Dean supporters - What Planks do we demand in the Platform in Boston?

[Dems Will Win]

Wanted to talk about this now, before this next round of caucuses and primaries --

I don't like to contemplate it, but if the worst happens and the Good Doctor does not get the nod:

In return for bringing along as many Dean supporters as possible, what should Dean platform committee people demand? Due to the large volunteer/contributor base, Dean has far more power here than usual. They will give Dean many, many planks (Then we have to hold the Dems feet to the fire to implement them). The Kerry people are already talking to him today, it was reported!

I can forward these suggestions on to some of the top people in the campaign. If you want to change America, what are your suggestions for change? What are your Plank Resolutions?

- No more contributions from personal lobbyists?

- Campaign contributions limited to $250 (that's a corker!)

What do you want? Guess what?

YOU HAVE THE POWER!

[lastknowngood]

1. Ban the DNC/DLC so Americans can take back their

party.

[boxster]

2. Demand?

Interesting choice of words.

[Dems Will Win]

3. Think it's more a proposed plank at the platform committee before the

convention starts. It's how the party is unified, the giving of planks to factions within the party to gain their full support.

If he doesn't win, Dean will have platform members and his multitude of supporters to bargain with at the very least at this point. Before that platform meeting, both sides WILL meet and Dean will present his list of plank resolutions. Resolutions will all be decided before the meeting typically, although sometimes things can change.

[LostInTheMaise]

4. Demand what's right or go third party

Time is up for compromise.

[ComerPerro]

5. Yeah, because that will just solve everything

Give me a break.

[Dems Will Win]

6. OK, good!

What are your suggestions for changing America and the Democratic Party?

Ban the DLC was one idea. Maybe there's the kernel of a plank in that idea--break up the DLC somehow.

What are some others?

[Nederland]

14. Ban the DLC?

Yes, let's ban the organization that gave us the only Presidential victories this party has seen in 25 years. Brilliant.

[lastknowngood]

17. Bill Clinton gave us those victories not the DLC his ability to

connect with people and charisma is what won not the corporate whore group.

[demon67]

7. Hard to make demands

without many delegates, isn't it? I would focus on getting some delegates first.

[lastknowngood]

8. The DNC can't raise money from it's traditional sources

it has nothing to bargain with they control no part of government so the corps they normally get their bribes from won't dish it out. Dean has the only viable money making machine out there.

[Dems Will Win]

11. You know lastknowngood, I really think your Ban the DLC has potential

This could pull the party together more. We might get something real out of this if we can figure out a way to use this idea.
It's kind of like break up ATT. They have too much power and it was appropriate in the 90s but needs to be more democratic now!

This could be a way to frame it as a democratic reform. Here it is:

"Elected officials shall only be super-delegates and state and DNC leaders, they shall not be allowed to serve on quasi-official "Councils" such as the DLC, which will cease operation on Jan. 1, 2005."

I'm going with this one maybe to my people. This is how it's done, folks.

Any more good suggestions????

[lastknowngood]

15. How about a plank to remove all DINO's from committees

and remove their supper delegate votes. We need some party discipline and the punks who are supposed to be the "democratic leadership" ,ie Dashel and Pelosy are neither leaders or good spokespeople.

[Dems Will Win]

9. Well, I am focusing on delegates but Dean is talking to Kerry right now

about things like this right now and I know people near the top of the Dean campaign and can get some Plank ideas to them.

So the time is now. Plus we have to get delegates simultaneously.

Yet even if Dean has only hundreds of delegates, due to the number of contributors and the size of Dean's organization, there is A LOT Dean has that Kerry wants--bad. Dean will get his demands met. Not VP, but Planks you bet.

[EXE619K]

10. "Bring the Greens back to the table or else I'll bolt!" plank.

Dems have been alienating the Greens and there's been much bad blood between the two.

Instead of working together...the DLC and the Pink Tu-Tu Democrats have been impeding progress.

Firing squad for all the "old guards" of the Democratic party and their so-called "standard bearers"!

Someone needs to take responsibility for the 2002 disaster.

[Dems Will Win]

12. Right, we're going to ban the DLC, see above Plank language

That will help a lot. The DLC has an unfair advantage. If we can't ban the DLC altogether, I bet we can make it so no elected official can join!

It could really be seen as a needed reform if we push for it.

[NoPasaran]

13. 1. National healthcare for all Americans

2. Fair Trade: renegociate NAFTA/WTO so that American jobs are preserved and international working conditions are improved
3. Minimum wage replaced with a living wage tied to the cost of living
4. Internationalization of the rebuilding of Iraq. End the occupation by the US
5. Reengagement with the United Nations and our allies. Develop a new strategy for global security based on cooperation, not unilateralism
6. Guarentee equal protection and rights under the law for all Americans

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head

[LeahMira]

16. I'm not a Dean supporter, but I would like...

• universal, single payer health care
• minimum wage at $10./hr.
• corporations penalized that locate offshore to avoid taxes and regulations
• higher tax rate for higher incomes
• more funding for NEA and NEH, and government funding for Olympic athletes
• ratification of CEDAW, Kyoto, Rights of the Child, World Court, and other international agreements
• honoring all treaties made with Indian nations
• increasing veterans' benefits and military pay
• increased federal funding for education at all levels including state colleges
• affirmation that the U.S. is a secular government

That's off the top of my head.

[Dems Will Win]

18. Nopasaran and Leah Mira, Those lists are good

I'm getting ideas, the wheels are turning. There are planks in there I can feel it!

Anyone else??

[cybildisobedience]

19. two things:

1. Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine so that we have something even resembling a real media watchdog in this country
2. Demand paper ballots for all current electronic voting machines and ban the purchase of any others anywhere else in the country until after this issue is studied by a REAL panel of experts and voting activists -- not some industry hacks.

Without those two things, we are truly sunk.

[maggrwaggr]

21. those are good!

now how 'bout the "get your goddamn dirty hands off me, you corporate ape" plank?

[maggrwaggr]

20. how 'bout the "Arrest Bush Now" plank?

that's the one I want.

[OutlawCorporatePolls]

22. Media Polls

If a corporation donates money to a candidate, they must not be allowed to conduct polls. fox, cnn, msnbc, etc.

Mathematically, there is enough room within the margin of error on most polls for the media to adjust to create momentum for whichever candidate they want.

[Moderator]

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