'Big News' from Chairman Dean

[WilliamPitt]

Got this via email, titled 'Big News.'

===

Every four years, a few months before the presidential election, the Democratic
Party puts staff and resources on the ground in a few battleground states ... and
then they're gone. After November the whole operation disappears.

Then, four years later, we do the same thing all over again.

That hasn't worked. And I ran for chairman on a promise to do it another way.

So a few days ago I met with the state party chairs, and we made a decision
together. For the first time ever we're going to build for the future by putting
staff and resources on the ground early -- starting in 2005, not 2008. The first
four states: North Dakota, Missouri, North Carolina and West Virginia.

How soon the next 46 states get moving depends on you -- can you make a contribution
now?

https://www.democrats.org/support/stateparty.html?dsc=NETA353

You mandated a party built from the ground up, and that's exactly what we're going
to do.

The half-million dollars we're investing in these first four states will pay for
professional organizers -- the key staff who will develop skills and help build a
permanent network of Democrats at the grassroots level.

But we cannot stop here. It's your party, and it will only grow with your help:

https://www.democrats.org/support/stateparty.html?dsc=NETA353

I am personally dedicated to making sure that every single state has the resources
and infrastructure to compete at every level of office.

To do that, we need a Democratic Party that commits to a long-term presence in every
state, every region, and every community.

I can't wait to announce that we're moving into the next group of states -- but the
timetable is up to you. Your $100 contribution grows the Democratic Party faster,
and will immediately make us more competitive:

https://www.democrats.org/support/stateparty.html?dsc=NETA353

The Republican Party isn't waiting. They have been building for years, and every day
that slips by means another opportunity missed.

This is your time. This is your challenge. Let's get to work -- together.

Thank you.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee

P.S. -- Please tell every Democrat you know -- no matter where they live -- that
together we're building a truly national Democratic Party. Ask them to join us now:
www.democrats.org/join.

[Goldeneye]

1. Now that is awesome.

I'll donate again.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Great!

A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.

[Beetwasher]

3. What A Terrific and Sensible Idea

I find it hard to believe that no one thought of this before...:shrug:

[mzmolly]

7. Dean is such a "leader"

He's doing so much - so right!

[FreedomAngel82]

20. I'm glad

Good. I'm glad Dean is doing this. The republicans never quit so why should we? It's about time!

[dogman]

93. I just hope he doesn't get hammered for looking to 2008.

That seems to be looked down on by many posters. I'm glad he can see the big picture.

[LeftCoast]

4. Excellent news!

:kick:

Kicked and recommended! :)

[On the Road]

5. Thanks for the Link

Sent $25.

[conflictgirl]

102. Me too. nt

[mzmolly]

6. Dean's da man!

:toast:

I'll donate asap and trust that the funds I give will be very well spent!

[Cleita]

8. Well, Howard just verified to me again why he was my guy.

I have often said, to deaf ears, that we have to reform our country one county at a time and hope it catches on. If Democrats concentrate on change for the better in their county first, then it will perk up to the federal level. Having a committed DNC presence would be so good to coordinate all efforts.

[redqueen]

9. THAT's the stuff!

:applause:

[Eloriel]

10. And just one word to any skeptics

One thing about Howard Dean -- He means what he says and says what he means. Some of us are used to getting abolutely meaningless but possibly (at times) clever or impassioned rhetoric which is just a cover for a campaign appeal. Have you seen those "surveys," for example? Blech.

But Dean means it. Your money's not going to go into some black hole, it WILL be used as Dean is promising. This isn't just empty rhetoric. This is for real.

And this is what the Dem Party has been needing to do for decades now. So if you're of a mind to, please give. (And/or you could also contribute to DFA -- Democracy for America, which is no longer headed by him but still doing the work he set it up to do.)

[alfredo]

33. BTW, DFA in Kentucky is known as Change For Kentucky.

We are spreading statewide.

Join us.

http://www.changeforkentucky.com/

If you are not from Kentucky but want to help with cash, we won't stop you. First join or support the DFA in your state.

[Maat]

40. DFA is growing in Temecula Valley, Ca.

We are incorporating as a 501(c)(4) in order to be more effective.

Anyone who wants to contribute (even a small amount) to this fine effort - "we won't stop you," as Alfredo says (said with a sense of humor). PM me if you would like to help our effort.

And, of course, join your local DFA first.

On edit:
I intend to support Dean's effort here also.

Take care!

[alfredo]

57. Great! One of our top Dem activist has gotten

a law scholarship to Golden Gate University. He will be a positive force in the Bay Area. He has a blue state red state plan that could fit well with Dean's 50 state strategy.

Our group, Kerry Wins Kentucky was using the basic strategy that Dean has laid out. We put a lot of emphasis on shoe leather. Other states too note of our efforts.

We knew that Kerry didn't stand a chance in our red state, but we used the Kerry banner and volunteers to help local candidates. The strategy worked. We picked up seats for the Democratic party. We voiced our decision to put more into effort into local races and our volunteer base understood and did their part.

We ran the campaign for less than what it cost to put on the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

This in the spirit of Dean and the DFA. We worked hard and we worked smart. The party officials stepped aside and stayed out of our way. They did write checks.

[Maat]

59. Carry on, you progressive soldier you!

(forgive the war rhetoric)

[alfredo]

97. It's going to be tougher without the core group

It couldn't have been done without the data crunching of one woman, the networking of my friend now in California. The fund raising of another. The organization skills of yet another. Most of all, the unmonitored printers and copiers at unnamed businesses and institutions. My job was to wade into crowds and knock on doors and make sure the woman that did the data processing had enough Dr Pepper to make it through the day. She rebuilt our database from scratch. The data from 2000 was lost. This time we made plenty copies, passing them on to a trusted few for safe keeping.

I was just a part of a team that worked well.

[Maat]

107. Hang in there, and bless you!

We are hanging in there, and growing, but there are growing pains now and again.

[alfredo]

108. I know others will come in a fill the gaps, but you know how

you get comfortable working with a particular team, and how you bond with them. That's what happened. There are others here who are just as capable, but it isn't the same.

[Maat]

109. Yep.

We haven't faced that yet, but we will.

[carnie_sf]

11. That's the kind of thinking

we need.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. wv? cool to know we're remembered

step one-get rid of that fraud of a democrat, joe manchin, who's occupying the governor's mansion

if you vote and actively campiagn for a republican (as he did in the 96 governor's race, zell miller style) then you're not a democrat

but this is a good start- hope they're going to back senator byrd with everything they have. the GOP is really working overtime here to tak ehim down

[KittyWampus]

13. Cool! The Democratic Party Is Hiring Professional Staff. Hope DU'ers

apply!

[JohnnyBoots]

26. Any ideas where and how, I'm all ready in WV

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

30. wondering the same thing myself

i may call the state headquarters later today

[JohnnyBoots]

32. Fill me in if you get any good info, where abouts are you?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

36. huntington

Marshall, specifically

[JohnnyBoots]

37. Lewisburg And Union

[xpat]

14. Is this initiative so that the Democrats can actually elect

a corporate scuzzball, rather that seeing him/her go down to defeat before a Republican corporate scuzzball?

If so, my money stays in my wallet.

[bugslsu9]

16. Apparently you are not familiar with Gov. Dean

He, at least to the best of my knowledge, and please correct me if i am wrong, been one to advocate for corporate scuzzballs. He is one person you can trust do what he says.

On another note, I take offense at your insinuation that all who run for office are corporate scuzzballs. I am running for Congress, and can assure you I am NOT a corporate scuzzball.

I plan on modeling my campaign as closely as possible to that of Gov. Dean. Speak with the people, and tell them what I think, and then, god-willing, when elected, vote that way. If you want to know more about my candidacy, please, ask, I will be happy to share, but do not automatically assume that all who run are corporate scuzzballs.

[xpat]

49. I'm quite familiar with Gov. Dean

I also saw what the DNC did to him in the primaries.

Not all democrats are corporate scuzzballs, but the Clintons, Gore and Kerry are.

He took one step off the reservation, claiming that the media conglomerates should be broken up. That was the end of his candidacy, starting the next day.

[bugslsu9]

52. Lest you forget,

He is now the chair of the party for the next 4 years, and I have yet to see a difference between his attitude in the primaries and his attitude as chair.

[fob]

38. You've been a member since 2002 and have 215 posts, that must

mean you tend to lurk and read and gather your info so you can put a lot of thought into your posts, perhaps your thinking cap needs a cleaning because that's the most defeatist load of tripe I've seen here in a while.

[xpat]

50. I've been a Democrat since 1963

Let me tell you, there have been a lot of corporate scuzzballs among our presidential candidates during that period.

Maybe Dean can make a difference, but so far it looks like he's one man against a very well oiled machine.

Let's not forget that Howard's dad ran Dean-Witter. That's hardly a good recommendation for being other than a corporate scuzzball. Let's see him prove himself before we get all starry-eyed.

[CAcyclist]

53. "we" get all starry-eyed?

Who are you to tell us how "we" are supposed to think?

Go away, you annoy me.

[xpat]

56. "We" aren't losing our liberal critical attitude, are "we"? n/t

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

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

[fob]

62. You're all over the map.

I don't care how long you've been a Democrat, what the hell does that have to do with your bizarre statement? Dean laid out EXACTLY his plan, building a solid grass roots organization to compete in all 50 states and to contest every republican and you read WAAYYY between the lines that he's "just another corporate scuzzball"?

Part of your "proof" is his Dad ran Dean-Witter? Are you saying Dean takes orders from his Dad, his position be damned?

As for "proving himself before getting staryy-eyed", I see you've alotted approximately 2 months and have already come to your conclusion. Blurry-eyed is more apropos. Come on, suck it up and help him succeed! If you've really been a Democrat since 1963 you have too much invested to let him fail.

/rant

[xpat]

103. I'll try to say it one more time

The Democratic Party record is pretty poor. Most of the Democratic presidential candidates and presidents that we have seen recently have been corporate scuzzballs.

Look at NAFTA and the job Clinton did on welfare, for example. Gore never distanced himself from Clinton's policies.

Kerry distinguished himself from Bush by saying he could have run a better Iraq invasion. Do you really think, he wouldn't have gone to war, after remarks like that?

The first Democratic I worked on was for Johnson, who gave the impression in the campaign against Goldwater that he'd close down the Vietnam War. Yeah, right.

So, before we close our eyes and jump, let's see what comes out of Dean's DNC. I don't see any reason to give him a blank check. Before he announced his opposition to war with Iraq, he was heavily backed by the DLC. As governor of Vermont, he wasn't the wild-eyed progressive of the image he's currently projecting. Was there a Damascus Road somewhere? Why should he turn his back on his upper class origins?

So maybe Dean wants to rebuild the precinct-level of the Democratic Party. That's fine. It's been rotten for quite some time. But, beyond that, what policies will the grass-roots be asked to back in the next election. Grass-roots is simply a campaign technique. Left, right and center can use it. It's policy that counts.

[Bouncy Ball]

73. He's not just one man against a very well-oiled machine.

He's one man PLUS all of US against a very well-oiled machine.

Change starts with US. It won't happen until we make it happen. We've got the guy in charge of the party who wants to make it happen, now we just have to jump in with him and ROW.

[fishwax]

100. well said!

:kick:

[Laurab]

101. Well if you insist that they're all "corporate scuzzballs"

why are you a democrat? While I'm not so naive as to think most democratic candidates are squeaky clean, I WILL venture a guess that "corporate scuzzball" or not, the world would be a hell of a lot better off today if any one of the democrats were sitting in the White House today. And even better off if we were the majority rather than the minority.

The type of thing you're talking about, I THINK has been around as long as politics have been around. The type of "corporate scuzzballs" that are running this country have taken it to a whole new level. There isn't even a pretense of being a government "by the people, for the people", and they answer only to the interests they are beholden to.

I'll take a good old democratic "corporate scuzzball" over this administration any day. It'd doubtful we'd have attacked Iraq, it's doubtful that the country would be being driven into the ground, and I do believe we would still have some semblance of a democracy if the democrats were running the country.

I don't agree with you that most democrats are, in fact, "corporate scuzzballs", but, for the sake of argument, I stuck with your terminology. I can guarantee you that we would not be in the mess we are in today if the democrats were the majority.

Compared to what IS running the country, the democrats look downright saintly to me. I do admit the bar has been lowered about as low as it can go, but it was not the dems who lowered it.

[fob]

105. Nice work. You saved me from posting a sure to be deleted reply

:toast:

[shirlden]

15. I send a monthly stipend

I have never donated to the Dem or any other party, though I have often given to individuals and causes. But, with Dean as the leader, I felt I wanted to do something extra, so I signed on for a few bucks a month. As I am old, retired and on limited income it was not a lot, but I learned from this last election that the small donations add up to a lot of people power. So, open up, folks. My bet is on Dean to deliver.

:bounce:

[FreedomAngel82]

22. Hear hear

One thing that I was impressed, and surprised, with by this last election is how the democratic party out fundraised the republicans and mostly by people donations! That was pretty amazing.

[Pirate Smile]

35. Great idea.

[keepthemhonest]

17. but will anyone

explain to me how this does any good if we can't be sure that our ballots are counted correctly? If they are counting the votes no matter how early we get there, They Win! we lose!

[ClarkUSA]

23. Exactly.

Still no more election reform than Nov. 2 as far as I can see, just a DNC commission formed to "study" the matter, as if there isn't enough information about GEMS tabulators.

2006/2008 won't yield anything but more stolen elections at this rate.

[MollyStark]

31. What are you doing about the electronic machines? N/T

[keepthemhonest]

42. Well

I have sent out many letter's and faxes to lawmakers around the country. I notified the media whenever anything significant has happened with election reform. I have educated the people around me at work and in my social circle. I have been auditing the Georgia election results to see what kind of obvious errors there were. I have sent emails to the EVS companies from the Bradblog website telling them to open their source code or we will boycott them. I just got back from the Nashville conference on Election reform. I have been to protests, to make the public aware. I assisted others who do not have access to the internet to send our mass emails lawmakers and to the media.that is all I can remember right now.How about you?

To me it seems like I have not done enough. However, giving your money to the democratic party when they won't even stand up and have a back bone about election fraud does not seem like where I would put my money.

[MollyStark]

29. Do you want the staff and organization to fight these machines?

That's how it helps. These people will be responsive to us in a way that you and I have not seen before.

[Bouncy Ball]

74. Here's the thing though:

as it is right now, we don't have the strength or organization on the ground to even have a chance of fighting election fraud and the repukes know it.

What Dean is trying to do is get that strength of people and organization on the ground in every damn state and then we'll have far more power to STOP election fraud.

Does that make sense?

[keepthemhonest]

84. I think if we join with the repuke constituents

and say we want to have election reform and the all of the voting public no matter what there party should want that. I just sent my hard core republican sister an email about the facts about voting in the USA and I also sent a message that we should be able to agrre on our voting rights issue.

Yes I can see where your idea would work as long as there was such a large difference between the percentages that like the repuke vs. the dem. for example if kerry was 75% pouplar and Bush had only been 25% ,then it would be too difficult for them to steel the election. so the more people we get on our side the better.Although we did have a huge grass roots movement in Nov 2004 election, it was apparently to close for anyone to take the exit polls seriously eventhough Bush odds were over a million to one.

keep at it we really have to try this from all angles, is what I believe.

[BigBearJohn]

18. I'm in. Thanks Will for posting this.

[CornField]

19. Just once I'd like to be asked my opinion on a decision BEFORE I'm asked

to financially support said decision.

Note: This is not to say that I think this is necessarily a bad idea. I just wish my opinion matter as much to the leadership as my dollars do.

[keepthemhonest]

27. good point n/t

[madfloridian]

34. For several weeks, Gov. Dean had a page for suggestions to him.

They went to him and his immediate staff and they read them. Did you submit an idea?

Have you posted at the blog at the DNC website?

[sendero]

63. To be fair to Dean..

... he's been saying that this was his plan pretty much from day one.

I think it is a good plan, and the logical first step in any realistic strategy to regain clout for Dems.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

21. where do i apply for WV?

i finish grad school in three weeks and i need work, dammit!

[Cooley Hurd]

24. Early birds and worms...

Excellent to hear!:thumbsup:

[KharmaTrain]

25. First Good News I've Heard In Months...

I'm an Independent Democrat...working on the local level that has suffered from lack of national financial and tactical support, and this is a breath of very fresh air. Now if that air stays fresh or turns into hot air is still to be determined.

Nonetheless, I've donated, others in my family will be doing so as well and I strongly encourage others to do the same, if you can afford to. The party needs a serious infusion of both cash and bodies on the local level and the time is now to start building up those organizations to make a difference next year and really start making some noise beyond that.

Cheers & :kick:

[ulysses]

28. good deal.

I'll donate next paycheck.

[DeepModem Mom]

39. Chairman Dean rocks!

:yourock:

[seabeyond]

41. i like this idea, i got it too

am going t see what is up in this area. made me think good htoughts of what dean is creating and how he sees things. i wanted dems to be doing this stuff after 2000, so it took another four years

[flyarm]

43. i think this is good but could be better...this is why

i housed the college grad who was the kerry dnc field rep for 3 counties in my state, fla..
he was wonderful and i am his now adopted mom...i love him dearly and he had many challanges, like losing his real mom close to the election, and a huge staff and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and many personailites to deal with..
my problem with this is this...

these kids come from all over the usa..they have no vested interest in the town or county they are working in..they know when the election is over they are going home...and hopefully their candidate wins and they move up the ladder and get a good job..

but that leaves the place they work in the lurch..as these kids don't know the makeup of the place they are in, or the people who live there, and they don't seem to care to..
many where i am felt like they were a band of whores, and i found myself defending these kids constantly...

yes they worked incredibly hard, but they were like machines , not part of the commubity they were in..yes we were important to the election where i am , but many felt abused..
many of the great dms would go to the offices to volunteer and were treated like outsiders in their own town..the people who were working the kerry campaign from the get go were shut out..and after a while just dropped out with disgust and anger.
i dont mean the casual people , i mean the people who had meetings meet ups long before the primaries in fact some for a couple years...

i really believe it needs to be a team effort..with much consideration for the locals in dec and dnc ..with reverance given to the locals..after all who knows their area best??

and the locals need a very powerful voice..
we saw areas in our county totally ignored because the graphs didnt show historic dem voting, well the records were old , and no effort was made in areas that would have won us the 230 votes we lost for kerry for..but no one on the dnc and kerry staff would listen to the locals!
very questionable people were allowed to work at the kerry /dnc campaign staff that came out of nowhere in the last 2 months..seriously..people who were never seen at anything were put in positions that exposed voting records etc that made me very nervous, like one man i finally put my foot down who i wanted kept away from all computer records of voters because he worked for scientology, and was made to resign an office in clearwater because dope was found in his house..but here he showed up at kerry headquarters with 2 months to election and he was sitting at the computers with all the voters info..i blew my stack...if you goggled the guys name ..all the info of his ties with scinetology were there as well as the allegations of drugs..he was not charged but forced to resign his job with the republican mayor of clearwater.

we have a serious problem here of repub infiltration, and only locals know who these people are...

dedicated dems in local communities need to be brought into the team ..
i was a delegate..i was a supporter for kerry when not many here were , i was there when only 2 people came to a kerry meetup..and the few people who were working for our candidates were basically shut out by the outsiders..i saw it over and over again...

i worked the rallies as a coordinator for volunteers..we had kerry and edwards here many many times..so it was alot of work..and took alot of diligence..i tried my best to put the people who had worked from the get go into places where they knew they were appreciated.
in fact i got alot of people mad at me when edwards came for a rally and i decided to call all the people who ran edwards campaign and put them in as the vip security so they could get up close to the stage to see edwards..they needed to be appreciated..and thanked for all their hard work..

but unless you have locals doing this stuff..people get screwed and hurt and angry.

the last time kerry came into town..a young gal was brought in to run the vip promotions stuff...

she took over what i and several of us had been doing for 2 years...
edwards had come in for a rally ..and this young lady did not even invite me..or the other delegate of whom it was both of our home town!! We were the first delegates from our town in many many years..and we were not included in the rally! the other delegate worked for the campign as a paid staffer in charge of veterans!

these people come in and are clueless..they are out for no.1 themselves..and like most here said when they left..good riddance to the whores...

that is sad..

i did not feel this way as i housed our field rep and i fed many of these kids..and they all became my kids..but i have heard so many horror stories that people would not tell me during the campaign..because they knew i was the house mom for our rep..

i just yesterday got an email from the tampa rep ..he was like a son too.

i think what dean wants to do is good..but he needs to look at this on a local level as well..not just a national level..he needs to develope a plan for these reps to work as a team with the best dems they can find in areas..who know the locals , who know the local problems and the challanges..who know the good stuff and the bad stuff in their areas..so they can rise above those obsticles..people who know the good guys from the bad guys..
we need to be less trusting and realize there are people who are not so nice and who have no problem infiltrating the dems..for nasty reasons..
yes being not trusting has it's drawbacks..but a little caution is not that difficult..

i am sending a letter to dr dean and am addressing these things..if anyone else saw or experienced the same things, i ask you to take the time to do the same.

i wont say that age makes you brilliant..but what i saw with these young kids who came in to run the campaign, they were very naive to the manipulations of people i thought were less than democratic !i mean in the party sense.

fly

[madfloridian]

44. You must not understand what he has been saying. On C-Span

last week, he again said, as he does time and time again....we need to have local people not people from the outside. Over and over that has been his goal for the party.

[flyarm]

46. ohh thank you mad floridian..

i was just reading about dean putting people in early..i have not had the opportunity to see dean on cspan..thanks for clearifying that for me!!

i am a now true believer in the saying..everything is local..

the help is incredible...and i do not look down at all the help we got..it was incredible and truely appreciated by me..we just need to keep the control local..as what happened here became not about local..and many locals have now been turned off and hurt by their experiences..and i as well as others are now trying to get those people back...and make working with us a positive experience.

fly

[CAcyclist]

55. Dean IS looking at the local level

"we have a serious problem here of repub infiltration, and only locals know who these people are..."

That's true everywhere, especially in California. Gavin Newsom is a Republican in Democratic clothes despite the gay marriage promotion. Tom Ammiano would be a much better choice locally for SF.

[Bouncy Ball]

76. That's exactly what he wants, fly.

Local people working in their own areas.

Here's the difference: I was going around with some people to register voters in a low socio-economic part of my city. I was with some campaign workers who live in a neighboring city and don't know my city very well at all.

They didn't realize we'd need people who could speak Spanish. I had to remind them of that.

They didn't know the people in the apartments. Because of the job I did for seven years here, I ran into a hell of a lot of people I already knew. I know their kids, I know their cousins, I know where they work.

One couple, in their 60s, had NEVER voted in their lives. The guy was only semi-literate. I found out he watches the student parking lot at one of the high schools and realized I knew him through someone else. We got to talking about our mutual friend and had a good time. They both registered to vote, and the wife told me, with tears in her eyes, how special it made her feel that someone came to her DOOR to register her to vote. I had to tell the husband how to spell our city's name. And his street name.

If I had just been someone from the outside, I probably could have still registered them to vote, but there wouldn't have been that connection. From everything I've heard Dean say about it, he wants local people working in THEIR towns and cities. That's the best way.

I helped a guy fix his car and got him to register to vote, too. LOL!

[XemaSab]

85. I hear what you're saying

The people who came from out of town to Iowa were recieved... oddly. It was WAY too easy to infiltrate HQ, and most of the staffers were young college kids.

I learned many things in Iowa about how not to run a campaign, and then I went to New Hampshire and saw the same mistakes being made.

Having a lot of people on the ground in the last week doesn't necessarily mean you're running a good campaign. It seems to me like the large numbers of people from out of town just irritated potential voters.

It's got to be local grassroots.

[Norquist Nemesis]

45. Hoping and praying for a central hub here in DuPage County

Please please please please please please!!!!!

This is great news! But, it's going to take time and ALOT of hard work from all of us. I hope we keep the patience and determination. :)

[yebrent]

47. Sent $100

Go Dean!

[Beausoir]

86. I matched your $100!

Anyone else in?

[Tactical Progressive]

48. Doesn't Howard Dean kind of get credit for Joe Trippi's

grass-roots internet fundraising strategy?

It was always referred to as Trippi's breakthrough back when it was happening, but now Dean always seems to be getting the credit. Of course, it may have been Trippi's young net-savvy staff who originally came up with the impetus and Trippi was just given credit for it more than he deserved as well. But even so, that would just make Dean one step farther removed from the credit he seems to be given.

Nothing against Howard, but credit where credit is due.

[Larkspur]

54. Actually Moveon.org pioneered it. Trippi cloned it.

Moveon.org pioneered political Internet fundraising for their various campaigns and projects. Moveon.org offered their Internet consulting services for free to all the Dem Prez candidates in 2003, but only the Dean campaign took them up on it initially. All the others, Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman, saw Moveon's Internet fundraising gizmo as insignificant. Trippi saw it as the best tool to help the Dean campaign raise funds because Howard Dean, who wasn't even on the national radar scope in early 2003, didn't have the same access to the BIG MONEY donors that the Dem Establishment candidates -- Gephardt, Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman -- had.

Moveon.org helped the Dean campaign gear Moveon.org's Internet fundraising process towards helping political candidates, as opposed to political issues and actions. But what made it a success was Howard Dean and his message. Trippi helped setup the infrastructure so that Dean could get his message out and rake $$ in, but it was Howard Dean and his Message that inspiried people, like me, who had never donated to a political candidate do so. (I'm proud to say that I never donated any money to the Kerry campaign.)

After Howard Dean started raising millions of dollars from small donors, money that helped get Dean prominent Media attention, the other Dem Establishment candidates -- Kerry, Lieberman, Gephardt, Edwards -- asked Moveon for help. Until the Iowa massacre of Dean's campaign, none of those candidates could match Howard Dean's fundraising success. Dean broke Bill Clinton's fundraising record twice in the same year with 8-9 other candidates in the field. John Kerry didn't break Dean's and Clinton's fundraising record until AFTER he had taken a commanding lead in the Primaries in early 2004. Kerry had to use underhanded Tammeney Hall type methods in Iowa to take Dean down.

[Tactical Progressive]

60. Yes, that's pretty much the way I remembered it

I think that Trippi should get at the very least co-credit whenever Dean's fundraising tactics are espoused upon. As in 'Dean and Trippi's success in campaign fundraising ...'

MoveOn should probably be mentioned as well.

[Scout1071]

51. I'm ready to quit my job and join Dean and the team.

I'm serious. I am willing to walk away from my career and go for it. This is that important. I don't technically live in one of those states, but I live in a KC burb and close enough to the MO border. I'm going to contact the local party this week and find out how I can get involved full-time.

[Bouncy Ball]

77. Go for it, Scout.

I'm inspired just reading that!

[DrGonzoLives]

58. OMG THE DEMS ARE DOOOMED!!1!1!!!1!!11!

THE PEOPLE ON TV SAID SO DEAN IS AN EXTREMIST WHO WILL DESTROY US ALL!!!11!!1!!

[wabranty]

88. I think Fox had it wrong

The actual quote is "Dean is a political organizing genius who will enable the Democrats to destroy the Republican Party."
:kick: :nuke: :kick:

[Raiden]

61. I knew he wouldn't let us down!!

[Dawgs]

64. Screw Dean...

He ran a terrible campaign during the primaries, then forgot about me after he lost.

Why should I support him when he couldn't even beat Kerry?

He conceded way too early, I will never support him again.

Where has he been the last three months, we've barely heard anything from him?

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Sound familiar?

[Javaman]

68. Actually...

His campaign was run very well, until the media took his scream out of context.

Kerry was the man the repukes wanted, they had to take down Dean. Refer to my first sentence.

Conceded to early? Kerry was better? Kerry rolled after 3 days. No investigation into voting fraud, etc.

You want to know where he has been? Traveling the country, talking to people, gathering strength in the form of numbers. He's doing his job as the head of the DNC.

Oh and one last thing, your a boob. LOL have a nice day.

[WilliamPitt]

69. Heh

:)

[Scooter24]

95. LOL

That was a laugh surely needed. Thanks :D

[Javaman]

65. This is why I love Howard!!!

I have been ranting about this in another post. The Democrats need to start building, rather than waiting till the last minute to do things.

This is a positive step to unifying the Party.

Thank God for Dr. Dean. The man with the plan! I now have renewed hope!

Give'm Hell Howard!

[Snivi Yllom]

67. kick

[donheld]

70. I new i liked Dean for a reason

I have fairly high hopes.

[Fiendish Thingy]

71. although actions speak louder than words,

I think Dean should be using his leadership NOW to get the Dems who are in office NOW to take vocal stands on issues and articulate the vision and values of the Democratic Party NOW.

As far as preparing to retake Congress in 2006, Dean's 50 state strategy is fine, but before that, America, and swing voters in particular, need to know what the Dems stand FOR. Being against things like war is OK too, but the Dems have to offer a clearly articulated alternative vision to the GOP. I know we're just a few months out of a grueling election, but I think he's putting the cart before the horse (or donkey, as it were ;-) ).

At this stage of the game, in early 2005, it seems to me the Dems should be developing their version of "A Contract with America"; Dean should be whipping the Reps and senators into line and consistently on message about the major issues, including:

• Exit strategy in Iraq
• Preventing unecessary wars
• Treating our Military and Veterans right
• Electoral integrity
• The Healthcare crisis
• How to fix SS without destroying it
• Better use of Homeland Security funds, without the pork ("Ports not Pork" should be the slogan...)
• Middle Class economics (minimum wage, health care- again- , and bankruptcy)

If articulated clearly and consistently, the Dem vision on these 7-8issues will repair years of neglect and ambiguity, and possibly provide some cover for GOP attacks on hot button issues i.e. gay marriage, abortion, "culture of life" etc.
The GOP is beginning to fragment around DeLay, Schaivo, filibuster, etc.

If Dean can't get his troops in line and on message now, in a non-election year, how can he hope to take back congress in 2006?

Yes, actions speak louder than words, but sometimes words must come first, then action must follow.

Having said that, I wish him the best, and think he's the best man for the job- if anyone can transform the party, Dean can.

[Bouncy Ball]

72. That does it. I'm committing $100

as soon as I get paid in a few days.

You know, I'm kind of shocked to find out how the DNC HAD been doing things. God, no wonder. You can't have an organization in place just in time for the election, then pack it all up until the next time. I didn't even know they did it that way!

With elections every two years, and sometimes elections happening in off-years, hell, even with "non-partisan" (none of them are really non-partisan) city council and school board elections happening all the time, you really need organization on the ground, in place, ALL THE TIME. You need to be growing it constantly.

I'm about to take over for my precinct chair, who is moving out of state. I'm thrilled to, and will work hard to develop a strong organization in my precinct.

This email from Dean is VERY exciting, exactly what we should have been doing, but I'm not looking back, I'm looking forward.

I'm reminded of the reason my very non-political husband started liking Dean in the first place (the first candidate for office he has EVER supported): he means what he says and says what he means. He promised this stuff before he was elected chair and he's doing it. It seems simple, but that garners my respect.

[Scout1071]

79. Actually, if you live in a state like Kansas, they don't even bother

to set-up for the election. And then all of us good Dems in Kansas have to listen to a bunch of bullshit about how RED this state is......Pretty simple. The Bushites put alot of energy into these areas. The Dems put none. What did they think was going to happen? They should understand that Kansans are actually quite moderate. Bob Dole speaking out today against the nuclear option is a good example.

I have been screaming that if the DNC started to put one freakin' ounce of energy into states like Kansas, they wouldn't have lost the last 2 elections. WE HAVE A DEMORCRATIC GOVERNOR IN KANSAS! It's not "What's Wrong with Kansas." It's what's wrong with the DNC.

I'm ecstatic that Dean has heard the people. We need a serious presence in states like MO and yes...even little ol' Kansas.

[Bouncy Ball]

80. Very good post, I agree.

I'm in Texas, actually. We've been redistricted to death, but that doesn't mean we can't fight and win. THIS state had a Dem governor just ten years ago (Ann Richards). And we were solidly blue forever.

We will be again. Already many of our urban counties are going bluer and bluer every election. We just have to keep the ball rolling on the border, coast and urban areas and work hard in the rural ones.

It can be done, and it will.

[iwantmycountryback]

75. When Dr.Dean does things like this, it really makes me wonder

Why people would possibly not want him as Chairman.

[Bouncy Ball]

78. Good question.

[deadparrot]

81. Yeah, baby!

Good for them.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[KoKo]

82. We Activist Progressives got the news of our $140,000 last night., in NC

and my speculation is that Dean is savey and is giving the "first money" to states who have thriving activists pushing for funding for "Grassroots" organizing. So, those states got the first and as further Dem Organizations in States get their "act together" more money will be forthcoming. :shrug:

If he targeted NC as one of the first states then I feel good. We are trying so hard here it's nice to finally see some money come in since many "Progressive Activists" have contributed their own money and time without requesting compensation just to get a counter to the Repugs going...

I feel good about this...but understand like some DU'ers posted on my "Good News" post last night in "GD-Politics" that they worry the money will go to the same "K-Street Folks" in the states who have been responsible for all our Dem losses since 2000.

But...if Dean is offering a carrot/stick approach then that will take care of that problem. It's up to all of us DU'ers and folks who visit this website to get involved in their own states and create an infrastructure for Progressive Activism which will replace that "culture of do nothing" where our Dems wring hands and blame Karl Rove for defeat after defeat.

Along with this goes our NC Activism group working on VOTER REFORM. We are working our butts off to get NC Legislature to ditch the Touch Screens without paper trail. Many of our better known DU'ers have been working on this like "Plan Publishing 9's David Allen" and others to make sure that when NC VOTES our VOTES COUNT.

[Democracy White]

83. I wish I could help fund

I don't know much about Howard Dean other than what I read on here. I just hope that he can rebuild the Democratic Party and make us stronger than we have been before.

I wish I wasn't on disability so that I can help fund his plans.

Dee

[wabranty]

87. Why did it take so long for the Dems to get it?!!

The Repubs have been running a permanent campaign since the late 1970s and the Dems finally get it almost 30 years later. Dean's email was the best news I've heard in a while. Building campaigns around a personality instead of the party and its message is why Dems lose elections. With a good party structure, we can start farm-teams for future Democratic Leaders and start taking back this country precint-by-precint. It would feel great to vote for a Democratic nominee because I was excited about their message rather than "well, they are better than the alternative."

I'm sending in my donation.:bounce: :kick: :applause:

[bpilgrim]

89. the third way had us off track

but fortunately things seem to be changing :bounce:

donated

peace

[Just Me]

90. GO! DEAN! GO!!!

I'll have to pass this on to some folks I know will be very excited about this (particularly since we all agreed the battle must continue rather than be dropped).

This is awesome!!!

[Dawgs]

91. Whatever...

Just another politician asking for money. I've been getting emails like this for a year now.

Don't get me wrong. I love Dean and what he's doing for the Democrats, but come on people. Every time Dean speaks you guys go nuts. "Oh, the answer is here", "The only Democrat I trust", and "I'm giving my $100".

Let me know when he makes a difference. I won't hold my breath.

[patricia92243]

92. FINALLY, Democrats in my little red state. n/t

[chomskysright]

94. GET THE FUCK OUT OF IRAQ TO START WITH

[thjay]

96. The email kind of ticked me off.

I wish I could get excited about something the DNC is doing. I just can't and won't until a serious united fight is waged to investigate election fraud. The right to vote must be returned to the people. Without this nothing else matters. We can work our asses off and contribute our hard earned cash to candidates or the DNC, but it won't amount to a hill of beans if our votes aren't counted.

[unkachuck]

98. count me in...

....until someone comes up with a better remedy, we should heed our Doctors' advice....

[jon strad]

99. Dean is pretty inspirational

Once in a while I get pessimistic about the country and especially the ability to change things for the better, but holy moly, once I read or hear the words of Mr. Dean, I have hope. I am inspired to fight the good fight. Sorry for the cheesiness. :)

[cilla4progress]

104. Hopeful and expectant

While I find myself hoping, perhaps more than expecting, that Dean's vision and plan will materialize, I am inspired by the posts here to kick in my $100 next payday.

Since the Nov. elections I have joined our local dem organization as precinct caucus organizer (we had our first dem caucus ever(?) in our rural community in my home last fall). It is also thrilling that the local dem organization has just opened the "first ever party headquarters in a non-congressional year" here! (The Republican chair's reaction was typically snotty: "We're supposed to be the party of the rich and we can't afford a year-round headquarters. It's nice to know they have the money to do that. Good for them." Can you hear the sarcasm coming through?)

Thanks to some savvy, personally well-funded, and committed folks in our conservative local community, the dem organization is up and running and establishing a presence ALREADY for the '06 elections.

Wheeeeee!

[endarkenment]

106. in my email and then right out of my credit card

Lets do it.

[bobthedrummer]

110. Kick.

:dem::kick: