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Gov. Dean's $100 Revolution Is Here
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Lost in the coverage of the remarkable February fundraising totals of both the Obama and Clinton campaigns was a real turning point in American politics-- the full realization of the "$100 Revolution" Gov. Howard Dean called for in November 2003.On the 18th Dean sent out a fundraising message, not in itself an unusual event, but one that would eventually change the parameters of American politics.
Beginning in the early 1960s television advertising increasingly dominated American politics. Beforehand, campaigns had raised money, and often lots of it, but there were practical limits to how much a campaign could spend. They could open large numbers of local offices, fill them with barrels of free buttons, boxes of bumper stickers and burden mailmen with bales of letters. But, fundamentally, vIctory ultimately depended on a candidate's supporters.
Television changed all that. There was almost no limit to the amount that could be spent on TV advertising. A bizarre "arms race" resulted, where a candidate's political credibility seemed to depend on his or her dominance of the airwaves. If you were drowned out, news coverage usually faltered as well.
Political leaders drifted away from their supporters and towards large donors, which was most productive. As a result, where the Democratic Party had once mainly represented ordinary working Americans, it increasingly became a second corporate party, where the interests of wealthy donors came first. This era peaked during the Presidency of Bill Clinton and DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe. As NAFTA or telecom "reform" demonstrated, America now had two elitist corporate parties who mainly differed on social agenda issues like abortion rights.
It's no wonder the Democratic Party nearly collapsed into irrelevance in the late 1990s and the early years of the 21st century. As Harry Truman famously said, give people a choice between a real Republican and a fake one, they'll take the real one every time. Dean's campaign manager Joe Trippi later aptly defined this period as the Era of Television Politics.
This was the prospect Dean faced when he began his campaign after the 2002 election debacle. He knew the system was broken. But how to change it? As luck would have it his campaign arrived at the same moment the Internet did. His whole campaign soon recognized its potential, and Dean sent his message:
"Today I will speak in Houston, Texas, less than a mile from Enron Tower. We all know what happened to Enron. Moral bankruptcy led to fiscal bankruptcy. Those at the top got rich by deceiving everyone else and robbing ordinary people of the future they’d earned. And the Bush Administration is following their lead. They have created a policy of Enron Economics that enriches their special interest supporters at the expense of the American people."
"Only you can stop this. We can defeat George W. Bush and his corporate interests if two million Americans contribute $100 to our campaign -- that is how we will take back the White House and restore the promise of America. If you can’t afford $100, reach out to others. Get four friends to contribute $25, or ten friends to contribute $10. If we all participate, we will take our country back... Through your support of our campaign, you have changed presidential politics. But this campaign is not just about electing a president -- it is about changing America..."
Using the Internet to raise large numbers of small donations could break the vicious cycle of television politics that had so mis-served the country. The Governor indeed was talking revolution, something comparable to the "Revolution of 1828" that had returned American Democracy to the people once before.
The response was predictable: the powerful and the vested interested were threatened and they reacted accordingly, ending with the media assassination known as the "Dean Scream." They were able to stop him. But they were not able to stop the $100 Revolution.
The proof is in last month's fundraising totals.
According to the Chicago Tribune,
"One member of Obama's finance committee told the Tribune that some reports from within the campaign indicate their fundraising could hit $50 million this month.""Even by the most conservative reading, the campaign totals have now shattered yet another ceiling—for the amount of money raised in a single month."
According to the campaign, Obama now has over one million individual supporters, who gave an average of $109 each.
What Dean prophesied, Obama has done.
But the totals from the Clinton campaign were even more important, because they came from a campaign famed for its connection to, and reliance on, big money donors. According to New York Newsday, Clinton brought in $35 million in February,
"The windfall represents a radical shift for a Clinton fundraising strategy long predicated on attracting a relatively small group of large contributors. About 200,000 new donors gave an average of $100 each, most of them galvanized by word of (her) loan to the campaign."
Both campaigns brought in at least a million dollars a day with Obama regularly bringing in over $2 million a day in order to reach his $50 million take for the 29 days of February.
What is equally important, because these donations mainly came in over the Internet, they were frictionless, requiring little effort. No swank banquets or cocktail parties for big donors, no phone calls begging for money, no promises made, no debts incurred-- except to the people themselves. Both campaigns will be better for it-- it's the rarest thing in politics, a true win-win.
This is a revolution in political affairs, properly understood. Given what happened in February 2008, the era of big donor politics is finally passing. With it goes the constant pressure for parties to serve the interests of their donor base, instead of their voting base. In particular, the Democratic Party, which was so debased and corrupted by its turn to big money, can return to being the party of the people.
In an odd way, too, these dual victories have almost made campaign finance reform irrelevant, however desirable it may still be. If we can't get the big expenditures out of politics, then we can at least neutralize the corrosive effect of those costs by sinking them in a large pool of donors.
The $100 Revolution will change America-- no matter who wins. Gone are the days of raw deals for average people like NAFTA or tax cuts for the rich. Healthcare for everyone will come now that big money cannot derail it. Defense spending can be brought down to levels really needed for national defense. It will also make election reforms like Clean Money, Clean Elections seem, well, pretty much what we have already, and so what is the big deal, anyway? That, too, will now come.
Even the hard core, big money Clintonites will be transformed in the end. Do they really want to spend their lives on the phone pleading with rich people or kowtowing to them at fundraisers instead of doing the people's business? In fairness, I don't believe it.
It is sad that Governor Dean and his campaign will likely not get the credit deserved, especially from the mainstream media. As the Bible says, prophets are without honor in their own country. But however credit is apportioned, history belongs to the history makers, and now it belongs to Howard Dean as much as it belongs to the campaigns that are now his legacy.
The District Central Committee voted today to move our convention from the Community College to Dubuqe Senior because they have a big gym and we don't want to have a repeat of Clark County Nevada and have the fire marshall keep people out.
We also voted to have lunch catered if everyone wants to be a part of the convention instead of serving lunches.
I share this just to say that people are staying pumped up after the caucus.
Obama had a staffer, Clinton did not, even though we have more delegates up for grabs than the state of Wyoming. Clinton is going all out in Ohio instead. and Obama has more cash to meet payroll as well
Howard, Phil, and all Phil's cows are first, first and first!
I just published a Page 2 post with info from the Obama campaign about how you can make a few phone calls for him between now and Tuesday.
-- volney
Hey, all. Back for a quick sec. Loved hearing that Michelle Obama is a big Stevie Wonder fan....one of my favorite artists, ever.
His stuff from the 70's was his best.
A ribbon in the sky for our love.....
and I'm loving hearing that Barack danced with Ellen DeGeneres on her show....only sorry that I missed it.
The way I see it: He is most likely our nominee....the presumptive nominee right now. Just as Howard Dean was the presumptive nominee for a period in 04. I have some concerns but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt as I've at least no doubt that he'll be infinitely better than any Repub president. Until he proves otherwise, he has my full support. Seriously.
That said, I think seashell and Linda in NM should feel free to express their concerns here. Neither has been disrespectful to anyone personally.
Off to study. Ciao for now.
Howard Dean's Chairmanship of the Democratic Party is the best thing that has happened to American politics in a long time, giving us a chance to own our system of government again if we seize it.
Here is a neat article about our Howard. Sorry if it has been posted already.
My super delegate friend confided that he wished the system had never been invented as he is trying to stay neutral and getting pressured from both sides, I think after Tuesday the pressure will be off or turned way up.
That said, I think seashell and Linda in NM should feel free to express their concerns here. Neither has been disrespectful to anyone personally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree.
Annilow posted this link on a prior thread. This is a grab for the election, possibly the control of the dem nomination; or possibly the suspension of elections altogether.
Something BIG Is Cooking In The Middle East by IndianaDemocrat Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 12:58:17 PM PSTAnd it WILL have an effect on the US Elections, folks....
The Saudi's, Bahrani's and Kuwaiti's just ordered thier nationals out of Lebanon, with the Saudi's saying women and children should be out in 48 hours..
These aren't generic warnings, they are "GET THE HELL OUT!", drop everything and RUN type warnings.
The Saudi GID has definately seen something they don''t like.
And reports have said the US Task Force deploying off of Lebanon is configured for EVACUATIONS, not combat.
- IndianaDemocrat's diary :: ::
-
From Haaretz:
Future Television, privately owned by Saad Hariri who heads the majority anti-Syrian bloc in parliament, said Saudi Arabia had advised its nationals to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible."
From Reuters:
(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has advised its citizens in Lebanon, especially families living there, to leave immediately due to the security situation, a Lebanese government source said on Saturday.
The source said the Lebanese government had confirmed the news with the Saudi embassy after several Saudi nationals said they received a text message with the advice.
Between this and the Israeli reaction to the Rocket attacks from Gaza, the balloon may be close to going up. Again.
Thjoughts?
Opinions?
NOTE: This is NOT an Arab Israeli Conflict Diary. This is about the possibility of a full-blown WAR.
Sorry, Phil, I'm not calling. :-)
cC, jao, thanks for the fair-minded statements. We all know about HC. It's the dropping of the other Obama shoe that concerns me...but now maybe the ME impending war should be what's concerning and uniting of all of us and I, for one, would like statements before Tues from both HC and BO. They should be forced to make detailed statements cuz this is sounding very serious and the timing is incredible... just before the supposed lock of the of nom by BO.
Neither the Clintons nor the Putzes will go down easily.
Looks like a full scale strike is coming by Israel, our "special friend."
8:25 PM EST
Gays backing Obama:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080301/pl_bloomberg/ainymq9hfaeg_1
Kim Chipman Fri
Feb 29, 7:14 PM ET
Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton cemented years of goodwill with gays in 2000, when she walked in New York's Pride Parade.
``Having the first lady march was enormously powerful,'' said Representative Barney Frank, one of two openly gay members of Congress, both of whom are backing Clinton. ``I've never seen such a strong emotional outpouring.''
Now some gay voters, who have been among Clinton's most stalwart supporters and helped her defeat Barack Obama in Democratic presidential primaries earlier this month, may be drifting toward the Illinois senator, according to political activists and campaign officials.
...
``Obama has presented more detailed position papers on gay and lesbian issues than Clinton,'' said David Mixner, 61, a writer and activist who helped longtime friend Bill Clinton win over the gay and lesbian vote during the 1992 presidential race and who supported both of Hillary Clinton's successful Senate races in New York.
`The Young Reformer'
This time, Mixner is backing Obama. The Clintons have become ``a machine, and Obama's the young reformer,'' said Mixner, who joined Obama's campaign after initially supporting former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, 54, who dropped out of the Democratic race last month.
Musician Melissa Etheridge, who came out as a lesbian in 1993 at President Bill Clinton's Triangle Ball, the first ever inaugural event for gay men and lesbians, said earlier this month that she is backing Obama.
...
Hillary skips flight: campaign won't say why.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail...
Let's not assume we all know everything about HC. Why hasn't she released her tax returns? And who are the donors to the WJC Foundation? That's just one of the shoes to drop will Hillary.
Hillary doing SNL.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/...
8:42 PM EST
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080301/ap_on_go_ot/news_shows_4
Sunday news shows lineup
By The Associated Press
Sat Mar 1, 3:40 PM ET
Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:
...
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.; Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.,
...
CNN's "Late Edition" — NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer; Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean; Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass.,
...
Danny, are our posts now in order? Thank you for all your work.
I just picked up "Three Cups of Tea" at the library.
Ånd lookie what the librarian gave me! I haven't figured out how to use it yet. LOL
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/fiction/whichbook/index.htm
Hi all, I just got home from visiting relatives the last couple days. I was suprised the DFV endorsement of Obama was so controversial since it was done through a bottom up process (which I thought most people here supported), but everyone's entitled to their opinion.
However, I do want to address this comment because it is blatantly false:
*********************
62.chuck nasmith
Sat, 03/01/08
Democracy for Vt also endorsed Steve Howard for mayor of Rutland (Jessica was his campaign manager). Steve was for the war and lost big. Next, They will endorse themselves or other groups they control and promote. This is not what Democracy looks like.
**********************
Democracy For Vermont did NOT endorse Steve Howard for Mayor. Rutland DFA also did NOT make that endorsement. Neither group endorsed a candidate in that race.
Steve has been an active member of Rutland DFA longer then I have and is also a State Representative. Last February, the VT legislature became the first in the nation to call for an immediate and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Steve Howard co-sponsored that bill. http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.d...
cC wrote "I think seashell and Linda in NM should feel free to express their concerns here."
I think the sky is blue. Who ever said otherwise?
Isn't she also going to be on Stewart Monday night?
He'll quiz her on Lebanon, I hope.
I think everyone in the ME should start ducking. I really don't like putz US and putz Israel. And they have all weekend to stay outta the news cycle.
Three Cups of Tea is supposed to be great. Enjoy. I need to put that on my list.
Off to make dinner.
Hizbullah slams deployment of US warships off coast A US deployment of warships off the coast of Lebanon further sharpened tensions in the crisis-plagued country on Friday, as Hizbullah condemned the move and the Lebanese government said it did not ask for the ships to be sent. Hizbullah on Friday denounced Washington's dispatch of the USS Cole. Full Story
Three Cups was written by a local Oregonian. :-)
I also picked up "When the Ground Turns in Its Sleep" and "The Tree Bride." And of course, 3 Sidney Sheldon books for late night, rainy/blowy/scary reading.
testing to see where my post shows up
Hi,
Just a comment before folding. Israel turned over the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah has been assaulting Israel with rockets. The Palestinians have to hold their government accountable too. Innocents are being killed, and their government is responsible as well as Israel.
Our government is responsible for the 911 attack because we neglected a danger that we had intelligence for. We also are responsible for the presence of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and the growing threat in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Frankly, as citizens, we have to hold our government responsible. There is no innocent government in this these conflicts.
From NPR, Saturday Night Live has a show spoofing Obama. I don't recall the name of the show, but Obama's name is in the title. There's one segment where Hillary is trying to hire an assassin. The problem is the asssassins all fall in love with Obama. One assassin asked Hillary her name, and she doesn't want to give it. Finally she says, Cillary Hinton.
Another segment has six differnt Obamas, one for white men who say he has exactly the right amount of black in him. The skit is very clever and it does go to the edge. I hope that HIllary's is as clever. This gives me fond remembrances of Chicago. One of the young teacher's assistants was an actor on SNL.
Good NIght folks.
nope, still not even close to in order...
Hill blew off one or two rallies to be on SNL. If I had been planning on attending one of those, I would be ticked.
Especially given Texans' fondness for all things New York anyway.
-- volney
Hizbullah condemned the move
>
Hezbollah is the enemy of peace and the United States, seashell.
If our interests are in play, I am glad our Naval assets are put in position to project our will.
Moving assets is not a threat, but more a decision based on a prudent assessment of current events.
I wonder what the DOD sees...
Carnac the Magnificent where are you?
The Stevie Wonder video was totally awesome. Excellent job Imn2Paine!!!!! Peace. Dogma!
Can we start impeachment now, please? Our complicit congress will rue the day they didn't stop madman putz. We all will.
Pakistan crisisBreaking news and analysis as the country plunges deeper into chaos
Thanks sm, for posting the Nation article on Howard Dean. All true.
I liked this quote:
"The Obama for President campaign is what all of us hoped Dean for President would become," says Steve McMahon, a former top Dean strategist who's stayed neutral in '08. "Obama is Dean 2.0, dramatically updated to reflect the emergence of the grassroots."
And the last sentence that says Howard Dean is a prophet without honor in his own land, no, I'd have to say that Howard Dean is very much honored and revered here on this blog. He is a mover and shaker, a true leader. I like the article praising his vision, his consistency, and his prescience.
Now, night all.
Done with my calls to TX. As usual very discouraging for me. I just can't seem to get the knack of phone banking.
This from Politico. Looks like HRC is going to try and pull another NV. I'm worried.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Texas_caucus_hardball.html#comments
OK, folks...may I point out just two segments of the article seashell link, which cause me to think she tends toward exaggeration and blind emotional bias:
;-)
...let's be clear: The purpose of the US Navy ships in the Eastern Mediterranean is a show of support for regional stability," amid Lebanon's political crisis," Johndroe said.
___________
Elias Hanna, retired general and political science professor at the Notre Dame University, told The Daily Star on Friday that some reactions to the US move were extremely exaggerated.
"The move is not more than a political message," he said.
Ellen Garneau
;-) and I thank the young man who attends Union College for informing me of a music blog aggregater ( http://hypem.com/ ) and cC's note referring to Mrs Obama's interest in Stevie Wonder.
Threads exist everywhere (all at once).
Jessica, Sorry for the error regarding the endorsement. There was no error regarding the Iraq war. Steve was for it in 2002. Some were for it , before they were against it.
Hi Imn2Paine. I keep wanting to do a video like that to the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with "bomb Iraq" instead of "a-weem-away." (Picturing the war mongers themselves, of course!) Peace. Dogma
chuck nasmith
Hey brother, you might have let the first sentence apology be it, and you would have been a gentleman about it, but ...I don't know, you might want to pick at her?
Hi Chuck. What's up with the personal attacks??????? Peace. Dogma
phil, am going for the delegate and sent some emails out today. thanks for the info.
New thread.
Larry Dudley, your post is the real truth as it stands in America right now. Our new, Howard-inspired, local network organizations, made up of folks who really will go to the wire, and beyond, for each other, have brought life into Democratic politics.
I doubt I will live long enough to see it, but Governor Dean will be honored as one of our greatest American patriots one day. He, Joe Trippi and all the rest will be revered like FDR, Lincoln and Jefferson. I listened when he told us we could take back our country. I was skeptical at first but I joined MoveOn and Dean For America. I ended up taking part in a historical change.
Many grateful thanks Governor!!!!!!! Thanks for restoring hope. You and your family deserve the very best. May it be so.
Debbie Dunkle /DFA--Central Florida
go florida
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