17. let's see.....the Social Security Plan Fiasco by Bush

and the budget cuts of farm subsidies, social programs for the elderly, the children and the poor, and Pell grants for students by the Bush administration clearly shows that the interests of the middle class are not their goal.

It's up to the Democratic Party to hit the Republicans for trying to shaft the elderly on Social Security, shafting the farmers, shafting the poor children, and low-income families struggling to make ends meet, and students trying to make a better future for themselves.

The hubris of the Republican Party will be their end.

[tsuki]

55. Ah, that's democrat stuff. Let's hit them in their strongholds. Where is

Osama Bin Laden? Probably living in a cave in NM. Our borders are NOT SECURE. There are more policemen in NYC than Border Patrol. Criminals and Terrorist cross into the US daily. Terra, Terra, Terra. More than 3 million crossed last year. Promised: 10,000 extra Border Patrol Officers. Delivers: 210 new officers and some cameras.

Firefighters & Police: The front line of homeland security. Those risking their lives daily to give us LAW AND ORDER (Big Repub theme). Promised: 600 million Delivers: 60 million.

Veterans: Support the troops. David Chu has given me lots of ammo there.

Those are my arguments today. Not the Democratic arguments. I still believe that until everyone of us has civil rights, none of us have them. I am still pro choice. I just don't talk about it.

Hit them in their strongholds. That's where they hit us.

[dave29]

19. you are correct

Republicans are going nowhere. They have been leading us there for a long time. It's time we made that clear.

[buddysmellgood]

23. Bush lost. Get over it. Next time we're going to count all the votes.

[IronLionZion]

30. The fact is that Republicans are pissing their pants with fear

they are against Dean because he inspires us to action. he has conviction, energy, charisma, hell he is just really interesting. He doesn't back down from attacks, he fights back like a mofo.

Rove understands this perfectly. That's why he wanted to run Bush against John Kerry.

[CrispyQ]

67. I like Dean. My husband does too.

We didn't pay much attention during the primaries. But after JK got the nom, Dean was on a couple of talk shows, that tennis star's (can't remember his name -- it's already cancelled) & Bill Maher. We both thought he was great. For my husband to speak well about a politician is really something!

Dean's a straight shooter -- tells it like it is. Unlike the current administration, who can't open their mouths without lying! I can understand why Rove wanted Kerry over Dean.

[cestpaspossible]

32. But if Bumfuck County, Texas, grew from 200 people to 3000

it would no doubt be THE fastest growing county in the US and still totally irrelevant in electoral terms.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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

[lojasmo]

63. Bwahaha. I wonder how many posts you'll get in. Here's the scoop...

We CAN turn this country around. Since Dean (and to a lesser extent, Clark's) candidacies in the primaries, THOUSANDS of motivated, young, energetic, and NEW activists have joined the democratic establishment. Now, Howard Dean is going to head the very organization they just got involved in.

DFA was tremendously successful in 2004. They will continue to be so. in 2006 there will be strong democratic candidacies in areas that NEVER before were viable.

Olmsted county is a good example:

Two candidates, supporters of Dean in the primaries ran, and were elected to MN state house seats this year. These are NOT career politicioans, neither had ever before held office...one of them is in his MID TWENTIES! My wife worked for one of them. My wife had never before been involved in politics, aside from voting in general elections. In fact, the last time she had registered for party affiliation whas as a REPPUBLICAN....in HIGH SCHOOL!

We elected TWO DEMOCRATS to the minnesota state house for the FIRST TIME in over 35 years (Since we started keeping track)

minnesota won 13 seats in the state house this cycle....12/13 of those candidates were supported by the MN progressive caucus, and 21st Century Democrats.

This is how it's going to get done. On a local level, with newly inspired activists guiding the party, with Howard Dean as our party chair.

[ktowntennesseedem]

64. Slim majorities + assumed mandate = big crash on the horizon.

Their majorities are not that great, and I don't think it would take much to turn the momentum. In spite of that, they are running full-tilt with the assumption that they can do what they want with a vast majority of America granting its blessing. Don't know what it will take--- prolonged war in Iraq, new war in Iran or North Korea, economic problems, some morals issue blown out of proportion, another 9-11 type attack, something no one's thought of, or some combination--- but I think we have to act as if the house of cards will soon fall.

I'm still mad as hell with little optimism for the near future; we've got a long fight ahead of us, and it might not get better for some time still. Yet news such as this rally and the impending chairmanship for Dean does give me great hope, even if it is for the long run. Which is enough for me right now, since I'm in this for the long run anyway.

[madfloridian]

18. Looks like the crowd was inside as well.......pic.

[buddysmellgood]

24. The "scream" is going to be our war cry. It's the coolest thing going.

[Downtown Hound]

25. Right on Doc!

Give 'em hell! We're behind you all the way!

[jpgray]

27. Quotable quotes. When was the last McAuliffe quotable quote?

Err... uhm.... It's nice to hear a direct attack on the GOP that rings true and yet isn't mindless issue bickering but a general swipe at their image.

It's true Dean can't really change things by himself as DNC chair, but we can, and he wants to help us. Not a bad deal at all.

[janx]

56. That is what it has been about all along.

;-)

[lojasmo]

68. "I wear a size twelve shoe." (not an actual quote) N/T

[proud patriot]

29. Well Said Indeed

:thumbsup:

[cestpaspossible]

33. Go Howard!

[RealDems]

34. I was there tonight...

At the end of the speech, some guy standing next to me (I was near the stage) said to his friend "This is the first time since election day that Democrats have had a reason to smile." Yup.

[madfloridian]

36. What a nice statement to make.

That is a quality Howard Dean has. He gives hope. I think we have hope because we have loosened the stranglehold of the far right of the party to a degree. Not all the way, but a start.

[Borgnine]

35. Awesome!

Dean getting the chair will be the first good thing to happen to us in nearly five years. I still don't believe it's actually going to happen, because I'm so used to being shafted. Somebody pinch me.

[John_H]

37. what a great event.

i happened to be in the area, and stopped by to say hello to some friends who i knew were there. Ended up staying for the whole thing. Dean had everybody absolutely fired up--and best of all, sent the gop a signal that for every slap they take at us, there getting a body blow in return.

Dean was not my first choice for chair, but I'm liking him better every time he opens his mouth.

[Dr Fate]

38. DEMS need a star- I think Dean is IT.

n/t

[madrchsod]

39. best news i`ve heard today

finally someone with some balls...

[Sugarbleus]

40. Thanks Mad' for posting this. It's the first time I heard the news...

This is exceptionally EXCITING!!!!!!! I was about to throw in the towel in the last month or so, but Dean gives me hope. Whadda guy :bounce: Woohooooooo

TAKE AMERICA BACK!

[latteromden]

42. Shiiit! He *gets it*. I wrote the same thing to McAuliffe last year in a

letter - that the Democratic Party is the party of the future, the party that wants every new generation to have a better chance than their own, the party that will move us forward, not backward.

I doubt he read a word of it.

This is exciting!

[Andromeda]

43. Dean has breathed new life into the Democratic Party.

He's a power to be reckoned with and a true STAR!

I'm soooooo happy that he's DNC Chairman. The winds of change have turned in our direction, and we are the storm.

The Republicans are terrified of our Howard. I can almost hear Kkkarl Rove's teeth chattering.


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Piperay]

44. HURRAY

with Dean we have a chance of taking our country back! :thumbsup:

[d_b]

45. Lets do this

[Disturbed]

46. Republicans are the party of the past...

like 1890. That's where they want to take America. Back to the fuedal times when workers had no rights and the wealthy corps had no restrictions. The only thing that the Rethugs would not have regarding those past times is no drug laws. Amerika is the least progressive of modern industrial nations. It's way past time the the Dem party start explaining to the Americans what the future can be like if Rethugs were out of power.

[ktowntennesseedem]

65. Exactly. They fear post-modernity

and everything that goes with it. So they want to go back to the 50's to a "Father-Knows-Best" "Leave-It-to-Beaver" fantasy world and pretend the last 50 years never happened. Except for the theocratic extremists who want to take us all back to Old Testament times, or at least their version of those good-old-days. Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

[GOPFighter]

47. Dean will make politics fun again!

"I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," Dean said with a mischievous grin. "I may be looking for a three-piece suit ... He paused and then burst out laughing.

This is what has been missing from the Democratic Party....a sense of joy.
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[malmapus]

48. With Dean at the helm, I feel much better about the future

There is a brightness in the dark gloomy sky that came across the land on that bleak day in Nov. There may be hope yet!

[applegrove]

49. Rove today said that Democrats are dead. In actual fact -

Rove today said that Democrats are dead. In actual fact - it is the pale conservatives who are dead. That Republican Party (the old one) is over. And they admit it in an article on Disraeli & the Invention of Modern Conservatism (which the neocons did not even invent - which makes them a bunch of phony, pretentious, non-intellectuals who just copied someone else). Here is the article.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/198cdapm.asp

Rove is such an ass-wipe! Whatever he says about the democrats is actually going on with the Republicans. Republicans are dead. As Christine Todd Whitman, Tucker Carlson or Buckley Jr.

Democrats are the BOMB. Liberals always survive because they accept change and new ideas and are open to the world.

[AnneD]

50. Held my nose this AM and watched MSM

Of course,nothing about Dean but.....they were SHOCKED,SHOCKED that the prescription drug bill was higher that first stated. The reported said that this didn't bode well for the admins Social Security as their numbers may not be accurate (duh, ya think?). Honey, SS isn't called the third rail for nothing. Bush (and GOP) have touched it and when they look up, they'll see the Dem train (with Dean conducting) rolling over them. Dean's 'scream' will pale in comparison to their own. I look for us to pick up seats (and momentum) in 06.

[tsuki]

57. You are correct. Nothing on Dean, but Headline Crap had at least 10 blips

on Charles marrying Camilla. Whhhhhhhoooooooooo (Dean Scream)

[oddmanout]

58. Dean is a good man.....

I think this a good move for the party, but we all need to beware of the Bushies character assasins who will go after Dean (and any other dems in prominant positions) to discredit him. :dem:

[Straight Shooter]

59. Howard Dean is back on track. Light that fire, burn the GOP at the stake.

:evilgrin:

[Larkspur]

61. This is the Howard Dean I supported in the Primaris and thank Goddess

he's the new leader of the DNC.

Without Dean as our "point guard" (I'm a basketball fan), the Dems would be directionless. Dean will point the way to the future. He may not be our Prez nominee in 2008, but he will help shape that nominee and pave the path for that nominee to take our country back from the Regressives.

[janetle]

62. Very exciting and very happy

I am very happy about this.

[madfloridian]

66. Apparently a lot of press were there.

I read a write-up somewhere that Bill Schneider was there with a rather sour look...just someone's opinion. Lots of cameras....wonder if we will see anything.

Dean apparently started off with saying he remembered the days before Iowa, so he was being cautious.

I also heard he made it clear he would be standing up proudly for labor unions. And talking about our faith, but refusing to change our values.

These are just bits and pieces from folks who were there. I thought it was great that Jeffords was there.

[outrage]

69. YAAAAAARGGHHHH!!!!!YAAAAAARGGHHHH!!!!!YAAAAAARGGHHHH!!!!!

YAAAAAARGGHHHH!!!!!

[elshiva]

70. YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGGHH!

Thank God!

[JNelson6563]

73. We are the future

and the Rethugs have good reason to be very, very afraid.

Julie

[madfloridian]

74. Yes, we are.

Their continued effort to take us backwards in time is starting to be noticed by even their own. I have noticed in our area that they are not as vocal and pushy now....defensive, yes, but not as loud about it.

[William Bloode]

75. Just this one remark....

Was good enough to win a million Southern votes.>>>>


"I'm trying to be restrained in my new role," Dean said with a mischievous grin. "I may be looking for a three-piece suit ... He paused and then burst out laughing.

"Fat chance!"

[madfloridian]

77. That was great, wasn't it?

:hi: