Dean in Lawrence, Kansas

A brief piece about Dean's trip to Lawrence:

http://www.algore-08.com/blogs/index.php/JanetsBlog

He was great. I love the concept of his red, white and blue tour. We truly need to embrace the Dems in the midwest and stop calling them/us simply "the red states." There are some proud, active Dems in all those states and as Dr. Dean pointed out, most of the people share our "values" as well. We need to do a better job of articulating our agenda to these "folks" and help them to fully understand that voting with the GOP is voting against their own self interest.

I met a woman with the local Dems. She had never even heard of DU or DailyKos. Never heard of AirAmerica or TalkLeft. I met (briefly) with the Governor and relayed that TalkLeft and AirAmerica had been quite complimentary towards her because she is a Dem who managed to win this state which sadly went overwhelmingly for *. Anyway, she said she had never heard of either network. If the local Dems in the midwest are so utterly aware of OUR movement, how can we ever win?

That is why I'm so happy that Howard Dean came to Kansas last night. With him in charge over the next 4 years, we are going to change the way our party operates. No more red states. No more blue states. Just We The People.

for the presidency . He gave the greatest speech I ever attended in person ( Top billing still has to go to Dr. King's " I Have a Dream " speech which I watched on TV ). He spoke eloquently and emotionally about what the GNP bought and didn't buy . He contrasted the war spending that was raining death and destruction on defenseless villagers in a far away land with the pittance we make available for medical care for the indigent and working poor . Decades have passed and yet the same speech could be given today . My bet is that Howard Dean struck some of the same chords . Thank God we still have persons of courage to speak the truth . And kudos to Lawrence Kansas for being hospitable to progressive spokespersons and ideals . As a matter of fact it moves this Missourian to say Rock Chalk Jayhawk . Here's to you Kansas .

It was originally sheduled for Lied Center at the University of Kansas - capacity around 1,500 - but the public response was so overwhelming that they had to move it to Allen Fieldhouse - capacity 16,300. Lecture sold-out completely within hours.

And Chieftan, coincidentally I was at Allen Fieldhouse last night for a reception celebrating the arena's 50th Anniversary. During one of the montages they showed extensive video of RFK's speech. Gave me chills.