Posted on 02/15/2005 1:09:41 PM PST by dukeman
This is derived from an avid Dean supporter who just posted it over on DU:
Dear John,
You run this party.
On Saturday, I was honored when your representatives on the Democratic National Committee elected me Chairman. And I can't wait to get started. But when they voted, it wasn't about me -- they were voting for a plan for the future of our party.
That plan came from people like you -- from conversations I had with ordinary Democrats across the country. When those 447 people voted in Washington this weekend, they united around that plan.
Now I'm asking you to do the same. Those 447 people were a good start, but make no mistake -- I know that this is also your party. And our plan to reform the party can only become a reality with your endorsement. Please read our plan -- and commit to making it a reality:
http://www.democrats.org/plan
Your representatives in the DNC mandated bottom-up reform -- growing the Democratic Party in your neighborhood and every other community in America. They voted to compete in every state for every level of office. And they demanded a Democratic Party that stands up for itself and for an agenda that reflects our values. They didn't elect me because they think I can accomplish these things. They elected me because I believe that only you can.
Every single one of us must take responsibility for building our party. It's not enough to simply vote for Democrats -- in order to win, every one of us must deliver our message and values into our own community. That means changing the way we do business, and that's what this plan is about:
http://www.democrats.org/plan
The Republicans' biggest victory has been to convince many Democrats that we can only win by abandoning our values and doing what they say.
It's one of their favorite tactics -- just watch how right-wing pundits talk endlessly about the internal politics of our party. They try to divide Democrats by ideology just as they divide all Americans by race or gender or faith.
But there is no crisis of ideology in the Democratic Party, only a crisis of confidence. Bill Clinton once described the Democratic Party's problems in the era of George W. Bush, saying that in uncertain times people would rather have a leader who is strong and wrong than weak and right.
He's exactly right. And we become both weak and wrong when we abandon our core values for short-term political gain. But when we Democrats talk straight and stand up for ourselves, we have a huge advantage: We are both strong and right.
We will only turn that advantage into victory if we make a concrete plan and work hard to execute it. Declare your support and offer feedback now on the plan to build an organization that will help us win everywhere, and win with pride:
http://www.democrats.org/plan
Millions of Americans became Democrats last year. They sensed that they live in a society where ordinary people's problems and interests don't matter to our government. They chose the Democratic Party because we represent commonsense reform.
And millions more will become Democrats this year as we protect the Democratic Party's greatest achievement. We will not allow George Bush to phase out Social Security -- a Democratic policy that cured an epidemic of poverty among seniors and provides the guarantee of retirement with dignity.
Most importantly, millions of Democrats have become true stakeholders in our party. With grassroots action and small-dollar donations, you have taken our party's future into your own hands.
The stakes are too high to wait for others to lead. Every one of us has a personal responsibility for the future of our party -- and the future of our country. This isn't my chairmanship -- it is ours. So let's get to work together.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee
I noticed that Howard Dean used the phrase "make no mistake" for emphasis. I have noticed that the left uses that turn of phrase much more than the right. I did a search on the phrase and found it was almost exclusively used by the far left when used in a political context.
I think the left likes that phrase because they want to impress everyone with the enormity of their cause. It's a very pretentious phrase.
From the "PLAN" link:
Rat VISA cards
https://www.providiancard.com/NASApp/bap/dnc/jump.jsp?banner_id=DNC03000003MPBTNPSWB00000
1% rebate on every purchase* — you can choose to donate your rebate to the Democratic National Committee or keep it for yourself
He calls for praising the "core values". What values? Lying? Cheating?, Stealing?
Some plan.
I've noticed this grandiose view of their place in history as well. I lurk over on DU to peer into their minds. They regard themselves as engaged in an epic struggle against dark forces; All very grave and momentous. Take a look at this propaganda piece: http://www.thebattleforamerica.com/
Someone needs to perform a psychological study on all this.
a/k/a Self-promoting, highly educated dunce who was ousted from the Democratic Primaries by John Kerry
Dean would have been my choice too. Who better defines the party of " Good news is unacceptably bad news" better than he?
Whoa there! We may have our issues, but you can't hang Dizzy Dean on us. He was governor of Vermont! (Looks like NH, flipped north for south)
FloridaPat (1000+ posts) Tue Feb-15-05 04:34 PM
Original message
Is there anywhere in the US where there are NOT a lot of stupid people?
Between the Bushies and the "common people" I really have to wonder what is wrong with our country.
Today we went to a new restaurant in town. They had 100% buffalo burgers. The waitress said they were good. She had tried them. So I order them because it's been years since I've had a hamburger due to mad cow. When I ordered it, I mentioned I had buffalo before and it was good. The waitress pointed out it wasn't 100% buffalo, but had some beef in it. I pointed out it said 100% and should not have beef. She had to go back to the chef to find out.
My dad had an operation. He was in rehab for 3 weeks and got out Saturday. The rehab called in a bunch of subscriptions. We went to get them. One on the list was missing. I called his doctor - took 6 people to tell me the doctor had not perscribed it. So I called rehab. On the 5th person I just blew up. No one passes on what the phone call is about or the name even. I had to repeat everything over and over. No one knows how to forward the phone to someone of authority.
And the list goes on. Where did all these stupid people come from? Is it Florida?
This, I'm not looking forward to. A permanent campaign - it's bad enough now.
Oopps...my bad, and my sincere apologies to the good folks of NH!
LOL!. I can't remember the last time a Democrat exercised responsibility. Bill Clinton? No. John Kerry? No. Al Gore? No. Harry Reid? No. Dan Rather? No.
It's always Bush's fault. It's always the VRWC's fault. It's always the SBVT's fault. It's always those mean, rascally conservatives at fault.
DemocracyInaction (668 posts) Tue Feb-15-05 04:15 PM
Original message
Yo Howard, "You're Not Here to Make Policy".............
Still chewing nails from hearing an interview with Paul Begala on Imus this a.m. Begala was being a real ass and complaining all over the place about the Dem Party. There was a bunch of whinning about how he and Carville weren't given the reins of the Kerry campaign, etc. (I'm sure they would have given us just a total overwhelming victory)......He was complaining about how we have big, deep problems, blah, blah. Then Imus asked him how he felt about Dean being elected as head of the DNC.
Begala paused and then said "time will tell" or "we'll see" (somethng of that nature) and then quickly added something. He said that one of the big Dems in Congress told Dean that he was there (as head of DNC)to raise money, coordinate activities, etc. BUT reminded him that he was NOT there to make policy!!! And, quite frankly, I do believe that that is exactly the message Begala was giving about how he really felt about Howard. Anyway, I suddenly saw a lot of red.
I have the gut feeling the big boys let Howard have the chairmanship to appease us of the grassroots and tap into the money we sent in this last campaign BUT that they have no interest in having Howard actually opening his mouth. I realize that the DNC chair is not a policy maker but just because this 'congressman' had to confront Dean in that way makes me believe they will try to gag him and/or when he speaks out, people like the Lieberman's among them, will be disagreeing with him publicly on the talk shows, etc.
Do these stupid people realize that their methods are not working and that we need to try something else?? I wasn't a Dean supporter; but I'm not an idiot who wants to keep pounding their head on the same concrete wall. I think the 'powers that be' know exactly what kind of candidate they want in '08 (if not one already being pushed for) and that that candidate will be another total loser in the national election! I wonder how long Dean will stay with this job?? If they start fighting him, I can see him telling them to go to hell and walk.
"But when they voted, it wasn't about me -- they were voting for a plan for the future of our party"
Hmmmm? When a chairman comes right out of the chute with the wrong premise of what his job is .. I don't hold out much hope for any change to take place.
Dean's job is not to set the "plan" for the future of the party. That is a policy issue - and Dean should not set policy, or have any control over policy.
His job is to organize and raise money!
And .. if we were as bigoted as Dean says, the admin would not have more minorities in Cabinet positions than the dems have in their party leadership positions.
John / Billybob
That's pretty typical of DU and the DUmmies they serve. I hit that site a couple of times at their beginning. Disagreed as politely as I possibly could and immediately had my posting priviliges cancelled.
They aren't like us here, where our Moderators are patient with trolls and we play along with them until they become too offensive. The DU allows no dissent, regardless of how politely and sincerely presented.
You're right. DU is not a "dialogue" site. It's more like a "dilusions 'R Us" site! They have conspiracy nut, tinfoil-hatters crazier than anyone I've seen on the Right.
"Dear John, You run this party."
Wow, talk about planting a big old wet sloppy one smack dab on Kerry's derriere first thing right out of the gate. Hill and Bill aren't going to be happy. Let the games begin. :-)
I got this same email this morning and clicked on the links trying to find their "core values". Most were pleas for contributions. I finally ended up with a link to download the Democrats' platform in PDF format. Having neither the bandwidth nor the patience, I stopped. If they can't put a few values on a bullet list, they've lost it.
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