Here is link to tell Governor Dean what you think.

[madfloridian]

This is from February, when he became chair. You can follow the link to the form to write down your ideas or complaints. Just a mention, I hear the new interactive website will be up and running by mid-June.

http://www.democrats.org/blog/comment/00011599.html
Your ideas

"So many of you have offered your ideas for the Democratic Party. So far the responses have been very positive—ranging from inspiring to exciting. Included below are just a few of the many recieved. They represent the hope, the power, and the energy of the people who are coming together to make the Democratic Party the party we all know it can be.

If you haven't yet done so, tell Governor Dean what we can do together to help the Democratic Party win."

[madfloridian]

1. I heard today someone said he had not met with staff. Yes, he has.

http://www.democrats.org/blog/comment/00011594.html

First meeting on Feb. 14

He has met with staff and vice chairs.

[saracat]

2. Not according to the Vice Chairs themselves!

And that only says "staff!" Apparently they were hoping to meet with him in Little Rock during the Dem State Chairs Conference, but it didn't happen!

[madfloridian]

3. Here are two of the vice chairs working with him.

I have seen others that have as well. Did you hear all of them say that or just the one who is from Arkansas? Lottie, I think. I am just confused on this.

Dean is with Mark Brewer and Alice Germond, all speakers at Democrats Abroad.
http://www.wonkspot.com/wire/index.php
"In addition to our elections, discussing caucuses, an informative q&a session with Carl Sandstrom, voting in India as a full committee, and much much more, Democrats Abroad had several wonderful speakers. Mark Brewer, Alice Germond, and Howard Dean gave inspiring speeches and thanks go to all who made it happen.

(WW Note: Mark Brewer is Chair of the Association of State Democratic Party Chairs and Alice Germond is the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee and the one you saw on TV calling the roll of the states in Boston.)"

Susie Turnbull, a vice chair, is obviously working with Dean and posts at Kos.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/13/113857/852
DNC State Grants Just the Beginning
by Susie Turnbull


Wed Apr 13th, 2005 at 10:38:57 EST

As you read yesterday, Gov. Dean has announced four state grants to ND, NC, WV, and MO. We want everyone to understand - this is just the beginning! Every state party is scheduled to meet between now and mid-July with our DNC team to review the state party operations. Promises made are being kept! We promised to have a fifty state strategy and to SHOW UP! and we are doing just that. We promised to work with state parties to build a grassroots democratic party -- we are doing just that! We promised to stand up and speak out -- we are doing that, too! Remember -- it is just the beginning! We are listening!

Diaries :: Susie Turnbull's diary :: ::

[saracat]

4. At the State Chairs Conference in Arkansas last month,

many of the Vice Chairs were complaining that Dean had not yet met with them.I don't know if this was individually or as a group. I tend to think it was as a group. The consensus was that the meeting was necessary to determine what individual states needed and access potential.This was not any individual Vice Chair. It was several at least.I have no idea what this is about. This is just what they say. It may just be squabbling for attention.Who knows? But they say they haven't been met with.

[madfloridian]

5. Are you talking about state vice chairs or DNC vice chairs?

Maybe I am confused. I do know that many states are upset that they were not in the first group to get money. That is sort of understandable, because all the states need to have the influx of money right now.

If it is state vice chairs, maybe they don't realize that a most of what he helps them collect at appearances stays in the state.

[saracat]

6. I think it was the national vices because I don'rt think that

many state vice chairs attended.The DNC Committeepeople were another group that were unhappy and claim to be dismissed.
And state vice chairs are usually the best informed people in the DNC.They know exactly where all moneies go. One of our vice chairs is the former stse treasurer. I wouldn't sell any state vice chairs short!

[madfloridian]

7. Excuse me, saracat....stop that.

Stop misreading my words. Stop doing that to me. I am simply trying to find out specifically where the gripes are. I heard different things from the state chairs. However, there are issues locally with "candidate" separation problems. If you know what I mean.

When you generalize all state committee people, that is a very broad sweep. I find it hard to believe they are all unhappy.

I did not sell anyone short at all. Some of my best friends are committee people. Trust me, there are many points of view.

According to you all the people in your state are miserably disillusioned with him after two and a half months. That is hard to believe.

I was trying to be nice and get specifics. I am done with arguing. .

[saracat]

9. Wow! I was nice to you. I tried to answer your question.

You made an inference that the Vice chairs might not "know' about money raised by appearances. That had nothing to do with your original question but I addressed it.All I said was they would know as they are informed.
I NEVER said ALL the people in my state were "miserably disillusioned with Dean after two and a half months'!I Never "generalized about all state committee people." I never said anything about state committee people. Prove where I said any of those things.I talked about the impressions of some DNC national committee people and what I perceived to be national vice chairs. Please read to comprehend before you jump people. And you have the nerve to accuse me of mireading your words! Wow.I guess a civil dicussion is out of the question.

[madfloridian]

10. Stop.

"You made an inference that the Vice chairs might not "know' about money raised by appearances. That had nothing to do with your original question but I addressed it.All I said was they would know as they are informed."

The reason I said that is because I know some of them did not. I know a couple of state vice chairs are very upset because the money they need is not immediate forthcoming. I was not being ugly. I was not underestimating anyone.

I am backing off, because this just does not work.

I edited it because of the word vice after the word state. I forgot it.

BTW, I think you seem to believe I am great anti-Kerry. I am not, never was. I think it is time to get over the "candidate separation anxiety" syndrome that most here at DU have. We can not even seem to think in clear terms....only primary terms.

[madfloridian]

8. And here are the vice chairs who were elected to DNC.

If these are who you are referring to, I KNOW some of them are working with Howard Dean just fine. I just want fairness.
http://democrats.org/news/200502170001.html
DNC Elects Slate of Officers
Washington, D.C. – This weekend, Democratic National Committee (DNC) members
elected officers to help newly elected Chairman Howard Dean build a
Democratic Party that will operate from the grassroots up, while working
closely with state parties and standing up for Democratic values. DNC
members elected five vice chairs, a secretary, a treasurer, and a national
finance chair to four year terms each.

Hon. Lottie Shackelford – Vice Chair for Voter Registration and
Participation
Lottie Shackelford is the former mayor of Little Rock, Ark and the first
African American elected to that position. In 1993, she was appointed by
President Bill Clinton to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC). Shackelford has worked on numerous campaigns
and serves on the DNC Resolutions Committee. She is the longest serving DNC
Vice Chair.

Mark Brewer – Vice Chair
Mark Brewer was first elected Chair of the Michigan State Democratic Party
in 1995, and continues to serve in that position today. Brewer also heads
the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC), a position to which he
was first elected in 2003 and reelected in February 2005. Brewer has worked
for Cong. Bonior (D-Mich.) and many federal and state campaigns, and serves
on the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee.

Linda Chavez-Thompson – Vice Chair
Linda Chavez-Thompson is the Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO and the
highest ranking woman and Hispanic in the AFL-CIO. She has served as an
International Vice-President of AFSCME and serves on many boards and
committees in the labor movement and Hispanic community.

Hon. Mike Honda – Vice Chair
Congressman Honda is serving his third term in the House of Representatives
representing Silicon Valley, California. Honda previously served as a member
of the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and as a member of the California
Assembly. He serves on the Science and the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committees. With his election as Vice Chair, Rep. Honda now holds the
highest office ever held by an Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) in a
major political party and serves as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus. He continues to be a strong voice for the cause of social
justice, tolerance and civil rights.

Susan W. Turnbull – Vice Chair
Susan Turnbull, an activist intheWomen's communityis the National Chair of
the Women’s Leadership Forum, a founder of the DNC Women’s Vote Centerand is
theimmediate past Chair of the DNC Women’s Caucus. Since 1982, Turnbull has
been an active Democratic and civic volunteer in Montgomery County,
Maryland, and has worked on numerous local, statewide and national
campaignsin Democratic Party leadership positions. She has been an elected
member of the DNC from Marylandsince 1992 and served as DNC Deputy Chair
from 2003 until her election as Vice Chair. Turnbull has served on Jewish
community boards for the last 20 yearsand is also a small businesswoman who
owns and operates a commercial space planning firm."

Alice Germond - Secretary
Alice first became a member of the DNC in 1980 having served as a California
Party Official. Germond served in senior positions in the Hart, Dukakis, and
Clinton-Gore Campaigns where she was California's political director in
1992. Alice was the Political Director for Ron Brown's successful race for
Chairman and joined him at the DNC as his Senior Advisor, staying with the
Party as Director of Party and Government Affairs with Chairman Wilhelm.
Alice was the Vice President of NARAL Pro-Choice America from 1999 - 2002,
was elected Chair of the Democratic Task Force of NWPC and coordinated
putting Geraldine Ferraro on the ticket, and worked for the AFL-CIO and
SEIU. Alice has served on numerous Commissions and Boards, including the
Council on Criminal Justice. She was first elected Secretary in 2002 and is
a currently a member of the Rules and By Laws Committee.

Andrew Tobias - Treasurer
Andrew Tobias has written many books in the financial world as well as
working as a Contributing Editor for New York Magazine and Parade Magazine.
Among other organizations, Tobias serves on the Board of Directors of the
Human Rights Campaign.

Maureen White – National Finance Chair
Maureen White is a national and international human rights advocate. She
serves as a U.S. government representative to UNICEF and as the Chair of the
Leadership Council on Children Affected by Armed Conflict.

[Moderator]

11. Locking

This thread has become a flamewar between two members.