Dean wows large crowds at Colleges

[Rose Siding]

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean told a standing-room-only crowd at Williams College Tuesday that it isn't enough for people to vote: They also need to run for political office.

A crowd primarily made up of students -- some who had to lean in through the Chapin Hall's open windows to hear Dean -- were among the more than 1,300 to listen to the former Vermont governor speak at the college's annual public policy forum. He was greeted with cheers and thunderous applause as most leapt to their feet to give him a standing ovation.

"If you think voting is going to solve the problem, you're wrong. You need to run for office," Dean said. "Ordinary people need to run for the school board, city council, state representative. How many people think they'd do a worse job as president than George W. Bush? I rest my case."
............
"I don't think the president has a choice: He either has to back down on his irresponsible military adventurism or he has to draft 20-year-olds out of college into the United States Armed Service," he said.

http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9049~2434421,00.html


Don't just vote . . . run, Dean urges Vermonters
snip>
The former presidential candidate told a crowd of more than 800 at Castleton State College that as governor of Vermont, he gave many talks at schools about the importance of doing your civic duty by getting out and voting.

"I don't give those speeches anymore," he said. "I think voting gets you a 'D,' barely passing. Voting is the bare minimum it takes to get a democracy. … Here's what you have to do — you have to run for office."
.......
"The Chinese are saying that they can have capitalism and don't need democracy," Dean said. "Vladimir Putin is saying democracy is overrated. … The world depends on the sense of hope and optimism in America and it doesn't exist in a lot of other places. I will not allow an extremist right-wing group of people to destroy that."
........
"Wait until the federal government goes through your video store records to see what you've watched," he said. "Wait until they tap your phone. … Wait until you get stopped and can be held incommunicado for as long as they want. … That is the law today here in the United States of America. Democracy is under attack today in the United States of America.".....MORE, WORTH READING......

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040929/NEWS/409290360/1002/NEWS01

My favorite quote from the Williams gig is in another article

He said, "There is no such thing as a modern Republican. Basically, they're all a bunch of right-winged crack pots, and their platform shows it."

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/your_news/the_berkshires/default.asp?ArID=96740

[Southsideirish]

1. He's the future of the Democratic party. n/t

[Rose Siding]

2. The envelope of the last mailer I received from DFA said....

"Tom DeLay was first elected to the Texas State House in 1978"

That blew me away. It takes time and he has a mission.

He's giving these kids the straight dope. It is my prayer that many will be convicted by his words and works.

The 2nd article I posted has the best coverage of the event.

[mzmolly]

3. Oh how I LOVE Howard Dean .. what a breath of fresh air!

:loveya:

[madfloridian]

4. "I don't believe you win an election by going after swing voters"

"Dean said Democrats looking to reclaim the country need to put aside some of the ideas the party has developed in recent years.

"I don't believe you win an election by going after swing voters," he said. "We need to learn from the Newt Gingriches of the world. Swing voters will be impressed if you stand up for what you believe in."

[NYCGirl]

8. And he is absolutely correct.

I'm so tired of Democrats being careful as to not scare the swing voters.

[Pastiche423]

9. "...if you stand up for what you believe in."

That is why Gov. Dean, M.D. has so many followers and woke up so many people that had never been involved in politics before.

He stood up and spoke out loudly of what he believed best for our country.

And he's still doing it. He has been relentless in his work for the Democratic Party.

He gave us his juice! He taught us how to really get involved in our communities and states for real representative government.

Our country owes him a world of gratitude!

[napi21]

5. Betch Howard runs for the House or Senate next time!

And I bet he'd WIN!

[LionInWinter]

6. Nope ...

he's not gonna run against Jeffords, Leahy or Bernie!

[Larkspur]

7. We need Dean as DNC chief!!!

[mandyky]

13. Kerry has rocks in his head if he doesn't tag Dean for this...

As I was reading the articles, I realized maybe it was a good thing Dean did not win the primaries - since he started DFA and seems to be doing a hell of a lot more for the party than the other "also rans".

[Larkspur]

17. Yeah, I too have mixed feelings about Dean winning the primaries

I think that the DLC and DNC chiefs would have backstabbed Dean every step of the way, if he had won the nomination, and that would have made it difficult for him to win the election.

By being free now, Dean had a choice. He could have gone the route of the other "also-rans" -- return to consulting and lobbying (Clark), disappear from publich view (Gephardt), return to obscurity in the senate (Lieberman), return to obscurity in Congress (Kucinich), try to get a talks show (Al Sharpton), and return to obscurity in general (Braun). Though in defense of Braun, Dean's campaign was more prominent and she finally faced reality with her campaign and endorsed Dean.

I do think that in the long run, Dean will have done more good for the Democratic Party and for this country by being on the path now, then Kerry will if he becomes President.

[Rose Siding]

10. bump for night time good news

[ldf]

11. i can only hope

that he IS the shape of the democratic party to come.

after we get kerry in, there needs to be some serious house cleaning.

and it will have to be pushed by us at the bottom.

[Jacobin]

12. Howard is the Heart and the Soul of our Wandering and Almost Lost Party

This man, when he speaks, makes more sense than all the idiots, cretins, misfits and stooges in the halls of congress and WH put together.

I want Howard Dean to be president one day. I fervently hope that it can come true.

[eridani]

14. Dean for DNC chair, Kucinich for president! n/t

[Kanary]

15. I second that emotion!

It's time for the Party to really MOVE!

:hi:

Kanary

[Peak_Oil]

16. Dean would have helped us.

He cares about us and knows we're here. I wish he would have won the primary. He would have made absolute mincemeat out of George, and we'd be winning this race in a stand.

Dammit.

[WLKjr]

18. Dean is my inspiration

He was the one that got me involved eagerly, along with my grandfather and uncle.

If things go my way, I plan to run for a 'few' offices here in OH.

This comming from one of those young college students...