This is probably the last threat to Dean becoming DNC Chair. I wish I could explain the DLC animosity any other way than an obsessive compulsion to hold on to power and control the purse strings. I can't. This entirely changes my neutrality towards Rosenberg. Last night I thought he was an acceptable reform alternative. Not any longer.

The DLC plainly sees Dean as a far more serious threat to their power base and will do anything to bring him down. Maybe O'Reilly and Morris are right about Hillary. Her only interest is raw, naked power and she will not let anything get in the way of her blind ambition.

I want to make it clear from the outset that I am not, at this time, a registered Democrat, though I supported Kerry/Edwards and generally prefer Democratic candidates I broke with the Democratic Party in 1996.

I left because I was sickened at the impaired functioning of the National Party, and the lack of will to fight rather than compromise the essential principles of the party of FDR, LBJ, Hubert Humphrey and Jimmy Carter.

You no doubt disagree with my assessment. You may even feel insulted by it-if you indeed even read it at all-but you are too canny a political mind not to know that many, many people feel the same way I do.

Please note that I said principles, and not policies. It is not the conservative or liberal barometer that concerns me. It's the fight for a more fair, just, and inclusive America that I seek.

Even as an unaffiliated voter, I'm watching the DNC Chair selection very closely. Largely, that's because of Howard Dean. Because he champions real democratic (lower case not a typo) reform measures. What his selection will indicate to me is that the Democratic Party leadership is indeed serious about changing the way it does business. It's the only scenario in which I think it likely that I will be one of the "fresh horses" in the coming campaigns.

Because following the same strategies and expecting a result any different than the heartbreak of 2004 (at best) is institutional insanity.

Have you not had enough of being marginalized as a political party? Heaven knows, I had enough long ago.

As a New Yorker, I write to encourage you to do all you can to prevent the Democratic party from making the mistake of choosing Howard Dean as the next DNC Chair.  I know the fast majority of mail you are receiving is in support of Dr. Dean, but you should know that there are as many Dems out here who appreciate what damaged goods Dean has become.  It is with great urgency that I encourage you to pull out all the stops in preventing this train wreck.

Democrats need a leader who will speak up -- not only against George Bush but for a Democratic agenda that is moral, mainstream, and right for America.  We've tried playing by the same set of rules that have worked successfully for the opposition ... it didn't work for us.  We need an agenda that puts values ahead of "campaign tactics."

We need a party that is responsive to the people, much like the government we desire and deserve.  As a new Democratic voter, I want a leader who will inspire me and who will bring our party back to life.

Please give your support to Howard Dean for the DNC chairmanship.  It's time for a change.

And pictures! Yay Marisa!  I wish you could have had the vantage point I had during Dean's (evidently surprise) morning speech-- he was virtually centered on the balloon-flag and it all looked just fine.  Still, the closeup of Dean and the balloons-- El Keeper.

I am amazed at the rumors that Hillary is trying to derail Dean, and badly disappointed if it's true. I was very fond of her and Bill when they appeared in 1992.  Then, like Dean now, they were our shining horses coming out of the mist to carry us out of the dark times. I even made a "candle of protection" for the whole family, and the Gores too, I felt that strongly about it.  

In a speech to Spellman College that I saw on C-Span back then, Hillary described her "little book of quotes" that she keeps, in which she writes down quotes she really likes, when she finds them.  I thought it was a great idear, and started one of my own, which I keep to this day.

So how can she hate Dean?  Both of them served similar functions, both in times of "Bushes", ironically enough.

It doesn't even make any politico-strategic sense. If she has Presidential ambitions, she should want Dean to become DNC Chair, because he has promised he won't run in '08 if he wins it and the way would be clear for Hillary.  

Does she want a Dean/Clinton faceoff in spring of '08? If it happens, I will be there for Dean all the way, sorry Hillary.  I have liked you for years-- but not if you're vindictive and worse, stupid about this.

I live in NYS,I was excited when she ran...and she is SUCH  disappointment!!!!

There were 13 of us from San Mateo County DFA and several more from the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, of whom several were selected to speak at the breakfast.  I have to say that Dean speaking wasn't a surprise...we knew he was scheduled to speak and that was among the primary reasons for making the trek...in addition to speaking to the DNC members.  I have to admit that next to listening to Dean, Rev. Al was a highlight.  I loved him in the primaries and continue to believe that he has a voice that demands to be heard...and should be.  Besides, that man sure can speak and rile up the crowd!  

Our guy on the inside also heard from a DNC member about the Hillary factor.  Those in my car on the drive home were all pretty angry about the f***g DLC and power moves.  Primarily, it's the power move for status quo...apparently they want to KEEP losing.  We were discussing our various ideas for strategy to let her know we know and disapprove heartily...which you've pretty much hit.

After listening to all of the candidates answer their questions, I would say that there are those who would be awesome allies to stay on the team, but the leader is still Howard.  Donnie Fowler may represent some of the DNC nepotism and basically adopted the same strategies as Howard, but he's fresh and young and should be on the team somewhere.  Rosenberg may have some decent creds for organization and technology that would make him a strong candidate for a high level strategist, but he doesn't stir the passion.  Wellington Webb is a well spoken, comfortable leader whose strength is really understanding the base of the party and would be great to coordinate our outreach strategies.  My impression of Frost was a whining ninny who kept saying how he lead Texas and beat Karl Rove so many times...well, dude...if you haven't noticed lately, you got your ass wiped in Texas!  Leland was not at all impressive and the snickers around me (including mine) every time Roemer talked assured me he is the charactature of the consummate politician...disliked and not trusted.

One of the messages I believe needs to be clear and I did hear enumerated several times by the grassroots speakers at the breakfast trying to get it in the thick skulls of the DNC members was:

"You know what?  We're not all a bunch of crazies in a cult of personality of some lunatic.  Some of us are new to the fight, some are like prodigal children returning home, and some are battle worn and weary after many years of being beaten down.  We are a bunch of well educated, smart, savvy, talented, enthusiastic and energetic boots on the ground who believe in the message, the vision, and the leadership direction that Howard Dean represents.  We lost once, but look at our strength now...and still!  If you don't take us seriously and don't take advantage of this passion and this willingness to work to take back our country from thousands and thousands of new and "old" voices, then YOU are the crazy lunatics.  If you don't vote for the revitalization of our future as Democrats by electing the man who is responsible for bringing us to the table...then you will lose much more than just elections."

I have read reports that you may oppose Howard Dean's bid to become Chairman of the DNC. I hope that after reading my thoughts below (and no doubt many similar emails from others) you might reconsider such a stance and perhaps even decide to support the good doctor.

I used to think that just reading the news and voting was all that was required of citizens in a democracy. Then Howard Dean came along and told me I "had the power" and that I had to use it -- that just voting gets you a grade of D in a participatory democracy. If Dean becomes Chairman, people like me (and especially younger people with more time and energy to offer) will respond to his call to service. In fact, there are already hundreds of thousands of grassroots volunteers -- people who worked for "527"s like ACT and PACs such as DFA this election cycle -- who stand ready to work directly for, and contribute to, the Democratic Party if Dean becomes Chairman.

This potential influx of grassroots activism may seem daunting, but it is exactly what the Party needs to begin winning again. At Saturday's DNC Western Regional Caucus, one such Dean-inspired activist put it best when he said, "Some of you in the DNC may see us as barbarians at the gate.... The truth is, we are fresh horses." Right now, the Democratic Party needs a lot of horses.

It's no coincidence that some of the first state chairs and vice-chairs to endorse Dean come from states like Mississippi, Utah, and Oklahoma -- "red" states where Dean's current DFA organization actually helped get Democrats elected in the absence of any meaningful support from the national Party. As Chairman of the DNC, Dean would be able to channel far more resources to every one of the 50 states than DFA could to any of them.

With all three branches of government now fully controlled by the Republicans, the Democrats must stop living election to election and begin laying the groundwork for long-term electoral success. More than anyone else, Howard Dean understands how to do this and can bring the DNC the resources needed to implement his strategy. I hope you will support him and allow Dean to begin the work of rebuilding our Party so we can start winning again.

Thank you for reading this.

Sincerely,

[Jim in Chicago]

I look forward to voting for you in the dem primaries in 2008. I can't wait to see Bill back in the White House as "First Gentleman". Ah, the pleasure of watching the right wing suffer through the Clintons moving back into the big house! Best of luck!

Sincerely,
[Clinton fan]

Senator Clinton,

Please support and work with Howard Dean to be the new DNC Chairman.

I am a Brooklyn resident and am a loyal 4th generation Democrat. I vote in every primary, local race, general election and have gone door to door for the party to campaign for Democratic candiates. I contribute regularly and I would call myself a moderate ideologically. But above all, I am a reformist.

I want the Democrats to take the reformist charge it is duty bound to do in these harrowing times. The Democrats are a minority party and the only logical move for it to win, is to harness the groundswell of support for reform into the next general election. To to this we need to build an infrastructure to channel that sentiment.

This is why I encourage you to support Dean for DNC chair. He has the energy and fundraising prowess to rally the dems for 2008 and set forth a new vision for the party. I am certain that the groundwork he can lay will only aid you in your future pursuits to lead the party back to the white house in 2008.

All you will need to do is embrace the reformist tide and it will be yours to lead as a presidential candidate.

Sincerely,
<dude in brooklyn>
Brooklyn, NY

Granted, if you are a constituent of Sen. Clinton, you should feel free to write to her.  But be brief, and if possible, hand-write the letter.  Email can often fall into the spam category if received en masse, so try and use the USPS if you can.

But if you are not represented by Sen. Clinton, your best bet is to not write to her.  If you want to contact a voting DNC member, it should fall under the following two guises:

1. You are represented by said member (e.g. Senator, Representative, Governor, et al).

2. You personally know the voting member (e.g. members of state Democratic party organizations, affiliated voting members, etc.).

Just my $0.02 - your mileage may vary.

You have often been an inspiration to me and to many people I admire in my life, particularly women.  There have been few people who single-handedly have been able to motivate and affect the lives of so many.  Further, I have been disgusted by the Right Wing attacks on you personally and without foundation, at great harm to you, your husband, and most importantly - our country.

Today I write to you to ask that you support the candidacy of Governor Howard Dean for Democratic National Committee chairperson.  I have followed current events, particularly politics, since I was in Junior High.  For the first time, in this my 40th year, I actually was inspired enough to volunteer to phone bank for MoveOnPac.org, making phone calls to Colorado from my home state of California.  Although unable to count Colorado as a victory in the Presidential race, often when speaking to people they were impressed with newly elected Senator Salazar.  The thing they were most impressed with was Senator Salazar's ability to talk straight with them; to not use jargon and "Washington-speak".

It is my belief that there is great disconnect between today's Republican Party, and particularly this administration, and the truth.  This needs to be exposed at every opportunity, and clearly exposed before more damage is done.  The American people have for too long not known what the Democratic Party stands for and what we believe.  The Democratic Party MUST NOT continue to do business as usual - rather they must decentralize from Washington DC and relate to people locally, on a one-to-one basis.  If the Democratic Party fails to do so, I feel it will become less and less relevant, and I will not be able to count on the Democratic Party to stand up for my core values of liberty, justice, accountability, and responsibility for all.  We are at a crossroads I have not seen in my lifetime.  I feel now is the time for the Democratic Party to stand on principal and clearly state a set of issues that most Americans can feel secure in and rally around.

Senator Reid and his efforts to create a Senate Democratic Agenda and Rapid Response team are terrific and very encouraging.  I have never been more proud to be a native Californian as the last two weeks when Senator Barbara Boxer used Dr. Rice's own words to demand clarification for the lies propagated to Congress and the American population in the build-up to the Iraq War.  Today, Dr. Rice was confirmed but at least an alternative (I would say reality-based) was offered.  The choice between right and wrong, between lies and truth, needs to be clearly communicated at every opportunity.

It is with this background that I urge you to support for Governor Dean for DNC chair.  You have seen the enthusiasm and motivation generated from the ordinary woman and man on the street.  I believe these resources were instrumental in making this the closest reelection of a war-time president in many years.  As the failed policies of this Administration come to light, it is crucial that we have a strong Democratic organization to be there as a clear alternative for decades to come.  I believe that the best person to lead the Democratic Party for the next four years is Governor Howard Dean.

Thank you and with sincerity and great pleasure,

xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx

CC:    Senator Harry Reid
    Senator Barbara Boxer
    Senator Dianne Feinstein