Odds and Ends

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Annatopia sent me this because she saw how much I love free speech zones. Turns out our President actually invented the idea of putting protesters in a special area when he was governor--I am shocked.

Since the governor was about to launch his presidential campaign, he didn't want these protesting peasants embarrassing him, so suddenly there was a new rule that said no one could demonstrate on the sidewalks around the mansion. Instead, the governor consigned them to a "protest zone," which was a parking lot far away from the mansion and the media. The citizens demonstrated anyway, and Bush's security force was dispatched to arrest them. [article]

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CalPundit has 2 posts worth checking out today (expounding on one from a few days ago)
- Gay rights are important, Likability is important and Dean is likeable (but, so is Edwards)

- Thoughts on National Security platform for Dems

Republicans and their neoconservative brethren have a foreign policy that is seemingly based on the naive idea that having the world's biggest military machine and using it frequently will make us safe from terrorism. It won't — instead it will simply make us hated and isolated. Democrats need to expose this for the reckless folly that it is and offer up a comprehensive plan in its place that offers genuine hope for the problems of the real world, not the fantasy solution of democracy at gunpoint favored by the Bush administration. It's time to get started.

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Rapping Cheney is by far my most popular post--thanks to Neal Pollack for inspiring it.

 

Dean For America Releases 1st Quarter Estimates

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From the press release:

Dean for America today announced that first-quarter fundraising totals are expected to exceed $2.6 million, with more than $2 million cash-on-hand. Contributions came from more than 12,000 individual donors. More than $2 million of the contributions will qualify for federal matching funds under campaign law.

Lots of small donations made the difference. And with the Meetup numbers growing every day, there's room for more. Join in on the meetup challenge and contribute to Dean For America today.  

Dean 2004 Meetups Today

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Today at 7pm, remember to attend your local Dean2004 meetup. There's one in Northampton at JavaNet on Main Street. We're expecting Aaron Holmes, Regional Coordinator from Burlington, to be there and answer questions.

Be sure to exchange e-mails and phone numbers. Meetup is a good way to make sure you meet once a month, but there is a lot to do between meetings. Decide on an activity to organize around each month (April 26--the anniversary of the signing of Civil Unions is a good one this month), and focus group actions around it.

Also, remember your part in the overall campaign. If you are in or close to Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, plan to go there for visibility events. If you are in an area with a large Democratic population (California, NY, DC), try to plan fund-raising events and raise awareness to drive the national poll numbers. Also, remember that you are trying to build the base in your local meetup--when the primaries come, these groups will be called upon for all kinds of activities--get organized and get to know each other now.  

MC Dick Cheney in the Hizouse!

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Neal Pollack has declared today to be "Make Fun of Dick Cheney Day".

Big Time Rap by MC Dick Cheney
Crowd: What time is it?
Cheney: BIG TIME!
Crowd: Are you major league?
Cheney: BIG TIME!
Cheney:
From the D to the I to the C to the K,
I Rock Iraq in a furious way
My undisclosed location was featured on "Cribs"
I got my last attack from drinking Cristal with ribs
I'm a chicken-hawk who had "priorities"
Like keeping my ass safe in BVD's
Condi and Colin P. got nothing on me
And I make Rummy do my stank laundry

My love of Artie-A is so well known
As head of Hallie-B, I threw them a bone
My energy plan was Enron and Nukes
And drillin' ANWAR like it was wearing Daisy Dukes

If you step to me, you'll meet my SS crew
My underground cave has curtains from Martha Stew
I watched Joe Mill. and got a crush on Heidi
My wife Lynne don't mind, cuz she digs Joe Bid-ee

I'm a heart beat away, that's what my posse sez
And Mary Matalin is Lucy to my Desi Arnaz.
And if you don't like my V. P. rhyme
You're a major league "bling-bling"-- BIG TIME!
 

1000 Points of Light They Ain't

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Today's Washington Post reports:

President Bush has complete faith in Donald Rumsfeld, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, dismissing criticism of the defense secretary's handling of the Iraq war as second-guessing by "1,000 colonels" at the Pentagon.

I guess I would feel better if President Bush or Secretary Rumsfeld had more the 0.1% of the experience that one of these colonels has--let alone what 1,000 of them have.

To be fair, Rumsfeld is one of the few in the administration who actually served in the military. He was a pilot in the Navy and retired as a captain. The Army's equivalent rank is, of course, a colonel--so let's make that 1,001 colonels at the Pentagon. Of course, some have seen combat and some have not--I leave it as an exercise to the reader to find out Cpt. Rumsfeld's combat experience.
 

Libertarians for Howard Dean

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I love Libertarians, and I think Libertarians would love Howard Dean. Here's why:

1. He has essentially the same policy towards Iraq as the Cato Institute. No other Democratic candidate comes close to this position, and Bush is the polar opposite. (all Cato Institute Iraq articles)


2. He believes in equal rights for gays and lesbians via civil unions.


3. He has libertarian compatible attitude toward gun control (rural areas don't need or want it, and that's ok)


4. He's rabidly pro-choice

He's not officially a Libertarian, but he's the only candidate with a shot who is close. Ask yourself what your candidate's position on the Texas sodomy laws is (Bush likes em, Dean doesn't) or how about Total Information Awareness. Do you think Ashcroft is representing your interests in the Justice Department? Do you pine for the days when we cared about balancing the budget? Dean's your man. The more you read about him, the more you'll like him. Check out his site. And if you're from Montana, I can assure you that Dean has never dyed his skin blue (unlike some candidates).  

FEC Filing Deadline

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Today, March 31st, is the FEC filing deadline. In a few hours, Howard Dean will report whatever he as raised to date to the FEC and they will report those numbers publicly. If you support Howard Dean and are wondering whether to contribute to the campaign, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing it now. Click here to contribute. Any amount you contribute will help.

Not sure yet? If you support the ideals Howard Dean is fighting for: health care for all, a sane foreign policy, fiscal responsibility as a means to social justice, and equal rights for all Americans through civil unions, then contributing to the campaign is a clear message that these issues are important. He is the only candidate that will fight Bush on the national stage and tell him that it's shameful to use the word "quota" to scare people, that it is reprehensible to deny women the right to control their bodies, that we are sick of the federal government forcing educational standards without providing support. We are sick of the neo-cons controlling the military, the radical right naming judges, and the corporations controlling environmental policy. As Gov. Dean says -- "WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK".

Click here if you want your country back.