Got an email from Howard Dean, who has been working to help encourage and elect local democratic candidates since his own campaign ended. Have to say that this is the way to do it. The media and their cult of celebrity focus on Bush and Kerry and such, but local power is what democracy is all about. So many people seem to be focusing on getting rid of Bush. But that won't make any difference if the Democrats don't have support and power in local communities, the states, and the Congress. Which is what this is all about.
Kerry isn't much, if any, better than Bush. At least as far as I can see. He's a corporate flack and warmonger all the way. If he's going to do anything to improve things, it will only be if he's constantly pushed to do so by grassroots politicians from around the country.
Anyway, here's Dean's email.
Several months ago I put out a call to the hundreds of thousands of
grassroots activists who had worked on my campaign to run for office
themselves. Hundreds of volunteers answered this call. Our new
organization - Democracy for America - is dedicated to using its
resources to support those candidates in their fight to take our
country back from the right-wing conservatives who dominate our
government. Today, Democracy for America announces the Dean Dozen -
twelve diverse candidates that represent the spirit of grassroots
democracy. These will be tough races, and not all of the Dean
Dozen may win. However, they will all spread the message that to
change America progressives must compete.
These twelve candidates will be followed by hundreds of additional
candidates in the next few months.
No incumbents are on the initial Dean Dozen, though Democracy for
America will be announcing its support of incumbent candidates soon.
The Dean Dozen are:
Mary Ann Andreas for State Assembly in California. The 80th Assembly
District has some of the highest unemployment rates in California, so
it's all about jobs for Mary Ann in her race against the Republican
incumbent.
www.andreasforassembly.com.
Ken Campbell for South Carolina State House. A Dean inspired candidate!
Oconee County has a chance to put a real community activist and small
business owner to work with Ken Campbell.
www.takebackoconee.com.
Maria Chappelle-Nadal for Missouri State House. Maria has won the
support of the grassroots in this race. Democracy for America is
behind her in her campaign to take back the State House for Democrats.
www.maria2004.com.
Scott Clark, Mark Manoil & Nina Trasoff for the Arizona Corporation
Commission. The Corporation Commission is a watchdog agency protecting
consumers from fraud and corporate abuse. Clark, Manoil & Trasoff
became politically active on the Dean campaign and are running as a
ticket for the commission. If you live in Arizona and can help them
get on the ballot, contact them by email here:
corpcomm04@hotmail.com.
Kim Hynes for State Representative in Connecticut. 28 Republican state
representatives in Connecticut ran unopposed in the last election. We
won't take our country back if we don't compete. Kim is doing her part.
You too can get involved.
kimhynes.smartcampaigns.com.
Richard Morrison for United States House of Representatives from Texas.
Want to get rid of Tom DeLay? Here's your chance. Morrison is hitting
back at "The Hammer" by competing against him in the Texas 22nd. Join
me and get involved in the fight today.
www.richardmorrisonfordistrict22.com.
Barack Obama for United States Senate from Illinois. In the race to
regain control of the U.S. Senate, Democrats have few better chances to
pick up a seat than in Illinois. DFA volunteers all over Illinois
helped Obama win his primary, now it's time to help him win the general.
Stay tuned: I will be on the trail with Barack soon.
www.obamaforillinois.com.
Rob MacKenna for Hillsborough County (Florida) Supervisor of Elections.
Rob is a computer programmer and is fighting to add a voter-verifiable
paper trail to the touch-screen voting machines in the largest swing
county in the all-important state of Florida!
www.rob2004.com.
Monica Palacios-Boyce for Massachusetts State Representative. Inspired
by my race for the White House, Monica launched her campaign
for state representative when she learned that the Republican incumbent
had faced no opposition in his last two elections.
www.monicaforstaterep.com.
Lori Saldana for State Assembly in California. After an upset victory
in the primary, grassroots activists want Lori to win in her race for
the environment, education, economy and community of San Diego.
www.lorisaldana.com.
Jeff Smith for United States House of Representatives from Missouri.
Campaigning in a 10-way primary for the opportunity to fill retiring
Representative Richard Gephardt's seat in Congress, Jeff is an
articulate young progressive running an energetic grassroots field
campaign that - with your help - could surprise the pundits.
www.jeffsmith2004.com.
Donna Red Wing for Colorado House District #25. After serving as the
GLBT Field Advisor for the Dean for America campaign, Donna has
returned to the mountains of Colorado to mobilize progressive
activists in communities across her district.
www.donnaredwing.com.
This year the race for the presidency is unbelievably important. But
beside our efforts to evict George W. Bush from the White House, we
must expand the base of the Democratic Party by competing in tough
races across the country. The Dean Dozen represent some of the
bravest candidates in the nation. Democracy for America is proud to
support them.
