From: Joe Trippi
Campaign Manager
Dean for America

May 21, 2003

In the past 4 ½ months Dean Meetup members have grown from 432 to over 25,000. Last weekend, 1,200 people rallied for Dean in Seattle. This kind of grassroots activity will keep astonishing the pundits, but to win this election--and we must win--we have to seize the moment and build the largest base of supporters in presidential history. We have 50,000 subscribed supporters now, but we must have 100,000 by the end of June.

What can you do?

If every one of you finds one, five, or ten new people who are interested in Howard Dean, and asks them to sign up for Dean for America updates, we can double our list in five weeks. Go here to download a Dean signup sheet which you can fax or email into the campaign.*

Forward this email to your email circle. Tell your friends why you stand with Howard Dean, and ask them to sign up so they can learn more and get involved in the most powerful grassroots campaign in modern presidential history.

Explain to your friends that if they sign up for his email list, they can keep abreast with developments on foreign policy, health care, and fiscal responsibility. Signing up for our email list provides them a direct connection with the most important news on the campaign, and allows the campaign to communicate directly with our supporters at critical moments.

Howard Dean is leading the charge to take our country back and you have the power to make it happen. Your outreach now is essential to winning the primary and the White House.

Thank you.

*The Dean campaign values people's privacy. Only submit names of people who have expressly asked to receive email updates.

"Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again, - -
The eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies among his worshippers."

Truth has a way of asserting itself despite all attempts to obscure it. Distortion only serves to derail it for a time. No matter to what lengths we humans may go to obfuscate facts or delude our fellows, truth has a way of squeezing out through the cracks, eventually.

But the danger is that at some point it may no longer matter. The danger is that damage is done before the truth is widely realized. The reality is that, sometimes, it is easier to ignore uncomfortable facts and go along with whatever distortion is currently in vogue. We see a lot of this today in politics. I see a lot of it -- more than I would ever have believed -- right on this Senate Floor.

Regarding the situation in Iraq, it appears to this Senator that the American people may have been lured into accepting the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, in violation of long-standing International law, under false premises. There is ample evidence that the horrific events of September 11 have been carefully manipulated to switch public focus from Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda who masterminded the September 11th attacks, to Saddam Hussein who did not. The run up to our invasion of Iraq featured the President and members of his cabinet invoking every frightening image they could conjure, from mushroom clouds, to buried caches of germ warfare, to drones poised to deliver germ laden death in our major cities. We were treated to a heavy dose of overstatement concerning Saddam Hussein's direct threat to our freedoms. The tactic was guaranteed to provoke a sure reaction from a nation still suffering from a combination of post traumatic stress and justifiable anger after the attacks of 911. It was the exploitation of fear. It was a placebo for the anger.

Since the war's end, every subsequent revelation which has seemed to refute the previous dire claims of the Bush Administration has been brushed aside. Instead of addressing the contradictory evidence, the White House deftly changes the subject. No weapons of mass destruction have yet turned up, but we are told that they will in time. Perhaps they yet will. But, our costly and destructive bunker busting attack on Iraq seems to have proven, in the main, precisely the opposite of what we were told was the urgent reason to go in. It seems also to have, for the present, verified the assertions of Hans Blix and the inspection team he led, which President Bush and company so derided. As Blix always said, a lot of time will be needed to find such weapons, if they do, indeed, exist. Meanwhile Bin Laden is still on the loose and Saddam Hussein has come up missing.

The Administration assured the U.S. public and the world, over and over again, that an attack was necessary to protect our people and the world from terrorism. It assiduously worked to alarm the public and blur the faces of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden until they virtually became one.

What has become painfully clear in the aftermath of war is that Iraq was no immediate threat to the U.S. Ravaged by years of sanctions, Iraq did not even lift an airplane against us. Iraq's threatening death-dealing fleet of unmanned drones about which we heard so much morphed into one prototype made of plywood and string. Their missiles proved to be outdated and of limited range. Their army was quickly overwhelmed by our technology and our well trained troops.

Presently our loyal military personnel continue their mission of diligently searching for WMD. They have so far turned up only fertilizer, vacuum cleaners, conventional weapons, and the occasional buried swimming pool. They are misused on such a mission and they continue to be at grave risk. But, the Bush team's extensive hype of WMD in Iraq as justification for a preemptive invasion has become more than embarrassing. It has raised serious questions about prevarication and the reckless use of power. Were our troops needlessly put at risk? Were countless Iraqi civilians killed and maimed when war was not really necessary? Was the American public deliberately misled? Was the world?

What makes me cringe even more is the continued claim that we are "liberators." The facts don't seem to support the label we have so euphemistically attached to ourselves. True, we have unseated a brutal, despicable despot, but "liberation" implies the follow up of freedom, self-determination and a better life for the common people. In fact, if the situation in Iraq is the result of "liberation," we may have set the cause of freedom back 200 years.

Despite our high-blown claims of a better life for the Iraqi people, water is scarce, and often foul, electricity is a sometime thing, food is in short supply, hospitals are stacked with the wounded and maimed, historic treasures of the region and of the Iraqi people have been looted, and nuclear material may have been disseminated to heaven knows where, while U.S. troops, on orders, looked on and guarded the oil supply.

Meanwhile, lucrative contracts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure and refurbish its oil industry are awarded to Administration cronies, without benefit of competitive bidding, and the U.S. steadfastly resists offers of U.N. assistance to participate. Is there any wonder that the real motives of the U.S. government are the subject of worldwide speculation and mistrust?

And in what may be the most damaging development, the U.S. appears to be pushing off Iraq's clamor for self-government. Jay Garner has been summarily replaced, and it is becoming all too clear that the smiling face of the U.S. as liberator is quickly assuming the scowl of an occupier. The image of the boot on the throat has replaced the beckoning hand of freedom. Chaos and rioting only exacerbate that image, as U.S. soldiers try to sustain order in a land ravaged by poverty and disease. "Regime change" in Iraq has so far meant anarchy, curbed only by an occupying military force and a U.S. administrative presence that is evasive about if and when it intends to depart.

Democracy and Freedom cannot be force fed at the point of an occupier's gun. To think otherwise is folly. One has to stop and ponder. How could we have been so impossibly naive? How could we expect to easily plant a clone of U.S. culture, values, and government in a country so riven with religious, territorial, and tribal rivalries, so suspicious of U.S. motives, and so at odds with the galloping materialism which drives the western-style economies?

As so many warned this Administration before it launched its misguided war on Iraq, there is evidence that our crack down in Iraq is likely to convince 1,000 new Bin Ladens to plan other horrors of the type we have seen in the past several days. Instead of damaging the terrorists, we have given them new fuel for their fury. We did not complete our mission in Afghanistan because we were so eager to attack Iraq. Now it appears that Al Queda is back with a vengeance. We have returned to orange alert in the U.S., and we may well have destabilized the Mideast region, a region we have never fully understood. We have alienated friends around the globe with our dissembling and our haughty insistence on punishing former friends who may not see things quite our way.

The path of diplomacy and reason have gone out the window to be replaced by force, unilateralism, and punishment for transgressions. I read most recently with amazement our harsh castigation of Turkey, our longtime friend and strategic ally. It is astonishing that our government is berating the new Turkish government for conducting its affairs in accordance with its own Constitution and its democratic institutions.

Indeed, we may have sparked a new international arms race as countries move ahead to develop WMD as a last ditch attempt to ward off a possible preemptive strike from a newly belligerent U.S. which claims the right to hit where it wants. In fact, there is little to constrain this President. Congress, in what will go down in history as its most unfortunate act, handed away its power to declare war for the foreseeable future and empowered this President to wage war at will.

As if that were not bad enough, members of Congress are reluctant to ask questions which are begging to be asked. How long will we occupy Iraq? We have already heard disputes on the numbers of troops which will be needed to retain order. What is the truth? How costly will the occupation and rebuilding be? No one has given a straight answer. How will we afford this long-term massive commitment, fight terrorism at home, address a serious crisis in domestic healthcare, afford behemoth military spending and give away billions in tax cuts amidst a deficit which has climbed to over $340 billion for this year alone? If the President's tax cut passes it will be $400 billion. We cower in the shadows while false statements proliferate. We accept soft answers and shaky explanations because to demand the truth is hard, or unpopular, or may be politically costly.

But, I contend that, through it all, the people know. The American people unfortunately are used to political shading, spin, and the usual chicanery they hear from public officials. They patiently tolerate it up to a point. But there is a line. It may seem to be drawn in invisible ink for a time, but eventually it will appear in dark colors, tinged with anger. When it comes to shedding American blood - - when it comes to wreaking havoc on civilians, on innocent men, women, and children, callous dissembling is not acceptable. Nothing is worth that kind of lie - - not oil, not revenge, not reelection, not somebody's grand pipedream of a democratic domino theory.

And mark my words, the calculated intimidation which we see so often of late by the "powers that be" will only keep the loyal opposition quiet for just so long. Because eventually, like it always does, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall.

Contact Sen. Bird and thank him. He needs to know his effort is appreciated.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Robert Byrd, the Senate's most outspoken critic of President Bush, on Wednesday accused him of constructing a "house of cards, built on deceit" to justify the war against Iraq.'

Byrd Says Bush Built 'House of Cards' on Iraq War

Thank You Senator Bird for asking the questions that no one is asking.

Contact Sen. Bird and thank him. He needs to know his effort is appreciated.

Now the Senate says that dividends should be tax-free to recipients. Suppose this measure goes through and the directors of Berkshire Hathaway (which does not now pay a dividend) therefore decide to pay $1 billion in dividends next year. Owning 31 percent of Berkshire, I would receive $310 million in additional income, owe not another dime in federal tax, and see my tax rate plunge to 3 percent.

And our receptionist? She'd still be paying about 30 percent, which means she would be contributing about 10 times the proportion of her income that I would to such government pursuits as fighting terrorism, waging wars and supporting the elderly. Let me repeat the point: Her overall federal tax rate would be 10 times what my rate would be.

Dividend Voodoo (washingtonpost.com)

Over 25,000 people have now signed up for Dean Meetups. The next Meetup is Wednesday, June 4th.

Other candidate national Meetup member numbers:

Kerry Meetup Members - 1185
Edwards Meetup Members - 724
Kucinich Meetup Members - 276
Gephardt Meetup Members -160
Lieberman Meetup Members - 83
Sharpton Meetup Members - 36

Why is it that we’ve got quite possibly the worst economy in years, that we’ve lost 2 ½ million jobs in 2½ years despite the fact that the Bush administration seem to only be passing tax cuts that will make things worse, Bush is still getting high approval rating. Why is this?

It’s FEAR.

Clinton ran and won against Bush-One on “It’s the economy stupid.” Even though with one look at the numbers you’d think “It’s the economy, again stupid,” But it wont be.

BushCo and their team of masters of spin have people scared. Scared of osama, scared of saadam scared of a wimpy democrat who will not protect them. Each time The office of homeland security raises the threat level people forget that they have no jobs and start doing ridiculously insane things like buying duct tape and plastic. Formerly rational people were standing in line at the home depot fighting over that last roll of plastic. That madness had to have made BushCo smile. At that point they knew they had a hold of the strings tightly.

It’s a page right out of the book of Hitlers Hermann Goering. “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

MASLOWS HIEARCHY

People are highly motivated by fear. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it’s the number two motivator in human existence. Once people satisfy their basic need of food water and sex then they worry about their safety. BushCo is telling us we are not safe and telling us that he is the only one who can make us safe. He is not only telling us this, he showed us this by playing dress up and landing on an aircraft carrier.

The key to getting rid of BushCo is to show that he is NOT protecting us. Show the public that BushCo has only made us more vulnerable to attacks by his preemptive wars, his cutting taxes that will fund police and fire protection, etc…. Then show them that a Democrat can protect us. This quite possibly will be the hardest part of the struggle. Fact is the public perceives democrats as peace loving, Birkenstock wearing, tree hugging wimps. We’ve got to show that the Democrats can be just as tough or tougher.

It’s a not so simple challenge to completely wipe out the last few years of brainwashing of BushCo. But it’s the only way to get rid of the current regime. Hit them where they are perceived to be strong. We know it’s all smoke and mirrors and spin anyway. Deep down I think most Americans really don’t buy it either, but they are so afraid that “the wimpy Democrats” will make it worse that they’d rather bury their heads in the sand and hope for the best with Bush.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nearly 40 days after the fall of Baghdad, US efforts to restore order and establish a functioning administration in Iraq are faltering as US forces struggle to cope with lawlessness, a fragile infrastructure and fractious Iraqi political forces, analysts said.

"It's close to a fiasco," said Loren Thompson, an analyst with the Lexington Institute, a Washington research organization.

US post-war effort seen as on the brink of "fiasco"

404 WMD cannot be displayed

“Once again, the DLC has chosen to put their own political agenda ahead of the progress needed to unite the Democratic Party. This election has barely begun, and the DLC has repeatedly dismissed people who attend caucuses, who get out the vote, and now the 1.3 million members of AFSCME as ‘fringe activists’ who do not reflect ‘the mainstream values, national pride and the economic aspirations of middle-class and working people.’

“The DLC staff can say what they want about me, but they owe an apology to the 1.3 million members of AFSCME. Our teachers, our health care workers, and our state and local public servants don't need a lesson from Washington insiders about the needs and concerns of middle- and working-class families. What they need is a Democratic Party that will stand up for them.”

Read what the DLC had to say about AFSCME

Read a sample of what thousands of Democrats and independents have written to the DLC in response to the DLC’s charge last week that grassroots activists were “elitist”:

C-SPAN VIDEO

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean participates in a presidential forum hosted by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) at the River Center in Davenport, Iowa Sunday

A new CBS News poll has some interesting figures worth noting for a successful campaign against the "boy king"

VIEWS OF THE PARTIES
Looking ahead to the 2004 election, this poll shows big differences in Americans' views of the parties.

Republican Advantage:
Making sure the military is strong
Reps 66%
Dems 19%

Making the right decisions on terrorism
Reps 58%
Dems 18%

Democratic advantage:
Protecting the environment
Reps 23%
Dems 60%

Making prescriptions drugs affordable
Reps 26%
Dems 57%

Creating new jobs
Reps 32%
Dems 54%

Improving the health care system
Reps 29%
Dems 51%

Making sure the tax system is fair
Reps 36%
Dems 46%

Tie:
Ensuring a strong economy
Reps 42%
Dems 41%

Improving education
Reps 38%
Dems 44%

Dean needs to continue to hit Bush on Homeland Security where the public perceives republicans strong as he did in Iowa and debunk the myth.

"This president talks tough about homeland security but in fact we're a lot less safe," he said, questioning why Bush turned his attention away from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and failed to provide funding for police and emergency units that would deal with an attack at home.

It looks like the public already perceives the Democrats as good for jobs, health care and environment so there is no need to run strictly on those issues. Highlight them and continue to show that Dean is on top of health care, jobs, balanced budget, the environment, etc.

But hit them where it hurts on Military, Homeland Security and Terrorism to show voters that there is a huge misconception and BushCo has done more harm than good.

CBS News Poll: Economy Remains Top Priority

My dispirited friends in the anti-war movement, the hundreds of thousands who marched before the war, ask "What now?" The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind. Won't you join forces behind the only true Democrat, the only real alternative, out there? Won't you keep clean for Dean? Oh, he won't get the big bucks from Bechtel, Shell, Halliburton, or United Defense Industries. But, if he gets enough $5 and $10 donations from individual Americans, he can make your voice heard, move the Democratic party back to its values, and perhaps take those values to the White House. Want to try?

VICKI'S VIEW: Where Are All The Democrats?"

The Des Moines Register

"This president has used humiliation as a weapon, not only against our enemies but against our friends," Dean said, adding the United Nations should be brought in to help administer Iraq.

Democratic Candidate Dean Blasts Bush in Iowa

Protesters Walk Out on Santorum Speech

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - About one in every eight graduates walked out of Sunday's commencement at Saint Joseph's University before the keynote address by Sen. Rick Santorum, who recently infuriated gay groups and others with derogatory remarks about homosexual behavior.

Protesters Walk Out on Santorum Speech

In my best Nelson from the Simpsons voice all I have to say is Ha-Ha

National Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe accused Bush of a new McCarthyism last night at the annual Ohio Democratic Party dinner.

George Bush has unleashed a new McCarthyism that, under the cloak of a time of crisis and peril, has vilified and questioned the patriotism of those who have policy and political differences with him and his administration."

We’re living in a time where Faux News doesn’t report the news but inflates and embellishes stories with a fervent wave of a flag and a “no spin zone yell shut up and flip off of the microphone" of anyone who speaks the truth and challenges Bill O’Reilly.

We’re in a time where AOL-Time-Warner-Turner-Fox-Clear Channel-MSNBC-CNN–CBS-Vaicom-Disney-ABC-…(or whatever one or two merged companies turn out to call themselves) are in such a fight to kiss up to FCC Chairman Michael Powell (Colon Powell’s son) in order to merge, merge, merge to be bigger an better than the other, that they’ll not question the BushCo dictatorship. "Liberal Media" my ass!

Why is it that Bush still garners a 67% Favorability rating when he passes a tax cut that is sure to tank the economy, al-Qaida is quite possibly stronger than they were before September 11th., the Mideast is more of a U.S.-hating powder keg than ever, thanks the BushCo war. That Halliburton (Dick Cheney) and Bechtel (George Shultz), and other BushCo insiders, reap huge contracts and line their pockets for rebuilding the devastated county we liberated from the still missing Saddam Hussein?

Is is that the American public is so stupid that they are buying the lies, hook, line, and sinker? Or are they just too lazy too look beyond the surface of what BushCo is doing? Or have we as a nation obtained through “sound bite television” such a short attention span that we can’t focus long enough to really look beyond the trees?

Someone please explain this too me!

Hopefully we’ll wake up before the 2004 election and get rid of the “boy king” before he completely revamps our constitution and laws and turns us entirely into an evil dictatorship.

DeanForAmerica.com Technical Difficulties With Dean Web-Cast

"We experienced technical difficulties with our live webcast of the "Hear it from the Heartland" town hall meeting in Iowa, featuring Howard Dean and hosted by Senator Tom Harkin. We apologize, and thanks to those of you who tried to watch. The Governor's address to supporters will be rescheduled on another day. We'll keep you posted."

Hear It From the Heartland Live Web-Cast

Today, Sunday, May 18th at 3:00PM EDT, Governor Dean will be the guest of Senator Tom Harkin for the second of Harkin's "Hear it from the Heartland" forums featuring Democratic Presidential candidates. Following the forum, Governor Dean will address supporters directly through a live Web-cast, starting at approximately 4:30PM EDT.

The Governor wants to personally thank the hundreds of activists who have voiced support for his campaign. This Sunday he will speak directly to activists and supporters, carrying the message of "taking our country back" to thousands more on the Web.

Please join us at 3:00 pm for the for the web-cast of the forum and for the special address from the Governor.

May 17, 2003

HOWARD DEAN TO ADDRESS THOUSANDS OF GRASS-ROOTS ACTIVISTS ACROSS AMERICA IN LIVE WEB-CAST

Burlington, VT- Tomorrow, Sunday May 18th, Governor Howard Dean, MD will hold a live web-conference to thank the thousands of grass-roots activists across the country who are working to help him win the Democratic nomination and “take our country back.”

In response to a recent memo released by the DLC which mischaracterized Governor Dean’s record, thousands of people have logged onto Governor Dean’s website, www.DeanforAmerica.com, to send messages urging the DLC to stop their divisive tactics.

Prior to his address, supporters will be able to watch Governor Dean in a live web-cast of the “Hear it From the Heartland” town-hall meeting in Iowa hosted by Senator Tom Harkin. After the town-hall, Dean will address thousands of activists to thank them for their commitment to standing up for Democratic Unity.

Details below:

WHO: Democratic Presidential candidate Gov. Howard Dean

WHAT: Town Hall & Web-conference Address to Supporters “Hear it From the Heartland” town-hall meeting with Senator Harkin (web-cast) & Governor Dean’s address to activists across America (web-cast)

WHEN: Sunday, May 18, 2003 Town Hall- 3:00pm ET, Web-conference- 4:30 pm ET (Approximate)

WHERE: There will be a live link at www.deanforamerica.com on Sunday after 2:30PM ET

I'm going to post this in it's entirety because I think the more people see it the more people understand the Howard Dean Campaign. The following is a post to the Howard Dean 2004 web blog by Joe Trippi Campaign Manager of the Dean Campaign.

I think it so eloquently shows that Howard Dean and the Howard Dean Campaign are really tapped in to the people that are voting. Tapped not only through the net, but truly understand what voters want. These guys can take back the White House in 2004. With this kind of feet on the ground but aiming high attitude, they'll be the Cinderella story of the 21st century.

The Perfect Storm


How is this possible? 3 months ago Howard Dean was a political asterisk, today he has become such a threat to the frontrunner, and evidently, at least a few others, that they have taken every opportunity to twist his words, and distort his centrist record -- in what has so obviously, to anyone who is watching, become a desperate attempt to stop him before he can't be stopped.


They are trying to stop the Perfect Storm.


It is a storm that has never happened before -- because it could not have happened before. The forces required to come into sync were not aligned, nor in some instances mature enough prior to this Presidential campaign. But the past few days may prove to be only the first winds of the Perfect Storm that will be required to defeat George Bush.


First the storm requires thousands and thousands, perhaps millions of Americans to become actively involved in determining the future course of our country. But how do these Americans find each other? How do they self-organize? How do they collaborate? How do they take action together? For the first time since we heard the words World Wide Web -- the Internet makes this possible. In 1984 there was no net. How would Gary Hart had faired if there had been one? I worked for Vice President Mondale in 1984 and had the net existed in any great measure at that time, it is unlikely Mondale would have been the nominee. In 2000 there was John McCain -- but still the net wasn't mature enough yet to create the Perfect Storm of American politics. Tools like Meetup did not exist, blogs didn't exist either -- or at least not in the meaningful and powerful role they play today. And the McCain campaign has not planned for the event of cascading thousands joining it.


It took years to get here, years of millions signing up to their first ISP. Millions making their first Internet transaction. Millions using Ebay, or Amazon -- and becoming comfortable with using their credit card online.


The other critical difference is the amazing tools that have emerged. The Blogging community has grown with readership in the millions, but the one question that still needed to be answered -- was could the Internet be used by millions to take action off-line. Could people use the net to take action and mobilize beyond sending emails and even campaign contributions? Would they use the net to self-organize in a local community or around a common action? Moveon.org proved it so -- over a million Americans through Moveon's tools took common action for a common purpose in the last 6 months alone. There is no way to understate the importance of what Moveon and its members proved -- that the net can be used to mobilize huge numbers of grassroots to take local action beyond their monitors -- when showing up and being counted counts -- and when shoe leather and phone calling, and letter writing is required. They also proved how fast it could all happen. And in 4 1/2 months Dean Meetups members have grown from 432 to over 24,000 and still growing.


So with the net and the tools in place to fuel the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- there are a few other things that must exist to make it happen.


Among them a candidacy that is fearless, willing to take a stand, and able to inspire and energize others to do the same.
The first winds of the storm are only starting to whip up -- but it will take a candidate like Howard Dean to sustain the waves that will wash away George W. Bush.


The other thing that is needed -- is a campaign organization that gets it -- or at least tries to get it. One of the other reasons I think this has not happened before is that every political campaign I have ever been in is built on a top-down military structure -- there is a general at the top of the campaign -- and all orders flow down -- with almost no interaction. This is a disaster. This kind of structure will suffocate the storm not fuel it. Campaigns abhor chaos -- and to most campaigns built on the old top-down model -- that is what the net represents -- chaos. And the more the campaign tries to control the "chaos" the more it stiffles its growth. As someone who is at least trying to understand the right mix -- I admit its hard to get it right. But I think the important thing is to provide the tools and some of the direction -- stay in as constant communication as you can with the grassroots -- two way/multi-way communication -- and get the hell out of the way when a big wave is building on its own.


Which gets me back to the Perfect Storm. People ask how are you going to win the nomination, or beat George Bush when he is going to have all that money?


My answer would be -- That never -- until now -- would there ever have been any hope of 1 million Americans contributing $100 each to take back their country and promote a common vision for the future of the nation. Maybe it will be 2 million who contribute $50. But the Internet makes that possible. Or maybe it will be 5 million Americans contributing $20. The tools, energy, leadership and the right candidate, are all in place to create the Perfect Storm of Presidential politics -- where millions of Americans act together and organize their communities, their neighborhoods and their precincts. It is ironic I think that the Perfect Storm may indeed be made possible by the internet -- but in the end the real storm it may create is the largest grassroots/election day get-out-the-vote -- shoe leather/door knocking organization in the history of American politics.


I have said before that it sounds audacious. But it points to the need to redouble our efforst and ourselves as quickly as possible. And it also makes clear why we need fewer comments like those from From and Reed -- and more oars in the water helping to make the waves grow stronger.


The interesting thing about John McCain is that some 40,000 Amerians signed up to join his campaign in the days immediately following his victory in New Hampshire. Today Howard Dean has over 50,000 who have signed up and joined the Dean for America campaign and we are 8 months away from the New Hampshire Primary. I don't think some people in our party understand the implications of that fact -- maybe it dawned on them for the first time yesterday -- but I kind of doubt it.


So what can you do? Well I hate to sound like a broken record -- but we need to do two things between now and June 30th. We have to keep growing the grassroots -- we need you to keep spreading the word -- forward emails and good stories to others who may not have heard of Howard Dean yet. We need the blogger community regardless of a blog's support, opposition, or neutrality to at least point out to people what this campaign is trying to do. We need you to help us to keep building the local organizations through the list serves, and through Meetup, and the Dean Wireless Network. If you have a group or list/serve going -- we need you to make sure we have the names here in Burlington so we can communicate directly with every Dean supporter. We need your help as part of the Dean Defense Forces. If you have high-speed Internet -- sign up for our new Howard Dean TV service.


But I can not overstate the importance of the most important thing you can do right now. Help us raise as much money as possible by the June 30th filing deadline. Host a coffee, a house party, or raise $10 each from two or three of your friends. The Meetup Challenge has meant $300,000 to the campaign so far -- the single biggest thing that could happen for our campaign would be that we reach the goal of $1million by June 30th. John Kerry had 14,000 contributors at the end of the last quarter, Howard Dean had 13,897 -- it was the size of the contribution that made the difference -- but our goal isn't to raise the size of the contribution -- its to double or triple the number of small contributions people can afford to make at this time by talking to our friends and neighbors. 50,000 $5 contributions for Howard Dean will mean much more than 125 $2000 for the frontrunner -- because when you are building the perfect storm it is the number of people building the wave that matters -- not the size of the check.


How can I ask for more help, when each of you has helped so much already. Just continue to do what you can.....
the wind is getting stronger, and the waves are getting higher, the Perfect Storm is building...


Howard Dean is leading the charge to take our country back and you have the power to make it happen.


Joe Trippi

:: THE PERFECT STORM ::

There have been plenty of updates going on at the Official Dean Website lately that are worth noticing.

The Dean Campaign is recognized in the news for using the Internet effectively to garner supporters.

Over the past few days the deanforamerica.com web team have been implementing some nice features that deserve attention.

First the Dean Wireless section received a tremendous overhaul and expansion branching out from the original Howard Dean 2004 group to a full Dean Wirelesss Channel allowing subscribers more flexibility with the ability to choose updates relevant to their individual State.

Second they have just unveiled Howard Dean TV. Now you can follow Governor Dean along the campaign trail as he makes his push for the White House.

Third they have updated the Subscription Email List allowing the recipients to choose what information they would like to receive and how they would like to receive it.

Good Job DeanforAmerica.com I'm looking forward to more features in the future.

Presidential hopeful Howard Dean discusses Democratic bickering, his antiwar stance—and staying in shape on the campaign trail

May 16 — In the crowded field of contenders for the Democratic Party’s 2004 nomination, Howard Dean is a candidate to watch. The former governor of Vermont—a physician who moved to rural New England to practice medicine—has attracted attention for his organizational savvy and his aggressive campaigning.

:: ‘A Lot to Learn’ ::

LETTERS, May 15, 2003.

Howard Dean appeals to a wide cross-section of the American public. On May 7 in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and more than 230 cities across America, Dean supporters met to organize on his behalf. After Sept. 11, Americans desire a commander in chief with a strong moral conscience and an unwavering ability to lead. Unlike his Democratic counterparts, Dean has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to stick to his guns on popular and unpopular positions alike. For this he's gained a reputation as the most honest of candidates. As a congressman, Abraham Lincoln opposed a popular Mexican War. Yet he won his election and went on to be perhaps the greatest wartime president America has ever seen. So too will Dean.

YONI COHEN- St. Louis, Mo.

"Presidential candidate Howard Dean, here to raise money and his profile, chats about war, economics and his resemblance to Josiah Bartlet."

:: Dean's List ::

"Centrist Democrats attack presidential contender, but he draws fervent crowds

SEATTLE, May 17 — Under fire from the Democratic Leadership Council, a key business-friendly group, presidential contender Howard Dean is thriving on the criticism, drawing excited crowds on the campaign trial and making an unexpectedly strong bid for the 2004 Democratic nomination."

:: Party reckons with Dean phenomenon ::

May 15, 2003

Al From, founder and CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and Bruce Reed, President of the DLC, yesterday circulated a memo to "Leading Democrats" titled "The Real Soul of the Democratic Party" in which they argue that traditional Democratic values are "an aberration" and that the thousands of grassroots Democrats inspired by Governor Dean's message to "take back our party" are "activist elites" and not "real Democrats."

I disagree. Activism is the lifeblood of our party and our nation.

And, Governor Dean's political conscience and his caring, common-sense issue agenda qualify him as the best candidate to run against George W. Bush despite grumblings by a few DLC members.

Please help Governor Dean by affirming your support for his campaign today.

Use this link: (deanforamerica.com/DLC) to send a message to the DLC that a few members of the DLC do not represent the views of the entire Democratic Party. You can call the DLC at 202-546-0007.

And if you can, please consider making a special contribution to Dean for America today to show Howard Dean has the support of America's grassroots activists. www.deanforamerica.com/showthedlc

Activists tell others about the issues that matter most; please forward this E-mail!

CBS NEWS WASHINGTON WRAP ON THE DLC STUPIDITY

"Do They Know This In South Carolina? Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the only Democratic presidential candidate to speak at the Democratic Leadership Council's lunch a few weeks ago in South Carolina, has been Big D dissed by DLC national leaders Al From and Bruce Reed."
[...]
"Make my day," Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi told CBS News. He said the story unleashed a barrage of mail from Dean supporters who are furious that these "Washington insiders" would brand their candidate a liberal elitist."

:: CBS NEWS Washington Wrap ::

LIES

"President Bush, of course, is not a junior reporter for The New York Times. So maybe it doesn’t matter if he makes up stories and puts them in the newspaper. After Ronald Reagan, it’s almost a presidential tradition."

:: The presidential fabulist ::

LIES

"There's no question that there were chemical weapons years ago," General Petraeus said, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon by videophone from Mosul. "I just don't know whether it was all destroyed years ago."

:: U.S. General Unsure When or if Weapons Were Destroyed ::

LIES

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has changed its tune on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, the reason it went to war there. Instead of looking for vast stocks of banned materials, it is now pinning its hopes on finding documentary evidence."

:: Bush Officials Change Tune on Iraqi Weapons ::

LIES

"Ha-ha-ha oh man did we ever get smacked on that one. Conned big time. Punk'd like dogs. Just gotta shake your head, laugh it off. They reamed us but good, baby! Damn"

:: Punk'd ::

HYPOCRISY

Retired Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan on "Usable" Nukes & The Bush administration trying to repeal the Spratt-Furse provision :

When I was on active duty in the Navy back in the '60's and '70's we had nuclear weapons on our ships that were designed to be used in battle. The idea was that if we ever got into real trouble we could wipe out Soviet submarines and bombers with a few nuclear depth charges and nuclear surface to air missiles - hopefully without igniting a full scale nuclear holocaust.


The only problem was we all knew that was hogwash. I actually simulated firing off a bunch of these during military exercises and the results were so devastating I knew 3 things: First, these things were so powerful we could never really use them in battle without damaging ourselves. One nuclear depth charge would blind our submarine detection instruments in an entire ocean, for example. Second, once we went nuclear there was no way the Soviets wouldn't. And third, nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction and it would always be immoral to use them. Pres. Bush the elder eventually removed these nukes from our ships and out of the hands of at sea operational commanders. Congress finally made it illegal to create new "mini-nukes" in 1993 when they passed the Spratt-Furse provision.


Now Pres. Bush the younger and Congress are working to create a whole new generation of "usable" nukes. They are trying to repeal the Spratt-Furse provision so they can build a bunch of mini-nukes. They also want to spend millions to create a new high yield nuclear weapon to put on top of our conventional bunker busters, a weapon that already works fine.


The thought of this keeps me up at night for two reasons. First, America signed the global Non-Proliferation Treaty with over a hundred other nations. The deal was simple: If you don't have nuclear weapons, you can't build them; in exchange, those of us who do will work to get rid of ours. How can we complain that countries like North Korea shouldn't build new nuclear weapons in violation of the treaty when the Bush Administration proposes doing the very same thing? Second, with a trigger-happy White House that believes our country can win "pre-emptive wars" on the cheap, those folks might actually use these things if they ever got their hands on them.


Do the world a favor, send Congress faxes telling them you think there is no such thing as a "usable" nuke and they shouldn't try to build any. Just click this link: :: There Are No "Usable" Nukes, Stop This Dangerous And Expensive Folly ::

STAGECRAFT

"On Tuesday, at a speech promoting his economic plan in Indianapolis, White House aides went so far as to ask people in the crowd behind Mr. Bush to take off their ties, WISH-TV in Indianapolis reported, so they would look more like the ordinary folk the president said would benefit from his tax cut."

:: Keepers of Bush Image Lift Stagecraft to New Heights ::

LIES & STAGECRAFT

"Saving Private Lynch story 'flawed'

..."Witnesses told us that the special forces knew that the Iraqi military had fled a day before they swooped on the hospital.

Dr Uday was surprised by the manner of the rescue "We were surprised. Why do this? There was no military, there were no soldiers in the hospital," said Dr Anmar Uday, who worked at the hospital.

"It was like a Hollywood film. They cried 'go, go, go', with guns and blanks without bullets, blanks and the sound of explosions. They made a show for the American attack on the hospital - action movies like Sylvester Stallone or Jackie Chan."

:: Saving Private Lynch ::

AND WELL...

"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."—G.W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, May 3, 2003

"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself."—G.W. Bush, Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 29, 2003

"The goals for this country are peace in the world. And the goals for this country are a compassionate American for every single citizen. That compassion is found in the hearts and souls of the American citizens."—G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2002

"One year ago today, the time for excuse-making has come to an end."—G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 8, 2003

"In other words, I don't think people ought to be compelled to make the decision which they think is best for their family."—G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2002

Want to know what Dean is all about? Read this in depth artcle from The Seattle Newspaper The Stranger.

"Howard Dean is the ultimate muscular Democrat. He's not afraid to take on George W. Bush, and in the process Dean is reminding Dems what it feels like to have a spine.

THE VOICE OF THE "ACTIVIST ELITE"

In less than one day, over 1,000 people have written letters to the Democratic Leadership Council via the Dean for America website to tell the DLC what they think of the DLC's attack on Howard Dean.

These letters present an incredible portrait of the wide variety of people who have chosen to support Howard Dean.

You can read a sample of the letters by clicking here. (This will take a moment to load due to the volume of the responses.)

The following statements were issued today in response to the recent memo circulated by Al From and Bruce Reed of the Democratic Leadership Council:


Senator James Jeffords (I-VT):


“As the Independent Senator from Vermont, I have worked with Governor Howard Dean and I know his long-standing record. I am disappointed to see leaders of the Democratic Leadership Council characterize his positions as extreme and elitist, and I call on them to stop their divisive tactics. Since when did it become extreme and elitist to balance the budget, extend health care coverage, offer equal educational opportunity and protect our environment? I have heard such charges coming from Republicans most of my political life, but I find it incredible to hear such charges coming from Democrats."


Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT):


“Lumping Governor Dean with the so-called “liberal elitist” wing of our party will make Vermonters of all political stripes chuckle Governor Dean’s twelve year record in the statehouse was not liberal, conservative or elitist. He inherited a deficit, balanced the budget, pinched pennies, provided healthcare to all Vermont’s children, protected the environment and created jobs. That is a record of accomplishment, achieved with the broad support of Republicans and Democrats in Vermont.”


Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA):


“When I go home every weekend, my constituents talk to me about health care, education and the economy. Dr. Howard Dean has an outstanding record of achievement in all of these areas. As governor, 96% of Vermont’s children had health coverage, and an additional 3% were eligible. He passed fiscally responsible budgets each and every year. He built a strong educational system, and as a result, Vermont’s students rank 6th in the country in overall performance. Dr. Dean’s record is one that ALL Democrats can be proud of.


Al From and Bruce Reed spend a lot of time talking about myths in Democratic nominating process. I think it is more important to focus on the facts:


Fact #1: Attacking fellow Democrats is wrong and will do nothing to help beat George W. Bush in 2004.


Fact #2: Dr. Dean is a proven leader in the Democratic Party with a broad and growing base of support.


Fact #3: Dr. Dean will be the Democratic Party’s nominee next year and will go on to beat George W. Bush.


It is disappointing that From and Reed feel the need to rip into fellow Democrats. They should stop these misguided efforts, and spend their considerable resources on beating George W. Bush.”

Three Cheers and a Big Round of Applause for these Congressional Members

"Every time they do this, we grow" [...] "If they want to get rid of us, they should just shut up." - Joe Trippi

Dean an unelectable eliteist? Dean a heavy left leaning liberal who is out of touch with the Democratic mainstream? Read the Dartmouth Free Press Article and see that Howard Dean is really a candidate who promotes fiscal sanity, a pragmatic health care plan, and who is uniting the centrists and the left. Desipte what the DLC thinks, as Bill Clinton said Dean is truly a "New Democrat"

What in the world is the Democratic Leadership Council thinking?

I am not an elitist. I'm a disenfranchised democrat who disliked the way the party was heading and changed my party affiliation to "Non-Partisan" (a way to still be able to vote in Pennsylvania in general elections with out aligning yourself with any party).

This week I sent the form to my local voter registration office to change my party back to democrat because of Dean. Dean is speaking the language of truth that I want to hear and I'd say I'm a very mainstream person.

I'm a 34 year old single self-employed female that has never ever made a campaign contribution. Most of the recent elections I have been voting against someone and not for anyone. I actually wrote a check to the Dean Campaign. I've never contributed to any politician in my life.

I'm now looking into volunteering my time locally to get the word out on Howard Dean. I've eagerly told friends and family to take a hard look at Howard Dean. I think he is a viable candidate and probably the only one of the Democratic field that can oust Bush in 2004.

I think the DLC is making a huge mistake calling the Dean campaign elitist. I think Dean is their best hope for the White House in 2004.

From the Washington Post:
:: The 'D' in DLC Doesn't Stand for Dean ::

"In case there was any doubt, the New Democrats don't like former Vermont governor Howard Dean and they definitely don't want him to win their party's 2004 presidential nomination."

:: READ THE DEAN CAMPAIGN RESPONSE TO THIS NONSENSE ::

Matt Singer from the Dean Defense League writes:


The Democratic Leadership Council has fired a shot across the bow and we need to fire one back.


David von Drehle writing in the Washington Post offers up the following:


More than 50 centrist Democrats, including Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, met here yesterday to plot strategy for the "New Democrat" movement. To help get the ball rolling they read a memo by Al From and Bruce Reed, the chairman and president of the Democratic Leadership Council.


The memo dismissed Dean as an elitist liberal from the "McGovern-Mondale wing" of the party -- "the wing that lost 49 states in two elections, and transformed Democrats from a strong national party into a much weaker regional one."


"We are increasingly confident that President Bush can be beaten next year, but Dean is not the man to do it," Reed and From wrote. "Most Democrats aren't elitists who think they know better than everyone else."


So how do we respond?


Well, first, provide the Politics folks at the Washington Post with some feedback at politics@washingtonpost.com .


What's wrong with the story? Well, they only ignored the fact that the most successful DLCer in history (Clinton, not From or Reed) thinks that Dean has the right stuff (From the AP):


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is described as very liberal by many following the presidential race, Clinton said, "but look at what he did as governor of Vermont."


Clinton described Dean's accomplishments with health care in his home state and his proposal to promote a national health care plan with a modest price tag as "New Democrat" positions. He was referring to the moniker the Democratic Leadership Council puts on Democrats who can blend moderate ideas that appeal to swing voters with traditional Democratic themes.


In this case, the entire lede was deeply flawed, as it claimed that the New Democrats dislike Dean. Clinton is THE New Democrat and he speaks highly of Dean.


Second, write letters to the editor (letters@washpost.com). Include your home address and day and night phone numbers.


Talking Points (Pick and Choose):


1) Clinton, THE New Democrat, has recognized that Dean is a New Democrat. From and Reed have slipped from "New Democrat" status to "Conservative Democrat" status, scared of new ideas.


2) The attacks against Dean are nothing more than hollow rhetoric from career political insiders who have run out of new ideas and who forgot how Clinton got elected.


3) Many of Dean's supporters are the Newest Democrats, converts to the party who previously felt ignored, uninspired, and unmotivated.


4) Dean has signed up 370 MeetUp members in both Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA; 260 in Raleigh-Durham; 200 in Phoenix; and thousands more across the South, Southwest, and West. These are regular people. The DLC myth that Dean is an elite is wrong. Dean is connecting with Americans across the country.


5) Dean's pragmatic health care plan, balanced budget proposals, and support of federalism all prove that he is a third-way Democrat, not an "elitist liberal" from the "McGovern-Mondale wing" of the party.


6) Dean has made it a hallmark of his campaign to fight divisiveness. While von Drehle's headline claims that the "D" in DLC doesn't stand for Dean, it is not entirely clear that it doesn't stand for Divisiveness. If From and Reed can't grow up, maybe they should go home.


Next, write a letter to the DLC letting them know what you think of their jumping into the primary.


Finally, write Jim Jeffords and ask him to defend Howard Dean's centrist policies. The New Democrats like to point to Jeffords as a good example of a moderate and Jeffords endorsed Dean. Thank Jeffords for his endorsement and urge him to give the DLC a polite reminder that Dean is not the "elite liberal" they'd like to claim.


Thanks,
Matt Singer
deandefenseforces@yahoogroups.com
Howard Dean in 2004 - The Doctor is In!
www.deanforamerica.com

:: TELL THE DLC WHAT YOU THINK ::

After a private session with the Democratic Leadership Council tonight, former President Clinton said that the "Democrats seeking the White House have a chance to win in 2004."

"If the current crop of candidates is judged on what they accomplished before running for president, the field is strong." says Clinton.

Clinton only seemed to mention Howard Dean's record in this statement: "Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is described as very liberal by many following the presidential race...but look at what he did as governor of Vermont."

He further labeled Dean as a "New Democrat" a moniker the Democratic Leadership Council puts on Democrats who can blend moderate ideas that appeal to swing voters with traditional Democratic themes.

Does Clinton think Dean is the one that can oust Bush?

:: Clinton: Dems Can Win on Clear Platform ::

"Health care plans rise and fall on their details--details that inevitably take more than a few hours to digest. But on the surface, Howard Dean's long-awaited health care plan looks like pretty good stuff. "

:: read the full article ::

"Americans deserve access to health care as a fundamental right" said Governor Dean.

Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., announced his health care plan in a speech delivered yesterday at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. The four point plan, which builds on pre-existing programs such as Medicaid, will offer access to health care for all Americans.

:: Read the Summary of the Gov. Howard Dean, M.D. "Health Care for America" plan ::

:: Side-by-Side Comparison of Dean, Gephardt Plans ::

:: Full text of the speech as Adobe Acrobat PDF ::

:: Take the Dean Health Care Survey ::

:: Neighborhood Flyer on Dean Health Care Plan ::

"I urge all Americans, and members of both parties, to join me in condemning Sen. Santorum's remarks. They are unacceptable, and silence is an unacceptable response. By standing up against such divisive rhetoric-whether one is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or straight-we can begin to achieve the American ideal of equal rights for all people." - Howard Dean

:: Stand Up With Howard Dean ::.

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