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Howard Dean's First E-Mail Message To His Dem Faithful [Critique, Please!]
2/15/05 | Howard Dean

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
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"Oh, yeah. And I hate Republicans and everything they stand for!"
1 posted on 02/15/2005 1:09:42 PM PST by dukeman
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To: dukeman
they were voting for a plan for the future of our party

Too bad they aren't concerned about the future of the country.

2 posted on 02/15/2005 1:11:29 PM PST by Camachee
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To: dukeman

It's a surprisingly mild letter.


3 posted on 02/15/2005 1:12:30 PM PST by 68skylark
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To: dukeman

Judging from this email, I would say the Dims have learned nothing. I have always said , it will take a devastating Dim defeat in '06 and '08 for them to finally purge their party of the loons and let the adults retake the reigns of the party.


4 posted on 02/15/2005 1:12:47 PM PST by mlbford2 ("Never wrestle with a pig; you can't win, you just get filthy, and the pig loves it...")
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To: Camachee

Too bad they aren't concerned about the future of the country.
======
Exactly -- the only care of the socialists is POWER AND CONTROL -- be damned with the coutry and its 'useful idiots' (citizens) as the socialists see them. The M.D. after Dean's name stands for "DOCTOR OF MADNESS".


5 posted on 02/15/2005 1:13:40 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: dukeman
I'm surprised (well, not really) that this letter doesn't mention the war. Democrats don't know it's going on, or they don't care.

At least they're not rooting for us to lose the war -- so we'll call that a step in the right direction!

6 posted on 02/15/2005 1:15:36 PM PST by 68skylark
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To: dukeman

Needs rebuilding not from the bottom up - but from the leadership down.

Nothing wrong with fine grass roots Democrats - they are just pinning their hopes on the wrong Donkeys.


7 posted on 02/15/2005 1:16:37 PM PST by highflight (from a distance - buzzards might appear as eagles.)
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To: dukeman
"I hate Republicans and everything they stand for!"

This is a good way to win over some Republican voters.

Now, how about hating some Independents and Libertarians too? Why stop at Republicans? Let the bias flow.

8 posted on 02/15/2005 1:16:45 PM PST by Noachian (We're all one judge away from tyranny.)
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To: dukeman
We should make an issue of right to carry laws, Vermont has the one that all the states should have.

Lets see if Dean opposes what his own state has for its people!

9 posted on 02/15/2005 1:16:53 PM PST by fortheDeclaration
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To: dukeman

HEH HEH! From this letter it looks like Dean and the Deaniacs are going to lead the party further left. Wooo hooo!


10 posted on 02/15/2005 1:17:00 PM PST by areafiftyone (The Democrat's Mind: The Hamster's dead but the wheel's still spinning!)
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To: dukeman

"Governor Howard Dean, M.D."
let's see...Dean is no longer the governor of new hampshire but he wants to be called governor dean instead of chairman dean. Also, he no longer practices medicine but keeps the M.D. moniker....get over yourself Howie.

When i had medical doctors on the witness stand I'd ask them to state their name...invariably it would be "Dr. Joe Smith". Then I'd ask what the name listed on their birth certificate was and get a somewhat perturbed response of "Joe Smith".

He's gonna be a hoot to watch.


11 posted on 02/15/2005 1:17:13 PM PST by Hornet19 (Know what happens to a Democrat that takes Viagra? He just gets a little taller.)
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Could Dean be any more out of touch with the American people? The Dems will cease to exist with him at the helm. I love it! Music to my ears! Thank you God!


12 posted on 02/15/2005 1:19:10 PM PST by Boardwalk
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To: dukeman
We are both strong and right.

If wishes were fishes.....

13 posted on 02/15/2005 1:20:01 PM PST by siunevada
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To: dukeman
Here is the alleged "plan" from the website:

Governor Dean's Plan for the Future of the Democratic Party

* Show Up! Never concede a single state, county, district, or voter. Build a truly national party that wages a permanent campaign in all 50 states.

* Strengthen State Parties and the Grassroots. Better integrate state and national party operations and support Democrats organizing in local communities.

* Focus on Our Core Values. Articulate core Democratic values strongly and clearly, and show people how our agenda for reform reflects those values.

* Take Advantage of Cutting-Edge Technologies. Leverage the Internet and cutting-edge technologies to better organize, empower, and communicate with people.

* Train Tomorrow's Leaders. Strengthen our leadership institutes so we can recruit new talent, cultivate new leaders, and elect Democrats at every level of office.

This is pure process with no content. Just what ARE the "values" that the Democratic Party stands for? [Ben Stein voice here: "Anyone? Anyone?"] The Democrats are pushing the appearance of values, while running screaming into the night when asked to state what those values are. IMHO.

Congressman Billybob

This a special post, not a column, "Columbia Journalism Review Still Doesn't Have a Clue About the Outing of Eason Jordan"

14 posted on 02/15/2005 1:20:13 PM PST by Congressman Billybob (My tagline is on vacation.)
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To: dukeman; Pride in the USA; Stillwaters
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.

That's the beauty part of "the plan"! Moveon.org, Michael Moore, and George Soros have taken the Democratic party's future into their hands. Dr. Deaniac's assumption of the throne at the DNC just confirms what most of us already knew...this is a party of chaos and anarchy.

15 posted on 02/15/2005 1:20:31 PM PST by lonevoice (Vast Right Wing Pajama Party)
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To: EagleUSA

The fact that he is using his M.D. in correspondence (though not acting in the capacity of a physician) is an indication of his own insecurities, IMHO.


16 posted on 02/15/2005 1:21:19 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: 68skylark
It's a surprisingly mild letter

I thought so, too. Perhaps he's just getting warmed up or knows that he can't go too crazy in public. It's common knowledge that he tailors his message to his audience, so I know he'll serve up red meat to the Far Left when he's addressing them directly. It reminds me of how Arafat would say one thing while addressing the West through the media and another, more virulent thing while speaking in Arabic to the Palestinians.

17 posted on 02/15/2005 1:21:35 PM PST by dukeman
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To: Congressman Billybob

zactly - CBB. They are gonna spend all their time setting the table, and never think to cook.


18 posted on 02/15/2005 1:23:26 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: dukeman
When those 447 people voted in Washington this weekend, they united around that plan.

And when over 61 Million people voted on November 2nd, they told the Democrats that your plan sucked!

19 posted on 02/15/2005 1:23:55 PM PST by So Cal Rocket (Proud Member: Internet Pajama Wearers for Truth)
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To: dukeman
Those 447 people were a good start, but make no mistake

I'm determined to get at least 500 loyal Democratic voters by 2006.

20 posted on 02/15/2005 1:24:44 PM PST by siunevada
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