GF-DFA & DF-SATA Weekend Update: Chairman Dean, We Are Needed Now and Why
Hello Everyone;

In this update;

1. Chairman Dean
2. We are needed now
3. Why: the background.
4. Why: the stakes


1. As most of us now know, today, Sarturday, February 13, 2005, Governor Dean was elected Chair of the Democratic National Committee by unanimous acclamation. This was almost two years to the day when the Governor stood before the Winter Convention of the DNC and said the famous words that began so many of us in DFA on the wide ride of the last two years:

"What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic party leadership is supporting the president's unilateral attack on Iraq. 
" What I want to know is why are Democratic party leaders supporting tax cuts.  The question is not how big the tax cut should be, the question should be can we afford a tax cut at all with the largest deficit in the history of this country. 
" What I want to know is why we're fighting in Congress about the Patient's Bill of Rights when the Democratic party ought to be standing up for health care for every single American man, woman, and child in this country. 
" What I want to know is why our folks are voting for the president's No Child Left Behind bill that leaves every child behind, every teacher behind, every school board behind, and every property tax payer behind. 
" I'm Howard Dean and I'm here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party."

That was the first moment in the crusade to Take Back America; now we are Taking Back the Democratic Party. It's the culmination of everything we have done over almost two years and it is a victory in which everyone who helped along the way share in the credit.

We are doubly fortunate to have a leader, who instead of sulking away after a bitter defeat came back to fight again, founding Democracy For America. That movement will continue; to ensure continuity, Governor Dean's brother, Jim Dean, will be taking over for the time as Honorary Chair of DFA, with Tom Hughes as Executive Director. For more read the Governor's newest statement at: http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005975.html

2. But the fight is not over; we are now need as much, if not more, than ever.

The first task is to defend the Governor from the barrage of lies we know is coming from the right wing attack machine. If you haven't written a letter, now is the time to do it. It doesn't have to be long, just tell people why you support Dean and why, as so many of you have told me, that Dean's becoming Chairman of the Party gives you hope again. Check out some tips at: http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005941.html

Send it locally to the Post Star at: tingley@poststar.com and the Chronicle at chroncl@loneoak.com the Saratogian at blombardo@saratogian.com the Times Union at http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp

3. Why is this so important? Because of the power of the Republican Noise Machine. Democratic activist Rob Stein has a Powerpoint presentation that he has been showing around the country to Democratic groups laying out the machinery the radical right has laid down over the last 30 years. This not to be missed piece on Alternet describes it: http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21192/

If you want more details, and it is indeed worth it to understand what this is about and what it means there is a wealth of additional supporting articles at: http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/2/8/153232/5934#readmore

http://commonwealinstitute.org/information.html & http://commonwealinstitute.org/index.html

Media Transparency
http://mediatransparency.org/movement.htm
http://www.mediatransparency.org/

If you can spare some time, take a look at the now infamous Powell Memo that laid out the far right's battle plan against democracy 30 years ago. http://mediatransparency.org/stories/powell.htm

Initially, these articles can seem discouraging. We are up against a lot. But as these pieces make clear, when they started they were far, far farther down than we are and they didn't have the inspirational leaderships of a man like Howard Dean! Remember -- the grass roots almost dragged John Kerry across the finish line first.

4. Let's not forget the stakes: famous author Christopher Hitchens writes in the latest edition of Vanity Fair that he has concluded the vote in Ohio was stolen: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/1712/26186

If he is right, that means the Democrats actually won the White House this year, despite everything.

If we don't fight back, they will do it again. That is why those who say Dean has given them hope again, are right.

Many thanks to you all! As the Governor says, YOU HAVE THE POWER!

My best,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:29 PM