Lamont to be in VT with DFA with Sanders, Leahy, Welch, Parker

[madfloridian]

Ned Lamont in Burlington!

"Last week Ned Lamont upset the political establishment by winning the Democratic Party's nomination over incumbent Joe Lieberman in Connecticut. This week Ned is coming to Vermont to celebrate with some of his earliest supporters—and you're invited:

http://www.dfalink.com/lamont

Through Democracy for America, you played a major role in Ned's campaign. DFA was one of Lamont's earliest endorsers. Together we raised nearly $100,000 to fuel his people-powered movement. Jim Dean—Howard Dean's brother and the chair of DFA—appeared on Ned's behalf on Meet the Press and Hardball with Chris Matthews. Scores of DFA volunteers from across the country joined the DFA staff in Connecticut in the final get-out-the-vote push.

Today, Ned Lamont is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. And Joe Lieberman is embracing Dick Cheney's rhetoric in a desperate attempt to hold onto power.

You can meet Ned, and help Democracy for America change the debate in Washington, by joining Honorary Chairs Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, Vermont Senator Peter Welch and Scudder Parker at a reception for DFA on Friday:

http://www.dfalink.com/lamont

Here are the details:

Friday, August 18, 2006
Main Street Landing at Union Station
One Main Street, Burlington, Vermont

6:00 PM—7:00 PM
Reception Tickets: $50 to "Democracy for America" at the door.
Democracy for America will host a private dinner with Ned Lamont following the reception. Space is limited and reservations are required. For more information please call Dina or Holly at [phone].

Thank you for all that you do,

Tom Hughes
Executive Director

Posted by DFA Staff at 01:10 PM

[Eric J in MN]

1. If you can't make it but want to support "Democracy for America"

...they accept online donations:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com

I donated to DFA tonight.

[madfloridian]

2. Good for you.

Their trainings and night schools are super.

[madfloridian]

3. Jim Dean in Missouri, Jeff Smith successful this time around.

DFA Blue Missouri Conference a huge success

As reported in the Columbia Tribune, the first all Missouri DFA conference which has held yesterday August 12th was a major success.

Nearly 100 people from all over the State turned out on a hot August day to hear and be inspired by Jim Dean and Charles Chamberlain while gathered to discuss organizing a stronger Statewide presence. Candidates for around the State participated in a panel discussion, DFAlink hosts each addressed the crowd and a contact list was generated and shared with all those present.



And I remember Jeff Smith from his 2004 run, and I see this article about his success this time.



Mr. Smith goes to Columbia

"State Senator-elect Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, stopped by the Democracy for Missouri convention on Saturday at Columbia’s Carpenter’s Local 1925 Hall to thank the group for support during the wild Democratic primary for the Fourth District senate seat.

Calling the group’s endorsement the “Good Housekeeping seal for progressives,” Smith said the organization was critical for driving left-leaning voters to the polls in his 2004 campaign for the U.S. House, as well as his victory on Tuesday over state Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, D-St. Louis, state Rep. Amber Boykins, D-St. Louis, former state Rep. Derio Gambaro and former St. Louis alderman Kenny Jones.

“It was an extremely important endorsement in my 2004 race, it really put me on the map nation-ally,” Smith said. “It helped me get to know a lot of key activists in the St. Louis area. Garnering their endorsement in 2006 showed progressives that I hadn’t strayed from my positions.”

[madfloridian]

4. More about Jim Dean in Missouri.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Aug/20060813News006.asp

"Howard Dean is now national chairman of the Democratic Party. Jim Dean, his brother, is chairman of Democracy for America. In town yesterday to rally activists with the state group, he said it has already had an effect on Missouri politics through active support for candidates like Jeff Smith, who won a crowded Democratic primary for a St. Louis state Senate seat.

"I think there’s a lot of activism in places where people don’t think there is," Dean said. "Back East, few people think of Missouri as a progressive state or activism state. But you see a lot of people who really want to effect change on a local level. I think those things are really cool."

Smith, who is effectively senator-elect for the Fourth District seat because there is no GOP opposition in November, said the group has supported him since he ran for Congress in 2004

Even though election laws forbid political parties from coordinating with entities like Democracy for Missouri, state Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti said well-organized groups such as DFA help Democrats.

"Republicans are always going to have more money than Democratic candidates," Cardetti said. "To overcome that financial support, we need aggressive, well-organized groups to help get Democrats elected. And obviously, in the ’04 cycle, we saw a lot of Democratic groups get tremendous success in getting record turnout in this state."

[JohMunich99]

5. Just think where those Senators could be if Lieberman weren't running

Lamont wouldn't need all of this fundraising and the Dems could be raising money for our other close Senate and House races. Thank you Sore Loserman!

[dolstein]

6. You reap what you sow

The left-wing didn't have to take on Lieberman. But it decided that defeating Lieberman was more important than retaking Congress. That wasn't my decision. Don't blame me.

[madfloridian]

7. The sense of entitlement is showing too much.

There was a primary. Lamont won it. Lieberman lost it. Now those who are blaming others for his loss are showing that is not about being a Democrat, it is about Joe Lieberman.

And that is wrong.

Dean could have severely damaged the party in 04, but he chose to be a team player. He said it would have been too bloody to go 3rd party, and he stayed with the party.

Lieberman should do that, and he should do it graciously.

It is not about Lieberman, it is about voters getting a voice.

[nolabels]

8. Then many of us must have a bumper crop coming up pretty soon

You cannot win people's hearts and minds over with wishy-washy words. Ridding a home of a foul wretched stench would be the first thing I would do before moving any part of the furniture in.

When you sacrifice your principles for this thing called 'winning at any cost' then you have lost at all costs. This is true and factual, just look at Joe, it shows like the sun on a bright glaring day.

This Joe fella must of fell under the spell of a sorcerer to have been so fully corrupted, it's almost sad at some point. Relieving Joe of his duties would be best for Joe and all the rest us who don't need some neo-con version of the crusades