Our Dean Meetup tonight. . .

[eileen from OH]

Yes, we DID have one. It was part post-mortem, part celebration, part reminisce, part looking ahead.

I've been the host since last Feb., when we had a whopping 7 people at a location that really Did Not Want Us. How far we have come to the 100+ who were there in December! We have over 150 in our local database. Tonight, I expected oh, maybe 15 - hard cores - to show up. But we had TWICE that number, which is pretty damn good for a candidate who has been out of it for 2 weeks. Plus, my last email of a few days ago included an invitation to be taken off the list, considering the circumstances. Only 2 people have taken advantage of that.

Ordinarily at Meetups, I push the positive. We've never got into bashing other candidates or even parties (never know who might be a repentant Repup!) but tonight was a bit of an exception. I figured we needed to rant and vent some spleens (which sounds exceedingly painful, but y'know what I mean.) But even with that, there was no Kerry bashing. If anything our group seems to be:

a) very resigned and united that Kerry will be the nominee and we are prepared to work and vote for him.

b) very receptive to what Gov. Dean will reveal (March 18) as he transitions from candidate to mainstream movement.

c) very, very, VERY determined to Take Back Ohio (TBO). Ohio, which has been dubbed "the new Florida" is once again a battleground. We are determined to help Kerry win, but we are also united in our quest to take Ohio back from the stranglehold that the Republicans have on it. The legislature and the Governor's office are solidly in Republican hands and they keep it that way by playing "musical offices' by switching positions to skirt term limits. In other words, when they are "term limited" out of office, they simply run for a different office that is being held by a Repub in a similar term limit situation. Who then runs for THEIR position. ("Qualifications? We spit on your qualifications!")

They count on name recognition and voter ignorance to carry them through the election. And it HAS worked, thus far. So we wind up with the same goddam Republicans in power, but in different positions. (I hope that makes sense - it is late!) NOTE: If you live in Ohio and are interested in joining us, please send me a private message.

So, tonight we vented, offered toasts, pledged to stick together, and promised to overturn the Republican machine (and it IS a machine) in Ohio.

A tall order, I know. But then again, we DO have the power.

Um, actually we've ALWAYS had the power
Just took a certain Governor to get us to USE it.

eileen from OH

[Guaranteed]

1. Right on...

Our meetup went great, too. It was mostly discussing how we can get involved in local politics, and whether or not we should vote for Kerry (we will, it seems). Ideas about networking and what our agenda should be. Very motivated people.

[hellhathnofury]

2. Our's was so so.

We really needed more people with vision and real motivation. I've only seen a few actually out there doing stuff.

[NJCher]

3. good to read about your meetup

Thanks for posting it.


Cher

[Mick Knox]

4. Sounds productive! nt