Deaniacs

2004-04-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

Action: Vote Dean on April 17 in NC Caucus

Here's a message from Blaise Strenn, NC Coordinator for Dean for America and a person I'm delighted to call a friend. Please read Blaise's message, spread the word, and vote Dean on Saturday. For caucus voting sites in Wake County, see the Wake Dems site at http://www.wakedems.org. For those in the rest of the state, see the Democracy4NC.org site.

Your Vote...Your Choice...Your Voice
There are rare moments in our skewed political process when you can vote your conscience and proudly mark your ballot for a candidate in whom you believe, as opposed to choosing between the lesser of two evils. It's even more exceptional when a principled vote is more than just a hollow protest vote - when it actually can have some impact.

You can make that principled and pragmatic vote this Saturday April 17, by voting for Howard Dean.

For most races, the NC primary has been postponed until June, but North Carolina Democrats will vote -- for the Presidential nominee only – on 4/17 between 8am and noon.

Kerry has the nomination. But Howard Dean and others are still on the ballot and you can vote for your vision of the Democratic Party. By voting for Dean, you help keep his ideas alive by sending progressive delegates to the national convention – delegates who will fight for a fiscally conservative progressive platform: equal rights for all, health care for all, investment in kids, environmental and labor protections, balanced budgets etc.

Dean is the alternative to "politics-as-usual." He's the only progressive candidate with leverage in the party on the national level. Dean delegates are the only progressive block large enough to influence the platform (Kucinich has only 1-2% of Kerry's numbers). Dean delegates from NC will add even more muscle. Because turnout will be low, we have a very good shot at winning delegates.

"... We want all our delegates to go to the convention as Dean Delegates. Even though I plan to endorse Sen. Kerry, because we can't fool around with this, and we need him to win, but we also need to stick together and look after each other and gradually grow and bring the set of ideas and principles that we put together in this campaign, bring that to the national Democratic Party, because they need to change too." -- Howard Dean, Seattle (3/18/04) launching Democracy For America.

Vote for Kerry in November. But right now, remember what motivated you to give your heart, soul and/or money to the Dean campaign, and bring it home with a solid vote for Dean this Saturday April 17th.

(read the rest of Blaise's letter at Deaniacs.org).

2004-02-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Pride: Edwards Claims Deaniacs Support. But We're Just Yellow Dogs.

A headline on the News & Observer website today says "Dean Supporters Launch Edwards' Website." But in its print edition, the headline is "Edwards gains Deaniacs' Support."

Not this Deaniac. I know of only one former Dean supporter who has joined Edwards' camp, and that was just after the matching-funds decision. I certainly haven't seen any evidence of the Edwards people wooing the Dean supporters, except by that one former Dean supporter.

Instead, we're Yellow Dogs. That is, we'd rather vote for a yellow dog than vote for a Republican.

Our candidate has withdrawn from the race for the nomination. So we'll work on party building and getting ready to get out the vote in November until the Democratic candidate is chosen. Then we'll work like crazy for the candidate ... whoever that is.

We must defeat George W. Bush. We must provide a majority of Democrats in government so that the Democratic president can begin to undo the vast harm of the Bush administration. But that doesn't mean we are backing away from the Dean platform and supporting a rival for the Democratic nomination at this time.

2004-02-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Deaniacs Make a Difference

Great essay by Art Brodsky at TomPaine.com: No Nomination Needed.

It begins, "If the Democrats manage in November to knock off President Bush, let's make sure that the victory parties don't forget one pivotal figure who made it all possible—Howard Dean."

I'm pleased to have been one of the Deaniacs interviewed for this article.

Howard Dean says he's going to keep going. We are clearly making a difference. Let's work like crazy for Howard Dean!

2004-02-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Deaniacs Believe!

We hit a bit of a low point last Friday, when it looked like Dean would take the weekend off, despite primaries in Michigan and Maine. And that he might quit if he didn't win Wisconsin.

We asked ...demanded ... that Howard Dean work like crazy for Howard Dean. Just like the Deaniacs do.

We told Howard: we funded the bat; now swing it.

And he did. He went to Maine on Sunday. He promised to keep in the race no matter what happened in Wisconsin.

I learned tonight that North Carolinians will have a chance to vote for Howard Dean in our April 17th caucuses.

And at the Wake County working meeting tonight, I learned that the Dean supporters have not given up. We're working as hard as ever and smarter than ever to take our country back.

As Stephanie said while we walked to our cars, "People from the outside just won't believe how strong this movement is. It's bigger than we ever expected."

We WILL take our country back.

Thank you, Governor Dean, for listening to us. Thank you for continuing the campaign. Swing the bat for a home run!

2004-02-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Getting Better: Dean Makes Good Showing on "Face the Nation"

Governor Dean did very well on "Face the Nation" this morning. He hammered home the point that 15% of Democratic voters cannot give Kerry a mandate.

Dean did not answer the question about whether he would quit after Wisconsin, but he did emphasize that he would do anything to beat Bush.

And ... I was delighted to see that he is in Maine today, where the primary is. Swing the bat, Howard!

2004-02-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

Get Active: We Funded the Bat, Governor Dean. Now Swing It!

Read the Deaniacs open letter to Howard Dean.

2004-02-07T06:12:00.000-08:00

Get on the Ballot: NC for Dean Turns in 11,000+ Signatures

Our huge, all-volunteer effort to ensure Governor Howard Dean will be on the North Carolina ballot ended with a splash and a cheer yesterday. Since Dean will not be taking matching federal funds, we needed 10,000 signatures to get him on our state ballot. The petition was delivered yesterday to the State Board of Elections on a very rainy day. But that didn't dampen the spirits of the crowd.

2004-02-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

Get a Laugh: George W. Bush Action Figure

My friend Mark sent me this link, just when I really needed a good laugh. Enjoy Dishonest Dubya.

Of course, this is a laugh-so-you-don't-cry sort of laugh.

2004-01-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

Get Real: Dr. Judith Steinberg

Thank heavens a pundit has written what so many of us have felt in our hearts since we first met her: Dr. Judith Steinberg is a woman we're proud of. Check out Nicole Pisopo Neal's column on Judy Dean.

I could only watch half of Diane Sawyer's cyanide-saccharine interview with the Deans. Yet even as Diane sneered and prodded, I could see in Judy Dean a woman to like and admire. And as my husband said, "Looks like Judy Dean would make good party fodder." And we could both see that Howard Dean is a confident, good husband who doesn't need to treat his wife as prop. I just wish the two of them would have been less apologetic about Dean's pep talk to the troops in Iowa and about their thoroughly modern marriage.

Yes, a rhododendron bush is a terrific birthday present. (Some of my favorite gifts include a gorgeous shovel, a tape measure, and a staple gun.)

Yes, it is good to nurture your family and your medical practice rather than spending fluff time on TV. Caring for your children, home, and patients is as big a contribution as working the campaign trail. And isn't "divide and conquer" the motto of so many modern marriages?

No, doctors don't work a five-day week. What professional does? Dr. Steinberg's patients no doubt get sick outside of office hours. And even with a great system of rotating on-call duty with other doctors, she must be doing some of the work that Howard would have been doing if he were not out trying to save the country.

We feminists fought for Dr. Steinberg's right to get a medical degree, to have her practice, and to choose to live her life in the way she thinks best. She and Howard have worked out an arrangement that seems to suit them and their family. Let's celebrate their lives as examples of the American work ethic and American freedom of choice.

2004-01-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Dean Caucus Houseparty

What a great evening! Although we didn't get the Dean victory I'd hoped for in Iowa, several good things did happen:

1) Gephardt is out of the race. The King of Mud devoted all his resources to destroying Dean, but in the end brought down only himself.

2) Dean took the third spot in Iowa, when less than a year ago he was essentially unknown.

3) Best of all, I went to Sridhar and Solveig's Iowa Caucus houseparty with the local Deaniacs. What a smart, dedicated, and generous bunch they are. We've got the fire to keep fighting for Dean and the sense of humor and camradery to make it the most fun I can remember ever having in a group.

My good friend Jesse said that he had promised before the caucuses started tonight that he'd send Dean another $25 if he won and send $50 if he lost. That's the spirit! Let's take a deep breath and go back to work for Howard Dean!

Don't miss reading Zephyr on the Iowa caucus.

2004-01-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

Get Active: NC State Executive Committee Meeting

Blaise Strenn and a host of Dean supporters made a great showing at this meeting, attended by hundreds of Democratic party officers and activists from across the state. They had the table with the most literature, the only DVD running, and the most volunteers. Good work to get there early for a prime position!

Inside the meeting, Dean shirts and buttons were everywhere.

A proposal made by a Dean supporter to allow independents into the NC caucuses was soundly defeated. I spoke against the proposal. Dean supporters need to register as Democrats. Get off the fence!

The News & Observer reports that Jerry Meek, the wonderful 1st Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, agrees that this will be good for Dean because of the strength of our grassroots organization.
http://newsobserver.com/news/story/3241820p-2898852c.html

Jerry is quoted as saying, "If unaffiliated voters really want to vote in county caucuses, he said, they have until April 9 to register as Democrats."

Get active! Go register as a Democrat! Get off the fence!

2004-01-11T16:32:00.000-08:00

Get Active: A Weekend of Petitioning

What a great weekend! Wore my big Dean button and my lovely Dean warm hat to the North Carolina Museum of Art. Several people commented on my DeanWear and were then enticed to sign the petition.

That night, went to an excellent house concert at Bett and Bill Padgett's. Cool John Ferguson had us all dancing while the amazingly energetic Betsy Kane got over a page of signatures. Betsy said, "It's easy it is to get signatures when people feel great. This is just like New Year's Eve!" Indeed, collecting signatures while dancing to "Mustang Sally" was a peak experience.

Then today I started walking my neighborhood with the brilliant pre-filled petition forms that John Hollingsworth has created for the Wake County Deaniacs. Each person only needs to sign -- the petition has the printed name, address, and date of birth already on it. John put them in street order, so they make a great walking list.

Thanks, Bett, Bill, Betsy, John ... and everyone else who did a little Dean work this weekend. Let's take our country back!

2004-01-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Get Lucky: Beans and Greens for Howard Dean

One of the great holiday traditions in the South is our New Year's Day feast. It's an inexpensive and healthy one: coin-shaped beans for luck and green greens for wealth. Black-eyed peas, the featured legume in Hoppin' John, is given bean status for this event.

This year, we had an extra helping of black-eyed peas and kale for the Howard Dean campaign. Here's to you, Howard! We'll need all the luck and money we can get to defeat the
Bush machine and get you in the White House.

Happy New Year, Deaniacs! Let's work like crazy for Howard Dean!

2003-12-29T07:07:00.000-08:00

Get a Grip: Dean Volunteers WILL Support Other Candidates

I just got an email from one of the leaders of the John Edwards group here in North Carolina about Governor Dean's comments yesterday, which included: "If I don't win the nomination, where do you think those million and a half people, half a million on the Internet, where do you think they're going to go?" he said during a meeting with reporters. "I don't know where they're going to go. They're certainly not going to vote for a conventional Washington politician." (full story: http://www.start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=9&aid=D7VNN0U00_story )

The Edwards volunteer said, "This is appalling and just the opposite of the msg I've consistently heard from you and others locally. If there's some way for local campaign workers to tell him what he should be saying, please do it."

Yes, it is the opposite of what I've been saying and of what 90% or so of the Dean volunteers I'm working with have been saying. We will vote for a "conventional Washington politician" who is a Democrat over George W. Bush in a heartbeat. Do you expect us to just stay home on November 2?

I became a full-time political activist in March 2003 to defeat Bush. I'm delighted that Dr. Dean has continued to be the best candidate since then. But I hope we've all learned something since 2000, when too many people listened to Ralph Nader and believed there wasn't much difference between Al Gore and George W. Bush. There is a huge difference between any of the Democratic candidates and Bush: it's the difference between Democracy and Fascism.

Governor Dean, I hope you win the nomination and the White House. But if you don't win the nomination, I'm going to work as hard as I can for the Democratic nominee. You have many supporters like me who are making great inroads into the current Democratic circles by working for the Party as well as for you. We want to take our country back and we want to take our Party back. We'll take whatever victories we can in 2004 and keep on fighting.

2003-12-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Get Smart: Article on Zephyr Teachout's Triangle Visit

Great story on a great day: http://indyweek.com/durham/current/porch.html

Thanks for coming to the Triangle, Zephyr! And thanks for the great story and picture, Independent!

2003-12-18T06:41:00.000-08:00

Pride: Lord of the Right Wing

Check out this flash animation about Golem W. Bush: http://www.bushrecall.org/ctt.asp?u=485694&l=12502.

No sleep til Mordor!

2003-12-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Get Crazy: Attack Ad Debases Democrats

A new attack ad released in early primary states says that "Howard Dean can just not compete with George Bush on foreign policy." Where does this nonsense come from? Evidently anonymous Democrats who were recently senior members of the Gephardt and Kerry campaigns.

Deaniacs urge Dick Gephardt and John Kerry to denounce this ad. We challenge the other candidates to join Dean in acting with honor in this campaign. Yes, compare and contrast your experiences and plans with those of other candidates. But don't try to tar our candidate or his supporters with a brush dipped in the stinking tar of fear.

The Democratic Party has a chance to become the dominant party again for three reasons:

Reason 1: George Bush and his administration are so dangerous that they trigger the self-defense response in many people. That's why the subtheme of this campaign season has been Anybody But Bush.

Reason 2: The Howard Dean campaign has given the people a real whiff of democracy in action. He's inspired people who have never been political to become grassroots activists. He's shown us a campaign of amazing responsiveness and honor ... something that we can be proud to be part of. And part of it we are. We voted to decline matching funds. Our voices are heard and acted upon at the highest levels in the campaign. The most interesting thing Joe Trippi said at the Grassroots Summit in South Carolina last month was, "The Blog had a good idea today."

Reason 3: Our platform helps the majority of people in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Whether you are a poor person seeking an opportunity to better yourself or a rich person seeking to have a populace that does not need to be controlled by force, the Democrats have the plan to make your world a better place. By extension, our platform helps the majority of other countries in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, which benefits the world and our own national security.

If the Democratic Party does not embrace these reasons, then it can also give away the race to the Republicans. This would be a political tragedy, giving the neo-conservatives four years to undo the progress of the last century.

This smarmy attack ad risks everything. It brings to mind George Orwell's 1984 and Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Rather than embracing these three reasons, it spits in the face of a united Democratic Party.

It not only insults the track record of Governor Dean, who has had the best foreign policy ideas of any of the candidates. His ideas have been proven by the continued growth in the sandstorm of hatred we've unleashed by our preemptive attack on Iraq and unraveling of the justification for the attack. To his further credit, Dean says that we should focus on Korea, a real nuclear threat, instead of wasting money, lives, and international goodwill on a hoax of a war.

This ad also insults the grassroots supporters of Dean. It is in the interest of all the other candidates to make it possible for Democratic activists to unite around the Democratic candidate, whoever that may be.

Please, Congressman Gephardt and Senator Kerry. Speak out against ads like this. Fight Bush, not your fellow Democrats. Give us reason to support you as we take our country back.

2003-12-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Zephyr in the Triangle & I'm Guest Blogger

Zephyr Teachout and the Drive for Democracy roared into Durham today. It was an all-Zephyr day for this Deaniac, listening to her interview on The State of Things, coordinating one meeting and going to another, and finally ending up with a chance to be a guest blogger with Julie Edwards on the Blog for America. Whoo-hoo, I say!

Here's the thing about being a guest blogger ... at least for me. I was very aware that I was talking to the largest group I ever had in my life. And I was also very aware that the clock was ticking. Julie and I ripped out a quick story, but Zephyr said we needed to put more our ourselves into it. So we put in a few lines, but of course not enough.

Here's the most important thing I left out. Working on the Dean campaign has changed my life in so many ways -- the most important of which is that I've had a chance to meet people who REALLY CARE about the situation of the world, who REALLY THINK about it, and then REALLY DO SOMETHING about it. I'm continually amazed at the energy, endurance, humor, and deep sense of community the Dean people and the Democrats have. Blaise, Kate, Lanya, Peter, Jesse, Mike, Sharon, Antonio, John, Rigo, Betsy, Stephanie, Carol, Bill ... I could go on and on.

Last night, 33 people came out on a dark rainy night for a working meeting to take our country back. Tonight, 25 people came to meet with Zephyr and talk about how we can work together in a smart network of people to bring deep change to our political situation. Later the same night, over sixty people gathered in El Centro Hispano to talk about the power that each one of us has to send out ripples that will overturn the Warship Bush.

You can join us. This is so much more fun than watching a rerun of Friends. And it's a way to find perhaps the best use of your creativity and energy. And as Don said tonight, it's not just that we have an urgent need to get the mad man out of the White House. In North Carolina, we risk having Edwards' vacated Senate seat go to Burr. And Burr won't resign after a single term. We'll have two Republican senators for decades.

Thanks to everyone who has joined the Dean campaign, another campaign, or become active in the Democratic Party. I hope you are having as much fun as I am!

2003-12-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Pleasant Holiday Petitioning

I've just had the most lovely afternoon combining several of my favorite passions: Howard Dean, Democrats, local artists, and holiday cheer.

To get ready, I put on my Howard Dean button, loaded a satchel with Dean bumper stickers and Common Sense brochures, and grabbed two clipboards with petitions to get Dean on the NC ballot.

Then I headed out to the Boylan Art Walk. It's an annual tradition in Boylan Heights: an older neighborhood full of artists and those who love them. Handmade goods of all sorts were available on the porches, front lawns, and sometimes inside the homes. The streets were full of people looking for unusual gifts.

Collecting signatures was simplicity itself. The conversation would go like this:

* Person: "Love your button!"
* Me: "Then perhaps you'd like to sign my petition to get Howard Dean on the North Carolina ballot?"
* Person: "Yes!" or "He's not on the ballot?"

Some people would overhear these conversations and ask what was going on. Usually they would sign too. I gave away Common Sense brochures, bumper stickers, and pins.

I also shamelessly asked any person that I bought something from if they'd like to sign the petition -- no obligation. Everyone said yes.

One woman even wanted to volunteer for the Democratic Party. I happened to have a form for that too.

So, please put on your Dean button, grab some petitions, and go mingle amongst the Democrats. People will approach you. And you'll be surprised how happy people can be to get a bumper sticker or even just meet a fellow Democrat.

2003-11-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Get Crazy: Money, Lives Lost in Pre-Emptive Attack on Iraq

The Deaniacs site now has links to sites tracking the deaths in Iraq, plus a counter showing the financial cost of war. Read our Get Crazy page and vow to work harder to get a Democrat in the White House.

2003-11-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Get Crazy: Molly Ivins Shows Some Spunk. So Does Dean.

Molly Ivins had a great column responding to the recent "Bush Hater" charges called Fear and Loathing in America. It's so well written that you can her righteous angry oration in your head. Near the end, she says:

We got no Osama, we got no Saddam, we got no weapons of mass destruction, the road map to peace in the Middle East is blown to hell, we're stuck in this country for $87 billion just for one year, and no one knows how long we'll be there. And still poor Krauthammer is hard-put to conceive how anyone could conclude that George W. Bush is a poor excuse for a president.

My husband said this about her column: "About time some liberal somewhere showed some guts in print. About time some liberal somewhere showed some anger over this lying, cheating, stealing administration."

"Oh, wait. That's Howard Dean..."

2003-11-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

Get Active: See You in Charleston?

Deaniacs across the country are headed for the Dean Grassroots Organizing Summits November 20-23. I'm going down to Charleston SC for the Friday event with a carload from Raleigh NC. I can hardly wait to meet in person the people I've come to know online. And I'm looking forward to a road trip with Dean activists. Hope to see you there!

2003-11-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Our Friend Lanya Signs the Declaration of Independence

Here's a great photo of Lanya Shapiro of Durham NC signing the Declaration of Independence from Special Interests. The tea is in the harbor!

2003-11-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

Get Going: Dean Foregoes Matching Funds

Howard Dean will not take matching federal funds. This will save millions of tax dollars and allow us to raise as much money as we can to defeat George Bush. I voted in the majority on this. Hope that is the case in May and November next year too. Go Dean!

2003-11-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

Good Sense: Column of Flag Controversy by Barry Saunders

Barry Saunders of Raleigh's "News & Observer" makes a lot of sense in his column today, Tripped up by the flag, but still in the race . He says, "If I were running for president, I, too, would want the voters Dean so clumsily identified. For one thing, considering my paycheck, those good ol' boys in their pickups probably have more in common with me than they do with wealthy bluebloods like George W. Bush, guys who, as the saying goes, were born on third base and think they hit a triple."

Saunders says later in his column, "No, Dean's comment told us nothing about his feelings on race, certainly nothing negative. It did show something, though. Messing with that darned flag -- just like cooking grits -- should be left to someone from the South."

I hope the Southern candidates remember that's true when they venture North as well. Only Dennis Kucinich should be talking kielbasa.

2003-11-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Vote! Read Lanya Shapiro on BlogforAmerica

North Carolina's own Lanya Shapiro is the current lead thread on Dean's BlogforAmerica.com. Lanya is a firecracker of sizzling grassroots energy. I'm so glad she got a chance to go to Burlington to be part of this historic event.

What event, you ask? The vote by the Dean supporters to tell Howard Dean whether or not to take matching funds. Check out DeanforAmerica.com to either vote (if it's before midnight Friday EST) or to see the results (if it's after noon Saturday). In either case, read up on the issues. Here's what Deaniacs posted on the BlogforAmerica in response to Lanya's post:

Go, Lanya, go! We here in North Carolina are so delighted that you are up there in Vermont representing us.

You are right about the vote -- let's not hold back! We can't tie our own hands and let Bush have a period of weeks or months in which we can't afford to respond. This doesn't mean that we won't ALSO be doing every grassroots action possible. It just means that if we need TV, radio, or print media, we can get it. I want to contribute up to the $2,000 limit. Please don't make that illegal, folks!

The only problem with this magnificent DFA experiment in democracy is that there was not a pledge choice between $1,000 and $2,000. I chose the lesser so as not to overcommit, but for those of us who have given a few hundred already, a $1,500 option might have given an even more accurate view of the grassroots financial support for Dr. Dean.

I'm thrilled that my candidate is asking us what to do. Governor Dean will take back the White House and we will take back the Democratic Party and our country.

2003-11-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Get the Facts: Dean's Response to Confederate Flag Comments

Dean's attackers were slow and low this week at they misrepresented one of his many calls to bring Americans together. He'd originally made the remarks last winter at the DNC convention -- and received loud applause from the Democratic leaders there. Governor Dean said: "white folks in the South who drive pick-up trucks with Confederate flag decals on the back ought to be voting with us because their kids don't have health insurance either, and their kids need better schools too."

We say, "Go, Dean, go!" But several presidential candidates decided this week, months after Dean's original remarks, to portray Governor Dean as someone who will raise a Confederate flag over the White House. To that, we say, "you must be as thick as the poor white Republicans who vote for tax breaks for the rich and job losses for themselves."

Press Release from Dean for America

In response to Congressman Gephardt's and Senator Kerry's most recent attacks,
Governor Dean said:

"I want people with confederate flags on their trucks to put down those flags
and vote Democratic--because the need for quality healthcare, jobs, and a good
education knows no racial boundaries. We have working white families in the
south voting for tax cuts for the richest 1% while their children remain with
no health care. The dividing of working people by race has been a cornerstone
of Republican politics for the last three decades--starting with Richard Nixon.
For my fellow Democratic opponents to sink to this level is really tragic. The
only way we're going to beat George Bush is if southern white working families
and African American working families come together under the Democratic tent,
as they did under FDR.

"In his historic 'I have a dream speech,' Martin Luther King, Jr., said: 'I have
a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and
the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of
brotherhood.' I believe Dr. King's vision still represents the future of
America. And that is what our campaign is about."

See the DFA site for the complete press release.

Jesse Jackson Praises Dean

Another DFA press release quotes Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.,

“This year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Dr. King’s famous speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Forty years later, Dr. Howard Dean is reminding us that the great task of uniting the northern black and white urban poor and working class, with the southern black and white rural poor and working class around common economic issues – good health care, high quality schools, and affordable housing – is
the key to wrestling our democracy away from the race-oriented Republican right-wing."

2003-11-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

Get Inspired: Jim Hightower Speaks at UNC

Jim Hightower filled the rotunda at the UNC Law School on Halloween with hope and humor. A standing-room only crowd, most dressed as political activists of various stripes, got a great big Texas dose of true patriotism.

Hightower, whose website calls him "America's #1 Populist," mixed zingers with tales of triumph and tragedy as we struggle to keep our country true to its American ideals. For a laugh that will get your blood boiling and move you to take action, check out his website. Or buy any of his books at your local independent bookstore.

The very first question from the crowd was "which presidential candidate do you support?" Hightower named Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich as his top two choices, with a few kind words for Kerry and Gephardt. Over and over again through the Q&A, he cited Dean and Kucinich as candidates who are not afraid to be progressive Democrats.

2003-10-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

Update: White House Website

Here's an update on the story about the White House website trying to hide news on Iraq. The White House has issued an explanation: in short, to avoid duplicate search-engine entries. And the conspiracy-theory folks have come up with a motive: in short, to avoid the ability of website-watchers to notice the changes in old news stories to benefit the current context. The examples are in changes in headlines (from "Combat Ends" to "Major Combat Ends") rather than in actual quotations.

By the way, I don't think that "conspiracy-theory folks" means "nut cases." Last week, I watched Oliver Stone's film "JFK" for the first time. I'd highly recommend it for people who find it hard to believe that the government, the military, and the press can all cooperate to hide a major, complex scandal from the public. The parallels between the JFK assassination and the attack on Iraq are numerous and frightening.

2003-10-27T17:35:00.000-08:00

Get Active: Take your Dean Petitions to the Polls

We're working here in North Carolina to collect 10,000 valid signatures to ensure Governor Dean can get on our primary ballot even if he does decide to forego taking matching funds for campaign contributions. We're hoping to make big progress tomorrow and next Tuesday when we have a host of local elections. It's a great way to get in touch with the people who actually vote.

Even if you aren't looking for signatures, think about setting up an information table at your precinct or at a heavily Democratic precinct. We've only got a little over a year in which to take our country back.

2003-10-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

Hubris: White House Tries to Out-Fox Internet Search Engines

Slashdot today covers a pitiful attempt to keep the public from tracking its changing stories. Read about how the WhiteHouse.gov site uses the optional robots.txt files to discourage the gathering of information from its site.

It's the technical equivalent of, say, securing your laptop on the front seat of your unlocked car by putting a sticky note on it that says "don't steal this laptop .. and please don't take the money out of the glove compartment either."

2003-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Candidates Represented at Wake County Senior Democrats

I had an opportunity to talk to the Senior Democrats of Wake County, NC, about Howard Dean yesterday at their monthly meeting. About twenty members attended. Dean, Edwards, and Clark representatives were allowed 10 minutes to introduce their candidates, then we had Q&A.

The other candidates weren't represented because the organizer didn't know how to contact the local people. Deaniacs, please make sure that your county and state Democratic Party representatives know how to get in touch with the local Dean groups by phone, email, and snail mail.

The Seniors for Dean site was a great resource. It helped me find Dean's Agenda for Seniors and had large-print versions of several handouts.

2003-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Grassroots Money: Dean's FEC Report Taller than Dean

CNN features Dean in its amusing story on the third quarter financial reports. It says, "Dean is on top in all the 'good' categories (such as fund raising and cash-on-hand) and near the bottom on all the 'bad' ones (like debt ratio)." Towards the end of the article, the celebrity spotting is fun too: Emmy Lou Harris, Robin Williams, and Leonard Nimoy all donated to Dean, while John Edwards' only celebrity listed in Ted Danson.

2003-10-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Civil Rights, Women's Suffrage, and Howard Dean

Great night last night. The League of Women Voters invited its new members, including me, to a tour of the new Women's Suffrage exhibit at the Raleigh City Museum. Our tour guide took us through the whole museum, including the mesmerizing exhibit on the Civil Rights Movement in Raleigh. The photos really brought it home. Hooded Klan members parading down the main street. Women in church dresses, hats, and spike heels marching the same street with a sign proclaiming "NAACP: 1000 Strong." Student protesters looking out from between the bars of a jail cell.

The Women's Suffrage exhibit also gave me chills. More marching people in white, but this time women marching for their right to vote. The exhibit emphasized the connection between race and gender rights. Opponents worried that if white women got the right to vote, then black women would vote. Then ... oh horror ... black men might vote.

A photograph showed the state headquarters of the Women's Suffrage and the Anti-Suffrage movements next door to each other. The good gals wore white flowers and the bad gals wore yellow ones. Don't you wish you could have been there to watch the interactions at lunch?

My favorite quote in the exhibit was:

"Raise fewer dahlias and a lot more hell. The place is here. The time is now. The opportunity is yours. It is not the time for women alone. They must all work together." (Louise Brevard Alexander, suffrage activist at the State Normal and Industrial College.)

The exhibit included a list of "women's firsts" in North Carolina. Our group was privileged to have one of those pioneers in our midst: Betty Ann Knudsen, the first woman to be a Wake County Commissioner.

At dinner afterwards, someone asked me what was up with the local Dean campaign. I told them about our new petition drive to ensure Dean will be on the North Carolina ballot. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, I passed the petition around the table. What an honor that Betty Ann Knudsen herself was the first to sign.

I couldn't stay for the dinner, because I had to dart over to the Wake County Working Meeting for Howard Dean. We're gearing up for the signature drive and the long haul to victory. I hope we win our country back now so we don't have to go to the extremes that the Civil Rights and Women's Rights activists did. Seeing the determination, sacrifice, and ultimate victory of these movements gave me hope that we shall succeed, whatever it takes.

2003-09-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Deaniacs Houseparty Exceeds All Expectations

What a great party! Thanks so much to everyone who was part of it, in person or in spirit. There's nothing like hearing Dr. Dean talk to a roomful of smart, committed, politically active people to make one really BELIEVE we are going to TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!

As a fundraiser, the party blew away my hopes. As of right now, we raised $1564.68! That put us at least briefly in the position of being NUMBER 10 in the COUNTRY on the list of "which houseparty raised the most money." (Of course, later this morning, the West Coast hosts and hostesses woke up and entered their offline donations. But still ....) If you are checking our current status, add $50. Due to a little website confusion, two contributions won't be associated with the sit for a few days.) We had set the goal at $500 -- and the minimum for a houseparty was $200. Whoo-hoo!

As an activist event, the party also sizzled. We had lots of long-time Wake County Democrats mingling with lots of committed, articulate, hard-working Dean folks. Of course, some people fall into both camps -- like Wake School Board candidate Sam Brewer. Lots of people left the party saying they would be coming to a Meetup on Wednesday and would even be interested in organizing their precincts or getting involved in other grassroots activities.

There is still time to be a virtual guest if you want. Today is the last day of the 3rd quarter, so we're in for another round of reporting on who is winning the fundraising race. Give what you can today at:

Contribute to Dean for America and rsvp for my house party . Just click the Contribute button from this page.

Hope you are all going to a Meetup tomorrow! I'll be at the one at Greenshields in Raleigh.

Let's take our country back!

2003-09-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Get smart: Wesley Clark says Howard Dean was Right about Iraq

The New York Times asked new presidential candidate Wesley Clark about Dr. Howard Dean's criticism of the pre-emptive attack on Iraq. The Times reported:

"General Clark responded: 'I think he's right. That in retrospect we should never have gone in there. I didn't want to go in there either. But on the other hand, he wasn't on the inside the bubble of those who were exposed to the information.'"

Deaniacs would like to point out that we know now that those on the "inside of the bubble" knew that there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction or links to the attacks on 9/11.

Would Clark himself have voted to give up the responsibility of the Senate and pre-authorize the President to attack Iraq? Yes. The Times again quotes Clark:

"At the time, I probably would have voted for it." He then waffles a bit, but winds up reiterating, "I probably would have voted for it."

Let's have put a person who believes in the balance of power into the White House. Let's put a person who believes that the doctrine of pre-emptive attack is tragically misguided.

Let's put Howard Dean in the White House.

Sources: Late-Arriving Candidate Got Push from Clintons, by Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times, 9/19/03.
The Terrorism Link that Wasn't, op-ed, New York Times, 9/19/03.

2003-09-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

Get Active: The Party and the House Call

Deaniacs is throwing a house party for Dr. Dean on September 29th. Hope you are either holding one or going to one that night. The goal is to have 3,500 house parties nationwide and to raise a million dollars that night. Each party will participate in the world's largest conference call with the good doctor himself. Can you feel the momentum?

Check out the details for the nation-wide bash on the Dean for America site.

Hurricane Isabel is rapidly approaching Deaniacs headquarters. I hope the electricity stays with us. But if the blog is quiet for awhile or email goes unanswered, you'll know why.

2003-09-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Get Active: The Class

About 125 people gave up their Saturday a few days ago to go to an activist training class sponsored by the North Carolina Democratic Party. For my story and a few pictures, see the Wake County Democratic Party's site.

Sorry to take this short-cut again, but Hurricane Isabel is inspiring me to go get prepared for either a long time without electricity or the joy of having a stocked pantry, clean clothes, a tank full of gas, and no real emergency.

2003-09-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Cheney, Burr Protest

About 100 people gathered tonight to protest Vice President Dick Cheney and the White House's influence on North Carolina state politics. See my story and pictures on the Wake County Democratic Party's site.

Just before going to the protest, I check the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics to see how employment had faired under George W. Bush. I was shocked: our unemployment rate was 4.4 percent when he took office and 6.6% in July 2003, the most recent figure available. That's an increase in 50%!

Of the few rude comments from passing cars, the one that made the crowd hoot the loudest was "get a job!" Tell that to the folks at Pillowtex. Or Nortel, Midway Airlines ... and on and on.

2003-09-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pride: An Open Letter to Presidential Candidate John Edwards

Here's a letter I just sent to Senator John Edwards, who announced this week that he will not be seeking re-election in North Carolina for one of its two senate seats:

Dear Senator Edwards:

Thank you for announcing that you will not be running again for Senate. If you win the Democratic Party's nomination, I will volunteer for you in your campaign for President.

Now, please protect your Senate seat for a Democrat by resigning and allowing another Democrat to campaign as an incumbent ... and to spend the time that you cannot in representing North Carolina in the Senate. With the full Bush administration supporting Burr's candidacy, it is essential that we run the strongest possible replacement candidate for you from the strongest possible position. Please make this one last show of support to the Democrats who voted you into office.

Background

Republican Elizabeth Dole holds the other North Carolina Senate seat. Although she is a welcomed change from our long-time senator, Jesse Helms, she's doing an excellent job of representing Republican ideas and the Republican party in North Carolina. Karl Rove was behind her candidacy. Karl Rove has already held a fundraiser for Burr. Tonight, I'll be protesting Vice President Dick Cheney as he comes for another fundraiser for Burr at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh from 4:30 to 6:00.

Deaniacs supports good Democrats in all elections. We hope that Senator Edwards will do the same.

2003-09-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

Wrath: The "Cops" are Back

Do a little memory test. Remember how you felt about police officers before 9/11/01?

If you are like me, they weren't "police officers" at all. They were cops. Growing up in suburbia, I didn't know any of them personally. But my images were fueled by the beating and firehosing of civil-rights activists, the shootings at Kent State, and the violence against anti-war protesters.

But on 9/11, the cops became heroes. Firefighters, soldiers, and even security screeners became our noble protectors in a country joined together by tragedy. It wasn't "us vs. them;" it was "the U.S. vs. terrorism."

Yet last Saturday, I found myself at a protest shouting at police officers. They had gathered to hear John Ashcroft promote the Patriot II act. And about 400 of us gathered on short notice to tell the officers, loudly and repeatedly, "We are watching YOU."

The chant felt wrong somehow, but it took me a few days to understand why. I don't want to be watching the police. And I don't want them to be watching me. We live in an age where the constant surveillance described in "1984" is technically possible. Our government can and should use some of this power to protect the country from real threats, following constitutional procedures.

But it should not arrest and hold people without trial. It should not use the airports as a training ground to get citizens used to being stripped and frisked by guards. It should not tap my phone, "sneak and peek" on my computer, or track my every movement using traffic-light cameras and cell-phone trackers. The ACLU says: "For example, without a warrant and without probable cause, the FBI now has the power to access your most private medical records, your library records, and your student records... and can prevent anyone from telling you it was done."

Think this only goes after the "bad guys"?

A reporter asked me at the Ashcroft protest, "What is it about you that you don't want John Ashcroft to know?" Brilliant trick question. The point is that given enough data about enough people, the government can create a police state in which most people will be willing to inform on each other to protect themselves and their families.

Think this doesn't mean you? Do you speed when you drive? It's easy for the government to take away your driver's license by slapping you with enough speeding tickets based on undisputable evidence. What would happen if everyone in your family lost their driver's licenses? Could you still get to work? The store?

Surely you have at least one neighbor who, when threatened by a loss like this, would be happy to testify that you associate with "terrorist supporters," which can include some anti-nuclear and peace activists.

Am I being paranoid? Decide for yourself after reading the ACLU's analysis of the proposed Patriot II act. Two highlights point out that the act will diminish your civil rights by:

"Stripping even native-born Americans of all of the rights of United States citizenship if they provide support to unpopular organizations labeled as terrorist by our government, even if they support only the lawful activities of such organizations, allowing them to be indefinitely imprisoned in their own country as undocumented aliens." You can lose your citizenship for writing a check to what seems to be a good charity or cause but that has a branch that commits what our government secretly judges to be terrorist activities -- such as getting too close to a nuclear plant. And by:

"Permitting arrests and extraditions of Americans to any foreign country“ including those whose governments do not respect the rule of law or human rights“ in the absence of a Senate-approved treaty and without allowing an American judge to consider the extraditing country's legal system or human rights record. (Section 322)"

Sign the petition

Please sign the petition on the DeanForAmerica site to stop John Ashcroft and his attempt to once again divide the police officers from the general citizenry. The petition says:

To John Ashcroft:

Stop compromising our freedoms. Stop eroding our basic civil rights. Stop trying to teach our neighbors to spy on each other, and American communities to mistrust each other.

I will not stand for your using fear to threaten what it means to be an American.

The rule of law and due process are at the heart of the American tradition. There is no contradiction between protecting the country from terrorism and ensuring the protection of our basic civil liberties every step of the way.

Sign the petition now. Let's return America to its resolute, honorable best. Let's take our country back.

2003-09-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Pride: Bush and Biden Rewrite History

I'm so angry after hearing Bush's speech tonight and Senator Biden's response that I'm still breathing hard.

Let's invade a country without cause and without international support and then spend $87 billion dollars to rebuild it. Let's insist that it's only logical for the countries who opposed our assault on Iraq to now chip in, big time, with people and money to support America Inc.

Let's tell hide our biggest mistake with a half-truth. Bush said, "And we acted in Iraq, where the former regime sponsored terror, possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, and for 12 years defied the clear demands of the United Nations Security Council." Yes, Saddam Hussein did possess and use nerve gas. And I had the measles. But both of those situations occurred years ago. We justified our attack Iraq with two lies. One, that they could deploy weapons of mass destruction on 45 minutes' notice. And two, that they were developing nuclear weapons.

Let's forget American history. Bush says "They know that a free Iraq will be free of them -- free of assassins, and torturers, and secret police." A free American hasn't been free of these things, why should Iraq be? Remember Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy? Remember Guantanamo Bay and other post-9/11 violations of international standards of behavior? Remember the Patriot Act?

Let's assume that the terrorists are so stupid that they can only plan from within Iraq, which is now becoming a terrorist center in response to American actions. And that force will inspire an occupied citizenry to respect Americans. Remember the devilish simplicity of the Oklahoma City bombing? Remember how British force continues to be so ineffective against the Irish Republican Army?

OK, I could go on and on about Bush's mendacity. And if you've read this far, you probably can too. If not, read the New York Times analysis of the speech.

But where was our Democratic response? Poor Tom Brokaw kept asking if someone should be held accountable for using lies to get us into Iraq. Senator Joe Biden said no.

Let's say that again. The Democratic leadership response on this speech rejected the need for accountability. It praised President Bush. It said we should admire the president for admitting past mistakes. Did Senator Biden watch a different speech than the rest of us? And then he finished up his hero-worship of Bush with the jingoistic non-sequitur "We must win this!" Where was the call for impeachment?

Howard Dean is right. We can do better than this. And we've GOT to take our country back!

2003-09-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Deaniacs and Many, Many More at Ashcroft Protest Today

What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! Check out the story and pictures of a protest of John Ashcroft's Patriot Act Roadshow.

2003-09-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

On Popularity

During our Great American Conversation at the Wednesday Meetup, Vince Rozier made an insightful comment about the Presidential primary race. He was saying that many people seem to feel that it is important to support the most popular candidate. In North Carolina, there is a great deal of "hometown boy" sentiment in favor of our Senator, John Edwards. But as Vince said:

"This isn't high school. This is our country we're talking about."

Vince came to the Meetup to learn more about Howard Dean. He may or may not support Dr. Dean, but he will understand why he supports the candidate he chooses. And I feel confident that the majority of Americans who take time to learn about the candidates will choose Dean. We've got momentum, Dean is leading in the polls, but he's no mere football hero or prom king. Howard Dean is our best choice for one of the most important jobs in the world.

2003-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

New Word: "Frienemy"

My father, Tom Parks, sent the following letter to the editor to the News & Observer yesterday. Go, Dad! The letter says:

Saddam Hussein is a perfect example of a new word I've coined, "Frienemy." That's someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy, or vice versa. Saddam was a brutal dictator, and certainly acted like an enemy, but in reality he may have been one of our best friends in the Middle East.

Osama bin Laden is, and the 911 attackers were, mostly Saudis. They were not from Iraq, nor were they harbored there. Saddam and his Sunni minority ran a secular state. The threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction may have been a bluff to keep Iraq's Shiite majority and Iran at bay.

Now Iraq has become the center of al Qaeda's anti-American terrorism. Our soldiers are being systematically killed with impunity. Our Army is stretched too thin. Our real enemies are emboldened and we are rapidly losing the few friends we had.

President Bush talks like a friend, but he too may be a frienemy. He has plunged us into an unnecessary war. His policies ruin our environment and have staggered our economy. His cohorts are getting even richer rebuilding Iraq, while our children bear the cost of the war.

In the next election remember that we need leaders who will follow our Founding Fathers' clear advice to avoid foreign entanglements. We should repair our own house before forcing our building codes on others. We must be very certain that there is a real threat to us before we attack another country.

2003-09-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Lesson: Don't Assume, Just Organize.

I was flabbergasted to find out that neither of the clerks at my county Board of Elections had ever heard of Howard Dean. I had thought that people whose very jobs involved the elections might at least recognize his name. And this was on the day after our local paper ran a front-page article on Dean's momentum.

Well, I've got a county precinct map now. And the clerks have at least heard of Howard Dean.

2003-09-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Meetup Day

Hope you will all be going to Dean Meetups tonight. I'll be at Greenshields in Raleigh, NC. This month, we're going to talk with each other and strengthen the grassroots movement. And the plan does not include writing letters in a dimly lit bar or coffee house.

Check out Meetup.com to sign up for your local gathering.

2003-08-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

Correction: We're not all Aging Flower Children

The New York Times ran an article today about "Howard Dean, the underdog turned top dog who has surged toward the front of the Democratic presidential primary field." The article captures the energy of the campaign and the momentum that Dean is building. But once again it misrepresents the diversity and endurance of his supporters.

Why, my feet are still a little numb from spending two hours in high heels at the Women's Equality Day celebration last night, surrounded by other suit-wearing members of the League of Women Voters. I'm no "Birkenstock liberal." I'm too young to be one of the "aging flower children" and too old and squeamish to be part of the "tongue-studded next-generation." No, I'm a businesswoman who appreciates the victories of the labor and feminist movements that have made my career possible.

I want to preserve those rights and the other American values represented by Dean's "smorgasbord" of policies. (Please note that Dean has gone from being labeled a one-note candidate who is against pre-emptive attacks to one who is criticized for having a broad range of programs to address the complexity of life.) Like Dr. Dean, I'm for sound fiscal policies, equal rights, environmental protection, labor rights, universal health care, real homeland security, and a sane foreign policy.

And as for the concern that our commitment and energy will flag before the spring primaries or the general election ... pshaw! That's only fifteen months away. Last night, the League of Women Voters celebrated a victory that took seventy-two years to achieve. My local paper printed an article just a few pages away from the Dean story that quotes President Bush as saying that "our course is set; our purpose is firm" with an estimate that our troops will be in Iraq for more than five years. Fifteen months until the general election will go by in a flash. And then we will take on years of work of rebuilding our nation and our standing in the international community.

2003-08-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Women's Equality Day

Today marks the 83rd anniversary of American women's right to vote. It's a day for work and for celebration. Let's work to make Governor Dean become President Dean. And let's celebrate the victory that the suffragettes won for the country in decades of struggle, stretching from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention to the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment.

How will Deaniacs work and celebrate?

* We started early by doing a little bit of both in Asheville NC this weekend. We went to a community sing by Womansong. Their moving and lively performance had all members of the audience making at least a joyful noise, if not a tuneful accompaniment. We're using their "Big Legged Woman" as a theme song today. During the silent auction, the Deaniacs shirt we donated got a lot of attention. Money raised from the auction supports Womansong and their New Start Fund, which provides financial assistance for women who are in transition and making a new beginning.

* Today we'll work on organizing the our county's precincts. Our goal: getting out the vote of people who believe in equal rights, as Governor Dean does.

* Tonight, we're going to a celebration hosted by the League of Women Voters. We'll be in Raleigh, but there are celebrations throughout the country.

We've got the vote! We've got the power! Let's use it to get Dr. Dean in the White House!

2003-08-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Get Active: County Election Committee

Went to the Raleigh meeting of the NC for Dean Election Committee on Monday. The ever-able Blaise Strenn led an organized meeting that had a fine balance of accomplishment and discussion. Since most people at the meeting didn't know each other, we went around the table introducing ourselves. Thought you'd enjoy reading some comments from people who came out through a rainstorm on a weeknight to volunteer for Dean:

* "I'm not really a Democrat, but ... I had two brothers laid off and I was just laid off myself. My other brother is in Iraq. My parents retirement is in trouble."
* "When somebody like my mother feels frightened about the person she voted for [Bush], then you know we're making progress."
* "I've gone from angry and apathetic to enraged and ready to do whatever I can [to get Bush out of office.] I started out willing to work for Dean until he proved me wrong ... and he hasn't yet."
* "I have a problem with the 'anybody but Bush' crowd. I'm for Dean because he's a great candidate. It's exciting to finally have a candidate we can be FOR."

BTW, I'm now the Wake County Election Committee Chair for the Dean campaign. I'm looking forward to working with Blaise and all the smart, energetic people I met this week.

What can you do? Get involved with your own local Dean election committee and with your existing Democratic Party organization. Get some practice in the coming fall elections. Help elect the base of Democrats that Dr. Dean will need to support his programs when he becomes President. Whether you just make sure to vote every chance you get or whether you lead the Dean election campaign in your state, please do whatever you can to help take back America.

2003-08-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Organize Locally to Win Nationally

Learn about organizing your precinct from expert Alice Marie Marshall. She's the Volunteer Coordinator of the 2003 Joint Campaign for the Fairfax County Democratic Committee in Fairfax, Virginia. Deaniacs appreciates Alice allowing us to include her article in the Deaniacs Get Active pages.

2003-08-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

Get Active: U.S. Rep. David Price at Town Meeting on the Federal Budget

While many other Dean supporters were at Meetups last night, I raised the flag at a town meeting. Over 100 people turned out to discuss the federal budget at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh NC. Although Price cast the budget as a "non-voting issue" that doesn't interest a lot of people, this crowd was clearly interested in the numbers and their implications.

I wore my Deaniacs shirt and was pleased to see another one there. Two other people told me they were strong Dean supporters.

After a brief introduction, Price opened the meeting to questions. The main topics? Jobs, unemployment, and retirement. Pillowtex has just closed in western North Carolina, setting a record for the largest layoff in the state's history. Even in the more economically diverse Research Triangle, those lost jobs create a chill. What should the country do as textile jobs go to China and high-tech jobs go to India and Russia?

Price has a show-stopper answer for the question of "can we afford Social Security?" He said that "the country could make Social Security whole for 75 years with just half of the recent Bush tax cut."

Much of the press about Dean criticizes him for being angry and his supporters for being too young. What I saw at the town meeting last night was a predominately silver-haired crowd who shared an appropriate anger at the unprecedented level deficit spending. One of them asked me afterwards, "Does Dean have a chance to get elected?" Every day, I can say with more certainty, "Yes. Absolutely yes."

2003-08-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sloth: George Naps while Millions Search for Jobs

From Zephyr Teachout, webmaster for the Dean for America campaign:

"George W. Bush starts his month long vacation tomorrow. While George W. Bush vacations, more than 3 million unemployed people are having a sleepless summer trying to find work. Now the Administration has put overtime pay at risk for more than 8 million Americans.

Please sign the petition at the following link -- we'll deliver it to Elaine Chao (Secretary of Labor)."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=save_overtime

I did as Zephyr asked and now ask you to do the same. Decent pay allows people to focus on a decent life rather than mere survival. Let's not lose the victories of the unions that have helped us all.

2003-08-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

FBI Investigates Man for Reading Article at Coffee Shop

Marc Schultz was reading Weapons of Mass Stupidity at a Caribou Coffee Shop in Atlanta, an article by Hal Crowther of the Independent Weekly. A few days later, the FBI came by his house to "get to the bottom of this."

Crowther's response doesn't mince words: "The Department of Justice reported 1,182 arrests under the Patriot Act; from those prisoners, its inspector general received 1,072 accusations that the FBI agents and other department employees had violated their civil liberties, and in some cases physically abused them."

"That's not a left-wing rumor. That's a gulag, a secret police state that's encroaching, case by case, on the smug affluent America where most of us live."

Deaniacs wonders why the biggest criticism of Howard Dean is that he is angry. We're more than angry -- we're furious that George W. Bush is smashing core American ideals of freedom, liberty, and the rule of law. But just because we're angry doesn't mean we can't act rationally or have a plan for improvement. Dr. Dean will channel his appropriate anger into the strong action needed to turn our country around, back to its core American values.

Source: Counter Intelligence, by Hal Crowther, Independent Weekly, 7/30/03.

2003-07-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Collaboration: Dean Speaks to Union Members about the Economy

Here's the speech we've been waiting for: Governor Dean outlined his economic plan today in a speech to the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in Des Moines. He vows to repeal the errors of the Bush administration and to put new, positive plans in place to bring us back to prosperity. A few quotes:

"We became a great country because we built a strong middle class. All Americans, not just union members, owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women of America's labor movement. They grew the roots of our prosperity, and built a nation with blood, sweat and toil."

"They struggled together to pass on to their children and grandchildren an America that was better than the one they inherited. The men and women of the labor movement joined together because they knew that they could accomplish more in unity than they could be going it alone. And if we are going to change America for the better, we must find in ourselves again that same sense of community and common cause. "

And Deaniacs favorite, after outlining the difference between what Bush says and what he does:

"As they say in Texas, the President is all hat and no cattle."

2003-07-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Greed: Republicans Make Life Harder for Low-Wage Earners

The News & Observer published a Deaniacs editorial today on the Nickeled and Dimed controversy. Check out That was Then; This is Worse in today's paper. Or see a longer version on the Deaniacs.org site: Nickeled and Dimed: The Good Old Days.

North Carolina is lucky to have a paper like the N&O that strives to present a balanced view.

2003-07-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Avarice AND Hubris: Pentagon Opens "Futures Market" for Terrorists

When I saw the headline in the News & Observer, I literally checked the date to see if it was April Fool's Day. Despite two years of increasingly unbelievable news, this story seemed incredible.

But it's true: The Pentagon is setting up a virtual stockmarket to let people bet on "the underlying fundamentals of relevance to the Middle East. Initially, PAM will focus on the economic, civil, and military futures of Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey and the impact of U.S. involvement with each."

This is a step beyond Bush's sneer of "Bring it on!" to the terrorists. This market would literally let a terrorist organization make money by performing an unexpected act of destruction.

The scientific claims that this market will use the power of the group mind to uncover trends rests on a false comparison. Markets may be able to predict election results and the future price of corn because those events rely on mass participation. But assassinations and acts of terror can be accomplished by a very few people. Now the U.S. will reward the "insider trading" of our enemies. Surely we can think of a better way to spend eight million dollars of tax money.

Source: Pentagon Prepares a Futures Market on Terror Attacks, by Carl Hulse, New York Times, 7/29/2003.

2003-07-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

United Fronts: Democrats Begin to Pull Together; Republicans in Unison

Senator John Edwards was singing our song in New Hampshire on Sunday. When asked whether he would be a better choice for President than Senator Kerry or Governor Dean, Edwards responded: "I don't have a negative word to say about the other two candidates. Either one of them would be a better president than the one we have now." Deaniacs feels the same way about Senator Edwards, too.

And we need this united front, because the Republicans are certainly going to present one. On the same page, the News & Observer reports that State Representative David Lewis has withdrawn from the race for chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. He says, "The 2004 elections can be a watershed year for the Republican Party and it is imperative that we be united."

Sources: Edwards says he has wide appeal, by John Wagner, News & Observer, July 28, 2003.

Race to chair state GOP down to 1, for unity's sake, by Lynn Bonner, Daniel Thigpen, and Rob Christensen, News & Observer, July 28, 2003.

2003-07-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Read All About It: Wilmington Meetup

The Deaniacs.org site has a new story about the July Dean Meetup in Wilmington North Carolina.

2003-07-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Momentum: Even Merle Haggard is Getting Worried

In his latest editorial, the country singer famous for "Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee" writes about enlisting in the Marines when he was just fourteen. But his days of "enlist first and ask questions later" patriotism are over. He writes:

"Those who have the gumption to investigate, know that the reputation of honesty between the government and the people cannot reflect the reason for a single man to have confidence in what we're doing in current day conditions. I'm suspicious, I'm paranoid, and I'm afraid. And the person who says he isn't has not looked up or around lately."

Haggard then asks what sort of country do we have when people would boycott the Dixie Chicks for exercising their right to free speech.

"As a country we need to look inward for the answers to the energy of the future. We need to bring down our demands for oil, rebuild some bridges and highways and allow the farmers to grow something that replenishes the soil. Those who don't know what that is, should do some research. The problem is not in Iraq and the answers are not in Iran."

I've always liked Merle Haggard's music. Now I know I like the man, too.

Source: Hag's editorial, by Merle Haggard, June 2003.

2003-07-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Envy: DLC Attacks on Dean Weaken all Democratic Candidates

The Democratic Leadership Council is so intent on stopping Howard Dean that it is feeding Republican attacks on all Democratic candidates, according to Salon today. Yet ironically, Dean's successful campaign seems to follow the advice from the DLC's founder and its president. They advised "By all means, capture your party's imagination -- but do it on your terms, not theirs." Dean is doing that -- but under attack from the DLC.

As Salon says, "The group is losing sight of the larger narrative, and assisting its real opposition by attacking Dean. Already, the McGovern-peacenik-Democratic-weakness charge is spreading from DLC articles into the mouths of Republican critics, except the DLC charge is creating a blowback that will damage all Democrats -- including those who voted for the president's war resolution -- on matters of foreign policy."

Deaniacs calls on the DLC to support all Democratic candidates. Please read The American Prospect's fantasy debate, in which each Democratic candidate supports the others while they all use the debate to attack Bush. In it, for example, George Stephanopoulos asks Dr. Dean, "Can you tell us why people should choose you over Sen. Kerry?"

And Dean answers: "No, George. I won't. But I will tell you why people should choose me over George W. Bush."

That's how we're going to take back America.

Sources: Life of the Party?, by Garance Franke-Ruta on Salon.com, 7/25/03.
The Demo Derby, by Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect, 7/1/03.

2003-07-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Wrath: Bush Administration Reveals Identity of CIA Operative

According to an editorial in today's New York Times, Bush administration officials have identified former Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife as a CIA operative. As Paul Krugman says in Who's Unpatriotic Now?:

Think about that: if their characterization of Mr. Wilson's wife is true (he refuses to confirm or deny it), Bush administration officials have exposed the identity of a covert operative. That happens to be a criminal act; it's also definitely unpatriotic.

Her cover was blown by conservative Richard Novak in his July 14th column: Mission to Niger. Novak wrote: "Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate" the allegation.

The Nation reports Wilson's reaction: "Without acknowledging whether she is a deep-cover CIA employee, Wilson says, 'Naming her this way would have compromised every operation, every relationship, every network with which she had been associated in her entire career. This is the stuff of Kim Philby and Aldrich Ames.'"

Do we need any more proof that the invasion of Iraq was not about weapons of mass destruction than this: that the Bush administration would squander an entire network devoted to protecting us from those weapons, just to punish one critic and to set an example for others?

2003-07-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

News: Dean to Guest-Host Lawrence Lessig's Blog

Next week, Dr. Dean will host Lawrence Lessig's blog while the Stanford professor takes a rare vacation. Lessig is a shining star in the fight for free speech. From his bio: "More recently, Professor Lessig represented web site operator Eric Eldred in the ground-breaking case Eldred v. Ashcroft, a challenge to the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. Lessig was named one of Scientific American's Top 50 Visionaries, for arguing 'against interpretations of copyright that could stifle innovation and discourse online.'"

Dean's upcoming role has spawned many comments in Lessig's blog and on Slash Dot. At least more of the digerati know who he is now. And this will certainly ensure that Dr. Dean gets a crash course in equitable copyright laws and technology-enhanced innovation.

Sources: Lessig's blog and Howard Dean to Guest Blog for Lawrence Lessig, Slash Dot, 7/13/03.

2003-07-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Get Active: Deaniacs at the League of Women Voters

I went to a meeting of the Wake County League of Women Voters on Thursday. The meeting, which I'd found through their website, turned out to be the end-of-year board meeting. I get a little misty just thinking about those fifteen dedicated women, sitting on hard folding chairs for two hours at the local YWCA, organizing to defend our rights to vote.

Although the group is non-partisan, it does work for issues that will help get a good Democrat in the White House: fair and open elections, an educated electorate, and free air time for candidates. Their stands on issues tend to agree with Dr. Dean's stands on topics such as education, women's rights, and the environment.

A letter sent yesterday by the national League President to all members of Congress begins: "The League of Women Voters strongly believes that basic civil liberties must be preserved and protected as the nation seeks to guard against terrorism and other threats to national security. We are particularly concerned about the impact of provisions of the USA Patriot Act passed by Congress in October 2001, the possible extension of the sunset provisions of that Act and Administration proposals for a new Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA), also known as Patriot Act II."

By working with the League, Dean supporters can help register new voters and educate voters about Dean. For example, I plan to attend the League's celebration of Women's Equality Day on August 26th. The Wake County Board has told me that I'll be able to put Dean campaign literature on their information table and also be able to wear my trusty Dean button. Since the League invites Republicans and Democrats to its events, this is another chance to work a bit outside the cozy circle of progressives.

Sources: Civil Liberties and National Security, by Kay J. Maxwell, President of the League of Women Voters, 7/10/03.

2003-07-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Pride: Newsweek says Hubris will be Bush's Downfall

Newsweek's analysis of the crumbling Bush administration brings to mind the classical Greek tragedies in which the hero is brought down by an excess of pride. The article begins: "President Bush is certain he did the right thing by going to war in Iraq. Bush never second-guesses himself, a trait that permeates his administration and contains the seeds of his undoing."

Deaniacs sees light at the end of the tunnel as the mainstream media starts covering what's really going on in the White House.

Source: No Mistakes Were Made, Eleanor Clift for Newsweek on MSNBC.com, 7/11/03.

2003-07-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

Confession: White House Admits Claims about Iraq's Uranium False

President Bush said in his 2003 State of the Union address that "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." What he didn't say then was that the American government had known for nearly a year that this simply wasn't true. Yesterday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer admitted that the president's statement was based on forged documents. Worse, in the eyes of Deaniacs.org, it was based on a British 'white paper' that contradicted at least two reliable American sources of intelligence.

"The president's statement was based on the predicate of the yellow cake [uranium] from Niger," Fleischer told reporters. "So given the fact that the report on the yellow cake did not turn out to be accurate, that is reflective of the president's broader statement."

But it's not that the British report didn't TURN OUT to be accurate as more facts came to light. The report was already known to be false eleven months before the State of the Union Address. According to Joseph C. Wilson, a former ambassador sent by the CIA to check out the uranium rumors, the U.S. Ambassador to Niger told him in February 2002 that "she knew about the allegations of uranium sales to Iraq and that she felt she had already debunked them in her reports to Washington."

But since the CIA had sent Wilson to Niger to check out these rumors, Wilson and the Ambassador agreed he should spend the next eight days verifying the facts. In describing his investigation, Wilson says, "It did not take long to conclude that it was highly doubtful that any such transaction had ever taken place." He reported this comforting conclusion to the Ambassador, to the CIA, and to State Department African Affairs Bureau.

But that didn't stop Bush from falsely presenting Iraq as a country about to unleash nuclear weapons on the United States.

Sources: "What I Didn't Find in Africa" by Joseph C. Wilson 4th, New York Times, 7/6/03 and White House: Uranium claim incorrect, CNN website, 7/9/03.

2003-07-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Getting Active: Dean Gear at Festival for the Eno

My husband and I wore our Deaniac shirts to the Festival for the Eno on July 4th. We couldn't go fifty feet at the festival without having someone stop us. Comments ranged from "Go Howard!" to "Love your shirt" to "Who is Howard Dean?" Since there were two of us, we got used to standing facing in opposite directions, so the front and back of the shirts could be admired at the same time. Lots of people had insightful questions to ask about Dean. I was pleased by the number we could answer and humbled by the number that I couldn't. Let the homework continue!

A high point came when we were sitting in the center of the crowd listening to The Big Blues Quartet. Two women sat down next to us who were wearing Dean for America shirts and buttons. Before we could even catch their attention, they were joined by a third Deaniac. Five Dean supporters in a row! They turned out to be our friends from the Raleigh June Meetup - plus a visiting sister from Richmond Virginia. She's eager to get a group started up there.

On the way out, we spotted people getting into a car with a Dean bumper sticker and stopped to talk. Then I went home and read the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, and Martin Luther King's "I Had a Dream" speech. What a deliciously independent, patriotic Independence Day.

2003-07-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

Grassroots: Wilmington Dean Supporters "Adopt an Iowan"

What an exhilarating Meetup in Wilmington NC. Fifteen of us gathered at Port City Java to talk about Dr. Dean. As part of a project coordinated by Dean for America, we also wrote letters to individual Iowa voters. These person-to-person letters said, for the most part, "wish WE could vote in the crucial Iowa caucuses. Here's why we would vote for Howard Dean...."

But before we started writing, the group discussed who would coordinate the *next* Meetup in Wilmington. I had driven down from Raleigh (about 2 hours away) to give my "Dean 101" talk and coordinate this first one. But the Wilmington folk are now off and running. Distributed politics at its finest.

Speaking of finest, one couple had driven from Elizabethtown for the Meetup -- by way of Fayetteville, where they had been told there might be a Meetup. They said they would have driven to Charlotte if necessary to learn how to support Dr. Dean's candidacy.

2003-07-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

Grassroots: Meetup Tonight! See you in Wilmington NC

Hope you are all going to a Meetup tonight. I'll be at the one in Wilmington NC. There are hundreds of them throughout the country. Find one or start one in your area. Let's get active!

2003-07-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Pride: Senator John Edwards Risks Senate Seat for ... What?

Great editorial in the Raleigh News and Observer today: Edwards Keeps N.C. Hanging.

Please go back to Washington and represent your state, Senator Edwards!

2003-07-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Media: Overview of Responses to Dean's Fund Raising Home Run

Howard Kurtz's Media Notes column summarizes the media response to Dean's surge in fund raising. After a few paragraphs of grousing about the nebulous ties between winning the nomination and early fundraising strength, he concludes: "Having said that, we'd have to admit that Howard Dean's surge in the money primary is a very big deal."

Check out the rest of the article for quotes such as this one from The Note: "Until now, there was a quiet consensus among the Democratic campaigns: Pressed over brewsy, many campaign officials (and Democratic heavies) would say that only Kerry and Gephardt (and maybe one other) could win the nomination. And every rep of a non-Kerry or non-Gephardt campaign would add that their guy/gal as that 'one other' candidate. Now, anyone who excludes Howard Dean from that list is either smoking something or lying." Keep going to the bottom, for an encouraging bit on the falling popularity of Bush and the war in Iraq.

Source: The Money Primary, Washington Post, 7/1/03

2003-07-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

Grassroots: Dean raises over $800,000 online yesterday

The Dean Internet team in Vermont stopped counting at 1:00 a.m. yesterday -- and even then the totals shout that Howard Dean is the serious Democratic candidate for president. And there was still an hour or two to go in the more western time zones.

As Governor Dean said in his announcement speech, "We are the great grassroots campaign of the modern era, built from mouse-pads, shoe leather and hope." Deaniacs are doing it with vibram, not shoe leather, but we're still thrilled by the flood of individual support.

As Patrick Henry said, "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave." Let's get active!

2003-06-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Funny: Doonesbury Does Deaniacs

Looks like Mike Doonesbury's daughter is a wild and crazy Dean supporter. Deaniacs hopes that we won't have to "blow up the party and go down in flames." But if we do, we should rise like the Phoenix -- and take our country back.

2003-06-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Wrath: Iraqi War "Over" but Casualties Continue

According to the Washington Post today, 201 Americans have died in Iraq since we invaded the country on March 20th. Of those deaths, 61 occurred after the war was declared to be over. The British troops have had 42 people killed. Although we don't know how many Iraqi soldiers have been killed, an Associated Press investigation completed earlier this month found that at least 3,240 civilians died throughout the country. In comparison, 3,061 people are thought to have been killed in the 9/11 attacks (the number of World Trade Center deaths continues to go down as various errors in the list are (joyfully) corrected.)

Today, the Washington Post reports that "U.S. forces launched a massive operation early Sunday to crush insurgents and capture senior figures from Saddam Hussein's ousted regime." Is the war over? Deaniacs thinks not.

Sources: U.S. Launches New Operation in Iraq, Washington Post, 6/29/03, WTC victim toll drops below 2,800, CNN website, 10/8/02, The 'great struggle': Consoling the living, CNN website, 9/12/02.

2003-06-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

Pride: CIA Claims Trailers to be Mobile Labs, but DIA Analysts and State Department Disagree

Were the trailers found in Iraq mobile labs for used for making biological weapons? The CIA said yes. but the State Department says no. President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell say yes, but some Defense Intelligence Agency analysts say maybe not. The subplot is at least as interesting as the dispute about the trailers' purpose: why didn't the CIA follow the usual government process of checking with other agencies before making its report public?

Sources: Iraqi Mobile Biological Warfare Agent Production Plants, CIA website, 5/28/03 and Agency Disputes C.I.A. View of Trailers as Iraqi Weapons Labs, New York Times, 6/25/03.

2003-06-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Support: Dean Grassroots Movement Raises the Greenbacks

Howard Dean sent out an email today with the subject: "I want you to be the first to know." The message? "Our fundraising total for the second quarter has surged from 3.2 million dollars to 6 million dollars in just eight days." Over 21,000 people contributed to the campaign.

If you are on the brink of contributing, please contribute today or tomorrow. Consider it a vote for Dean in the required quarterly financial reports.

On the other hand, money is just a tool to get the word out. Whether or not you contribute financially, you can still make a huge difference by talking to people about Dean, putting a bumper sticker on your car, and volunteering for the campaign. Contact your local Dean organization to see how you can help us take our country back.

2003-06-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

Joy: Howard Dean sweeps the MoveOn.com Primary

Results are in from the MoveOn.com online primary. Over 300,000 people voted online -- more than can vote in New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucuses combined. Howard Dean won 44% of the vote when voters were asked to choose one candidate. An astounding 86% of the voters said they would suport him enthusiastically if he won the nomination. The next candidates weren't even close: Kucinich won 24% of the votes for a single candidate. 75% of the voters said they would be enthusiastic about Kerry if he won the nomination. Kucinich was third with 68%.

Deaniacs.org is whooping about Dean's win -- and is pleased by Kucinich's strong showing. The progressives had the strongest showing -- and our unity is strong as well. Nearly a third of the voters said they would support ANY Democratic candidate.

Thank you, MoveOn.com, for running this primary. If you have any extra money after donating to Dean at the close of this quarter (that's Monday), please open your wallet for MoveOn.com.

2003-06-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

Gluttony: GOP Plans "Assault on Electorate"

The Washington Post says that the Republicans, as directed by President Bush, have "set into motion a systematic and coordinated strategy" to ride the President's popularity to gain a Republican sweep during the 2004 elections. The Post continues, "under the direction of White House senior advisor Karl Rove, preparations are underway for a comprehensive assault on the electorate. The plan would use every political and governmental strategy available, such as maximizing the advantages of the war on terrorism, neutralizing a Democratic strength by adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, and waging an ideologically charged battle, if necessary, should a Supreme Court vacancy open up." Source: Republicans Strive for Dominance with '04 Race", Washington Post, 6/22/03

This is why Deaniacs must work like crazy to get good Democrats in every electable seat.

2003-06-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

2003-06-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Avarice: NC State House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan sells access

For only $4K, you can buy access to the Republican head of the North Carolina State House. (He's the "Co-Speaker" because the house is split 50/50. There is also a Democratic co-speaker.) Source: Morgan Makes Money Pitch, News & Observer, 6/24/03.

2003-06-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Chant

Help me, America
I'm a Deaniac
We've got to take
our country back!