Dean Report

[saracat]

Okay Guys. I did meet Dean(again) and he gave me a hug and said he was glad to see me. I told him I was happy he was elected, but that I wasn't really happy about a couple of issues. I wrote him a letter and handed it to him. I told him I knew that he could only benefit from my advice and we both laughed about that. I did tell him I was serious about my concerns and appreciated the fact that he would take the time to read my arguments. He said her certainly would and slipped my letter into his breast pocket. I have ever reason to believe that he will read it.
I used many of everyones points and a few personal issues of my own. I also raised the issue of ageism in the Democratic Party.I have only shared with a few of you some of my experiences with this but it is getting worse. During the campaign I actually was publicly denied a job because I wasn't in my twenties. They outright told me so. Meantime I continued to do the same job that I wasn't qualified for, due to my age,(40's) for twelve hours a day and they brought in a eighteen year old , who they paid , while I did his job. Yesterday, I had a cow because I was told that , though I was especially invited to this event, I might have to give up my seat if someone younger than me came, as they were "more important to the Party".! That really did it!

I didn't use my invitation, instead I used my Press Pass.This was supposed to be an event for young Dems, but they did invite all the Party officials. Guess what? As I predicted, very few young Dems showed up.They never did find people for all the seats. Poor Dr. Dean had to slightly reformat his speech as there were so few.
His speech was wonderful. He hit just the right notes.He got a standing ovation when he made the statement "we cannot win by being Republicans" ! However he did manage to get through the speech never using the word "choice". But he handled it well. He talked about pensions and health care.He talked about universal Health care. I was disappointed that he mentioned nothing about election fraud and little about the filibuster.He talked about Social Security and that it shouldn't be touched. He also said we couldn't be nasty like the repukes.I disagree about that.I don't think above the fray works.Whatever.He ended asking for candidates because we need them!He made headlines on CNN saying Delay was about to go to jail. Hmmm.

CNN ran a brief pix of me talking to Dean. I am the redhead with the wedge cut in the brown jacket! It was a nice glimpse of a shared laugh!

[JohnKleeb]

1. He made that Delay quip while you wre there?!?!

Barney Frank was critical of him for that and got critcized on the boards for it, cool btw, wish I were a reporter or was on the inside when it comes to politics.

[saracat]

3. Actually, he said words to that effect in his speech!

And yes, I was there!I didn't even know about that particular flap until I saw the CNN headline! I wonder if he really knows something? Hmmm?

[XanaDUer]

2. Thanks for the report

and for bringing up your concerns to him.

[saracat]

4. Well. in my own defense, to some, LOL, I will say, I don't just talk

behind someone's back!;) Whoever it is, If I have the opportunity to tell them about something that bothers me, I will tell them to their face!I campaigned for Dean as chair.He is supposed to represent me as a Democrat, and when I don't care for the way he has done something, despite what some have said, I believe that I have not only the right but an obligation to tell him! I didn't treat Kerry any different. He told me that I was one of the first people to tell him his IWar vote was trouble! He was my candidate. I believe we all have the right to speak.All of these people represent us.That seems to be something that some never seem to get. Sigh.

[karynnj]

6. You are wonderful to have the ability to talk to these people as you do

I agree with you that they benefit from knowing what is said and thought by non-politicians. The story about your telling Kerry about IWR was interesting in the way he reacted - I can't imagine a more reasonable reaction and it really dispels a lot of the stereotypes that he listened to and processed unsolicited advise.

I am shocked to hear about the ageism (in the OP). One of my strongest memories of having canvassed for McGovern when I was just out of college was that the young woman and I who canvassed together constantly wondered if the fact that we were about 21 (and I looked like a high school kid) led people who we were talking to feel that we were being very arrogant and presumptuous in telling them who to vote for and attempting to supply information. It wasn't a lack of confidence in our own knowledge, intelligence or perspective, but a feeling that many people, who were our parents' age had experienced so much more that they would find it hard to relate to us as having the same interests as they do.

I would have hoped that their concentration on youth would have changed given the fact that the "orange hats" really didn't win over that many people in Iowa. I hope they are trying to create grassroots within communities that span the diversity of the community in terms of age, sex, income level, race etc. After the election there was talk about this.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Thanks for the recap. Very interesting. MTP should be good to

watch this weekend.

I guess the under-the-radar (actually it was more local/state visits and press) is finished which is fine with me.