BREAKING: Howard Dean drops out of LGBT DNC fundraiser

Yeah right. . .

"A scheduling conflict"???

I wonder if Dean's conflict is intentionally lame.

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:16:50 AM CDT

Works for me.

Looking more and more like the podium is going to be very lonely place.

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by: ggw59 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:20:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Maybe Polis can have another ball game to get to

:-)

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by: CPT_Doom @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:47:43 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Time for Tammy to catch cold

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by: Patrick @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:01:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's odd. I hope everyone's OK in his family

given how fiery he was on Rachel Maddow's show last week, why not just say the truth?

I mean, this is huge, he's their most recent DNC chairman. He wouldn't miss it for a child's piano recital, particularly given how under fire the event is. I can't wait to hear a clarification.

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:41:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Excellent news. However,

I'll be watching other fundraisers to be sure that the pols aren't just sitting out a token fundraiser, then making up for lost time in more quiet settings.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:17:43 AM CDT

True.

I don't want to see any of them do another fundraiser until we start seeing real results. I know I won't be giving any $ to the DNC until I see them doing something.

Act on Principles and make equality happen.  

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by: atdnext @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:26:40 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This fundraiser

has a different dynamic because it is a LGBT fundraiser, so it has a particular significance attached to it. That said, it most certainly won't keep us from holding their feet to the fire and our dollars at home.

I wish I could be at the protest, and sincerely hope there's a HUGE turnout tomorrow.

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by: ggw59 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:36:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

as Ryan described in a diary further down the mail page,

some major political allies and even the director of massequality chose to slip into a biden/dnc fundraiser in boston yesterday.  this is not ok.  if "our" people give to the dnc when it's not an lgbt-specific fundraiser, i call semantic foul.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:03:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

main page,

not mail page, lol

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:03:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

YAY Dr Dean!

I hope that snakey Kaine ends up having a Party of One.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:20:40 AM CDT

Or at least

has to ask a bellhop to sit in as a fourth for Bridge...

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:29:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good on Dr. Dean.

I don't care how "lame" his excuse is, I'm just glad he's not doing this hokey-pokey hot mess. Dammit, it just makes me wonder why we couldn't get him elected in 2004.

Act on Principles and make equality happen.  

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by: atdnext @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:25:00 AM CDT

About lame excuses

I don't care how lame his excuse is either, but what I was wondering is if his lame excuse is intentionally lame so he can be viewed as sitting on the fence. We (LGBTs) can assume he is with us, and the DNC can assume he is not with us. He pulled out with out making any kind of statement to the boycott effort. It's safe.

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:34:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, better to be seen as neutral...

...than to be seen against us.

Pretty lame excuse though. Engh, whaddoya'do.

-----
~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

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by: Autumn Sandeen @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:37:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Agreed

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:45:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

He scared the corporate media

That's about it.  Americans would elect Howard Dean or maybe even someone more liberal IF there wasn't corporate control of most media by five corporations that are hell-bent on using their media to maintain the status quo.  Dean's howl was met with applause, yet you'd never know it had you not seen it live.  

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by: xequar @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:38:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

His excuse is not merely lame, it's transparent.

It doesn't seem possible that he had an important family event scheduled for tomorrow night but didn't realize it till today.  The DNC and President Fierce must realize that this is a deliberate slap in the face---not that they'll ever admit it publicly.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:47:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:13:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's so transparently lame, it's equivalent to

time and again pols get in hot water over something, money, sex, whatever, and before they get fired/impeached/tossed out of office, they resign and say they want to "spend more time with the family." Everyone knows the truth. This is the same.

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:40:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No good deed goes unpunished - or at least, uncriticized.

This need for 100% political purity isn't the way politics works, especially when you consider our numbers as a percentage of the population.

This construct is akin to demanding that people love us.  All I care is that politicos do what will work towards advancing our rights. An atta boy/atta girl instead of CONSTANT crapping on everybody might be in order here.

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by: Pollyanna @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 16:29:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

practice what ya PREACH

"CONSTANT crapping on everybody might be in order here"

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:31:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Holy shit!

My org just visited with him in NYC regarding health reform.  I told my colleagues to pester him not to go to this fundraiser.

Was it I who made the difference?  ;)

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by: The Czech @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:25:03 AM CDT

One person can make a difference

as I heard somewhere...can't really recall exactly where...

YES WE CAN

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:35:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ha ha, Chuck Wolfe dropped out a day

after I emailed him! I claim credit (but generously share it with the 50,000 other people who wrote him).

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:58:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you Dr. Dean!

...what a way to 'care' for others! Appreciate it.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

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by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:25:47 AM CDT

Thank you, Dr. Dean!

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:29:32 AM CDT

Family conflict. Fbbbbbt.

I love how everything seems to turn into a "family conflict."

Like he's not dropping out b/c of the controversy.

Good for Gov. Dean, though, in dropping out of mess that's quickly reaching a fiasco level event.

-----
~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

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by: Autumn Sandeen @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:35:05 AM CDT

We are a "family" commitment!!!

What terrific news!

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by: Jake @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:35:44 AM CDT

sing out

we are family
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:39:15 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd love to attend, but I just washed my hair.....LOL

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:36:39 AM CDT

yeah I know. . .

The lame excuse is so lame it's a good message.

"yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaw!!!"

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by: ggw59 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:40:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dean's cancelling will give cover to others who are on the fence

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:46:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree, the boycott is snowballing, I wouldn't

be surprised if it got cancelled now.

Which actually may be the explaination for his cryptic lame excuse. Perhaps he's calling their bluff, knowing that it's on the verge, and soon the headline will be "Event cancelled" and who dropped out will be old news.

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:00:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

They'll never cancel

Canceling would be a tacit admission that those awful queers have brought them to their knees.  Ain't gonna happen.  And no matter how few people show up or how little cash they raise, they'll trumpet the event in the MSM as a success.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:08:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't agree

I think they could say, "The timing seems inappropriate" and try to spin it like they've had a sudden come-to-Jesus and are now all sensitive to GBLT.

90% of the gays would call BS, but the mainstream press would say, "ho-hum," as would most of America.

The risk of having it is kind of great. It could be a real spectacle if some loudmouth gay goes ACT-UP, and be a PR disaster which would distract from the WH's messaging on healthcare.

Plus they can't hide the numbers, if it takes in half as much as last year's fundraiser, that will be reported and be ripe for trumping up. I'm sure they're crunching those numbers right now.

Besides, Democrats aren't afraid to vacilate and flip-flop.

We'll see in 48 hours.

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:21:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd like to think you're right, Clark,

but I have my doubts.  Bus as you say, we'll see...

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:28:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

How much DID last year's event make?

Remember what FDR said, "I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it." Have you written/called a congress-critter today? 8.25, 6.21

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by: Jacques @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 17:24:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wish I knew!

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 17:41:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wish I knew!

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 17:41:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd love to attend

but  I'd rather wash them out of my hair!

Hate stops a beating heart.

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by: KarenS @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:56:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Path of Least Resistance ====> thataway

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:50:55 AM CDT

Hopefully...

his "Family Commitment" includes our families!

Hate stops a beating heart.

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by: KarenS @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 11:55:16 AM CDT

LIKE, very much.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:08:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dean Doesn't Support Obama's DOMA Defense

He said so on Rachel the other night. He said he'd defend the administration on taking the time it needs to get it repealed, but didn't support the DOMA brief.

I doubt he'll say so publicly, but given that I prefer to think that he dropped out because he knows its the right thing to do.

Rebecca Juro  

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by: Beckygrrl @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:01:21 PM CDT

Not to mention the Dems have treated him shabbily

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by: CPT_Doom @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:15:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hurray!

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by: uh_huhh @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:08:38 PM CDT

Dean for President in 2012

What a glorious sight that would be to see banners in the future that read:

"DEAN/CLINTON 2012"

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:24:58 PM CDT

I'll go along with the first half of that

but how about DEAN/POLIS?  DEAN/KUCINICH?  DEAN/CHOI?

Hillary would only be more of the same.

But why fantasize?  As I said in another thread recently, the Democratic Party will never permit their nomination to go to anyone who really, truly, seriously advocates CHANGE (as opposed to just using it as a campaign slogan).

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:50:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Who said it had to be

a democratic ticket?

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:53:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obviously it wouldn't have to be.

I'd love to see Dean on a third-party ticket.  But you can already hear the lame-assed arguments, can't you?  "A vote for Dean is really a vote for the Republicans!"

But I've been advocating for building a viable third party for a long time.  Dean may be our best hope for that.  This move on his part looks like it may be the beginning of a break with the Democrats.  I think it's unlikely, but hope springs eternal...

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:12:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dan Choi

needs to run for office if he's kicked out of the military for DADT.  Congressman, Senator, Vice-President it doesn't matter which office he runs for he's got my support and vote.

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by: Guy in SF @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:12:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

DON'T FORGET ABOUT ANTHONY WOODS

http://www.anthonywoodsforcong...

Mr. Woods, like LT Choi, is a West Point grad and Iraq veteran who got kicked out under DADT. He is currently running to replace Ellen Tauscher in the House when she leaves for State. He is an out black gay man and needs every cent and second of support we can give him.

Dan Choi recently appeared at a fundraiser for him, and has endorsed him for Congress. Mr. Woods needs our help to get elected.

GO THERE. DONATE. VOLUNTEER.

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 15:01:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, as I posted earlier.

There is a dinner MONDAY JUNE 29 in SF. for Dan Choi to endorse Anthony Woods!I will, at least, be a fly on the wall!. 

 (PS, Black, mother was a housekeeper at Travis AF BASE, Fairfield. .He went to local HS and to WESTPOINT as noted.) 

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 15:59:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Or better yet

how about DEAN/SPAULDING? An African-American Lesbian Progressive Woman for VP. Now that would be real change and a welcome one!! Go Pam!! Go Pam!!

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:18:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You have my mouth watering!

Which way to the voting booth?  :)

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:30:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If we are gonna have a daring ticket

Choi/Duckworthy would be FORMIDABLE

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 14:45:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

lets not go crazy

Dean fired the DNC LGBT outreach guy and faced lawsuit over the incident.
This is a nice, not terribly brave cancellation, but Dr. Dean has feet of clay.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:10:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

True, petey.

I had quite forgotten about the firing.  I think it was actually done by Leah Daughtry (who, like God, is still in the mix), but Dean certainly went along with it.  Thanks for the memory nudge.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 13:15:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Damn Kathy Griffin

If I didn't already have $175 worth of tix to see Kathy Griffin.

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." -- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Daimeon @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 12:52:20 PM CDT

Scheduling conflict? Really?

Are you kidding? He's known about the event for how long now? And now he has a "scheduling" conflict?

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." ~~~ Thomas Jefferson

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by: SD_Dave @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 14:00:47 PM CDT

Come see Howard Dean at DemocracyFest instead!

July 17th-19th in Burlington, VT (where equal rights is the law of the land!) http://www.DemocracyFest.net

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by: Deaniac @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 16:08:21 PM CDT

Ben Smith at Politico reporting HD will send a video

Odd. His absence will be keenly felt. There aren't a lot of stars left to glad hand and be photographed with.

Who wants to eat dinner with Tim Kaine? (Or Barney Frank, after last week.)

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by: Clarknt67 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 16:28:42 PM CDT

Dean defended the Obigot (pentecostal) Rev. Leah Daughtry.

She was charged, as was Dean himself, in a case since settled for the plaintiff, the former head of LGBT outreach for the DNC. The suit claimed that she illegally applied anti-GLBT bigoted practices in her hiring and firing policies at the DNC.

Dean was summarily booted out of the DNC and his innovative organizing principles 'assimilated' by the Obots to prevent his becoming a serious intra-party challenger to Obama, who has enough on his hands with the Clintons.

Its good he dropped out but some of the comments imply that withdrawing money or support will some how make the Democrats reform themselves. That's a pipe dream. The Obama administration was born pandering to christer bigots rights and he'll leave office doing the same.

The Democrats are not our friends, they're our enemies. We need to be independent to them to get anywhere.  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

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by: donal1944 @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 06:57:41 AM CDT