Message to online bloggers/activists today from DNC Chair Gov. Howard Dean

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.dnc.org/a/2006/02/a_message_to_yo.php

Governor Dean:

I want to say thank you to all the bloggers and online activists who made the first year of my chairmanship at the DNC really fun and enjoyable. Thanks for taking my back when I needed your help too with the inside the beltway folks. We really made a lot of progress. We got folks paid for on the ground, paid for by the DNC, in every one of fifty states...

Watch the video by clicking the link above.

[trogdor]

1. kicked and rec'ed

booya.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Thanks, trogdor!

[flpoljunkie]

2. How about one more recommendation for Dr. Dean?

[AuntiBush]

4. Anytime, Dr. Dean.

K/N

[flpoljunkie]

5. Thanks, AuntiBush!

[mzmolly]

6. He's so great.

:loveya:

[understandinglife]

7. K&R. Congratulations Gov Dean; and thank you!

Peace.

[Wordie]

8. K&R...Go Dean! :)

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Dean is the best

I was so excited when he ran and I supported him all the way. I was nervous with him running against the other people and he wouldn't make it but then they overwhemingly voted for him. :D I knew it would be great with him and he's so perfect for the job! To Dean! :toast:

[garybeck]

10. Dean has lost it

He used to be concerned about electronic voting fraud. He recently said that the optical scan machines are safe. He's either stupid, uninformed, or he's been bought.

if he wants to take back congress he has to deal with the machines. Period. Opscans are just as bad as DREs. extremely prone to fixing and rigging of election.

we need someone in control of the Democratic party who realizes that our democracy is dead. The democratic party is our only hope. It has been very disappointing, how they ignore this issue. I thought Dean was going to be our saving grace but I guess not.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Do you have a link for this accusation, Mr. Beck? If so, please post it.

Thanks.

[garybeck]

30. I have an email that someone sent me, who was listening to

the broadcast. I have no reason to disbelieve it. in fact Dean has done NOTHING about election reform since taking over the DNC.

[Debi]

28. Don't optical scans allow for a human re-count? n/t

[garybeck]

29. they "allow" for human recounts, but that does not solve the problem

recounts are very rare, and they can be fixed too (look at what happened in the 2004 Ohio recount, which was blatantly illegal). and they only occur if the first count is "close." which does not solve the problem, because they could rig an election to be "not close" and then avoid the recount.

we can't rely on recounts to make our democracy real. the only way for optical scan systems to be secure is if there are random audits - sort of like miniature recounts, and they have to happen always, in every election, not just if someone calls for a recount.

the belief that optical scan systems are acceptable, or even just more safe than DREs is a complete lie. they are basically the same. they are still programmed by Diebold on secret software and it is just as easy for them to steal an election with them.

[Debi]

31. Thank you for the info. n/t

[welshTerrier2]

12. Dean: out of Iraq in TWO YEARS

is this how he represents the views of online bloggers/activists???

[madfloridian]

16. Not what he said. Be honest.

.

[welshTerrier2]

17. please don't call me a liar!!!!!!!

if you would like to indicate what he said, feel free to do so ...

my recollection is that he said we should get all the troops out by the end of 2007 ... that sounded like two years to me ...

[welshTerrier2]

22. Madfloridian, you're wrong again ...

here you go ... the truth hurts, doesn't it??

of course, rather than acknowledging that Dean's position is way out of touch with the blogosphere and online activists, you resort to questioning my credibility without providing any support whatsoever for your position ...

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120300821.html

But Dean stopped well short of embracing Murtha's call for a withdrawal plan that would redeploy all U.S. troops within about six months. Instead Dean called on Democrats to coalesce around a proposal that would keep some U.S. forces in Iraq for two more years.

and then, in Dean's own words:

source: http://jeffmiller.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&IsTextOnly=1&PRESSRELEASE_ID=140

"I think we need a strategic redeployment over a period of two years," Dean said.

[GetTheRightVote]

13. Downloading and can not wait to listen to it !!!

Dean's message is great and it is nice to hear or should I say listen to something positive from the DNC. I just love Dean !!!

:kick:

[Michigander4Dean]

14. Anytime, Howard, Anytime. | nt

[katinmn]

15. Good to speak directly to the online community.

He should do it monthly or quarterly. It really does help.

[Adelante]

18. Sweet of him

It's good to be acknowledged by the Chair of the DNC :)

[Uncle Joe]

19. Kicked and recommended.

:kick:

[Cha]

20. You're Welcome Dean!

Thank you, and Happy One Year Anniversary on Lincoln's Birthday

[librechik]

21. hey-bloggers brought in money and helped field candidates!

Thank you Dr. Dean!

[Stevepol]

23. I appreciate Dean in many ways but unless he realizes the biggest issue

is the voting machines, nothing will change at the voting booth when the elections are held.

He's probably right to see the optiscans as better than the touchscreens, but he's got to realize that AUDITS HAVE TO BE REQUIRED FOR EVERY ELECTION. He compliments the activists and bloggers for supporting him, and I think they have for the most part but to hage said that and then not acknowledge that the biggest issue among these activitists and bloggers is the voting machines, not to make it a number one priority, is just unbelievable to me.

Evidently, we have to go thru another round of losses and idiotic explanations about why we lost: how the religious right has just too much voting power etc. etc., idiotic explanations about how pre-election polls and exit polls are inaccurate, etc. etc.

All we can do is keep on keeping on with the message. More and more people from all ranks and even all parties are beginning to see. Remember: This is the most non-partisan issue in the country. We have to have a transparent and verifiable way of counting votes.

[flpoljunkie]

26. Yes, random mandatory audits must be required in ANY voting system.

Anyone on DU who is following this crucial issue know how many states have passed laws requiring these mandatory random audits? It appears obvious that Congress will do nothing on this while the Republicans hold all the levers of power, so any meaningful reforms will have to come from the states.

[Vidar]

24. More than welcome, Mr. Dean.

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. you're the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party Governor

[Burried News]

27. Thanks for a fun ride Howard.