Texas DU's endorsement for DNC Chair: I nominate Howard Dean.

[johncoby2]

If DU Texas endorses a candidate for DNC Chair, then I would like to nominate Howard Dean.

Our DNC chair must be able to raise money, organize grassroots activity, develop and deliver the message of the Democratic party, and to inspire participation. Howard Dean has a proven record of being able to do this.

No other national figure spent as much time in Texas campaigning for candidates, raising money, organizing grassroots training as did Howard Dean. When our own party, while worrying about other states, did nothing for grassroots training, Howard Dean came to Texas and held training session in Austin under Democracy for America.

When faced with the most powerful and corrupt man in Congress, Tom DeLay, Howard Dean came to Texas and held fundraisers for Richard Morrison. Against incredible odds, he stood with the volunteers of the campaign and although we did not win, our efforts shaped the discussion.

I do not believe Governor Dean should be a candidate for President, but he is the perfect candidate for DNC Chair. Yes, he has baggage, and I would be proud to carry it for him.

I nominate Howard Dean for DNC Chair.

John Cobarruvias

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Howard walks his talk

any of the other DNC candidates go to Texas to help try and oust DeLay?

[mopinko]

2. not from texas, but

i would hope that the fight that dean and morrison gave tom delay would be worth SOMETHING to every dem in texas. i had already sent morrison money before he was a dean dozen, but i donated a second time then.
i hope that you prevail.

[sonias]

3. I second that !

Latinos for America also came out and gave Dean their endorsement due to his great support of Latino candidates.

http://www.latinosforamerica.com/
(snip)
For Latinos for America, an endorsement of Dr. Dean for the post of DNC Chair is about more than progressive beliefs. A person like Governor Dean has broad-based appeal. He appeals to moderates and progressives of all the major parties, because he believes in the goals he lays out, and he stands up for fundamental values, even when it is not popular to do so. To have someone with the integrity and conscience of Gov. Dean at the helm of a major party, would be a coup not only for progressives, but for every American wishing to restore integrity to our political system.
(/snip)

Sonia

[ChicanoPwr]

4. I second the nomination

I think the DNC has forgotten about us in Texas and the Governor Dean has shown that Texas still can turn Blue.

There is enough evidence to show that there was election fraud, therefore the Repugs are probably worried that this State is turning Blue.

So I second the nomination for Howard Dean for DNC Chair.

[thethinker]

5. I agree

Dean is the right person to turn this party around and make it a party worth working for.

[lavenderdiva]

6. I second that nomination...

I live in Houston and would welcome someone like Dean as DNC Chair!

[NoPasaran]

7. I also second that nomination

Howard Dean understood the need for the Democratic Party to run a national campaign a year ago. He has faith in the power of ordinary citizens to make democracy work. He knows that we can win when we run on Democratic values, not away from them.

[crispini]

8. Just for the sake of a debate...

what about Martin?

(dons flame-retardant suit) :D

[johncoby2]

9. How about Martin? Can someone provide info?

Why would he make a good chair? I would like some background also.

What Martin lacks is broad grassroots support. He might have the upper echelon of the party, but not the grassroots except for those in his area which I believe is in Dallas.

He also lacks name recognition across the country. Can be pick up and start running the party?

Someone be an advocate for Martin so we can have more debate.

[crispini]

10. Here is a snip

of an email I got from a Houston activist ... got his permission to repost because I thought it was very good.

1. On being progressive, here's Frost's voting record:
AFL-CIO: 93 percent
Human Rights Campaign: 88 percent
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights: 92 percent
League of Conservation Voters: 85 percent
NAACP: 95 percent
NARAL Pro Choice America: 100 percent
National Hispanic Leadership Agenda: 83 percent

2. From 2000-2003, Frost led the redistricting battle, was the primary source of funds for our legal battle, was the force behind the Ardmore and New Mexico quorum breaks via staff, strategic, legal and financial support, including the big rally at the Capitol.

3. Frost is the only person who ever used DCCC money for grassroots GOTV efforts, and under his leadership, we won back 14 seats in Congress. And he was the one major Texas officeholder who raised money to do the same in 1998, 2000, 2002 Texas campaigns, when the rest shunned GOTV for TV.

4. As long ago as 1972, Frost ran a Voter Reg program that registered 50,000 Dem's, mostly minorities, in Dallas County. He does this because he believes in our party and our principles.

5. What people miss is what happened on the ground in Dallas in 2004. Every weekend and many weekdays, hundreds of Dallas Dems went door to door for Martin Frost, canvassing every precinct in his district, including a lot of "hostile territory" no Dem had walked for years. And Martin Frost was out there with them. His volunteers included long-haired anti-war progressives and well-dressed lawyers, people of both the Jewish and Muslim faith, labor union members, college students, Hispanics, African Americans, pro-choice activists, etc. Their support and their work says much more than litmus-testers sitting miles away in judgement. The results of the Frost team's work in 2004 are impressive. Hispanic turnout was double it's normal share of the vote, and a 65% R district was turned into a 54% district. And the only mail and organized phone program done for Lupe Valdez (the new Dallas Sheriff) and the other countywide Dallas winners, was funded by Martin's "friends and allies" and produced by the TDP. That's the real world - and anyone who saw Martin's volunteers gather on a Saturday morning knows progressive D's work hand in hand with Martin Frost.

6. As a 26 year Congressman, Martin could go get rich like a lot of ex-Members do, but this is what he wants to do for his Party and his country. Martin Frost is a fighter who knows that the fight must be fought to win, not just to prove who is right.

Here's an interesting article from burnt orange report, from early in the campaign.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/archives/001872.html

Martin is a seasoned campaigner (17 races, I believe) adept at "wily pol" strategic tricks --- I'll write a longer post later about "signgate" if nobody beats me to it.

Plus, Tom DeLay HATES him. Tom DeLay explicitly said, during redistricting, "Get rid of Martin." Heh! So now, of course, Martin Frost would dearly, DEARLY love to take out Mr. Delay. :evilgrin: I like motivation.

More later, it's nice out and the yard is calling...