Let’s see I have the Dean platform from the primaries in my hand …

[Maat]

and I’m wondering why there is so much negativity lately on DU about either Dean or DFA.

What we agree on:

1) Reproductive rights – Dean supported them – as do I very, very, very much. Dean believes that matters involving birth control and pregnancy termination .. are matters between a woman and her doctor, as do I.
2) Budgetary responsibility – he’s for it, as am I.
3) Tax Cuts … he’s for repealing them, as am I.
4) He opposes school vouchers, as do I.
5) He is for assisting people with student loans, as am I.
6) He wants renewable energy development and usage requirements, as am I.
7) He wants to increase fuel standards, and I agree with that.
8) He’s for keeping up Kyoto-treaty negotiations, as am I.
9) He’s for domestic partnerships/civil-unions, as am I (but I also support same-sex marriage. I’m a retired social worker, so I will push for rights and benefits as I can .. a steady progression in the right direction).
10) Heath Insurance – “Expand state insurance program for poor children to include children from middle income families and poor adult workers.” He supports tax breaks to encourage medical coverage. Sounds like we are of like mind there.
11) Immigration – we agree – “Undocumented workers who work hard, pay taxes and otherwise obey rules should be offered the right to become full participants in our society.”
12) He opposed the Iraq War, as did I.
13) He wanted to modify NAFTA, as did I.
14) He doesn’t have a blind hatred for anything corporate – and I don’t either. And yet he seeks enforcement of laws that will ensure corporate responsibility, as do I. I am able to take bits of our income, that came from that LLC, and donate to DU and my other favorite progressive causes. And, yes, I do wind up working with both Democrats and Republicans, but I have to think of both my family, and my ability to help my causes.

What we disagree a little bit on:

1) Death Penalty … Dean supports it in special cases, such as a policeman’s murder … I don’t support it at all (but Dean has a better position than most). Long story why I no longer support it … it has to do with being a social worker, and not wanting to reduce myself to the level of the narcissistic perpetrators in whose cells I stand reading them their rights.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I identify the above views as ‘progressive.’ I supported him in the primaries. On December 1st, I found my local DFA and joined. I feel very at home there. It transformed me from someone who felt bummed out after the election, and like the only progressive in my community, to someone who feels very positive.

Dr. Dean states that DFA is about reform. Perhaps, but I also believe that it is about progressives, be they registered to different parties perhaps, networking and forming a solid base. That way we are like a progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and can strengthen both ourselves and the party as a whole at the same time. We can co-exist with different factions, and work on common goals, and we steadily increase our influence.

DFA is the ideal place for ‘bummed out’ progressive to get busy and start feeling more positive.

It seems that I, Dr. Dean, DFA-ers, and many other DUers share these values.


What am I missing?

[madfloridian]

1. It is crazy out there tonight.

:evilgrin:

Dean is the most sensible, practical politician we have ever heard speak. There is nothing egotistical about him, just caring about the country.

I am very suspicious of the attacks there on everyone....it is out of control.

[Maat]

2. I agree.

I really appreciate what he has done, and he is very pragmatic. I guess that's one reason why I identify him. He's like a social worker - actually he is a helper - he's the ultimate helper, an M.D.

Yep, it is out of control. I've been here a year, and for the most part, we had very respectful political discussions. Remember when we all promised to support whoever won the primary? We were having fun touting our candidates at the same time.

I guess I thought/think that DFA is the perfect opportunity to redirect our energy - from moaning and groaning - to forming a progressive network that's as strong as any Rethuglican structure.

[janx]

3. Dean has gone back and forth re the death penalty--and so have I.

Currently, I hate the death penalty because I know that as long as it exists, some innocent people will be put to death.

BUT--the real problem lies in the judicial system, because sometimes people who have committed heinous crimes like murder get let out, only to murder again and again. And that is worse than one innocent death; that is a conscious decision to allow murder after murder.

It's a tough one.

[Maat]

4. Well, the answer, for me, is life imprisonment without the ..

possibility of parole. My state, California, provides for that.

But I can see why it is a tough one for others.

[janx]

7. That's the way it should be.

I wish it were like that everywhere.

[IronLionZion]

5. gun rights and some economic issues like NAFTA

Some DUers disagree with him on those issues and think he waffles too much. Dean is also (almost obsessively) committed to being the "big tent party" and "50 state party". I agree with that, but some Duers are snobby elitists and want to exclude some people.

For the record, I'm a strong Dean supporter.

[janx]

6. Well it's nice to see you posting here in the DFA forum!

:hi:

Dean's stance on guns makes a lot of sense. If the party adopted it, we'd be a lot better off.

[IronLionZion]

8. States' rights make perfect sense

for these types of issues. Montana ought to have different laws than Mass. They are completely different environments. You could even go further and make it a more local issue.

Same thing could go for civil unions/gay marriage, medicinal marijuana, and many social issues.