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August 31, 2006
The State Activation Project!
From The Hotline:
The DLCC and ActBlue announced the formation of the State Activation Project. The new organization will make sophisticated online fundraising tools available to Dem state legislative candidates in certain states.While state legislative candidates have been hindered by high costs, DLCC exec. dir. Michael Davies says a single umbrella organization provides candidates an economy of scale that will help make fundraising more affordable.
ActBlue Pres. Benjamin Rahn says candidates in state contests in CA, IN, IA, ME, MT, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, and WI will be able to raise money online by 9/4.
Ben diaries more...
When we first met with Raghu Devaguptapu (political director at the DLCC) about activating ActBlue for state candidates he didn't say "I'm not sure this is the right ask for our donors" (translation: we only want to raise money for ourselves). And he didn't say "I think our lawyers will have some serious concerns" (translation: this is too complicated for me). And he didn't say "We'll need to take this up with the board" (translation: our old strategy won't get me fired).Instead, looking at the whiteboard behind us detailing the balance of power in 99 legislative chambers, he said "this could make a huge difference in the landscape. Let's make this happen."
This is GREAT news for our state leg races, where strong organizing can trickle up and help every Dem on the ballot.
Posted by at 1:10 PM | Comments (1)
"You can’t trust Republicans to defend America"
The President gave a speech today. It's one of many more we'll hear in the next few days, filled with the same propaganda, talking points and empty rhetoric from an Administration that has made America less safe and allowed some of the most dangerous regimes in the world to flourish.
This is what Governor Dean had to say in response to Bush's Speech to the American Legion:
You can’t trust Republicans to defend America.Today we only heard more of the same propaganda from a desperate Bush Administration worried more about its party's political prospects this fall than about how to protect America and fight and win the real war on terror.
It's results that matter, and the Bush White House and its rubber-stamp Republicans in Congress have not produced results when it comes to keeping America safe. President Bush said we must be patient and have resolve. The American people have been patient. We have resolve and we are patriotic Americans who because of our patriotism call on this president to change course in Iraq, face the facts on the ground, and focus on the real war on terror. This president's foreign policies have failed. Iraq is sliding into civil war.
Iran and North Korea are more dangerous than they were before Bush took office. The Taliban is coming back to Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden is still on the loose. Yet, Republicans refuse to live up to their responsibility for the fact that under their watch, America is less safe at home and around the world.
Americans are looking for new leadership and a new direction in America's foreign policy that's both tough and smart.
Posted by at 12:50 PM | Comments (34)
Speaking the Truth
Mayor Rocky Anderson came out swinging today at an anti-war protest in Salt Lake City -- demanding President Bush tell the truth about the war in Iraq.Thousands of people gathered outside the City-County Building this afternoon as the controversial mayor gave an animated speech in protest of the war and President Bush. Anderson called the war in Iraq -- quote-- "illegal and immoral."
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
Rocky Anderson cast himself in the role of truth-teller Wednesday, and Salt Lake City's mayor delivered a bravura performance.Anderson's stage was the anti-Bush protest at Washington Square. He leveled a blistering attack on the Bush administration's dubious reasons for going to war in Iraq (Anderson called them lies), its disrespect for the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions, its arrogance, its greed, its secrecy and its multifaceted incompetence. In the main, his indictments rang true, though one could quibble with details.
Anderson's theme was the administration's prevarications, and his antidote, which he developed into a chant for the crowd, was "Give us the truth! Give us the truth!"
The news media, including this newspaper, did not escape the Democratic mayor's righteous wrath. He accused news organizations of "acting like nothing more than a bulletin board for the lies and propaganda of a manipulative, dishonest federal government." In doing so, he said, the news media have not lived up to their "sacred responsibility to ascertain and report the truth."
This latter statement appears to be the only one on which Anderson and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld might agree, given the secretary's lambasting of the press a day earlier at the American Legion convention.
Anderson, the lame-duck mayor of a rogue capital city in the most pro-President Bush state in the union, did not mince words.
"Blind faith in bad leaders is not patriotism. A patriot does
not tell people who are intensely concerned about their country to just sit down and be quiet; to refrain from speaking out in the name of politeness or for the sake of being a good host; to show slavish, blind obedience and deference to a dishonest, war-mongering, human-rights-violating president."That is not a patriot. Rather, that person is a sycophant. That person is a member of a frightening culture of obedience - a culture where falling in line with authority is more important than choosing what is right, even if it is not easy, safe, or popular."
We have criticized the mayor more than once in the past for his blunt style and self-righteousness, even on occasions when we have agreed with him in principle.
But the debate on the Iraq war would be better focused, and the nation's policies would be better conceived, if more Americans were, like Anderson, willing to speak truth to power and demand accountability.
Read the Mayor's remarks, below the fold.
Keep reading "Speaking the Truth"
Posted by at 11:02 AM | Comments (9)
Fighting Dems
Yesterday Fighting Democrats Eric Massa and Tim Walz spoke out in response to Donald Rumsfeld's criticism of those who would question him and the Republican Administration.
Eric Massa:
"After 21 months of trying to find something I can agree with Secretary Rumsfeld on, it is true: the American people are being lied to and I totally agree with Secretary Rumsfeld," Eric Massa, a Navy veteran, said Wednesday. "What I disagree with is the fact that he's the one doing the lying."
Walz, a Minnesota schoolteacher and veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, said the Bush administration has no effective plan to secure the country."This thing has disintegrated," Walz said of Iraq. "On the macro level, there's an absolute failure."
Posted by at 10:46 AM | Comments (12)
Double-talk
Posted by at 10:35 AM | Comments (2)
Thursday Open Thread
What are you interested in today?
Posted by at 7:00 AM | Comments (255)
August 30, 2006
Countdown Open Thread
Governor Dean will be on Countdown during the 8 p.m. hour, so your T.V. should be set to MSNBC!
Don't forget to watch!
This is an open thread...
Posted by at 8:00 PM | Comments (64)
It's in the mail...
I thought I'd send a few postcards home to the ones I love with the Democratic Vision.
You can get your own postcards, here.
I showed you mine...now show me yours!
Posted by at 7:23 PM | Comments (1)
What is He Hiding?
(Governor Dean sent the following e-mail to Democrats across the country today.)Dear Fellow Democrat,
You know the joke about how the government paid $436 for a hammer?
It's true.
So a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 -- a bill that would create a public, searchable database of all federal grants and contracts. Letting the public and the press see where the money goes would be a huge step towards eliminating ridiculous, wasteful spending.
A Google-like web site to find out where your tax dollars go -- seems like a no-brainer, right?
Think again. A Republican Senator famous for pork barrel spending placed a "secret hold" that's preventing the proposal from even getting a vote. The mystery Senator has revealed himself -- it's none other than Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who became famous for trying to waste taxpayer dollars to build a "bridge to nowhere".
It's time to ratchet up the pressure and get this bill on the Congressional agenda. Tell Ted Stevens to give this important open government measure a fair up or down vote:
http://www.democrats.org/publicaccountability
Under the Bush administration, fraud, corruption and abuse are worse than ever.
In fact, their chief procurement officer -- the guy who spends the money Congress authorizes -- was arrested and charged with being part of the web of Republican corruption surrounding disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Under Bush and the Republican Congress, the number of contracts awarded without competitive bidding has skyrocketed, as Democrat Henry Waxman on the House Government Reform Committee has documented. There are likely thousands of examples even more ridiculous than a toilet seat out there -- money wasted, stolen or misspent under this administration.
There's only one way to find out for sure, and that's by publicly accounting for which companies are getting your federal tax dollars. Send your message demanding a vote on the bill now:
http://www.democrats.org/publicaccountability
Ted Stevens, the most senior Republican in the Senate, don't want you to see the wasteful mess that he and his party have made of the federal budget.
From Iraq to our own Gulf Coast, dollars that could be saving lives are being held up, misspent, or wasted. Troops don't have the body armor they need, small businesses in New Orleans haven't received support, and across the country 45 million people go without health insurance.
We've seen the damage that Republican secrets and lies can do to our country, and enough is enough.
Tell Republican Ted Stevens that you demand accountability from the people who spend your money:
http://www.democrats.org/publicaccountability
The corruption and right-wing ideology of Republican rule has created a double nightmare for taxpayers.
Republicans have created the most expensive government in history through their corruption and out-of-control spending, but at the same time they've either refused or failed to meet the challenges of governing, like adequately preparing for disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
Democrats offer a new direction. We'll cut waste, root out corruption, and reprioritize federal spending so that it works for the people -- and we'll do it responsibly.
Remember -- only one president has balanced the budget in the last 45 years, and he was a Democrat.
One lesson learned over the last six years should be clear beyond any doubt: You cannot trust Republicans with your money.
By pressuring the Republicans to give this accountability measure and up or down vote, you can make this election about the open government and fiscal responsibility Americans deserve.
Thank you.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Posted by Tracy Russo at 6:32 PM | Comments (10)
Watch It: Governor Dean on Countdown!
Governor Dean will be on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight. It airs at 8 p.m. in my neck of the woods, but check your local listings to make sure you catch it!
As it happens, Countdown is my favorite news show. So, in honor of the Countdown goodness, leave your nomination for today's "Worst Person in the World" in the comments!
Posted by at 6:28 PM | Comments (6)
Timeline of a Catastrophe
A year ago today, President Bush was playing a guitar (see it, here) while the Gulf Coast lay in ruins and the City of New Orleans drowned...
President Bush:
Bush Continued PR Tour To Turn Around Lagging Support For Iraq At 12pm ET In Coronado, CA. "Concluding a monthlong vacation marked by antiwar protests outside his Texas home and a rising death toll in Iraq, President Bush on Tuesday invoked the anniversary of the Japanese surrender in World War II and the postwar rebirth of that country as a parallel to present-day U.S. efforts in the Middle East. Bush spoke against the dramatic backdrop of the Ronald Reagan, a 1,092-foot, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier docked at North Island Naval Air Station. The picturesque setting, enthusiastic crowd and historical references contrasted sharply with the political realities facing Bush as he returns today to Washington, where some lawmakers have begun comparing Iraq to Vietnam, a war with far more negative connotations than the Allied victory over Japan and Nazi Germany. Bush's speech Tuesday marked the latest of his several recent efforts to turn around public opinion on the war" [Los Angeles Times, 8/31/05; MSNBC, 8/30/05]
Bush Played Guitar With Country Singer After His Remarks In Coronado, 3pm ET. "President Bush plays a guitar presented to him by Country Singer Mark Wills, right, backstage following his visit to Naval Base Coronado, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005." [AP Photo/ABC News]
The Gulf Coast:
Looting And Chaos Take Over In New Orleans. "Law enforcement efforts to contain the emergency left by Katrina slipped into chaos in parts of New Orleans Tuesday -- with some police officers and firefighters even joining looters in picking stores clean.At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into mass looting. Authorities at the scene said bedlam erupted after the giveaway was announced over the radio. 'We don't have enough cops to stop it,' an officer said. 'A mass riot would break out if you tried.'" [New Orleans Times Picayune, 8/31/05]
Mayor Of New Orleans Warned Flood Waters Will Continue To Rise Rapidly. The catastrophic flooding that filled the bowl that is New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday will only get worse over the next few days because rainfall from Hurricane Katrina continues to flow into Lake Pontchartrain from north shore rivers and streams, and east winds and a 17.5-foot storm crest on the Pearl River block the outflow water through the Rigolets and Chef Menteur Pass..New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin warned Tuesday evening that an attempt to plug the holes in the 17th Street Canal had failed, and the floodwaters were expected to continue to rise rapidly throughout the night. Eventually, Nagin said, the water could reach as high as 3 feet above sea level, meaning it could rise to 12 to 15 feet high in some parts of the city." [New Orleans Times Picayune, 8/31/05]
For a full comparision, see the research document, "Timeline of a Catastrophe".
Posted by at 6:12 PM | Comments (1)
ID-LG: 25,000 Handshakes, 25,000 Stories
In July, I wrote:
(In Idaho) we find our Lt. Governor candidate, former Congressman Larry LaRocco, is within striking distance of his opponent. New polling of his GOP foe, who is currently serving as acting Governor, has less than half of voters (46%) rating his job performance positively and a mere 36% of voters committed to re-electing him. So we could likely see yet another state-wide pick-up.
Just last week, DailyKos Front-pager McJoan wrote:
A month ago, the world of political junkies was slightly rocked by the news that the GOP is worried about one of their House seats in, to quote Markos, "freakin' Idaho?" The Hill reported that the GOP "Retain Our Majority" effort was sinking a lot of money into what is supposed to be one of their safest seats.
Well all of that is still true - Idaho has the GOP worried. LaRocco's campaign is well underway and picking up steam every day. After serving two terms in the United States Congress, Larry LaRocco is working to serve the state of Idaho once again. In his quest to win the right to serve as Idaho's next Lt. Governor, LaRocco has launched his campaign to meet with 25,000 people, shake 25,000 hands and listen to 25,000 different stories.
Armed with individually numbered cards, LaRocco has criss-crossed the state, documenting stories as he goes.
Check out the videos from the launch of his state-wide tour.
Posted by at 5:17 PM | Comments (1)
How Will The Bush Administration Spin This?
If you’re still harboring the notion that the economy is “good,” prepare to be disabused.Even the best number from yesterday’s Census Bureau report for 2005 is bad news for most Americans. It shows that median income rose 1.1 percent last year, to $46,326, the first increase since it peaked in 1999. But the entire increase is attributable to the 23 million households headed by someone over age 65. So the gain is likely from investment income and Social Security, not wages and salaries.
For the other 91 million households, the median dropped, by half a percent, or $275. Incomes for the under-65 crowd were hurt by a decline in wages and salaries among full-time working men for the second year in a row, and among full-time working women for the third straight year. In all, median income for the under-65 group was $2,000 lower in 2005 than in 2001, when the last recession bottomed out.
Despite the Bush-era expansion, the number of Americans living in poverty in 2005 — 37 million — was the same as in 2004. This is the first time the number has not risen since 2000. But the share of the population now in poverty — 12.6 percent — is still higher than at the trough of the last recession, when it was 11.7 percent. And among the poor, 43 percent were living below half the poverty line in 2005 — $7,800 for a family of three. That’s the highest percentage of people in “deep poverty” since the government started keeping track of those numbers in 1975.
As for the uninsured, their ranks grew in 2005 by 1.3 million people, to a record 46.6 million, or 15.9 percent. That’s also worse than the recession year 2001, reflecting the rising costs of health coverage and a dearth of initiatives to help families and companies cope with the burden. For the first time since 1998, the percentage of uninsured children increased in 2005.
Posted by at 9:40 AM | Comments (9)
Wednesday Morning Open Thread
Are you ready? College football starts this weekend.
This is an open thread...
Posted by at 9:27 AM | Comments (187)
August 29, 2006
Tuesday Night Open Thread
For the night owls...
Check out:
Posted by at 8:08 PM | Comments (151)
Timeline of a Catastrophe
A year ago today, President Bush was attending pricey fundraisers and eating cake while the Gulf Coast was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
President Bush:
- Bush In Arizona Campaigning Hard To “Pre-Sell” A Political Victory at 12pm ET. Bush talked to an invitation only audience of about 400 people at the Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort. The Arizona Republic said Bush came to campaign hard for his new Medicare plan. “The main focus of Bush's visit was to elaborate on the new Medicare drug benefit…Having high numbers of enrollees also will be a political victory for the president, since he pushed the Medicare reform measure through Congress in 2003. Members of the Bush administration have been on the road, going across the country to talk up the program…. ‘I think Bush would like it (the Medicare drug benefit) to play a role in the elections next year -- he's been touting it as one of the big accomplishments of his first term,’ David Mark, of Campaigns & Elections Magazine, said Monday.… Bush said Monday that he was in El Mirage ‘pre-selling’ the importance of enrolling for the benefit.” [Arizona Republic, 8/30/05]
- Bush Stopped To Celebrate McCain’s Birthday At Luke Air Force Base. “Greeting Bush was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)… The president paused on the tarmac to help celebrate McCain's 69th birthday, but on a blazing Arizona day, the cake melted before he could taste it.” [Washington Post, 8/30/05]
- “Upbeat” Bush Continues Campaigning, Speaking Straight From White House Talking Points In Rancho Cucamonga, CA at 5:45pm ET. “An upbeat and slightly sunburned President George W. Bush chatted with the nation's Medicare chief and several locals in a casual, town hall-type setting Monday, encouraging seniors to find out more about their new prescription drug benefits. Repeatedly telling an audience of 200 invited guests at the James L. Brulte Senior Center that the new program was "a good deal,' the president also assured seniors that he sympathized with their apprehension.… Bush, who spoke for just under a half-hour, pulled talking points directly from a White House fact sheet that states Medicare has not kept up with advances in medicine…. Bush's appearance was part of a $300 million campaign to promote awareness of the program and boost interest in it.” [Whittier Daily News, 8/30/05]
The Gulf Coast
- Katrina Moves On Shore As Category 4 Hurricane. At 6am, the National Hurricane Center warned that “extremely dangerous category four hurricane Katrina preparing to move onshore newar southern Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana…Hurricane-force wind gusts occurring over most of southeastern Louisiana…and as far east as the Chandeleur Islands.” [Hurricane Center]
- At Least 55 Reported Deaths By Hurricane Katrina Throughout Gulf Coast. “Hurricane Katrina barreled into the Gulf Coast on Monday morning, its fierce winds cutting a 125-mile swath of destruction stretching from coastal Alabama across Mississippi to the French Quarter and the Superdome. At least 55 people were killed. The storm's leading edge, wielding winds up to 145 mph across the Gulf of Mexico, made landfall as a fearsome Category 4 hurricane at 7:10 a.m. Eastern time near the Louisiana bayou town of Buras, about 63 miles southeast of New Orleans. Katrina then wheeled into western Mississippi, bringing a 20-foot storm surge along the coast near Biloxi. It headed north later Monday to inundate most of the Mississippi Delta, spun off dozens of tornadoes through the South and promised drenching rains later in the week as far north as the Ohio Valley.” [Washington Post, 8/30/05]
- The flooding begins - literally. Pictures start to come in from residents and reporters as the Gulf Coast is washed away.
For a full comparison, check out the research document, Timeline of a Catastrophe.
Posted by at 5:43 PM | Comments (9)
Party Leaders on the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
"Katrina and its tragic aftermath serve as a painful reminder that too many of our fellow Americans live and struggle in poverty. As we mark this anniversary, we should remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King and others who spoke on the Mall in Washington some 43 years ago calling on each one of us as individuals and our nation to honor our obligation to one another as part of the American community. As Dr. King so eloquently stated, ‘we cannot walk alone.’“Our message to the people of the Gulf Coast is that we have not and we will not forget you. We will work hard to ensure the Gulf Coast has the resources needed to rebuild its communities, and that the people of the Gulf Coast have the resources to rebuild their lives.
“Too many Americans live in poverty, and too many Americans in the Gulf Coast are awaiting the help and resources needed to rebuild their lives. Despite the President’s rhetoric that he would work to eliminate poverty and other social and economic injustices highlighted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has abandoned the same programs he touted just one year ago. We have a long way to go in ensuring the dream that Dr. King spoke of some 43 years ago, and Republicans’ misplaced priorities are not getting us closer to making that dream a reality. We need a new direction on the Gulf Coast. We call on President Bush to honor his promise to fight poverty and restore the confidence of the American people in their government.”
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi:
“One year ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, causing the tragedy, and exposing another. One year later, neither the tragedy Katrina caused – the flooding of New Orleans and the devastation of the Gulf Coast; nor the tragedy that it exposed – the extent of the federal government’s failure to provide a life of security and dignity to all of our citizens – have been adequately addressed. Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens still await the help in rebuilding their hospitals, schools, businesses, and homes that was promised last fall.“Throughout America, today must be a day of prayer, grief, and introspection. Though it is long past due, today is the day for a new direction in the Gulf Coast, where despair and destruction are finally replaced by hope and renewal. In that vein, members of the Congressional Democratic Caucus are in the Gulf Coast this week to renew our commitment to rebuilding communities.
“On this somber anniversary, we remember the lives lost and we rededicate ourselves to help those who survived. We must recover the sense of urgency and common purpose that Katrina evoked and we must answer, finally, the challenge it placed upon our national conscience.”
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid:
“It has been one year since Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the Gulf Coast and ripped away the illusion that our government was prepared to respond to a national emergency. In that year, the residents of the battered region have struggled to move on and to rebuild. Unfortunately in Washington, too many have simply moved on.“One year later, it is time for a new direction. Too many across the Gulf Coast still have not seen the reconstruction they deserve, and across America, too many are still waiting for the real security they demand. Now is the time for the government to keep the promises it made after the hurricanes. It is time to put aside the failure and incompetence of the last year and change the destruction and despair across the Gulf Coast to a new spirit of hope and recovery.”
Posted by at 3:37 PM | Comments (16)
Remembering Hurricane Katrina
It's hard to believe an entire year has passed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. As a nation, we were stunned, shocked, saddened and outraged as we watched our fellow citizens struggle, alone, for days, as the Republican Administration failed the people of the Gulf Coast.
As a nation, we came together to give to our fellow Americans in their time of need, yet there is still work to be done. The past year has tested the spirits of those left behind by this horrific storm, and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast continues.
As Senator Landrieu said:
A year after the most powerful hurricanes in history hit America's shores, the rebuilding process is only just beginning in many communities. And as long as tens of thousands of families can't return home the work of recovery remains incomplete.Countless neighborhoods appear as if the hurricanes were just yesterday, and they serve as harsh reminders of how our nation was so unprepared.
Unfortunately, our nation in many ways remains unprepared for major disasters, whether they be hurricanes, earthquakes, or terrorist attacks.
We've put together a resource center where you can find more information. Please check out our special coverage, and including, the "Promises Made, Promises Broken" report.
Plus - make sure you are prepared for a storm. The Red Cross has the information you need.
Posted by at 12:14 PM | Comments (8)
Tuesday Morning Open Thread
Good morning. This is an open thread...
Posted by at 9:40 AM | Comments (217)
August 28, 2006
On the Front Lines of Democracy
This week we'd like to highlight a few of the many Fighting Dems who are running for federal office. There are dozens of men and women running with a (D) next to their name for the chance to serve their country again, this time in a suit and tie instead of camo and boots.
From the Fighting Dems page:
There are a special group of Democrats who first sign up to serve their country, often in wars half way around the world, and then return home and continue to fight for the values they hold dear in the Democratic Party. Right now more than fifty veterans are running as Democrats for Congress and dozens more are running up and down the ticket.We all know the current administration doesn't hesitate to stand in front of the troops when it comes to a photo-op, but never stands behind them when it comes to providing the armor necessary to fight in Iraq, or the benefits promised when they return home. It's time for veterans to join together and defend our country once more -- and the Fighting Dems intend to do just that. They share the Democratic Party's bold vision to ensure that for the safety and economic security of our country we change course and move our country in a different direction, from Iraq to healthcare and the budget.
Governor Howard Dean initiated the creation of the Democratic Council for Veterans and Military Families to work for and secure a strong national defense, full support for our men and women in uniform, complete care for our wounded veterans and their families and adequate services for all veterans and military families.
Many Fighting Dems are already through the primary process and will be on the ticket in November. A list of those candidates can be found here. Still more are talking with voters in their respective district as part of the Democratic primary process, and a list of those veterans -- and the other Democrats involved -- can be found here. You can learn more about the Democratic Council for Veterans and Military Families here.
So, before we get to the individual profiles, take a minute to check out the brave men and women who are proudly standing up on the Front Lines of Democracy. With so many great candidates, it's likely you'll find one in your state.
Posted by at 5:27 PM | Comments (2)
On this day, in 1963...
Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to thousands of civil rights protestors who gathered in Washington, DC:
...And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
Read, watch, or listen to the full speech, here.
Posted by at 12:01 PM | Comments (13)
Action #72
Today's Action reminds us to contact unregistered voters.
Reach out to your family and friends who don't vote. Voter registration deadlines are rapidly approaching.
Deadlines vary from state to state, so it's important you know what kind of timeline you are dealing with. I find the best place to go is the website for your Secretary of State's office.
Take this action personally - we all know a few people who are politically apathetic, who shouldn't be. Whatever their excuse is - it's not good enough.
Consider it your mission to identify, and help register, new voters. Then, make sure they vote.
In 2004 it was my personal mission to make sure a friend of mine registered to vote. She was smart, and she cared about the direction of our country, but she was also busy with work and home, and didn't see something like getting registered to vote as a priority. However, I made it a priority for her. I handed her the voter registration form and sat with her as she filled it out. Together we headed to a mailbox and mailed it.
Not only did she vote in 2004 but she has been increasingly engaged in the political process since then, often asking me if I heard about this tidbit, or that news story. I couldn't be prouder!
2004 was also the first year my younger brother could vote and I made sure that he did his duty too. It was easier than I anticipated. He had been registered by the League of Women Voters during his senior year of high school (as had I, thanks to a fantastic teacher...) and he already had a pretty good inclination to Vote Democratic. Plus, I think knowing that our two votes canceled out the unwise choices of our parents was a great motivator.
So take today's action to heart. Sit down and think about your closest friends and family members. Are each and every one of them registered to vote? If not, you know what to do...
Some tools for you:
Posted by at 10:11 AM | Comments (11)
Just Another Manic Monday Open Thread
What's the good word?
Posted by at 9:13 AM | Comments (209)
August 25, 2006
PartyBuilder
Over a year ago, a few of us here in the DNC's Internet department started talking about devolving our technology to users. After all, you're Democrats too, so why were we the only ones with a blog on Democrats.org? Well, after a lot of work by a lot of people, now you do -- along with a lot of other things.
We're pushing out a group of tools today we call PartyBuilder. A literal name for obvious reasons: the Party belongs to you, and it's built upon the work and passion so many of you have put into things like door knocking, phone banking and, yes, contributing. Now, we're giving you the tools to build it online.
There's a lot here. Social networking, grouping, a community blog, the events tool you've used for things like the 50-State Canvass or the Democratic Reunion, personal fundraising tools, and a petitions and letters section that we're going to expand on. You should take a minute to look through it...it's exciting stuff.
For those of you who are regulars here, I've already set up a group for us. The same login you use here will work there, all you need to do is click "join". The group has a listserv, a shared blog, and you have the ability to create events and assign them to the group if you want. You should also take time to build groups in your area or for your causes, too.
You'll be hearing a lot more about this in the future, so you should head over a check it out. There's a much more detailed explanation of the tools here, if you're interested. And be sure to send us any problems you might find. We're not officially launching just yet -- just testing things out for a while.
Posted by Josh McConaha at 1:37 PM | Comments (25)
TGIF Open Thread
It's Friday! Celebrate! That's an order!
With 25 Actions down and just 75 left to go, it's important to remember to celebrate the small successes along the way.
Posted by at 9:33 AM | Comments (294)
August 24, 2006
Around the Blogosphere
I noticed a ton of great comments about Governor Dean's most recent e-mail message and Hardball appearance while I was traveling around the blogosphere. Here are some of my favorites.
On the Most Recent E-Mail from Governor Dean:
"Crazy loon---if he keeps this up he'll get us all...um, back on track??"
"Howard Dean has not only greatly improved DNC fundraising while increasing the proportion of small donors to large donors, but he just makes sense!""Those who label Howard and his brother, Jim Dean, "Rebels without a Clue," or as radicals are simply not paying attention. So, we are seeing excellent fundraising, a 50-state strategy that includes a wide variety of Democratic philosophies (a "big tent" in other words) and statements that are pretty right on the mark regarding issues (National Security in this case), and yet some still try to present Howard Dean as a radical who will destroy the Democratic Party. Well, if THIS is destruction, we need more of it."
"The GOP does everything it can to vilify Howard Dean. Any Democrat with real ideas to get us out of the GOP's quagmire in Iraq is dangerous to Republican power. Over half the country believes the Iraq war to be a mistake now and the Republicans aren't going to do so well in November. Democrats are the party that can deal with threats to our country more effectively and efficiently than Democrats - it's been 5 years since 9/11 and, because of Bush's war in Iraq, we have still not accomplished the mission in Afghanistan."
"Democrats on the offense. Speaking out more forcefully against this administration and the GOP…I've noticed a sea change. And it's good to hear the DNC talking tough and making sense."
On Governor Dean's Hardball Appearance:
"Like the physician that he is, Howard Dean cuts through the crap with laser-like precision"
"Howard Dean knocks it out of the park"
"More of this, please."
"Just one more example of why Howard Dean is the voice of grassroots Democrats"
"Howard Dean says it, and it's about time somebody did."
"Howard Dean shows the way"
"Oh, YES: Governor Howard Dean (D-My Heart)"
In case you missed it: You can watch the Hardball interview, here, and read the e-mail, here.
Posted by at 6:46 PM | Comments (117)
Playing offense for a change
(Governor Dean sent the following e-mail to Democrats across the country today.)
Dear Fellow Democrat,
Democrats have been playing defense for too long.
Over the past few months, though, something has shifted. When it comes to national security, Democrats are playing offense for a change -- and it's working.
It's not enough to respond to the daily misinformation coming out of the White House, or defend ourselves against outrageous claims from Dick Cheney. We can't let them dictate the national conversation.
We have a fundamentally different vision for our security than the Party of Bush. We want a new direction in Iraq, more competent security at home, and the restoration of America's moral leadership in the world.
And we have a plan to take that message to voters between now and Election Day with person-to-person outreach in all 50 states. We have staff on the ground ready to take a strong Democratic message to voters -- supporting candidates up and down the ballot and spreading the word that it's time for a change.
We're going to fight for the Democratic vision on national security -- will you make a contribution to help fund our plan?
http://www.democrats.org/playoffense
People trust Democrats to handle our national security. In the latest CBS News and ABC News polls, more people trust Democrats to make the right decisions on Iraq. And in the latest Newsweek poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans agree that the war in Iraq has not made us safer from terrorism.
Meanwhile, as Iraq descends into civil war and becomes a new training ground for international terrorists, cargo coming into our country still isn't being inspected.
While the Party of Bush scrambles to write its latest talking points calling anyone who opposes them "al Qaeda types", nuclear materials sit unguarded in the former Soviet Union.
While the administration organizes lawyers to try to salvage its illegal domestic spying program, Osama bin Laden continues to remain free roaming around northwest Pakistan making videotapes five years after the tragic events of September 11th.
We're strong, we're right, and the people know it. Now let's get our message our to voters in all 50 states. Can you donate to help make it happen?
http://www.democrats.org/playoffense
Republicans have won two elections by instilling fear in people, and they're trying to do it again this year.
But it's not going to work. The President's foreign policies have failed. Iraq is sliding into civil war. Iran and North Korea are more dangerous than they were five and a half years ago. And the Taliban continues to present a threat in Afghanistan.
People have had enough. This administration cannot be trusted with our security.
Democrats are going to reclaim American leadership with a tough, smart plan to transform failed policies in Iraq, the Middle East and around the world.
We will double the size of Special Forces to destroy Osama Bin Laden and terrorist networks like al Qaeda.
We will implement the bipartisan 9/11 Commission proposal to secure America's borders and ports and screen every container.
And we will fully man, train, and equip our National Guard and our police, firefighters and other first responders.
Let's get this message out to Americans who need to hear it:
http://www.democrats.org/playoffense
When it comes to national security, the Republicans have not led.
We will.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee
P.S. -- We are spending $8 billion a month in Iraq. That's $2 billion each week, $267 million each day, or $11 million each hour. For what we spend in three weeks, we could make needed improvements in order to properly secure our public transportation systems. For what we spend in five days, we could put radiation detectors in all of our ports. And for two days in Iraq, we could screen all air cargo.
Can you donate to help make those things happen?
http://www.democrats.org/playoffense
Posted by Tracy Russo at 6:38 PM | Comments (12)
Game On - Mark Your Calendars
NBC's Meet the Press 2006 Senate Debate Series announced a line-up this morning, via First Read:
September 3:
Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D)September 13:
Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) vs. Jim Webb (D)October 1:
Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine (R) vs. Sherrod Brown (D)October 8:
Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) vs. Claire McCaskill (D)October 15:
Minnesota candidates Amy Klobuchar (D) and Mark Kennedy (R)October 29:
Maryland Senate nominees (still TBD)
Posted by at 11:43 AM | Comments (1)
FDA Finally Does the Right Thing (Sorta)
After delaying approval for years, the Food and Drug Administration has finally approved Plan B for over-the-counter sales to women over the age of 18, something that their own advisory panel recommended a long time ago, but that was left in limbo as the agency caved to pressure from the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party.
From The Washington Post:
The Food and Drug Administration approved an application today making the long-debated emergency contraceptive Plan B, commonly known as the "morning-after pill", available without a prescription to women 18 and older.The FDA said Barr Laboratories, the maker of Plan B, could begin selling the drug.
Many social conservatives in and out of Congress have battled to keep the drug from becoming available without a prescription. Some say that could encourage promiscuity, and others say use of the pill causes a very early abortion. Their position had for almost three years trumped an overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that the drug could be safety dispensed by a pharmacist without a prescription.
...
"This is something that women's health groups have been working on for more than a decade," said Amy Allina of the National Women's Health Network. "If the decision comes out as we expect it to, that's a real victory."
Allina added that restricting access to women 18 and older is disappointing. "There's no medical or scientific reason for restricting access. It sends a message that it's somehow less safe for younger women, which just isn't true," she said.
So what caused the sudden change of heart? Our Democratic Senators played a little hardball:
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) put a hold on the nomination last year because of what they said was the agency's refusal to make a decision about the drug. They accused the administration of politicizing science regarding Plan B by not accepting the recommendations of an expert advisory panel and the FDA's own scientific staff.
Check out this post for more.
Posted by at 10:04 AM
FYI: Pluto Voted Out of the Solar System
Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.
Posted by at 10:01 AM | Comments (7)
Thursday Open Thread
Governor Dean was on Hardball yesterday. If you missed it, you can watch the clip, here.
Then, head over to 100actions.com and tell your story!
Posted by at 9:49 AM | Comments (232)
August 23, 2006
New Calendar Increases Diversity
The new presidential nominating calendar approved last weekend at the DNC Fall Meeting has generated some buzz. The Democratic presidential nominee selection process has been changed - Nevada will hold the second caucus and South Carolina the second primary alongside Iowa and New Hampshire.
By adding Nevada and South Carolina, the Democratic Party is significantly increasing the early participation of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans and labor members, as well as increasing geographic diversity by including states in all regions of the country. Also, by requiring states to adopt new Inclusion Plans for LGBT Americans, Americans with disabilities and other groups traditionally under-represented, the DNC is promoting full participation in the political process by all Americans.
Posted by at 5:32 PM | Comments (12)
Six New Democrats in the Senate
Yesterday, The Hotline posted a compilation of recent polling across the United States. According to these polls, Democrats can win back the Senate. Listed below are the six Senate seat pick ups projected by polling. Keep in mind that these polls don't guarantee Election Day votes, and that in the bottom two races, the Democratic challengers are within the margin of error. You knew that.
Missouri
Research 2000 (+/-3.5%) 6/19-6/22
Claire McCaskill (D) 49
Jim Talent (R) 43
Montana
Lake Research (+/-4.0%) 8/8-8/10
Jon Tester (D) 44
Conrad Burns (R) 37
Ohio
Columbus Dispatch (+/-2.0%) 7/11-7/20
Sherrod Brown (D) 45
Mike DeWine (R) 37
Pennsylvania
Quinnipiac (+/-2.6%) 8/8-8/13
Bob Casey (D) 48
Rick Santorum (R) 42
Rhode Island
Brown Univ./Taubman (+/-3.5%) 6/24-6/26
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) 38
Lincoln Chafee (R) 37
Tennessee
Benenson Strategy Group (+/-2.9%) 8/10-8/15
Harold Ford (D) 44
Bob Corker (R) 42
In honor of this post, please take today's action: find out if you can vote early. According to an outdated list I found online, one of the above states can vote early. You'll have to call your local election board to find out for sure.
Posted by at 3:58 PM | Comments (6)
Wyoming's Cubin Could Be Weak
CQ put out a story this AM on Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin, the great state of Wyoming's only voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Word is she's looking a little weak.
But her underwhelming showing against a little-known opponent suggested that she could be vulnerable in November in a state that usually leans strongly to Cubin's party.
Let's not forget Wyoming has a Democratic Governor. Keep your eye on Democratic candidate Gary Trauner and the 50-state strategy in Big Sky country.
Update: DNC Chair Howard Dean had this to say about Wyoming's primary yesterday:
Gary Trauner, an accomplished small business owner, is poised to take on weak Republican incumbent Barbara Cubin. Cubin is a six-term incumbent who received only 60 percent of the vote, even after outspending her opponent 30 to 1.
Sweet.
Posted by at 3:08 PM | Comments (8)
Wednesday Morning Open Thread
Good morning!
USA Today features an op-ed this morning by Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. The article focuses on the new presidential nominating calendar.
Posted by at 9:48 AM | Comments (301)
August 22, 2006
This Strategy Sounds Familiar
From Ohio, via the Buckeye State Blog...
Gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland, with a busload of fellow Democratic state candidates, crisscrossed Southwest Ohio Saturday, looking for votes in a part of the state that Republicans have taken for granted."People all over Ohio are tired of it - tired of the too-often incompetent, too-often corrupt and many times illegal behavior in Columbus," the Democratic congressman told a crowd of about 150 Democrats who gathered in Union Township Veterans Park. "Democrats, independents and even many Republicans know it. It is time for a change."
And while Strickland and other Democratic candidates were campaigning on Republican Ken Blackwell's home turf, Blackwell was an hour northeast of Cincinnati, meeting in a Fayette County barn with about 150 Republicans.
Strickland took his campaign to win back the statehouse for the Democrats into the part of Ohio that's given credit for helping George W. Bush win a second term - the counties that ring Cincinnati.
The Democratic bus that hit Clermont, Butler and Warren counties Saturday - along with a stop at Yeatman's Cove on Cincinnati's riverfront for the Black Family Reunion - was packed with Democratic statewide candidates.
They included U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, auditor candidate Barbara Sykes, treasurer candidate Richard Cordray, attorney general candidate Marc Dann, and former state Sen. Ben Espy, who is running for the Ohio Supreme Court.
Things like this are great to see. 50 states or 88 counties, you can't convince anyone if you don't go talk to them -- you just keep losing a few votes at a time, until all you're left with is a great ad campaign and a few yard signs nobody wants.
Posted by Josh McConaha at 11:46 PM | Comments (6)
"Jumping in to fill the void..."
With a do-nothing Republican-led Congress and an Administration that has proven itself completely incompetent, is it any surprise that states are stepping in to do the heavy lifting when it comes to governing?
Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, who was one of the speakers at the DNC Meeting in Chicago, recently announced a new direction for his state's energy strategy, that is ambitious and innovative.
The details:
Pointing to high fuel costs and dependence on foreign oil, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich wants his state to overhaul its energy sources with a strategy that experts said would be among the nation’s most ambitious, including replacing half its current supply of gasoline from imported oil with that made from homegrown products in little more than a decade.On Tuesday, Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat seeking a second term in November, will announce a five-part, $1.2 billion plan, elements of which would require the legislature’s support, aides said.
Mr. Blagojevich’s aides said he would call for financial incentives to build up to 20 ethanol plants, five biodiesel plants and four facilities that would create ethanol from wastes like corn husks and wood pulp in Illinois, where five ethanol production plants operate now and where three more are under construction.
He will seek additional incentives to increase the number of service stations selling biofuels, with the goal that all of Illinois’ 5,000 or so service stations would offer E-85 (which is 85 percent ethanol) by 2017, compared with just 130 that offer it today. And, his aides said, Mr. Blagojevich will press to build a pipeline in the state that will move carbon dioxide, created by coal gasification plants in Illinois, to the oilfields in the southeastern section of the state, where it can be used to extract more oil and gas.
Environmental advocates said Mr. Blagojevich’s proposal reached beyond similar efforts that have been proposed elsewhere. Jim Marston of Environmental Defense described it as ambitious and cautioned that others beyond the governor’s office, including automobile makers, service station owners and venture capitalists, would have to cooperate with such a plan for it to become reality.
Still, Mr. Marston said he viewed Mr. Blagojevich’s sweeping proposal as a positive step. “The states are jumping in to fill a void created by Washington,” he said.
Posted by at 5:54 PM | Comments (5)
President Clinton: How We Ended Welfare, Together
On the anniversery of the signing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, President Clinton writes an op-ed in The New York Times.
Ten years ago today I signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. By then I had long been committed to welfare reform. As a governor, I oversaw a workfare experiment in Arkansas in 1980 and represented the National Governors Association in working with Congress and the Reagan administration to draft the welfare reform bill enacted in 1988.Yet when I ran for president in 1992, our system still was not working for the taxpayers or for those it was intended to help. In my first State of the Union address, I promised to “end welfare as we know it,” to make welfare a second chance, not a way of life, exactly the change most welfare recipients wanted it to be.
Most Democrats and Republicans wanted to pass welfare legislation shifting the emphasis from dependence to empowerment. Because I had already given 45 states waivers to institute their own reform plans, we had a good idea of what would work. Still, there were philosophical gaps to bridge. The Republicans wanted to require able-bodied people to work, but were opposed to continuing the federal guarantees of food and medical care to their children and to spending enough on education, training, transportation and child care to enable people to go to work in lower-wage jobs without hurting their children.
On Aug. 22, 1996, after vetoing two earlier versions, I signed welfare reform into law. At the time, I was widely criticized by liberals who thought the work requirements too harsh and conservatives who thought the work incentives too generous. Three members of my administration ultimately resigned in protest. Thankfully, a majority of both Democrats and Republicans voted for the bill because they shouldn’t be satisfied with a system that had led to intergenerational dependency.
The last 10 years have shown that we did in fact end welfare as we knew it, creating a new beginning for millions of Americans.
In the past decade, welfare rolls have dropped substantially, from 12.2 million in 1996 to 4.5 million today. At the same time, caseloads declined by 54 percent. Sixty percent of mothers who left welfare found work, far surpassing predictions of experts. Through the Welfare to Work Partnership, which my administration started to speed the transition to employment, more than 20,000 businesses hired 1.1 million former welfare recipients. Welfare reform has proved a great success, and I am grateful to the Democrats and Republicans who had the courage to work together to take bold action.
The success of welfare reform was bolstered by other anti-poverty initiatives, including the doubling of the earned-income tax credit in 1993 for lower-income workers; the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which included $3 billion to move long-term welfare recipients and low-income, noncustodial fathers into jobs; the Access to Jobs initiative, which helped communities create innovative transportation services to enable former welfare recipients and other low-income workers to get to their new jobs; and the welfare-to-work tax credit, which provided tax incentives to encourage businesses to hire long-term welfare recipients.
I also signed into law the toughest child-support enforcement in history, doubling collections; an increase in the minimum wage in 1997; a doubling of federal financing for child care, helping parents look after 1.5 million children in 1998; and a near doubling of financing for Head Start programs.
The results: child poverty dropped to 16.2 percent in 2000, the lowest rate since 1979, and in 2000, the percentage of Americans on welfare reached its lowest level in four decades. Overall, 100 times as many people moved out of poverty and into the middle class during our eight years as in the previous 12. Of course the booming economy helped, but the empowerment policies made a big difference.
Regarding the politics of welfare reform, there is a great lesson to be learned, particularly in today’s hyper-partisan environment, where the Republican leadership forces bills through Congress without even a hint of bipartisanship. Simply put, welfare reform worked because we all worked together. The 1996 Welfare Act shows us how much we can achieve when both parties bring their best ideas to the negotiating table and focus on doing what is best for the country.
The recent welfare reform amendments, largely Republican-only initiatives, cut back on states’ ability to devise their own programs. They also disallowed hours spent pursuing an education from counting against required weekly work hours. I doubt they will have the positive impact of the original legislation.
We should address the inadequacies of the latest welfare reauthorization in a bipartisan manner, by giving states the flexibility to consider higher education as a category of “work,” and by doing more to help people get the education they need and the jobs they deserve. And perhaps even more than additional welfare reform, we need to raise the minimum wage, create more good jobs through a commitment to a clean energy future and enact tax and other policies to support families in work and child-rearing.
Ten years ago, neither side got exactly what it had hoped for. While we compromised to reach an agreement, we never betrayed our principles and we passed a bill that worked and stood the test of time. This style of cooperative governing is anything but a sign of weakness. It is a measure of strength, deeply rooted in our Constitution and history, and essential to the better future that all Americans deserve, Republicans and Democrats alike.
Posted by at 10:01 AM | Comments (17)
Tuesday Open Thread
Action 78 reminds us to reach out to our elderly neighbors and help them get absentee ballots. I would add that you should also reach out to any students you know who may attend school far from the place where they are registered to vote. Make sure they have a plan to vote too!
This is an open thread...
Posted by at 9:24 AM | Comments (377)
August 21, 2006
Democrats in Chicago: A Blog-Story
If my trip to Chicago were a book, it would read something like this:
Chapter 1: We Have Arrived
Chapter 2: Welcome to Chicago
Chapter 3: Many Hands Make Light Work, Community Service Project
Chapter 4: Playing by the Rules: The Rules and Bylaws Committee
Chapter 5: Consider the Resolution...: The Resolutions Committee
Chapter 6: W-O-M-A-N: The Women's Caucus
Chapter 7: On the Front Lines: The Executive Directors
Chapter 8: All Politics Are Local: The Regional Caucuses
Chapter 9: The Main Event: The General Session
Chapter 10: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Appendix 1: Highlights of the 2008 Rules
Appendix 2: The Resolutions
Appendix 3: Videos from the General Session
Posted by at 7:08 PM | Comments (9)
Democrats in Chicago: The General Session - Videos and More!
The main event for the 3 day-long DNC Meeting in Chicago was Saturday's General Session. The General Session brings together the full membership of the DNC to conduct the official business of the Democratic National Committee.
Governor Dean speaks with DNC Finance Chair Phil Murphy before the meeting begins.
Governor Dean gets ready to bring the meeting to order.
Governor Dean brought the meeting to order shortly after 10 a.m. and things got underway.
The officers of the Democratic National Committee during the General Session in Chicago.
There was a presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Alligence. Then, after it was determined a quorum was present, Governor Dean turned things over to Chicago Mayor, Richard Daley, who welcomed Democrats to Chicago. You can watch Mayor Daley's speech here.
After Mayor Daley spoke, we watched a video montage on the most recent national organizing event, The Democratic Reunion. You can watch that video, here.
Governor Dean then took to the stage. His speech focused on how important it is that we work together to move America in a new direction. You can view Part I of his speech, here and Part II, here.
Following Governor Dean, we heard from Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He gave us a sneak preview when I caught up with him Friday evening, but his full speech was pretty terrific. You can watch it here, and the conclusion, here.
After all these speeches, it was time to get down to business. It was at this point that the DNC voted for the changes in the 2008 Delegate Selection Rules.
While still preserving the first in the nation status of the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary, the DNC opened the primary process up to two additional states, Nevada and South Carolina.
We believe this will better reflect the rich diversity of our Party. And, in addition to adding regional diversity to the process, we'll open up a dialogue that will engage a broader range of people to talk about a wider variety of issues. This will enable the Democratic Party to choose the strongest candidate to be our Presidential nominee.
Following this historic Rules vote, it was back to the speakers. Congressional Candidate Darcy Burner and Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Jennifer Bruner were up next. They both gave fantastic speeches.
Darcy Burner and Jennifer Bruner
Darcy spoke passionately about the importance of taking back the House this November. By entwining her personal story with her core convictions, she delivered a powerful message about the need for a new direction for America. Watch Darcy, here.
DNC Vice-Chair Susie Turnbull introduced Jennifer Bruner, who is running for Secretary of State in the battleground state of Ohio. Jennifer talked about the importance of down ballot races. She also talked about the importance of voter protection and the need to return to running free, fair, open and honest elections in Ohio. You can watch it, here.
Back stage as Jennifer Bruner speaks.
After Jennifer and Darcy spoke, the DNC officially passed 13 resolutions as presented in the report from the Resolutions Committee.
DNC Members also heard officer reports from the treasurer, announcements from the Secretary, and a brief report from newly elected National Finance Chair, Phil Murphy.
The last major speech was given by Reverand Jesse Jackson. You can watch clips from his speech, here.
C-Span was in the house, broadcasting live.
After a few short announcements and a final bene