not so fast folks....

[DianeK]

dean is not an also ran by any means...if you all think that we are all going to just fall in line with the establishment democratic party you are sorely mistaken...both edwards and kerry are salivating for our support....guess what? they don't get it until they work very closely now with our movement to change this idiotic system..we are a force to be reckoned with and we are united

[MercutioATC]

1. I agree. We still have our own agenda to promote.

I think the best way to do that is to vote for Dean in the primary. We need to let the convention know that it's a movement, not a man. Dean was the catalyst, not the message.

[DianeK]

3. absolutely

we will stand united in voting for dean in our primary and we will work together with the delegates that we accumulate to steer this sick crazy system..to hell with the media and the DNC!

[JasonBerry]

2. Movement?

What issues does this movement want addressed that aren't already being addressed?

[DebJ]

4. not being addressed by people who will actually DO something

instead of just 'address' the issue then fall down in front of the repukes.

[JasonBerry]

7. Funny

I don't remember Dean "addressing" any of these issues when he was a DLC member and governor of Vermont. Am I missing something?

[MercutioATC]

12. Like healthcare? Like intervention programs for high-risk kids?

THOSE issues?

Dean also didn't vote for the IWR, the Patriot Act or NCLB. Granted, he didn't have the opportunity, but our two "frontrunners" DID have a choice and voted on the side of political gain, not principle.

[bowens43]

40. It's really silly to claim that he didn't vote for something

that he couldn't vote for. Did Welstone vote for the Patriot Act for political gain?

[Zhade]

25. You realize people CAN change, right?

NT!

[Polemonium]

46. Your missing the bigest part

Dean's platform was formed in large part by the people, not his record. A strange idea I know.

[Nazgul35]

44. oh I don't know...maybe

all the money washing around in the pockets of our elected officials by special interest groups who have shut out the rank and file Dems...

Why else do you think they ignored us with such impunity over the last three years....they figured that since we don't give them the cash they need, we don't matter...

OOOPPPPPSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Along comes the good Doctor from Vermont who showed the rank and file what they are capable of....now the grass roots of the party, which was destroyed by the pursuit of soft money over organization, is resurgent....

We're baaaacccckkkk!!!!! And this time we're pissed!

They want support, they'll have to earn it....

And they will of course, because one thing we know about politicos is that they bow down to whomever has the mighty dollar....except now it is the rank and file Dems who are going to be holding the strings....the way it use to be, when we were a Party with principles and values!!! And a backbone....

[Polemonium]

45. well so far we're talking about

reform of the DNC, getting corporate special interests the hell out of the beltway, advocating for breaking up media conglomerates, and generally holding the anointed ones to the rhetoric that gets them elected. These things have not been addressed to my knowledge by either Kerry or Edwards.

[no name no slogan]

5. And you've got support in MANY places

NOT just among Dean supporters. There's an awful lot of DK, Clark, Sharpton and CMB supporters who agree with you on the issues, too, and we'll keep on fighting.

We got your back :)

[DianeK]

6. thankyou

we appreciate it so much

[mandyky]

8. Amen, sister!!

If the spine implants start softening, I'll just stay home in Nov. But I will work with the Dean movement to take back Congress and whatever else we decide to work on...

[madfloridian]

9. I watched his speech today, and he looked peaceful and liberated.

He is gonna give em all hell! as Harry Truman used to do.
He and we will have more power this way.

[avb7]

10. Fight bush not each other

In a perfect world I couldn't agree with you more, issues are important and should be debated freely and openly but this is a whole new ballgame. Taking down the right-wing is a very ambitious goal and needs all the help it can get. No candidate is perfect and the Democratic nominee will need all the help he can get from all of us. The process will provide the candidate we must provide the support.

[DianeK]

13. i really want to be careful with my response to you but...

it was obvious to me and many others that this system sucks pretty much big time....the republican party only had to lift their feet onto their ottomans and watch..it WAS the DNC, the DLC and the media that did this..and oh...they did it SO well...but you know what? it ain't going to work because we are going to prove that it will be the people that decide in whatever capacity...if we can not have the president of our choice we will choose the issues that must be at the forefront...this country has no clue the force they are dealing with

[newyawker99]

39. Hi avb7!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SangamonTaylor]

11. Your movement should continue by supporting the local candidates

I know the Dean rally I attended here in Houston had several local democratic candidates that were being promoted. Those candidates must still really need the help in their respective elections, and the grassroots movement should still support those people.

[John_H]

14. I'll begin my pleasing the "Movement" by following Dr. Dean's example.

Tomorrow I will solicit donations from Pfizer, the NRA, and Phillip Morris. Now, as Governor Dr. Dean provided access to himself and other governors. Are there any Movement figures with whom I can promise a meeting?

[revcarol]

15. I'm tempted..we've got this slug repug Congressman...

Only half kidding...

Actually one of the greatest things to be done is to get us a Democratic Congress back!!We've seen how the national party just says,"You're on your own," or "You're not a key district so go stuff it," or "Unless you can raise xxx amount of $$, national won't commit money!!"

Our Congressional candidates are going to need MAJOR support because we know that most of them will be outspent by 4:1, or 10:1 or whatever.GRASS ROOTS IS WHAT WE NEED, AND THE DEAN CAMPAIGN ALREADY HAS THE ORGANIZATION.

What do you think?

[DianeK]

18. absolutely

that is the very change we are looking for..we must support those who are for the least of us..remember folks, if we do not strengthen the weakest link the whole chain is broken

[mandyky]

16. Dean grassroots still have the power!

Dean has stopped campaigning (for now) but if we write letters to editors and crow those grassroots, Dean can make a comeback! Wouldn't you all love to watch Judy Woodruff and Ironman Wolfie have to do some major mea culpas?? That alone makes me even more adamant for Dean.

[cosmicdot]

17. I believe Dennis K speaks for all of us ...

I ask Democrats in yet-to-be-held primaries/caucuses to please consider him as someone we can, also, trust completely.

This may yet to turn out to be the most important election in American history. Everything is on the line, and the Republicans aren't leaving room for any compromises ... as Arianna suggested in "Bush Rouses The Sleeping Dogs Of The Culture War", filed February 18, 2004 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=35487 , * is the Culture War President ... it's their way or nothing on the table. Edited to change from "nothing" to: it will be something ... and, it may impede our freedoms even more ... I think Ashcroft is just waiting in the wings to enforce the neo-con culture ... so, it'll be something ... just what is not exactly clear.

I find this Culture War line-in-the-sand a bit scary. There's enough Corporate Angst is this country alone is enough to propel someone to The White House, if they knew how to sing and dance the message at the same time ... or even acted as if they 'get it' ... and, start exposing the stress factors most non-have Americans face daily ...

Dennis gets it; and has put forth a platform which addresses such issues.

It's scary to me because it gives us a take it or leave it election. When we take it, I do want it to be in trustworthy and honest hands.

http://www.kucinich.us/issues/

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

19. the Dean people can name their terms

Really, the DLC has the corporate media, but the Dean fans have a solid 10%. Democrats cannot win without them, not even close. If the Dean fans can envelop the few percents of Kucinich, Sharpton, and disaffected and new Democrats, they can continue to set the terms of the debate.

Dean could sink Kerry in one day.

[DianeK]

20. in a heartbeat

[arewethereyet]

22. I don't think I get the point

are you threatening to not vote if you don't get your way or to vote against whoever you feel more slighted by ?

Failing to vote only negates your stance completely. If both candidates ignore you equally the same effect is achieved.

Perhaps its smething else you're talking about.

[Beaker]

47. "Dean could sink Kerry in one day"????????????

r-r-r-r-r-r-ight....
unfortunately for the Dr., none of the primaries were held on that day.

[WilliamPitt]

21. Really?

I tend to think of most Dean supporters as strong, levelheaded Democrats who will do as Dean asked and support the eventual nominee. Counterpoint that with a few shouters on an internet forum who mistake posting here for making a difference in the world.

DU is not America, and I have great faith in Dean supporters to stand up for their country without leveling threats.

[DianeK]

23. forget that fantasy...

this is a threat

[WilliamPitt]

24. Well, since I'm totally not intimidated,

because I don't think you are representative of the whole, I suppose you should go peddle your threats somewhere else. I've met thousands of Dean supporters in 20 states - red and blue - across 40,000 miles in the last several months, and they are all united behind getting rid of Bush. You are in the minute minority within your crew, and you do your candidate a disservice.

[DianeK]

26. you are pretty much wrong, dude

[WilliamPitt]

27. I don't think so

I have a lot of personal empirical evidence to support my view, and all you have is your pissed-off word for it. So I'll take what I've got in hand, thanks.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WilliamPitt]

29. You're a base unto yourself

and not representative of the whole. Go be angry all you want. Fight the DLC until your face falls off. You'll be doing all of us a favor, but please don't try to pass yourself off as some kind of vanguard for an impending revolution. Dean supporters want Bush out, and they will get what they want whether you're on board for the ride or not.

As for me being 'media,' that's funny. I write for an alternative website. Do your homework before you sling silly insults.

P.S. Telling people to 'stuff it' is rude.

[DianeK]

30. i have read your stuff

it is obvious to me that you are pretty much status quo...

[WilliamPitt]

32. Hee hee hee hee

Well, I'll let you have the last word with that one. Have fun storming the castle!

[Ficus]

41. HAHAHHAHAHAHHA!

riiiiigggghhhttt.

sorry to interrupt. Go on, Will is making you look silly. I was entertained.

[CWebster]

49. Since when do you speak for Dean voters?

I thought that you spoke for Ke, er, ah, I mean Kuc, er, ah, Ker, yeah, Kerry. pretty sure that is the one. Whatever, through it all, pretty consistantly dissing Dean supporters, who you now claim to speak for. DianeK is closer to the truth than you know.

[Nazgul35]

48. there's no such thing as "personal empirical evidence"

nice try though....

Out in real life that is what we call anecdotal evidence....same as the person you were responding to....

One's anecdotal evidence can never trump another....they are both they same thing....anecdotal....

edited for typo

[bowens43]

42. Now that's a sure way to win support for your cause.

Let's keep in mind that this so called 'force' wasn't able to win even a single primary. Threaten all you like, it just makes you look petty and most Dean supporters will follow Deans lead and support the eventual nominee.

On Edit:

I don't want to minimize the importance of the Dean campaign. He changed the dynamics of the Democratic party for the better. It's just this 'do what we say or else' crap gets a little annoying, especially when Dean has said in no uncertain terms that he supports the nominee and wants his supporters to do the same.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. I think Kerry recognizes this fact.

[revcarol]

33. Whew!! Have I misunderstood what Dean wanted?

I thought he pretty much wanted to keep his grass roots organization intact and use it for the benefit of the DEMOCRATIC party and to help individual candidates in a grass roots way.Correctamundo or no?

I didn't hear anything about reviving his candidacy by eating Kucinich and Sharpton supporters alive or fomenting a revolution.

Am I out in left field?

[arewethereyet]

35. sorta right

to the Dr's credit, he wouldn't give the DNC his email list.

[revcarol]

36. That's good.

And McAuliffe is probably steaming right now. HAH!!

[cavebat2000]

34. Kerry's the worst....

YACK! IM supposed to vote for him!??

[John_H]

38. No, you're supposed to enable chimp by witholding a vote from the nominee

So that 3 anti-choice supreme court justices will be appointed by chimp; so the logging, mining, oil, and coal executives running the EPA and DOE can keep their jobs; so Bush can keep appointing his wingnut zealots to the hundred or so commissions that make rules for everything from the media to health insurance; so the tax cuts to the rich become permanent; so Tom Delay doesn't have to worry about getting his legislation vetoed; and so the PNAC guys can continue setting American foreign policy.

Didn't you get Roves memo?

[funky_bug]

37. I think all three (maybe Al too, but I haven't seen it) issued statements

I think Kerry, Edwards and Kucinich all issued statements today, welcoming Dean supporters to their camps. It's not exactly Edwards and Kerry salivating. It's politics.

Support whom YOU choose, based on ideology and issues. From a Clark supporter to a Dean supporter, I know exactly how you feel. You can feel the breeze of the vultures. Just remember, GD is a strange little world, and not entirely representative of the entire party. Some are being quite rabid in trying to garner your support. You've got you tinfoil hat on, and you're ready to press forward. That's very cool... but try not to take it to heart.

[Snivi Yllom]

43. it's far too late

Come November there will be many ex-Deaniacs sitting at home watching Friends reruns because the DNC and DLC pissed them off.