Congress has Failed to Protect Our Financial Security

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday January 19, 2015 · 4:14 PM PST

2015/01/19 · 16:14

The vote last week to continue to dismantle key parts of the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation was deeply disappointing and exceptionally foolish.

In 2008, the world's financial system came within a hair's breath of complete collapse, because so many of the world’s financial players were too big to fail. That has not changed and it must.

We have a choice, if capitalism is to survive, of breaking up big financial institutions so that an individual failure can no longer crash the entire system, or of enacting regulations to require these enormous institutions to be better stewards of our collective financial fate. The entire Congress and the Administration have failed to protect our financial security.

Protecting our financial system from collapse isn't a partisan issue, it's an issue of global security.

None of us should support any candidate, left, right or center, who continues to play politics with our financial future by taking short-term, politically-motivated votes which put our country in grave danger.

Reflecting on 10 Years of People Power

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday March 18, 2014 · 12:00 PM PDT

2014/03/18 · 12:00

It was ten years ago we launched Democracy for America to build off of the momentum you started with my presidential campaign, and we're still going strong today! As the Daily Kos community has been a big part of our success, I wanted to make sure I shared the birthday message DFA members received today.

"DFA Member"--

Ten years ago in February, I ended my presidential campaign. And on this day a decade ago -- March 18, 2004 -- I launched an unprecedented new organization with speeches to our supporters in Seattle, San Francisco, and New York:

"So here is what I propose: our Dean for America will create a new enterprise: Democracy for America... We don't have to be afraid of the special interests anymore, because our special interest is going to be the American people... We have the power. We are going to win... not just by changing Presidents, but by changing America."
And we have.

Today, Democracy for America has become everything we imagined it could be and more. We've trained 75,000 candidates, campaign staff and volunteers. We elected more than 800 progressive candidates in all 50 states. Together, our movement has grown to more than 1 million members nationwide.

Whether it's fighting to implement a 50 State Strategy and access to Medicare for All or electing candidates like Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren, working together, we have played an active, critical role in every election since our founding -- and we're just getting started.

Will you join me in saying "Happy Birthday" to DFA and celebrate our work by contributing $10 on our anniversary -- one dollar for every year DFA has been changing American politics?

We've never been traditional. From the moment DFA was founded in 2004, its momentum was fueled by an amazing grassroots movement of Americans empowered by a presidential campaign unlike any before it. We were stepping into the great unknown, with nothing but our faith in each other and the politics of conviction to drive us forward.

I promised you that we would be committed to the same core principles that drove my presidential campaign. But it wasn't just about standing for core principles; it was that we stood together, as a movement, and we didn't back down.

Your work elected me to head the Democratic Party and develop the 50 State Strategy. Your work created a Democratic wave in 2006 that took back the House and Senate, stopping the Bush/Cheney agenda in its tracks. Your work drove a 50-state presidential primary between two historic candidates that led to the election of Barack Obama. Your work ended the war in Iraq, passed the Affordable Care Act, and led marriage equality to victory in state after state.

No office has been too big or too small for DFA: your work elected proud progressive leaders like Elizabeth Warren to the U.S. Senate, Donna Edwards to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Debra Bowen as California's Secretary of State.

Yet our victories have only just begun.

We have so much more to do together. Join me in saying "Happy Birthday" to DFA and the movement you began by contributing $10 on our 10th anniversary.

Our future begins today. In 2014, we'll beat Mitch McConnell in Kentucky. We'll re-elect progressive champions like Jeff Merkley and Mike Honda. And we'll get Wendy Davis elected as Governor, finally turning Texas blue.

DFA members, who have started more than 500 "Raise the Minimum Wage" campaigns in communities across America, will drive local victories through DFA's YouPower petition platform for progressive change.

In 2016 and beyond, we'll elect another Democrat to the White House, expand Social Security, and create progressive majorities to flip state legislatures from purple to blue nationwide.

Our organization has come a long way in the last 10 years, and we've left quite an impression on American politics in the process. Though today America faces great challenges, from growing income inequality to the Tea Party insurgency to climate change, I have no doubt that we can make America a more progressive country for our children and grandchildren.

Please say "Happy Birthday" to DFA on our 10th anniversary by donating $10 -- and fuel our movement as we begin the fight for the next ten years.

You still have the power and, when we work together, we're unstoppable.

Thank you for everything you do to move America -- and DFA -- forward.

- Howard

Gov. Howard Dean
Founder, Democracy for America

Purple to Blue

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday March 31, 2013 · 6:30 AM PDT

2013/03/31 · 06:30

I noticed some folks here at DailyKos have taken an interest in DFA's new Purple to Blue program (particular thanks to lowkell for the great write-up), so I want to share a message I sent to DFA members earlier this week. I encourage everyone to get involved.

The right-wing's stranglehold on state houses across the country is a real problem progressives need to address -- Republicans don't need Congress to push their radical right-wing agenda. They're doing it right now, on the state level, in states across the country:

-- Ending women's right to choose
-- Busting unions
-- Deregulating industries and pillaging the environment
-- Giving away huge tax breaks to big corporations and the super rich

Needless to say, we need to stop their radical agendas before they go any farther.

That's why DFA is launching the Purple to Blue Project, a new multi-year effort dedicated to winning state House and Senate chambers across the country -- starting right now in Virginia.

You can pitch in. Help us raise $60,000 by March 31st to kick this program off right by chipping in $15 or more today.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 18, 2012 · 9:20 AM PST

2012/11/18 · 09:20

I want to say thanks to Bill and everyone else here for all the warm birthday wishes yesterday. I'd also like to share with you all an email that I just sent to Democracy for America members about an issue that's very important to me.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday February 24, 2012 · 11:21 AM PST

2012/02/24 · 11:21

In 2008, Netroots For the Troops® began raising money to send specially designed care packages to our soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sending our troops practical items like socks, gloves, and LED flashlights, as well as welcome reminders of home like DVD's and CD's, let them know that their sacrifice and personal heroism are not taken for granted. Netroots For the Troops® originated with the Daily Kos community which, much like my campaign for the presidency, had its genesis in opposition to the preemptive war in Iraq. Netroots For the Troops® is also a way to show that while we disagree with what our brave soldiers are asked to do without failing to recognize their valor, patriotism, and service to the country.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday January 19, 2012 · 9:34 AM PST

2012/01/19 · 09:34

I just sent this to Democracy for America members and and wanted to make sure everyone here saw it too. Please join us in supporting Elizabeth Warren today.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday August 10, 2011 · 10:52 AM PDT

2011/08/10 · 10:52

There's no denying that Democrats came up short in last night's recall elections. It can hurt to come so close and still fall short, but we won some great victories last night and we should be proud of the work we did in Wisconsin and all across the country as part of this campaign.

We didn't back down when Scott Walker and his right-wing Republican legislature launched a war on working families. We fought back and we took the fight to them.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday June 02, 2011 · 11:59 AM PDT

2011/06/02 · 11:59

In 2004 we started a journey together. It's been seven years of huge victories and a couple pretty heartbreaking defeats. Netroots Nation has been at the heart of this movement we created, and I can't think of a better place for us to come together, take stock, and look down the long horizon of where this movement is going.

Will you join me to have a conversation about our values and where we are going in 2012 and beyond?

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday January 20, 2011 · 4:45 PM PST

2011/01/20 · 16:45

I want to hear from you. What do our shared values mean to you? What should be our priorities for the coming year? How will we work together to move America forward in 2011? Our movement is best when it's a conversation. You just heard from me and I want to hear from you. Please take a moment to a let us know your thoughts at DemocracyforAmerica.com or join me right here on Daily Kos at 9PM for a live chat. I'll answer questions and discuss with you what you care about most and your ideas on how to move forward on our shared values.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 27, 2010 · 1:22 PM PDT

2010/10/27 · 13:22

Winning this year isn't just about what we've done since 2008, it is also about what we have left to do in 2011. The fight for real healthcare reform hasn't ended, it's only just begun. Climate change, immigration reform, campaign finance -- on issue after issue progressives in Congress will make the difference.

If we don’t win, we won’t even be able to have that conversation.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 24, 2010 · 8:13 AM PDT

2010/10/24 · 08:13

Before becoming Governor of Vermont, I was a medical doctor.

As a doctor, I can tell you I have never heard a more foolish idea than Rand Paul's scheme to partially privatize Medicare by forcing seniors to pay a $2,000 deductible for service.

Rand Paul is a doctor himself. He's worked with patients on Medicare. He knows that Medicare works and Doctors don't need to fight with Medicare like they do big insurance companies to get patients the care they need.

He also knows seniors depend on Medicare to survive. It is a pillar of the American social safety net. It keeps millions of seniors from falling into poverty from an avalanche of medical bills and protects others from worse fates, dying because they can't afford coverage at all.

Dr. Paul is so consumed by his own ideology that he is ignoring the truth. He’s attacking American seniors to score political points with the ring-wing and political contributions from insurance companies and Wall Street.

It's shameful and it's wrong -- and it's one of the many reasons that I'm supporting Jack Conway for the United States Senate.

Join me in supporting Jack -- contribute $10 to his campaign today.

Gov Howard Dean MD

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 30, 2010 · 8:20 AM PDT

2010/09/30 · 08:20

This election cycle, you've heard from a lot of people about Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell, and the parade of right-wing extremists seeking to change the very fundamentals of America.

But you haven't heard enough about the incumbents -- those who share the values of Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, and tea party activists but are already in office.

That's why I want you to meet Senator Richard Burr (R-NC).

Newer
Older

RSS

Congress has Failed to Protect Our Financial Security

Reflecting on 10 Years of People Power

Purple to Blue

Human trafficking

Support Their Sacrifice

Two years ago today

This is what a 50 state strategy looks like

Join me at Netroots Nation

The State of the Progressive Movement

What we have left to do

Rand Paul is wrong on Medicare

Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, and Richard Burr