Thinking back to November 2003...I'd been to three Dean Meetups

already and due to the Dean Activists I met there, had gotten involved in my Precinct and stood for election ast Vice-Chair. There was so much enthusiasm...and so many like me were so angry we got together and found a way to get our State Dem Party to have meetings so that we activists could get involved at the local level. I was so proud of being a Precinct VC...and was raring to go. Went to all the meeting about how to canvass and when Dean was no longer the Candidate I and many others went to all the sessions where we saw a film from John Kerry welcoming us and urging us to keep out on the streets to involve all our neighbors in his efforts with Edwards to win in '04.

I look back on that incredible time...where folks all came together determined to get Bush/Cheney out of the White House. All the "Meet Ups" and "House Parties" and the District and State Conventions where the energy just filled the room with all of us "newbies" who were going to take back our Democratic Party and WIN!!!

I don't see that now, here where I am. Maybe in Iowa, NH and Nevada there are Meet Ups and House Parties with the Candidates calling and speaking personally at the meetings. I just wonder why things are so different this time. I wonder if there are any DU'ers still here who remember that incredible time. :shrug: (BTW: We had Kucinich Activists who worked along with the Deaniacs who did incredible work for the Party , along with even regretful Nader voters...so it wasn't just the Deanies)

My son gave $100's of dollars to Dean ---
a huge disappointment in his overturning by MSM and elites ---

Gene McCarthy had a similar effect on us youngsters in 1968. I was in high school and revved up. Of course, everything changed that year, especially in the Ambassador Hotel in June.

The first election I voted in was 1972, and you bet I worked for George McGovern. Still proud of it (met girls, too, which was a bonus at 21).

caucuses were! Also, how the media (aided by the "regular" Democrats I'm sure)waited to the last minute to torpedo him. All summer he was the fair haired boy and then BOOM!

I was getting excited about a Gore run but now that's out so I'm moseying over to the Kucinich camp but without a ton of enthusiasm as I recall only too vividly how DK (the OTHER anti war candidate) opted to align with Edwards in Iowa against Howard.

Networked ALL OVER the place. Ran demographic studies w/the state Dem party, etc., etc.

Yup, it "feels" really different this time and I'm not sure why either.

Those were heady times my friend, loved every minute of it, up 'til Iowa where I got a stake through the heart. But, we hung in, held fast and stayed dedicated.

Helped to develop DFA both in-state and nationally, became much more involved in the DNC and of course worked to get Dean as our chairman.

Did some really long-lasting things to shake up our state party which resulted in a good housecleaning and now we have some good folks in there.

Nope, this go-round doesn't feel like those times at all. Dunno why or what that means.

and that's something to carry with us.

I've always been a loyal Dem, but the Dean campaign experience forged a new political soul for me and everyone else I came to know. I'm the most Democratic Democrat of anyone I've ever personally known - LOL, and have all the knowledge behind me to now know why.

Like yourself, we won't give that up easily.

The good news is that we will be here for a long, long time.

met a candidate for the state senate that I tried to help. Turns out I am not very good at calling, but I got experience handing out fliers in a parade. Edwards groups are having some meet-ups, but they are in Topeka and I no longer have cross country transportation. In 2003 I was going to Lawrence for meet-ups, but now that I am on the County Committee, I feel like I have enough with that work and those meetings, but so far we do not seem able to get much going. Fortunately, I do not notice the Republicans doing anything either.

grassroots activists OR their money to win after 8 years
of BUSH HELL, a HAM SANDWICH can walk away with the election.

We are being force-fed a candidate, with no viable alternatives.

:cry: