I am going to contribute to Howard Dean

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

Several reasons:

1.) I think rumors of his demise are overblown.

2.) The cheap shots taken at him due to a speech that was NOT for television but for HIS supporters being taken out of context and used against him ala "John McCain in South Carolina" disgusts me.

3.) My best friend is a southerner but is also gay and was an agent for some of the biggest names in modeling for over a decade. He has a keen eye for what appeals to the public and has a better track record for calling political winners than I do even though he is really apolitical. He can call them from a marketing perspective more than a political perspective.

He LIKES Howard Dean, saw the speech, was inspired by it and felt Dean was what would appeal to people like him. As I said, he is NOT political, but is very much IN THE PSYCHE of Joe Average and has sold him all the models he fawns over for nearly two decades. He is also a casting agent for one of the top reality television programs right now.

If HE thinks Dean can win. Dean can win. I threw my every concern at him last night and he rebutted them like the average bear would.

I trust his instincts.

I have many issues with Dean. He is clearly not my FIRST choice. However, after this conversation with this man whose EVERY success has hinged on what OTHERS want and what appeals to them, I have much more confidence in Dean's appeal. I can live with the aspects of his candidacy that I am not fond of...I cannot live with 4 more years of Bush.

[WI_DEM]

1. I'm with you

I'm contributing $25 to Dean too. So far his financial base is solid since Iowa.

[lupita]

2. I am contributing too!

I believe he can win. It is not over yet, and he has a deep, wide base.
We are gong to keep on going.
Thank you !

[Cha]

3. Wow! I'm Shocked! ANd

Happy! No matter what you won't be disappointed that you're doing this, IMO!

And Thank You! :toast:

[Individualist]

4. Thank you

for your post nsma.

[Meldread]

5. Welcome aboard.

It's gonna be a bumpy ride to the White House, we are going to run the rats out of Washington. The revolution has begun -- there is no turning back.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Just to clarify, I am not really aboard. He isn't my first choice.

I am much more favorable to Kerry and the issues some raise about him are as disgusting to me as the character assassination of Dean.

I do not consider the IWR vote a litmus test. I do NOT consider the Patriot Act which EVERY senator but for one voted for (and I suspect were DEAN in their shoes, he WOULD have given it a pass) a litmus test.

To me the FUTURE is the test and Kerry's positions on matters concerning the future ARE backed up by his past for the most part, whether we discuss environment, foreign policy or social policy.

I simply am MORE comfortable with Dean as a potential Dem candidate now.

I still don't care for his gun positions, his tax plan or his penchant to have to backpedal on statements due to speaking too soon or lacking clarity in the first place..but again...compared to my biggest concerns..I can live with it.

[Snivi Yllom]

6. I gave $100

He is NOT done, and watch the bounce after the debate and the interview.

[pacifictiger]

10. I agree that astute

voters will see through the planted landmines. The question is, will more gullible voters be able to break the foggy trance of media hypnosis.

[Rich Hunt]

7. oh yeah!

I actually know a few people who were converted by this nonsense.

Way to go!!!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. Hey T, Please PM Me How Much You're Contributing

I want to match you with a contribution to General Clark. :D

Seriously, good for you for donating to any of our candidates!

:toast:

DTH

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. $200

[DoveTurnedHawk]

17. Done!

I'd planned to max out last week, but an event got rescheduled. Now I'm $50 away from maxing out. (I'm saving it for the Tuesday NH results party in L.A. at The Knitting Factory.) :-)

DTH

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. I may very well give to Clark as well

Knitting Factory? Give me a call this weekend.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

23. I Will, It'll Be a Blast

Three or four GOOD bands, a great venue, and TVs. :-)

It's only $25 in advance, $30 at the door, but I'm paying $50 anyway. :-)

DTH

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. I'll do better than the $30 door fee

lemme check my schedule..maybe we can meet on the west side and ride together.

Gotta get a dogsitter :shrug:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

29. Awesome

You make it up to the Westside, I'll drive us the rest of the way to Hollywood. :-)

DTH

[cally]

18. Also matched

I agree with you on almost all points. I don't have nearly as many problems with Dean as many do. I just don't think he can defeat Bush and I think Clark can. We'll be on the same team in late March.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. We're already on the same team

;-)

[cally]

28. Yes

Whoever can get through these primaries and win in many states has my vote. They have proved they are electable and can withstand the media onslaught. I'm not ABB, but I'm pretty close to that. I think we agree on politics way more than we disagree. :-)

[Ripley]

12. Welcome aboard NSMA!

However you came to your decision, you really should try to listen to a cross-section of his speeches. You will find passion and dignity there. I'm glad to hear someone with brains like yours can see what a distortion the media is making of the speech. Every American should be horrified that Katie Couric, etc. acted horrified that he was yelling, Gawd-forbid at a rally where his volunteers worked their asses off and felt dejected! Oh what a crazy, angry man he must be.

:toast:

On edit: I see you aren't really onboard, but my that's a great donation!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. I've actually watched, listened and read quite a bit

I don't have HALF the issues with most of the candidates that many here have.

I am not exactly ABB, but I am AABB. ALmost anyone but Bush.

[Rowdyboy]

14. Any money to a Democratic candidate

is money well invested...

[Dudley_DUright]

15. The more he is attacked for meaningless stuff

the more money I donate. Way to go NSMA. :thumbsup:

[Egnever]

16. Thanks for that

Your post and Deans speach today have inspired me to join you in donating again.

Bring on the debates!

[burning bush]

20. Well, NSMA, you are my hero of the moment

Not because I think you'll be a Dean supporter, or that you won't, it's unrelated.

It's just that you are doing a really big thing. You saw something that you thought was wrong, and you are going against the flow to correct it.

That takes real class.

thanks for giving me a reason to come back to DU to post a message.

have a great day!

:)

BB

[mitchum]

22. And homosexual fashion marketers make up what percentage of...

the voting public? I don't really mean to be (too) flippant, but you said that he feels Dean would "appeal to people like him" Would this bloc be enough to outweigh Dean's negatives with other groups?

ABB

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. I said he has been an agent for a venue that caters to straight men

and for one of the most successful reality television shows. If he were only looking at his own interests, he would have been a photographer for GQ. Dean's negative with some groups will most probably be drowned out by his positives with pro-gun groups.

And again...I am simply saying I have a bit more faith in his ability to appeal after talking to someone whose livelihood depends on giving the public what they want.

[mitchum]

31. With all due respect, you actually said two things:

Dean will "appeal to people like him"
Dean will appeal to the gaping yahoos which your friend cynically force feeds banal bullshit
Have 100% of your friend's pop culture contract works been successful?
New Coke or Cop Rock anyone?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. Hey I didn't say it overjoyed me that we have to consider the gaping

yahoos as well but even if we DO...Dean is far better than Bush.

( On edit: I am NOT comparing Dean supporters to YAHOOS just in case anyone gets concerned..I am saying yahoos will be comfortable with voting for him and we need yahoo votes too!)

Again, Mitchum...he isn't my first choice.

(and yes, 100% of his pop culture contracts have been successful...sorry..wish I could say more but he'd SMACK me if his identity were divulged on an internet bulletin board...suffice it to say at least one other person posting on this thread has actually met him...he really exists)

[mitchum]

33. That's cool

ABB

[HFishbine]

24. Thank you.

That's all, just a heartfelt thank you.

[LizW]

25. Thank you

I appreciate your post. I can't think of any better reasons to give a candidate a fighting chance than those you listed.

[HuckleB]

26. I suspect your friend has made some very good points.

I've donated to Dean already. He's not perfect, but I do think he has more appeal over the long haul to the everyday voter than the other candidates, who have a bit too much "shoe shine" if you get my drift. I'll support them, if they get the nomination, but just making a small unimportant point.

[quaker bill]

34. I agree, and thanks

I agree that Dean can win. I also support him and contribute regularly. I do not agree with him on every position. I like his stands on a large number of issues. Better yet, I like the way he understands that in order to win, democrats must re-define the debate away from the Bush* issues toward issues of traditional democratic strength.

This will be a difficult task, but one we must accomplish to have a meaningful shot a victory in November.

Welcome aboard.

[David Zephyr]

35. You Are First Class, Top Drawer & An Amazing Human, NSMA.

It's just who you are. It's just what you do. Grace must be your other name. You are too much!

Thanks for pitching in for the Doctor.

I know he's not been your first choice and that makes your gift all that more worthy of respect.

Wow! O8)

[Guaranteed]

36. NSMA...

We've had our run ins...but, I must say...

:yourock:

Thank you!

[slinkerwink]

37. thank you for contributing to Dean!

[mzmolly]

38. Thank YOU NSMA...

:toast: Your a good egg ;)

[MuseRider]

39. Good for you!

I think we have donated something to almost all of the candidates. I love having so many guys out there against Bush*(and one woman - I miss her). Dean is not my cup o tea but I am glad to hear that your friend is confident that this will not kill his candidacy. I do have to say, it is not playing well here in the Midwest but then neither do democrats very often! Good for you.

[creativelcro]

40. 1.5K last year. ...

Just donated more this year...

[mandyky]

41. This is day 4 of Dean, Dean, Dean

and all the other guys are getting is horse race stuff. Dean can come back, although I wouldn't even call it a comeback because the media has fabricated this whole thing out of a pep rally Dean gave supporters after a disappointing show in Iowa.

At least Chris Matthews showed the whole thing, not just the scream.

[Polemonium]

42. Welcome to the largest grassroots movement in 30 years

It's great to have you on board.

We've donated a few times, and again last night. We've gone to several meet-ups, and hosted a letter writing bash last night. Who knew hand writing letters would hurt so much?

Anyway, I think you will find that while it can be fun to watch democracy in action and participate by voting, it is much more rewarding to increase your level of participation. Imagine a grassroots run DNC.

[AntiCoup2K4]

43. Thanks for this great post, and contributing to Dean

Your friend's instincts happen to agree with mine. I've predicted the winner accurately of every election since 1976, both the good and the bad. I never got a clear picture in the 2000 campaign - now we all know why, with the election never really finished. I had Clinton picked as the winner first time I heard him speak, and despite the Hell the Bush campaign put him through (Ken Starr included), he emerged the winner.

I'm more sure about Howard Dean than I was about Bill Clinton. In a fair fight he will definitely emerge the winner. Over the DLC and definitely over Bush Jr.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

44. Thanks everyone!

I want the White House back...not any old way but damn close to it!