Why Dean is the only one that can help me get my coutry back...

[nradisic]

I've been a DU member for a while and I've also beeen a huge Howard Dean supporter since November 2002. Actually I'm one of the first 400 registered supporters with the campaign. The Howard Dean is the first camapign that I've ever been involved with and Howard Dean is the first candidate that I have ever donated money to. Why? Because I agree with him on the issues 100%, he represents how I feel, he actually has a spine and a backbone, he's honest, straighforward, he has had executive office experience and he shoots from the hip, and he inspires me. None of the other guys inspire me to act, to donate, to get involved.

I've organized Dean House Parties, I've contributed, I've gotten friends, family, co-workers and neighbors on board and involved, I've written letters to IA and NH, I've been hosting a Dean Meetup, I display my Dean colors all the time....Why? I'm passionate about Howard Dean. I love his fiery attitude. Its what I've been taught "Real Americans" should be like. Stand up for what you believe in, and fight against injustice and inequality. Howard Dean has his faults, but they are minor compared to the current President or his "inside the beltway" competitors. He is the only real outsider and the Media has been over-scrutinizing and relatively unfair in comparison to Bush or the other Democratic candidates. Dean has still done very well, and raised much more money than anyone else.

I have responded either by throwing more money at the bat or doing something positive for the Dean campaign. That was my payback. Now that I've seen the senseless media bashing of a Howard Dean rant in Iowa to thank an audience of mostly out of state volunteers for their hard work and to encourage them to continue fighting......He might have looked somewhat ridiculous, but the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion,maybe to Dean's eventual advantage.... to the point where the Deaniacs are rallying like I've never seen it before.In the last 24 hours we've managed to get over 100 NJ Deaniacs to committ to going to NH for the weekend. I am driving up to NH on Saturday, right after I celebrate the fifth birthday of my beautiful triplte daughters. I have done everything but travel and canvass for Dean.....but my girls told me its OK Daddy.....go help Howard Dean....."We want George Bush to get a new job!" From the mouth of three five year olds. Even theey know who the best man for the job is.

Howard Dean needs to stick to the issues, avoid bashing any one of his opponents and continue with the eloquent and passionate message that will eventual resound with most Americans, as it did early on, when he attracted the likes of me to his campaign. Gephardt threw the kitchen sink at him in Iowa and he got negative...that was an expensive lesson, but an early one...and Howard has the $$$$, the other guys don't....except maybe for Clark.
Below is a summary of Governor Dean's proposals to revive our democracy taken form the Dean blog. Meet the real Howard Dean yourself......

Wednesday, January 21, 2004


Taking Back Democracy
Here is the summary paper released by the campaign today on Governor Dean's proposals to revive democracy and end the role of big money in American Politics:
TAKING BACK OUR DEMOCRACY
Ending the Role of Big Money in American Politics
Despite George W. Bush’s words last night, the state of our nation is not well. Indeed, the soul of our nation is at risk because the corrupting influence of special interest money is eating away at the core of our democracy.
Our politicians engage in a relentless arms race for campaign cash, and our democracy is for sale to the highest bidder. The people recognize the problem. They understand that their elected officials are more concerned with fundraising for re-election than with meeting the needs of ordinary people. 74% of respondents to a recent survey felt that politicians sometimes vote the way their big contributors want them to — regardless of whether that’s best for the country or their constituents. And they’re right.
Big money corrupts politics – and the losers are ordinary Americans. Why don’t we have health care for every American? Why does prescription drug legislation do nothing to reduce costs and introduce competition? Why don’t we have an energy program in this country to reduce our dependence on imported oil? Why are more and more of our TV, radio stations and newspapers owned by just a handful of giant companies? In every case, the answer is: Big money.
Only real campaign finance reform can break the stranglehold that special interests have on the levers of public policy through campaign cash. Ours has become a government of the special interests, by the special interests and for the special interests.
And those with the money to play in this system don’t represent average Americans. Wealthy special interests are the high rollers in this pay-to-play system. 96% of the most active political donors have incomes over $100,000 - 82% male, 92% white. If money is a form of speech, as the Supreme Court has regrettably found, rich donors will always be the loudest speakers.
We know the nature of American politics can be changed – dramatically – because we are doing it with this campaign. Hundreds of thousands of donors contributing an average of $77.
And we’re not just raising money differently, we’re mobilizing people for transformation in a way we have not seen for a generation. To those who say that it’s too difficult to raise money in small amounts to run a successful race – we have one answer: we’re doing it.
Last year, public disgust at the influence of money in politics finally led to enactment of the McCain/Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act after years of struggle, a bill that banned soft money and raised individual contribution limits. But McCain-Feingold Reform Act is not enough. We need to limit political contributions to break the back of the special interests.
Keep reading this post for Dean's proposals.
TAKING BACK OUR DEMOCRACY
Ending the Role of Big Money in American Politics
1. Fix the Presidential Public Finance System. The current presidential campaign financing system is on the brink of failure because the incentives for candidates to participate are shrinking and their chances of election if they do may be hurt. Governor Dean will propose legislation to:
• Increase the public match. Match the first $100 of every donation on a five-to-one basis.
• Improve incentives for candidates to accept public funding. If one candidate opts out of public financing and exceeds the spending limits, his opponents should receive additional public funds to level the playing field.
• Raise the primary spending limits. Double the primary limit, placing it at the same level as limits for the general election. Candidates must opt in/out for both primary and general.
• Fix the funding mechanism. Too many people fail to check the box on their income tax forms because they incorrectly believe it will cost them more money. The amount should be raised from $3 to $5, and a program of public education should be started to explain what this program is all about: limiting the influence of big donors and special interests.
2. Public Financing Option for All Federal Elections. The same principles that govern public financing of presidential campaigns – spending limits and public funding, including the new multiple match rate – should apply to U.S. Senate and House elections too.
3. Offer a “Take Back Our Democracy” Tax Credit. Establish a dollar-for-dollar matching tax credit on the first $100 of every individual contribution made to a presidential candidate. This incentive would apply only to individuals making under $50,000 a year, or $100,000 in the case of joint filers.
4. Take Back the Public Airwaves. Reclaim the public airwaves by requiring that TV and radio broadcasters offer a few hours of civic broadcasting every week around election time. Low dollar contributions will be matched with advertising vouchers. This will be funded entirely by a small spectrum use fee – an entirely fair reclamation of the public airwaves.
5. Abolish the FEC and Start Over. All the reforms in the world will fail unless there is meaningful enforcement. With three commissioners from each party on a six-member panel, the commission repeatedly deadlocks on party lines, and fails to punish even egregious violations of the law. Governor Dean supports bipartisan legislation now before Congress to create a new, independent three-member Federal Election Agency, with administrative law judges to enforce the law objectively. In the meantime, he will appoint independent, tough-minded commissioners who will enforce the law in the public interest.
6. No More Hanging Chads. Reliability of voting systems is vital. Electronic voting may be the wave of the future, but these voting systems are susceptible to software glitches. Governor Dean supports pending legislation to require that all voting machines produce a paper record that voters can view to check the accuracy of their votes, and allow election officials to verify votes in the event of irregularities.
7. Embrace Non-Partisan Redistricting. In almost every state, politicians control the redistricting process. Only Iowa, Arizona and a handful of other states have chosen a different path: non-partisan redistricting. An expert body draws legislative maps that disregard partisanship and incumbency, creating compact and contiguous districts. Governor Dean will work to move every state toward non-partisan redistricting for congressional districts and to limit redistricting to once every ten years to prevent repetition of the debacles in Texas and Colorado. Citizens should choose their representatives instead of politicians choosing their voters.
8. Protect the Voting Rights Act. Protect the Voting Rights Act when it comes up for reauthorization in 2007. The Act contains key provisions protecting minority rights, and the Governor wants to retain what is best about the Act, and fight attempts to use the Act for partisan advantage.
9. A National Commission to Strengthen American Democracy. Governor Dean would establish a commission of ordinary Americans – not politicians – to consider such cutting edge ideas as instant runoff voting, internet voting and abolition of the Electoral College.
Posted by Zephyr Teachout at 12:46 PM

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