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[kalian]

1. Yes he is....

too bad we have our "candidates" pre-selected for us.

[union_maid]

5. No, that's not what was meant.

I supported Clark but I'd have to say the same for him. I listened to him on TV a few days ago and he was so much more like the guy that I was hoping would run than the one who did run, and Dean was a much more appealing figure today than in the debates, or in a lot campaign appearances. They both had great moments during their campaign but neither was great at projecting their best qualities to the more general audience and doing it in a soundbyte.

[bearfartinthewoods]

14. sure...because they no longer have to be responsible for what they say.

they no longer need to pander to the electorate because they don't need to worry about getting 51%.

[jean]

2. repeat - Dean is trying to retire a $175,000 campaign debt

(I got a letter yesterday)

"As of today there is a $175,000 debt owed by the Dean for America campaign for expenses incurred in the last thirty days. Most of these expenses are to small-businessmen, printers who created brochures, yard signs and stationary, family restaurants who provided gallons of coffee and thousands of doughnuts for volunteers, and local merchants who provided buses, microphones and staging equipment."

You can contribute online here:

http://www.deanforamerica.com /

or send snail mail to:

Dean for America
PO Box 1717
Burlington, VT
05402-0028


This should be an easy thing for us to take care of for the guy who put the backbone back in our party!

[madfloridian]

9. Check it out....that letter was from March 3. Something is odd.

Others got the same letter, but it is from March 3. I think the debt is close to retired now.

I have mine from March 3 from Roy Neel, and donations poured in then. Wonder if it was sent out by mistake?

[jean]

16. mine is postmarked 3/10 and signed by Howard Dean

[madfloridian]

17. That is strange.

I heard a lot had been paid down since the 3rd. Strange.

[madfloridian]

19. Ok, here is most of the letter from Neel, edited name out.

Last night those who know Howard Dean best turned out to resoundingly endorse our campaign for change – and give us a victory in Vermont. Thank you Vermont, and thank you to TruthandHope.org

Tonight, you can join the rest of those who built this campaign from the beginning as we begin the next phase of our fight. Be sure to attend your local Meetup at 7 PM tonight:

(Edited out)

Things are moving quickly. The Governor, the staff, and supporters across the country are busy planning for the next step in our campaign for fundamental change. As we look forward, however, it’s important that we meet the obligations we’ve taken on already.

Governor Dean asked for your help retiring over $400,000 in debt – and the grassroots responded. I am pleased to report that we have raised more than $225,000. Only $175,000 remains – with your help we can eliminate this debt and be free to focus our full attention and resources on building the new organization. Please contribute now:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/debtreduction

As we move ahead, now is the time to start planning for March 18th. On that day, Governor Dean will announce the mission and form of the new grassroots organization. Just as when he declared his candidacy in June of last year, supporters across the country will be holding their own events to coincide with the announcement. Plan your March 18th event:

(Edited Out)

There are exciting possibilities in front of us, and I look forward to building on the incredible energy we’ve seen from the grassroots in the past two weeks. Thank you for all of your hard work.

Sincerely,
Roy Neel

P.S. – Do you know someone who has been inspired by Governor Dean to run for office? Are you or someone you know running for office because they were inspired by Dean? If so, please contact Allison Stanton with the details: [e-mail].
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I remembered and saved this because I emailed about our candidate running here from our Dean group. Odd.

[joeybee12]

3. Well, the problem was the media whores wouldn't let Dean the

candidate get his message out--they had their knives pointed in his direction, and now that he's not a player, they're not smearing him and he can get his message out.

The opposite helped Kerry--everyone wrote him off, and the media ignored him while crucifying Dean--gave Kerry a chance to go directly to the people.

[sangh0]

37. ridiculous

Dean spent MILLIONS on ads that were seen by millions. If Dean can't get his message out, that's his fault. EVERY Dem has to do that to win, and EVERY Dem who has won has been able to do it, and the media isn't freindly to ANY of them.

Was the media freindly to Gore? He won anyway!

Was the media friendly to Bill Clinton? He won anyway! TWICE!!!

[janx]

4. As the old saying goes:

"You ain't seen nothin' yet!"

[patricia92243]

6. I love Dean, sent him money, and will vote for him in the primary, but I

think he could use just a little bit of speech lessons. He has a tendacy to stammer a very slight amount, but it makes him sound not as forceful as he did on the campaign trail (oh, the good ol' days).

Just a thought for our guy. I hope we will being seeing a lot more of him, and a little smoother speaking style will make him even more impressive than he already is!!

[milkyway]

7. This Dean supporter totally agrees. Like Gore, I think Dean will grow

in stature by losing. And like John McCain, his reputation has been cemented as a straight-talking politician who people will listen to. As much as I would have loved to see Dean become President, there was always a little doubt in my mind that he was too "edgy" to win a national election with a two-party system where you need to get half the people to vote for you. But Dean the advocate is a unique weapon for the Dems to have in this campaign.

The saying "What doesn't kills you makes you stronger" seems to be applicable to Dean. He was new to national politics, and his experience of this campaign will make him a better person and a better politician.

[emulatorloo]

8. Dean is superb . . . I think he would make a great Ambassador in kerry adm

if he is not in the cabinet. . .Think about how great he would be strengthening our relationship with Mexico, for example. He is a true global thinker.

[JI7]

10. ambassador ?

usually he is mentioned as health and human services secretary or surgeon general, but not ambassador. but it's an idea that should be considered. even if it's to canada since he dealt with canada being governor of vermont and it should help in fixing our relations with the country after the mess bush made.

[emulatorloo]

12. Dean's too good to "waste" just on health

Yes, Canada is a good choice too. . .Both Mexico and Canada are going to require some serious fence mending. Dean would be tremendous in that kind of role.

[union_maid]

21. He deserves the cabinet, but we could use him out here

I'm much more intrigued by the grassroots concept. One of the reasons the party has moved to the right, and a big reason that the whole damned country has moved radically to the right, is a lack of good, solid, populist grassroots organizing around issues that affect average people. Democrats have to get elected to govern. Progress requires public support. We've been sorely lacking in the latter, even though our traditional issues should speak to far more people than Republican initiatives. Dean has already proved that he's the king in the grassroots area. I'd love to see that develop into a real desire to take back the party by electing more progressive people, and it has to be preceded by taking back the country by successfully communicating a truly populist message. Dean could make a huge difference in that effort. I don't want to see him locked away in some position where we see him once a year or something.

[dorktv]

50. I would not say the country has moved to the right...just the perception

that the country is on the right. Or else why would there be liberal bestselling books without the bulk book order qualifiers? How about most people responding consistantly for universal health care, improvements in the tax structure and other progressive ideas?

[otohara]

11. Hooey - Dean The Candidate Was So Strong

he inspired a few other candidates to not only get tough, but to using similar Dean lines.

[Toucano]

13. You're right.

I don't think Dean was a weak candidate at all.

I think his candidacy was manipulated by the media and other "power" types.

We haven't heard the last of him yet.

[Rose Siding]

15. But he didn't fit the stereotype

He wasn't a blow dryed, air brushed, characature of a candidate with a cautious, ever cautious, amount of swagger tossed into the mix.

Some would call that a weak candidate. I don't I guess it depends on how strongly we feel about perpetuating that myth and the status quo.

[madfloridian]

32. He could not be put in a little square box and labeled.

His speech was too blunt. And those are exactly the reasons we supported him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. Bingo!!!!

:hi:

[Paradise]

18. governor howard dean is solely responsible

for the resurgence of the democratic party :thumbsup:
and, this is coming from a clarkie.

[madfloridian]

20. Nice comment. Thanks.

He seems freer now.

[Paradise]

24. i think so, too...

and i'm glad for him. he motivated, and gave me the courage to speak up, to speak out, and i'm forever grateful. he's a good man, would've made a great president, nonetheless, like someone here at du said, we haven't seen the last of governor dean. although a clarkie, i've joined the dean dynamic team to work toward bringing to fruition the changes he, and his team envisioned, and inspired. it's like the old adage 'you can't keep a good man down'.
here's to you madfloridian :toast: i'm mad, too.

[madfloridian]

27. Heh heh, I have been mad since 2000.

I ain't over that recount. I am still crying about it, and I will never forget when the steamroller hit us. And it just keeps rolling.

Yes, Dean has turned our whole group here into activists in many ways. We are doing things for candidates we never did before. We write letters, call legislators, follow issues.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

23. Thanks!

:toast:

[Paradise]

25. you guys/gals are the ones

who deserve the kudos, and the thanks for giving us a good swift kick in our beautiful butts. (please, nobody get mad at me, imo it is, without a doubt, clearly evident that's what dean did.):toast:

[hellhathnofury]

38. Thanks.

It's really nice to read something nice when I drop into GDP2004. I hope Clark keep's at it too.

[Paradise]

39. it certainly feels good

to get your thanks, as well.:hi:

[mzmolly]

22. He's always been strong. But he was over handled as well as disliked by .

the media etc...

I think he'll be a major asset to the country going forward, and to John Kerry in the coming election.

[Paradise]

30. he will be a major asset,

and glad to see him out there looking, and sounding good.

34. MzMolly, i think that the press LIKED Dean!

I just think they were scared of him, because his popularity came from outside of their bailiwick.

The news media has fallen into the role of kingmaker, and they covet this role deeply.

Dean is a man of the people, with a mind for media regulation. They liked Dean the candidate (he sold papers!), but they feared Dean the potential nominee.

They let Dean get only so close before they pulled the happy plug on his coverage.

[mzmolly]

41. I totally agree actually...

YOU said it.

I didn't communicate my feelings as well as you did. They feared Dean b/c of what he would do to their pocketbooks.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

42. PS ... I love your website!

My husband and I worked for the Wellstone campaign, and of course contributed and campaigned for Dean as well. I look forward to poking around more. :hi:

45. Thanks! The official opening date will be 04/04/04

the links are blind at the moment, I'm investing a lot of time in midterms right now, so the website is going behind the scenes, slowly but surely.

100% guaranteed to be fully functional by the grand opening.

PS - there will be a new 527 org associated with the site with the specific purposes of exposing BBV, promoting media regulation, and huge GOTV efforts.

keep an eye on the site!

[mzmolly]

51. Awesome!

How bout a forum? :P

52. Chat Junky!

Actually, I plan to drop in a forum at some point, but I was thinking that I should build up some interest first. nothing will kill a forum like the sound of emptiness - lol!

But, tell me, what would you do to build up a forum mebership?

[mzmolly]

54. I'd start with The Dean For America Forums...

http://forums-new.deanforamerica.com/index.php?act=idx

"Chat Junky!" :P

I do like to communicate with people who are like minded and work toward common goals-especially when I'm bored at work He-he...

As it is now, the goals of DU are Democrat in the OO which is most important! But, I don't think it stops there. I like the direction and issues you are working on *with Deans/Wellstones inspiration* and would honestly like to see people helping out somehow?

I posted your link in my sigline at Forums For America, hope that's alright?

:hi:

Also, a forum is the most efficient way to communicate dontcha think? ;) It beats yahoo groups and emails!

I'd also recruit like minded people from various forums that share common goals.

however, just *chatting* is not enough, there has to be some grass-roots action baby!

[madfloridian]

46. Just noticed that great webpage!

Love the name. Very impressed. Will keep an eye out on it.

57. Thanks!

its quickly consumming all my time. If all goes well, I plan to take a year out of my studies to send it flying. Sort of a self-supported internship.

thanks for the props :)

[Pepperbelly]

26. I was extremely impressed with his showing this a.m.

on MTP.

And he looks about a ka-zillion times more rested and relaxed as well but that is minor: what is significant is the juxtaposition of Dean with Rice and her lies.

[Paradise]

29. yes, i saw it too. n/t

[PassingFair]

31. Too bad,

they couldn't have shared the stage. That disgusting little twerp, Russert, let so many things she said just slide. Ugh!
Dean, as usual, was inspirational!

[DemPoliticalJunkie]

33. Interesting twist of fate and I'm glad to hear this.

[CoupdEtat2000]

35. I certainly hope so.

[newyawker99]

36. Hi CoupdEtat2000!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Paradise]

40. Welcome CoupdEtat2000!

Not here long myself, but long enough to welcome you :toast:

[PeopleForChange]

43. This is why the Dean movement continues in many forms..

Dean and I praise Kerry and support him as the nominee, however, we need to put more progressive Democrats back in power, and we're doing all we can to put our friend, Jeff Seemann, formerly known as AWD here in DU, to defeat Ralph Regula of the 16th district of Ohio.

Power to the people!

PFC

[edzontar]

44. I hear Jeff appeared with Kerry the other day.

I hope he does well.

Wish I could read more about it here.

[chocolateeater]

47. Welcome to DU PeopleFor Change.

:hi: :toast:

[dryan]

48. Dean is still important in this election

I saw Gov. Dean on Meet the Press yesterday. He was excellent! Why couldn't he have given more interviews like this when his candidacy was viable--I might have even voted for him. He was gracious, courteous, spoke in a moderate tone of voice (I've always thought the man spoke to fast), and came across as a statesman. He was also very gracious about Sen. Kerry.

[KoKo]

49. Nice Post, Pete. Thanks. Where are you going with this though?

:shrug: Weren't you one posting about the Dean folks going off on their own here on DU doing a "Working for Change?"

Are you doing peacemaking. If you are, I applaud it. A nice move, but it needs to be genuine in that Kerry truly understands that we want "Reform for Dem Party" and that's imperative with many of us.

I can understand he can't deal with this now....he's got a campaign to run where he has to deal with Bush and hopefully attract "swing voters."

But, it also means that we on the Left/Left are trying to build a "grassroots" which will energize Dem Party for years to come. We can't give this up, although Kerry has most of our support and we are rooting
for ABB, we want to make sure he doesn't turn out to be another Tom Daschle who would "sell us down the river with no paddle."

:-)'s

[Nicholas_J]

53. No matter what Dean says

I still do not beleive that he has any devotion to progressive ideas or principals as his record as Governor based on almost complete opposition to any progressive political ideas, He opposed medical marijuana, vetoing legislation that had passed both Vermont houses, and had large support from the Vermont Public accoring to polls, he opposed maintenance treatment for opiate addicts, only giving way and allowinig a public clinic when faces with regular lage protest in front of his Governors offices, and still he would not allow prisoners in Vermont jails any treament whatsoever, even though Vermont Lower courts ruled that he had to allow people who were being treated before they went to jail to keep recieving their treatment, and did not allow any alternative treatments to prisoners. He made massive cuts to legal aid programs for people who could not afford their own attorneys in criminal cases, refused to allow the defender general he appointend to accept federal grants that the defender general sought in order to make up for Deans cuts to legal aid programs. When He refused federal grant money that the defender general sought and received to assist the mentally ill with a proper defense, the Vermont Supreme court had to intervene and found that Dean had exceeeded his authority as Governor in refusing the grant money. At the same time, Dean greatly increased the funding to prosecutors and police. Dena staed that he did not beleieve that the state should pay for legal defense for the poor as 95 percent of them were guilty anyway.Deans solution to the Supreme Court ruling againsthis refusal to accept the grant money was to not re-appoint the defender general and replace him with someone who would not actively seek to find funds to replace the money that he cut from public defenders offices.

Dean never took an active part in securing the civil unions granted to gays in that state. While the case was before the courts, he would not tyake a stance on the issue, though most of the states other democrats actively supported the plaintiffs in the case that was before the Supreme Court, including the democratic heads of bothe the Vermont Senate and House, as well as the Vermont Lt Governor.

Dean also opposed the attempts to set up a progressive property tax system in Vermont, but again, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the tax system that Dean prefered was unconstitutional, and forced him to accept a progressive property tax system.

Same thing goes with the methods that Dean chose to balance budgets, which relied heavily on cutting social programs to the poor, the disabled, and the elderly, while refusing to raise taxes on the wealthiest people in the state, which both Vermont Democrats and the Vermont Progressive party had to fight Dean over on many occasions, frequently relying on taking legal action to prevent Dean from making the large cuts he requested every year of his tenure as governor.

This new, progressive Dean is someone who did not exist as Governor, and all Dean really can claim as Governor is that he abided by the principals of fiscal conservatism. Principals very similar to those that were the basis of the policies of the neoconservative "Contract with America" established by Newt Gingrich. I would like to actually see Dean actually behave in a progressive manner when it comes to legislation that is actually before him before I could ever trust him to be president. Perhaps I could re-think supporting Dean for a future run as president if he serves in another office in which he has the opportunity to actually support and vote in favor of progressive legislation and ideology.

[Blue_Roses]

55. I agree cause watching

him on MTP yesterday, he seemed relaxed by anything that Timmy threw at him.

[dkf]

56. Well, Dean is one of the few Democrats who can credibly attack Bush

on Iraq because he got it right from the start.

Kerry can't make the same points because of the way he voted so Dean is going to have to be the Dems lead attack dog on this.

In addition, Kerry is VERY LUCKY that Dean doesn't hold a grudge over Kerry's dirty shenanigans. Heck Dean is even trying to convince his supporters that Kerry won fair and square (good try Dean. It won't work though - we liked you because we didn't fall for all that bunk on Iraq and we're not falling for this Kerry won fairly thing either. Too bad your followers aren't a bunch of idiot sheeple. We'll make up our own minds thank you).

Just think, if Howard Dean did not exist, EVERYTHING WOULD BE DIFFERENT TODAY.

Do you honestly think that if Dean had not come out so strongly against Bush, that John Kerry would have taken the lead on attacking Bush in Iraq during the war? Yikes...unimaginable.

Dean has already changed history. Even if Bush wins the next election history will show that Bush's war in Iraq was based on misstatements, due to Dean's exposing him. If Bush loses, it is completely due to my man Howard Dean.

If the Dem party doesn't give him the respect he deserves after all they have done to him and after all he has done for the party, that would be truly disgusting.