"The Deaniacs Live... on the floor with the last true believers."

[madfloridian]

There are so many articles tonight about the Howard Dean speech, trying to define it, trying to define him, and the future. Meanwhile, he was having a conference call with us about what coming up in his campaigning for the Deam Dozen and Kerry. He was upbeat, people were begging him to come to their states. He mentioned trying to squeeze in a gig with Jesse Jackson in the Appalachians soon. Very busy, getting donations, supporting the lowest levels of grassroots.
I think I like this article, as the person seemed to understand us and our passions better than most. We are a different lot, though most of us were totally mainstream before he came along. Not any more. I don't think Howard Dean is as mainstream as he was before either. I think he caught the emotions along the trail.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2104454/

SNIP..."BOSTON—He won't garner many delegates during Wednesday night's roll call, but Howard Dean still leads in the hearts of at least one demographic: people with home-made signs. Even offline, here on the floor of the FleetCenter, his most ardent supporters possess a blogger's sensibility. They reject the lame "Doing Right for America" placards provided by the message-masters of the Democratic National Convention as props to wave during Dean's Tuesday night speech. How "mass media," how "broadcast," to print thousands of posters of unremitting sameness and then expect that one size to fit all.

Instead, as Dean walks to the podium, his true believers hold aloft Dean for America T-shirts and signs, relics from the primary campaign. They carried them in themselves, so they could show their allegiance at this moment. One sign is so wrinkled and worn it looks like it was accidentally left in someone's shirt pocket and put in the wash. Like a longtime fan sporting a tattered T-shirt at a rock concert, the delegate refuses to part with it....."

SNIP..."The crowd roars and roars and roars, a neverending ovation. The most enthusiastic Deaniacs seem to be in the back, in the worst seats, in the red states where Democrats can't win. Dean calls out to these marginalized Democrats during the speech, saying: "We're going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats, not just here in Boston. We're going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats in Mississippi, proud to call ourselves Democrats in Utah and Idaho. And we're going to be proud to call ourselves Democrats in Texas." The Utah and Texas delegations behind me stand and—what else—scream."END SNIP

I hope the party does not stop all the passion. It is needed so badly right now. I have been told I post my silly little articles, and other such stuff as that. I am old enough and wise enough to see that this is a crisis time in our country in more ways than one.

Yes, we need to elect Kerry. But we must not stifle the thing that has happened this year. Call it what you wish, but it is a feeling that things matter again, a sort of passion. If it did not exist, why were so many drawn to politics who usually never bother. It will take great care to this undefined thing which I call passion.

[Jai4WKC08]

1. Not "the last true believers"

Or the only ones.

No offense meant, and no denigration of Dean's speech or his supporters' reaction.

[madfloridian]

2. I know, I just used the title.

The term true believers was used first by CNN to make us sound cult-like. We grew so used to it that it was like Deaniacs. No, they are not the last or the only. But right now they/we are a little unique, as we really don't fit anywhere.

That's why this article is poignant, both sad and happy.

[TeacherCreature]

3. Beautiful

"Unprompted, she volunteers a point that helps explain why the loudest cheering seems to come from red-state delegates. The Dean campaign was driven by "people who felt disenfranchised for a long, long time," Robinson says. I ask her what she means by that. "They didn't think that their vote counted," she explains. "They didn't think they could make a difference. And he showed them that we can.""

[madfloridian]

4. I liked that part.

I think I am pretty much on board now, except for the Iraq thing. That is because it was never about Iraq, and that does not bode well for the future. I just wish someone would say we were not about imperialism. I know they won't though. It worries me a lot.

[shance]

5. Thanks Floridian***This is great

Thanks so much for keeping us up to date.

[qwlauren35]

6. Very Heartwarming...

Thank you.

I have a million little Kerry parties to choose from on Thursday, but I'm going to a Dean party instead.

My state (NC) is not thought to be a swing state, because Bush carried a WHOPPING 56% of the vote...

If I stop believing that the grassroots can make a difference, then I may as well stop voting altogether...

[Joe Fields]

7. It is insulting to insinuate that only "Deaniacs" are true believers.

[madfloridian]

8. The reporter said it. CNN dubbed us with the label.

We decided to take it on as ok. Now everyone wants to be a true believer, which is really a cult like name meant to insult. Go figure.

[mzmolly]

9. Were all believers today.

:hi:

[madfloridian]

10. I apologize for posting the title used by reporter. Not meant to insult.

It was meant as an insult by CNN in their documentary, and it is a term used to refer by many to cult members.

I would edit it out if it were not too much past expired time. It was used by the reporter, not me. Perhaps you could write him.

People snickered about it here before, when the show first aired.

If I offended anyone I am sorry. My point is that enthusiasm should not be stifled.

[LuminousX]

11. People have forgotten

all the names that were slung at the Dean supporters to indicate that we were somehow off our rockers or unable to think for ourselves.

I find it funny that now people are eager to share the labels that were used perjoratively several months ago. Go figure.

[madfloridian]

12. We were made fun of as True Believers. We held our heads up.

Now others want it also. So be it.
:hi:

[Joe Fields]

19. I accept.

[Kolesar]

13. Terry McAuliffe didn't applaud until the cameras were on him...

..and Hillary just grabbed her beer and took a big draw.

Face it folks, the Democrats would not even be within striking distance right now without Howard Dean having cleared a path for John Kerry. That long standing ovation was the high point of the convention for me.

[Debi]

14. I thought it looked like

Hillary and Chelsea were toasting :toast: Howard Dean having to speak on Tuesday night instead of accepting the nomination on Thrusday night (but I have some conspiracy issues....) and am a TRUE BELIEVER!!:silly: Also, it looked more like champagne than beer.:beer:

[lastliberalintexas]

17. LOL!

At least I know how to describe myself from now on, since it seems I too "have some conspiracy issues" where Dr. Dean's candidacy is concerned- though mine involve Gephardt rather than Clinton. :-)

[Debi]

21. I have other problems with Gephardt

That involve a local primary and the belief that he sold his soul to run for president :evilgrin:....he just needs to go away.

[Anwen]

15. Thanks madfloridian

for posting that. I was watching his speech on C-SPAN last night and the reception he got was amazing!!! It made me really happy, though a little bittersweet, and he just deserves so much credit for bringing so many new people and so much passion into politics!! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING HOWARD DEAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[madfloridian]

16. Welcome. I did not mean to make people mad with "true believers."

It was not intended that way. I can not believe they want the label. They can have it with my blessing. It has been used to make us irrelevant so often.

[lastliberalintexas]

18. Forget about it

*Some people* (who shall of course remain nameless) just can't be nice about anything when Dean is mentioned. :-)

[KoKo]

20. I think the outburst of support for Dean shows the Strength of those on

the Left to keep going and keep fighting and we are proud that Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich stood up for us. And that Dean started the movement to give us Progressives "HOPE," when all we had was a handful of internet sites to keep us going. Imagine Tom Daschle trying to do that...:D

Thanks for the post. It was a treat to see the huge support for Dean last night. They can't shut us up on the Left. Even though we support and will work for Kerry, they can't shut us up.

[Ramsey]

22. I went last night just to see Dean!

There was of course a DU party to attend, but I HAD to see Dean's speech! The speech was great, although a little subdued for Howard, but I imagine they told him not to yee-haw. :-)

But I loved what he said about being proud to be Democrats, and that he pleaded for unity. Dean definitely got the most enthusiastic crowd response of all the people I saw (although I left right after Obama). He looked so happy with his reception. I laughed at his opening joke about wishing he was speaking on Thursday night.

What a great guy, I just admire him more and more.