Dean's conference call was inspiring, tells what is going on.

[madfloridian]

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005472.html#more

SNIP..."On Wednesday evening, Governor Dean held two conference calls with Meetups around the country. The following is a transcript of the 8:00 pm call.

Howard Dean: Thank everyone for getting on the call. Today there was some bad news from the national point of view and we would like to thank to Kerry/Edwards campaign for fighting in this tough race. This wasn't about what we did wrong, but what they did very well. But we've had some good news at the grassroots level, like in Colorado where Suzanne Williams won a state Senate seat.

John Lynch and Brian Schweitzer both became governors in New Hampshire and Montana respectively. Lori Saldana won her seat

in San Diego. And Peter Buckley and Tom Potter both won in Oregon.

These are real victories that happened because of the work that we did. We will start from where we began and keep fighting. We can lick our wounds until Friday--President Bush will get one day of bipartisanship.

Democracy for America groups around the country did their jobs this election. Even the candidates who lost had great races, like Samara Barend in New York and Richard Morrison coming within 10 points of Tom DeLay. We'll grieve, lick our wounds then come back fighting for what we believe in."

SNIP..."While this was a tough night for the Democratic Party at the national level, signs are good at the local level. We need your help to keep up this momentum—we don't want to lose it again. Invite your friends and family to join Democracy for America. In the next few months, we'll be building a new foundation. I want to again, thank you very much. I am mad, but not discouraged. One day, sooner rather than later, we'll take our country back...."

An aside: over 1/3 of the Dean Dozen won their races against some tough odds. That is not a bad record for an organization formed in March of this year.

[sugarcookie]

1. Thanks for the post

"We can lick our wounds until Friday--President Bush will get one day of bipartisanship."

What's happening Friday?

P.S. Thank you for keeping us updated!!! You're the best!

[Hatalles]

2. God Bless the man...

[askew]

3. Thanks for the update!

Over 30% of DFA's candidates got elected? That's amazing considering how many of the candidates were running in red states.

Did he spend any time talking about becoming DNC Chair by any chance?

[SoCalDem]

4. That's great.. and remember, winning state offices is necessary

to change any voting protocols.. Those originate in the states, so we HAVE to be in decision-making positions to have ANY effect on what documentation is required, which voting equipment is used, how recounts are handled.. Those are all state-by-state issues..

If repubes are in charge, we all know what we get ...

[RogueTrooper]

7. From the transcript he did not mention it

but that maybe his Friday surprise.

[JNelson6563]

5. Seize the DNC Howard!!

And get rid of the hand-wringing capitulators! Don't let anyone who doesn't have a spine in the door! We'll be right there for you!

Now is the time for real leadership and once again, Howard Dean is the man.

Thanks for posting MF.

Julie

[mandyky]

6. Thanks for posting this, MF!!

Thank God for Howard Dean!

[dsc]

8. One of his wins

was an openly lesbian Democrat in New Hanover County NC who won a Republican State House seat. A very impressive win on an otherwise dismal night in NC.

[madfloridian]

9. He mentioned something about the same thing in Austin....a sheriff.

I think. I did not pick up on it, but my hubby said Dean got a call on his cell phone from Austin....same thing there with a new sheriff.
He made several separate calls, so it is not in this transcript.

[NoPasaran]

10. Austin

Here's the Blog entry about Austin:

Democracy for Texas (Austin): In Austin, we have registered almost 80,000 new voters, increased the democratic margin by 12 percentage points over 2000, picked up one house seat, one constable seat and one judgeship. If we can mobilize the grassroots, then DFA groups can do this all over the country. But as long as we write off races in the red states, we'll never change their outcome. How can we get nominees to take winning red states seriously?
HD: We need to make sure—you saw me do this in my campaign—that the next presidential campaign goes to all of the sates, not just those where we think we can win electoral votes. This is particularly true for races like city council. Our turnout could be enough to win a few races.

Also see my thread in the Texas Forum
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=6336&mesg_id=6336

After the conference call with Governor Dean, we had half a dozen or so local candidiates speak to thank us for the work we did electing them. We had two strong grassroots groups in Austin, DFT and A4K this year and we showed what the grassroots can do.

[madfloridian]

11. You guys did a great job!

I am hoping Florida gets off its butt now. We get started, then we slump a little statewide, but we will get our act together soon.

Good for Texas.