OMFG!11!11 BangOne ! BangEleven!BangBANG You go Howard!

[hootinholler]

From Email:

As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you're a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won't be accepting your contribution.

This is an unprecedented move for a political party to make -- one that has sent shockwaves through Washington and has turned the debate on clean campaigns upside down. We've unilaterally agreed to shut lobbyists out of the process, and are we're relying on people just like you.

Just imagine what hundreds of thousands of Americans donating $20, $30, or $50 at a time can accomplish together. Imagine the signal that it sends to anyone who looks at John McCain's political machine and the special interest money it needs to fuel every move it makes.

We have a chance to change the way business is done in this country, and we're taking the lead. Will you join us and make a contribution right now to help us elect Barack Obama?

http://www.democrats.org/nonlobbyists

I've written before about guys like Charlie Black and Rick Davis, lobbyists who are at the highest levels of McCain's campaign. But they're just the start -- John McCain and the RNC suck up lobbyist money millions of dollars at a time.

In May, McCain had his best fundraising month of the campaign, and it was directly because he refuses to shut special interests out.

But we did, and we need your help. This is an example of the kind of White House Barack Obama would run. Make a contribution to help elect him:

http://www.democrats.org/nonlobbyists

I'll be in touch later about our plans for the general election, but I wanted to let you know about our policy change right away.

Thanks,

Howard Dean

Ok, people! It's fucking time to Cowboy Up! Rock On Howard!

-Hoot

[LSparkle]

1. BRAVO! Another signal that it's not the Clintons' party anymore ...

Dr. Dean is probably breathing a HUGE sigh of relief, knowing that his
job is safe for now (and probably the foreseeable future). The 50-
state strategy lives on!

[DCKit]

34. Dr. Dean is more concerned about the party than the job.

He'd walk in a second if he thought there was anyone who could guide the DNC any better. He's probably hired a few of those people to groom for his departure.

Dr. Dean, like Barack Obama, knows how to manage.

[ananda]

2. Whoa!!

Now I'm impressed.

Way to go Dean and Democratic Party!!!!!!!

[blondeatlast]

3. Tomorrow's payday--tomorrow I pony up another contribution.

I've never been prouder to be a Democrat... :bounce:

[Hekate]

4. KnR. Damn, Dr. Dean, you rock. Check coming.

I seem to remember we really loved this guy for a reason.

Hekate

[cyberpj]

5. I'm ready. But I actually heard a friend say "not until I know they won't pay Clinton's debt"

the other day - and I thought that was odd.
Like certain feminists withholding their votes out of spite.
It only hurts ourselves.

[gateley]

10. Randi was talking about that today and said --it's the price of politics.

And in the big picture, money well spent. I agree.

[cyberpj]

15. Agreed. nt

[Mme. Defarge]

6. Vive la revolution! n/t

[gateley]

7. Rachel just said if one million of the over one and a half million donors

to Obama's campaign decided to go for it and max out at $2,000.00 -- Obama would get TWO BILLION dollars!

I don't expect that to happen, but I feel we'll do REAL GOOD!

Kick ass letter from Dean! :bounce:

[hootinholler]

18. Yes, that demonstrates the power of numbers. His Rudeness said it best...

Howard Dean will fuck your shit up.

Thanks for pointing that stat out.

-Hoot

[Chimichurri]

32. self-delete wrong place

[tbyg52]

38. The next thing I am hoping for is making radio and TV stations *earn* their licenses

Instead of soaking candidates for all the market will bear.

[Progressive_In_NC]

39. That's exciting but sickening at the same time.

2 billion dollars on campaign ads could sure feed a lot of hungry people.

I really wish it didn't cost over a hundred million dollars to get elected in this country. I really do.

[Captain Angry]

8. As soon as Senator Clinton has conceded, I will donate.

So, if Saturday pans out, the DNC and Senator Obama himself will be getting donations on that day. If not, the money waits. The donations will happen, but not until we have everybody on the same team.

[Hestia]

28. I did give today to support both Obama and Dean for the people on the ticket

who need our financial support right now. The money will go to support those races that are 'leaning' Democratic (I think the entire country is leaning Obama after his speech on Tuesday) and get those candidates in the Congress and Senate and take back the majority with such a resounding success, the other party becomes residue of a bad dream, always there in the back of mind, but not enough to keep you from keeping on.

So, when you deny the DNC you are not helping the down ticket races who really need us now. If paying her off to get the hell off of our cloud, I'll reluctantly do it. Obama is just the beginning, now we need to get the rest of the team into play and committing money to is the only
way that will make the other party pay attention.

McCain raised $21.5 million in May - I say we double that this weekend. Let it become McCain who?

[Captain Angry]

29. I'm holding off for a short time.

I'm hoping it's just a few days. If something goes horribly wrong this weekend, I want to see Gore, Dean, the rest of the superdelegates, everybody making it clear that it's over.

They're going to get the money. And it will happen shortly. Just not until I see closure from Senator Clinton.

[leftofcool]

9. Well I will tell my sister the registered nurse that her

PAC money is not good any more and I guess the PAC I belong to will not be donting anymore

[blondeatlast]

21. And since when did speaking for yourself not count?

You don't need to give to the Dems, you can give directly to the Obama campaign or you can parrot the RW talking point.

It's a free country and you have a choice.

[JuniperLea]

11. There's that spine we've been waiting for!

This is historic!

We can't be bought... I'm going to cry...

[mzmolly]

12. Buh bye DLC

:hi:

[Octafish]

13. The Corporations are on notice.

Monopolies and their fat cat owners just might have to pull their own weight.

Rock on Howard!

[razors edge]

14. I had a feeling he might do this.

It makes a bold stand. Aipac will be pissed. Oh well.

Checking bank account now for spare change. There's a hundred, Go Dean!!!

[galledgoblin]

16. I love that man so much

[RufusTFirefly]

17. But, but, but...

CHICAGO -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton refused Saturday to forsake campaign donations from lobbyists, turning aside challenges from her two main rivals with a rare defense of the special interest industry.

"A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do," Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention.

Despite their own infatuations with special interest money, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama put Clinton on the spot during a debate that featured seven of the eight major Democratic presidential candidates. ...

AP via WaPo 8/4/07

Give 'em hell, Howard!

[chill_wind]

19. Kick and rec up this monumentally good news.

K &R

[99th_Monkey]

20. Obama and Dean make a great Team - literally redefining political financing by populist demand...

to hobble K street's ability to extort and buy politicians.

And Obama's not even President yet. I'm loving these guys.

[Missy Vixen]

22. I still love Howard Dean

He screams for me!

Julie

[Splat Banjo]

23. I am so proud

This just really made my day!

[lojasmo]

24. Guess it's time to double down on the democracy bond. EOM

[goddess40]

25. Isn't PAC money sometimes from unions?

union donations are made up of individual donations. If you belong to a union you can have your money earmarked for political contributions returned to you, you can't do the same with a business.

[blondeatlast]

27. And donors can contribute individually--I don't see the problem here.

:shrug:

[goddess40]

30. Buy they're lazy and they won't

and they don't mind that the union does it for them.

[lisainmilo]

26. Bravo!

This is the most powerful recent news I have heard. We are in essence headed for Democracy as was intended. "We the People" are back in the government again. I am seriously moved after all that most of us have been through in our day to day battles with GWB and Co. and their desire to rule this country.
CONTRIBUTION MADE! :)

[annabanana]

31. Okee Dokey Howard... .

let's get this party started!

[Chimichurri]

33. just donated. This thrills me to no end!

[JDPriestly]

35. We are having one of those "rough periods" in life, but

you can count on it, our donation won't be large, but we will make one. And soon.

[Rose Siding]

36. It's easy to sign up for $10 or $20 a month - we did and we barely notice it

even though we've had a rough couple of years. (so rough that my donor star here was a gift from a generous DU soul)

We stopped for a couple of months but I'm fired up to sign up again now.

[Bandit]

37. I don't think bigshot Peloisi is going to like this..

How is she going to get any donations? I believe her donations from ordinary people are "off the table"

[graywarrior]

40. Now that makes me more inclined to donate

[chknltl]

41. In yer face corporatists! We The People are back in the business...

...of self governance...of a Constitutionally limited representative democracy!
Are there any doubts in anyone's mind that the greatest issue facing our government are the lobbyists?
This is a step back to: OF THE PEOPLE! BY THE PEOPLE! FOR THE PEOPLE!
:woohoo: :party: