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My correspondence with Howard Dean and the DNC

For some reason, my heart began pounding as I started to prepare this post. My cheeks are flushed. My hands are shaking. I sense it is because this tears at me so deeply, and because I find the events of the past many months to be a betrayal of the Democratic party and of my hard work for Dr. Dean in 2003 and 2004. This is so difficult to bear.

I am sharing two e-mails with you.

FIRST E-MAIL: Today, I received this e-mail in response to the letter I wrote to Howard Dean last week. (That letter is below, in full.)

Susan,

Thank you for your recent email. We value your thoughts. Your comments have been forwarded to the Chairman’s office.

Thank you again.

Molly Barker

DNC Member Services
Democratic National Committee
(202) 863-8000
DNCMemberServices@dnc.org

I hope that the Chairman reads my letter, which is below:

[I WROTE THIS IN RESPONSE to a request for funds to support the Democratic party.]

Dr. Dean, I worked very hard for your campaign in 2003-2004. I was one of a group of your volunteers flown into Burlington, Vermont. We stood beside you, and we each introduced you, on national television the day you declared that you would not accept matching donations from the government.

But the mess we’re in now — with disenfranchised voters in Florida and Michigan — makes me disinclined to support the DNC or you.

It is also troubling that your statements and moves — coupled with the out-of-bounds statements of Speaker Pelosi — seem gamed to give Sen. Obama the advantage. Proof is pouring in that he will have great trouble winning against John McCain in a general election. While the Democratic party elite may not take seriously the statements of his 20-year pastor, average Americans everywhere are horrified by the anti-American and racist rhetoric of Rev. Wright. There are many other troubling issues — including his one speech about Iraq that was not followed by any action on his part or support for others’ withdrawal plans, his pro-privatizing economic advisers, his weaker health care plan, his failure to work “across the aisle” in the U.S. Senate, and his failure to do his job as chair of the European Affairs subcommittee — but Rev. Wright’s remarks, unforgettable as they are, will alone be enough to allow John McCain to win.

Then there is that many people I know are unable to reach Speaker Pelosi either by e-mail or by telephone. They want her to know what they think of her statements, but are unable to do so.

Until you include ALL voters in the primary system, and until you and Speaker Pelosi fairly consider Hillary Clinton’s supporters, I will not support you or the DNC financially.

Susan in [omitted]

Former Legislative District Coordinator and Meetup Leader, Howard Dean Campaign

Author, No Quarter

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/

  • lifelong dem leaving party

    susan, agree with your letter completely. see that you got a form letter reply. suspect they’ll trash your letter. i’ve sent emails, and not gotten even a form letter reply. when they ask me for money or support, they won’t get even a form letter reply.

    • maryann

      thank you Susan I too feel exactlly as you do
      I have been a Democrat all my life,I am so disappointed in this party that I love, but I can no longer support them. Glad to see that you received an answer to your email I have not

      • Yoshimi

        If you really cared for Hillary and women’s rights you’d make sure that no Republican ever got elected to the presidency.

        I understand that you are angry but don’t turn the clock back 40 years out of bitterness.

        • SandyS

          You do not seem to understand. The democratic party left us. We never left them. I’m not sure who I will vote for in November if Senator Clinton is not on the ticket. But it will not be Senator Obama.

        • Andy

          That would be Congress’s job.

        • Sam

          Yoshimi –

          This isn’t about turning back the clock or not, this is about respect. The DNC and the Obama campaign have been blatantly disrespectful towards both Hillary and all of her supporters. His campaign has painted both Hillary and Bill as being racist, lying, kniving, say and do anything people. They have shown zero respect for all the very real and significant contributions both of the Clintons have made to this country. He has diminished her every accomplishment while refusing to show any proof of his own. NOBODY gets away with what Obama is getting away with – if he was running against anyone but Clinton, who is obviously hated by the media, he would have been burnt toast a long time ago. Just because I dare to criticize Obama that does not make me an uneducated low-information Archie Bunker racist voter who doesn’t understand anything. That is exactly what we are fed each and everyday and it is a narrative that has been pushed by the Obama campaign from the Bradley effect in New Hampshire to the Archie Bunker reference after Ohio to his much applauded speech on race that Rev. Wright’s hateful words are everyone else’s fault to being told that “typical whit people” are prejudiced.

          I choose not to support Obama in November out of PRINCIPLE, out of self-respect. I am TIRED of being walked all over and I will not run scared and vote for Obama – quite simply, he has not earned my vote and he has betrayed any and all trust I had for him and in his moral courage.

          I survived 8 years of George Bush, I can sure as hell survive 4 years of McCain. At least I will know that I took a stand and that I stood up for myself.

          • Judy

            These are my sentiments as well, and I will quit the Democratic party altogether (after a century of the family legacy). This disgusting debacle of a possible obama nomination, is it for me:

            I choose not to support Obama in November out of PRINCIPLE, out of self-respect. I am TIRED of being walked all over and I will not run scared and vote for Obama – quite simply, he has not earned my vote and he has betrayed any and all trust I had for him and in his moral courage.

            I survived 8 years of George Bush, I can sure as hell survive 4 years of McCain. At least I will know that I took a stand and that I stood up for myself.

        • Northwest rain

          Obama is NOT for women — he consistently voted AGAINST women’s issues or he voted present. The Illinois NOW did not endorse Obama.

          Obama is a misogynist.

          Listen up Obamabots — the Supreme Court trick no longer works.

          Obama has thrown women under the bus along with his grandmother.

          I will NOT vote for Obama because he is dangerous, he is a threat to our national security, because he has done NOTHING to even attempt to get any background for the job he is now applying for.

          So let’s work harder for Hillary — because she has a PROVEN record in women’s rights and human rights. Obama is a ZERO.

  • hillarysmygirl

    Wow, thanks for speaking out so bravely, so eloquently on our behalf. I realize you wrote this from your heart, for yourself, but I appreciate that you expressed your feelings, which in the end, are our feelings. I’ve written letters to Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and my Representative in the House, but I’m sure my letters are read by assistants who summarize what I’ve said in a word or two and add a check to a list that they hand to their bosses (I know what happens, I’ve been there).

    Your letter will actually be read, and for that I’m grateful that you are my voice in his ear.

    Thank you.

  • http://www.correntewire.com/blog/myiq2xu myiq2xu

    “Your call is important to us, please stay on the line.”

  • Patrick Henry

    Susan..

    It needed to be Said..and you represent alot of Us with your Letter..thanks so Much for standing up for all needs to be said..Well done..

    Would you like some Whipped cream on that AMERICANA..??

    Hugs…

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Thanks, Patrick. As a formerly ardent Dean supporter — and one who was thrilled when he became DNC chair — I am especially devastated by how this is going. There is time, yet, for them to do right. They can begin by doing right by Michigan and Florida.

      • Patrick Henry

        Susan..

        I Once liked Dean too..When He did His YEE HAW Yell..He ran out of Air ..Chocked..and has been chocking ever since..The Media beat him up..and we got Kerry..Mr. BONES himself..I now don’t like either one of them..THEY Put Bush in Office..by thier Bumbling..

        Theyhave never shown any LEADERSHIP since then..and niether has the OTHER Nancy..blink blink..

        Good God..Doesn’t the Democrat Party..DNC..have anyone with any Guts .Besides Hillary..and John Murtha…???

        . I think we ought to take Our whole NQ Crew to the DNC..with General Clark and Clean House..

        There is Nothing traditional Democrat about the Stupid Actions of John Dean and the DNC Right now..Are they all that sure of an OBAMA victory
        that they are willing to sell Loyal Democrats out..??

        Thats not the Leadership I want in the DNC..I think this DNC Leadership came out of the 60′ ..”HELL NO..WE WON’T GO” Crowd..

        Now The DNC Chant is..”HELL NO, YOU CAN’T GO”

        Michigan and Florida should be Souting Back..
        “Fire Dean..Fire Pelosi..”..DEMOCRATS FOR DEMOCRACY…..!!!!!

        EVERY VOTE COUNTS..DEMOCRACY NOT DIP STICKS..

        Lets Get It On..Windfall profit Tax’s for Big Oil..Subsidize Transportation..Health Care for everyone..BUY AMERICAN….!!!

        IMPEACH BUSH….ELECT HILLARY..!!!

        RANT RANT RANT……

        • hillarysmygirl

          I’m with you! I’ve got my brooms and feather dusters to clean the DNC house, when does the NQ bus load up?

          • SandyS

            I’m with you, as well.

        • simon

          Thats not the Leadership I want in the DNC..I think this DNC Leadership came out of the 60′ ..”HELL NO..WE WON’T GO” Crowd..

          Excellent point, as opposed to the republican Bush Cheney “send others, we have more important things to do” crew of draft dodging cowards.

          In the end, both groups are cowardly, they just disguise it differently.

          Some use offense as a defense, they never think(the Rambos),aggressiveness to mask bone crunching fear, though, others are just like Dean, I guess, unable to navigate the web, equivocating.

          The political and personal fallout we, as Americans, experience today as a result of the decisions made by this first wave of boomers (D and R) seems the result of a lot of things, mostly maybe the trauma of the Vietnam war, and a reaction to parental anxiety dealing with WW2, a cumulative effect ie life, death, freedom, real fascism in the form of Hitler, for their parents.

          Why do they make the decisions they do, in terms of strategy?

          Interesting point, PH, thank you, puts a lot in perspective.

          • Patrick Henry

            Thanks..

            Just My Impressions..You have good points too..Cause and Effect..

            I am A moderate..I though to Rubber Band
            Stretching contest ended with the Bush administration..Now I see that dean and others want to stretch it farther..When it Breaks..America is Broken..

            If they want to have a Political Pissing Contest..Like Hitler and Stalin..

            I say..Let then do it One inch from an Electric Fence..

        • Nellie

          Patrick,

          Thanks for this.

          My fantasy for awhile has been to converge on DC, visit Capitol Hill and tell certain people YOU’RE FIRED!!

          Your rant brought smiles :) :) :)

  • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

    Thanks all. It probably is a form response.

    I could have written far more, but chose to keep it nice and short, because brief letters tend to get read more. Hoping. … a girl can hope.

  • http://! flyarm

    Thank you Susan..very well said!! I got a survey last week from the DNC and it had a place for contributions..i wrote all over it with blue magic marker..that i refuse to ever send them another dime as long as they disenfranchise my vote and that of my family.

    I wrote on the Survey that i was a Dem Delegate that contributed alot of $$ to candidates and to the DNC , and i want my money back!!..

    I wrote that i have housed their presidential field reps that they have sent to Florida in the past and helped run several county offices and that i have fed their underpaid field personel, and i have worked on a volunteer basis as an At Large poll watcher..and that i will never do another thing for the democratic party.

    I wrote I will stand for the delegates that were elected this year for my state.

    I was a volunteer on the road for John Edwards, in a couple states, so I was not a HIllary supporter..but I am a supporter of Democracy, and what is right.

    I saw cheating by the Obama team in one state and that did it for me, I also called and wrote Dean and the DNC about what I saw , and recieved no reply. As did others who were there with me..attorney’s no less!

    I do not and will not support cheating, not by republicans and damn sure not by democrats!

    By not counting our votes and Dean trying to shove down our throats in Florida caucus..i am done with the dem party..

    they will not see another dime of my money.

    I put a nail polish penny, I painted with red polish inside the envelope and said ,
    ” NOT ANOTHER RED CENT!” FROM ME.

    FLY

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Fly, first of all: Thank you for the THOUSANDS of hours of work and the surely THOUSANDS of dollars you have spent to help the Democratic party.

      My hope is that, in times past, your work and money helped to yield good results.

      They’d better pay attention to your big blue letter and your red cent. Priceless!

      (I wish you’d taken a snapshot of that letter so we could post it. Ha! it’d be great.)

      But I’m sure you’re also feeling the PAIN that I feel. The sense of betrayal.

      This is not good.

      I’m also shocked to hear you witnessed cheating by Obama people. Have you posted about this in other comments? If so, I missed your stories, and would like to hear them.

      • http://! flyarm

        Susan, many of us who saw the cheating have documented it and it was sent to Hillary camp..so they knew what to look for in Texas and any further caucus’s..it is better that Team Obama doesn’t know all we documented..that way they can’t re-adjust!!

        It was all done quietly!!
        Oh and some major media were where i was at as a co-captain for Edwards, and they reported nothing about it, so i wouldn’t count on any media reporting it, as we have not counted on that, so we turned the info over to Hillary’s team.

        fly

      • http://! flyarm

        oh SUSAN, no it is me who thanks you for all you do each and every day educating people, and keeping so many informed..Dear lady Susan it is I who thank you!! Most sincerely!!

        a very greatful,

        fly

  • rjj

    Those who don’t buy Obama brand Unity® are schismatics, unbelievers, infidels.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      I plead guilty to heresy.

      (I’m also feeling really embarrassed that I was such a big supporter of Dr. Dean, given his recent behavior and statements. It’s hard to admit publicly. Forgive me, please. I guess I didn’t know any better.)

      • wry

        It’s OK , my feminist Mother, who’s 80 and should know better by now, was so optimistic about Dean. She didn’t even mind his yelling like that…so what? The way the MSM destroyed his campaign after that disgusted me at the time, if I recall.
        But now, payback’s a bitch, I guess. And my Mother and Sisters and Brother and I think he’s a coward and a cheater. He’ll go down in history as alienating the core of the DNC. Want to talk about Black voters? Just wait till us middle -aged women get pissed off. We’ve done all the damned work for the past 30 years anyway.

        • Marjorie

          “It’s OK , my feminist Mother, who’s 80 and should know better by now, was so optimistic about Dean. She didn’t even mind his yelling like that…so what? The way the MSM destroyed his campaign after that disgusted me at the time, if I recall.”
          wry-Peter Jennings called the rest of the news media on the manner in which they played and replayed the scream, and showed that it wasn’t what it appeared to be. I believed, and still do, he was a victim in that scenario. It would be interesting to know what changed him. Perhaps he got his current position because he was willing to back off and not try another run for the PORUS.
          Isn’t Dean’s wife a doctor? Very independent and down to earth? Likes bicycling and picnics?

  • Tricia

    I agree with all of it, every little bit. I wish these Democratic leaders* could spend one hour looking at the right-wing opposition against Obama already–it is devastating. I wish they had all watched Karl Rove on C-SPAN last Friday night, and heard him rail against Obama. This guy is slime but he is brilliant slime. Can you imagine a whole fleet of swiftboats loaded to the hilt with verifiable facts? We may all be forced to actualy watch it played out if we stay on the same absurd path.

    And, no, they won’t, they can’t do worse to Hillary.

    *beginning to sound like an oxymoron

  • DisenfranchisedVoter

    I was in college during the 2004 election/disaster.
    I didn’t like Dean then and I especially don’t like him now. I saw Dean in 2004 as I see Obama in 2008. The craziness and how my college classmates were gaga for Dean turned me off. I saw him as a completely overrated politician. I was torn between Edwards and Kerry but decided to vote for Kerry in the primary because I sensed that he would be our eventual nominee and decided to join Students for Kerry early on as an excutive board member.

    I sent several emails to the DNC and actually received a reply similar to what Susan received. I don’t expect Dean to read all of our letters but regardless of whether they toss them, at least they know that there are a lot of us out there who are angry and won’t be donating to the DNC anytime soon. Keep sending letters, emails, and cans to Dean and keep sending money to Hillary!

    • simon

      I was a Dean supporter in 2004, I saw him as the only one able to speak up, honestly.

      But since you made the comparison, I wonder,( as in 2004 I was what would be considered a “low information voter”) what the real back story on Dean is?

      Does he have an Axelrod or a Rezko in his
      background, ala Spitzer?

      I know he has a Joe Trippi.

  • Fleaflicker

    This is truly heart wrenching Susan. I sincerely hope you receive a response from Chairman Dean. maybe because of your past association you will hear something back. And for your sake I hope you do.

    But I don’t have much faith in the DNC or in Chairman Dean specifically. When that bum Shuster said those horrid words about Hillary and Chelsea I called his office and they told me that Chairman Dean would be issuing an official statement about the inappropriate comments. That statement never came.

    But I am a nobody. A loud nobody but a nobody. With any good fortune at all you will receive an appropriate response in a timely manner. You certainly deserve it.

    • DisenfranchisedVoter

      Wow. So they basically lied to you and said that Dean would make an official statement about Shuster? That is sickening. Dean should have made a statement about the misogyny and sexism in the media and the elite political bloggers. And he should have the leadership ability to make a decision as to what to do with MI and FL. If he had acted like a chairman this year instead of a partisan wuss maybe he wouldn’t have problems raising money from Clinton supporters now.

    • http://! flyarm

      dear Fleaflicker ,

      None of us are a “nobody”..we are all a ‘WE THE PEOPLE”..we are their employer. They may not be listening today, but I assure you..when we stay home in Nov or don’t vote, or as many of us in Fla plan to do and vote for Mickey Mouse, many of our employees will be looking for new jobs!

      Please look up the poem..”JUST ONE VOTE”..

      I am glad to know you Fleaflicker ..from another “WE THE PEOPLE”

      FLY

      • Fleaflicker

        Thanks FLY. Much appreciated.

  • Nobama

    Thanks for writing that letter to Dean, Susan. You’re speaking for a lot of us. I’m sure we’ll be interested in Dean’s response, if any.

    • ginaswo

      Thank you Susan for that letter, I hope you get a personal response. The leadership seems to have sealed themselves off in a tower where we mere mortals cannot be heard…
      If they dont hear us now, they will certainly hear our votes in November..

  • http://thedemocraticdaily.com gqmartinez

    I’ve been sending this image in all my correspondence to Democratic groups. Disenfranchisement of innocent voters should never be institutionalized, which the “rules” did.

    • wry

      Gq Martinez. One word…beautiful! Think I’ll do the same.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      awesome! Good for you.

  • Yoshimi

    Susan, I too was a Deaniac and took great pride when he picked Barack Obama as one of the first candidates of Dean’s Dozen. Dean was pushing for grassroots candidates who would take on the DC establishment and to push a 50 state strategy. I remember those days well and remember a political couple who pushed Wes Clark into the race to be the anti-Dean. I also remember that this political couple had a circle of political insiders that did everything in their power to keep a Terry McCauliff type of leader as head of the DNC and we witnessed rabid comments from Rahm Emmanuel, Harold Ickes, and James Carville claiming that Dean wasn’t able to raise the money needed to compete when in reality the small donors that once donated to Dean’s campaign emptied their pockets to donate to the DNC. He was able to outraise McCauliff and he helped us win back congress in ’06.

    It is unfortunate that you and Dean no longer agree with one another and I understand why you might be angry that your candidate isn’t doing any better but don’t attack Dean for standing up and being tough this time. He hasn’t changed, you have.

    Peace,
    Yoshimi

    • wry

      You sign your letter PEACE, but that’s not what you’re offering.

      I don’t see Susan as angry or attacking any one.

      • Yoshimi

        She is angry and needs healing. It will take some time.

        • wry

          Is this an Al Franken skit? I can’t tell if you’re for real or not.

          • Yoshimi

            Not a skit. This site is full of anger and bitterness over a race between a young man who has effectively taken the presidency away from a woman who has waited her turn.

            I’d be pissed too. Don’t blame Obama and Dean for 1. winning more elections than Clinton and 2. Dean for being tough on two states who broke the rules.

            Those rules were in place for a reason, it was to keep other states like Illinois and South Carolina (a few big Obama states) from jumping ahead of Florida and New Hampshire. I remember when panic was stirring through the blogosphere over a DECEMBER primary. Dean had to do something and since the two states decided to go against DNC wishes, they were pretty much treated as straw polls.

            I am all for a recount (as is Dean) in both states but it looks like neither state can figure a way to move ahead with them that both candidates can agree to.

            Don’t blame Dean for your problems. It just comes off as whining. Take charge and make sure Clinton wins all the remaining primaries and quit trying to find a back door into the convention – you’ll be more respected in the morning.

            • Nellie

              Yoshimi,

              Your blatant abuse of Taoism form to hide the fact that you are a member of the Obama Yakuza is disgusting.

              Perhaps some English literature will help you reflect – try “Dorian Gray”

              Further you cannot come to anyone elses space and behave like a savage to one of the principles of that house.

              No one gave you permission, or that you are even proved qualified to do so, to egregiously insult one of the finest writers on the internet – Susan Hu.

              Get lost scum bag.

              • Northwest rain

                I second these remarks!! Comment by Nellie | 2008-04-01 19:42:04

                Well said. I have no use for Obamabot trolls.

            • mimi

              “Those rules were in place for a reason, “

              Now let’s see: I wonder how the average Jane and Joe Voter in MI and FL feels about the party leadership in their state having made these decisions that have cost them BIG TIME? Were hard-working constituents really up-to-speed on the rules/schmules business? Like that’s really going to translate into support of the Democratic ticket come November. Not hardly.

              How about this: Win without Me! Because that’s what you’re going to have to do come November. Call it whining, call it what you like, I call it: you’re on your own in the General.

              That’s CHANGE you can depend on!

            • http://speaktruth speaktruth

              A “back door to the convention”, Yoshimi.
              Oh, you mean like stealing the caucuses by bussing in people who don’t live there, hacking computer files, calling voters and giving them wrong addresses or saying that caucus was called off, physically inimidating people to vote for Obama, sending uncertified people to monitor Ohio primaries, etc.etc.etc.?
              You mean that kind of back door?
              Peace you, Yoshimo!

        • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

          That’s profoundly insulting. Go away.

          • Yoshimi

            The truth hurts.

            You can’t dispute anything I have written.

            Peace,
            Yoshimi

          • hillarysmygirl

            Yes, I agree. Go away, Yoshimi.

          • simon

            Did you read “waiting for godot?”

            Read it, and you understand the intellectual pretensions of an “elite political blogger,” and or the troll company he rode in on.

            Except “waiting for godot ” is not a parody, exactly, but “an elite political blogger” and the troll ops he rode in on are, that is, self parodies of french modernism.

            They don’t read, and they don’t get it.

            Blow it off for the trash bait it is, Susan.

        • Andy

          She is angry and needs healing.

          Are you one of those spiritualist freaks?

          • Yoshimi

            No, just someone who knows that the members of this site are hurting.

            It will be ok in a few months.

            • simon

              Well, you could go for an Eliot type schism, since your literary pretensions are showing, but, you know, you don’t really get Eliot, all that soulless astroturf, and all, so maybe, haiku, for the untalented clueless?
              And bless you, bother, bless you.

              Watch your step, you can’t tell what’s up, or what’s down.

              And again, scansion,you play it 4 to the beat, a single syllable man, here,(heh heh) you sound like every troll on this site, lil twig.

              Try an african name, next, in the name of Obama, do something, oh, fresh, and gay.

              Like springtime, like, like an Ungaro frock.

            • Andy

              the members of this site are hurting.

              This is about the subversion of what was supposed to be a democratic process.
              Not about feelings.
              Obama’s motto tells you to vote for him if you want the experience the `feeling of change’.

              We want the experience period. That’s why we support HRC.

            • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

              You’re a condescending twit.

            • Sam

              Ah, well, comments like that make me more determined than ever NOT to heal and to make fools like you understand that voters are not expendable. In particular, women voters are not expendable. You really think no lasting damage has been done? You really think Obama will take the stage and the celestial heavens will open and choirs will sing and we will all sing Kumbayah together?

              NEVER. He has behaved in a way that is unforgivable and Dean refusing to stand up for women when the members of the media went on sexist rants against her multiple times is UNACCEPTABLE and such behavior will NOT be rewarded with my vote.

            • mimi

              Keep believing that Speaker Pelosi et al.

              Keep feeding on that steady diet of bullshit right on up to Nov.

            • http://! flyarm

              read my lips Yoshimi…you have your votes stolen for 8 years and tell me exactly how you will feel..you never ever ever ever get over it..and espeically when your own party does it to steal an election!!

              you come down here to Fla and i will give you my vote that Obama and Dean are stealing and give me your vote in your state..then tell me when you will get over it..hell the people in Pakistan just put their lives on the line to vote, and Iraqi’s had purple fingers..do you have the slightest idea what it would be like for someone to steal your vote??????????

              well i fucking well do..and i will never vote for Obama ..ever!!

            • BlueStateGirl

              Sounds just like Florida 2000: Get over it.

              Get thee back to the Great Orange Satan (TM), another fine Obama 527, Yoshi boy.

          • Nellie

            He is just abusing a Taoist form of speaking to more egregiously insult Susan.

            He is just babbling excrement.

        • hillarysmygirl

          You say that Susan is angry like that’s a bad thing. She has a right to express her thoughts, but I agree, she’s hardly attacking anyone. I understand your attitude, it’s a hard call to make if you’re an Obama supporter. My husband said that if the shoe were on the other foot, it might be difficult to ardently support counting the Michigan and Florida votes, if it meant that Hillary might not win. But your letter is somewhat passive/aggressive about the Clintons (“a certain political couple”), smacks of disdain for Susan and flaunts your haughty self-righteousness and fake pity about the lie that “your candidate isn’t doing any better.” The fact is that she is doing very well, thanks, and if the votes in Michigan and Florida were counted, we would see that she is doing better than Obama.

          You continue to be passive/aggressive about her needing “healing” and that “it will take some time.” I don’t get the feeling that you really give a shit whether she “heals” or not, you’re just using her letter as a way to express your veiled hostility.

          Not a pretty picture.

          • Yoshimi

            It isn’t a bad thing but pain tends to fester if one doesn’t move on.

            and if the votes in Michigan and Florida were counted, we would see that she is doing better than Obama.

            • simon

              It isn’t a bad thing but pain tends to fester if one doesn’t move on.

              How would you know?

              You’re OBTUSE.

              You can’t even judge how ineffective and moronic your trolls are, how easy it is to identify you by language, alone. How the hell can you tell anyone else how they should feel?, astroturf(ed)?

              WTH do you know?

              Obviously, you do not site read music, or literature, what do you do, what credibility do you have, other than an old school Amway technique to try to influence some vague notion of symbiotic feeling, seen through the untalented cataract eyes of has been longing to be recognized as important?

              When they sepak of the failure of American education, and rambo type ops, they speak of the morons who troll the Internet.

            • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

              Get lost. Your psychobabble is probably what is responsible for your silly politics.

    • http://! flyarm

      DEAR Yoshimi

      I guess you missed the articles that told how nDean didn’t have 1/2 the money to put down on the convention in Aug ( the article was out last week) ..and the letter many big spenders sent asking for their money back from the DNC..one person who has donated 23 million to the DNC..is that right?? you totally missed those facts?????????

      and the big big time donators from Fla demandi g their money back..but Dean and the DNC doesn’t have the money to give back just now..because they can’t come up with the bucks for the dang convention hall!

      I don’t remember Terry having those problems in 2004..and i was a delegate, i think i would have heard about it, if there had been that problem!

      I guess the college kids and obamabrats aren’t giving money to the DNC like we women have in the past..or the seniors and Vets had in the past..see when you cut off your nose to spite your face..you do pay the consequences.

      See darlin..Fla has the largest block of seniors and Vets in the nation..ya know , the ones who donate….screwing with their vote ..by the dems..they will hit back..they have learned to do so through the years!!

      • http://www.purplestatepundit.com/blog Purple State Pundit

        This “obamabrat” just gave to the DNC last night. I don’t want to see the DNC bullied by big fatcats.

        • http://! flyarm

          wow i hope you have 23 million when Dean has to pay that back!!..or the $230,000. one donator from Fla gave and another $140,000 another contributor asked to be returned..because Dean and brazile and Obama have disenfranchised we the people!!

          you need to make more than one call!!

          and please do get all the obamabrats to put down their beers ..and give up their weekend money , because you have alot of heavy hitters to pick up the slack from!

    • barbh

      Are you the same Yoshimi whose tag line on D**S Hillary Clinton: running on fumes! (?)

      It must get old being in echo chamber…

  • apishapa

    You speak for me also. My heart is breaking because for 35 years a big part of my identity has been as a Democrat. I’ve given a big part of my life and my heart to the causes the Democratic Party stood for because I believed in them and I still do. But, I feel like my party has deserted me and the values I thought we all shared.

    There are so many things I find objectionable about this campaign year, but I think I am most disappointed in Dr. Dean. I supported him in 2003. I thought he would make a good DNC Chairman because I believed in his 50 state strategy. I thought he meant it. It seems like DNC now values Republican crossover voters and Independents above loyal Democrats. I believe that this is what has destroyed my Party. Republicans do not hold the same ideals as I do and they will corrupt the core of the Democratic Party. It is already happening.

    Also, I am just baffled about why on earht Dr. Dean and the DNC would be more interested in teaching Florida voters a lesson than in saving the election. THose voters have as much right to vote as anyone and after the huge issue democrats have made of uncounted votes, this hypocrisy stinks to high heaven.

    This hatred of a fine woman who has supported the Democratic Party and worked tirelessly for the ideals we hold dear is making me sick. These people are bent on destroying Hillary Clinton. I cannot be a Democrat any more because the institution has been sullied beyond repair as far as I’m concerned.

    • AmyinSC

      Susan -

      Thank you for sharing this difficult correspondence. Like many others here, and you, I have also written Dr. Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Senator Leahy, the DSCC, and the DCCC about how this primary season has been conducted. I have been politically active since high school (I turn 50 this month), and have ALWAYS considered myself a Democrat. It has been my identity as well as political party, so I can totally appreciate the pain, the anger, the frustration, and the betrayal. Who would have ever guessed that our Party would have turned its back on the ones who have been there all along supporting it?

      And, who would have foreseen the RAMPANT, unchecked sexism demonstrated by the powers that be?? I know I didn’t – but what Dean, et al, have permitted against Hillary Clinton is shocking, to say the least.

      So, thank you – thank you for allowing us to stand with you at this difficult time…

    • http://www.purplestatepundit.com/blog Purple State Pundit

      The punishment was meant to be symbolic, as everyone assumed that we would have a nominee by the convention and the eventual nominee would ask the DNC to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations. The point was to prevent these states from having disproportionate influence by leap-frogging ahead. It should be noted that at least in the case of Michigan, the primary was moved up by Clinton backers who thought an early primary in a big state would be advantageous to her as the expected frontrunner. It should also be pointed out that many insiders believe that Michigan’s effort to move up its primary was part of a larger attempt by Clinton allies to undermine Dean.

      I don’t disagree that this is a messy situation, and I think the Obama campaign should have pushed more aggressively for a revote in Michigan. I am hoping that effort can be resurrected once the legislature returns. In the case of Florida, I think the best solution at this point is to seat half the delegates, but strip the superdelegates of their votes, since many of them caused this mess.

  • Cee Hussein

    Susan,

    Take the Michigan voters up with Hillary. Why do you ignore the FACT that SHE said they wouldn’t count?

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19188859

    In an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio last fall, Clinton explained why she was the only candidate who did not agree to New Hampshire’s request that she take her name off the ballot in Michigan.

    “It’s clear: This election they’re having is not going to count for anything. I personally did not think it made any difference whether or not my name was on the ballot,” she said.

    • Yoshimi

      She didn’t want to scare off her base in New Hampshire. Note that she didn’t start whining about Florida and Michigan until after all of the early states had voted/caucused.

      She isn’t stupid.

      • wry

        So now Hillary is whining? So much for peace and healing.

        • Yoshimi

          I have to be completely honest and call out people when they whine. Call it tough love.

          Most people don’t tolerate whining. If you want people to vote for your candidate whining isn’t the way to do it.

          • mimi

            You can sure tell a misogynist by how many times the word ‘whine’ is injected into the dialogue.

            Ain’t nobody whining here, pal. Just doing political battle, fighting to the finish.

            Unlike you, I’ve been prepared to watch the Primary Season play out to its conclusion from the get-go.

            Let’s have a discussion about rules in Nov after MI & FL voters say it loud and clear how they feel about the rules.

          • barbh

            Not happy enough doing that on D*** you have to come here…your doing BO more harm than good with your garbage.

  • bluesky

    Susan,

    I’ve written numerous letters to Dean as well, all to no avail. I just do not understand what is happening to our party. I can’t believe the lack of leadership. You think Dean and others would call out Obama on his ruthless tactics against fellow Democrats like Mayor Nutter. You think he would voice his opposition to the misogynistic statements of Obama, and the character assassination of the Clintons being called racist. I mean isn’t that what Democrats are supposed to stand up for? He is a disgrace in all ways. You know I’ve actually never known a doctor that was a great leader. Leadership quality is not in him one bit, and he needs to lose his job after this mess. To be honest with you, I see the DNC house of cards falling down. I’m getting more confident with Hillary each day. Keep the faith!

  • Maxim

    I got the same letter from Dean asking for money. I sent a pretty similar email back (I also sent it through regular mail) saying that, while I had given him money in 2003, I held him accountable for Florida and Michigan and my money was reserved for Hillary.

  • Mom4Hillary

    I will pray for you — that you will heal from the hurt you are experiencing from the DNC and due to the loss of respect for someone you cherished — Dr. Dean. Thank you, though, for the courage you lived out through you vulnerable letter to Dr. Dean. Your courage is of the same ilk as Senator Hillary Clinton. That’s one of the primary reasons I support her. I want my president to have courage to push back against what they believe to be wrong and hurtful. May your tribe increase.

  • Patrick Henry

    WONKS…TROLLS..TROUBLE MAKERS.. PAID PARTISANS..

    Howard Dean seems to have made it pretty clear he doesn’t Like Hillary..and He and his DNC ..ASP..
    OPREY..Bunch want hijack the Party so they can
    make The Really LEFT WINGERS….$$$$$$$ Feel Good..

    I am a democrat..My Mother was a state Committee woman..and Party secretary in Our County..But I Know that Neither she or I could get on this BUS..

    Yes..Its Integrated Now..But Only COMRADS are allowed

  • PMS

    The Chairman Dances.

    Too bad the Party’s over.

  • hillarysmygirl

    Mea culpa. I responded to a TROLL. Sorry, guys, I got caught up defending Susan.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Me too. Should have ignored her. Yoshimi will be history soon. One more comment, and she’s on moderation … that’s the way to deal with twits who feel so superior they write such condescending psychobabble.

      • hillarysmygirl

        Thanks, Susan.

      • barbh

        I shouldn’t have responded either. I’ll try to do better…

        Thank you for all you do here Susan. Dean was on CNN a while ago. I used to really like him, not anymore I’m afraid. After seeing that particular clip, even less so.

    • http://! flyarm

      opps i am guilty too of feeding the trolls!!…but …damn they are either dumber than dirt or they pretend to be!!

      fly

  • Andy

    Hats off to you Susan (susanunpc) !!

    And thank you.

  • http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/04/01/another-obama-mistake/#more-2010 LouDobbsMediaBias

    Sorry OT, but I don’t see an open thread..

    Lou Dobbs on a roll tonight. I hope someone can get some clips going. He kind of chewed Bill Schneider a new one about media bias.

    First, Scarborough says something positive about Clinton, now Dobbs going after the media bias big time.

    I know it is just about voting not candidate viability, but I’ll take what I can get.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Just put one up about an hour ago — above this post … the Randy Rhodes Open Thread. Ha.

  • Other Lisa

    Susan, I think that might not have been a form letter. I sent an email in when I asked to unsubscribe and did not receive anything of the sort.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Let us hope! Oh that word again.

  • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

    Just got this by e-mail:

    Dean was back on tv saying it won’t matter to hill’s supporters if she is perceieved as being treated unfairly. I called to tell him to seat fl and mi. I suggest everyone do the same.

    Main Phone Number:
    202-863-8000
    (For questions about contributions, please call 877-336-7200)

  • Psychodrew

    I’m thinking that we should have a plan in place in the event that this election is stolen for Obama. The Obamanistas were talking about massive protests in Denver if he didn’t get the nomination. But we should have some kind of plan in place. I was thinking about a money bomb for Emily’s List or another group that has been really supportive (Hillary’s leadership PAC is shut down, right?). It’s clear that Obama and Dean don’t care about us, but they do care about money.

  • mimi

    Geez, Yoshimi is a she?

    Does her mother know???

  • dbs52

    Susan- Good work! I sent a letter to the DNC telling them I was dismayed and appalled by the media bias, the internet hate campaigns and the audacity of the DNC elite to disregard and dismiss much of their voter base. I told the DNC that if they did not rein in the forces working for the Obama campaign and get their thumb off the scales, that they could not count on my support in November. Period.

    I don’t think anyone read my email, because I got an email back asking me to contribute to the DNC campaign coffers. These people are beyond the pale and completely out of touch with the voters. It is becoming clearer and clearer to me why the Democrats have only had one presidency in the past 28 years and they tried to lose that one by not supporting the winning candidate fully. This is becoming more and more a party of the elites and powerful and less of a party for the people. They are more concerned about their own power plays than they are with winning this election. Obama is unelectable, they know it and they don’t seem to care. I hope the voters take the power we have to the polls and get the right candidate in there for the general election. It’s our only “hope”!

  • ron cowin

    I’m still trying to figure out what it is that Howard Dean does as Chairman of the DNC. Is he too stupid to realize that Florida and Michigan combine for 44 Electoral Votes? It will be hard to get to 270 without them. Maybe his role model is the caterer for the Donner Party.

  • Andy

    Dean came out of the closet, he said it:

    MI &FL will be seated after the nominee is selected. Unless…Obama agrees to some plan; which he won’t.

    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/4/1/203459/6848

    • lifelong dem leaving party

      amazing plan, isn’t it? dean thinks he can appease us by seating mi and fl delegates AFTER obama’s coronation. so they can play at the party, but can’t be part of deciding who the party’s for. and we’re supposed to be calmed down because, after all, he let mi and fl people into the room.

      sorry, no sale. dean’s a prick.

      saw richardson’s why i endorsed obama article today – he’s a prick too.

      i hope the convention ends up without any chairs, balloons, whatever, because nobody gave them a dime.

      • ScottVA

        RICHARDSON is just being an OPPORTUNIST.. he doesn’t care about that damn speech! He purposely waited until after he saw what would become of the revotes in FL / MI and decided that Obama has it in the bag now. SO, he jumped on the bandwagon! WHY? because he’s going to need a job… the Governorship is about over and what would he do? He’s lying through his teeth to get up there and say such crap about the reason behind it! Any moron could see through that and knows his real reason! I can only hope he gets fooled in the deal…

  • Andy

    Okay guys time to start contacting SD …
    The TL post has links to the committed & uncommitted SD; have to call them all about this charade.

    Howard Dean on CNN tonight: There are only 2 ways Michigan and Florida delegates will be seated. One is if Hillary and Obama agree on a plan. The other is after the nominee is chosen when she or he will control the credentials committee.

    In other words, Florida and Michigan are not getting seated in time to have a say in the nominee.

    If I were a voter in Florida or MIchigan, I’d be livid.

    The one thing neither Dean nor the DNC can control is whether the superdelegates consider the votes in Florida and Michigan. They can factor the votes into their own calculations of the popular vote. They can factor them into their decision as to which candidate is more electable in November.

    Florida and Michigan voters who want their vote counted ought to let the superdelegates from the other 48 states know. Here is a list of uncommitted superdelegates, and here is a list of committed superdelegates. Both should be contacted since superdelegates can decide or change their mind any time before they vote.

    • Andy

      PS: My bquote didn’t come out: except for the first paragraph the post above is from Jeralyn at TL:

      Howard Dean on CNN tonight: There are only 2 ways Michigan and Florida delegates will be seated. One is if Hillary and Obama agree on a plan. The other is after the nominee is chosen when she or he will control the credentials committee.

      In other words, Florida and Michigan are not getting seated in time to have a say in the nominee.

      If I were a voter in Florida or MIchigan, I’d be livid.

      The one thing neither Dean nor the DNC can control is whether the superdelegates consider the votes in Florida and Michigan. They can factor the votes into their own calculations of the popular vote. They can factor them into their decision as to which candidate is more electable in November.

      Florida and Michigan voters who want their vote counted ought to let the superdelegates from the other 48 states know. Here is a list of uncommitted superdelegates, and here is a list of committed superdelegates. Both should be contacted since superdelegates can decide or change their mind any time before they vote.

  • Andy
  • http://bluelyon.blogspot.com carissa

    Hi Susan, I haven’t even gotten a response from my faxed AND mailed letter. I posted it on my blog too, if anyone wants to read it.

    Like you, I was a hard-core Deaniac, supported his run for DNC chair and was even one of his 50-State strategy hires. Now? I wonder if I ever even knew him.

  • jimbo

    If Florida and Michigan are not counted I will not vote in the presidential GE. If they are I will vote for whomever wins the Democratic nomination. This approach leaves everything to Dean and Obama. Pick your poison, boys.

  • Susanclare

    If it comes down to it, I think the DNC and all the Obama fawners in the party will be unpleasantly surprised. I guess the “old gals” in the party are not worth their consideration. We’ll see. I’m at the point where I don’t even care to be a democrat anymore. I wonder how many of us there are out there?

    • lifelong dem leaving party

      i’m an old gal dem. they’ve lost me. they think we’ll be back, because they take us for granted and think we would never go repub…they think we marched against vietnam (true) and for civil rights (true) so we obviously will never vote anyway other than dem… they’re wrong. unless hillary is nominated, i’m a repub for november and independent after that. the dnc will never get another dime from me.

      they think we don’t matter, that the kids are the future. they forget that there are more of us and we still have another couple of decades left in us. and the kids may be the future, but probably will fall off, like usual, and only come back after they grow up. in the meantime, dean and his crooked pals are just as old as we are, so we’ll be around long enough to ensure that whatever he’s up to fails. dean can kiss my a–. obama can kiss my a–. no money, no vote, no anything. the jackass party may get me back if it comes to its senses, but not before.

      they think we’re just talking. they think we’ll forget by november. they think they can talk us back into supporting them. they’re wrong.

    • mimi

      Here’s one: ME!

      I’m at the: I will be changing my registration to Independent the day after election day,” point.

      The Party is dead to me! They can WIN WITHOUT ME!

  • http://360.yahoo.com/ommotherlifeforce fred heidrick

    howard dean and tom daschel will MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVEL TO WIN. i watch the obama PA adds, and due to his hypnotic carisma, the adds seem real nice. the hillary adds.you need to hear her for 1/2 hour to realy like her.

    this is why the hypnotist carismatc savior is blinding others.i hate to make the hitler comperision but i cant help it some times

    they want to win at all costs and they dont care how they do it….or who they do it with….mabe tom daschle cose him because he could do this,hypnotic whoge wooge on others .

    _____________________

    THE ERIE PA RALLIY TONIGHT 4-1-08 8:10 night WAS WOUNDERFULL TAPED IT ON TV. chanel 24,WJET TV. CARRIED THE ENTIRE RALIY. when they down lode it ill try to send it

    BEST HILLARY EVER.

  • Rosaleen

    Susan,

    Heartfelt post, as always. And I too am unable to e-mail the Speaker. I received a form letter in reply saying that she is unable to reply unless she can verify that I am a constituent of hers. I too want her to know what I think of her outrageous public ravings, but she won’t answer the door. Who does she think she is?

    • mimi

      I realize that email is more convenient and free, but it’s time to hard copy/snail mail these fuckers.

  • http://www.rebelcentral.net Shelly

    Susan, your letter is right on and I feel the same way. I used to support Howard Dean wholeheartedly and I was so happy for Nancy Pelosi when she became the Speaker, but I can’t support either one of them now. They have betrayed millions of Americans. The Democratic party will never get another dime from me after the way they have tilted everything so blatantly toward one candidate, and been so dishonest about it. They should let peoples’ votes count and shut up.