DNC Winter Committee On

[sandnsea]

If it's already been posted, sorry. They're having speeches for the Vice Chair. A good chance to hear more from the rank and file types.

[whometense]

1. I was listening for a while.

Too many political speeches in a row kind of made my head spin. That woman from Utah seemed like quite a dynamo, though.

But did you hear Dean's speech? What did you think?

[TayTay]

3. I didn't hear it, I was caucusing

Did he sound the right notes of unity, hard work, grassroots support and trying to move the State parties along?

[whometense]

4. Yeah.

He was pretty good. Here's something from Salon that sums it up pretty well:

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/archive.html?blog=/politics/war_room/2005/02/12/dnc8/index.html

The Howard Dean era begins

Howard Dean has just been elected to the chairmanship of the DNC. A race that once seemed fiercely contested ended up being anything but. With no one else on the ballot, Dean was elected by acclamation.



Dean is giving his acceptance speech now, acknowledging just how unlikely his ascension once seemed; he said it's "ironic" that he now stands side-by-side with Terry McAuliffe, calling him a "friend." He won't be saying the same about George W. Bush. In his first attack on the president as the leader of the opposition party, Dean is excoriating Republicans on everything from health insurance to national security. He accused Bush of inventing a "false crisis" on Social Security in order to "justify policies that don't work," and he said Bush's budget proposal is a "deliberate" attempt at concealing the true costs of his proposals.


"As far as I'm concerned, this budget does two things," Dean said. "It brings Enron-style accounting to the nation's capital, and it demonstrates once what all Americans are beginning to see: You cannot trust Republicans with your money."


-- Tim Grieve

[ginnyinWI]

2. I've been watching

between doing other things.
I have a question for you who've seen this before: Has there always been this much excitement? Has everyone always been so positive, so triumphant? They are acting like the comeback of the Dems to power is a done deal--and I really hope they are right!! As long as this isn't just a lot of hype, then we can all be hopeful. What do you think, based on former times?

[whometense]

5. I haven't watched before either.

Did you find the Dean nominating speeches as obnoxious as I did? Just like here on DU - he's ok, but his supporters are just so FULL of themselves.

[ginnyinWI]

6. I wasn't paying enough attention to say

what they were all about.
I thought Dean's speech to be very serious in tone, as opposed to the party atmosphere in the room up until that point. But that might have been a very shrewd move, because it is this that will be picked up by the media and watched by the repubs, and he needs to start out on a very strong and serious note--because this is war! A war to take back government on behalf of the people. It should be very interesting to see what happens next.

[whometense]

8. I agree about his tone.

It was impressively serious, and needed to be. I'm sure there were repubs out there hoping for a scream redux. And I assume they came away severely disappointed.

[sandnsea]

9. I'm not sure

I've never watched this particular meeting before. But most Dem meetings tend to be a little rowdy, seems to me.

[ginnyinWI]

10. yeah, like a family reunion.

You know, when I was in meetings about the campaign this fall, and working for it, and meeting everyone for the first time, they all seemed like old friends immediately. I thought, wow! An undiluted group of Dems is quite an experience indeed!

[sandnsea]

11. You know, that's true

As much as I've been bitching about the local group, I did feel immediately at home. Aw cripes Ginny, now you've got me thinking I ought to just be nice and go back and ignore the ranters. Damn John Kerry. Damn Kerrycrats. You guys are going to turn me into a nice person yet!

[ginnyinWI]

13. gotta luv us!

:toast: :pals: :grouphug:

JK's life story is my inspiration.

[sandnsea]

7. Speech & Press Conference

The speech is at the DNC democrats.org All the links are at
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=368

Here's my notes on the press conference:

Q&A's

Not to run in 2008; He says he's not going to run in 2008.

Transition team. Religious outreach, reaching out to the evangelical community, evangelicals who consider themselves Democrats.

South and west. Living in red states for a while. People are skeptical. So show up and talk and say what you believe.

SS bankrupt by 2042. Is federal govt bankrupt by that definition. Not bankrupt by 2042. Trust Funds run down, pay 70-80% out of general fund. Inflames the debate. We need to do something. It is not borrow $2 Trillion, President's plan does nothing to save it. President is heading in the wrong direction, leadership thinks so as well.

Clear message, people will understand what Democrats believe in. Americans are really more aligned with Democrats. JK got more votes than anybody in the history of America, save GB. We did an incredible job. They have people in place for 20 years knocking on doors.

Image. Not reply to blind quotes. First people to endorse him were from the south.

Nobody is pro-abortion. Abortion has risen. A woman has a right to make up her own mind on health care.

Al Sharpton. Don't respond to blind quotes.

Politication of the Catholic Church. Church divided. Many nuns said "we're with you". Remind Catholic Americans of the social mission. Camel/needle quote. Religious outreach will include Americans of all faiths and explain why we think deeply religious Americans should support us.

Tax exemption. Social responsibility.

Not going to get into policy issues. Proper place to deal with Iraq is in Congress and with the Democratic leadership. Re Iraq.

[elshiva]

12. Thanks, sandnsea for the notes and links!

Yes, this is some good news for Dems. I pray and pray for him to become the Chair. Thank You, God that he did.