Howard Dean: Take the Day Off

[Rose Siding]

Four weeks from today, what will you be doing?

On November 7th, America will vote. All the polls say that people have had enough. We're poised to win historic victories up and down the ballot -- but only if we follow through and make it happen.

So we're doing something we've never done before.

We're asking every Democrat who can do so to take the day off from work on Election Day to be part of our 50-State Turnout operation.

If you commit to taking the day off on Tuesday, November 7th, our staff will commit to making sure you have the resources and contacts you need to spend a full day immersed in our democracy.

We're asking now so that you have plenty of time to make arrangements. Whether you're new to politics or a seasoned volunteer, if you can afford to spend all or part of Election Day working to elect Democrats, tell us here:

http://www.democrats.org/electionday

This final-day push will be the final piece of our 50-State Turnout operation. The first piece happened this past weekend, when we had an incredible series of events.

In every single state we had important volunteer events that connected people on the ground and got everyone to work.

It's all part of the broadest get-out-the-vote operation that our party has attempted in a generation.

In past election years, when the party focused on a few battleground states and abandoned candidates everywhere else, we would not have been in a position to turn growing Democratic support in the polls down the homestretch into victory on Election Day.

But thanks to the 50-state strategy, we've been in local communities over the past year-and-a-half building the infrastructure and networks of volunteers necessary to win.

No matter where you live, there is important work you can do that will directly affect this election. Let us know if you can afford to spend all or part of Election Day making democracy happen:

http://www.democrats.org/electionday

If you can spend one day of your time working for Democrats, we can win this.

When we do, we'll finally have some leaders who will spend their time working for the American people.

Thank you.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

[mikelgb]

1. super kick

I commit

[hippiechick]

2. A kick for my hero !

:loveya: Dr Dean!!


:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[babylonsister]

3. I just signed up; will see what happens. Thanks, R S! nt

[originalpckelly]

4. Talk about October surprise...

GO DEAN!! :woohoo:

[im10ashus]

5. Great idea.

But how many American's can afford to take the day off?

[Breeze54]

13. How many can afford not to?

:shrug:

[im10ashus]

27. Touche.

We should have a national "day off" to vote. But what am I thinking? That would be a perfect democracy.

[Fierce]

37. Y'know, I like his approach much better than that of "World Can't Wait."

WCW really turned me off with their approach and assumptions about people being able to take off work.

I like how he makes it an "if" statement instead of a command. I'd also like some helpful hints about what to do if you can't take off work. (Not *I* personally, but for those who don't know your employer is required to give you time off to vote, if you live in certain states, etc.)

[stepnw1f]

6. kick (nt)

[SoCalDem]

7. "Voting day" should be a holiday

and August should be "National Voter Regsitration Month"..a month when everyone CHECKS UP on their regsitration.. That way no one would be surprised at the polling location when there's a "problem" with their regsitration..

democracy cannot happen in a vacuum.

[tblue]

8. Hell, take the MONTH off!

STOP! Step away from your computer and get your :dem: crackin'! Register voters, canvass, phone bank, send money, host a house party, pass out bumper stickers and lawn signs, etc. and so on.

Trust me, 'they' are doing all of the above.

[grizmaster]

34. I've already asked for 6 days off over the coming weeks

and I'm probably going to add about 3 more right around election day

[Blackthorn]

9. Completely off-topic...

I find it odd that America holds elections on a weekday. In Australia, every election is held on a Saturday. That's because voting is compulsory and its impractical to drag people out of their jobs and back to their electorates to vote.

If you wanna get out the vote, don't hold the election on a work day. Or is that the plan? *wears tin foil suit*

[AllegroRondo]

32. That goes back to the beginning of the country

and election day is set up by the Constitution.

At that time, Americans lived primarily in rural areas and worked on farms. They would have to ride into the county seat to vote, which meant a day's ride in many cases. November was chosen, as most crops would be harvested by that time, and Tuesday would give the voter Monday to ride to the polling station, as Sunday would have been spent in church for most people.

[Parche]

10. day off

I have those 3days off, and will be working to get Bryan Kennedy elected
to defeat Sensenbrenner........................

[hang a left]

11. I wish someone would alert a mod and get this on the DU

home page. I would but I am shy.

[Breeze54]

12. Hmmm...

"Four weeks from today, what will you be doing?"

:headbang: :headbang:






:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: I'll be exhausted but very happy!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:) :kick: & Recommended! :dem:

[Stardust]

29. What a beautiful ...um...whateveryoucallit!

[Nimrod2005]

14. We love and support Dr. Dean!!!

I am asking of the day off.

[opusprime]

15. Count me in.

I've never volunteered for anything like this before, but I'm taking the day off and making my views heard.

Not spending this one on the sidelines, its too friggn important.

[greeneyedboy]

16. excellent idea. off to recruit friends to do the same.

[Straight Shooter]

17. I don't have the option to commit that far in advance ....

I have a really screwy schedule that sometimes changes at the last minute ... :(

But I can sure do my fair share up to and *hopefully* including Election Day, of knocking on doors and asking people if they would like a yard sign or a bumper sticker, and also volunteering for the local Dem organization. I know all the people in our local Dem group, and I'm sure they can find something for me to do :)

[Breeze54]

22. Your help phone banking could make the difference in VA!

Your help in a PDA national phone banking effort could make the difference in Virginia!

Virginia has been considered safe Republican territory for decades,
but following two successive Democratic gubernatorial victories,
Democrats are poised to gain seats in the House and possibly beat
incumbent Republican George Allen to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Our three PDA-endorsed progressive candidates for the House --
Shawn O'Donnell, 1st District ; Al Weed, 5th District ; and Andy Hurst, 11th District --
are running effective campaigns against incumbents in traditionally Republican territory.

If Democrats pick up even one new seat in Virginia,
it will be a win unforeseen in the odds makers' predictions,
and could very well make the difference in retaking Congress.

Working to generate support for O'Donnell, Weed and Hurst will also turn out votes
for Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb, who is a staunch critic of the Iraq war.
Coming from double-digit deficits in the polls, Webb now has the momentum
and has drawn within the margin of error in key polls,
including a slight lead over Sen. Allen in the latest Zogby poll.

exclaim Please join a national phone banking effort on behalf of Virginia's
three strong progressive candidates during the week of October 23-26.

All you have to do is email an RSVP by October 16.
You will receive calling lists, instructions and call scripts.

Canvassing: For those willing to travel, there also will be caravans
of volunteers to canvass in badly needed areas.

Exact locations and details will be sent when you RSVP.

The schedule is:

October 14: 5th District for Al Weed in Farmville, Va.

October 21: 1st District for Shawn O'Donnell in Spotsylvania County, Va.

October 28: 11th District for Andy Hurst in Northern Virginia

For phoning or canvassing,

please RSVP by email with your name, state, and phone number to:

Howard Jennings [email protected]

Act now to take back the Congress!



Learn More, or visit our directory of candidates and groups to contribute now.

http://www.actblue.com/

Blue America communities

by Firedoglake, DownWithTyranny, and Crooks & Liars

http://www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica

[usregimechange]

18. I am doing it, kick

[usregimechange]

19. GOTV baby

[mcscajun]

20. Have you cross-posted this to the DU Activist Forum?

Probably a good idea. :)

[Breeze54]

21. KICK!

:kick:

[niallmac]

23. I think this is a really really great idea and I will support it

100%. The damn day should be a holiday anyway so people can vote without squirming about their work hours. What idiocy.
Want to celebrate our Independence or the Presidents?...Give us the day off when we are supposed to participate in democracy
in the most meaningful non Diebold way. Voting day should be a god damned day off for everyone.

Anyway. I'm signing up. K and R!

P.S.
Howard Dean is my hero also. He came to funky little Boise this summer and spoke at a park amphitheater that could be
attended by anyone for free during their lunch hour which I did. This guy walks the talk. He is a leader. He went the
extra mile and then challenged me us Idaho dems to do likewise. Powerful stuff integrity.

[xxqqqzme]

43. Howard is indeed a leader.

One of the very few we have right now.


Dean and Gore....end of the list!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

24. I am fortunate enough to be able to do this! Thanks Howard!

What a great message.

I suggest forwarding it to as many people as you can.

[civildisoBDence]

25. Yeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaw!

I'm with you, Dr. Dean. I'll be working (professor) but will be directing my students to the voting booth.

Newsprism

[alfredo]

26. I work two days a year, Nov 7 is one of them. I am an election judge.

I'd rather be doing GOTV, but I am doing my part.

[grizmaster]

35. I'm working a polling place on election day

but I'll be using up some vacation time during the lead up to the elections working for Whithouse here in RI

[alfredo]

52. Our fucus is local this year.

our only congressional race is not contested. Ben Chandler (D-Ky) will return to congress.

I've dug up some info that might put a ballot initiative over the top. I hope I am right on it. The corporate owners of our water works is selling it, but doesn't want to sell to us. I found out the two top suitors are Qatar and China. I found news stories about Qatar giving aid to Hamas and paying protection money to al Qaeda. Finding dirt on China will be even easier.

So why is it OK to sell our water to terrorist enablers, but not to us?

[grizmaster]

53. sounds like a solid focus

good reminder that the ports deal still hasn't been changed too.


Here in RI it's such a blue state (the bluest in fact) that normally there are few competetive seats.

It's going to be a jumping last few weeks here with the Whitehouse/Chafee race.

[alfredo]

55. Corporations are becoming a parallel government.

We need to stop them from taking control.

[mcg]

28. Kick Kick Kick nt

[On the Road]

30. If Howard Wants Me, I'm There

No quesions asked.

[wildeyed]

31. Absolutely!

Of course I always do that, but it will be nice to have more company :)

[sojourner]

33. thank you governor dean!

[SeanQ]

36. Kick!

:kick:

[Uncle Joe]

38. This should be a national holiday anyway!

If we can celebrate an accidental third discovery of the Western Hemisphere over 500 years ago, you would think we could dedicate one day for the sake of our current democracy, such as it is. Howard Dean speaks for me.

Kicked and recommended



:kick:

[RB TexLa]

41. Only if they get rid of one, too many already n/t

[Uncle Joe]

44. I don't believe one more holiday would hurt us,

as it is, we work far more days than the Europeans.

[RB TexLa]

46. I work more days than many North Americans and I'm just tired of

holidays getting in my way.

[Uncle Joe]

47. Then take the day off, you might have less stress.

:)

[RB TexLa]

48. I have no stress

[Uncle Joe]

50. Well if you work more than most North Americans and have no stress,

my hat is off to you, because I couldn't do it.

[demwing]

39. Howard Dean is my President

but I want him exactly where he is through 2006.


But, in 2010, Dean will only be 62, and I would love to be able to vote for him in a national election.


Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!
Dean!

[Tigress DEM]

40. First time doing this kind of volunteer work.

OK, so mass email campaigns, letters to editors & reps & senators.
Donating as much as I can to DEM causes.
Buying BlUE whenever possible.
Marched for Peace in Washington & MN. Gone to vigils for peace.
Spoken up to friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives.
Try to keep current on the issues and wade through the disinformation to get to the truth.
Watching movies like Inconvienent Truth.
Little by little, I'm wading in deeper.

Still, I'm trying to decide where the best place to put my small amount of reserve energy to make the most difference.

[Hippo_Tron]

42. One class at 8:00 and the rest of the day free, this is a no brainer

Hopefully the day will end with some heavy drinking as we toss the Republicans out of both houses of congress.

[Sentath]

45. Nope, sorry. I plan to work my ass off ( ;

I've taken up taxi driving and I hope to be able to offer free or deeply discounted trips to the polling booth ( ;

[LoZoccolo]

49. Great idea. n/t

[mistertrickster]

51. I'm doing it. NT

[mimitabby]

54. i'll take the whole week off! I'll be in Europe!!

:D