Daily Kos: Gratuitous late summer Tribute to Dean Democrats...

[Larkspur]

by Keith Brekhus on Daily Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/8/15/112037/703

Out of the smoldering embers of the Dean Presidential campaign, 1000 points of light are emerging nationwide. It was just over a year ago that the Democratic Party leadership stated that we wouldn't be able to retake the US house until 2012. Now suddenly the Party is imbued with a new spirit of optimism. Why? Because, that cold day in Iowa when the DLC and the Republican right-wing breathed a sigh of relief as the Dean campaign went down in defeat--few people noticed that the Dean movement continued to fight on undaunted..

Look around the country. House races that haven't been in play for decades are competitive thanks to Dean Democrats. Fifteen-term Congressman Henry Hyde faces an uncertain political future thanks to a very serious challenge from political newcomer and Dean activist, Christine Cegelis. http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/

Deep in the heart of Texas, the most powerful man in Congress, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has his back to the wall against previously little-known Richard Morrison, who has tapped Dean Democrats and raised over a quarter a million dollars. After ten terms in Congress, DeLay has been forced to open a campaign office in his "safe" District for the first time, and then he opened a second office. After spending 900,000 dollars, DeLay still is polling below 50% and clings to a small lead (49-39%) in a District where no previous challenger has ever come within 20% of him in any of ten previous elections!!
Morrison seems unafraid of DeLay and unafraid to invite Dean to share a fundraising brunch with him in a conservative District (brunch is next weekend).

Races once thought unthinkable are becoming competitive. Throughout the nation, the best and brightest House candidates are not old party stalwarts with hefty legislative resumes, but fresh faces from the Dean movement determined to retake Republican seats nobody else thought could be won. Without deferring to the conventional wisdom of the party that said such seats were out of reach, Dean Democrats have taken the fight anywhere and everywhere. Among the Democrats most likely to take over Republican held seats, Dean's list candidates are leading the charge...
<SNIP>

[madfloridian]

1. That is a very special thread with special people.

I can see that a lot of folks feel inspired still.

[PDittie]

2. We'll be at that brunch in Houston this weekend

with Dr. Dean and the DeLay slayer, Richard Morrison.

[NoPasaran]

9. Later on Sunday Dean is headed my way

To speak at the 21st Century Democrats training session in Austin. I am SO looking forward to finally seeing Ho Ho in person!

[madfloridian]

10. Doesn't he have 3 stops in TX that week-end?

Morrison's brunch, 21st century, and one other. You are so lucky.

[NoPasaran]

16. I think he's doing a fundraiser for Morrison Saturday

Somewhere in the Houston area. I am glad he'll have the time to make the trip to Austin!

[madfloridian]

17. I found it. Harris County Democrats.

AUGUST 21,2004
Saturday, August 21
Funraiser for the Harris County Democratic Party
Tickets are $125 and up
http://www.hcdp.org/

Sunday, August 22
Fundraiser for Richard Morrison
Tickets are $50
http://www.richardmorrisonfordistrict22.com/calendar/view_entry.php?id=547&date=20040822

Sunday, August 22
Appearance at DFA/21st Dems workshop
FREE
We are having this event outside as we expect the crowd to be much larger than the venue where the workshop is. For information, go to www.democracyfortexas.org. The specific location of the rally will be posted as soon as we have it.

[mzmolly]

3. I always say they'll rue the day they took Dean out, because DFA

will be a force to contend with for many moons. We are changing politics forever.

Howard Dean has inspired a new generation of Democrats who stand up and fight and who inspire rather than ignore the grassroots of the party. Dean People have taken the fight to unexpected places and shown results.

On that cold January day in Iowa, Dean's fire wasn't extinguished because the embers kept burning and come November those embers could spark a transformation of the American political system and light up the political map on election night.

When the Democratic inferno can't be contained on election night by George W. Bush or Tom DeLay or the Republicans in the Missouri State House it will be largely because Howard Dean and his supporters kept the fire lit and never stopped fighting.

:cry:

[Philostopher]

5. Kerry and the liberal 527s have seen a lot of money out of this house

because Mr. Nownow and I started giving a damn about it all during the Dean campaign. I'm glad to see he took the manure and grew some serious flora out of it -- not that I really expected any other reaction out of Dean.

[mzmolly]

6. I think you represent MANY who Dean inspired.

:hi:

[gratuitous]

4. I had nothin' to do with that!

Even though it's quite a nice thing to say, regardless of whether it's heartfelt.

[Bombtrack]

7. "the Republican right-wing breathed a sigh of relief as the Dean campaign

went down in defeat"

fucking delusional retard

[madfloridian]

11. You should not call the kos poster a "fucking delusional retard"

No matter how you feel about Dean, you should not do that.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[madfloridian]

15. "Pseudo worshippers are mentally off" That is vicious, really.

You are really angry today.

[Guaranteed]

19. He's jealous, is what he is. nt

[WI_DEM]

8. Dean did inspire lots of people to run for office

and it is paying off.

[GumboYaYa]

12. All the candidates here in Missouri are clamoring for the Dean

people to get involved with their campaigns. We recently almost knocked off the biggest name in the state in a Congressional primary battle with the strongest grass roots effort seen here ever. The people who got behind Dean early are becoming superb grassroots organizers.

Two weeks ago was the Strassenfest herein St. Louis. In 2003 at Strassenfest I was handing out pro-Dean/anti-Bush fliers that I had made myself. People looked at me like I was crazy in some cases. We have come an awfully long way in just one year.

[madfloridian]

14. You are so right. Jeff came on strong, and others are as well.

They are making impacts that were not expected. All of a sudden these new guys appear, and they act like pitbulls who won't let go. Darn those Dean-inspired candidates.....they can sure be annoying. :evilgrin:

Jeff Smith's campaign opened a lot of eyes. You guys did good.

[Guaranteed]

18. This is our counter-insurgency.

For decades the neo-cons have been infiltrating our turf, coming into places like California and New York, over the airwaves or otherwise, turning people their way with simple determination and repetition.

Well, now it's our turn.