Ex-US candidate Dean unveils outline of new political group

[MaineDem]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Howard Dean (news - web sites), who last week ended his bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, provided the outline of the new grassroots political organization he plans to launch.

The organization, he said, will harness the enthusiasm and fundraising potential he unleashed during his failed presidential campaign.

"We are determined to keep this organization as vibrant as it was throughout our campaign," the former Vermont governor said in a speech in New Haven, Connecticut, adding that the group's aim would be to "transform the Democratic Party and to change America."

The former medical doctor said the group will have its unveiling on March 18.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040227/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_dean&cid=1506&ncid=1963&sid=96378801

[BeyondGeography]

1. Get over yourself, Howard

"We will support candidates who tell the truth..."

You're losing me right there, pal. We spent months trying to get you to release the sealed portion of your record as Governor, which amounted to half of your papers. You claimed it was up to a judge, without noting that your lawyer had sued to have the petition to unseal the papers dropped.

You turned out to be full of shit, Howard. You are a secretive politician, just like those you currently decry.

And, oh, by the way, you lost. The "movement" yielded exactly zero victories and no close seconds.

You should be home trying to figure out how you can help beat George Bush in November. I thought that's what you really cared about.

But I guess it's your personal future you really care about.

[molly]

2. Short and to the point

[Atlant]

14. Every day, you help confirm my decision that Kerry is unworthy of...

Every day, you help confirm my decision that Kerry is unworthy of
my vote.

Atlant

[Forkboy]

49. Yep

some people are their own worst enemy.

[depakid]

62. Indeed

You'd think people would realize that by now.

[polpilot]

30. The point: 'We represent the pro-war, pro-DLC, pro-establishment

candidate'

[CTLawGuy]

63. keep diggin molly

you're gonna bump right into Ralph Nader.

[Sean Reynolds]

3. I'm glad you think that way......

'Cause if you don't want Dean supporters, I'm sure they don't want to support YOUR candidate. So when YOU lose in the general election, don't come crying to US.

Dean might have lost, but remember, just one year ago he was at 2% in the polls. To go from there to where he stood just a few weeks ago is quite a feat.

That was built by his strong support of millions. You don't want them, we don't want you.

SEE this is exactly why I'm not going to be ABB in the election, it's obvious people don't want my support.

[BeyondGeography]

4. You sound like an accident waiting to happen

And I'm not going to grovel for your vote.

Pull the Nader lever or whatever it is you intend to do and pray for more CheneyCo carnage, or whatever it is you hope for.

[Sean Reynolds]

20. Look at your quote.....

Change alone is unchanging. Elect Kerry and that is exactly what you'll get. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[Lindacooks]

64. Oh, for God's sake

That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. You think Kerry is the same as chimp? The differences between them are night and day, especially on:

abortion rights
protecting the environment
protecting civil liberties
attacking nonagressive nations
the budget deficit
the middle class

that kind of 'righteousness' you are displaying is what caused the 200 selection in the first place.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. Sean, an honest question.

How can you go from Dean to Communist? If you are a Communist, how could you support Dean in the first place? He's a centrist, just like Edwards and Kerry. Wouldn't Dennis Kucinich be a more obvious choice for you?

[Sean Reynolds]

19. No.

I picked Dean because at the time he was speaking TO me. I liked what he had to say. Granted I didn't agree with a lot of the issues, but in the end I felt he was at least going to change the Democratic Party and America if elected. I looked over Kucinich, but went with Dean because I really liked him.

I liked Dean's platform. The fact he put health care as his major issue. I liked the fact that he wasn't afraid to attack President Bush. I just liked him and even still to this day I like him.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

21. Fair enough.

[WitchWay]

70. I'm glad you found a candidate.

I've been uninsured too, for a long time...and health care is a major issue for me, too. I hate how health insurance is kept from people...its a really mean thing to do. I also would like alternative health care, cuz I think it's better.

I like Dean and Kucinich. I agree that you need to choose someone who speaks to you. I'm not ashamed to say that unless it is Dean or Kucinich, I will be voting Nader. I've been spat at for that, but I'm not a coward who can be bullied, either.

I understand where you are coming from. I don't think votes are always all issue based, sometimes you vote for someone because you find them principled and can basically trust them. I think that's important.

[foo_bar]

68. they thought he was Che Guevara (the T-shirt)

it had nothing to do with communism, and everything to do with capitalist iconography. Brand loyalty has a way of becoming self-fulfilling, until no other candidate quenched their thirst for something they wouldn't ever pick out of a blind taste test. American youth culture tends to express its nonconformity by stampeding towards an "alternative", be it R.E.M. or DKNY or HBDean.

[Tuttle]

6. So who do you support?

I presume if it isn't ABB the it IS ???

Can you fill in the blank?

Curiously,
Tut-tut

[Zero Gravitas]

13. If its not ABB

its Bush, one way or the other.

[ozone_man]

78. Does Nader qualify as ABB?

He's definitely not Bush and stands up to the corporate special interests running the D&R parties. Out of Nader, Kerry, and Bush, I think Nader is the only one that represents me.

[sangh0]

52. Making more predictions?

'Cause if you don't want Dean supporters, I'm sure they don't want to support YOUR candidate. So when YOU lose in the general election, don't come crying to US.

Some people never learn!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=113055#113069

[PassingFair]

8. Get over Yourself, BeyondGeo...

Dean supporters were attracted to his campaign for many reasons, his outspoken opposition to the Anglo-American Invasion of Iraq being one of them. Of course, we could have rallied behind those beacons of truth, Kerry and Edwards, oh....wait...they voted FOR the war.

And we could have voted for those champions of the little guy in their "do-or-die" struggle to provide medical care for the little guy...oh...wait...that was HOWARD who went out on a limb while our glorious senators did nothing to stop the evil machinations of the BFEE.

I'm with the movement to clean up the Democratic Party. To make it something we can again be proud of. The dirty tricks of McAuliffe, From and Reed and their heinious skull-duggery make me want to gag.

We WILL continue to meet, we WILL keep trying to beat * in November, but we will also be working our way up in local politics.

Bring in the "truth-tellers". I've had it with the double-talkers.

[BeyondGeography]

12. Reform away, glad we can count on your energy

and your vote in November.

That's what I care about.

Howard can do whatever he wants post-November, and the Democratic Party can use all the help it can get to once again be the controlling national party. It will take us at least two years to regain control of the House (if we're incredibly lucky) and longer for the Senate. What we can achieve in the near term is the White House, which, if achieved, will give us a platform for achieving gains at the local level over the next four years.

So, um, let's prioritize. Winning in November matters more than anything right now, EVEN the immediate fate of Howard Dean's personal political future.

[wryter2000]

28. Excuse me

But that's Howard Dean's entire point -- beating the Republicans in 2004. And not just Bush but the cockroaches in Congress. He's already had links on his blog to support other Democratic candidates.

This isn't about electing Dean. He isn't running. It's about throwing the energy and money of Dean's supporters behind other Democrats. If you have a problem with that, you have your own issues to overcome.

[jamesinca]

74. This has turned into one of my favorite quotes

"There is one lesson I have learned that I hold above all others from my experience as a father, teacher, community organizer, and U.S. senator: We should never separate the lives we live from the words we speak. To me, the most important goal is to live a life consistent with the values I hold dear and to act on what I believe in."

Sen. Paul Wellstone: The conscience of a Liberal

There are a lot of other good quotes in the book, I recommend it to anybody. There are other quotes from it that I think sum up what Dean is trying to do now.

" The only thing that can beat money politics is a revitalized citizens politics"

"A progressive politics is a winning politics, as long as it is not organized in a way that is top-down and elitist"

"A politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of people's lives, a politics that does not speak to and include people, is an intellectually arrogant politics that deserves to fail."

I have read in several books that the republicans have gained the power that they have through a bottom up change. They started by getting their people elected as the president of the PTA, on the school board, then the city council and mayor jobs. Change neighborhoods and communities, get your agenda into the schools and local government. From there it is easier to win seats in congress and state governments. This is a move that started back in the Nixon/Ford era. It came sweeping in with Reagan and this country has been swarming with those types ever since. They are called neo-cons. Dean has been talking about doing the same thing but doing it for Democrats and progressives. Dean is asking for people to band together and support candidates that are truly Democrats in these upcoming races. For those of you that do not understand that, here is an example of who he is NOT supporting: Zell Miller. Putting somebody in office because they have a (d) next to their name is not good enough. We need to put people in office that truly live by the title of Democrat. We do not need 100 Zell Millers in the senate. We need true progressives and that is who Dean is asking that we support. That is the same type of person I feel the late Sen. Wellstone would want us to support. If we get this change, we can get the special interest out of DC. We can have campaign finance reform, we can take on the issues that are dividing this country.

8% of all registered Democrats in CA have actively worked on the Dean campaign. That is a volume of people, a force that can help shape an election in this country given the chance. It can shape an election for or against a candidate. The biggest things that Kerry or Edwards were hoping to get from the Dean departure were his money raising abilities and his work horses, the Deaniacs. There are those on this board that feel John Kerry invented politics, the sun rises and sets in his ass, and Dean contributed nothing to anything ever. There are those in the Kerry campaign office that feel the Deaniacs would clinch the nomination for Kerry and ultimately the presidency. There are those that understand that Dean wanted his country back, not just the title of an elected official. It is not the title, it is the person behind the title. Some people understand that, and those are the people that want their country back and the cockroaches out of government.

[Zero Gravitas]

24. Good for you

If we will have change in the Dem party people need to get involved and work to change the party from the inside out, thats what the Naderites etc don't understand. There is no use to standing on the outside and whining about how you don't like the choices. Its far better to get involved on the inside from the grass roots up and work for positive change. But getting involved should also mean voting for the nominee in November even if you think the nominee is part of the problem.

A movement for change will not get any respect or influence by sabotaging the party! IF the movement says "we think the party is on the wring track and needs to change" thats great but they also need say "we're Democrats and while we are trying to change the system we'll also support whoever the system produces in the meantime."

Another way to think about it is while you're trying to move the party to the left, shouldn't we all try and move the US Federal Government to the left? Changing a party like the Dems will inevitably take time, but come November we can have meaningful change in Washington simply by sending Jr. back to Texas.

[WitchWay]

71. Some interesting History

Look into the history of the formation of the Republican Party...including the Free Soil Party (who were called "Free Spoilers" by some)...it is quite enlightening and interesting.

[Terry_M]

9. Sorry, but Dean's right.

This party has stopped serving the people some time ago, and will need to change if we want change in America.
From 1970 to 2000 (that's through 12 years of democrats), the bottom 90% of the population had their inflation adjusted income not change despite working longer hours, while the top has been getting richer and richer.

[PassingFair]

10. Great Big...

WELCOME to DU, Terry, can always use another "revolutionary" around here. Here's to cleaning up the Democratic Party!

:toast:

:party: :bounce:

[liberalnurse]

11. I could say the same thing about kerry......

and sooo much more. Its thinking just like this from fellow peers that encourages my disgust for kerry.


Dean has only just begun and reform is coming with us!

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wabeewoman]

36. It is disheartening to find

such negative comments about Dean. Even the media admit he did a lot for the democratic party. Why must you diss and dismiss him every time he is mentioned here? This is a serious question. I am always happy to read a posting about the candidate I supported and disheartened to find postings like this. He isn't running, he is no threat so why can't we say something nice or nothing at all.

[maggrwaggr]

39. if you're a Kerry supporter, you're a great reason to NOT vote for Kerry

I'm already disgusted, and you make me more so.

[Democat]

45. If you send people to die because you don't like a message board post

If you think a message board poster is a good reason to help Bush get elected, you might as well give up now because you really don't care about other people.

[janx]

46. Why do you feel so threatened by Howard Dean?

You know, there are plenty of people who call themselves democrats who actually feel threatened by democracy. They would rather be led around by the nose by someone with the perceived trappings of a hero than actually get to work on real democracy.

It's so much easier that way, isn't it?

[Zhade]

67. AMEN.

Well-said.

[Le Taz Hot]

59. Welcome to Free Republic

there is now officially no difference between FR & DU. But the Admins got their donations and, after all, that's what's most important, right? :puke:

[Just Me]

61. So, Geo,...I take it you are ANTI-DEMOCRACY and ANTI-FREEDOM!!!

Maybe,...you are simply reflecting your own weakness, being consumed by your own "personal future" that YOU really only care about.

Howard Dean challenged people like you. Get over it.

Howard Dean inspired people like me. Be grateful.

The "power" IS in the people!!!

Howard Dean revived that power!!!

It is that "power" which will bear fruit and force the change that humanity thirsts for.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

65. Perhaps you should stop and think about what you said

Since that would be the worst thing he could do and the stupidest thing anyone could suggest.

Dean unleashed the anger of a lot of people who want nothing more than to make a difference in the Democratic party from within the party. He MAY NOT have won the election but he managed to win 45 million dollars of THEIR funds which would go a long way in electing candidates free of the kinds of TIES created when the Democrats began competing with Republicans for the same money and the same votes.

Part of the problem when the entire ENRON crisis arose was that they had hedged their bets on BOTH sides of the aisle so when the Dems DID attempt to deal with the issue, the news channels immediately began hurling turd BALLS like "They did it too!" even though the amounts of the contributions were minor.

Freeing up the party from this sort of funding in place of a vast network of funding would lead to better opposition since they wouldn't be shot down before they hit the starting gate.

As much as I am a Kerry supporter and not a Dean supporter, I am pretty certain that if Kerry himself posted at DU, he would suggest your post was in error.

[goddess40]

77. Howard Dean

Dean was the only one who had the courage to speak out against the war and Bush when it wasn't popular. It was only after what he was saying took hold with Democratic voters that the other candidates had the guts to take Bush on. Kucinich may be the exception to this as he was talking out also. If it weren't for Dean, Kerry and Edwards would still be making nice-nice with Bush. Instead of reviling Dean you should be thanking him.

[dand]

7. Egotistical.............

He is a nobody with a Napoleonic complex

[opihimoimoi]

15. Dean is just trying to clean up whatever he can in the Dem Party.

It might be too late, but then, we don't know.

[LiberalFighter]

23. It is never too late

unless everyone thinks it is.

And it won't happen overnite which is all the more reason that change needs to start NOW so that it can happen sooner.

Building an organization starts from scratch with people willing to work for it through the good times and the bad times. It requires being ready to step forward when the time is right. Being ready does not mean sitting around doing nothing and expecting others to do the work for you or just sitting around complaining about your woes.

[maggrwaggr]

40. and your reason for posting such flame-bait is ......?

just wondering ...

Do you feel better about yourself calling HD a "nobody?"

List a few ways that you aren't a "nobody"

[NashVegas]

48. Heehee .. YUP

Vermont was just the first step in his grand strategem.

[aquart]

69. Welcome to GH.

Since you said "Napoleonic" I must assume you mean the short Dean. We do appreciate clever and original remarks like that.

However, once you've been in Time and Newsweek, well, pretty much all the media, "nobody" just doesn't apply anymore.

I'm sure you wish it did. The man has a voice and he is asking those who agree with him to keep speaking out.

Which is fine. It's Bush with the delusional agenda to conquer nation after nation with an army of exhausted and pissed off weekend soldiers.

[Khephra]

16. Let's see....

There are people attacking Dean for trying to start a group that would eventually give funds to other candidates, even possibly their own, and he's attacked?

You're out of your freeping minds for insulting him on this one.

[frank frankly]

17. quite true, khephra

a very disappointing thread to read this morning...

i just hope that this topic flushed out some of the larger idiots here at DU

Dean is an asset to the democratic party. Is that hard to understand? (I'm supporting Kerry, by the way).

bleh!

[wryter2000]

31. Thank you

While Dean was running, I was disgusted to read posts here that claimed he'd form a third party if he didn't win our own nomination. I'll admit that there are some Dean supporters who've said things like that, and I've called them on it whenever I've seen it.

Dean is in this for the Democrats and for ordinary Americans. It is NOT about his ego. Frankly, I doubt he ever would have run except that Bush was such a *(^(&* disaster and most Democrats were kissing his Republican butt. You can be sure that Dean's wife didn't want him to run. Nader is running on high-test ego, not Dean. Dean isn't even running anymore.

[frank frankly]

34. thank you

Dean has ALWAYS made pains to make the defeat of Bush by a Dem nominee was the ONLY goal.

Dr. Dean does it again. A historical figure.

[Borgnine]

35. wyrter2000 and frank frankly... thank you.

Dean is a true class act, and his actions after dropping out go further to prove it.

[MoonAndSun]

27. khephra, I'm not surprised by the venom by some posters whenever

Dean's name is mentioned. Their feelings about Dr. Dean are incomprehensible, their hatred for him is sad, but it does not bother me.

I will be part of Dean's new movement because I want the Democratic Party to represent everyone of us who is a member and who believes in the tenets of our Party, which is to help all Americans, regardless of who they are.

[slinkerwink]

29. exactly---Dean has become the whipping boy of the Democratic Party

just like Clinton has become the whipping boy of the Republican Party---makes you wonder, doesn't it?

[Bandit]

18. The hatred here rivals the GOP

Go ahead people kick a gift horse in the face. Show off your intelligence.

[maggrwaggr]

41. this guy's trying to help the Dems and you spit in his face

Hope you feel good about that.

[Bandit]

54. ??? ~~I wonder if you really meant to reply to me

We said basically the same thing.

[maggrwaggr]

60. uh, you're right. Sorry!

That was definitely meant for somebody else, not you.

[w4rma]

22. Dean is top notch.

And I am growing more and more weary of folks here who are seem to hate Dean more than Bush.

[denverbill]

25. Isn't it amazing? Dean has conceded, announced support

for the candidate, and urged his supporters to get behind the eventual nominee, and it STILL isn't enough for the Dean-haters.

[LiberalFighter]

26. There are people forgetting the most important message...

ABB

We have to take advantage of every help that is thrown our way or that we can muster from others.

Everyone of the Democratic candidates and ex-candidates were focused on one thing... Defeating gw*. And they still are. Why should any of us refuse their help?

Just think of the possible members of President's cabinet.
Secretary of Labor - Gephardt
Secretary of HHW - Dean
Secretary of Defense - Clark
Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Cleland
Secretary of Education - Graham

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slinkerwink]

37. kick for the irrational hatred on here...

[Rich Hunt]

42. irrational, indeed

These people don't try to convince us of whatever their viewpoint is - they're too good for that. Apparently, they think Dean's 'napoleon complex' and his 'egomania' are self-evident.

[slinkerwink]

43. Dean doesn't have a napeleon complex or egomania.....

he's a true Democrat.

[sangh0]

53. But some of his supporters do

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=797684#797707

[maggrwaggr]

38. You anti-Dean people call yourselves Democrats?

What a bunch of crap.

You obviously don't believe in political power by the people, for the people.

There are many other sites where you can spew your hatred.

[Democat]

47. If you aren't voting for the Democrat, you are helping Bush

There are people who like Dean and people who don't - that has little to do with getting rid of Bush at this point.

The true egomaniacal right wing enablers are the ones who want to help Bush get elected because their candidate didn't get more votes than the one who will be the nominee.

Personally, I think it's great if Dean can raise some money and bring people together to help fight Bush.

[Gabysan]

57. Sacrificing Your Principals

Hey Folks

I was a Dean supporter 6 months ago, and I'm a Dean support today. The only way to get the Democratic party moving in the right direction is to continue to support Dean. Anything else is a sacrifice of principals. If Kerry wants our support, let him show he wants it, and let him show he is willing to earn it. Teresa Kerry was talking about the negative effects of WalMart on America which I agree with. At the same time she is talking about WalMart her trust owns over 1 million dollars in WalMart stock. I want a Democrat that cares about the American people. Not one that just says they do.

[WitchWay]

72. Yep...

I agree. Kerry might have votes that seem liberal, and he might be running liberal...but he's a multimillionaire who enjoys hunting and supported Plan Columbia, is involved in an alite secret socity, and won't reveal his pull out plan for Iraq, for some reason.

Kerry is in too deep in power and money to be completely trusted. If he does get in, he needs to be kept honest.

[Redleg]

76. I appreciate your stand on principles but...

...what is the principle that says giving Bush another 4 years in the Whitehouse is better than giving John Kerry a chance to show us what he is made of?

[Gabysan]

44. Dean Needs To Be Supported

Dean is the first Democrat in years with the balls to talk about whats right. It's time we stepped up and supported him to help change the Democratic party back to the party of the people. Kerry is way too far right and needs to know the feelings of the people.

[Tank in Texas]

50. Count Me In

I was not one of those lit on fire by Howard Dean's Presidential campaign. Always thought he had the passion and some good ideas but fell woefully short of having the charisma and "front man" ability to pull it off.

Count me in for his activist group though. I agree with much of what he has to say and look forward to seeing it develop.

[Crachet2004]

58. Me too...

We will beat the GOP, then take our party back for people. We cannot continue on the way we have been going.

I'm sick of electing democrats who vote with the GOP on critical issues, like NAFTAA. Our elected officials have to get off the corporate dole, for campaign contributions, to truly belong to us.

That means we gotta fund them somehow ourselves. Howard and his Horde have shown a talent for pulling people and resources together.

I am going to help him. It's the only way. A people-oriented 3rd party only guarantees GOP domination...as we have seen.

I wish it weren't so, but every time we fall for the old third party trick, we cut our own throats! And eventually, as our people will be higher quality (with their only concern being people) and shouldn't be as hard to return to office, we should be able to build up a majority. I think I like it.

There is security in it against the GOP.

[JNelson6563]

51. I'm with ya Doc!

The revolution in my corner of the world progresses nicely by the day. I wonder what all the Dean critics have accomplished....

Julie

[Ernesto]

55. Who else thinks this fire-fight belongs in the GD2004 forum?

[MaineDem]

56. I posted it as a news item - without comment.

Looks like it degraded into something else.

[Disturbed]

66. Kucinich

He comes closest to policies that I would love to see implemented. Maybe he can have some influence in the Dem party. Dean has some good ideas, as well and dissing him doesn't do any of us any good. Kerry and Edwards are Repub lite in many areas but in this case America cannot survive the ruination of more years of the Neo Fascists, so I will vote for Kerry and his VP choice.

[arwalden]

73. Working For Change Within The Party Itself...

what a novel idea! This appears to be a far more productive approach compared to abandoning the party.

-- Allen

[Redleg]

75. Exactly.

I appreciate that Dean wants to help "reform" the Dem party.