Dean in Miami... time for a new generation to take over.

[madfloridian]

He says he is resculpting the party. This is a more complete article than the Miami Herald one, this is from The Hurricane.


Media Credit: Marissa Guthrez
IMPORTANT TIMES: Howard Dean, chairman of the Democrat National Committee, spoke to a group of students Tuesday afternoon at the Storer Auditorium.

DNC Chairman hopes to 'resculpt' the Democratic party

When the Democratic National Committee chose Howard Dean to lead their party almost two years ago, he made it clear he was not happy with the status quo.

"It is time for a new generation to take over," Dean told a group of roughly 300 students and faculty at a UM Young and College Democrats event on Tuesday.

During his remarks, Dean criticized the Bush administration and Republican-controlled Congress for their actions regarding the war in Iraq, the "war on terror," Social Security and the environment, to name a few, but also hit on an issue very relevant to the crowd of students.

"When interest rates went up on college loans that was pretty much a frontal assault on the ability of most kids to pay for college," Dean said, also citing the cuts in spending by the to Pell Grants. According the U.S. Dept. of Education website, a Federal Pell Grant is an award to help students with the most financial need pay for college.

And this part is funny.

The event featured as many as 50 of the Young Democrat group members wearing T-shirts, some of which Dean amusedly called "risque". For instance, one shirt said "Democrats are sexy" on the front and "Who ever heard of a nice piece of elephant?" on the back, referring to the animal that symbolizes the GOP.

And he asked them to seek middle ground, not extremes.

In spite of Dean's harsh words for Republicans, he encouraged the audience to reach out.

"There are a lot of good people between the extremes," he said during the Q&A. "When you have that common ground then the Republicans can't demonize you."

Attendees expressed their gratitude for Dean's visit by giving him two standing ovations

[Greeby]

1. heh

:D

[madfloridian]

2. LOL.....where did you find that picture! LOL

I see they used the words "amusedly" about Dean when he saw then. I would say he probably laughed. So funny.

[barb162]

3. Thanks for posting. I like to see Dean

[madfloridian]

4. I do as well.

But most here do not.

I admire what he is doing for the party. I admire how he never quit when he was out of the primary.

But if it is not about 08 (and he is not running then) then not much attention is given.

[hedda_foil]

5. GO Howard!!! This is a great piece

Thanks for posting it. K&R

[madfloridian]

6. Hi, hedda, I thought so, too.

Funny thing, I was reading an old archived post you made in 2002 here at DU. It was one of those research posts we used to put together. Not many of us left now.

[Nimrod2005]

7. Dean is cool.......nt

[blm]

8. Hey mf - good positive piece.

Please check out this Charles Pierce observation, and add it to youknow.

http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/10/post_1639.html#013936

[madfloridian]

9. Very interesting.

That's definite keeper.

:hi:

[blm]

10. Yes. The significance is pretty damn easy to see -

and it's way more than just us early birds now.

[madfloridian]

15. I saw CNN pushing McCain and Hillary today..

I thought to myself, they are the two who are so afraid to say the war was wrong. The others have said so and even apologized for their vote.

I get tired of the pushing. People should get to make their own decisions without being told all the time.

[AtomicKitten]

11. Dean has vision.

He has his work cut out for him.

[Cha]

12. KNR~

Democrats are definetly "sexier"..something about truth, justice, and standing for your principles. And I'm not talking about dlcers.

Just think if Dean weren't out there "sculpting" the Party for us we would just be looking at the same ol' thing from the DNC.

[lojasmo]

13. Very, very nice.

Thanks for posting.

[madfloridian]

14. Will be at University of Minnesota next Thursday.

"DNC Chairman Howard Dean will be on campus at the University of Minnesota next Thursday, October 19th from 2:30pm until about 4:30pm to talk with students and lead a massive canvassing effort"

http://udfl.blogspot.com/2006/10/howard-dean-on-campus.html

[madfloridian]

16. And Wednesday in Oregon.

http://www.blogfororegon.com/2006/10/stand_with_dean

"Come see DNC Chair Howard Dean, Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senator Ron Wyden, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, Oregon Treasurer Randall Edwards and more for the most important event of election 2006.

Wednesday, October 18 marks the eve of the first ballots being mailed out in Oregon. All of our hard work in neighbor-to-neighbor organizing officially shifts to getting out the vote. Come stand with Gov. Dean and take an important stand for democracy.

October 18, 6 pm
Montgomery Park Building
2710 NW Vaughn St., Portland"

[calimary]

17. That's my Howard!

Luv him, luv him, luv him!!! For me, it was love at first sight - or rather, first sound. When I first heard the stuff he was saying, I was hooked. And I'm still there.

[madfloridian]

18. We got hooked when he gave the speech in CA

in Feb. of 03...the What I want to know speech. That has been well over 3 years. We are still actively on board with DFA, and we support the DNC. We are trying to work with the local county group, but they make it very very hard.