Dean goes after Bush, Mehlman, Arnie in TX today over immigration

[madfloridian]

DNC Leader Dean Addresses Texas Hispanics

EDINBURG, Texas -- Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued on Friday that Republicans will try to make immigrants the "scapegoats" in the next election. At a rally, Dean garnered the loudest applause when he said Republicans would make immigration a pivotal issue during upcoming elections, as they did gay marriage and affirmative action in previous elections.

"Do you know who the scapegoats are going to be? Immigrants," he said. "In Colorado, the chairman of the Republican Party endorsed Tom Tancredo for re-election. That is morally reprehensible. The governor of California, a supposed moderate Republican, invited the Minutemen to visit California. We do not need vigilante justice."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., has drawn the ire of Hispanic groups in calling for tougher immigration enforcement and a proposal to tax some of the money immigrants send home. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a radio interview in April, said the civilian border patrols known as the Minutemen "have done a terrific job."

Dean also criticized President Bush, contending that the president rebuffed Mexican President Vicente Fox because of divisions over the Iraq war. "A strong Mexico means a strong America, and our ties must not be based on the petulance of the president of the United States," Dean said."

[wli]

1. he should've mentioned Tancredo's "nuke Mecca" crud

[smartvoter]

2. A Goldwater (nephew of Barry) is going to run in AZ against

Napolitano on this exact issue. Announced earlier this week.

[Carolab]

3. Howard, kickin' ass & takin' names, as usual!

Telling it like it IS!!!

[AtomicKitten]

4. I LUV Howard Dean

Immigration is a deal-breaker for the Republicans. We all know how they hate minorities, especially Mexicans that just might take that field-worker job they have their eye on. Ha. And Bunnypants is negligent on this one in a big way, giving birth to the nazi-squad Minutemen. We ought to hit the GOP on leaving the borders open here AND in Iraq.

I didn't support Howard Dean in the primary, mostly because some of his devotees acted like they drank the kool-aid and annoyed the bejeezus out of me, but he is brilliant as DNC chair. He drives the Repubs nuts. A job well done.

Particularly this https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/democracybonds

[Cha]

8. We didn't drink the

"koolaid"..we just knew that we liked what we saw and went with it.

[AtomicKitten]

14. well then ...

... you probably weren't one of "some of his devotees acted like they drank the kool-aid and annoyed the bejeezus out of me."

Don't take that as a gross generalization when I didn't word it that way.

SOME of his followers behaved like he was the second coming and if you didn't shave your head and follow them, that made you practically a Republican.

I know many folks know exactly what I'm talking about. Many of Howard's followers had never voted before or were disenchanted Greens, and I saw them treat some of the old-timer Dems who had devoted years of volunteer service to the party like absolute shit. Some Deaniacs behaved like they were the chosen ones. Their fervor was the same as newborn fundies and, quite frankly, put off a lot of people.

No need to get defensive if that wasn't you, but don't make excuses for them either.

[madfloridian]

15. Love your pic of Clark in this thread....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1986922

I do hate it when this starts. It is unfortunate, really that it is necessary for this to continue.

But anyway I love the donkey shirt he has on in the pic you posted.

[Carolab]

17. I know what you mean, BUT

A lot of us were just trying to get others to see what we were seeing. Lots of people "drank the media and/or DLC kool-aid" and believed that crap about the "scream" and "unelectability". In fact, lots of us knew that the DLC was helping to trash him, and so that made us a little "anti-party faithfuls", if you know what I mean.

[madfloridian]

20. See the cute Clark shirt Atomic Kitten posted?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1986922&mesg_id=1988063

Kool-aid drinkers are found in all groups, aren't they.

[madfloridian]

26. This is all Zidzi said; just one line, not defensive at all.

"we just knew that we liked what we saw and went with it."

There is nothing defensive in that at all.

[madfloridian]

21. All kinds of Kool-aid drinkers, zidzi.

Take a look here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1986922&mesg_id=1988063

[AtomicKitten]

32. Wow.

I cut and pasted a picture I thought was funny.

I know some people like to spin their point, but I don't quite get yours. Perhaps you don't have one.

Nice try.

Here's another one.

[madfloridian]

33. You said we drank the kool-aid. It was not needed.

I just pointed out your cute picture. My husband and I supported Howard Dean, we are active in DFA now. We did not go after anyone. We stood up for ourselves.

And so I did just now again. I had a nice thread going, it was not being insulting to you or to Clark or to anyone except Republicans...and I thought that was ok.

I have no problems except I just lost my country.

[AtomicKitten]

34. Who said I was talking about you?

That's where the defensive "suggestion" comes in.

Get over yourself.

Move along, nothing to see here.

Ps: A clue. "You" just lost "your" country? Did it occur to you that the rest of "us" lost "our" country too? My point exactly.

[madfloridian]

35. It is about me. "get over yourself" is that a new meme?

I have had that used on me twice the last few days, when I was minding my own business. I took up for zidzi who posted nothing but one line, a nice one, not defensive.

I get tired of being insulted and then told to get over it. It is a little obvious.

[AtomicKitten]

37. you weren't ...

minding your own business. My response would be much less impatient had I been responding to the actual author of the comment, zidzi. But you took it upon yourself, so you weren't minding your own business at all, were you?

It is people like YOU, not the original author of the comment, zidzi, that drove people away from the Dean candidacy. As my original post indicates, I LUV Howard Dean, but was put off from his presidential aspirations by people like you who glom onto the candidate like stink on a monkey.

I voted for Wes Clark in the primary, but then rolled up my sleeves and went to work for Kerry. He was not my ideal candidate to say the least. And I am glad Howard Dean got the job as DNC Chair; no I'm thrilled. It suits his skills perfectly and I am confident he will do an excellent job.

But this whole political "thing" isn't YOURS. It's sort of a clubhouse here in politics. I find your attitude naive and, quite frankly, green with regard to the process. The candidates are just players, not a deity to be worshiped and defended tirelessly particularly to people who are allegedly on the same side.

I'm done. You may have the last word unfettered.

[madfloridian]

38. Your message is clear.

If I loved Wes Clark, I would be better liked here. I don't worry about that anymore.

I don't insult him, I just don't take part. You jumped in my thread calling us kool-aid drinkers, a reference to mass suicide.

I will defend myself against that everytime.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. Oh yes

We should go on all the tv shows and pound this issue. How they're not securing our boarders. They are trying to manipulate everything again and say they are. I remember for whatever reason I used to watch Joe Scarborough last year and he even admitted Bush and the republicans weren't doing anything about our boarders. They definietly are going on this issue.

[AtomicKitten]

39. I LUV that John Kerry quote.

After rewatching his testimony before Congress many, many moons ago, it was that man I went to work for. It was that man I cast my vote for. Now with Paul Hackett's astounding success, it is clear that THAT John Kerry would have ignited the hearts and minds of voters.

Sigh.

[gratuitous]

5. Went right down to Texas, did he?

Talk about bearding the lion right in his den! Excellent!

[Cha]

12. Like Cindy Sheehan

goin' to Crawford :toast:

[madfloridian]

6. And there's more: A DNC release about the RNC and Mehlman

And he is in San Antonio for the week-end for the DNC Hispanic conference.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51386

"While Ken Mehlman has disavowed his party's 40 year-old tactics to appeal to today's voters, I hope he will use his remarks to the RNC today as an opportunity to pledge that his party will end its ongoing tactics of divisiveness and deceit. Empty rhetoric and hollow promises aren't enough if the Republican Party isn't willing to back it up with real action. They should begin by marking the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by pledging to renew it, disavowing voter suppression tactics, and agreeing not to make divisive use of immigration issues in 2005 and 2006."

Mehlman Plotting to Use Divisive "Tactics" in Virginia in 2005

Mehlman Pledged to Use 2004 Campaign "Tactics" to Aid Republican Candidate for Governor in Virginia. Mehlman said, "The party is unified. The Republican National Committee will be helping and supporting and providing assistance in terms of financial assistance, in terms of staff, in terms of help with tactics, we're going to do whatever we can to help make sure Jerry Kilgore becomes the next governor of the state." Chairman Mehlman said the RNC's aid to Kilgore will transcend cash and involve some of the same tactics both parties employed in last November's bitter presidential election. That includes aggressive get-out-the-vote drives and having poll workers on hand to challenge voter eligibility. "We think we learned some things from the 2004 campaign that will be useful here - things about helping to register and ID voters, about building a strong turnout effort - tactics and tools that helped George W. Bush win which we intend to make available for the Kilgore campaign," he said. (Associated Press State & Local Wire, 5/26/05)"

[Carolab]

9. Oh, Ken, by this....

"tactics and tools that helped George W. Bush win which we intend to make available for the Kilgore campaign," he said. (Associated Press State & Local Wire, 5/26/05)"

...you DO mean "stealing", don't you?

[Cha]

10. I'm sure they're working on

computerized voting machines as we type.

But, won't Mark Warner be able to know what's going on since he'll still be Governor?

[FreedomAngel82]

24. ID voters?

Oh you mean racial profiling don't you Kenny? :mad: Bastard. I still remember on the Carter/Baker nonsense hearing where someone said to do that and to see if they "look like they belong to the neighborhood." HELLO! BASTARD! There are people everywhere of all types of colors!

[Tigress DEM]

29. "Instead of blowing smoke up people's a**es.....

.....They should begin by marking the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by pledging to renew it, disavowing voter suppression tactics, and agreeing not to make divisive use of immigration issues in 2005 and 2006."

And in regards to learning from the 2004 election, I hope they are talking about the 25% increase in Republican voter registration in Ohio and not the mysterious disappearance of the 250% Democratic increase in voter registration in that same state during the same time period. It could have been caused by a multi headed stategy to suppress voter rights... which just happens to have a lot of convincing evidence that has been entered into formal court documents.

[Cha]

7. I like the way Dean always

mentions the "petulance" of the chimp. Someday that's going to Stick.


"Hollis Rutledge, chairman of the Hidalgo County Republican Party, said Dean's visit illustrates the inroads Republicans have made with Hispanic voters.

"One day of Republican-bashing won't make up for years of taking Hispanics for granted, and it cannot hide the fact that the Republican Party best represents the views and values of Hispanic Texans," Rutledge said..." Is that why Annie Saldevar is voting Democratic the next time? Because the repukes represent the views(and don't forget)values of the repuke party?


"Annie Saldevar, a 22-year-old student at the University of Texas-Pan American, said she had voted Republican in the 2004 presidential election. However, she said she would vote Democratic next time because she was disillusioned by Bush. She said she was moved by Dean's visit. "It was really inspirational," she said. "It makes you think there's someone out there to speak just for you."

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Awesome!!

Looks like the republicans don't know the American public at all and Dean does! Yes!

[Eloriel]

11. Nominated -- and here's a nice thread in LBN too

Dean Woos Hispanics In South Texas ("Si, se puede,")
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1679945

[madfloridian]

13. Si, se puede, I remember that from the campaign.

I never go to LBN so I missed it. Thanks.

[donkeydude]

16. Nah

Dean's wrong, the Republicans aren't going to make illegal immigration an issue. Corporations enjoy the uh... services... of illegal immigrants too much to let them make it an issue.

[Carolab]

18. He's talking about protecting immigrants.

Not getting rid of "illegal immigration". He's pointing out that the GOP has merely been paying "lip service" to immigrants, wooing them for votes, etc., while applauding activities like the "minutemen". It's another example of Republican hypocrisy, which he loves to point out is one of their "values". He means the Republicans will make it an issue to divide voters, NOT the Democrats.

[donkeydude]

19. Oooh, okay. Thanks for the clarification :) n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

22. I think Dean is onto something

I think Dean is right. They're defininetly going to have different priorities in this next upcoming two elections (06 and 08). I think the main priorities will be health care, jobs and security (specifically immigration like Dean pointed out). They're already giving us clues from what their own people run on. Last election was mostly about "terrorism" and "moral values". We have to stay ahead of the game. Everything is changing in this country and I think we are seeing that. I'm glad Dean is our chairman because he obviously gets how the republicans work and studies them and what they say and hopefully we can stay ahead of the game. Plus he's very organized and passionate and energetic with his job.

[Tigress DEM]

27. And WOMEN, the new talking points I heard tonight.....

along with the old standby, "Now global warming may be a fact or it might not be, but if it is, there probably isn't anything we're doing that is causing it or anything we can do to stop it."

This guy then goes back on the "Women on Welfare" saying how his SISTER got herself preggers and he had no compassion for her when she went on assistance. "Why should I have to pay for your mistake?"

"She got herself pregnant..." (Yeah, another immaculate conception.)

Then he starts telling me how statistically Women are more likely to commit crimes like taking your rent money and cashing the checks and not telling the front office.

YOU KNOW WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS????

2 Reasons.

1) Women are a huge voting block if we pull together. Obviously about 50% of the country is female and if they can get us mistrusting women and fighting among ourselves over welfare mothers who cheat .... ( 5% of the budget goes to Welfare and 50% or more to the Military in a regular year... yeah scrap every Welfare program and you can buy a lot more bombs...) then they think they can marginalize our power.

2) Main contender to knock out whatever rethuglican they decide on? Hillary, who would become the first female president. Landmark thought and they are deathly afraid of it.

Oh, one more thought came to mind. A lot of them are still pissed that Barbara Boxer kicks their big elephant asses in the Senate - repeatedly.

[AllyCat]

28. Okay, fiance came home and told me Dean had recommended

amnesty for all illegal immigrants currently here. He was really mad about it.

What happened that he is saying this? I cannot imagine Dean said this, but can't find a link.

Anyone?

[madfloridian]

30. From what I found at On the Issues:

Just at a quick glance, it appears most of our Democrats and many moderate Republicans support earned amnesty. I have not studied this, so I just don't know. I have heard him speak of those who pay and earn their way, and how they should be treated with respect.
Here is what I found on Dean from during the campaign...then you can do a search for Kerry, and others at the site.
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Howard_Dean_Immigration.htm

[madfloridian]

31. At the bottom, you can check for each candidate.

They all appear to support about the same type of earned amnesty. I have not held opinions on this, and I have not studied the issues on it much. However, most of them show true concern for the issue.

I see Bush once said no earned amnesty, but didn't he change his mind on this? I think he decided to just grant amnesty overall.

Anyway I don't pretend to speak with any authority on this.

[AuntPatsy]

36. And he didn't even make the front page news in our fair town here

in Texas, how telling...this is news...