I want Howard Dean in Indiana

[Voltaire]

Our Chairman is making several trips around the country. If we wait for the Indiana Democratic Party to get him here we will die waiting. I would like to brainstorm a way to get him here whether the party helps or not, if they do, fine. I actually prefer they not because it kills two birds with one stone, we get him here to speak and it lets them know that we can be a party without them. If we can pull this off perhaps we will have a larger say in who opposes that lizard Daniels the next time and we don't have to have Bayh shoved down our throats in the Primaries for 08'. All thoughts and ideas very welcome.

[dray178355]

1. I hear he's coming....

not sure when, but he'll be here I think.

[descolada99]

2. Rumors

I've haerd rumblings of trying to get him to come to the state JJ dinner this year. I don't know date or specifics, but that's what I've heard. I have an Indiana Democratic Club board meeting this week so I'll ask around there and see what I can find out.

[Voltaire]

3. I got that rumor too

from a DFA friend up in Mishawaka. Lets hope there is truth to that one. JJ is very soon isn't it?

[hippiechick]

4. Would be within the next 2 weeks

... if they stick to the same timeline every year.

:shrug:

[dray178355]

5. Voltaire....

I'm a member of Mishawaka DFA. I heard the rumor from someone high up in our county Dem org. Also heard that they will put off the date of the JJ dinner to accomodate Dean. I wonder if that's why there is no info on the state party page. http://www.indems.org ...all that's on the home page is a link to the history of the party.

<edited link)

[Voltaire]

6. Mishawaka DFA

You'll know my pal Kathy Liggett then!!

[dray178355]

8. Votaire...

She's one of my best friends. As a matter of fact we're interviewing a 94-year-old Democratic Party volunteer this evening for our new St. Joe County Dems newsletter to be published soon. Sorry I didn't get back sooner but I've been busy what with the newsletter and our web site http://www.michianafordemocracy.org

I'm disappointed that Dean isn't coming to the JJ dinner. I like Maggie Kernan a lot so I'll probably go. I'm not very fond of Evan Bayh for various reasons but I want to support the party in Indiana.

[Voltaire]

7. Latest skinny

JJ is scheduled for June 4th. Evan Bayh as keynote. Any changes I will put the word out.

[descolada99]

9. No Dean at JJ

but the Indiana Democratic Club (http://www.indianademclub.org) is looking to get him for our Summer Picnic in August. Maybe July.

AS a member of their Board of Directors, I'll keep people here posted. Apparently the IDC is the only group in Indiana to even ask for him, so our state party didn't even try. :(

I'll keep you all posted on what I hear about Dean coming to speak to the IDC. We might try to use it as a bit of a fundraiser, maybe for the state party since that meshes well with Dean's message of building state parties. If they won't do it themselves we might as well do it for them.

[dray178355]

10. Damn...

That's really a bummer that the state party didn't even try to get Howard. I'm heartbroken. It's amazing the rumors that fly around. I was really hoping the good Dr. would be here for the JJ.

I've been following the progress on the Ind Dem club you've been posting. I'm spreading the word about Ind having the "oldest" Dem club in the country. We're working on building our local clubs back up. We have two in the area and they are actually decent buildings and still active, but not as active as they could be. I will be talking to some of the people that run the clubs within the next couple of weeks and I'd like to ask them to list at the Ind Club site. Would that be oK? I can get the info to you soon. We're in the process of building the County Dem web site and they don't have their own but I think they would still like to be listed.

I want to share a story with you guys. We had a wonderful evening with a veteran Dem volunteer. We interviewed a Democratic activist and volunteer who has been working for the party for 54 years. She is just wonderful. What an inspiration. We were there for two hours while she regaled us with stories of the "old days." But she does not live in the past. She was out picking up absentees last election cycle. She's 93 and hell on wheels.

My favorite story concerns Bill Clinton and a local reporter. She was being honored by the Sec of State for her service to the Dems and the reporter was interviewing her. It was during the impeachment and he asked her (rather snidely she said) what she thought of the president and his problems. Her answer was "Well, if I had known he had a zipper problem I would have fixed it right up for him....and it never would have happened." I fell on the floor laughing. She is really a very special lady....all 4 feet of her, and the best storyteller ever. I want to videotape her and let her inspire other volunteers. She is just the neatest thing on two feet talking.

Forgive the grammar and such but it was one of the best evenings I've had in a long, long time.

[DrGonzoLives]

11. The IDP do something? HA!

Better start calling and emailing him yourself if you want him there. I have first hand experience in the uselessness of the state party in Indiana - they're only slightly more organized than the Republicans here in Illinois.