Howard

Go, Howard!

I didn't get to see Howard Dean's speech and press conference on Saturday, so I'm thankful that C-SPAN reruns these things. I was able to catch both this evening and thought that Dean came out strong. You can read the speech at the DNC site. If anyone knows where one can find a transcript of the press conference, please let me know.

This week on the County Commission

It's been a pretty newsy day for a Saturday. First Howard Dean got the official nod for DNC chair, and then Curtis Adams finally admitted that he's a republican. And this past Thursday, Greg Beck was named to replace JoAnne Favors on our dysfuctional County Commission. Perhaps Beck will be a positive influence on that rather childish (and now bitter) group...

It's official!

Finally, good news for progressives!

Dean named Democratic Party chief

News tidbits

Dean's in.
And Tennessee sucks.
Trippi backs Rosenberg, not Dean.

Action Alert!

Word on the street is that the DNC is getting lots of phone calls from conservative democrats who want to see another blue dog heading the DNC. We can't let this happen. Our party can't survive another status quo, centrist corporate stooge at the helm, losing more and more elections and alienating loyal progressives at the base. Let the DNC know that you want to see a real activist running our party for the next two years. Make phone calls, write letters and send lots of email to the DNC before it's too late!
And don't forget to spread the word!

Get'cher local news here!

For a great daily summary of progressive news with a frequent focus on Chattanooga, head over to Bailout and send a "subscribe" email to get yourself on the mailing list. The web site is still under construction, but the mailing list is fully functional. Check out a sample on the web site or in yesterday's post about Ford's visit.

And slightly off topic, but still related...

Yesterday, I mentioned two talented local bloggers, smijer and bailout (currently found at dailykos.com). It occurs to me that both of them are people I first met at Dean meetups last year. Furthermore, the friends who went with me to the Ford event on Tuesday night are also people I met through the Dean meetups.

There are a number of conclusions one might draw from this observation, including the dreaded and boring "it's just a coincidence":

1. Even during the political off-season, I hang around with a generally liberal bunch of people. Duh.
2. People who went to Dean meeetups are smarter than the average joe. The only local smart political blogs that I know of come from Dean people. (Feel free to send me URLs for other local political blogs -- until I have evidence to the contrary, my point stands)
   
   And, most importantly...
3. The Dean meetups were an awesome phenomenon that we were lucky to be part of. We lost the primary, but Dean himself and the relationships that were formed there go on.

UPDATE: John's also got a new blog.

Yeah!

What he said!

The fundraising prowess of the Democratic candidates was something that would not have happened had we relied on the DC folks. Campaigns like Howard Dean and Wes Clark's, later followed by John Edwards' effort were the ones who taught the party the value of real grassroots fundraising. Furthermore, the DNC needs to learn that the internet is more than just a cash machine.

How many elections do the Democrats have to lose before they finally unload the dead weight?

Go Howard!

Howard Dean made some remarks on the future of the Democratic Party at George Washington University today.

I'll give this to Republicans. They know the America they want. They want a government so small that, in the words of one prominent Republican, it can be drowned in a bathtub.

They want a government that runs big deficits, but is small enough to fit into your bedroom. They want a government that is of, by, and for their special interest friends.

They want a government that preaches compassion but practices division.

They want wealth rewarded over work.

And they are willing to use any means to get there.