HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOWARD DEAN !!

[DFW]

I met him ten years ago, when he was an impressive, energetic, idea-heavy Howard Who?

It didn't take him long to be on the covers of Time and Newsweek. It didn't take long after that
for the right-wing media to derail his presidential candidacy, or for him to get his revenge by
pushing through the 50 State Strategy, thereby getting control of Congress in 2006 and the White
House in 2008. We all thought that would be enough to change the country. It wasn't. We needed
Howard more than ever after the 2008 election, and he was gently pushed out the door with a polite
version of, "thanks, now get lost."

As far as I am concerned, we would be better off with Howard in some position of vital importance,
but he's doing lots of behind the scenes stuff now, and he is just as difficult to nail down for
dinner as he was when he was DNC chair.

Wherever you are, my friend, (I'll try his cell phone later, but probably get his voice mail as usual),
a very happy birthday, and may there be at least another 40 or so left for you!

We would be better off, IMHO, if Howard were in the headlines instead of on the sidelines.

Howard is 62 today.

[ceile]

1. Happy Bday Dr. Dean! n/t

[mdmc]

2. Yeee - Haw! Got my birthday woop on for the Good MD

joyjoyjoy!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Happy Birthday, Howard Dean!

I too wish he were on the national scene...

His is a strong, intelligent and valuable voice.

May he have many more years!

:hi:

[DFW]

5. Yeah, don't so many of us.

Oh, and by the way, I DID get him on the phone, but he was driving in a car in Virginia, where it's not allowed to
drive while talking on a cell phone, so we talked for 2 minutes, and then he had to hang up in mid-sentence. Probably
got spied by a traffic cop or something.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Glad you were able to connect, even if only briefly! n/t

[DFW]

9. I hope he didn't get into a collision on my account! n/t

[emulatorloo]

4. Happy Birthday, Dr Dean!

[democrank]

7. Happy Birthday

to one of the best.

[Lugnut]

8. Happy birthday Dr Dean!

And many, many more! :toast:

[hootinholler]

10. Happy Birthday to a truth teller! n/t

[DFW]

11. They're a dying breed, aren't they? N/T

[EFerrari]

12. It's also Alaa abdel Fattah's birthday today.

The Egyptian activist imprisoned by the junta.

[DFW]

15. Apparently Nov. 17th is a birthday to a lot of people.

Bonehead was not only born on November 17th, but the same year as Howard as well. The water must have been
less polluted where Howard's mother was living than where Bonehead's mother was living.

It was also the birthday of my father in law. He was the strong silent type. He got drafted off his farm
in 1941 at age 17 and returned a cripple with his leg blown off in the battle of Stalingrad. His fondest
wish was that all his grandchildren be girls so they would never be forced to join the military. Understandable,
given what happened to him, and he did get his wish.

[ellisonz]

13. Happy Birthday Howard! Thank you for all you've done for this country!

And the best for Judith!

True Story: I was in Portland,OR sometime after the 2004 primaries for a lecture by the Doctor. He arrived late and at the end of it he was swarmed by people - with a Green Party member trying to engage him in debate over the usual nonsense as he tried to exit. I blurted out that I had volunteered for him. He stopped and made his way through the gaggle shook my hand and thanked me for my effort.:thumbsup:

:party:

[DFW]

14. That's how Howard is

At the height of his presidential campaign in December 2003, when he had Secret Service protection around him
and was on the covers of Time and Newsweek, he saw me at a gathering he was speaking at, and came over and told
everyone "here's the best 12 string guitar player you'll ever meet!" I'm no Leo Kottke, but he did take the trouble,
and he's always gone that extra mile for others. That's what makes him the great guy he is--indeed, what makes him
a Democrat.

[ellisonz]

16. Fundamental decency really shines through...

...got any videos of you picking 12 string guitar? PM'em if you want.

[DFW]

18. There were probably some videos made at festivals I played at

But I don't have any of them. If you go to the Jango music site and look up "The Freedom Toast" and look up the piece "Long Lost Salamander," I think that's the only piece out there featuring me on 12 string that is readily available. It's a 3 track piece with me playing all 3 tracks (12 string, 6 string rhythm and bass). It was only meant as a trial, but I was requested to put it out there until I could make a formal recording of it, and I have no idea when I'll next have the time to go back to the studio.

[PassingFair]

17. He was the right man at the wrong time.

Once they've truly done squeezing us dry,
we will HAVE to elect a man of the people.

I hope we and he survive.

:party: