Thank you, Howard Dean
Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 07:09:59 AM PDT
Today is Howard Dean's 58th birthday. We in the progressive movement have a lot to thank him for, and what better way to do so than by making a contribution to the DNC today, or better yet, getting yourself a Democracy Bond?
One-time donation
Democracy Bonds
Please join me in making some contribution, however small, to thank Howard Dean for his leadership at the DNC. Also, it had been discussed over a few other diaries the past couple days about what the best way to send him a message would be, and the decision was to end your donation in $xx.50 to represent the 50-state strategy.
Join me below the fold for all the reasons we need to thank Howard Dean. Feel free to contribute your own in the comments and I'll add them to the list!
In case you've forgotten, here's a list of things we can thank Governor Dean for (in somewhat chronological order):
1) Paying off much of Vermont's debt, raising its bond rating, lowering income taxes twice, and balancing Vermont's budget for 11 straight years after inheriting a recession and $60 million deficit.
2) Ensured near-universal health coverage for children and pregnant women in the state and lowering the uninsured rate from 12.7% to 9.6%.
3) Cutting teen pregnancy and child abuse rates in half while Governor.
4) Signing the first civil unions bill in the nation - a move which forced him to wear a bullet-proof vest while in public.
5) Opposing the invasion of Iraq when almost no one else would.
6) Calling out the President and those Democrats who supported his efforts to invade Iraq, give tax cuts to the wealthy that have bankrupted the nation, and refusing to provide people with adequate health care.
7) Being the candidate from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party
8) Breaking all the fundraising records, while bringing in average donations of just $80 - how's THAT for campaign finance reform!!
9) Inspiring hundreds of thousands - if not millions - and showing us that WE have the power.
10) Founding Democracy for America, which is still going strong today in supporting socially progressive, fiscally responsible Democrats, and training thousands of new activists.
11) Never being afraid to speak his mind, even when it's not popular to do so.
12) Putting the interests of the party and the nation above his own by making a commitment to the DNC Chairmanship for the full 4-year term
13) As DNC Chair, selflessly travelling to the different states to hold fundraisers directly for the state parties instead of sucking money out of the states to the DNC.
14) Beating the (non-Presidential-year) DNC fundraising records anyway!
15) Making a commitment to leave no voter behind by implementing the 50-State Strategy and providing full-time organizers for every state party organization.
16) Instituting the Democracy Bonds program, giving tens of thousands of regular citizens a real stake in the future of our party.
17) Being part of the leadership team that won back ~30 House seats, 6 Senate seats, 6 Governorships, 9+ state legislature majorities, and not losing any.
Happy birthday, Howard Dean!!
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