Chairman Dean in Australia

[CarolNYC]

Goodness, I'm sick of all the bashing going on here...including that of Chairman Dean. I liked this little piece on his trip to Australia I found in ABC's The Note this AM. I hope no one finds anything to criticize in it. I love Dean and I think he's doing a great job so far...not that he'll ever come close to pleasing everyone...but then no one would.

Oh, and I like the description of Howard here "powerful, energized, scathing, passionate, determined"....Yep, sound slike our guy. :)

Chairman/Gov. Howard Dean:
It's been an open secret that DNC chair Howard Dean has been on holiday in Australia (G'day, Doctor!), but he couldn't resist adding at least one bit of business to his pleasure.

Tuesday morning, he spoke to about 200 Democrats in Sidney at Bar Broadway, just south, we are told, of the city's central business district. One Democrat who was there e-mails us to say that "Howard was Howard: powerful, energized, scathing, passionate, determined."

Some of his zingers: "The level of respect for the greatest country on Earth is the lowest I have seen in over 50 years. . . . . The most destructive thing Bush has done is destroy our sense of community."

On Iraq : "We are really stuck. He has really screwed us up."

"His key message ," according to our correspondent, "was that Democrats need to have a systematic political campaign capacity throughout the country — in every state — not just the ability to put on a strong presidential campaign every four years. "

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238

[madfloridian]

1. The other day someone said they would go to Australia, too....

if they were under attack by both ends of the spectrum...PDA and Kucinich on one end and the DLC on the other. He deserves it.

Have a nice vacation, Governor.

[shance]

2. Thank ya Carol***

Governor Dean has been the energizer, igniter and motivator desperately needed for Democrats and Americans overall for the past few years. We have much to be grateful for because of him and what that he has given back to Americans and this country. What I appreciate most is he's not about taking power from others, hes about teaching all of us to find the power within ourselves and to build on our strengths and capabilities. He has the insight and altruism to realize no one person can do what is now needed by all Americans to do.

No one has been more intstrumental in teaching us the importance of getting involved in politics and speaking up on important issues we care about. Not to mention, Democracy for American/Dean for America has brought Americans back together when isolation has become epidemic in this country, and he has continuously reminded all of us to not give up and to become leaders in our own right so that we can create the difference we would like to see, and help those coming up in the world. Its going to be a tough haul for them if we don't take some responsibility.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I agree

I think Dean is doing a great thing and doing everything the right way. He's doing it at the grassroots level where it counts. If you don't have a say in local governments how can you expect to have a say in the presidential election? I think it's great what he's doing and he deserves a little lexury here and there to get re-energized. I've heard a lot of success with DFA and canidates they help. One good thing that has come out of 2004 is we're energized and getting organized all over the country. :) I was happy when Dean became chairman and was worried he wouldn't but it all turned out for the best and he's doing the best job.
To me being chairman is more then just raising money. That is a part of it but I think what Dean is doing is what a real chairman should be doing as well.

[CarolNYC]

7. you're welcome

I agree....He's doing a great job. I think Howard Dean is a fighter and a scrapper and when you're in the fight of your lfe, like we are now, I'll take all of the fighters and scrappers I can get. It's good to have him out there fighting for us.

[KoKo]

3. Thanks for the post. Nice snips from Dean, too.

Glad to see he took the time out to meet with Aussie's who lean Democratic.

I can't stand ABC's "The Note" so I don't read it...and won't go to the link...because they always find a way to trash Dems...but glad they quoted snips that show that Dean is a "breath of fresh air" to Dem Party.

[CTLawGuy]

4. I feel so happy having him as

chairman. If anyone is going to turn this party around it is he.

[madfloridian]

6. Iraq: "We are really stuck. He has really screwed us up." Good quote.

Very true.

[Guaranteed]

11. Clearly a collaborator!

Break out the tar and feathers.

[KoKo]

8. Kick for a great "Dean Update!" eom

[spooky3]

9. I love the guy but I wish Americans would stop calling US "the greatest

country on earth" etc., particularly when visiting other countries. There's no need to alienate people and no need to act as if we've won some competition. Who are we to say we're the greatest and, even if we were, doesn't this make us look arrogant, ugly Americans?

I know what he meant, but he's not the only person who does this (even the opening of the David Letterman show, shown around the world, claims that NYC is the best city on earth--even if true, which I don't think it is, how grating is that for people in other countries to hear New Yorkers say about themselves?). Wish we would stop it.

[SweetLeftFoot]

15. Yeah

It is unbelievably offensive. As is the notion that everybody in the world would like, one day, to live in the US.

Even people on the Left have a habit of saying things like "We have get rid of Bush so we can get back to being the greatest country in the world."

Ahem, even during the Clinton days the US was executing juveniles, had a massive disparity between rich and poor, nutbars blowing Federal buildings and abortion clinics, ridiculous drug laws and all the rest.

Greatest nation my arse.

[Cha]

10. Thanks, CarolNYC!

My son-in-law is Aussie, a Dem, and lives in Portland, Oregon with my daughter and their children.

I have a fondness for Australia and am extra happy that Dean is Down Under on a well deserved break from American politics.

Good on ya, Dean! :toast:

On other good news from the note..patati's ratings are 36% here in New York!

[CarolNYC]

12. You're welcome zidzi

I've never been to Australia but have cousins who lived there for a year and loved it. Cheers to your son-in-law. :hi:

And aces on the Pataki news...Apparently the Towers flap isn't helping either him or Bloomberg.

[Cha]

13. Cheers to you!

I just read that LBN on pataki and the "towers"..I'd be even more pissed at them if I lived in Lower Manhatten!

"Tallest tower in the World"..that's just asking for trouble.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1445395

[CarolNYC]

14. Thanks for the link

to the Towers story....what a mess.