Dean Meetups Last Night: How'd they go?

[deutsey]

Ours was really great for a number of reasons

We still had a very good turnout with new faces showing up (which surprised me on both counts, I have to say) and, despite some commisserating, we were all determined to keep our movement going even if Dean eventually has to drop out.

This is what I've been saying all along. The "movement" emerged before Dean, was strengthened and expanded by Dean's campaign, and will continue on even after Dean's campaign (or election...I can still dream).

For a small, rural, and traditionally GOP stronghold of Maryland, we've built a large homegrown grassroots progressive movement here and we have vowed to keep it going. Longtime activists here say they have never seen this kind of turnout in our community before for local political/activist meetings. They said they've never seen so many new people coming out like they have for our Dean Meetup.

So come what may with the Dean campaign, our Progressive Meetup is going to continue meeting every month.

Regardless of who gets elected in November (Dean, Kerry, Edwards or :puke: Bush), I have a feeling we'll have plenty of activism to keep us busy for a while.

How did your Meetup go?

[DebJ]

1. would you like one or two more volunteers before super Tuesday?

My son lives in Maryland and I live just across the line, but lived in Maryland 47 yrs (until last summer). I'd love to come help knock on doors. Sometimes I homesick for Maryland!

[deutsey]

3. Where in Maryland?

We're on the Eastern Shore. PM me if you're interested in helping out!

:hi:

[DebJ]

4. My son lives in Central Maryland and I am in Pa, but I have a sister

In Queene Anne. A weekend thing might be possible. I love the ocean and didn't get to go last summer....miss it. I am sorry I don't know how to pm!

[deutsey]

5. I guess I meant DU mail me!

Sorry. And, by the way, we're helping people in Queen Anne's County organize a Meetup.

[teevee99]

2. yes!

let's make sure to tell our various meetups to merge after the primaries and become a "progressive meetup"

we can mobilize:) (I'm ready to work my ass off for my children's future...take the politicians and special interests out of the process!)

[AP]

6. Did people at the meet-ups discuss the rumor that Dean's only

running to pay off his campaign debts and he'll drop out when the balance is at zero?

[mistertrickster]

8. Uh no . . . I hadn't heard that rumor until right now. Did Edwards start

it?

[AP]

10. Read it on the Edwards blog, so, yes, that rumor started there, if

you hadn't heard it anywhere else.

[mistertrickster]

15. So much for that "positive" Edwards campaign, eh? Fortunately,

he's not gonna get it anyway. Maybe as Vice President, but he's already said he wouldn't run as VP, so he'll have to make himself a liar to do it, although mincing words shouldn't be hard for a guy in his line of "work."

[AP]

18. I'm not the "Edwards campaign" -- I'm a concerned citizen

who wants a Democrat to win in the GE. And if Dean cares more about his campaing account balance than he cares about letting the party pick the strongest Dem to beat Bush, then this it's probably important to discuss this.

[liberalnurse]

20. Did you post it on the Edwards blog....

to give it that credibility? Anyone can post on a blog.....

[AP]

38. The person who posted it uses his full name and provides enough

biographical and geographical details that it'd be pretty easy to rule me out.

And if I were that person, I just would have posted his full, more detailed account rather than say I read it there.

In fact, his account was even more credible than mine, and I would have cut and pasted it here, accpet that I couldn't remember which thread it was in over there and there's no search function.

[DebJ]

9. someone reported that Dean has 9.5 million, no debt, workers paid

[AP]

13. I don't think his staff has been paid for a month,

and he's dropping the most expensive literature out there -- four color knockers with precinct-specific information (polling places).

That's super-expensive.

[liberalnurse]

21. Such posts make me hate Edwards.....

He just lost my vote.......If this is the crowd Edwards encourages, then I'm not coming close to the contamination. I avoid those who throw rocks at glass houses too.

[tishaLA]

30. Yup.

It's revolting

[AP]

39. Oh come on!

You never were going to vote for Edwards, and if you're going to rule him out because of something I've written even though he's clearly the canidate who is going to really achive all things that Deann has promissed, all I can say is don't cut off your nose to spite me.

[1floridademocrat]

25. You need

to check the facts,


Deans people are all paid now, it was only 2 weeks, and according to them at least they are debt free and have a little over 6 million in the bank.

[AP]

40. I saw some of the stuff Dean spent money on this past week

and it was expensive. How up to date is the most recent information?

Were the paid up to last monday?

[LuminousX]

28. Wrong. Workers went without pay for 2-weeks, but rec'd backpay

after that.

Dean's campaign doesn't have any debt that can't be covered by what is in the coffers.

Try again.

[teevee99]

11. Are you proud of yourself for posting in order to

spread a rumor/lie?

[AP]

14. No. I'm upset that, if this is true, it's going to result

in a Kerry primary victory and a Democrat GE loss.

So, I'm very worried. But I'm going to get all my built up anxieties out in about four hours, and then I'll be done.

Bear with me.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AP]

41. I'm not "the Edwards camp". If you want to know what they think,

look at their campaign.

If you want to know what average people who saw the campaign up close and on the ground last week think, ask me.

[liberalnurse]

24. Thats my impression......

and I find it obnoxious and offensive. Why this continues is beyond me......very beyond me.....

Costa Rica here I come....

[JaneQPublic]

12. He doesn't have campaign debts

And I don't think Edwards would approve of you chiming in on a positive Dean thread to spread hateful false rumors.

[AP]

16. It's not a hateful false rumor. It's a rumor born out of a few facts

and it makes a little sense.

[liberalnurse]

26. Like I said, anyone can post an opinion or rumor on the blog....

It is not an acceptable link. It thus is a hate message to slander Dean.

[deutsey]

19. Not us...

We were talking about how we were going to remain active in our community instead passively sitting in front of the fricking computer or TV screen basking in the glow of the Cult of Personality that's supposed to rescue us all from (fill in the blank).

:-)

[RetroLounge]

27. Your concern is touching. Really.

not...

[liberalnurse]

29. Well, the apple dosen't fall far from the tree.

Who's calling the kettle black? Edwards in big, big money trouble as this post dies.

http://www.newsobserver.com/edwards/coverage/story/3304594p-2948791c.html

[AP]

42. The only one who isn't is Kerry, and that's a sad commentary.

He'll get the nomination because he has money, and he'll be slaughtered by Bush, party for the reasons that have allowed him to raise a lot of money.

The only chance to get a candidate who can beat Bush is if we get an honest debate between the candidate who's appeal is outstripping his ability to raise money (Edwards) and the one who is winning because of his ease of raising money (Kerry).

To get that, the candidates without a chance, whose appeal is dropping as they spend more money (Dean and Clark) step aside.

[mistertrickster]

7. We only had about one-third of the folks show up here in Kansas.

But we agreed we had to keep going with the meet-ups even if Dean has to drop out. We're going to work at the local level too.

Remember, the right-wingers have their meet-ups all the time--at the country club and at church.

[beyurslf]

17. We canceled ours but it was due to weather

We had 6 inches of snow 2 days ago and they forecasted 8 more yesterday. It started snowing at 11 am so we emailed everyone and canceled. Of course, then the snow stopped about 5 pm and we didn't get more than an inch or 2. Better safe than sorry though...

[NoPasaran]

22. Mine was pretty small

A number of folks had other meetings last night and at least one person who showed up before our facilitator arrived was turned away by the restaurant because they screwed up the reservation.

But those of us who were there agreed we were in it for the long haul. We're writing postcards for Wisconsin and planning to be visible on Saturday.

And a reporter for the newspaper came by and interviewed us.

[AngryAmish]

31. Chicago meetup pretty anemic

I'm not a Dean supporter, but they have the meet-ups in one of the bars I get drunk in. First one in December had about 20 people, then January had about 60. Last night 8 people showed up.

I was also pretty bummed because nobody brought any food. I was hungry. I was hoping to snag some pizza or something, but no dice.

[deutsey]

32. Damn, man, are things really that tough?

Drunkenly scrounging around for pizza in bars?

:evilgrin:

[AngryAmish]

33. Yes

What's it to you?

[deutsey]

34. Nothing. Nothing at all.

Your life sounds...just great.

[AngryAmish]

35. Keep it to yourself, pal

o.k.?

[deutsey]

37. Exactly what is that I'm keeping to myself?

Sorry to hear things aren't going great for you.

Take care. I hope whatever is putting you in such hard times improves.

[WI_DEM]

36. Madison, Wisconsin was great

over 800 people packed into the Majestic night club and a bar next door. We are ready to go and win Wisconsin for Howard Dean.

[farmbo]

43. Columbus, OH Dean Meetup got front page in "Columbus Dispatch".

"Ohio 'Deaniacs' Soldier On"
Candidate’s backers think resurgence is possible in time for March primary
http://www.dispatch.com/
(sorry, registration required)

We had 4 meetups throughout the city (8 in central Ohio)and the numbers were down only slightly. Morale was high but guarded.

[MGKrebs]

44. Several meetups in Atlanta...

the one I went to was in the famous Paschals's restaurant, home of much civil rights planning sessions in the 60's. Eight attended, three of whom were new. Great discussion about moving forward, planning for if/when we win Wisconsin, and wrote some letters to Virginia and Wisconsin.

The funny part- when we showed up at the restaurant, it was packed to the gills with a meeting of bail bondsman. Because of this (for some reason) the place was crawling with local politicians. Got to chat with Mary Squires, said hi to Calvin Smyre, and a state rep (Vincent Fort) came in to our room to encourage us. He said that we had changed politics in America.

Then, when we were leaving, who should we spy but Puff Daddy and Faith Evans! We didn't bother them though.

At the meetup in Decatur (at a great little restaurant called Ashtons), they had 35 people, including Chip Carter, who spoke for about 15 minutes. Dekalb County CEO Vernon Jones also stopped by and spoke for a few minutes and picked up some bumper stickers. Also, there was a Time magazine reporter and photographer there.

12 at the Roswell meetup, 10 in Henry/Clayton county, and 45 downtown at Manuel's tavern.