As the bright lights from network television cameras focused on President Bush during the State of the Union Address, Governor Howard Dean spent the evening in Durham, North Carolina with hundreds of average Americans infront of a packed house at Satisfaction restaurant.
The Governor laid out a sound vision for the future of the Democratic Party -- a future that can be summed up as the marriage between the Democracy Bonds community and a fifty state strategy built upon local participation from the grassroots.
(It's a long diary with lots of video links, so don't get caught up and forget to come back and comment, recommend, or invest in a Democracy Bond linked above--they make the fifty state strategy & trips like this possible -- Tim)
The Venue
Within several hours of selecting Satisfaction as the venue to host Governor Dean on the night of the State of the Union, hundreds of individuals signed up to attend the event. The rush prompted local supporters/Democracy Bond holders/DNC staff to set up an overflow location across the street. When the overflow location reached capacity, many just lingered in the street between the two restaurants soaking up the enthusiasm pouring from the doors of each location.
Photo: 5:30 P.M.
Photo: 6:15 P.M.
Photo: 7:00 P.M.
Photo: 7:15
Local Participation / Democracy Bonds / 50 State Strategy
The rapidly growing Democracy Bonds community is the core of a new Democratic Party -- a permanent operation dedicated to building our capacity to win elections not just this year but for a generation. We are building from the grassroots up, organizing in every state, and asking Americans from Main Street, and not K Street, to sustain the party via the Democracy Bonds program.
The Democratic Party is committed to winning elections at every level in every region of the country, and we're getting started right now with a massive effort to fund organizers on the ground in every state. The ultimate goal? An active, effective group of Democrats organized in every single precinct in the country.
Both caught on in North Carolina, as local supporters took the iniative necessary to successfully create tools promoting the ideas:
Photo: Democracy Bonds Water Bottles
Photo: Local Involvement Bulletin Board (click to enlarge)
Governor Dean Takes the Stage
Around 7:55, the moment finally arrived, Governor Dean hopped onto the stage after an introduction by North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman, Jerry Meek, and the Durham County Democratic Party Chairman.
Video: Governor Dean Takes the Stage
Video: Governor Dean Talks About Democracy Bonds
Video: Governor Dean Talks About Reforming Rampant Republican Corruption
Getting it Done Locally
But again, this was a local event that just happened to have a bit of national attention. Much like the fundraising Governor Dean does for local parties across the state in his travels, this event too, had a tremendous local flavor. Take a look at the huge banner behind Governor Dean in the videos above... That was the backdrop for the Democrats who have invested their blood, sweat, and tears over the past 15 months, never stopping after election day. This event was about those North Carolina Democrats, thanking them for their hard work in 2004, 2005, and the long road we have ahead of us in 2006 and 2008.
Here are a few videos of North Carolina Democrats talking about their plans to rebuild, organize, and turn the state from Wolfpack red to Carolina (or Duke) blue.
Video: Precint Chair Troy McLean
Video: Liz Talks About Local Participation
Video: Lanya Talks About the Road Ahead
Reaction From Participants
Here's a sample of quotes from people who attended the event.
Katy
"Well, Howard Dean stopping by our Watch Party last night certainly stirred up Durham, N.C.-- and pulled in a whole lot of new volunteers for our county party. We could not be happier here. A lot of us have been working nonstop since the 2004 elections and we needed this boost and reminder of why we are putting so many hours into grassroots organizing and voter education."
Kegray
"The evening really was a resounding success, and the coordinators worked there tush's off putting it together! We also had people come from Lee County and Vance County!"
Steve B
"I saw Dean last night, too at Satisfactions in Durham. He didn't need to scream. Everybody else did. He counseled patience---change takes time."
Harper
"Saw and heard Dean last night in Durham, NC.First time I've had chill bumps since Obama's magnificent speech. Dean inspires and energizes.He made me feel hopeful, too. We are lucky to have this guy on our side... Dean stressed Patience, Involvement, and the fact that our successes will take Time."
Local Press Reports
A compilation of media accounts from the State of the Union events.
Associated Press Photo
Durham Herald Sun
"He didn't scream, but everyone else did. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, whose enthusiastic yell at the Iowa caucuses became a symbol of his 2004 presidential campaign's demise, landed in Durham on Tuesday to rally the party faithful before President Bush's State of the Union speech.
Dean spoke to boisterous supporters gathered at Satisfaction and Devine's, two restaurants in the Brightleaf Square area of downtown, before watching the president's speech at the home of a local family. The trip was designed to build Democratic support for this year's midterm elections and the next presidential campaign in 2008."
The News Observer
"Dean, who tried unsuccessfully two years ago to win the party's presidential nomination, roused a crowd of nearly 300 people at Satisfaction, a restaurant and bar in Brightleaf Square. He marshaled enthusiasm from a smaller, but just as vocal crowd at Devine's, a saloon across the street.
Amid pleas for party money -- small checks, and lots of them -- Dean and the crowd got their licks in when they could on everything Republican that they dislike.
Dean, who took over as chairman of the National Democratic Party in February 2005, criticized the Bush administration's plans for health care, Social Security reform and the continuing war in Iraq. He urged Democrats to unite to reclaim the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate this election year."