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Howard Dean's the Real Deal 2004
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This blogger logs my interest in and support for Dr. Howard Dean's run for the Presidency in 2004.
Dean
For America (Official Campaign Site)
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Friday, May 16, 2003
Here's a link to the DLC's memo about "The Soul of the Democratic Party" and its attack on Dean. Here's a place where you can send in your own comment to the DLC. Speak up! It's your party!
Thursday, May 15, 2003
The Seattle Times published a good article on Dean's appearance in Seattle last night. The Seattle Post Intelligencer had one as well. One of the things that really hit home was Dean saying Democrats are upset with their own leadership. Evidently, the leadership is lashing back at Dean for this stance. Please go to the Official Dean blog at http://deancalltoaction.blogspot.com to read and respond to the DLC's thinly veiled attack on Dean.
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
I was one of about 40 volunteers who showed up to work the Howard Dean event at Town Hall in downtown Seattle tonight. The place holds about 1200 people, but 1500 showed up and the fire department insisted we shut the doors. So 300 people stood outside and listened to Howard Dean?s speech in the cold windy night. A local TV station was there, as was MSNBC. What did Dean say? That Democrats are nearly as angry at the Democratic party as they are with the Republicans. That health care for everyone is already being done in a host of other countries around the world, so why not us? It's been in the Democratic Platform since Truman's 1948 campaign. When he talked about the importance of balancing the budget, which drew him a standing ovation (one of several during his speech) he had to stop and laugh, noting that it's weird to come talk to a bunch of liberals who cheer a balanced budget. But he also pointed out that historically, only Democrats have ever balanced the budget. He used the phrase "Borrow and spend" Republicans several times. One of the things that really rings home with me, and something that's already been done in Vermont, is the need to share the wealth (or lack thereof) in the public school system. In Vermont, the richest school districts pay a certain amount into a pool which gets distributed back to the poorer districts. Dean said that we need to realize America is a community, and that we need to take care of ALL children, not just our own children. That we need to ensure all have access to a good public education. He also talked strongly on the problems with our prison system. There was so much cheering I couldn?t hear the rest of what he was saying at that point. Seattle people are typically a quiet people. At the ballpark, for example, signs flash big and bright to remind fans when to cheer, make noise, etc. So to see a bunch of Seattle people whooping and hollering and shaking noisemakers (little prescription bottles -- Dean's Prescription for America -- filled with two pennies each) was really amazing, startling, and inspiring. At the end, Dean didn't rush out. He marched straight into the crowd and really took his time talking to people. He took so much time that the people lined up to hear him who had been shut outside due to the crowd had to wait quite a while to hear from him. But he finally made it down to those people as well, saying he wouldn't repeat his whole speech, but reminding them, as he always does, that he isn't the one who's going to win this campaign -- we are. He asked at one point how many were there because of the Meetup.com site. Only about 1/6 of the crowd raised their hands, so somehow the word is getting out in other ways, which is also very cool. He asked a second question -- how many people had not been involved in politics in the last couple of elections. A surprising number -- nearly half, raised their hands. So Dean is drawing in activists that have either long been silent or never involved in politics before. That's also heartening. You can tell the DLC is getting nervous. Evidently, they issued a memo today saying Dean's activists represent an "elitist" minority, not the "real" democrats. What the %$#$?? I can't wait to write them and tell them what I think of THAT. I've been a lifelong democrat and resent being told that I'm not a "real" democrat. Incredible. No wonder even party members are upset with the party. Lastly, after greeting, selling buttons, ushering, and in short, standing for nearly six hours straight, I ended by sitting with fellow volunteers for another ½ hour as we waited for Dean to finish up his last few press interviews and to drop in and say hello to us. And bless his heart, despite his having been up for 20 hours straight and looking totally beat, he came out to thank us volunteers, which was really classy. I know from past campaigns how rare that can be. This guy is truly exciting. I just hope others get to hear of him and his positions. One thing that brought people to their feet was when he said, you may not always agree with my positions, but you?ll never leave a room wondering what my position WAS. Anyway -- off to bed. I'm exhausted and revitalized at once...!
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Please get a hold of the commentary by Jim Farrell, former spokesperson for Senator Paul Wellstone, in the latest issue of The Nation and then write The Nation a response. Farrell picks out specific instances of Dean's record (and I don't know if they're even correctly represented) that show Dean is not a Progressive worthy of Wellstone's shoes. But Farrell misses the point. Dean doesn't pretend to be a progressive. Dean promises to be a Democrat, and there is a broad range there. His anti-this-war stance has made him a hero to some progressives, but that in itself does not make him a progressive. And a progressive will not get elected in this country at this point in time. Farrell's stand is one-sided and does not show a balanced view of Dean. Write The Nation at letters@thenation.com and let them know what you think of Farrell's assessment of Dean.
Monday, May 12, 2003
I just read in Howard Fineman's latest article that the Democratic party officials fear Dean's stance on the Iraq war makes him look like McGovern. I couldn't disagree more, so I decided to write the Democratic party and let them know how I felt. Here's the text of the short note I sent: Please don't fear that Dean will be the next McGovern. These are different times, and the war is not on anymore. Dean is the only candidate to come along in years who is mixed enough in views to draw the support of liberals and to impress some entrenched conservatives with his fiscal responsibility and plans that don't overthrow the system, but make smart readjustments.Btw - I don't mean to imply I've stopped supporting other Democrats. I just don't trust the party to pick the people I want in office, and would rather, for the short term, give my money directly to those I feel most passionate about.
I'm very excited about Dean's pending visit to Seattle this coming week. He'll be at Town Hall Wednesday, May 14, speaking to the public at 7:30pm. I'll be volunteering for the entire day's worth of events and can't wait to see this candidate in the flesh for the first time! I'm looking forward to hearing his speech. And I'm also looking forward to meeting more fellow Dean supporters. I worked on Jerry Brown's 1992 Presidential Campaign, and I recognize the same symptoms. Getting excited about a candidate is very similar to falling in love. There's an initial rush that just makes you smile everytime you think about the candidate. But it's not love in the romantic sense - it's love in the sense of sharing a special connection, realizing that there's someone out there who thinks like you do, cares about he same issues you do, is willing to fight for them like you do, etc. If you've never participated in a campaign before, I encourage you to find a way to get involved. There's just nothing like working shoulder to shoulder with people who share your beliefs and are passionate enough to do something about them. I didn't play many group sports but I imagine it's like going to the World Series together as part of a team. It's like putting together the opening of a sure-to-be-award-winning Broadway show. It's just a rush, any way you look at it. I can't wait to jump in and get to work! After the last meetup, I bought a Dean t-shirt and promptly wore it to a highly attended Mariners-Yankees baseball game. As I walked all over the stadium, I got surprised and pleased responses in recognition - "Hey, great shirt!" "Go Dean!" and "You have good taste in candidates." It seemed if people knew who Dean was, they supported him. There was not one person who had anything negative to say. It was really fun to see that already he has a certain level of visibility, a pretty amazing feat given the earliness in the campaign cycle. Trust me. The next year and a half of your life can be your most exciting yet. Get on board early and enjoy the wild ride!!! You'll never regret it and will cherish the memories of the work you did and the people you met for the rest of your life. I know. I've been there. Can't wait to be there again!
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